List of birds of Nunavut

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This is a list of bird species confirmed in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of Bird Checklists of the World as of March 2021.^[1] Of the 297 species on the list, 135 are accidental and two were introduced to North America. One species is extinct; three are extirpated and one of them is possibly extinct.

This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS).^[2] Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that Canadian English spellings are used and the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them..

Native names are from the Asuilaak Inuktitut Living Dictionary. There are several dialects of Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun plus two alphabets, Inuktitut syllabics and Latin. The Inuit name or spelling may differ from one region to another and in extreme cases from one community to another. Thus the word bird may be: ᑎᖕᒥᐊᑦ or tingmiaq.^[3]

The following tags are used to categorise some species:

• (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Nunavut
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Nunavut as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

Traditional usage[]

Beside a food source the Inuit had several other ways of using birds:

• Skins from larger birds were used as towels.
• Wings may have been used to dust or sweep.
• Skins were used as make containers, slippers and if caribou were scarce parkas.
• Children, mainly boys, would often learn to hunt by throwing stones at small birds.

Ducks (mitiq, mitik), geese, and waterfowl[]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.

Pheasants, grouse, and allies[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.

• Spruce grouse (ᐊᕿᒡᒋᒋᖅ), Canachites canadensis
• Willow ptarmigan (willow grouse, ᐊᕐᑭᒡᒋᕕᒃ, aqiligiq uvvalu, aqilgvik) Lagopus lagopus
• Rock ptarmigan (ptarmigan, ᐊᕐᑭᒡᒋᖅ ᐊᑕᔪᓕᒃ, nikhaaktuq aqiligvik, aqilgiq) Lagopus muta
• Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus (A)

Grebes[]

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (A)
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (A)

Pigeons and doves[]

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. They feed on seeds, fruit and plants. Unlike most other birds, the doves and pigeons produce "crop milk," which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.

• Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (Extinct)
• White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (A)
• Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (A)

Cuckoos[]

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.

• Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A)

Nightjars and allies[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves.

• Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (A)

Swifts[]

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

• Black swift, Cypseloides niger (A)
• Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A)

Hummingbirds[]

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.

• Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (A)

Rails, gallinules, and coots[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

• Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (A)
• Corn crake, Crex crex (A)
• Sora, Porzana carolina (A)
• Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A)
• American coot, Fulica americana (A)
• Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis

Cranes[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

• Sandhill crane (ᑕᑎᒡᒐᕐᔪᐊᖅ, tatilgaq) Antigone canadensis
• Whooping crane, Grus americana (A)

Stilts and avocets[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (A)

Plovers and lapwings[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

• Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (A)
• Black-bellied plover (grey plover, ᑑᓪᓕᒐᕐᔪᒃ, quilliquliaq) Pluvialis squatarola
• American golden-plover (ᖀᕐᓕᐊᔪᖅ (ᕐᑮᕐᓕᒃ), tuulligaaq, tuusiik) Pluvialis dominica
• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
• Common ringed plover (ᖁᓪᓕᕐᑯᓕᐊᖅ (ᓕᕕᓪᓕᕕᓪᓛᖅ)) Charadrius hiaticula
• Semipalmated plover (ᖁᓪᓕᖁᓕᐊᕐᔪᒃ) Charadrius semipalmatus
• Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (A)

Sandpipers and allies[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Skuas and jaegers (ᐃᓱᙵᖅ, ihunngait, ihunngaq, isunngait)[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas and Jaegers are in general medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.

• Great skua, Stercorarius skua (A)
• Pomarine jaeger (pomarine skua, ᐃᓱᙵᕐᓗᒃ, isunngarluk) Stercorarius pomarinus
• Parasitic jaeger (ᐃᓱᙵᖅ ᓂᐸᖏᐊᖅ, isunngaq nipangiaq) Stercorarius parasiticus
• Long-tailed jaeger (ᐃᓱᙵᖅ, isunngaq) Stercorarius longicaudus

Auks (tuulligjuak), murres, and puffins[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture, and some of their habits, however they are only distantly related to the penguins and are able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.

• Dovekie (little auk, ᐊᒃᐸᓕᐊᕐᔪᒃ (ᐊᑉᐸᓕᐊᕐᔪᒃ), akpaliarjuk) Alle alle
• Common murre, Uria aalge (A)
• Thick-billed murre (ᐊᒃᐸ, atpa, akpa) Uria lomvia
• Razorbill (ᐊᒃᐸᐃᑦ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖏᑦ) Alca torda
• Black guillemot (ᐱᑦᑎᐅᓛᖅ (ᐱᑦᓯᐅᓛᖅ), pittiulaaq) Cepphus grylle
• Atlantic puffin (ᓯᒡᒍᑲᓪᓚᓖᑦ ᑎᖕᒥᐊᑦ) Fratercula arctica
• Horned puffin, Fratercula corniculata (A)

Gulls (ᓇᐅᔭᖅ, naujaq), terns, and skimmers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.

Loons[]

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds, the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely grey or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body.

• Red-throated loon (ᖃᖅᓴᐅᖅ, qaqhauq, qaqsauq) Gavia stellata
• Pacific loon (ᖃᖅᓴᐅᑦ ᐊᐃᑉᐸᖏᑦ) Gavia pacifica
• Common loon (ᑑᓪᓕᒡᔪᐊᖅ, tuulligjuak) Gavia immer
• Yellow-billed loon (ᑑᓪᓕᒡᔪᐊᖅ, tuullik) Gavia adamsii

Albatrosses[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are amongst the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.

• Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (A)

Southern storm-petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. Until 2018, this family's three species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae.

• Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (A)

Northern storm-petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.

• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (A)

Shearwaters and petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

• Northern fulmar (ᕐᑲᕐᑯᓪᓗᒃ, qaqulluk) Fulmarus glacialis
• Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris (A)
• Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (A)
• Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (A)

Boobies and gannets[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

• Northern gannet, Morus bassanus (A)

Cormorants and shags[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed.

• Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum

Pelicans[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.

• American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Herons, egrets, and bitterns[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.

• American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus
• Great blue heron, Ardea herodias (A)
• Great egret, Ardea alba (A)
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis (A)

New World vultures[]

Order: Cathartiformes   Family: Cathartidae

The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses.

• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura (A)

Osprey[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

Pandionidae is a family of fish-eating birds of prey possessing a very large, powerful hooked beak for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. The family is monotypic.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.

• Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
• Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius
• Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus
• Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
• Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
• Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni (A)
• Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis (A)
• Rough-legged hawk (rough-legged buzzard, ᑳᔫᖅ (ᕿᓐᓄᐊᔪᐊᖅ), qirliq) Buteo lagopus

Owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

• Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus (A)
• Snowy owl (ᐅᒃᐱᒡᔪᐊᖅ, ukpik, upik, ookpik) Bubo scandiacus
• Northern hawk owl, Surnia ulula
• Great grey owl, Strix nebulosa (A)
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus (A)
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
• Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus (A)

Kingfishers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.

• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (A)

Woodpeckers[]

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

• Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius (A)
• American three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis (A)
• Black-backed woodpecker, Picoides arcticus (A)
• Downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens (A)
• Hairy woodpecker, Dryobates villosus
• Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus
• Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus (A)

Falcons and caracaras[]

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

• American kestrel, Falco sparverius
• Merlin, Falco columbarius
• Gyrfalcon (ᑭᒡᒐᕕᒃ, kilgavikpak) Falco rusticolus
• Peregrine falcon (ᑭᒡᒐᕕᐊᕐᔪᒃ, kilgavik) Falco peregrinus tundrius

Tyrant flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.

• Great crested flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus (A)
• Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis (A)
• Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus (A)
• Fork-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus savana (A)
• Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi (A)
• Yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris (A)
• Alder flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum
• Least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus (A)
• Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe (A)
• Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya (A)

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds mostly restricted to the New World, though a few other members of the family are found in Asia. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills.

• Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius (A)
• Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus (A)
• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus

Shrikes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.

• Northern shrike, Lanius borealis

Crows, jays, and magpies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Canada jay (ᖁᐸᓄᐊᕐᔪᐊᖅ), Perisoreus canadensis
• Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata (A)
• Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia (A)
• American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
• Common raven (ᑐᓗᒐᖅ, tulugak, tulugaq) Corvus corax

Tits, chickadees, and titmice[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

• Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapilla (A)
• Boreal chickadee, Poecile hudsonica

Larks[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

• Horned lark (ᖃᐅᕈᓪᓕᒐᖅ, qupanuaqpaarjuk) Eremophila alpestris

Swallows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia (A)
• Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor (A)
• Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina (A)
• Purple martin, Progne subis (A)
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica (A)
• Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Leaf warblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The Arctic warbler breeds east into Alaska. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

• Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis (A)

Kinglets[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice. They are very small insectivorous birds. The adults have coloured crowns, giving rise to their name.

• Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula
• Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa

Waxwings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of passerine birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (A)
• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (A)

Nuthatches[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.

• Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis (A)

Treecreepers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

• Brown creeper, Certhia americana (A)

Wrens[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

• House wren, Troglodytes aedon (A)
• Winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis

Mockingbirds and thrashers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mimidae

The mimids are a family of passerine birds which includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalization, especially their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. The species tend towards dull greys and browns in their appearance.

• Grey catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (A)
• Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum (A)
• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (A)

Starlings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings and mynas are small to medium-sized Old World passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and most are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. The plumage of several species is dark with a metallic sheen.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I) (A)

Thrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly but not exclusively in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

• Mountain bluebird, Sialia currucoides (A)
• Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi (A)
• Grey-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus
• Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus
• Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus
• Wood thrush, Hylocichla mustelina (A)
• Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris (A)
• American robin, Turdus migratorius
• Varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius (A)

Old World flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

The Old World flycatchers are a large family of small passerine birds. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing.

• Northern wheatear (ᖁᐸᓄᐊᖅ) Oenanthe oenanthe

Old World sparrows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or greyish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)

Wagtails and pipits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.

• Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis (A)
• American pipit (buff-bellied pipit, ᖃᐃᕐᖔᖅ, qupanuaq) Anthus rubescens

Finches, euphonias, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

• Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (A)
• Grey-crowned rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis (A)
• Purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus (A)
• Common redpoll (ᓴᒃᓴᒋᐊᖅ, hakhagiaq) Acanthis flammea
• Hoary redpoll (Arctic redpoll, ᓴᒃᓴᒋᐊᖅ, hakhagiaq) Acanthis hornemanni
• White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (A)
• Pine siskin, Spinus pinus (A)
• American goldfinch, Spinus tristis (A)

Longspurs and snow buntings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that were traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.

• Lapland longspur (ᕿᕐᓂᖅᑖᖅ, qupanuaq, nahaullik) Calcarius lapponicus
• Chestnut-collared longspur, Calcarius ornatus (A)
• Smith's longspur, Calcarius pictus
• Snow bunting (ᖃᐅᓪᓗᖅᑖᖅ, amauliqaq, amaulikkaaq, amauligijuaq (looks like it has a hood from a woman's parka)) Plectrophenax nivalis

New World sparrows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

Until 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.

• Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina (A)
• Clay-coloured sparrow, Spizella pallida (A)
• Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca
• American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea
• Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis
• White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
• Golden-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla (A)
• Harris's sparrow (ᖁᐸᓄᐊᖅ) Zonotrichia querula
• White-throated sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
• LeConte's sparrow, Ammospiza leconteii
• Nelson's sparrow, Ammospiza nelsoni
• Savannah sparrow (ᖁᐸᓄᐊᖅ) Passerculus sandwichensis
• Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia
• Lincoln's sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
• Swamp sparrow, Melospiza georgiana
• Spotted towhee, Pipilo maculatus (A)

Troupials and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

• Yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (A)
• Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus (A)
• Western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta (A)
• Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula (A)
• Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
• Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater
• Rusty blackbird, Euphagus carolinus
• Brewer's blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus (A)
• Common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula (A)

New World warblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

The wood-warblers are a group of small, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.

• Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla (A)
• Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis
• Black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia (A)
• Tennessee warbler, Leiothlypis peregrina
• Orange-crowned warbler, Leiothlypis celata
• Nashville warbler, Leiothlypis ruficapilla (A)
• Connecticut warbler, Oporornis agilis (A)
• MacGillivray's warbler, Geothlypis tolmiei (A)
• Kentucky warbler, Geothlypis formosa (A)
• Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
• Hooded warbler, Setophaga citrina (A)
• American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla (A)
• Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina
• Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia (A)
• Bay-breasted warbler, Setophaga castanea (A)
• Blackburnian warbler, Setophaga fusca (A)
• Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia
• Chestnut-sided warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica (A)
• Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata
• Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens (A)
• Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum
• Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata
• Townsend's warbler, Setophaga townsendi (A)
• Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens (A)
• Wilson's warbler, Cardellina pusilla

Cardinals and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

The cardinals are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.

• Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana (A)
• Painted bunting, Passerina ciris (A)

See also[]

• List of mammals of Nunavut

Notes[]

References[]

Further reading[]

• Birds of Nunavut - Introduction by J.S. Wendt, bird descriptions by M. Wyndham (Canadian Wildlife Service) and traditional knowledge by Eva Arreak, published by the Baffin Divisional Board of Education. ISBN 1-55036-544-4 (This is not the same book as Birds of Nunavut v3.5 by Peter W. Thayer ISBN 1-887148-78-7)
• G. Ohokak, M. Kadlun & B. Harnum Inuinnaqtun-English Dictionary published by the Kitikmeot Heritage Society and based upon Kangiryuarniut Uqauhingita Numiktittidjutingit by R. Lowe