List of birds of Saskatchewan

This list of birds of Saskatchewan includes all the bird species confirmed in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan as determined by Nature Saskatchewan. As of September 2017, there were 436 species on the Nature Saskatchewan checklist.^[1] Of these species, 86 are considered stragglers and 43 are hypothetical; both terms are defined below. Ten species have been introduced to Saskatchewan or elsewhere in North America. One species is extinct, two have been extirpated, and another might be 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..

The following tags are used to describe some categories of occurrence.

• (S) Straggler - species with 30 or fewer records per Nature Saskatchewan
• (H) Hypothetical - species lacking a specimen, photograph, or sound recording per Nature Saskatchewan; these also are "stragglers" but are not marked as such
• (I) Introduced - established solely as result of human intervention, either directly in Saskatchewan or elsewhere in North America

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl[]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

The family Anatidae includes 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

The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of pheasants, partridges, grouse, turkeys, 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.

• Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (I)
• Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus
• Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
• Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis
• Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus
• Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta (S)
• Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus
• Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (Extirpated)
• Grey partridge, Perdix perdix (I)
• Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)

Grebes[]

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes 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
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
• Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis
• Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii

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.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)
• Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (S)
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)
• Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (Extinct)
• White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (S)
• Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura

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.

• Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (S)
• Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus

Nightjars and allies[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized ground-nesting nocturnal birds with 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 camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

• Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
• Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
• Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus

Swifts[]

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

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 (H)
• Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica

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 backward.

• Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris
• Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (H)
• Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (S)
• Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (S)
• Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (S)

Rails, gallinules, and coots[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes gallinules, and coots. 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
• Sora, Porzana carolina
• American coot, Fulica americana
• Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis
• Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (H)

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, Antigone canadensis
• Common crane, Grus grus (S)
• Whooping crane, Grus americana

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.

• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana

Plovers and lapwings[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

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.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica
• Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (H)
• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
• Piping plover, Charadrius melodus
• Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (S)
• Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (S)

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. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Skuas and jaegers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are 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.

• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (S)
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (S)

Auks, 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.

• Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle (S)
• Pigeon guillemot, Cepphus columba (H)
• Long-billed murrelet, Brachyramphus perdix (H)
• Ancient murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus (S)

Gulls, 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, known as divers in Europe, 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, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body, are almost helpless on land.

• Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata
• Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica
• Common loon, Gavia immer
• Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (S)

Frigatebirds[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black, or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

• Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens (S)

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 bitterns, herons, and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and warier. Unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills, members of this family fly with their necks retracted.

• American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus
• Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis (S)
• Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
• Great egret, Ardea alba
• Snowy egret, Egretta thula (S)
• Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea (S)
• Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor (S)
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
• Green heron, Butorides virescens (S)
• Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
• Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea (S)

Ibises and spoonbills[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which comprises the ibises and spoonbills. Its members have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary flight feathers. They are strong fliers and, despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus (H)
• White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi

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.

• Black vulture, Coragyps atratus (H)
• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura

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

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

• White-tailed kite, Elanus leucurus (S)
• Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus (H)
• Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
• Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius
• Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus
• Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii
• Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
• Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
• Mississippi kite, Ictinia mississippiensis (S)
• Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus (H)
• Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus
• Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni
• Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
• Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus
• Ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis

Barn-owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba (S)

Owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The 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.

• Western screech-owl, Megascops kennicottii (H)
• Eastern screech-owl, Megascops asio
• Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus
• Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus
• Northern hawk owl, Surnia ulula
• Northern pygmy-owl, Glaucidium gnoma (S)
• Burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia
• Barred owl, Strix varia
• Great grey owl, Strix nebulosa
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
• Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus
• Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus

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

Woodpeckers[]

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers, sapsuckers, and flickers 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.

• Lewis's woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis (S)
• Red-headed woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus
• Red-bellied woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus (S)
• Williamson's sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus (S)
• Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius
• Red-naped sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis
• American three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis
• Black-backed woodpecker, Picoides arcticus
• Downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens
• Hairy woodpecker, Dryobates villosus
• Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus
• Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus

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, Falco rusticolus
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
• Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus

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 are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.

• Great crested flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus
• Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
• Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
• Scissor-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus (S)
• Fork-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus savana (H)
• Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi
• Western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus
• Eastern wood-pewee, Contopus virens
• Yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris
• Alder flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum
• Willow flycatcher, Empidonax traillii
• Least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus
• Grey flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii (H)
• Dusky flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri
• Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
• Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood-warblers apart from their heavier bills.

• White-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus (S)
• Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons
• Cassin's vireo, Vireo cassinii (S)
• Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius
• Plumbeous vireo, Vireo plumbeus (H)
• Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus
• Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus
• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus

Shrikes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for the 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.

• Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus
• 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, Perisoreus canadensis
• Pinyon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus (H)
• Steller's jay, Cyanocitta stelleri (S)
• Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata
• Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana (S)
• Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia
• American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
• Common raven, Corvus corax

Tits, chickadees, and titmice[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

Chickadees and titmice 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
• Mountain chickadee, Poecile gambeli (S)
• Boreal chickadee, Poecile hudsonica
• Bridled titmouse, Baeolophus wollweberi (H)
• Tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor (H)

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, Eremophila alpestris

Swallows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is a group of passerines characterised by their adaptation to aerial feeding. These adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and short bills 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
• Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
• Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina (A)
• Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
• Purple martin, Progne subis
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

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 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.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum

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
• White-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
• Pygmy nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea (H)

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

Gnatcatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Polioptilidae

Gnatcatchers are a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

• Blue-grey gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea (S)

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.

• Rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus
• Canyon wren, Catherpes mexicanus (H)
• House wren, Troglodytes aedon
• Pacific wren, Troglodytes pacificus (S)
• Winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis
• Sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis
• Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris
• Carolina wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus (H)
• Cactus wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus (H)

Mockingbirds and thrashers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mimidae

The mimids are a family of passerine birds that 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
• Curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre (S)
• Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
• Bendire's thrasher, Toxostoma bendirei (H)
• Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus (S)
• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos

Starlings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I)

Dippers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements. These birds have adaptations which allows them to submerge and walk on the bottom to feed on insect larvae.

• American dipper, Cinclus mexicanus (S)

Thrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly 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.

• Eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis
• Western bluebird, Sialia mexicana (H)
• Mountain bluebird, Sialia currucoides
• Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi
• Veery, Catharus fuscescens
• Grey-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus
• Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus
• Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus
• Wood thrush, Hylocichla mustelina (S)
• American robin, Turdus migratorius
• Varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius

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, Oenanthe oenanthe (S)

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)
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (I) (H)

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.

• American pipit, Anthus rubescens
• Sprague's pipit, Anthus spragueii

Finches, euphonias, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are small to moderately large seed-eating passerine birds with a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have 12 tail feathers and nine primaries flight feathers. Finches have a bouncing flight, alternating bouts of flapping with gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

• Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla (S)
• Evening grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus
• Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator
• Grey-crowned rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis
• Black rosy-finch, Leucosticte atrata (H)
• House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus (I) (Native to the southwestern U.S.)
• Purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus
• Cassin's finch, Haemorhous cassinii (S)
• Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea
• Hoary redpoll, Acanthis hornemanni
• Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
• White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera
• Pine siskin, Spinus pinus
• Lesser goldfinch, Spinus psaltria (H)
• American goldfinch, Spinus tristis

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.

• Thick-billed longspur, Rhynchophanes mccownii
• Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
• Smith's longspur, Calcarius pictus
• Chestnut-collared longspur, Calcarius ornatus
• Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis

Old World buntings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

Emberizidae is a family of passerine birds containing a single genus. Until 2017, the New World sparrows (Passerellidae) were also considered part of this family.

• Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (S)

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.

Yellow-breasted chat[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteriidae

This species was historically placed in the wood-warblers (Parulidae) but nonetheless most authorities were unsure if it belonged there. It was placed in its own family in 2017.

• Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virens

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 blackbirds, meadowlarks, cowbirds, grackles, 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
• Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus
• Eastern meadowlark, Sturnella magna (S)
• Western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta
• Orchard oriole, Icterus spurius
• Bullock's oriole, Icterus bullockii (S)
• Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula
• Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
• Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater
• Rusty blackbird, Euphagus carolinus
• Brewer's blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus
• Common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
• Great-tailed grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus (H)

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.

Cardinals and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

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

• Hepatic tanager, Piranga flava (S)
• Summer tanager, Piranga rubra (S)
• Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea
• Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana
• Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
• Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
• Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus
• Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea (S)
• Lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena
• Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea
• Painted bunting, Passerina ciris (S)
• Dickcissel, Spiza americana

Notes[]

References[]

See also[]

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region
• List of birds of Canada