List of birds of Yellowstone National Park

This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Yellowstone National Park, which is mostly in the U.S. state of Wyoming and also extends into Idaho and Montana. This list is based on one published by the National Park Service (NPS) dated May 7, 2020 which contains 284 species.[1]

This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 61st Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS).[2] Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.

Unless otherwise noted, all the species on this list are considered to occur regularly in the park as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The tags below are used to designate the abundance of some species. Because the NPS checklist notes abundance by season, the tag for the highest abundance of the year is used. The quoted definitions are those of the NPS.

  • B Breeding: "Confirmed as breeding in Yellowstone" (155 species)
  • b Unconfirmed breeding: "Suspected of breeding, but not confirmed by eggs or young" (four species)
  • U Uncommon: "Found in small numbers and usually, but not always, found with some effort in appropriate habitat" (64 species)
  • R Rare: "Occurs annually in very small numbers or in a very restricted habitat. Difficult to find" (76 species)
  • O Occasional: "Occurs in some years, but not every year" (four species)
  • V Vagrant: "accidental, vagrant, or species with few observations" for which documentation is requested (66 species)(see note)[notes 1]
  • I Introduced - a species introduced to North America by humans (seven species)

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Trumpeter swan on nest

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

The family 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. Thirty-four species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Snow gooseAnser caerulescensR
Ross's gooseAnser rossiiR
Greater white-fronted gooseAnser albifronsV
Cackling gooseBranta hutchinsiiV
Canada gooseBranta canadensisB
Trumpeter swanCygnus buccinatorB
Tundra swanCygnus columbianusU
Whooper swanCygnus cygnusV
Wood duckAix sponsaR
Blue-winged tealSpatula discorsB U
Cinnamon tealSpatula cyanopteraB
Northern shovelerSpatula clypeataB
GadwallMareca streperaB
Eurasian wigeonMareca penelopeV
American wigeonMareca americanaB
MallardAnas platyrhynchosB
Northern pintailAnas acutaB
Green-winged tealAnas creccaB
CanvasbackAythya valisineriaB U
RedheadAythya americanaB U
Ring-necked duckAythya collarisB
Greater scaupAythya marilaR
Lesser scaupAythya affinisB
Harlequin duckHistrionicus histrionicusB U
Surf scoterMelanitta perspicillataV
White-winged scoterMelanitta deglandiV
Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisV
BuffleheadBucephala albeolaB
Common goldeneyeBucephala clangula
Barrow's goldeneyeBucephala islandicaB
Hooded merganserLophodytes cucullatusB R
Common merganserMergus merganserB
Red-breasted merganserMergus serratorU
Ruddy duckOxyura jamaicensisB

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Dusky grouse

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. Eight species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Wild turkeyMeleagris gallopavoV
Ruffed grouseBonasa umbellusB
Dusky grouseDendragapus obscurusB
Gray partridgePerdix perdixI V
ChukarAlectoris chukarV

Grebes

Red-necked grebe

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. Six species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Pied-billed grebePodilymbus podicepsB
Horned grebePodiceps auritusB R
Red-necked grebePodiceps grisegenaB R
Eared grebePodiceps nigricollisB U
Western grebeAechmophorus occidentalisb R
Clark's grebeAechmophorus clarkiiR

Pigeons and doves

Mourning dove

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Four species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Rock pigeonColumba liviaI B U
Band-tailed pigeonPatagioenas fasciataV
Eurasian collared-doveStreptopelia decaoctoI R
Mourning doveZenaida macrouraB R

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. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Black-billed cuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusV

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 colored to resemble bark or leaves. Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Common nighthawkChordeiles minorB

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 very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
White-throated swiftAeronautes saxatalisB U

Hummingbirds

Rufous hummingbird

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. Four species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Calliope hummingbirdSelasphorus calliopeB R
Rufous hummingbirdSelasphorus rufusB R
Broad-tailed hummingbirdSelasphorus platycercusB R

Rails, gallinules, and coots

American coot

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 tend to be weak fliers. Five species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Virginia railRallus limicolaB R
SoraPorzana carolinaB
American cootFulica americanaB
Yellow railCoturnicops noveboracensisV

Cranes

Sandhill crane

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". Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Sandhill craneAntigone canadensisB
Whooping craneGrus americanaV

Stilts and avocets

Black-necked stilt

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. Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Black-necked stiltHimantopus mexicanusR
American avocetRecurvirostra americanaR

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. Four species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Black-bellied ploverPluvialis squatarolaR
KilldeerCharadrius vociferusB
Semipalmated ploverCharadrius semipalmatusR

Sandpipers and allies

Long-billed curlew

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. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Upland sandpiperBartramia longicaudaR
Long-billed curlewNumenius americanusB R
Marbled godwitLimosa fedoaR
Ruddy turnstoneArenaria interpresR
SanderlingCalidris albaR
Baird's sandpiperCalidris bairdiiU
Least sandpiperCalidris minutillaR
White-rumped sandpiperCalidris fuscicollisR
Pectoral sandpiperCalidris melanotosR
Semipalmated sandpiperCalidris pusillaR
Western sandpiperCalidris mauriR
Short-billed dowitcherLimnodromus griseusR
Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusU
Wilson's snipeGallinago delicataB
Spotted sandpiperActitis maculariaB
Solitary sandpiperTringa solitariaR
Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesR
WilletTringa semipalmataU
Greater yellowlegsTringa melanoleucaU
Wilson's phalaropePhalaropus tricolorB U
Red-necked phalaropePhalaropus lobatusR

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Caspian tern

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

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

Common name Binomial Status
Sabine's gullXema sabiniV
Bonaparte's gullLarus philadelphiaR
Franklin's gullLarus pipixcanR
Mew gullLarus canusV
Ring-billed gullLarus delawarensis
California gullLarus californicusB
Herring gullLarus argentatusR
Caspian ternHydroprogne caspiaB R
Black ternChlidonias nigerV
Common ternSterna hirundoR
Arctic ternSterna paradisaeaV
Forster's ternSterna forsteriB R

Loons

Common loon

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely gray 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. Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Pacific loonGavia pacificaV
Common loonGavia immerB U

Cormorants and shags

Double-crested cormorant

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of colored skin on the face. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Double-crested cormorantPhalacrocorax auritusB U

Pelicans

American white pelican

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. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
American white pelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchosB

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Great blue heron

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. Eight species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
American bitternBotaurus lentiginosusV
Great blue heronArdea herodiasB
Great egretArdea albaV
Snowy egretEgretta thulaV
Tricolored heronEgretta tricolorV
Cattle egretBubulcus ibisV
Green heronButorides virescensV
Black-crowned night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxR

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

The family Threskiornithidae includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings. Their bodies tend to be elongated, the neck more so, with rather long legs. The bill is also long, decurved in the case of the ibises, straight and distinctively flattened in the spoonbills. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
White-faced ibisPlegadis chihiR

New World vultures

Turkey vulture

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. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Turkey vultureCathartes auraU

Osprey

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.

Common name Binomial Status
OspreyPandion haliaetusB

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. Twelve species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Golden eagleAquila chrysaetosB U
Northern harrierCircus cyaneusB U
Sharp-shinned hawkAccipiter striatusB U
Cooper's hawkAccipiter cooperiiB U
Northern goshawkAccipiter gentilisB U
Bald eagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusB
Red-shouldered hawkButeo lineatusV
Broad-winged hawkButeo platypterusR
Swainson's hawkButeo swainsoniB
Red-tailed hawkButeo jamaicensisB
Rough-legged hawkButeo lagopusU
Ferruginous hawkButeo regalisU

Owls

Great gray owl

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. Eleven species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Flammulated owlPsiloscops flammeolusV
Western screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiV
Great horned owlBubo virginianusB
Snowy owlBubo scandiacusV
Northern pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaB R
Burrowing owlAthene cuniculariaV
Great gray owlStrix nebulosaB U
Long-eared owlAsio otusB R
Short-eared owlAsio flammeusB R
Boreal owlAegolius funereusB R
Northern saw-whet owlAegolius acadicusB R

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Belted kingfisherMegaceryle alcyonB U

Woodpeckers

American three-toed woodpecker

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. Ten species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Lewis's woodpeckerMelanerpes lewisB R
Williamson's sapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusB U
Red-naped sapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisB U
American three-toed woodpeckerPicoides dorsalisB U
Black-backed woodpeckerPicoides arcticusB R
Downy woodpeckerDryobates pubescensB U
Hairy woodpeckerDryobates villosusB
Northern flickerColaptes auratusB
Pileated woodpeckerDryocopus pileatusB R

Falcons and caracaras

American kestrel

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. Five species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Crested caracaraCaracara cheriwayV
American kestrelFalco sparveriusB U
MerlinFalco columbariusR
Peregrine falconFalco peregrinusB U
Prairie falconFalco mexicanusB U

Tyrant flycatchers

Western wood-pewee

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. Twelve species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Ash-throated flycatcherMyiarchus cinerascensV
Western kingbirdTyrannus verticalisR
Eastern kingbirdTyrannus tyrannusR
Scissor-tailed flycatcherTyrannus forficatusV
Olive-sided flycatcherContopus cooperiB
Western wood-peweeContopus sordidulusB U
Willow flycatcherEmpidonax trailliiB U
Least flycatcherEmpidonax minimusV
Hammond's flycatcherEmpidonax hammondiiB U
Dusky flycatcherEmpidonax oberholseriB
Cordilleran flycatcherEmpidonax occidentalisB R
Say's phoebeSayornis sayaV

Shrikes

Loggerhead shrike

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. Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Loggerhead shrikeLanius ludovicianusR
Northern shrikeLanius excubitorU

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Warbling vireo

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills. Four species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Cassin's vireoVireo cassiniiV
Plumbeous vireoVireo plumbeousV
Warbling vireoVireo gilvusB
Red-eyed vireoVireo olivaceusV

Crows, jays, and magpies

Common raven

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. Eight species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Canada jayPerisoreus canadensisB U
Pinyon jayGymnorhinus cyanocephalusR
Steller's jayCyanocitta stelleriB U
Blue jayCyanocitta cristataR
Clark's nutcrackerNucifraga columbianaB
Black-billed magpiePica hudsoniaB
American crowCorvus brachyrhynchosB U
Common ravenCorvus coraxB

Larks

Horned lark

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. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Horned larkEremophila alpestrisB U

Swallows

Barn swallow

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. Seven species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Bank swallowRiparia ripariaB U
Tree swallowTachycineta bicolorB
Violet-green swallowTachycineta thalassinaB
Northern rough-winged swallowStelgidopteryx serripennisB U
Barn swallowHirundo rusticaB U
Cliff swallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonotaB

Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Black-capped chickadee

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. Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Black-capped chickadeePoecile atricapillaB U
Mountain chickadeePoecile gambeliB

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. Three species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Red-breasted nuthatchSitta canadensisB
White-breasted nuthatchSitta carolinensisB U
Pygmy nuthatchSitta pygmaeaV

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Creepers 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. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Brown creeperCerthia americanaB U

Wrens

Rock wren

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. Six species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Rock wrenSalpinctes obsoletusB U
Canyon wrenCatherpes mexicanusV
House wrenTroglodytes aedonB
Marsh wrenCistothorus palustrisB R

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Polioptilidae

These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their structure and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. The gnatcatchers are mainly soft bluish gray in color and have the typical insectivore's long sharp bill. Many species have distinctive black head patterns (especially males) and long, regularly cocked, black-and-white tails. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Blue-gray gnatcatcherPolioptila caeruleaV

Dippers

American dipper

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are small stout birds that feed in cold, fast-moving streams. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
American dipperCinclus mexicanusB U

Kinglets

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice. They are very small insectivorous birds in the genus Regulus. The adults have colored crowns, giving rise to their names. Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Golden-crowned kingletRegulus satrapaB U
Ruby-crowned kingletRegulus calendulaB

Thrushes and allies

Mountain bluebird

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. Eight species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Western bluebirdSialia mexicanaR
Mountain bluebirdSialia currucoidesB
Townsend's solitaireMyadestes townsendiB
VeeryCatharus fuscescensV
Swainson's thrushCatharus ustulatusB U
Hermit thrushCatharus guttatusB
American robinTurdus migratoriusB
Varied thrushIxoreus naeviusV

Mockingbirds and thrashers

Sage thrasher

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 grays and browns in their appearance. Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Gray catbirdDumetella carolinensisB U
Sage thrasherOreoscoptes montanusB U

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerines with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
European starlingSturnus vulgarisI B U

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. Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Bohemian waxwingBombycilla garrulus
Cedar waxwingBombycilla cedrorumB U

Old World sparrows

House sparrow

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

In general, Old World sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or grayish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
House sparrowPasser domesticusI B

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails which includes the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
American pipitAnthus rubescensB R

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Cassin's finch

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. Twelve species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Evening grosbeakCoccothraustes vespertinusB O
Pine grosbeakPinicola enucleatorB U
Gray-crowned rosy-finchLeucosticte tephrocotisR
Black rosy-finchLeucosticte atrataB U
House finchHaemorhous mexicanusR
Cassin's finchHaemorhous cassiniiB
Common redpollAcanthis flammeaU
Red crossbillLoxia curvirostraB U
White-winged crossbillLoxia leucopterab R
Pine siskinSpinus pinusB
Lesser goldfinchSpinus psaltriaV
American goldfinchSpinus tristisB R

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. Three species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Thick-billed longspurRhynchophanes mccowniiV
Lapland longspurCalcarius lapponicusV
Snow buntingPlectrophenax nivalisO

New World sparrows

White-crowned sparrow

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. Twenty-two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Grasshopper sparrowAmmodramus savannarumO
Black-throated sparrowAmphispiza bilineataV
Lark sparrowChondestes grammacusO
Lark buntingCalamospiza melanocorysV
Chipping sparrowSpizella passerinaB
Clay-colored sparrowSpizella pallidaV
Brewer's sparrowSpizella breweriB
Fox sparrowPasserella iliacaB R
American tree sparrowSpizelloides arboreaU
Dark-eyed juncoJunco hyemalisB
White-crowned sparrowZonotrichia leucophrysB
Harris's sparrowZonotrichia querulaV
White-throated sparrowZonotrichia albicollisV
Sagebrush sparrowArtemisiospiza nevadensisV
Vesper sparrowPooecetes gramineusB
Savannah sparrowPasserculus sandwichensisB
Song sparrowMelospiza melodiaB
Lincoln's sparrowMelospiza lincolniiB
Swamp sparrowMelospiza georgianaV
Green-tailed towheePipilo chlorurusB U
Spotted towheePipilo maculatusB R

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.

Common name Binomial Status
Yellow-breasted chatIcteria virensV

Troupials and allies

Yellow-headed blackbird

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful 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 color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red. Nine species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Yellow-headed blackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalusB
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusV
Western meadowlarkSturnella neglectaB
Bullock's orioleIcterus bullockiiB R
Red-winged blackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusB
Brown-headed cowbirdMolothrus aterB
Rusty blackbirdEuphagus carolinusV
Brewer's blackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalusB
Common grackleQuiscalus quisculaV

New World warblers

Yellow warbler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

The wood warblers are a group of small often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some like the ovenbird and the two waterthrushes, are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores. Twenty-one species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaV
Northern waterthrushParkesia noveboracensisb R
Black-and-white warblerMniotilta variaR
Prothonotary warblerProtonotaria citreaV
Tennessee warblerLeiothlypis peregrinaR
Orange-crowned warblerLeiothlypis celataB U
Nashville warblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaR
MacGillivray's warblerGeothlypis tolmieiB U
Common yellowthroatGeothlypis trichasB
Hooded warblerSetophaga citrinaV
American redstartSetophaga ruticillaB R
Cape May warblerSetophaga tigrinaV
Blackburnian warblerSetophaga fuscaR
Yellow warblerSetophaga petechiaB
Chestnut-sided warblerSetophaga pensylvanicaV
Blackpoll warblerSetophaga striataR
Yellow-rumped warblerSetophaga coronataB
Black-throated gray warblerSetophaga nigrescensV
Townsend's warblerSetophaga townsendiR
Wilson's warblerCardellina pusillaB U

Cardinals and allies

Lazuli bunting

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. Five species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status
Western tanagerPiranga ludovicianaB
Rose-breasted grosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusV
Black-headed grosbeakPheucticus melanocephalusb R
Lazuli buntingPasserina amoenaB

Notes

  1. A rare bird report form is available at https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/wildlife-sightings.htm

References

  1. "Birds of Yellowstone" (PDF). National Park Service. May 7, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  2. "Check-list of North and Middle American Birds". American Ornithological Society. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.

See also

Further reading

  • Brodrick, Harold J. (1952). Birds of Yellowstone National Park: A Descriptive Check List of the Birds of Yellowstone with Helpful Illustrations. Yellowstone National Park.
  • Zardus, Maurice J. (1967). Birds of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Salt Lake City, UT: Wheelright Press.
  • Follett, dick (1975). Birds of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Yellowstone Library and Museum Association. ISBN 0911797149.
  • Zarki, J.; Follett, R. (1987). A Checklist, Birds of Yellowstone National Park.
  • McEneaney, Terry; McEneaney, Karen (1988). Birds of Yellowstone: a Practical Habitat Guide to the Birds of Yellowstone National Park- and Where to Find Them. Boulder, CO: Robert Rinehart Inc. ISBN 0911797440.
  • Wilkinson, Todd (1992). Yellowstone Wildlife A Watcher's Guide. Minocqua, WI: NorthWord Press. ISBN 155971140X.
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