List of birds of Yellowstone National Park

This list of birds of Yellowstone National Park includes every wild bird species reported in Yellowstone National Park in the last 50 years. Since its creation in March, 1872, 318 species of birds have been documented in the park.^[1]

Only birds that are considered to have established, self-sustaining, wild populations in Yellowstone are included on this list. This means that birds that are considered probable escapees, although they may have been sighted flying free in Yellowstone, are not included. This list is presented in taxonomic order and follows The Check-list of North American Birds (7th edition, 1998) published by the American Ornithologists' Union. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account.^[2]

Legend

As listed in the Checklist of the Birds of Yellowstone National Park:^[1]

• I - Introduced species that are not native to North America, but were brought to this continent by humans.
• B - Breeders, species known to have nested or produced dependent young in Yellowstone in recent years.
• * - Less than 20 documented records of this species exist in Yellowstone over the last 50 years.
• + - The Yellowstone Center For Resources welcomes additional information regarding this species.
• N - Neotropical migrants, birds known to spend the summer season in temperate North America and winter in the Neotropics (i.e., the area of the New World that lies south of Central Mexico and Cuba and north of northern Argentina and southern Brazil).

Ducks, geese and swans

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. There are 35 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Greater white-fronted goose	Anser albifrons	*N
Snow goose	Chen caerulescens	+
Ross's goose	Chen rossii	*
Brant	Branta bernicla	*
Canada goose	Branta canadensis	B
Cackling goose	Branta hutchinsii
Trumpeter swan	Cygnus buccinator	B
Whooper swan	Cygnus cygnus	*
Wood duck	Aix sponsa	*
Gadwall	Anas strepera	BN
Eurasian wigeon	Anas penelope	*
American wigeon	Anas americana	BN
American black duck	Anas rubripes	*
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	BN
Blue-winged teal	Anas discors	BN
Cinnamon teal	Anas cyanoptera	BN
Northern shoveler	Anas clypeata	BN
Northern pintail	Anas acuta	BN
Green-winged teal	Anas crecca	BN
Canvasback	Aythya valisineria	BN
Redhead	Aythya americana	BN
Ring-necked duck	Aythya collaris	BN
Greater scaup	Aythya marila	*
Lesser scaup	Aythya affinis	BN
Harlequin duck	Histrionicus histrionicus	B
Surf scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	*
White-winged scoter	Melanitta fusca	*
Black scoter	Melanitta americana	*
Long-tailed duck	Clangula hyemalis	*
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	BN
Barrow's goldeneye	Bucephala islandica	B
Hooded merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	+
Common merganser	Mergus merganser	B
Red-breasted merganser	Mergus serrator	+N
Ruddy duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	BN

Partridges, grouse, turkeys and quail

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. There are 5 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Chukar	Alectoris chukar	*I
Gray partridge	Perdix perdix	B+I
Ruffed grouse	Bonasa umbellus	B
Dusky grouse	Dendragapus obscurus	B
Wild turkey	Meleagris galopavo	*

Loons

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. There are 3 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-throated loon	Gavia stellata	*
Pacific loon	Gavia pacifica	+
Common loon	Gavia immer	B

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. There are 6 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Pied-billed grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	BN
Horned grebe	Podiceps auritus	+N
Red-necked grebe	Podiceps grisegena	B+
Eared grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	B
Western grebe	Aechmophorus occidentalis	N
Clark's grebe	Aechmophorus clarkii	*N

Cormorants

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, a distinguishing feature among the Pelecaniformes order. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Double-crested cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus	B

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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
American white pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos	BN

Bitterns, herons and egrets

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. There are eight Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
American bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus	B*N
Great blue heron	Ardea herodias	B
Great egret	Ardea alba	*N
Snowy egret	Egretta thula	*N
Tricolored heron	Egretta tricolor	*N
Cattle egret	Bubulcus ibis	*N
Green heron	Butorides virescens	*N
Black-crowned night heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	*N

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. There are two Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Glossy ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	*
White-faced ibis	Plegadis chihi	*N

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They lack the powder down that other wading birds such as herons, spoonbills and ibises use to clean off fish slime. Storks lack a pharynx and are mute. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Wood stork	Mycteria americana	*N

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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Turkey vulture	Cathartes aura	+N

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	BN

Hawks, kites and eagles

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. There are 13 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bald eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	B
Northern harrier	Circus cyaneus	BN
Sharp-shinned hawk	Accipiter striatus	BN
Cooper's hawk	Accipiter cooperii	BN
Northern goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	BN
Red-shouldered hawk	Buteo lineatus	*N
Broad-winged hawk	Buteo platypterus	*N
Swainson's hawk	Buteo swainsoni	BN
Red-tailed hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	BN
Ferruginous hawk	Buteo regalis	+N
Rough-legged hawk	Buteo lagopus	+
Golden eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	B*

Caracaras and falcons

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. There are 5 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Crested caracara	Caracara cheriway	*
American kestrel	Falco sparverius	BN
Merlin	Falco columbarius	+N
Gyrfalcon	Falco rusticolus	BN
Prairie falcon	Falco mexicanus	BN

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 tend to be weak fliers. There are 4 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Yellow rail	Coturnicops noveboracensis	*
Virginia rail	Rallus limicola	B*
Sora	Porzana carolina	B
American coot	Fulica americana	B

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". There are 2 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Sandhill crane	Grus canadensis	B
Whooping crane	Grus americana	+

Lapwings and plovers

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. There are 4 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-bellied plover	Pluvialis squatarola	*
Snowy plover	Charadrius nivosus	*
Semipalmated plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	*
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	BN

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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-necked stilt	Himantopus mexicanus	*

Sandpipers, curlews, stints, godwits, snipes and phalaropes

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. There are 23 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Greater yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	+
Lesser yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	+
Solitary sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	+
Willet	Tringa semipalmata	+
Wandering tattler	Tringa incana	*
Spotted sandpiper	Actitis macularia	B
Upland sandpiper	Bartramia longicauda	*N
Long-billed curlew	Numenius americanus	B+N
Hudsonian godwit	Limosa haemastica	*
Marbled godwit	Limosa fedoa	+
Ruddy turnstone	Arenaria interpres	*
Red knot	Calidris canutus	*
Sanderling	Calidris alba	*
Semipalmated sandpiper	Calidris pusilla	*
White-rumped sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis	*
Pectoral sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	*
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	*
Stilt sandpiper	Calidris himantopus	*
Short-billed dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus	*
Long-billed dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	+
Wilson's snipe	Gallinago delicata	B
Wilson's phalarope	Phalaropus tricolor	B+
Red-necked phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	*

Gulls, terns and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes jaegers, skuas, 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. There are 13 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Sabine's gull	Xema sabini	*
Laughing gull	Larus atricilla	*
Bonaparte's gull	Larus philadelphia	*
Franklin's gull	Larus pipixcan	+
Mew gull	Larus canus	*
California gull	Larus californicus	B
Herring gull	Larus argentatus	*
Caspian tern	Hydroprogne caspia	B
Black tern	Chlidonias niger	B+
Common tern	Sterna hirundo	*
Arctic tern	Sterna paradisaea	*
Forster's tern	Sterna forsteri	*

Skuas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Parasitic jaeger	Stercorarius parasiticus	*

Auks, murres and puffins

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

The family Alcidae includes auks, murres and puffins. These are short winged birds that live on the open sea and normally only come ashore for breeding. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Long-billed murrelet	Brachyramphus perdix	*

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. There are 3 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rock pigeon	Columba livia	IB
Band-tailed pigeon	Patagioenas fasciata	*N
Mourning dove	Zenaida macroura	B+N

Cuckoos, roadrunners and anis

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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-billed cuckoo	Coccyzus erythropthalmus	*N

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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Barn owl	Tyto alba	*

True 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. There are 11 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Flammulated owl	Psiloscops flammeolus	*
Western screech-owl	Megascops kennicottii	*
Eastern screech-owl	Megascops asio	*
Great horned owl	Bubo virginianus	B
Northern pygmy-owl	Glaucidium gnoma	B+
Burrowing owl	Athene cunicularia	+N
Great gray owl	Strix nebulosa	B+
Long-eared owl	Asio otus	B*N
Short-eared owl	Asio flammeus	B*N
Boreal owl	Aegolius funereus	B+
Northern saw-whet owl	Aegolius acadicus	B+

Nightjars

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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	B+N

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. There are 2 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Vaux's swift	Chaetura vauxi	*N
White-throated swift	Aeronautes saxatalis	BN

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. There are 3 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Calliope hummingbird	Selasphorus calliope	B+N
Broad-tailed hummingbird	Selasphorus platycercus	B+N
Rufous hummingbird	Selasphorus rufus	B+N

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Belted kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon	B

Woodpeckers, sapsuckers and flickers

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. There are 13 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Lewis's woodpecker	Melanerpes lewis	B+
Red-headed woodpecker	Melanerpes erythrocephalus	*
Red-bellied woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	*
Williamson's sapsucker	Sphyrapicus thyroideus	B+N
Yellow-bellied sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	*N
Red-naped sapsucker	Sphyrapicus nuchalis	BN
Downy woodpecker	Picoides pubescens	B*
Hairy woodpecker	Picoides villosus	B
White-headed woodpecker	Picoides albolarvatus	*
American three-toed woodpecker	Picoides dorsalis	B+
Black-backed woodpecker	Picoides arcticus	B+
Northern flicker	Colaptes auratus	BN
Pileated woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus	*

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. There are 13 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Olive-sided flycatcher	Contopus cooperi	BN
Western wood-pewee	Contopus sordidulus	BN
Willow flycatcher	Empidonax traillii	B*N
Least flycatcher	Empidonax minimus	*N
Hammond's flycatcher	Empidonax hammondii	BN
Gray flycatcher	Empidonax wrightii	B*N
Dusky flycatcher	Empidonax oberholseri	BN
Cordilleran flycatcher	Empidonax occidentalis	B*N
Say's phoebe	Sayornis saya	*N
Ash-throated flycatcher	Myiarchus cinerascens	*N
Western kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis	*N
Eastern kingbird	Tyrannus tyrannus	+N
Scissor-tailed flycatcher	Tyrannus forficatus	*

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 typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey. There are 2 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Loggerhead shrike	Lanius ludovicianus	+N
Northern shrike	Lanius excubitor	+

Vireos

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. There are 5 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Blue-headed vireo	Vireo solitarius	*N
Yellow-throated vireo	Vireo flavifrons	*N
Warbling vireo	Vireo gilvus	BN
Philadelphia vireo	Vireo philadelphicus	*N
Red-eyed vireo	Vireo olivaceus	*N

Jays, crows, magpies and ravens

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. There are 8 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Gray jay	Perisoreus canadensis	B
Steller's jay	Cyanocitta stelleri	B
Blue jay	Cyanocitta cristata	*
Pinyon jay	Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus	*
Clark's nutcracker	Nucifraga columbiana	B
Black-billed magpie	Pica hudsonia	B
American crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	B
Common raven	Corvus corax	B

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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Horned lark	Eremophila alpestris	BN

Swallows and martins

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. There are 6 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Tree swallow	Tachycineta bicolor	BN
Violet-green swallow	Tachycineta thalassina	BN
Northern rough-winged swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis	BN
Bank swallow	Riparia riparia	BN
Cliff swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	BN
Barn swallow	Hirundo rustica	BN

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. There are 2 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-capped chickadee	Poecile atricapilla	B+
Mountain chickadee	Poecile gambeli	B

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. There are 3 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Red-breasted nuthatch	Sitta canadensis	B
White-breasted nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	B+
Pygmy nuthatch	Sitta pygmaea	*

Creepers

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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Brown creeper	Certhia americana	B

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. There are 6 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Rock wren	Salpinctes obsoletus	BN
Canyon wren	Catherpes mexicanus	*
House wren	Troglodytes aedon	BN
Winter wren	Troglodytes hiemalis	*
Sedge wren	Cistothorus platensis	*N
Marsh wren	Cistothorus palustris	*N

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are small, stout, birds that feed in cold, fast moving streams. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
American dipper	Cinclus mexicanus	B

Kinglets

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. There are 2 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Golden-crowned kinglet	Regulus satrapa	B+N
Ruby-crowned kinglet	Regulus calendula	BN

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Polioptilidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Blue-gray gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea	*N

Thrushes

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. There are 8 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Western bluebird	Sialia mexicana	*N
Mountain bluebird	Sialia currucoides	BN
Townsend's solitaire	Myadestes townsendi	B
Veery	Catharus fuscescens	*N
Swainson's thrush	Catharus ustulatus	B+N
Hermit thrush	Catharus guttatus	BN
American robin	Turdus migratorius	BN
Varied thrush	Ixoreus naevius	*

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 grays and browns in their appearance. There are 4 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Gray catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	*N
Northern mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	*N
Sage thrasher	Oreoscoptes montanus	BN
Brown thrasher	Toxostoma rufum	*

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are 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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
European starling	Sturnus vulgaris	IB

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. There are 2 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
American pipit	Anthus rubescens	BN
Sprague's pipit	Anthus spragueii	*N

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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Cedar waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	B+N

Silky-flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ptiliogonatidae

The silky-flycatchers are a small family of passerine birds. The family is named for their silky plumage and their aerial flycatching techniques. They occur mainly in Central America from Panama to Mexico, with one species, the Phainopepla, extending northwards into the southwestern USA. They are mostly sedentary, but the Phainopepla is migratory over the northern part of its range.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Phainopepla	Phainopepla nitens	*

Wood-warblers

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. There are 23 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Tennessee warbler	Oreothlypis peregrina	*N
Orange-crowned warbler	Oreothlypis celata	B+N
Nashville warbler	Oreothlypis ruficapilla	*
Virginia's warbler	Oreothlypis virginiae	*
Yellow warbler	Setophaga petechia	BN
Chestnut-sided warbler	Setophaga pensylvanica	*N
Cape May warbler	Setophaga tigrina	*N
Yellow-rumped warbler	Setophaga coronata	BN
Townsend's warbler	Setophaga townsendi	*N
Blackburnian warbler	Setophaga fusca	*N
Yellow-throated warbler	Setophaga dominica	*N
Palm warbler	Setophaga palmarum	*
Bay-breasted warbler	Setophaga castanea	*N
Blackpoll warbler	Setophaga striata	*N
American redstart	Setophaga ruticilla	*N
Black-and-white warbler	Mniotilta varia	*N
Prothonotary warbler	Protonotaria citrea	*N
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla	*N
Northern waterthrush	Parkesia noveboracensis	B+N
MacGillivray's warbler	Geothlypis tolmiei	BN
Common yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas	BN
Wilson's warbler	Cardellina pusilla	BN
Yellow-breasted chat	Icteria virens	*N

Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
McCown's longspur	Calcarius mccownii	*N
Lapland longspur	Calcarius lapponicus	*
Snow bunting	Plectrophenax nivalis	*

American sparrows, towhees and juncos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

Emberizidae is a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns. There are 23 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Green-tailed towhee	Pipilo chlorurus	BN
Spotted towhee	Pipilo maculatus	*N
American tree sparrow	Spizelloides arborea	*
Chipping sparrow	Spizella passerina	BN
Clay-colored sparrow	Spizella pallida	*N
Brewer's sparrow	Spizella breweri	BN
Field sparrow	Spizella pusilla	*
Vesper sparrow	Pooecetes gramineus	BN
Black-chinned sparrow	Spizella atrogularis	*N
Lark sparrow	Chondestes grammacus	*N
Black-throated sparrow	Amphispiza bilineata	*N
Lark bunting	Calamospiza melanocorys	*N
Savannah sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	BN
Grasshopper sparrow	Ammodramus savannarum	*N
Le Conte's sparrow	Ammodramus leconteii	*N
Fox sparrow	Passerella iliaca	B*N
Song sparrow	Melospiza melodia	BN
Lincoln's sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii	BN
Swamp sparrow	Melospiza georgiana	*
White-throated sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	*
Harris's sparrow	Zonotrichia querula	*
White-crowned sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	BN
Dark-eyed junco	Junco hyemalis	BN

Cardinals and grosbeaks

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. There are 6 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Scarlet tanager	Piranga olivacea	*N
Western tanager	Piranga ludoviciana	BN
Rose-breasted grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	*N
Black-headed grosbeak	Pheucticus melanocephalus	*N
Lazuli bunting	Passerina amoena	BN
Indigo bunting	Passerina cyanea	*N

Icterids

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. There are 9 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Bobolink	Dolichonyx oryzivorus	*N
Red-winged blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	BN
Western meadowlark	Sturnella neglecta	BN
Yellow-headed blackbird	Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus	BN
Brewer's blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus	BN
Common grackle	Quiscalus quiscula	*
Brown-headed cowbird	Molothrus ater	BN
Baltimore oriole	Icterus galbula	*N
Bullock's oriole	Icterus bullockii	*N

Fringilline finches, cardueline finches 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. There are 12 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black rosy-finch	Leucosticte atrata	B
Pine grosbeak	Pinicola enucleator	B
Purple finch	Haemorhous purpureus	*
Cassin's finch	Haemorhous cassinii	BN
House finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	B+
Red crossbill	Loxia curvirostra	B
White-winged crossbill	Loxia leucoptera	B+
Common redpoll	Acanthis flammea	*
Pine siskin	Spinus pinus	BN
Lesser goldfinch	Spinus psaltria	*
American goldfinch	Spinus tristis	+N
Evening grosbeak	Coccothraustes vespertinus	+

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, 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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.^[2]

Common name	Binomial	Status
House sparrow	Passer domesticus	IB

See also

• List of birds of Idaho
• List of birds of Montana
• List of birds of Wyoming

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. 

Annual Yellowstone Bird Reports

• McEneaney, Terry (1999). Yellowstone Bird Report 1999 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR–NR–2000–02. 
• McEneaney, Terry (2000). Yellowstone Bird Report 2000 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR–NR–2001–01. 
• McEneaney, Terry (2001). Yellowstone Bird Report 2001 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR–NR–2002–03. 
• McEneaney, Terry (2002). Yellowstone Bird Report 2002 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR–NR–2003–03. 
• McEneaney, Terry (2003). Yellowstone Bird Report 2003 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR–NR–2004–01. 
• McEneaney, Terry (2004). Yellowstone Bird Report 2004 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR-2005-01. 
• McEneaney, Terry (2005). Yellowstone Bird Report 2005 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR-2006-2. 
• McEneaney, Terry (2006). Yellowstone Bird Report 2006 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR-2007-01. 

Notes