List of birds of Yellowstone National Park

Bald Eagle

The Birds of Yellowstone National Park lists 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 to date in the park.

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 on this list. This list is presented in taxonomic order and follows The Check-list of North American Birds (7th ed., 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 accounts.

Legend

As listed in the Checklist of the Birds of Yellowstone National Park:

• I - Introduced species that are not native to North America, but were brought to this continent by man.
• 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 north 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

Trumpeter Swan on nest

Order: Anseriformes. Family: Anatidae

The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swan. These are birds that are modified for 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.

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

Blue Grouse

Order: Galliformes. Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae is a family of birds which 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.

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

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 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 hopeless on land. There are 3 Yellowstone species.

• Red-throated Loon, (Gavia stellata), *
• Pacific Loon, (Gavia pacifica), +
• Common Loon, (Gavia immer), B

Grebes

Red-necked Grebe

Order: Podicipediformes. Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large sized 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.

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

Pelicans

American White Pelican

Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under the beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes. There is 1 Yellowstone species.

Common name	Binomial	Status
American White Pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos	BN

Cormorants

Double-crested Cormorant

Order: Pelecaniformes. 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, a distinguishing feature among the Pelecaniformes order. There is 1 Yellowstone species.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Double-crested Cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus	B

Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets

Great Blue Heron

Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and Egrets are medium to large-sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 8 Yellowstone species.

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: Ciconiiformes. 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 2 Yellowstone species.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Wood Stork	Mycteria americana	*N

New World Vultures

Turkey Vulture

Order: Ciconiiformes. 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	+N

Osprey

Osprey

Order: Falconiformes. Family: Pandionidae

Common name	Binomial	Status
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	BN

Hawks, Kites, and Eagles

Order: Falconiformes. Family: Accipitridae

The family Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey and include 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.

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

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 feet. There are 5 Yellowstone species.

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

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, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have 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.

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

Cranes

File:Lesser Sandhilll Head.jpg

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". There are 2 Yellowstone species.

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

Lapwings and Plovers

Killdeer

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, although there are some exceptions. There are 4 Yellowstone species.

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

Stilts and Avocets

Black-necked Stilt

Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and the 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus mexicanus	*

Sandpipers, Curlews, Stints, Godwits, Snipes, and Phalaropes

Long-billed Curlew

Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Scolopacidae

The Scolopacidae are 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 species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 23 Yellowstone species.

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

Caspian Tern

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 grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 13 Yellowstone species.

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 |- | 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Long-billed Murrelet	Brachyramphus perdix	*

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. There are 3 Yellowstone species.

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. Unlike the cuckoo species of the Old World, North American cuckoos are not brood parasites. There is 1 Yellowstone species.

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

Barn Owls

Order: Strigiformes. Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There is 1 Yellowstone species.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Barn Owl	Tyto alba	*

True owls

Order: Strigiformes. Family: Strigidae

Great Gray Owl

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.

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 Grey 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 with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves. There is 1 Yellowstone species.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Common Nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	B+N

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes. Family: Apodidae

The swifts are small aerial birds, spending 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 that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. There are 2 Yellowstone species.

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

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. There are 3 Yellowstone species.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon	B

Woodpeckers, Sapsuckers, and Flickers

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. There are 13 Yellowstone species.

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

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 with 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.

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

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

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

Vireos

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 colour and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills. There are 5 Yellowstone species.

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

Common Raven

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Corvidae

The Corvidae family includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size for the bird order Passeriformes. Some of the larger species show levels of learned behavior of a high degree. There are 8 Yellowstone species.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Grey 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

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. There is 1 Yellowstone species.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris	BN

Swallows and martins

Barn Swallow

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Hirundinidae

The Hirundinidae family is a group of passerines characterised by their adaptation to aerial feeding. Their adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and short bills with a wide gape. The feet are designed for perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. There are 6 Yellowstone species.

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

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. There are 2 Yellowstone species.

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

Nuthatches

White-breasted Nuthatch

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.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana	B

Wrens

Rock Wren

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and a thin down-turned bill. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous. There are 6 Yellowstone species.

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

American Dipper

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Cinclidae

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

Common name	Binomial	Status
American Dipper	Cinclus mexicanus	B

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 coloured crowns, giving rise to their names. There are 2 Yellowstone species.

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

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. There are 8 Yellowstone species.

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

Sage Thrasher

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 grays and browns in their appearance. There are 4 Yellowstone species.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	IB

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Motacillidae

The Motacillidae are 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.

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 characterised by 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.

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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Phainopepla	Phainopepla nitens	*

Wood-warblers

Yellow Warbler

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 like the Ovenbird and the two waterthrushes, are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores. There are 23 Yellowstone species.

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

|- | McCown's Longspur || Calcarius mccownii || *N |- | Lapland Longspur || Calcarius lapponicus || * |- | Snow Bunting || Plectrophenax nivalis || * |}

American sparrows, Towhees, and Juncos

White-crowned Sparrow

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Emberizidae

The Emberizidae are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with a distinctively shaped bill. In Europe, most species are named as 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.

Common name	Binomial	Status
Green-tailed Towhee	Pipilo chlorurus	BN
Spotted Towhee	Pipilo maculatus	*N
American Tree Sparrow	Spizella 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

Lazuli Bunting

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Cardinalidae

The Cardinals are a family of passerine birds that are 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.

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

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Order: Passeriformes. Family: Icteridae

The Icterids are a group of small to medium, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange or red. There are 9 Yellowstone species.

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

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 12 tail feathers and 9 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.

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

House Sparrow

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, and they also consume small insects. There is 1 Yellowstone species.

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. (1987). A Checklist, Birds of Yellowstone National Park. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• McEneaney, Terry (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. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• 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. {{cite report}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• McEneaney, Terry (2000). Yellowstone Bird Report 2000 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR–NR–2001–01. {{cite report}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• McEneaney, Terry (2001). Yellowstone Bird Report 2001 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR–NR–2002–03. {{cite report}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• McEneaney, Terry (2002). Yellowstone Bird Report 2002 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR–NR–2003–03. {{cite report}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• McEneaney, Terry (2003). Yellowstone Bird Report 2003 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR–NR–2004–01. {{cite report}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• McEneaney, Terry (2004). Yellowstone Bird Report 2004 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR-2005-01. {{cite report}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• McEneaney, Terry (2005). Yellowstone Bird Report 2005 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR-2006-2. {{cite report}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• McEneaney, Terry (2006). Yellowstone Bird Report 2006 (PDF) (Report). Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. YCR-2007-01. {{cite report}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)