List of birds of West Virginia
Over 300 species of birds can be found in the state of West Virginia during some seasons. Of these species, only around 75 actually breed within the state; the remainder are migrating or wintering species that are only present during the spring or winter months.
In West Virginia, bird diversity is highest from late spring to early fall, but around 50 species can be encountered in the state during the cold winter months.[1]
The IUCN classifies eleven species as "Near Threatened" (black scoter,[2] northern bobwhite,[3] piping plover,[4] semipalmated sandpiper,[5] buff-breasted sandpiper,[6] chimney swift,[7] red-headed woodpecker,[8] olive-sided flycatcher,[9] golden-winged warbler,[10] Bachman's sparrow,[11] and Henslow's sparrow[12]) and four species as "Vulnerable" (oldsquaw,[13] Bicknell's thrush,[14] cerulean warbler,[15] and rusty blackbird[16]).
An asterisk (*) beside a species' name indicates that there are fewer that five accepted records of that species in West Virginia.[17]
Order Gaviiformes (Loons)
Family Gaviidae
- Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata)
- Common loon (Gavia immer)
Order Podicipediformes (Grebes)
Family Podicipedidae
- Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
- Horned grebe (Podiceps auritus)
- Red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
Order Pelecaniformes
Family Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
- American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
Family Ardeidae (Herons)
- American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
- Least bittern (Ixobrychus exilis)
- Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
- Great egret (Ardea alba)
- Snowy egret (Egretta thula)
- Little blue heron (Egretta caerulea)
- Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)
- Green heron (Butorides virescens)
- Black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
- Yellow-crowned night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
Family Threskiornithidae (Ibises)
- White ibis (Eudocimus albus)*
- Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)*
Order Suliformes (Gannets and Relatives)
Family Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)
- Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)*
Order Ciconiiformes (Storks)
Family Ciconiidae (Storks)
- Wood stork (Mycteria americana)
Order Incertae sedis
Family Cathartidae (New World vultures)
- Black vulture (Coragyps atratus)
- Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)
Order Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Family Anatidae
- Black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)*
- Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons)
- Snow goose (Chen caerulescens)
- Ross's goose (Chen rossii)*
- Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
- Brant (Branta bernicla)
- Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
- Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator)*
- Tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus)
- Wood duck (Aix sponsa)
- Gadwall (Anas strepera)
- American black duck (Anas rubripes)
- Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Blue-winged teal (Anas discors)
- Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata)
- Northern pintail (Anas acuta)
- Green-winged teal (Anas carolinensis)
- Eurasian widgeon (Mareca penelope)
- American widgeon (Mareca americana)
- Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
- Redhead (Aythya americana)
- Ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris)
- Greater scaup (Aythya marila)
- Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis)
- King eider (Somateria spectabilis)*
- Surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
- White-winged scoter (Melanitta deglandi)
- Black scoter (Melanitta americana)
- Oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis)
- Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
- Common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
- Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
- Common merganser (Mergus merganser)
- Red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator)
- Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Order Accipitriformes (Birds of Prey)
Family Pandionidae (Osprey)
- Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Family Accipitridae (Eagles and hawks)
- Swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus)*
- Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Northern harrier (Circus cyaneus)
- Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus)
- Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
- Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
- Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)
- Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus)
- Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni)*
- Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
- Rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus)
- Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Order Falconiformes (Falcons)
Family Falconidae
- American kestrel (Falco sparverius)
- Merlin (Falco columbarius)
- Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Order Galliformes (Gamebirds)
Family Phasianidae (Pheasants)
- Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
- Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
- Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Family Odontophoridae (New World quail)
- Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)
Order Gruiformes (Cranes and relatives)
Family Rallidae (Rails)
- Yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis)*
- King rail (Rallus elegans)
- Virginia rail (Rallus limicola)
- Sora (Porzana carolina)
- Purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)
- Common moorhen (Gallinula galeata)
- American coot (Fulica americana)
Family Gruidae (Cranes)
- Sandhill crane (Grus canadensis)
Order Charadriiformes (Shorebirds)
Family Charadriidae (Plovers)
- Black-bellied plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
- American golden-plover (Pluvialis dominica)
- Semipalmated plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
- Piping plover (Charadrius melodus)*
- Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
Family Recurvirostridae (Avocets and stilts)
- Black-necked stilt (Himantopus himantopus)*
- American avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
Family Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Relatives)
- Greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
- Lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
- Solitary sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
- Willet (Tringa semipalmata)
- Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
- Upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)
- Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)*
- Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica)*
- Marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa)*
- Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
- Sanderling (Calidris alba)
- Semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
- Western sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
- Least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
- White-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)
- Baird's sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
- Pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
- Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
- Stilt sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)
- Buff-breasted sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis)
- Short-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
- Long-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)*
- Wilson's snipe (Gallinago delicata)
- American woodcock (Scolopax minor)
- Wilson's phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
- Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
- Red phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)*
Family Stercorariidae (Skuas)
- Parasitic jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)*
Family Laridae (Gulls)
- Laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
- Franklin's gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)*
- Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis)
- Herring gull (Larus smithsonianus)
- Glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus)*
- Bonaparte's gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
- Sabine's gull (Xema sabini)*
- Black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)*
Family Sternidae (Terns)
- Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
- Common tern (Sterna hirundo)
- Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri)
- Least tern (Sternula antillarum)
- Sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus)*
- Black tern (Chlidonias niger)
Order Columbiformes (Doves)
Family Columbidae
- Rock dove (Columba livia)
- Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura)
Order Cuculiformes (Cuckoos)
Family Cuculidae
- Black-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
- Yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
Order Strigiformes (Owls)
Family Tytonidae (Barn owls)
- Barn owl (Tyto alba)
Family Strigidae (True owls)
- Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio)
- Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
- Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus)
- Barred owl (Strix varia)
- Long-eared owl (Asio otus)
- Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus)
- Northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus)
Order Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars)
Family Caprimulgidae
- Common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
- Chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis)
- Eastern whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus)
Order Apodiformes (Swifts and hummingbirds)
Family Apodidae (Swifts)
- Chimney swift (Chaetura pelagica)
Family Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
- Ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
- Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)*
Order Coraciiformes (Kingfishers and Relatives)
Family Cerylidae (Water kingfishers)
- Belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
Order Piciformes (Woodpeckers and Relatives)
Family Picidae (Woodpeckers)
- Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
- Red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
- Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
- Downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
- Hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
- Northern flicker (Colaptes auratus)
- Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
Order Passeriformes (Perching birds)
Family Tyrannidae (Tyrant flycatchers)
- Olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)
- Eastern wood-pewee (Contopus virens)
- Yellow-bellied flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris)
- Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)
- Alder flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)
- Willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)
- Least flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)
- Eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
- Ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)*
- Great crested flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
- Western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
- Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
Family Laniidae (Shrikes)
- Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
- Northern shrike (Lanius excubitor)*
Family Vireonidae (Vireos)
- White-Eyed vireo (Vireo griseus)
- Yellow-throated vireo (Vireo flavifrons)
- Blue-headed vireo (Vireo solitarius)
- Warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus)
- Philadelphia vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)
- Red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus)
Family Corvidae (Crows and Relatives)
- Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
- Black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia)*
- American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
- Fish crow (Corvus ossifragus)
- Common raven (Corvus corax)
Family Alaudidae (Larks)
- Horned lark (Eremophila alpestris)
Family Hirundinidae (Swallows and martins)
- Purple martin (Progne subis)
- Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
- Northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
- Bank swallow (Riparia riparia)
- Cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
- Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Family Paridae (Chickadees)
- Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
- Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
- Boreal chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)*
- Tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
Family Sittidae (Nuthatches)
- Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
- White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
Family Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
- Brown creeper (Certhia americana)
Family Troglodytidae (Wrens)
- Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
- Bewick's wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
- House wren (Troglodytes aedon)
- Winter wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)
- Sedge wren (Cistothorus platensis)
- Marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris)
Family Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
- Blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
Family Regulidae (Kinglets)
- Golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
- Ruby-crowned kinglet (Regulus calendula)
Family Turdidae (Thrushes)
- Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis)
- Veery (Catharus fuscescens)
- Gray-cheeked thrush (Catharus minimus)
- Bicknell's thrush (Catharus bicknelli)*
- Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
- Hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus)
- Wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
- American robin (Turdus migratorius)
- Varied thrush (Ixoreus naevius)*
Family Mimidae (Mimids)
- Gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
- Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
- Brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
Family Sturnidae (Starlings)
- European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Family Motacillidae (Pipits)
- American pipit (Anthus rubescens)
Family Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
- Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
- Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Family Calcariidae (Longspurs and snow buntings)
- Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
- Smith's longspur (Calcarius pictus)*
- Snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
Family Parulidae (New World warblers)
- Blue-winged warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)
- Golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)
- Orange-crowned warbler (Oreothlypis celata)
- Nashville warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)
- Tennessee warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)
- Northern parula (Setophaga americana)
- Yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia)
- Chestnut-sided warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)
- Magnolia warbler (Setophaga magnolia)
- Cape May warbler (Setophaga tigrina)
- Black-throated blue warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)
- Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata)
- Black-throated green warbler (Setophaga virens)
- Blackburnian warbler (Setophaga fusca)
- Yellow-throated warbler (Setophaga dominica)
- Pine warbler (Setophaga pinus)
- Prairie warbler (Setophaga discolor)
- Palm warbler (Setophaga palmarum)
- Bay-breasted warbler (Setophaga castanea)
- Blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata)
- Cerulean warbler (Setophaga cerulea)
- American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
- Hooded warbler (Setophaga citrina)
- Black-and-white warbler (Mniotilta varia)
- Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
- Worm-eating warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus)
- Swainson's warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii)
- Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)
- Northern waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracencis)
- Louisiana waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)
- Kentucky warbler (Geothlypis formosa)
- Mourning warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia)
- Common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
- Connecticut warbler (Oporornis agilis)
- Wilson's warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
- Canada warbler (Cardellina canadensis)
- Yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens)
Family Cardinalidae (Cardinals)
- Summer tanager (Piranga rubra)
- Scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea)
- Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
- Rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
- Black-headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
- Blue grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
- Indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea)
- Dickcissel (Spiza americana)
Family Emberizidae (American sparrows)
- Green-tailed towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)*
- Spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus)*
- Eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
- Bachman's sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis)
- American tree sparrow (Spizella arborea)
- Chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina)
- Clay-colored sparrow (Spizella pallida)*
- Field sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
- Vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
- Lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
- Lark bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys)*
- Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
- Grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
- Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii)
- Le Conte's sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii)*
- Nelson's sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni)
- Fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
- Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
- Lincoln's sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
- Swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)
- White-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
- Harris's sparrow (Zonotrichia querula)
- White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
- Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis)
Family Icteridae (New World blackbirds)
- Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
- Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
- Eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
- Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
- Yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
- Rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)
- Brewer's blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
- Common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
- Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)
- Orchard oriole (Icterus spurius)
- Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula)
Family Fringillidae (Finches)
- Pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
- Purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus)
- House finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
- Red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
- White-winged crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
- Common redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
- Hoary redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni)*
- Pine siskin (Spinus pinus)
- American goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
- Evening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)
Family Passeridae (Sparrows)
- House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
References
- ↑ http://www.wvdnr.gov/wildlife/birdwv.shtm
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Melanitta americana. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/160031681/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Colinus virginianus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/160030131/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Charadrius melodus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106003127/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Calidris pusilla. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106003043/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Tryngites subruficollis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106003059/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Chaetura pelagica. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106001758/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/100600574/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Contopus cooperi. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106004264/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Vermivora chrysoptera. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106009086/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Peucaea aestivalis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106009019/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Ammodramus henslowii. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106008994/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Clangula hyemalis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/100600490/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Catharus bicknelli. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/160030034/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Dendroica cerulea. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106009120/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ BirdLife International 2012. Euphagus carolinus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106009745/0>. Downloaded on 25 June 2012.
- ↑ http://www.wvdnr.gov/Publications/PDFFiles/bird%20checklist2.pdf