List of birds of Grand Canyon National Park

This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Grand Canyon National Park, which is in the U.S. state of Arizona. This list is based on one published by the National Park Service (NPS) in April 2019.^[1]

This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd 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.

This list contains 359 species. Unless otherwise noted, all are considered to occur regularly in Grand Canyon National Park as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The tags below are used to designate the abundance of some species.

• (R) Rare - "usually seen only a few times each year" per the NPS (44 species)
• (U) Uncommon - "likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season and may be locally common" per the NPS (64 species)
• (O) Occasional - "occur in a park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year" per the NPS (135 species)
• (Unk) Unknown (1 species)
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to North America by humans (5 species)

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

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.

New World quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.

• Gambel's quail, Callipepla gambelii

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

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.

• Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
• Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus (O) (Not on the Arizona Bird Committee (ABC) checklist)^[3]
• Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus (U)
• Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I) (U)

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.

• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (U)
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (O)
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (O)
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (U)
• Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis
• Clark's grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) (U)
• Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (U)
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)
• Inca dove, Columbina inca (O)
• Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (O)
• White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (O)
• Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.

• Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (O)
• Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus (U)
• Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (O)

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.

• Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis (R)
• Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
• Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
• Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus arizonae (R)

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 long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

• Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (O)
• White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis

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.

• Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (R)
• Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri
• Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (O)
• Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae
• Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (U)
• Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
• Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus

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 to be weak fliers.

• Ridgway's rail, Rallus obsoletus (O)
• Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (R)
• Sora, Porzana carolina (R)
• Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (O)
• American coot, Fulica americana

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

• Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (O)

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (R)
• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (U)

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.

• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (U)
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (O)
• Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (O)

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

• Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (O)
• Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (O)
• Sanderling, Calidris alba (O)
• Dunlin, Calidris alpina (O)
• Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (O)
• Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (O)
• Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (O)
• Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri (O)
• Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (O)
• Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (U)
• Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia
• Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (U)
• Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (O)
• Willet, Tringa semipalmata (R)
• Greater yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (O)
• Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (R)
• Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (R)

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas and jaegers are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.

• Jaeger species, Stercorarius sp. (O)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.

• Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (O)
• Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia (O)
• Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (O)
• Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (R)
• California gull, Larus californicus (O)
• Herring gull, Larus argentatus (O)
• Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia (O)
• Black tern, Chlidonias niger (O)
• Common tern, Sterna hirundo (O)
• Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri (O)

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.

• Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (O)
• Common loon, Gavia immer (R)

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.

• Wood stork, Mycteria americana (O)

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

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

• Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens (O)

Cormorants and shags

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.

• Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum (O)
• Neotropic cormorant, Nannopterum brasilianum (O)

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

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

• American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (R)
• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (O)

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

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.

• American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosa (O)
• Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis (O)
• Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
• Great egret, Ardea alba (R)
• Snowy egret, Egretta thula (R)
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis (R)
• Green heron, Butorides virescens (R)
• Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (U)

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.

• White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi (U)

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.

• California condor, Gymnogyps californianus (Reintroduced in 1996 after a century of extirpation; first successful nesting attempt was in 2003)^[3]
• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

Pandionidae is a monotypic family of fish-eating birds of prey. Its single species possesses a very large and powerful hooked beak, strong legs, strong talons, and keen eyesight.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

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.

• Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos (U)
• Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (U)
• Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus
• Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii
• Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
• Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (U)
• Common black hawk, Buteogallus anthracinus (O)
• Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus (O)
• Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus (R)
• Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni (U)
• Zone-tailed hawk, Buteo albonotatus
• Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
• Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus (R)
• Ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis (U)

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Owls in the family Tytonidae are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba (O)

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Typical or "true" 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.

• Flammulated owl, Psiloscops flammeolus
• Western screech-owl, Megascops kennicottii
• Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus
• Northern pygmy-owl, Glaucidium gnoma (R)
• Burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia (R)
• Spotted owl, Strix occidentalis (U)
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus (O)
• Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus (O)

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.

• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (U)

Woodpeckers

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.

• Lewis's woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis (R)
• Acorn woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus (U)
• Williamson's sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus
• Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius (O)
• Red-naped sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis (U)
• Red-breasted sapsucker, Sphyrapicus ruber (O)
• American three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis (U)
• Downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens (R)
• Ladder-backed woodpecker, Dryobates scalaris (R)
• Hairy woodpecker, Dryobates villosus
• Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus
• Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus (O) (Not on the ABC checklist)^[3]

Falcons and caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

• American kestrel, Falco sparverius
• Merlin, Falco columbarius (R)
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
• Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus (R)

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.

• Ash-throated flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens
• Brown-crested flycatcher, Myiarchus tyrannulus (R)
• Cassin's kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans
• Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis (U)
• Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus (O)
• Scissor-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus (O)
• Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi (U)
• Greater pewee, Contopus pertinax (O)
• Western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus
• Willow flycatcher, Empidonax traillii (R)
• Hammond's flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii (O)
• Gray flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii
• Dusky flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri (U)
• Pacific-slope flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis (Unk)
• Cordilleran flycatcher, Empidonax occidentalis (U)
• Black phoebe, Sayornis nigricans
• Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe (O)
• Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya
• Vermilion flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus (O)

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World, though a few other species in the family are found in Asia. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood-warblers apart from their heavier bills.

• Bell's vireo, Vireo bellii
• Gray vireo, Vireo vicinior
• Hutton's vireo, Vireo huttoni (O)
• Cassin's vireo, Vireo cassinii (U)
• Plumbeous vireo, Vireo plumbeus
• Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus (O)
• Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus
• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus (O)

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 shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.

• Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus (U)
• Northern shrike, Lanius borealis (O)

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Pinyon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
• Steller's jay, Cyanocitta stelleri
• Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata (O)
• Woodhouse's scrub-jay, Aphelocoma woodhouseii
• Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana
• Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia (O)
• American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos (R)
• Common raven, Corvus corax

Penduline-tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The only member of this family in the New World, the verdin is one of the smallest passerines in North America. It is gray overall and adults have a bright yellow head and rufous "shoulder patch" (the lesser coverts). Verdins are insectivorous, continuously foraging among the desert trees and scrubs. They are usually solitary except when they pair up to construct their conspicuous nests.

• Verdin, Auriparus flaviceps (R)

Tits, 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.

• Mountain chickadee, Poecile gambeli
• Bridled titmouse, Baeolophus wollweberi (O)
• Juniper titmouse, Baeolophus ridgwayi

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is 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.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia (R)
• Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor (R)
• Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
• Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis (R)
• Purple martin, Progne subis (O)
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica (U)
• Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (R)

Long-tailed tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

The long-tailed tits are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.

• Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets and "crests" are a small family of birds which resemble some warblers. They are very small insectivorous birds, mostly in the genus Regulus. The adults have colored crowns, giving rise to their name.

• Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula
• Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa (R)

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.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (O)
• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (U)

Silky-flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ptiliogonatidae

The silky-flycatchers are a small family of passerine birds which occur mainly in Central America. They are related to waxwings and most species have small crests.

• Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens (U)

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet.

• Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis (U)
• White-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
• Pygmy nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

• Brown creeper, Certhia americana

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Polioptilidae

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.

• Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea
• Black-tailed gnatcatcher, Polioptila melanura (U)

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

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

• Rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus
• Canyon wren, Catherpes mexicanus
• Cactus wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus (U)
• Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii
• House wren, Troglodytes aedon
• Pacific wren, Troglodytes pacificus (U)
• Winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis (O)
• Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris

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.

• Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (O)
• Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum (O)
• Bendire's thrasher, Toxostoma bendirei (U)
• Crissal thrasher, Toxostoma crissale (U)
• Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus (U)
• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (U)

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings and mynas are small to medium-sized Old World passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and most are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. The plumage of several species is dark with a metallic sheen.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I) (U)

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

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

• American dipper, Cinclus mexicanus

Thrushes and allies

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.

• Eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis (O)
• Western bluebird, Sialia mexicana
• Mountain bluebird, Sialia currucoides
• Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi
• Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus (O)
• Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus
• Rufous-backed robin, Turdus rufopalliatus (O)
• American robin, Turdus migratorius
• Varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius (O)

Olive warbler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Peucedramidae

The olive warbler has a gray body with some olive-green on the wings and two white wing bars. The male's head and breast are orange and there is a black patch through the eye. This is the only species in its family.

• Olive warbler, Peucedramus taeniatus (O)

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.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)

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.

• White wagtail, Motacilla alba (O)
• American pipit, Anthus rubescens (U)

Finches, euphonias, 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.

• Evening grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus (O)
• Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (O)
• Black rosy-finch, Leucosticte atrata
• House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus
• Purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus (O)
• Cassin's finch, Haemorhous cassinii
• Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea (O)
• Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra (O)
• White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (O)
• Pine siskin, Spinus pinus
• Lesser goldfinch, Spinus psaltria
• Lawrence's goldfinch, Spinus lawrencei (O)
• American goldfinch, Spinus tristis (U)

New World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

Until 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.

Yellow-breasted chat

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteriidae

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

• Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virens

Troupials and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often 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 which is often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

• Yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (U)
• Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus (O)
• Eastern meadowlark, Sturnella magna (U)
• Western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta
• Orchard oriole, Icterus spurius (O)
• Hooded oriole, Icterus cucullatus
• Streak-backed oriole, Icterus pustulatus (O)
• Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula (O)
• Bullock's oriole, Icterus bullockii (U)
• Scott's oriole, Icterus parisorum
• Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus (O)
• Bronzed cowbird, Molothrus aeneus (O)
• Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater
• Rusty blackbird, Euphagus carolinus (O)
• Brewer's blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus
• Common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula (O)
• Great-tailed grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus

New World 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 are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.

Cardinals and allies

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.

• Hepatic tanager, Piranga hepatica (U)
• Summer tanager, Piranga rubra (U)
• Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea (O)
• Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana
• Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus (R)
• Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus
• Blue grosbeak, Passerina (Guiraca) caerulea
• Lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena
• Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea (R)
• Painted bunting, Passerina ciris (O)
• Dickcissel, Spiza americana (O)

See also

• List of birds of Arizona

References

External links

• Arizona Bird Committee home page
• Arizona Field Ornithologists home page