| Biology 427: List of main species to learn | ||||
| You are responsible for learning to identify the 165 species below. Focus on learning their official | ||||
| English names (as set by the American Ornithologists' Union). You should also learn the Order | ||||
| and Family names, especially for large groups. Species scientific names are provided for interest, | ||||
| but in this course you are not expected to memorize them. | ||||
| Page numbers refer to: National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th Edition. | ||||
| ORDER | Family | English Name (AOU) | Scientific Name | Page |
| ANSERIFORMES | ||||
| Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans) | ||||
| Snow Goose | Chen caerulescens | 16 | ||
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | 20 | ||
| Trumpeter Swan | Cygnus buccinator | 22 | ||
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | 24 | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | 26 | ||
| Gadwall | Anas strepera | 28 | ||
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | 28 | ||
| American Wigeon | Anas americana | 30 | ||
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | 30 | ||
| Northern Shoveler | Anas clypeata | 32 | ||
| Greater Scaup | Aythya marila | 36 | ||
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | 36 | ||
| Surf Scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | 42 | ||
| Black Scoter | Melanitta americana | 42 | ||
| White-winged Scoter | Melanitta fusca | 42 | ||
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | 44 | ||
| Common Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | 44 | ||
| BarrowÕs Goldeneye | Bucephala islandica | 44 | ||
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | 46 | ||
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | 46 | ||
| Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | 46 | ||
| GALLIFORMES | ||||
| Odontophoridae (New World Quail) | ||||
| California Quail | Callipepla californica | 54 | ||
| Phasianidae (Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Old World Quail) | ||||
| Ring-necked Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | 60 | ||
| Ruffed Grouse | Bonasa umbellus | 62 | ||
| Sooty Grouse | Dendragapus fuliginosus | 62 | ||
| GAVIIFORMES | ||||
| Gaviidae (Loons) | ||||
| Common Loon | Gavia immer | 70 | ||
| PODICIPEDIFORMES | ||||
| Podicipedidae (Grebes) | ||||
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | 72 | ||
| Horned Grebe | Podiceps auritus | 72 | ||
| Western Grebe | Aechmophorus occidentalis | 74 | ||
| PROCELLARIIFORMES | ||||
| Diomedeidae (Albatrosses) | ||||
| Black-footed Albatross | Phoebastria nigripes | 76 | ||
| Procellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels) | ||||
| Northern Fulmar | Fulmarus glacialis | 80 | ||
| Hydrobatidae (Storm-Petrels) | ||||
| Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel | Oceanodroma furcata | 98 | ||
| PELECANIFORMES | ||||
| Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants) | ||||
| Double-crested Cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | 106 | ||
| Pelagic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax pelagicus | 108 | ||
| Pelecanidae (Pelicans) | ||||
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | 110 | ||
| CICONIIFORMES | ||||
| Ardeidae (Bitterns, Herons, and Allies) | ||||
| American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | 112 | ||
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | 112 | ||
| ACCIPITRIFORMES | ||||
| Cathartidae (New World Vultures) | ||||
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | 124 | ||
| Pandionidae (Ospreys) | ||||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | 126 | ||
| Accipitridae (Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies) | ||||
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 130 | ||
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 130 | ||
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | 132 | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | 134 | ||
| CooperÕs Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | 134 | ||
| Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | 134 | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | 144 | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 144 | ||
| FALCONIFORMES | ||||
| Falconidae (Caracaras and Falcons) | ||||
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | 148 | ||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | 148 | ||
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | 150 | ||
| GRUIFORMES | ||||
| Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) | ||||
| Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | 158 | ||
| American Coot | Fulica americana | 160 | ||
| Gruidae (Cranes) | ||||
| Sandhill Crane | Grus canadensis | 162 | ||
| CHARADRIIFORMES | ||||
| Charadriidae (Lapwings and Plovers) | ||||
| Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | 164 | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | 166 | ||
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | 168 | ||
| Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers) | ||||
| Black Oystercatcher | Haematopus bachmani | 172 | ||
| Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies) | ||||
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | 174 | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | 174 | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | 180 | ||
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | 190 | ||
| Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | 192 | ||
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | 198 | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | 202 | ||
| WilsonÕs Snipe | Gallinago delicata | 204 | ||
| Red-necked Phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | 206 | ||
| Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers) | ||||
| BonaparteÕs Gull | Chroicocephalus philadelphia | 214 | ||
| Mew Gull | Larus canus | 220 | ||
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | 222 | ||
| Glaucous-winged Gull | Larus glaucescens | 228 | ||
| Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia | 244 | ||
| Stercorariidae (Skuas and Jaegers) | ||||
| Parasitic Jaeger | Stercorarius parasiticus | 248 | ||
| Alcidae (Auks, Murres, and Puffins) | ||||
| Pigeon Guillemot | Cepphus columba | 254 | ||
| Marbled Murrelet | Brachyramphus marmoratus | 256 | ||
| Great Auk | Pinguinus impennis | X | ||
| COLUMBIFORMES | ||||
| Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) | ||||
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | 264 | ||
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | 264 | ||
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | 266 | ||
| Passenger Pigeon | Ectopistes migratorius | X | ||
| STRIGIFORMES | ||||
| Tytonidae (Barn Owls) | ||||
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | 282 | ||
| Strigidae (Typical Owls) | ||||
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | 282 | ||
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | 282 | ||
| Barred Owl | Strix varia | 284 | ||
| Spotted Owl | Strix occidentalis | 284 | ||
| Snowy Owl | Bubo scandiacus | 284 | ||
| Western Screech-Owl | Megascops kennicottii | 286 | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Aegolius acadicus | 290 | ||
| CAPRIMULGIFORMES | ||||
| Caprimulgidae (Goatsuckers) | ||||
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | 292 | ||
| APODIFORMES | ||||
| Apodidae (Swifts) | ||||
| Black Swift | Cypseloides niger | 296 | ||
| VauxÕs Swift | Chaetura vauxi | 296 | ||
| Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) | ||||
| AnnaÕs Hummingbird | Calypte anna | 306 | ||
| Rufous Hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | 308 | ||
| CORACIIFORMES | ||||
| Alcedinidae (Kingfishers) | ||||
| Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | 310 | ||
| PICIFORMES | ||||
| Picidae (Woodpeckers and Allies) | ||||
| Red-breasted Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus ruber | 316 | ||
| Red-naped Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus nuchalis | 316 | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker | Picoides villosus | 320 | ||
| Downy Woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | 320 | ||
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | 322 | ||
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | 324 | ||
| PASSERIFORMES | ||||
| Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) | ||||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | 326 | ||
| Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Empidonax difficilis | 334 | ||
| Laniidae (Shrikes) | ||||
| Northern Shrike | Lanius excubitor | 348 | ||
| Vireonidae (Vireos) | ||||
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | 354 | ||
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | 356 | ||
| Corvidae (Jays and Crows) | ||||
| Gray Jay | Perisoreus canadensis | 356 | ||
| StellerÕs Jay | Cyanocitta stelleri | 358 | ||
| Black-billed Magpie | Pica hudsonia | 362 | ||
| Northwestern Crow | Corvus caurinus | 362 | ||
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | 364 | ||
| Alaudidae (Larks) | ||||
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | 366 | ||
| Hirundinidae (Swallows) | ||||
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | 368 | ||
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | 370 | ||
| Violet-green Swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | 370 | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | 370 | ||
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | 372 | ||
| Paridae (Chickadees and Titmice) | ||||
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | 376 | ||
| Chestnut-backed Chickadee | Poecile rufescens | 378 | ||
| Aegithalidae (Bushtits) | ||||
| Bushtit | Psaltriparus minimus | 378 | ||
| Sittidae (Nuthatches) | ||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | 380 | ||
| Certhiidae (Creepers) | ||||
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | 382 | ||
| Troglodytidae (Wrens) | ||||
| Pacific Wren | Troglodytes pacificus | 384 | ||
| BewickÕs Wren | Thryomanes bewickii | 384 | ||
| Marsh Wren | Cistothorus palustris | 386 | ||
| Cinclidae (Dippers) | ||||
| American Dipper | Cinclus mexicanus | 386 | ||
| Regulidae (Kinglets) | ||||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | 386 | ||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula | 386 | ||
| Turdidae (Thrushes) | ||||
| Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | 396 | ||
| TownsendÕs Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | 396 | ||
| SwainsonÕs Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | 398 | ||
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | 398 | ||
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | 402 | ||
| Varied Thrush | Ixoreus naevius | 404 | ||
| Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers) | ||||
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | 404 | ||
| Sturnidae (Starlings) | ||||
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | 410 | ||
| Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits) | ||||
| American Pipit | Anthus rubescens | 414 | ||
| Bombycillidae (Waxwings) | ||||
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | 416 | ||
| Calcariidae (Longspurs and Snow Buntings) | ||||
| Snow Bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis | 422 | ||
| Parulidae (Wood-Warblers) | ||||
| Orange-crowned Warbler | Oreothlypis celata | 426 | ||
| Yellow Warbler | Setophaga petechia | 430 | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | 434 | ||
| Hermit Warbler | Setophaga occidentalis | 436 | ||
| TownsendÕs Warbler | Setophaga townsendi | 436 | ||
| WilsonÕs Warbler | Cardellina pusilla | 450 | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | 452 | ||
| Emberizidae (Emberizids) | ||||
| Spotted Towhee | Pipilo maculatus | 460 | ||
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | 478 | ||
| Fox Sparrow | Passerella iliaca | 480 | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | 482 | ||
| Golden-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia atricapilla | 482 | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | 484 | ||
| Cardinalidae (Cardinals, Piranga Tanagers and Allies) | ||||
| Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | 490 | ||
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | 494 | ||
| Icteridae (Blackbirds) | ||||
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | 500 | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | 502 | ||
| BrewerÕs Blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | 504 | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | 508 | ||
| BullockÕs Oriole | Icterus bullockii | 514 | ||
| Fringillidae (Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies) | ||||
| Purple Finch | Carpodacus purpureus | 518 | ||
| House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | 518 | ||
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | 520 | ||
| Pine Grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator | 520 | ||
| American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | 522 | ||
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | 524 | ||
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | 524 | ||
| Passeridae (Old World Sparrows) | ||||
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | 528 | ||