The Field Guide to the Birds of the Sierra Nevada Project

List of Sierra Bird Species Included in Project

The following list includes 320 birds that occur in the Sierra Nevada region almost every year. The occurrence of extremely rare species (i.e., not recorded in the Sierra annually) will be described in a separate appendix.

To download a PDF version of this list (8 pages), please click here.

Loons (Gaviidae)
Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica
Common Loon Gavia immer

Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis
Clark's Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii

Pelicans (Pelecanidae)
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae)
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus

Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets (Ardeidae)
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Great Egret Ardea alba
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron Butorides virescens
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Ibis (Threskiornithidae)
White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi

New World Vultures (Cathartidae)
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
California Condor Gymnogyps californianus

Swans, Geese, and Ducks (Anatidae)
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens
Ross's Goose Chen rossii
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Brant Branta bernicla
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Gadwall Anas strepera
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
American Wigeon Anas americana
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
Canvasback Aythya valisineria
Redhead Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
Greater Scaup Aythya marila
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata
White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
Common Merganser Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis

Osprey, Hawks, Kites, Harriers, and Eagles (Accipitridae)
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus
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
Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Ferruginous Hawk Buteo regalis
Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos

Falcons (Falconidae)
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Merlin Falco columbarius
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus

Chukars, Pheasants, Grouse, Ptarmigan, and Turkeys (Phasianidae)
Chukar Alectoris chukar
Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
Sage Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus
White-tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucurus
Blue Grouse Dendragapus obscurus
Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo

Quail (Odontophoridae)
Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus
California Quail Callipepla californica

Rails, Moorhens, and Coots (Rallidae)
Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis
Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
Sora Porzana carolina
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
American Coot Fulica americana

Cranes (Gruidae)
Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis

Plovers and Relatives (Charadriidae)
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus

Avocets and Stilts (Recurvirostridae)
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus
American Avocet Recurvirostra americana

Sandpipers and Relatives (Scolopacidae)
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Red Knot Calidris canutus
Sanderling Calidris alba
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria

Jaegers, Gulls and Terns (Laridae)
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan
Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia
Mew Gull Larus canus
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
California Gull Larus californicus
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Thayer's Gull Larus thayeri
Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens
Sabine's Gull Xema sabini
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri
Black Tern Chlidonias niger

Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Dove Columba livia
Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura

Cuckoos and Roadrunners (Cuculidae)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus

Barn Owls (Tytonidae)
Barn Owl Tyto alba

Typical Owls (Strigidae)
Flammulated Owl Otus flammeolus
Western Screech-Owl Otus kennicottii
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia
Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis
Great Gray Owl Strix nebulosa
Long-eared Owl Asio otus
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus

Nighthawks and Poorwills (Caprimulgidae)
Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
Common Poorwill Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

Swifts (Apodidae)
Black Swift Cypseloides niger
Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi
White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri
Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna
Costa's Hummingbird Calypte costae
Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope
Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus
Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus
Allen's Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon

Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Lewis's Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis
Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus
Williamson's Sapsucker Sphyrapicus thyroideus
Red-naped Sapsucker Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Red-breasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber
Ladder-backed Woodpecker Picoides scalaris
Nuttall's Woodpecker Picoides nuttallii
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
White-headed Woodpecker Picoides albolarvatus
Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Pileated Woodpecker Drycopus pileatus

Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi
Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus
Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii
Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii
Gray Flycatcher Empidonax wrightii
Dusky Flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri
Pacific-slope Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis
Cordilleran Flycatcher (subaccount) Empidonax occidentalis
Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans
Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya
Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus
Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens
Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus
Cassin's Kingbird Tyrannus vociferans
Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis

Shrikes (Laniidae)
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor

Vireos (Vireonidae)
Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii
Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus
Cassin's Vireo Vireo cassinii
Hutton's Vireo Vireo huttoni
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus

Jays, Magpies, and Crows (Corvidae)
Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis
Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri
Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica
Pinyon Jay Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
Clark's Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana
Black-billed Magpie Pica pica
Yellow-billed Magpie Pica nuttalli
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven Corvus corax

Larks (Alaudidae)
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris

Martin and Swallows (Hirundinidae)
Purple Martin Progne subis
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Chickadees and Titmice (Paridae)
Mountain Chickadee Poecile gambeli
Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens
Oak Titmouse Baeolophus inornatus
Juniper Titmouse Baeolophus griseus

Bushtits (Aegithalidae)
Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus

Nuthatches (Sittidae)
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea

Creepers (Certhiidae)
Brown Creeper Certhia americana

Wrens (Troglodytidae)
Cactus Wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus
Canyon Wren Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris

Dippers (Cinclidae)
American Dipper Cinclus mexicanus

Kinglets (Regulidae)
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
Gnatcatchers (Sylviidae)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea

Thrushes (Turdidae)
Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana
Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides
Townsend's Solitaire Myadestes townsendi
Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius

Wrentits (Timaliidae)
Wrentit Chamaea fasciata

Mockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae)
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes montanus
Bendire's Thrasher Toxostoma bendirei
California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum
Le Conte's Thrasher Toxostoma lecontei

Starlings (Sturnidae)
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris

Pipits (Motacillidae):
American Pipit Anthus rubescens

Waxwings (Bombycillidae)
Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Silky Flycatchers (Ptilogonatidae)
Phainopepla Phainopepla nitens

Wood-Warblers (Parulidae)
Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata
Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla
Virginia's Warbler Vermivora virginiae
Northern Parula Parula americana
Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrescens
Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi
Hermit Warbler Dendroica occidentalis
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis
MacGillivray's Warbler Oporornis tolmiei
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens

Tanagers (Thraupidae)
Summer Tanager Piranga rubra
Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana

Towhees, Sparrows, and Longspurs (Emberizidae)
Green-tailed Towhee Pipilo chlorurus
Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus
California Towhee Pipilo crissalis
Rufous-crowned Sparrow Aimophila ruficeps
American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
Brewer's Sparrow Spizella breweri
Black-chinned Sparrow Spizella atrogularis
Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus
Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata
Sage Sparrow Amphispiza belli
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
Harris's Sparrow Zonotrichia querula
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
McCown's Longspur Calcarius mccownii
Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus
Chestnut-collared Longspur Calcarius ornatus

Grosbeaks and Buntings (Cardinalidae)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue Grosbeak Guiraca caerulea
Lazuli Bunting Passerina amoena
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea

Blackbirds, Meadowlarks Grackles, Cowbirds, and Orioles (Icteridae)
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Tricolored Blackbird Agelaius tricolor
Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta
Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
Hooded Oriole Icterus cucullatus
Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii
Scott's Oriole Icterus parisorum

Finches (Fringillidae)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Leucosticte tephrocotis
Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator
Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus
Cassin's Finch Carpodacus cassinii
House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus
Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria
Lawrence's Goldfinch Carduelis lawrencei
American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis
Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus

Weaver Finches (Passeridae)
House Sparrow Passer domesticus