List of birds of New York (state)

Last updated

The eastern bluebird is New York's state bird Eastern Bluebirds.jpg
The eastern bluebird is New York's state bird

The following list of birds of New York included the 503 species and a species pair of wild birds documented in New York as of August 2022. Unless noted otherwise, the source is the Checklist of New York State Birds published by the New York State Avian Records Committee (NYSARC) of the New York State Ornithological Association. [1] These species represent 23 orders and 67 families of birds. An additional, "hypothetical", species is also noted by NYSARC. Additional accidental species have also been added from other sources.

Contents

This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd 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.

Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in New York as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species:

Other markings denote birds that NYSARC requests documentation of in certain conditions:

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Mute swan and cygnets on the Prospect Park Lake Mute swan cygnets learning in Prospect Park (80222).jpg
Mute swan and cygnets on the Prospect Park Lake
Northern shoveler pair dabbling in Marine Park, Brooklyn Northern shoveler pair in Marine Park (33233).jpg
Northern shoveler pair dabbling in Marine Park, Brooklyn
Snow goose by Harlem Meer Snow goose in Central Park (33138).jpg
Snow goose by Harlem Meer

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. Forty-eight species have been recorded in New York.

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. One species has been recorded in New York.

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Spruce grouse SpruceGrouse23.jpg
Spruce grouse

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. Seven species have been recorded in New York.

Grebes

Horned grebe in Mount Sinai, New York Horned grebe mt. sinai april (14249112828).jpg
Horned grebe in Mount Sinai, New York

Order: Podicipediformes    Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large diving birds that breed on fresh water. 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. six species have been recorded in New York.

Pigeons and doves

Mourning dove in Central Park Mourning dove in CP (65232).jpg
Mourning dove in Central Park
Feral pigeons on the Empire State Building Feral pigeon -Empire State Building, New York City, USA-31Aug2008d.jpg
Feral pigeons on the Empire State Building

Order: Columbiformes    Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Eight species have been recorded in New York.

Cuckoos

Black-billed cuckoo on West Meadow Beach Black-billed-cuckoo2.jpg
Black-billed cuckoo on West Meadow Beach

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. Two species have been recorded in New York.

Nightjars and allies

Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor -British Columbia -Canada-8b.jpg
Common nighthawk

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. Three species have been recorded in New York.

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. One species has been recorded in New York.

Hummingbirds

Ruby-throated hummingbird in Brooklyn Bridge Park Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Brooklyn Bridge Park.jpg
Ruby-throated hummingbird in Brooklyn Bridge Park

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. Five species have been recorded in New York.

Rails, gallinules, and coots

American coot in the Central Park Pond American Coot at The Pond.jpg
American coot in the Central Park Pond

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. Eleven species have been recorded in New York.

Cranes

Two sandhill cranes flying over Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Two sandhill cranes over Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.jpg
Two sandhill cranes flying over Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

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". One species has been recorded in New York.

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. Two species have been recorded in New York.

Oystercatchers

American oystercatchers with chick at Fort Tilden American oystercatchers at Fort Tilden (60747).jpg
American oystercatchers with chick at Fort Tilden

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large, obvious, noisy plover-like birds with strong bills used for smashing or prying open molluscs. One species has been recorded in New York.

Plovers and lapwings

Piping plover in Strongs Neck, New York Piping plover, first of season, strongs neck (33023126013).jpg
Piping plover in Strongs Neck, New York

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. Ten species have been recorded in New York.

Sandpipers and allies

Lesser yellowlegs in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Lesser yellowlegs at JBWR (30664).jpg
Lesser yellowlegs in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
American woodcock in Bryant Park

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large, diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds which includes the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. Most 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. Forty-three species have been recorded in New York.

Skuas and jaegers

Parasitic jaeger Arcticskua2.jpg
Parasitic jaeger

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas and jaegers are long-distant migrants, breeding on the high arctic tundra but flying as far as Antarctica. During the breeding season, they hunt small mammals and birds, but at other times of the year they will scavenge and steal food from other birds. Five species have been recorded in New York.

Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: Charadriiformes    Family: Alcidae

Alcids are superficially similar to penguins in their black-and-white colors, their upright posture, and some of their habits. However they are only distantly related to the penguins and are able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, deliberately coming ashore only to nest. Eight species have been recorded in New York.

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Ring-billed gull in Red Hook, Brooklyn Ring-billed gull in Red Hook (42799).jpg
Ring-billed gull in Red Hook, Brooklyn
Common tern in Brooklyn Bridge Park Common tern at Brooklyn Bridge Park (21040).jpg
Common tern in Brooklyn Bridge Park

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 gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Thirty-six species have been recorded in New York.

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes    Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head. Two species have been recorded in New York.

Loons

Red-throated loon in Red Hook, Brooklyn Red-throated loon in Red Hook (64290).jpg
Red-throated loon in Red Hook, Brooklyn

Order: Gaviiformes    Family: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds the size of large ducks, which they superficially resemble. Their plumage is largely gray 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 not well adapted to locomotion on land. Four species have been recorded in New York.

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes    Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds. One species has appeared in New York.

Southern storm-petrels

White-faced storm-petrel Whitefacedstormpetrel1.jpg
White-faced storm-petrel

Order: Procellariiformes    Family: Oceanitidae

The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. Until 2018, the family's three species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae. Two species have been recorded in New York.

Northern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes    Family: Hydrobatidae

Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family. Two species have been recorded in New York.

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes    Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary. Ten species have been recorded in New York.

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. One species has been recorded in New York.

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-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week. One species has been recorded in New York.

Boobies and gannets

Brown booby at Buffalo Harbor State Park Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) (11118140253).jpg
Brown booby at Buffalo Harbor State Park

Order: Suliformes    Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish. Two species have been recorded in New York.

Anhingas

Order: Suliformes    Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas are cormorant-like water birds with very long necks and long, straight beaks. They are fish eaters which often swim with only their neck above the water. One species has been recorded in New York.

Cormorants and shags

Double-crested cormorant in Brooklyn, New York Double-crested cormorant in GWC (83669).jpg
Double-crested cormorant in Brooklyn, New York

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. Three species have been recorded in New York.

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. Two species have been recorded in New York.

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Green heron at the Prospect Park Lake Green heron in PP (14296).jpg
Green heron at the Prospect Park Lake
Great blue heron in Green-Wood Cemetery Great blue heron in GWC (16570).jpg
Great blue heron in Green-Wood Cemetery

Order: Pelecaniformes    Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium-sized 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. Fourteen species have been recorded in New York.

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. Four species have been recorded in New York.

New World vultures

Black vulture Black Vulture-27527.jpg
Black vulture

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, but unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, some New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they find carcasses. Two species have been recorded in New York.

Osprey

Osprey bringing a needlefish back to its nest in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Osprey bringing food to its nest at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (97265).jpg
Osprey bringing a needlefish back to its nest in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Order: Accipitriformes    Family: Pandionidae

Pandionidae is a monotypic family of fish-eating birds of prey, possessing a very large, powerful hooked beak for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Juvenile Cooper's hawk in Prospect Park, Brooklyn Cooper's hawk in Prospect Park (22513).jpg
Juvenile Cooper's hawk in Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Red-tailed hawk in Central Park Red-tailed hawk in Central Park (24796).jpg
Red-tailed hawk in Central Park

Order: Accipitriformes    Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey which includes hawks, eagles, kites, and harriers. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. Sixteen species have been recorded in New York.

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes    Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. One species has been recorded in New York.

Owls

Snowy owl on Jones Beach Snowy owl at Jones Beach (04896).jpg
Snowy owl on Jones Beach

Order: Strigiformes    Family: Strigidae

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. Eleven species have been recorded in New York.

Kingfishers

Belted kingfisher Belted Kingfisher.jpg
Belted kingfisher

Order: Coraciiformes    Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. One species has been recorded in New York.

Woodpeckers

Northern flicker looks out from its nest in Central Park Flicker hole in CP (31848).jpg
Northern flicker looks out from its nest in Central Park
Yellow-bellied sapsucker on a tree in Central Park Yellow-bellied sapsucker in CP (40484).jpg
Yellow-bellied sapsucker on a tree in Central Park

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. Eleven species have been recorded in New York.

Falcons and caracaras

A merlin fanning its tail in Prospect Park Merlin in Prospect Park (63386).jpg
A merlin fanning its tail in Prospect Park

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. Six species have been recorded in New York.

New World and African parrots

Order: Psittaciformes    Family: Psittacidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and they have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two to the back. Most of the more than 150 species in the family are found in the New World. One species has been definitively recorded in New York, and one other that is extinct may also have been recorded.

Tyrant flycatchers

Ash-throated flycatcher in Green-Wood Cemetery Ash-throated flycatcher (83901)2.jpg
Ash-throated flycatcher in Green-Wood Cemetery

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are passerines which are found throughout the Americas. They bear a superficially resemblance to the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They lack the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most are insectivorous. Twenty-two species have been recorded in New York.

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

White-eyed vireo in Central Park White-eyed vireo in CP (31940).jpg
White-eyed vireo in Central Park

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds mostly restricted to the New World, though other members of the family are found in Africa. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills. Eight species have been recorded in New York.

Shrikes

Northern shrike Lanius excubitor 1 (Marek Szczepanek).jpg
Northern 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 shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey. Two species have been recorded in New York.

Crows, jays, and magpies

Blue jay in Prospect Park Blue jay in PP (30960).jpg
Blue jay in Prospect Park
Fish crow in Red Hook, Brooklyn Fish crow in Red Hook (42759).jpg
Fish crow in Red Hook, Brooklyn

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. Six species have been recorded in New York.

Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Black-capped chickadee in Green-Wood Cemetery Chickadee in GWC (71738).jpg
Black-capped chickadee in Green-Wood Cemetery

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. Three species have been recorded in New York.

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. Two species have been recorded in New York.

Swallows

Tree swallow in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Tree swallow in JBWR (25579).jpg
Tree swallow in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

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. Ten species have been recorded in New York.

Kinglets

Golden-crowned kinglet in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Golden-crowned kinglet at JBWR (11835).jpg
Golden-crowned kinglet in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Regulidae

The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice. They are very small insectivorous birds. The adults have colored crowns, giving rise to their name. Two species have been recorded in New York.

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. Two species have been recorded in New York.

Nuthatches

White-breasted nuthatch at a feeder in Green-Wood Cemetery White-breasted nuthatch (31195).jpg
White-breasted nuthatch at a feeder in Green-Wood Cemetery

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. Three species have been recorded in New York.

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. One species has been recorded in New York.

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. One species has been recorded in New York.

Wrens

House wren in a nest box in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge House wren in JBWR (50039).jpg
House wren in a nest box in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

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. Seven species have been recorded in New York.

Mockingbirds and thrashers

Brown thrasher in Central Park Brown thrasher in CP (02147).jpg
Brown thrasher in Central Park

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Mimidae

The Mimics are a family of passerine birds which includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalizations, 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. Four species have been recorded in New York.

Starlings

European starling in Central Park European starling in CP (33849).jpg
European starling in Central Park

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Sturnidae

Starlings 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. One species has been recorded in New York.

Thrushes and allies

Veery in the Central Park Ramble Veery in CP (43277).jpg
Veery in the Central Park Ramble
Juvenile American robin in Green-Wood Cemetery Juvenile robin (12336).jpg
Juvenile American robin in Green-Wood Cemetery

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. Thirteen species have been recorded in New York.

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Muscicapidae

The Old World flycatchers form a large family of small passerine birds. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing. One species has been recorded in New York.

Old World sparrows

House sparrow in Chelsea, Manhattan House sparrow (75133).jpg
House sparrow in Chelsea, Manhattan

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. One species has been recorded in New York.

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. One species and a species pair have been recorded in New York.

Finches, euphonias, and allies

House finch in Central Park Female house finch in Central Park (11033).jpg
House finch in Central Park

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. Thirteen species have been recorded in New York.

Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: Passeriformes    Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that have been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects. They are usually found in open grassy areas. Four species have been recorded in New York.

New World sparrows

Nelson's sparrow on Plumb Beach Nelson's sparrow in marsh.jpg
Nelson's sparrow on Plumb Beach
American tree sparrow in Central Park American tree sparrow in CP (41285) (cropped).jpg
American tree sparrow in Central Park
White-throated sparrow in Central Park White-throated sparrow in CP close up (02081).jpg
White-throated sparrow in Central Park

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. Twenty-nine species have been recorded in New York.

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.

Troupials and allies

Female brown-headed cowbird chattering in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Brown headed cowbird female in JBWR (25487).jpg
Female brown-headed cowbird chattering in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Common grackle on a branch by the Prospect Park Lake Common grackle in PP (36732).jpg
Common grackle on a branch by the Prospect Park Lake

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, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red. Fifteen species have been recorded in New York.

New World warblers

Bay-breasted warbler in Central Park Bay-breasted warbler in Central Park (43472).jpg
Bay-breasted warbler in Central Park
Common yellowthroat in Prospect Park Common yellowthroat in PP (14155).jpg
Common yellowthroat in Prospect Park
Blackpoll warbler in Green-Wood Cemetery Blackpoll warbler in GWC (24942).jpg
Blackpoll warbler in Green-Wood Cemetery
Wilson's warbler in Prospect Park Wilson's warbler in PP (14373).jpg
Wilson's warbler in Prospect Park

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 the family are insectivores. Forty-four species have been recorded in New York.

Cardinals and allies

Female northern cardinal in Central Park Northern cardinal female in CP (02035).jpg
Female northern cardinal in Central Park
Western tanager in Chelsea, Manhattan Western tanager in Chelsea (75305)2-2.jpg
Western tanager in Chelsea, Manhattan

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. Eleven species have been recorded in New York.

Notes

  1. The NYSARC list contains mew gull, which the AOS has split.

References

  1. "Checklist of New York State Birds". New York State Ornithological Association. January 19, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  2. "Check-list of North and Middle American Birds". American Ornithological Society. June 29, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  3. "New York State (NY) United States". Observation.org. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  4. "Eurasian Hobby". iNaturalist. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  5. "Special Report of the New York State Avian Records Committee: Addition of Five New Species to the New York Checklist". New York State Avian Records Committee. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  6. Burgio, Kevin R.; Carlson, Colin J.; Tingley, Morgan W. (2017). "Lazarus ecology: Recovering the distribution and migratory patterns of the extinct Carolina parakeet". Ecology and Evolution. 7 (14): 5467–5475. Bibcode:2017EcoEv...7.5467B. doi: 10.1002/ece3.3135 . PMC   5528215 . PMID   28770082.
  7. "Southern Rough-winged Swallow". Observation.org. Retrieved 8 February 2024.

See also