| Biology 427: List of main species
to learn |
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| You are responsible
for learning to identify the 167 species below. Focus on learning their
official |
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| English names (as
set by the American Ornithological Society). You should also learn the Order |
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| and Family names, especially for large groups. Species
scientific names are provided for interest, |
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| but in this course
you are not expected to memorize them. |
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| Page numbers refer
to the 2017 - 7th Edition of: |
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| National
Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America |
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| Some
taxonomic revisions have occured since this book was published; these are
shown in green. |
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| ORDER |
Family |
English Name (AOU) |
Scientific Name in Book |
Page |
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| ANSERIFORMES |
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Anatidae (Ducks, Geese,
and Swans) |
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Snow Goose |
Chen caerulescens* |
16 |
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*changed in 2017 to Anser caerulescens |
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Canada Goose |
Branta canadensis |
20 |
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Trumpeter Swan |
Cygnus buccinator |
22 |
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Wood Duck |
Aix sponsa |
24 |
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Mallard |
Anas platyrhynchos |
26 |
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Gadwall |
Anas strepera* |
28 |
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*changed in 2017 to Mareca strepera |
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Green-winged Teal |
Anas crecca |
28 |
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American Wigeon |
Anas americana* |
30 |
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*changed in 2017 to Mareca americana |
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Northern Pintail |
Anas acuta |
30 |
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Northern Shoveler |
Anas clypeata* |
32 |
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*changed in 2017 to Spatula clypeata |
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Greater Scaup |
Aythya marila |
36 |
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Lesser Scaup |
Aythya affinis |
36 |
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Surf Scoter |
Melanitta perspicillata |
42 |
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Black Scoter |
Melanitta americana |
42 |
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White-winged Scoter |
Melanitta fusca* |
42 |
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*changed in 2019 to Melanitta deglandi |
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Bufflehead |
Bucephala albeola |
44 |
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Common Goldeneye |
Bucephala clangula |
44 |
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Barrow’s Goldeneye |
Bucephala islandica |
44 |
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Hooded Merganser |
Lophodytes cucullatus |
46 |
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Common Merganser |
Mergus merganser |
46 |
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Red-breasted Merganser |
Mergus serrator |
46 |
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| GALLIFORMES |
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Odontophoridae (New World
Quail) |
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California Quail |
Callipepla californica |
56 |
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Phasianidae (Partridges,
Grouse, Turkeys, and Old World Quail) |
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Ring-necked Pheasant |
Phasianus colchicus |
60 |
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Ruffed Grouse |
Bonasa umbellus |
62 |
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Sooty Grouse |
Dendragapus fuliginosus |
62 |
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| PODICIPEDIFORMES |
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Podicipedidae (Grebes) |
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Pied-billed Grebe |
Podilymbus podiceps |
68 |
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Horned Grebe |
Podiceps auritus |
68 |
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Western Grebe |
Aechmophorus occidentalis |
70 |
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| COLUMBIFORMES |
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Columbidae (Pigeons and
Doves) |
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Band-tailed Pigeon |
Patagioenas fasciata |
72 |
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Rock Pigeon |
Columba livia |
72 |
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Mourning Dove |
Zenaida macroura |
78 |
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Passenger Pigeon |
Ectopistes migratorius |
547 |
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| CAPRIMULGIFORMES |
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Caprimulgidae
(Goatsuckers) |
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Common Nighthawk |
Chordeiles minor |
84 |
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| APODIFORMES |
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Apodidae (Swifts) |
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Black Swift |
Cypseloides niger |
88 |
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Vaux’s Swift |
Chaetura vauxi |
88 |
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Trochilidae
(Hummingbirds) |
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Anna’s Hummingbird |
Calypte anna |
98 |
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Rufous Hummingbird |
Selasphorus rufus |
102 |
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| GRUIFORMES |
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Rallidae (Rails,
Gallinules, and Coots) |
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Virginia Rail |
Rallus limicola |
108 |
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American Coot |
Fulica americana |
110 |
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Gruidae (Cranes) |
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Sandhill Crane |
Antigone canadensis |
112 |
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| CHARADRIIFORMES |
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Haematopodidae
(Oystercatchers) |
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Black Oystercatcher |
Haematopus bachmani |
114 |
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Charadriidae (Lapwings
and Plovers) |
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Black-bellied Plover |
Pluvialis squatarola |
116 |
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Killdeer |
Charadrius vociferus |
118 |
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Semipalmated Plover |
Charadrius semipalmatus |
120 |
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Scolopacidae (Sandpipers,
Phalaropes, and Allies) |
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Sanderling |
Calidris alba |
132 |
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Western Sandpiper |
Calidris mauri |
134 |
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Dunlin |
Calidris alpina |
140 |
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Long-billed Dowitcher |
Limnodromus scolopaceus |
144 |
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Wilson’s Snipe |
Gallinago delicata |
146 |
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Spotted Sandpiper |
Actitis macularius |
148 |
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Greater Yellowlegs |
Tringa melanoleuca |
152 |
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Lesser Yellowlegs |
Tringa flavipes |
152 |
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Red-necked Phalarope |
Phalaropus lobatus |
156 |
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Stercorariidae (Skuas and
Jaegers) |
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Parasitic Jaeger |
Stercorarius parasiticus |
164 |
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Alcidae (Auks, Murres,
and Puffins) |
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Pigeon Guillemot |
Cepphus columba |
170 |
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Marbled Murrelet |
Brachyramphus marmoratus |
172 |
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Rhinoceros Auklet |
Cerorhinca monocerata |
178 |
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Great Auk |
Pinguinus impennis |
551 |
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Laridae (Gulls, Terns,
and Skimmers) |
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Bonaparte’s Gull |
Chroicocephalus philadelphia |
182 |
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Mew Gull |
Larus canus |
188 |
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Ring-billed Gull |
Larus delawarensis |
190 |
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Glaucous-winged Gull |
Larus glaucescens |
196 |
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Caspian Tern |
Hydroprogne caspia |
212 |
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| GAVIIFORMES |
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Gaviidae (Loons) |
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Common Loon |
Gavia immer |
218 |
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| PROCELLARIIFORMES |
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Diomedeidae (Albatrosses) |
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Black-footed Albatross |
Phoebastria nigripes |
220 |
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Procellariidae
(Shearwaters and Petrels) |
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Northern Fulmar |
Fulmarus glacialis |
224 |
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Hydrobatidae
(Storm-Petrels) |
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Leach's Storm-Petrel |
Oceanodroma leucorhoa* |
242 |
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*changed in 2019 to Hydrobates leucorhous |
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| SULIFORMES |
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Phalacrocoracidae
(Cormorants) |
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Double-crested Cormorant |
Phalacrocorax auritus |
252 |
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Pelagic Cormorant |
Phalacrocorax pelagicus |
254 |
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| PELECANIFORMES |
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Pelecanidae (Pelicans) |
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American White Pelican |
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos |
256 |
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Ardeidae (Bitterns,
Herons, and Allies) |
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American Bittern |
Botaurus lentiginosus |
258 |
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Great Blue Heron |
Ardea herodias |
258 |
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| CATHARTIFORMES |
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Cathartidae (New World
Vultures) |
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Turkey Vulture |
Cathartes aura |
268 |
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| ACCIPITRIFORMES |
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Pandionidae (Ospreys) |
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Osprey |
Pandion haliaetus |
270 |
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Accipitridae (Hawks,
Kites, Eagles, and Allies) |
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Golden Eagle |
Aquila chrysaetos |
274 |
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Bald Eagle |
Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
274 |
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Northern Harrier |
Circus cyaneus* |
276 |
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*North American populations changed in
2017 to Circus hudsonius |
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Sharp-shinned Hawk |
Accipiter striatus |
278 |
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Cooper’s Hawk |
Accipiter cooperii |
278 |
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Northern Goshawk |
Accipiter gentilis |
278 |
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Rough-legged Hawk |
Buteo lagopus |
288 |
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Red-tailed Hawk |
Buteo jamaicensis |
288 |
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| STRIGIFORMES |
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Tytonidae (Barn Owls) |
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Barn Owl |
Tyto alba |
294 |
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Strigidae (Typical Owls) |
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Short-eared Owl |
Asio flammeus |
294 |
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Great Horned Owl |
Bubo virginianus |
294 |
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Barred Owl |
Strix varia |
296 |
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Spotted Owl |
Strix occidentalis |
296 |
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Snowy Owl |
Bubo scandiacus |
296 |
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Western Screech-Owl |
Megascops kennicottii |
298 |
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Northern Saw-whet Owl |
Aegolius acadicus |
302 |
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| CORACIIFORMES |
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Alcedinidae (Kingfishers) |
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Belted Kingfisher |
Megaceryle alcyon |
304 |
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| PICIFORMES |
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Picidae (Woodpeckers and
Allies) |
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Red-breasted Sapsucker |
Sphyrapicus ruber |
310 |
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Red-naped Sapsucker |
Sphyrapicus nuchalis |
310 |
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Hairy Woodpecker |
Picoides villosus* |
314 |
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*changed in 2018 to Dryobates villosus |
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Downy Woodpecker |
Picoides pubescens* |
314 |
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*changed in 2018 to Dryobates pubescens |
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Northern Flicker |
Colaptes auratus |
316 |
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Pileated Woodpecker |
Dryocopus pileatus |
318 |
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| FALCONIFORMES |
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Falconidae (Caracaras and
Falcons) |
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American Kestrel |
Falco sparverius |
322 |
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Merlin |
Falco columbarius |
322 |
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Peregrine Falcon |
Falco peregrinus |
324 |
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| PASSERIFORMES
("perching birds") |
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| Suboscines: |
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Tyrannidae (Tyrant
Flycatchers) |
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Olive-sided Flycatcher |
Contopus cooperi |
334 |
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Pacific-slope Flycatcher |
Empidonax difficilis |
342 |
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| Oscines ("true songbirds";
suborder Passeri): |
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Laniidae (Shrikes) |
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Northern Shrike |
Lanius excubitor* |
356 |
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*North American populations changed in
2017 to Lanius borealis |
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Vireonidae (Vireos) |
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Red-eyed Vireo |
Vireo olivaceus |
362 |
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Warbling Vireo |
Vireo gilvus |
364 |
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Corvidae (Jays and Crows) |
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Canada(!) Jay |
Perisoreus canadensis |
364 |
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(changed from Gray
Jay in 2018) |
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Steller’s Jay |
Cyanocitta stelleri |
366 |
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Black-billed Magpie |
Pica hudsonia |
370 |
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Northwestern Crow |
Corvus caurinus |
370 |
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Common Raven |
Corvus corax |
372 |
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Alaudidae (Larks) |
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Horned Lark |
Eremophila alpestris |
374 |
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Hirundinidae (Swallows) |
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Purple Martin |
Progne subis |
376 |
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Tree Swallow |
Tachycineta bicolor |
378 |
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Violet-green Swallow |
Tachycineta thalassina |
378 |
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Barn Swallow |
Hirundo rustica |
378 |
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Cliff Swallow |
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota |
380 |
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Paridae (Chickadees and
Titmice) |
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Black-capped Chickadee |
Poecile atricapillus |
384 |
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Chestnut-backed Chickadee |
Poecile rufescens |
386 |
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Aegithalidae (Bushtits) |
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Bushtit |
Psaltriparus minimus |
386 |
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Sittidae (Nuthatches) |
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Red-breasted Nuthatch |
Sitta canadensis |
388 |
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Certhiidae (Creepers) |
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Brown Creeper |
Certhia americana |
390 |
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Troglodytidae (Wrens) |
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Pacific Wren |
Troglodytes pacificus |
392 |
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Marsh Wren |
Cistothorus palustris |
394 |
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Bewick’s Wren |
Thryomanes bewickii |
394 |
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Cinclidae (Dippers) |
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American Dipper |
Cinclus mexicanus |
398 |
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Regulidae (Kinglets) |
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Golden-crowned Kinglet |
Regulus satrapa |
398 |
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Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
Regulus calendula |
398 |
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Turdidae (Thrushes) |
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Western Bluebird |
Sialia mexicana |
408 |
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Townsend’s Solitaire |
Myadestes townsendi |
408 |
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Swainson’s Thrush |
Catharus ustulatus |
410 |
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Hermit Thrush |
Catharus guttatus |
410 |
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American Robin |
Turdus migratorius |
414 |
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Varied Thrush |
Ixoreus naevius |
416 |
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Mimidae (Mockingbirds and
Thrashers) |
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Gray Catbird |
Dumetella carolinensis |
416 |
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Sturnidae (Starlings) |
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European Starling |
Sturnus vulgaris |
422 |
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Bombycillidae (Waxwings) |
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Bohemian Waxwing |
Bombycilla garrulus |
424 |
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Cedar Waxwing |
Bombycilla cedrorum |
424 |
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Passeridae (Old World
Sparrows) |
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House Sparrow |
Passer domesticus |
428 |
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Motacillidae (Wagtails
and Pipits) |
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American Pipit |
Anthus rubescens |
432 |
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Fringillidae (Fringilline
and Cardueline Finches and Allies) |
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Pine Grosbeak |
Pinicola enucleator |
434 |
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Purple Finch |
Haemorhous purpureus |
438 |
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House Finch |
Haemorhous mexicanus |
438 |
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Red Crossbill |
Loxia curvirostra |
440 |
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Pine Siskin |
Spinus pinus |
442 |
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American Goldfinch |
Spinus tristis |
442 |
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Evening Grosbeak |
Coccothraustes vespertinus |
444 |
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Calcariidae (Longspurs
and Snow Buntings) |
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Snow Bunting |
Plectrophenax nivalis |
450 |
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Parulidae (Wood-Warblers) |
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Orange-crowned Warbler |
Oreothlypis celata* |
458 |
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*changed in 2019 to Leiothlypis celata |
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MacGillivray's Warbler |
Geothlypis tolmiei |
462 |
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Common Yellowthroat |
Geothlypis trichas |
464 |
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Yellow Warbler |
Setophaga petechia |
468 |
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Yellow-rumped Warbler |
Setophaga coronata |
472 |
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Townsend’s Warbler |
Setophaga townsendi |
474 |
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Wilson’s Warbler |
Cardellina pusilla |
482 |
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Passerellidae (American
sparrows) |
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Spotted Towhee |
Pipilo maculatus |
488 |
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Song Sparrow |
Melospiza melodia |
506 |
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Fox Sparrow |
Passerella iliaca |
508 |
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White-crowned Sparrow |
Zonotrichia leucophrys |
510 |
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Golden-crowned Sparrow |
Zonotrichia atricapilla |
510 |
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Dark-eyed Junco |
Junco hyemalis |
512 |
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Cardinalidae (Cardinals,
Piranga Tanagers and Allies) |
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Western Tanager |
Piranga ludoviciana |
520 |
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Black-headed Grosbeak |
Pheucticus melanocephalus |
524 |
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Icteridae (Blackbirds) |
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Western Meadowlark |
Sturnella neglecta |
530 |
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Red-winged Blackbird |
Agelaius phoeniceus |
532 |
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Brewer’s Blackbird |
Euphagus cyanocephalus |
534 |
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Brown-headed Cowbird |
Molothrus ater |
538 |
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Bullock’s Oriole |
Icterus bullockii |
544 |
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