WMAN
426 Ornithology
Spring 2009
Birds of West
Virginia
Systematics and
Identification
Click on blue "links" for detailed identification tips, life histories, and pictures
Quick Jumps to Groups
Loons Grebes
Cormorants Herons
& Vultures Swans
and Ducks
Eagles and Hawks Game
Rails Shorebirds
Gulls and Terns
Doves Cuckoos
Owls Goatsuckers
Woodpeckers
Flycatchers Vireos
Jays Swallows
Titmice Nuthatches
Wrens Kinglets
Thrushes Mockingbirds
Warblers Tanagers
Sparrows Grosbeaks
Blackbirds Finches
Systematics and ID Lab #1
LOONS-Order: Gaviiformes
Family: Gaviidae
Common Loon Gavia immer
GREBES-Order: Podicipediformes
Family: Podicipedidae
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus
CORMORANTS-Order: Pelecaniformes
Cormorants-Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
HERONS and NEW WORLD VULTURES-Order: Ciconiiformes
Herons-Family: Ardeidae
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron Butorides virescens
Stork-Family: Ciconiidae
Wood Stork Mycteria americana
New World Vultures-Family: Cathartidae
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
SWANS, GEESE & DUCKS-Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Brant Branta bernicla
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Gadwall Anas strepera
American Wigeon Anas americana
American Black Duck Anas rubripes
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
Canvasback Aythya valisineria
Redhead Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
Common Merganser Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck Oxyura
jamaicensis
EAGLES, FALCONS & HAWKS-Order: Falconiformes
Eagles & Hawks-Family: Accipitridae
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
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
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
FALCONS-Order: Falconiformes
Falcons-Family: Falconidae
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
GROUSE, TURKEY & QUAIL-Order: Galliformes
Grouse-Family: Phasianidae
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus
Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
Quail-Family: Odontophoridae
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
RAILS,
LIMPKINS, & CRANES-Order: Gruiformes
Rails-Family: Rallidae
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
Sora Porzana carolina
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
American Coot Fulica americana
Limpkin-Family: Aramidae
Cranes-Family: Gruidae
SHOREBIRDS-Order: Charadriiformes
Plovers-Family: Charadriidae
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica
Piping Plover Charadrius melodus
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Avocet-Family: Recurvirostridae
American Avocet Recurvirostra americana
Sandpipers-Family: Scolopacidae
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
American Woodcock Scolopax minor
Gulls & Terns-Family: Laridae
Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri
Least Tern Sterna antillarum
Systematics
and ID Lab #2
DOVES-Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Rock Dove Columba livia
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
CUCKOOS-Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
OWLS-Order: Strigiformes
Barn Owls-Family: Tytonidae
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Owls-Family: Strigidae
Eastern Screech-Owl Otus asio
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Barred Owl Strix varia
Long-eared Owl Asio otus
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus
GOATSUCKERS-Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus
SWIFTS & HUMMINGBIRDS-Order: Apodiformes
Swifts-Family: Apodidae
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica
Hummingbirds-Family: Trochilidae
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
KINGFISHERS-Order:
Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon
WOODPECKERS-Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
Systematics and ID Lab #3
PERCHING BIRDS-Order: Passeriformes
Flycatchers-Family: Tyrannidae
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus s
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
Shrikes-Family: Laniidae
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
Vireos-Family: Vireonidae
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
Jays & Crows-Family: Corvidae
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven Corvus corax
Larks-Family: Alaudidae
Horned Lark Eremophia alpestris
Swallows-Family: 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 & Titmice-Family: Paridae
Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapilla
Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
Nuthatches-Family: Sittidae
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
Creeper-Family: Certhiidae
Brown Creeper Certhia americana
Wrens-Family: Troglodytidae
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis
Kinglets-Family: Regulidae
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
Gnatcatchers-Family: Sylviidae
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
Thrushes-Family: Turdidae
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
Veery Catharus fuscescens
Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Mockingbirds & Thrashers-Family: Mimidae
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
Starling-Family: Sturnidae
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Waxwings-Family: Bombycillidae
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
Systematics and ID Lab #4
Warblers-Family: Parulidae
Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus
Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera
Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina
Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla
Northern Parula Parula americana
Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia
Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica
Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia
Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina
Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens
Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca
Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica
Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus
Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor
Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum
Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea
Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata
Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea
Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorus
Swainson's Warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus
Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla
Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina
Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
Tanagers-Family: Thraupidae
Summer Tanager Piranga rubra
Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea
Systematics and ID Lab #5
Towhees & Sparrows-Family: Emberizidae
Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla
Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus
Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
Henslow's Sparrow Ammodramus henslowii
Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
Grosbeaks & Buntings-Family: Cardinalidae
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
Blue Grosbeak Guiraca caerulea
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
Blackbirds & Orioles-Family: Icteridae
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
Baltimore
Oriole Icterus galbula
Finches-Family: Fringillidae
Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus
House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus
American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis
Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus
Old World Sparrows-Family: Passeridae
House Sparrow Passer domesticus