NJ The Garden State's Birds

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About NJ The Garden State's Birds

A Flicker Field Guide to NJ The Garden State's Birds
New Jersey, the beautiful Garden State, offers many distinctly different habitats which support a variety of bird groups. Let's showcase the rich and abundant variety of bird life that call New Jersey's forests, marshes, lakes, bays, shores and backyards home.

Photos of any bird on the list of NJ birds are welcome, as are migratory and year-round dwelling photographers. Please identify the bird in the title, description or comments.

List of New Jersey Birds:
This version of List of New Jersey birds on Wikipedia as edited by MeegsC, 11/1/ 2008
key: (A) = Accidental occurrence, fewer than 10 records, & unlikely to occur regularly.
(E) = Extinct; a recent member of the avifauna that no longer exists.
(Ex) = Extirpated; no longer occurs in area of interest, but still exist elsewhere.
(I) = Introduced population established as result of human intervention

Ducks, Geese, and Swans:
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swan. These are birds that are modified for 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. There are 131 species worldwide, 61 North American species, and 43 New Jersey species.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck -Dendrocygna autumnalis(A)
Fulvous Whistling Duck -Dendrocygna bicolor (A)
Greater White-fronted Goose -Anser albifrons
Snow Goose -Chen caerulescens
Ross's Goose -Chen rossii
Cackling Goose -Branta hutchinsii
Canada Goose -Branta canadensis
Brant -Branta bernicla
Mute Swan -Cygnus olor (I)
Tundra Swan -Cygnus columbianus
Wood Duck -Aix sponsa
Gadwall -Anas strepera
Eurasian Wigeon -Anas penelope
American Wigeon -Anas americana
American Black Duck -Anas rubripes
Mallard -Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged Teal -Anas discors
Cinnamon Teal -Anas cyanoptera (A)
Northern Shoveler -Anas clypeata
Northern Pintail -Anas acuta
Garganey -Anas querquedula (A)
Green-winged Teal -Anas crecca
Canvasback -Aythya valisineria
Redhead -Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck -Aythya collaris
Tufted Duck -Aythya fuligula (A)
Greater Scaup -Aythya marila
Lesser Scaup -Aythya affinis
King Eider -Somateria spectabilis
Common Eider -Somateria mollissima
Harlequin Duck -Histrionicus histrionicus
Labrador Duck -Camptorhynchus labradorius (E)
Surf Scoter -Melanitta perspicillata
White-winged Scoter -Melanitta fusca
Black Scoter -Melanitta nigra
Long-tailed Duck -Clangula hyemalis
Bufflehead -Bucephala albeola
Common Goldeneye -Bucephala clangula
Barrow's Goldeneye -Bucephala islandica (A)
Hooded Merganser -Lophodytes cucullatus
Common Merganser -Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser -Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck -Oxyura jamaicensis

Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Old World Quail
Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae The Phasianidae is a family of birds which 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. There are 180 species worldwide, 16 North American species, and 4 New Jersey species.
Ring-necked Pheasant -Phasianus colchicus (I)
Ruffed Grouse -Bonasa umbellus
Greater Prairie-Chicken -Tympanuchus cupido (Ex)
Wild Turkey -Meleagris gallopavo

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. There are 32 species, worldwide, all found only in the Americas, 6 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
Northern Bobwhite -Colinus virginianus

Loons
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely grey 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 almost hopeless on land. There are five species worldwide, 5 North American species, and 3 New Jersey species.
Red-throated Loon -Gavia stellata
Pacific Loon -Gavia pacifica (A)
Common Loon -Gavia immer

Grebes
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. There are 20 species worldwide, 7 North American species, and 5 New Jersey species.
Pied-billed Grebe -Podilymbus podiceps
Horned Grebe -Podiceps auritus
Red-necked Grebe -Podiceps grisegena
Eared Grebe -Podiceps nigricollis (A)
Western Grebe -Aechmophorus occidentalis (A)

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. There are 21 species worldwide and 8 North American species. Two of these species have appeared in New Jersey.
Yellow-nosed Albatross -Thalassarche chlororhynchos (A)
Black-browed Albatross -Thalassarche melanophris (A)

Fulmars, Petrels, Shearwaters
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized 'true petrels', characterised by united nostrils with medium septum, and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species worldwide, 24 North American species, and 8 New Jersey species.
Northern Fulmar -Fulmarus glacialis
Black-capped Petrel -Pterodroma hasitata (A)
Cory's Shearwater -Calonectris diomedea
Greater Shearwater -Puffinus gravis
Buller's Shearwater -Puffinus bulleri (A)
Sooty Shearwater -Puffinus griseus
Manx Shearwater -Puffinus puffinus
Audubon's Shearwater -Puffinus lherminieri

Storm-Petrels
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae The storm-petrels are the smallest of 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. There are 21 species worldwide, 12 North American, & 4 New Jersey species.
Wilson's Storm-Petrel -Oceanites oceanicus
White-faced Storm-Petrel -Pelagodroma marina (A)
Leach's Storm-Petrel -Oceanodroma leucorhoa (A)
Band-rumped Storm-Petrel -Oceanodroma castro (A)

Tropicbirds
Order: Procellariiformes 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. There are 3 species worldwide, 3 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.
White-tailed Tropicbird -Phaethon lepturus (A)
Red-billed Tropicbird -Phaethon aethereus (A)

Boobies and Gannets
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Sulidae The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish. There are 8 species worldwide, 5 North American species, and 3 New Jersey species.
Masked Booby -Sula dactylatra (A)
Brown Booby -Sula leucogaster (A)
Northern Gannet -Morus bassanus

Pelicans
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under the beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes. There are 8 species worldwide, 2 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.
American White Pelican -Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (A)
Brown Pelican -Pelecanus occidentalis

Cormorants
Order: Pelecaniformes 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, a distinguishing feature of the Pelecaniformes order. There are 38 species worldwide, 6 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.
Double-crested Cormorant -Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Cormorant -Phalacrocorax carbo

Darters
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Anhingidae Darters are cormorant-like water birds with very long necks and long, straight beaks. They often swim with only the neck above water, and are fish-eaters. There are 4 species worldwide, 1 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
Anhinga -Anhinga anhinga (A)

Frigatebirds
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Fregatidae Frigatebirds are large sea-birds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have inflatable colored 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. There are 5 species worldwide, 3 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
Magnificent Frigatebird -Fregata magnificens (A)

Bitterns, Herons, and Night Herons
Order: Ciconiiformes 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. Unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide, 17 North American species, and 12 New Jersey species.
American Bittern -Botaurus lentiginosus
Least Bittern -Ixobrychus exilis
Great Blue Heron -Ardea herodias
Great Egret -Ardea alba
Snowy Egret -Egretta thula
Little Blue Heron -Egretta caerulea
Tricolored Heron -Egretta tricolor
Reddish Egret -Egretta rufescens (A)
Cattle Egret -Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron -Butorides virescens
Black-crowned Night Heron -Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night Heron -Nyctanassa violacea

Ibises and Spoonbills
Order: Ciconiiformes 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. There are 36 species worldwide, 5 North American species, and 4 New Jersey species.
White Ibis -Eudocimus albus (A)
Glossy Ibis -Plegadis falcinellus
White-faced Ibis -Plegadis chihi (A)
Roseate Spoonbill -Platalea ajaja (A)

Storks
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Threskiornithidae 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. There are 19 species worldwide, 2 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
Wood Stork -Mycteria americana (A)

New World vultures
Order: Ciconiiformes 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. There are 7 species worldwide, all found only in the Americas, 3 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.
Black Vulture -Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture -Cathartes aura

Kites, Eagles, Harriers, and Hawks
Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae The family Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey and include hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. There are 233 species worldwide, 28 North American species, and 15 New Jersey species.
Osprey -Pandion haliaetus
Swallow-tailed Kite -Elanoides forficatus (A)
White-tailed Kite -Elanus leucurus (A)
Mississippi Kite -Ictinia mississippiensis (A)
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
Swainson's Hawk -Buteo swainsoni (A)
Red-tailed Hawk -Buteo jamaicensis
Rough-legged Hawk -Buteo lagopus
Golden Eagle -Aquila chrysaetos

Caracaras and Falcons
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 feet. There are 62 species worldwide, 10 North American species, and 5 New Jersey species.
Eurasian Kestrel -Falco tinnunculus (A)
American Kestrel -Falco sparverius
Merlin -Falco columbarius
Gyrfalcon -Falco rusticolus (A)
Peregrine Falcon -Falco peregrinus

Rails, Gallinules, Moorhens, and Coots
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, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide, 13 North American species, and 10 New Jersey species.
Yellow Rail -Coturnicops noveboracensis (A)
Black Rail -Laterallus jamaicensis
Corn Crake -Crex crex (A)
Clapper Rail -Rallus longirostris
King Rail -Rallus elegans
Virginia Rail -Rallus limicola
Sora -Porzana carolina
Purple Gallinule -Porphyrio martinica (A)
Common Moorhen -Gallinula chloropus
American Coot -Fulica americana

Cranes
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". There are 15 species worldwide, 3 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
Sandhill Crane -Grus canadensis

Lapwings and Plovers
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, although there are some exceptions. There are 66 species worldwide, 17 in North America, and 9 New Jersey species.
Northern Lapwing -Vanellus vanellus (A)
Black-bellied Plover -Pluvialis squatarola
American Golden-Plover -Pluvialis dominica
Pacific Golden-Plover -Pluvialis fulva (A)
Lesser Sand-Plover -Charadrius mongolus (A)
Wilson's Plover -Charadrius wilsonia (A)
Semipalmated Plover -Charadrius semipalmatus
Piping Plover -Charadrius melodus
Killdeer -Charadrius vociferus

Oystercatchers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds with strong bills used for smashing or prying open molluscs. There are 11 species worldwide, 2 North American, and 1 New Jersey species.
American Oystercatcher -Haematopus palliatus

Stilts and Avocets
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and the stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are 9 species worldwide, 3 North American, and 2 New Jersey species.
Black-necked Stilt -Himantopus mexicanus
American Avocet -Recurvirostra americana

Sandpipers, Curlews, Stints, Godwits, Snipes, and Phalaropes
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae The Scolopacidae are a large, diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds, including 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 different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 86 species worldwide, 65 North American species, and 40 New Jersey species.
Spotted Sandpiper -Actitis macularius
Solitary Sandpiper -Tringa solitaria
Spotted Redshank -Tringa erythropus (A)
Greater Yellowlegs T-ringa melanoleuca
Willet -Tringa semipalmata
Lesser Yellowlegs -Tringa flavipes
Upland Sandpiper -Bartramia longicauda
Eskimo Curlew -Numenius borealis (A)
Whimbrel -Numenius phaeopus
Long-billed Curlew -Numenius americanus (A)
Black-tailed Godwit -Limosa limosa (A)
Hudsonian Godwit -Limosa haemastica
Bar-tailed Godwit -Limosa lapponica (A)
Marbled Godwit -Limosa fedoa
Ruddy Turnstone -Arenaria interpres
Red Knot -Calidris canutus
Sanderling -Calidris alba
Semipalmated Sandpiper -Calidris pusilla
Western Sandpiper -Calidris mauri
Red-necked Stint -Calidris ruficollis (A)
Little Stint -Calidris minuta (A)
Least Sandpiper -Calidris minutilla
White-rumped Sandpiper -Calidris fuscicollis
Baird's Sandpiper -Calidris bairdii
Pectoral Sandpiper -Calidris melanotos
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper -Calidris acuminata (A)
Purple Sandpiper -Calidris maritima
Dunlin -Calidris alpina
Curlew Sandpiper -Calidris ferruginea (A)
Stilt Sandpiper -Calidris himantopus
Buff-breasted Sandpiper -Tryngites subruficollis
Ruff -Philomachus pugnax
Short-billed Dowitcher -Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher -Limnodromus scolopaceus
Wilson's Snipe -Gallinago delicata
Eurasian Woodcock -Scolopax rusticola (A)
American Woodcock -Scolopax minor
Wilson's Phalarope -Phalaropus tricolor
Red-necked Phalarope -Phalaropus lobatus
Red Phalarope -Phalaropus fulicarius

Skuas, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
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 grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 108 species worldwide, 54 North American species, and 40 New Jersey species.
Laughing Gull -Larus atricilla
Franklin's Gull -Larus pipixcan (A)
Little Gull -Larus minutus
Black-headed Gull -Larus ridibundus
Bonaparte's Gull -Larus philadelphia
Black-tailed Gull -Larus crassirostris (A)
Ring-billed Gull -Larus delawarensis
California Gull -Larus californicus (A)
Herring Gull -Larus argentatus
Thayer's Gull -Larus thayeri (A)
Iceland Gull -Larus glaucoides
Lesser Black-backed Gull -Larus fuscus
Glaucous Gull -Larus hyperboreus
Great Black-backed Gull -Larus marinus
Sabine's Gull -Xema sabini (A)
Black-legged Kittiwake -Rissa tridactyla
Ross's Gull -Rhodostethia rosea (A)
Ivory Gull -Pagophila eburnea (A)
Brown Noddy -Anous stolidus (A)
Sooty Tern -Onychoprion fuscatus (A)
Bridled Tern -Onychoprion anaethetus (A)
Least Tern -Sternula antillarum
Large-billed Tern -Phaetusa simplex (A)
Gull-billed Tern -Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian Tern -Hydroprogne caspia
Black Tern -Chlidonias niger
White-winged Tern -Chlidonias leucopterus (A)
Whiskered Tern -Chlidonias hybrida (A)
Roseate Tern -Sterna dougallii
Common Tern -Sterna hirundo
Arctic Tern -Sterna paradisaea (A)
Forster's Tern -Sterna forsteri
Royal Tern -Thalasseus maximus
Sandwich Tern -Thalasseus sandvicensis
Black Skimmer -Rynchops niger
Great Skua -Stercorarius skua (A)
South Polar Skua -Stercorarius maccormicki (A)
Pomarine Jaeger -Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic Jaeger -Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed Jaeger -Stercorarius longicaudus (A)

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 not related to the penguins at all, being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, deliberately coming ashore only to nest. There are 24 species worldwide and 22 North American species, and 6 of these species have occurred in New Jersey.
Dovekie -Alle alle
Common Murre -Uria aalge
Thick-billed Murre -Uria lomvia (A)
Razorbill -Alca torda
Black Guillemot -Cepphus grylle (A)
Atlantic Puffin -Fratercula arctica

Pigeons and Doves
Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide, 18 North American species, and 7 New Jersey species.
Rock Pigeon -Columba livia (I)
Band-tailed Pigeon -Patagioenas fasciata (A)
Eurasian Collared-Dove -Streptopelia decaocto (A)
White-winged Dove -Zenaida asiatica (A)
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Passenger Pigeon -Ectopistes migratorius (E)
Common Ground-Dove -Columbina passerina (A)

Lories and Lorikeets, Parakeets, Macaws, and Parrots
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and the have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. There are 335 species worldwide, 8 North American species, and one extinct New Jersey species.
Carolina Parakeet -Conuropsis carolinensis (E)

Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis
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. Unlike the cuckoo species of the Old World, North American cuckoos are not brood parasites. There are 138 species worldwide, 8 North American species, and 3 New Jersey species.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo -Coccyzus americanus
Black-billed Cuckoo -Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Groove-billed Ani -Crotophaga sulcirostris (A)

Barn owls
Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae Barn owls are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are 16 species worldwide, 1 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
Barn Owl -Tyto alba

Typical owls
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. There are 195 species worldwide, 21 North American species, and 9 New Jersey species.
Eastern Screech-Owl -Megascops asio
Great Horned Owl -Bubo virginianus
Snowy Owl -Bubo scandiacus
Northern Hawk Owl -Surnia ulula (A)
Barred Owl -Strix varia
Long-eared Owl -Asio otus
Short-eared Owl -Asio flammeus
Boreal Owl -Aegolius funereus (A)
Northern Saw-whet Owl -Aegolius acadicus

Nightjars
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is crypically colored to resemble bark or leaves. There are 86 species worldwide, 9 North American species, and 3 New Jersey species.
Common Nighthawk -Chordeiles minor
Chuck-will's-widow -Caprimulgus carolinensis
Whip-poor-will -Caprimulgus vociferus

Swifts
Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae The swifts are small aerial birds, spending 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 that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. There are 98 species worldwide, 9 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
Chimney Swift -Chaetura pelagica

Hummingbirds
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. There are 337 species worldwide, 23 North American species, and 6 New Jersey species.
Green Violet-ear -Colibri thalassinus (A)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird -Archilochus colubris
Black-chinned Hummingbird -Archilochus alexandri (A)
Calliope Hummingbird -Stellula calliope (A)
Rufous Hummingbird -Selasphorus rufus (A)
Allen's Hummingbird -Selasphorus sasin (A)

Kingfishers
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Cerylidae Kingfishers are medium sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. There are 94 species worldwide, 3 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
Belted Kingfisher -Ceryle alcyon

Woodpeckers, Sapsuckers, and Flickers
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. There are 218 species worldwide, 26 North American species, and 10 New Jersey species.
Red-headed Woodpecker -Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-bellied Woodpecker -Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -Sphyrapicus varius
Downy Woodpecker -Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker -Picoides villosus
Red-cockaded Woodpecker -Picoides borealis (A)
American Three-toed Woodpecker -Picoides dorsalis (A)
Black-backed Woodpecker -Picoides arcticus (A)
Northern Flicker -Colaptes auratus
Pileated Woodpecker -Dryocopus pileatus

Tyrant Flycatchers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust with stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous. There are 429 species worldwide, all found only in the Americas, 45 North American species, and 18 New Jersey species.
Olive-sided Flycatcher -Contopus cooperi
Eastern Wood-Pewee -Contopus virens
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher -Empidonax flaviventris
Acadian Flycatcher -Empidonax virescens
Alder Flycatcher -Empidonax alnorum
Willow Flycatcher -Empidonax traillii
Least Flycatcher -Empidonax minimus
Pacific-slope/Cordilleran Flycatcher -Empidonax difficilis/occidentails (A)
Eastern Phoebe -Sayornis phoebe
Say's Phoebe -Sayornis saya (A)
Vermilion Flycatcher -Pyrocephalus rubinus (A)
Ash-throated Flycatcher -Myiarchus cinerascens (A)
Great Crested Flycatcher -Myiarchus crinitus
Western Kingbird -Tyrannus verticalis
Eastern Kingbird -Tyrannus tyrannus
Gray Kingbird -Tyrannus dominicensis (A)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher -Tyrannus forficatus (A)
Fork-tailed Flycatcher -Tyrannus savana (A)

Shrikes
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 typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey. There are 31 species worldwide, 3 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.
Loggerhead Shrike -Lanius ludovicianus (A)
Northern Shrike -Lanius excubitor

Vireos
Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae The vireos are a group of small to medium sized passerine birds restricted to the New World. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills. There are 52 species worldwide, 16 North American species, and 8 New Jersey species.
White-eyed Vireo -Vireo griseus
Bell's Vireo -Vireo bellii (A)
Yellow-throated Vireo -Vireo flavifrons
Cassin's Vireo -Vireo cassinii (A)
Blue-headed Vireo -Vireo solitarius
Warbling Vireo -Vireo gilvus
Philadelphia Vireo -Vireo philadelphicus
Red-eyed Vireo -Vireo olivaceus

Jays, Crows, Magpies, and Ravens
Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae The Corvidae family includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size for the bird order Passeriformes. Some of the larger species show levels of learned behavior of a high degree. There are 120 species worldwide, 21 North American speicies, and 4 New Jersey species.
Blue Jay -Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow -Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow -Corvus ossifragus
Common Raven -Corvus corax

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. There are 91 species worldwide, 2 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
Horned Lark -Eremophila alpestris

Swallows and Martins
Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae The Hirundinidae family is a group of passerines characterised by their adaptation to aerial feeding. Their adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and short bills with wide gape. The feet are designed for perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. There are 75 species worldwide, 14 North American species, and 9 New Jersey species.
Purple Martin -Progne subis
Brown-chested Martin -Progne tapera (A)
Tree Swallow -Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green Swallow -Tachycineta thalassina (A)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow -Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Bank Swallow -Riparia riparia
Cliff Swallow -Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave Swallow -Petrochelidon fulva (A)
Barn Swallow -Hirundo rustica

Chickadees and Titmice
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. There are species 59 worldwide, 12 North American species, and 4 New Jersey species.
Carolina Chickadee -Poecile carolinensis
Black-capped Chickadee -Poecile atricapillus
Boreal Chickadee -Poecile hudsonica (A)
Tufted Titmouse -Baeolophus bicolor

Nuthatches
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. There are 24 species worldwide, 4 North American, and 3 New Jersey species.
Red-breasted Nuthatch -Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch -Sitta carolinensis
Brown-headed Nuthatch -Sitta pusilla (A)

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. There are 6 species worldwide, 1 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
Brown Creeper -Certhia americana

Wrens
Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and a thin down-turned bill. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous. There are 79 species worldwide, 9 North American species, and 7 New Jersey species.
Rock Wren -Salpinctes obsoletus (A)
Carolina Wren -Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's Wren -Thryomanes bewickii (A)
House Wren -Troglodytes aedon
Winter Wren -Troglodytes troglodytes
Sedge Wren -Cistothorus platensis
Marsh Wren -Cistothorus palustris

Kinglets
Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice. They are very small insectivorous birds in the genus Regulus. The adults have colored crowns, giving rise to their name. There are 5 species worldwide, 2 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.
Golden-crowned Kinglet -Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet -Regulus calendula

Old World Warblers and Gnatcatchers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. The Sylviidae mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs. There are about 300 species worldwide, 12 North American Species, and 1 New Jersey species.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher -Polioptila caerulea

Thrushes
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. There are 335 species worldwide, 28 North American species, and 12 New Jersey species.
Northern Wheatear -Oenanthe oenanthe (A)
Eastern Bluebird -Sialia sialis
Mountain Bluebird -Sialia currucoides (A)
Townsend's Solitaire -Myadestes townsendi (A)
Veery -Catharus fuscescens
Gray-cheeked Thrush -Catharus minimus
Bicknell's Thrush -Catharus bicknelli
Swainson's Thrush -Catharus ustulatus
Hermit Thrush -Catharus guttatus
Wood Thrush -Hylocichla mustelina
American Robin -Turdus migratorius
Varied Thrush -Ixoreus naevius (A)

Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae The Mimids are a family of passerine birds that includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalization, 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. There are 35 species worldwide, 13 North American species, and 4 New Jersey species.
Gray Catbird -Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird -Mimus polyglottos
Sage Thrasher -Oreoscoptes montanus (A)
Brown Thrasher -Toxostoma rufum

Starlings
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. There are 125 species, of which 1 has been introduced to North America.
European Starling -Sturnus vulgaris (I)

Wagtails and Pipits
Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae The Motacillidae are 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. There are 54 species worldwide, 11 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
American Pipit -Anthus rubescens

Waxwings
Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae The waxwings are a group of passerine birds characterised by 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. There are three species worldwide, 2 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.
Bohemian Waxwing -Bombycilla garrulus (A)
Cedar Waxwing -Bombycilla cedrorum

New World Warblers
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 like are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores. There are 119 species worldwide, 57 North American species, and 41 New Jersey species.
Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus
Golden-winged Warbler -Vermivora chrysoptera
Tennessee Warbler -Vermivora peregrina
Orange-crowned Warbler -Vermivora celata
Nashville Warbler -Vermivora ruficapilla
Virginia's Warbler -Vermivora virginiae (A)
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 Gray Warbler -Dendroica nigrescens (A)
Black-throated Green Warbler -Dendroica virens
Townsend's Warbler -Dendroica townsendi (A)
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 vermivorum
Swainson's Warbler -Limnothlypis swainsonii (A)
Ovenbird -Seiurus aurocapilla
Northern Waterthrush -Seiurus noveboracensis
Louisiana Waterthrush -Seiurus motacilla
Kentucky Warbler -Oporornis formosus
Connecticut Warbler -Oporornis agilis
Mourning Warbler -Oporornis philadelphia
MacGillivray's Warbler -Oporornis tolmiei (A)
Common Yellowthroat -Geothlypis trichas
Hooded Warbler -Wilsonia citrina
Wilson's Warbler -Wilsonia pusilla
Canada Warbler -Wilsonia canadensis
Yellow-breasted Chat -Icteria virens

Tanagers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Thraupidae The tanagers are a large group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World, mainly in the tropics. Many species are brightly colored. They are seedeaters, but their preference tends towards fruit and nectar. Most have short, rounded wings. There are 256 species worldwide, 6 North American species, and 3 New Jersey species.
Summer Tanager -Piranga rubra
Scarlet Tanager -Piranga olivacea
Western Tanager -Piranga ludoviciana (A)

American Sparrows, Towhees, Juncos, and Longspurs
Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae The Emberizidae are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with a distinctively shaped bill. In Europe, most species are named as buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as Sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns. There are species 275 worldwide, 60 North American species, and 33 New Jersey species.
Green-tailed Towhee -Pipilo chlorurus (A)
Spotted Towhee -Pipilo maculatus (A)
Eastern Towhee -Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Cassin's Sparrow -Aimophila cassinii (A)
Bachman's Sparrow -Aimophila aestivalis (A)
American Tree Sparrow -Spizella arborea
Chipping Sparrow -Spizella passerina
Clay-colored Sparrow -Spizella pallida
Field Sparrow -Spizella pusilla
Vesper Sparrow -Pooecetes gramineus
Lark Sparrow -Chondestes grammacus (A)
Black-throated Sparrow -Amphispiza bilineata (A)
Lark Bunting -Calamospiza melanocorys (A)
Savannah Sparrow -Passerculus sandwichensis
Grasshopper Sparrow -Ammodramus savannarum
Henslow's Sparrow -Ammodramus henslowii (A)
Le Conte's Sparrow -Ammodramus leconteii (A)
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow -Ammodramus nelsoni
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow -Ammodramus caudacutus
Seaside Sparrow -Ammodramus maritimus
Fox Sparrow -Passerella iliaca
Song Sparrow -Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's Sparrow -Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp Sparrow -Melospiza georgiana
White-throated Sparrow -Zonotrichia albicollis
Harris's Sparrow -Zonotrichia querula (A)
White-crowned Sparrow -Zonotrichia leucophrys
Golden-crowned Sparrow -Zonotrichia atricapilla (A)
Dark-eyed Junco -Junco hyemalis
Lapland Longspur -Calcarius lapponicus
Smith's Longspur -Calcarius pictus (A)
Chestnut-collared Longspur -Calcarius ornatus (A)
Snow Bunting -Plectrophenax nivalis

Cardinals, Saltators, and Grosbeaks
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae The Cardinals are a family of passerine birds that are robust, seed-eating birds, with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages. There are 43 species worldwide, 13 North American species, and 7 New Jersey species.
Northern Cardinal -Cardinalis cardinalis
Rose-breasted Grosbeak -Pheucticus ludovicianus
Black-headed Grosbeak -Pheucticus melanocephalus (A)
Blue Grosbeak -Passerina caerulea
Indigo Bunting -Passerina cyanea
Painted Bunting -Passerina ciris (A)
Dickcissel -Spiza americana

Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, Cowbirds, Grackles, and New World Orioles
Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae The Icterids are a group of small to medium, 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. There are 98 species worldwide, 25 North American Species, and 13 New Jersey species.
Bobolink -Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Red-winged Blackbird -Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern Meadowlark -Sturnella magna
Western Meadowlark -Sturnella neglecta (A)
Yellow-headed Blackbird -Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Rusty Blackbird -Euphagus carolinus
Brewer's Blackbird -Euphagus cyanocephalus (A)
Common Grackle -Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed Grackle -Quiscalus major
Brown-headed Cowbird -Molothrus ater
Orchard Oriole -Icterus spurius
Bullock's Oriole -Icterus bullockii (A)
Baltimore Oriole -Icterus galbula

Finches
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 12 tail feathers and 9 primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. There are 137 species worldwide, 23 North American species, and 11 New Jersey species.
Brambling -Fringilla montifringilla (A)
Pine Grosbeak -Pinicola enucleator (A)
Purple Finch -Carpodacus purpureus
House Finch -Carpodacus mexicanus
Red Crossbill -Loxia curvirostra (A)
White-winged Crossbill -Loxia leucoptera (A)
Common Redpoll -Carduelis flammea (A)
Hoary Redpoll -Carduelis hornemanni (A)
Pine Siskin -Carduelis pinus
American Goldfinch -Carduelis tristis
Evening Grosbeak -Coccothraustes vespertinus

Old World sparrows
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or greyish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed-eaters, and they also consume small insects. There are 35 species worldwide, 2 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.
House Sparrow Passer domesticus (I)