Birds of Vermont
Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
22 March 2017
The following is a list of bird species known to regularly occur in Vermont. Historic species (not
documented in Vermont in the last 25 years) are included, but extinct or extirpated species are not. Both
breeding and non-breeding birds are included in the list. Accidental species are not included but transient
(migrating) species that regularly occur in Vermont are.
The list is organized taxonomically to genus, then alphabetically within genus.
Species that are not native to Vermont are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Questions about this list can be directed to John Buck, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department,
5 Perry Street Suite 40, Barre, VT 05641. (802)476-0196. [email protected]
Scientific Name
* Colinus virginianus
Bonasa umbellus
Falcipennis canadensis
Meleagris gallopavo
* Perdix perdix
* Phasianus colchicus
Aix sponsa
Anas acuta
Anas americana
Anas clypeata
Anas crecca
Anas discors
Anas platyrhynchos
Anas rubripes
Anas strepera
Aythya affinis
Aythya americana
Aythya collaris
Aythya fuligula
Aythya marila
Aythya valisineria
Branta bernicla
Branta canadensis
Branta hutchinsii
Bucephala albeola
Bucephala clangula
Bucephala islandica
Chen caerulescens
Clangula hyemalis
Lophodytes cucullatus
Melanitta americana
Common Name
Northern Bobwhite
Ruffed Grouse
Spruce Grouse
Wild Turkey
Gray Partridge
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wood Duck
Northern Pintail
American Wigeon
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
Mallard
American Black Duck
Gadwall
Lesser Scaup
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Tufted Duck
Greater Scaup
Canvasback
Brant
Canada Goose
Cackling Goose
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Snow Goose
Long-tailed Duck
Hooded Merganser
American Scoter
State
Rank
Global
Rank
G4G5
SNA
S4S5
G5
S1
G5
S4
G5
SNA
G5
SNA
G5
S4B
G5
S1B
G5
S1B
G5
SNA
G5
S1B
G5
S2B
G5
S4B,S5N G5
S3B,S5N G5
S1B
G5
SNA
G5
SNA
G5
S1B
G5
SNA
G5
S3N
G5
SNA
G5
SNA
G5
S5N
G5
SNA
G5
S4N
G5
S2B,S5N G5
S3N
G5
SNA
G5
SNA
G5
S4B,S2N G5
SNA
G5
State Federal
Status Status SGCN
E
SGCN
SGCN
SC
SC
SC
SGCN
Scientific Name
Common Name
Melanitta fusca
Melanitta perspicillata
Mergus merganser
Mergus serrator
Oxyura jamaicensis
Gavia immer
Gavia pacifica
Gavia stellata
Podiceps auritus
Podiceps grisegena
Podilymbus podiceps
Ardea alba
Ardea herodias
Botaurus lentiginosus
Bubulcus ibis
Butorides virescens
Ixobrychus exilis
Nycticorax nycticorax
Phalacrocorax auritus
Cathartes aura
Coragyps atratus
Pandion haliaetus
Accipiter cooperii
Accipiter gentilis
Accipiter striatus
Aquila chrysaetos
Buteo jamaicensis
Buteo lagopus
Buteo lineatus
Buteo platypterus
Circus cyaneus
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Fulica americana
Gallinula galeata
Porzana carolina
Rallus limicola
Grus canadensis
Charadrius semipalmatus
Charadrius vociferus
Pluvialis dominica
Pluvialis squatarola
Actitis macularius
Arenaria interpres
Bartramia longicauda
Calidris alba
White-winged Scoter
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Red-throated Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
American Bittern
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Least Bittern
Black-crowned Night-heron
Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
Osprey
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Golden Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
American Coot
Common Gallinule
Sora
Virginia Rail
Sandhill Crane
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
American Golden-Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Spotted Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Upland Sandpiper
Sanderling
Birds of Vermont, Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory, 22 March 2017
State
Rank
Global
Rank
SNA
SNA
S4B,S5N
S1B
SNA
S3B
SNA
SNA
SNA
SNA
S2S3B
S1B
S3S4B
S3B
S1B
S4B
S2B
S1B
S2B
S3S4B
SNA
S3B
S3B,S3N
S2B,S3N
S3B,S3N
SNA
S3S4B,S5N
S4N
S2B
S4B
S3B
S1B,S4N
SUB,SNAM
S1S2B
S3B
S4B
S1B
SNA
S5B
SNA
SNA
S5B
SNA
S2B
SNA
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
State Federal
Status Status SGCN
SGCN
SC
SGCN
SGCN
SGCN
SC
SC
SGCN
SGCN
SGCN
SGCN
SC
E
SGCN
SGCN
SC
SC
SGCN
E
SGCN
Page 2 of 8
Scientific Name
Calidris alpina
Calidris bairdii
Calidris fuscicollis
Calidris maritima
Calidris melanotos
Calidris minutilla
Calidris pusilla
Gallinago delicata
Limnodromus griseus
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Phalaropus lobatus
Scolopax minor
Tringa flavipes
Tringa melanoleuca
Tringa solitaria
Stercorarius longicaudus
Stercorarius parasiticus
Stercorarius pomarinus
Chlidonias niger
Hydroprogne caspia
Sterna forsteri
Sterna hirundo
Rissa tridactyla
Xema sabini
Chroicocephalus
philadelphia
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Hydrocoloeus minutus
Larus argentatus
Larus delawarensis
Larus glaucoides
Larus hyperboreus
Larus marinus
* Columba livia
Zenaida macroura
Coccyzus americanus
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Tyto alba
Aegolius acadicus
Asio flammeus
Asio otus
Bubo scandiacus
Bubo virginianus
Megascops asio
Strix varia
Common Name
State
Rank
Global
Rank
Dunlin
Baird's Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Wilson's Snipe
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Red-necked Phalarope
American Woodcock
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Long-tailed Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Pomarine Jaeger
Black Tern
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern
Common Tern
Black-legged Kittiwake
Sabine's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
SNA
SNA
SNA
SNA
SNA
SNA
SNA
S5B
SNA
SNA
SNA
S5B
SNA
SNA
SNA
SNA
SNA
SNA
S1B
S1B
SNA
S1B
SNA
SNA
SNA
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G4G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G4G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
Black-headed Gull
Little Gull
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Iceland Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Short-eared Owl
Long-eared Owl
Snowy Owl
Great Horned Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl
Barred Owl
SNA
SNA
S1B,S5N
S1B,S5N
SNA
SNA
S1B,S5N
SNA
S4B,S5N
S3B
S5B
S1B
S3B,S3N
S1B,S1N
S1B,SNAN
SNA
S3
S3
S4
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
Birds of Vermont, Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory, 22 March 2017
State Federal
Status Status SGCN
SGCN
SGCN
E
SGCN
E
SGCN
SGCN
SGCN
Page 3 of 8
Scientific Name
Common Name
State
Rank
Global
Rank
Antrostomus vociferus
Eastern Whip-poor-will
S2B
G5
Synonym: Caprimulgus vociferus
Chordeiles minor
Common Nighthawk
S1B
G5
Chaetura pelagica
Chimney Swift
S4B
G4G5
Archilochus colubris
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
S5B
G5
Megaceryle alcyon
Belted Kingfisher
S4B
G5
Colaptes auratus
Northern Flicker
S5B
G5
Dryocopus pileatus
Pileated Woodpecker
S5
G5
Melanerpes carolinus
Red-bellied Woodpecker
S3
G5
Melanerpes erythrocephalus Red-headed Woodpecker
S1B
G5
Picoides arcticus
Black-backed Woodpecker
S2
G5
Picoides dorsalis
American Three-toed Woodpecker
S1
G5
Picoides pubescens
Downy Woodpecker
S5
G5
Picoides villosus
Hairy Woodpecker
S5
G5
Sphyrapicus varius
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
S5B
G5
Falco columbarius
Merlin
S2B
G5
Falco peregrinus
Peregrine Falcon
S3B
G4
Falco sparverius
American Kestrel
S4
G5
Contopus cooperi
Olive-sided Flycatcher
S4B
G4
Contopus virens
Eastern Wood-Pewee
S5B
G5
Empidonax alnorum
Alder Flycatcher
S5B
G5
Empidonax flaviventris
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
S3B
G5
Empidonax minimus
Least Flycatcher
S5B
G5
Empidonax traillii
Willow Flycatcher
S4B
G5
Myiarchus crinitus
Great Crested Flycatcher
S5B
G5
Sayornis phoebe
Eastern Phoebe
S5B
G5
Tyrannus tyrannus
Eastern Kingbird
S5B
G5
Lanius excubitor
Northern Shrike
S3N
G5
Lanius ludovicianus
Loggerhead Shrike
SHB
G4
Vireo flavifrons
Yellow-throated Vireo
S4B
G5
Vireo gilvus
Warbling Vireo
S5B
G5
Vireo olivaceus
Red-eyed Vireo
S5B
G5
Vireo philadelphicus
Philadelphia Vireo
S1B
G5
Vireo solitarius
Blue-headed Vireo
S5B
G5
Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Crow
S5B,S5N G5
Corvus corax
Common Raven
S3
G5
Corvus ossifragus
Fish Crow
S1B
G5
Cyanocitta cristata
Blue Jay
S5
G5
Perisoreus canadensis
Gray Jay
S2
G5
Bombycilla cedrorum
Cedar Waxwing
S4S5B,S5N G5
Bombycilla garrulus
Bohemian Waxwing
S3N
G5
Baeolophus bicolor
Tufted Titmouse
S5
G5
Poecile atricapillus
Black-capped Chickadee
S5
G5
Poecile hudsonicus
Boreal Chickadee
S2
G5
Eremophila alpestris
Horned Lark
S2B,S5N G5
Birds of Vermont, Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory, 22 March 2017
State Federal
Status Status SGCN
T
SGCN
E
SC
SGCN
SGCN
SC
SC
SGCN
SC
SC
SGCN
SGCN
SGCN
E
SC
SGCN
SC
Page 4 of 8
Scientific Name
Hirundo rustica
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Progne subis
Riparia riparia
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Tachycineta bicolor
Regulus calendula
Regulus satrapa
Cistothorus palustris
Cistothorus platensis
Sitta canadensis
Sitta carolinensis
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Troglodytes aedon
Troglodytes hiemalis
Polioptila caerulea
Certhia americana
Dumetella carolinensis
Mimus polyglottos
Toxostoma rufum
* Sturnus vulgaris
Catharus bicknelli
Catharus fuscescens
Catharus guttatus
Catharus minimus
Catharus ustulatus
Hylocichla mustelina
Sialia sialis
Turdus migratorius
* Passer domesticus
Anthus rubescens
Acanthis flammea
Coccothraustes vespertinus
* Haemorhous mexicanus
Haemorhous purpureus
Loxia curvirostra
Loxia leucoptera
Pinicola enucleator
Spinus pinus
Spinus tristis
Cardellina canadensis
Cardellina pusilla
Geothlypis philadelphia
Geothlypis trichas
Mniotilta varia
Common Name
State
Rank
Global
Rank
Barn Swallow
S5B
G5
Cliff Swallow
S4B
G5
Purple Martin
S3B
G5
Bank Swallow
S4B
G5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
S4B
G5
Tree Swallow
S5B
G5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
S4B
G5
Golden-crowned Kinglet
S5B,SNAN G5
Marsh Wren
S4B
G5
Sedge Wren
S2B
G5
Red-breasted Nuthatch
S5
G5
White-breasted Nuthatch
S5B,S5N G5
Carolina Wren
S4
G5
House Wren
S5B
G5
Winter Wren
S5B
G5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
S3B
G5
Brown Creeper
S5B,S5N G5
Gray Catbird
S5B
G5
Northern Mockingbird
S4B,SNAN G5
Brown Thrasher
S4B
G5
European Starling
SNA
G5
Bicknell's Thrush
S2B
G4
Veery
S5B
G5
Hermit Thrush
S5B
G5
Gray-cheeked Thrush
SNA
G5
Swainson's Thrush
S4B
G5
Wood Thrush
S5B
G4
Eastern Bluebird
S5B,S3N G5
American Robin
S5B,S3N G5
House Sparrow
SNA
G5
American Pipit
SNA
G5
Common Redpoll
S4N
G5
Evening Grosbeak
S5B,S4N G5
House Finch
SNA
G5
Purple Finch
S5B,S4N G5
Red Crossbill
S1B,S2N G5
White-winged Crossbill
S3B,S3N G5
Pine Grosbeak
S3N
G5
Pine Siskin
S3B,S4N G5
American Goldfinch
S5B,S5N G5
Canada Warbler
S4B
G5
Wilson's Warbler
S1B
G5
Mourning Warbler
S5B
G5
Common Yellowthroat
S5B
G5
Black-and-white Warbler
S5B
G5
Birds of Vermont, Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory, 22 March 2017
State Federal
Status Status SGCN
SC
SGCN
E
SGCN
SC
SGCN
SC
SGCN
SC
SGCN
SC
SGCN
Page 5 of 8
Scientific Name
Common Name
Oporornis agilis
Oreothlypis celata
Oreothlypis peregrina
Oreothlypis ruficapilla
Parkesia motacilla
Parkesia noveboracensis
Seiurus aurocapilla
Setophaga americana
Setophaga caerulescens
Setophaga castanea
Setophaga cerulea
Setophaga coronata
Setophaga discolor
Setophaga fusca
Setophaga magnolia
Setophaga palmarum
Setophaga pensylvanica
Setophaga petechia
Setophaga pinus
Setophaga ruticilla
Setophaga striata
Setophaga tigrina
Setophaga virens
Vermivora chrysoptera
Vermivora cyanoptera
Agelaius phoeniceus
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Euphagus carolinus
Icterus galbula
Icterus spurius
Molothrus ater
Quiscalus quiscula
Sturnella magna
Ammodramus henslowii
Ammodramus nelsoni
Ammodramus savannarum
Junco hyemalis
Melospiza georgiana
Melospiza lincolnii
Melospiza melodia
Passerculus sandwichensis
Passerella iliaca
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Pooecetes gramineus
Spizella arborea
Connecticut Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Ovenbird
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Palm Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Pine Warbler
American Redstart
Blackpoll Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird
Bobolink
Rusty Blackbird
Baltimore Oriole
Orchard Oriole
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Eastern Meadowlark
Henslow's Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Swamp Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Vesper Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Birds of Vermont, Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory, 22 March 2017
State
Rank
Global
Rank
SNA
G4G5
SNA
G5
S1B
G5
S5B
G5
S4B
G5
S4S5B
G5
S5B
G5
S4B
G5
S5B
G5
S2B
G5
S1S2B
G4
S5B
G5
S3B
G5
S5B
G5
S5B
G5
S1B
G5
S5B
G5
S5B
G5
S4B
G5
S5B
G5
S4B
G5
S1B
G5
S5B
G5
S3B
G4
S3B
G5
S5B
G5
S5B
G5
S3B
G4
S5B
G5
S2B
G5
S5B
G5
S5B
G5
S4B
G5
S1B
G4
SNA
G5
S1B
G5
S5B,S5N G5
S5B
G5
S4B
G5
S5B
G5
S5B
G5
SNA
G5
S4B
G5
S2S3B
G5
S5N
G5
State Federal
Status Status SGCN
SC
SGCN
SGCN
SGCN
SC
SGCN
SC
SGCN
SC
SGCN
SC
SC
SGCN
SGCN
SC
E
SGCN
SGCN
SC
E
SGCN
T
SGCN
SC
SC
SC
SGCN
SGCN
Page 6 of 8
Scientific Name
Common Name
State
Rank
Spizella pallida
Spizella passerina
Spizella pusilla
Zonotrichia albicollis
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Calcarius lapponicus
Plectrophenax nivalis
Cardinalis cardinalis
Passerina cyanea
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Piranga olivacea
Clay-colored Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Scarlet Tanager
S2B
S5B
S4B
S5B
SNA
S3N
S4N
S5
S5B
S5B
S5B
Global
Rank
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
G5
State Federal
Status Status SGCN
SC
SGCN
# Species: 265
Birds of Vermont, Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory, 22 March 2017
Page 7 of 8
Explanation of Legal Status and Information Ranks
State Rank and Global Rank - The rarity (abundance) or endangerment of a native taxon within Vermont's
geographic boundary or throughout its range, respectively. Ranks are as follows:
1 - Very rare (Critically imperiled): At very high risk of extinction or extirpation due to extreme rarity (often 5 or
fewer populations or occurrences), very steep declines, or other factors
2 - Rare (Imperiled): At high risk of extinction or extirpation due to very restricted range, very few populations
(often 20 or fewer), steep declines, or other factors
3 - Uncommon (Vulnerable): Moderate risk of extinction\extirpation due to restricted range, relatively few
populations or occurrences (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors
4 - Common to uncommon (Apparently secure): locally common or widely scattered to uncommon, but not rare;
some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors; or stable over many decades and not threatened
but of restricted distribution or other factors
5 - Common (Secure): widespread and abundant
H - Possibly extinct/extirpated: Missing; known from only historical occurrences but hope of rediscovery
X - Presumed extinct/extirpated: Not located despite intensive searches, little likelihood of rediscovery
U - Unrankable: Currently unrankable due to lack of information or conflicting information about status or trends
NR - Not ranked: Not yet assessed
NA - Not applicable. Element is not a suitable target for conservation for one of the following reasons: Hybrid,
Exotic Origin, Accidental/Nonregular, Not Confidently Present, No Definable Occurrences
The following may follow a numeric rank to provide further information:
? - indicates uncertainty about the rank; may also be expressed in the form of a range rank (e.g. S1S3)
B - Indicates the preceding rank is for breeding populations
N - Indicates the preceding rank is for nonbreeding populations
M - Indicates the preceding rank is for migratory populations
T - For global ranks only, indicates an infraspecies.
Q - For global ranks only, indicates questionable taxonomy.
State Status - Legal protection under Vermont Endangered Species Law (10 V.S.A. Chap. 123)
or informational category (not established by law)
E = Endangered: in immediate danger of becoming extirpated in the state
T = Threatened: with high possibility of becoming endangered in the near future
SC = Special Concern: status should be watched (does not denote legal protection)
RE = Recommended by Endangered Species Committee for Endangered (does not denote legal protection)
RT = Recommended by Endangered Species Committee for Threatened (does not denote legal protection)
PE = Proposed for Endangered Status
PT = Proposed for Threatened Status
PDL = Proposed for Delisting
RDL = Recommended for Delisting
Federal Status - Designation under the federal Endangered Species Act, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
LE = Listed Endangered
LT = Listed Threatened
SC = Species of Concern (does not denote legal protection)
C = Candidate for Listing (does not denote legal protection)
PE = Proposed for Endangered (does not denote legal protection)
PT = Proposed for Threatened (does not denote legal protection)
PDL = Proposed for Delisting
SGCN - Species of Greatest Conservation Need as identified in the Vermont Wildlife Action Plan; does not denote
legal protection.
Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory
Page 8 of 8