Birds
From Natural History of Southeast Alaska
This is a taxonomic listing of bird species reported from the Sitka Area.
Other lists relevant to the region that are available on-line:
Southeast Alaska Birds Alphabetical by Common Name
Checklist of Alaska Birds (pdf)
Checklist of Juneau Birds (pdf)
Checklist of Skagway Birds (pdf)
Ducks, Geese, and Swans (Anatidae)
- Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
- Emperor Goose (Chen canagica)
- Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)
- Ross’s Goose (Chen rossii)
- Brant (Branta bernicla)
- Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)
- Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
- Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
- Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
- Gadwall (Anas strepera)
- Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
- American Wigeon (Anas americana)
- Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)
- Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)
- Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
- Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
- Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)
- Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
- Redhead (Aythya americana)
- Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
- Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
- Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
- Steller’s Eider (Polysticta stelleri)
- Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
- Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
- Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
- White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
- Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra)
- Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
- Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
- Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)
- Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes culcullatus)
- Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
- Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
- Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Grouse and Ptarmigan (Phasianidae)
- Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
- Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus)
- White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus)
- Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosis)
Loons (Gaviidae)
- Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)
- Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
- Common Loon (Gavia immer)
- Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii)
Grebes (Podicipedidae)
- Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
- Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
- Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
- Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
Albatrosses (Diomedeidae)
- Laysan Albatross (Diomedea immutabilis)
- Black-footed Albatross (Diomedea nigripes)
- Short-tailed Albatross (Diomedea albatrus)
Shearwaters and Petrels (Procellariidae)
- Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
- Mottled Petrel (Pterodroma inexpectata)
- Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus)
- Buller's Shearwater (Puffinus bulleri)
- Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)
- Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris)
- Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)
Storm-Petrels (Hydrobatidae)
Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae)
- Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)
- Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Red-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax urile)
- Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
Herons and Bitterns (Ardeidae)
Hawks, Eagles, and Allies (Accipitridae)
- Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
- Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
- Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
- Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
- Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)
- Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Falcons (Falconidae)
Rails and Coots (Rallidae)
Cranes (Gruidae)
Plovers (Charadriidae)
- Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
- American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica)
- Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
- Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
- Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous)
Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae)
Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies (Scolopacidae)
- Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
- Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
- Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
- Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
- Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
- Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)
- Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
- Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis)
- Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)
- Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
- Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)
- Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
- Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala)
- Surfbird (Aphriza virgata)
- Red Knot (Calidris canutus)
- Sanderling (Calidris alba)
- Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
- Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
- Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
- White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)
- Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
- Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
- Rock Sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis)
- Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
- 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)
- Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
- Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
- Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)
Gulls and Terns (Laridae)
- Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
- Red-legged Kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris)
- Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea)
- Sabine’s Gull (Xema sabini)
- Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
- Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)
- Heermann’s Gull (Larus heermanni)
- Mew Gull (Larus canus)
- Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
- Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
- California Gull (Larus californicus)
- Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
- Thayer’s Gull (Larus thayeri)
- Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)
- Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
- Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)
- Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
- Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
Jaegers (Stercorariidae)
- South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki)
- Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus)
- Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)
- Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus)
Auks, Murres, and Puffins (Alcidae)
- Common Murre (Uria aalge)
- Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia)
- Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)
- Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
- Kittlitz’s Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris)
- Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus)
- Cassin’s Auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus)
- Parakeet Auklet (Aethia psittacula)
- Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella)
- Rhinocerous Auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata)
- Horned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata)
- Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata)
Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)
Owls (Strigidae)
- Western Screech-Owl (Otus kennicottii)
- Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
- Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca)
- Northern Hawk-Owl (Surnia ulula)
- Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma)
- Barred Owl (Strix varia)
- Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa)
- Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
- Boreal Owl (Aegolius funrus)
- Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)
Goatsuckers (Caprimulgidae)
Swifts (Apodidae)
Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
- Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
- Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
- Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope)
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Woodpeckers (Picidae)
- Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber)
- Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
- Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
- Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis)
- Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus)
- Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
- Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)
- Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)
- Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
- Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)
- Hammond’s Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondi)
- Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri)
- Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)
- Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
- Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
- Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
Shrikes (Laniidae)
Crows and Jays (Corvidae)
- Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)
- Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
- Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana)
- Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)
- Northwestern Crow (Corvus caurinus)
- Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Larks (Alaudidae)
Swallows (Hirundinidae)
- 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 (Paridae)
- Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
- Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens)
Nuthatches (Sittidae)
Creepers (Certhiidae)
Wrens (Troglodytidae)
Dippers (Cinclidae)
Kinglets (Regulidae)
Thrushes (Turdidae)
- Mountain Bluebird (Silaia currucoides)
- Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
- Veery (Catharus fuscescens)
- Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
- Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
- American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
- Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)
Mockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae)
Starlings (Sturnidae)
Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae)
Waxwings (Bombycillidae)
Wood-warblers (Parulidae)
- Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina)
- Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata)
- Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla)
- Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)
- Cape May Warbler (Dendroica tigrina)
- Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)
- Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens)
- Townsend’s Warbler (Dendroica townsendi)
- Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)
- Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis)
- Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
- Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla)
Tanagers (Thraupidae)
Sparrows (Emberizidae)
- American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)
- Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
- Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri)
- Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
- Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
- Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
- Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
- Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
- White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
- Harris’s Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula)
- White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
- Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
- Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
- Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
- Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
Cardinal Allies (Cardinalidae)
Blackbirds (Icteridae)
- Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
- Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
- Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
- Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)
- Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
- Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Finches (Fringillidae)
- Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
- Gray-crowned Rosy-finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis)
- Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
- Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
- White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
- Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)
- Hoary Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni)
- Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)
- American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
- Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
