List of birds of Utah

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to 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. Thirty-nine species have been recorded in Utah. • Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) • Snow goose, Anser caerulescens • Ross's goose, Anser rossii • Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (R) • Brant, Branta bernicla (A) • Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (R) • Canada goose, Branta canadensis • Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (R) • Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus • Wood duck, Aix sponsa • Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) (P) • Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors • Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera • Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata • Gadwall, Mareca strepera • Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope • American wigeon, Mareca americana • Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos • Mexican duck, Anas diazi (O) • American black duck, Anas rubripes (A) • Northern pintail, Anas acuta • Green-winged teal, Anas crecca • Canvasback, Aythya valisineria • Redhead, Aythya americana • Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris • Greater scaup, Aythya marila (R) • Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis • Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (A) • Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (R) • White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (R) • Black scoter, Melanitta americana (O) • Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (R) • Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola • Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula • Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica • Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus • Common merganser, Mergus merganser • Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator • Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis ==New World quail==

Order: GalliformesFamily: 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. Three species have been recorded in Utah. • Scaled quail, Callipepla squamata (A) • California quail, Callipepla californica (I) • Gambel's quail, Callipepla gambelii ==Pheasants, grouse, and allies==

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae Phasianidae 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. Ten species have been recorded in Utah. • Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (I) • Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus • Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus • Gunnison sage-grouse, Centrocercus minimus (R) • White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus (R) • Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus • Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus • Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (I) • Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) • Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I) ==Grebes==

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. 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. Six species have been recorded in Utah. • Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps • Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus • Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (A) • Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis • Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis • Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii ==Pigeons and doves==

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Eight species have been recorded in Utah. • Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) • Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata • Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) • Inca dove, Columbina inca (R) • Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (A) • Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti (A) • White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica • Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura ==Cuckoos==

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Three species have been recorded in Utah. • Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus • Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus • Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A) ==Nightjars and allies==

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves. Four species have been recorded in Utah. • Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis • Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor • Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii • Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus arizonae (A) ==Swifts==

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae The swifts are small birds which spend 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 very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Four species have been recorded in Utah. • Black swift, Cypseloides niger • Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A) • Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (R) • White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis ==Hummingbirds==

Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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. Eleven species have been recorded in Utah. • Blue-throated mountaingem, Lampornis clemenciae (A) • Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (A) • Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (A) • Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri • Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (R) • Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae • Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope • Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus • Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin (A) • Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus • Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris (A) ==Rails, gallinules, and coots==

Order: GruiformesFamily: 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, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and tend to be weak fliers. Five species have been recorded in Utah. • Virginia rail, Rallus limicola • Sora, Porzana carolina • Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (R) • American coot, Fulica americana • Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A) ==Cranes==

Order: GruiformesFamily: 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". Two species have been recorded in Utah. • Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis • Common crane, Grus grus (A) ==Stilts and avocets==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Two species have been recorded in Utah. • Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus • American avocet, Recurvirostra americana ==Plovers and lapwings==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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. Seven species have been recorded in Utah. • Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola • American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (R) • Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) • Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus • Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus • Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus • Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus ==Sandpipers and allies==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. Thirty-four species have been recorded in Utah. • Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (A) • Hudsonian whimbrel, Numenius hudsonicus (R) • Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus • Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (A) (P) • Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (O) • Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa • Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (R) • Red knot, Calidris canutus (R) • Ruff, Calidris pugnax (A) • Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A) • Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (R) • Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) • Sanderling, Calidris alba • Dunlin, Calidris alpina (R) • Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima (A) • Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii • Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla • White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (A) • Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A) • Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos • Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (R) • Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri • Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (R) • Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus • Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata • Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius • Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria • Wandering tattler, Tringa incana (A) • Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes • Willet, Tringa semipalmata • Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca • Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor • Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus • Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (O) ==Skuas and jaegers==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae Skuas and jaegers are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers. Three species have been recorded in Utah. • Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (A) • Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A) • Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A) ==Auks, murres, and puffins==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae The family Alcidae includes auks, murres, and puffins. These are short winged birds that live on the open sea and normally only come ashore for breeding. One species has been recorded in Utah. • Ancient murrelet, Synthliboarmphus antiquus (A) ==Gulls, terns, and skimmers==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Twenty-six species have been recorded in Utah. • Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (A) • Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (R) • Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia • Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus (A) • Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus (A) • Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (A) • Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan • Heermann's gull, Larus heermanni (A) • Short-billed gull, Larus brachyrhynchus (O) • Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis • Western gull, Larus occidentalis (A) • Yellow-footed gull, Larus livens (A) • California gull, Larus californicus • American herring gull, Larus smithsonianus • Vega gull, Larus vegae (A) • Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides (R) • Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus (R) • Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens (R) • Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus (R) • Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus (A) • Least tern, Sternula antillarum (O) • Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia • Black tern, Chlidonias niger • Common tern, Sterna hirundo (R) • Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (A) • Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri ==Loons==

Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely gray or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body. Four species have been recorded in Utah. • Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata (A) • Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (R) • Common loon, Gavia immer • Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (A) ==Storks==

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae 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. One species has been recorded in Utah. • Wood stork, Mycteria americana (A) ==Frigatebirds==

Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black, or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week. One species has been recorded in Utah. • Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens (A) ==Boobies and gannets==