This list of birds of New Jersey includes species credibly documented in the U.S. state of New Jersey and accepted by the New Jersey Bird Records Committee (NJBRC). As of March 2024 the list contained 492 species and a species pair. Seven additional species of uncertain origin are also included in this page.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in New Jersey as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species:
(R) Rare or accidental - Review List; birds that if observed require more comprehensive documentation than regularly seen species (153 species and a species pair) (R*) Review List, in part - "Identifiable form/race/subspecies, seen from shore, etc." per the NJBRC (18 species) (E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists (four species) (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in New Jersey, but populations survive elsewhere (one species) (I) Introduced - a species established in North America by direct or indirect human intervention; synonymous with non-native or non-indigenous (eight species) (PU) Provenance uncertain - species which might have been released or escaped from captivity (seven species)
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
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. Forty-six species have been recorded in New Jersey.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (R) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (R) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (R) Brant, Branta bernicla (R*) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (R) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (R) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Wood duck, Aix sponsa Garganey, Spatula querquedula (R) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (R) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos American black duck, Anas rubripes Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (R) 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 deglandi Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (R) 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. One species has been recorded in New Jersey.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
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. Four species have been recorded in New Jersey.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (Ex) Heath hen, T. c. cupido (E) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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. Five species have been recorded in New Jersey.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (R) Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis (R)
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Seven species have been recorded in New Jersey.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (R) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) (R) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (R) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (R) 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 New Jersey.
Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (R) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
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 New Jersey.
Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis (R) Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus
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 long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Three species have been recorded in New Jersey.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger (R) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica Common swift, Apus apus (R)
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. Seven species have been recorded in New Jersey.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (R) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (R) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (R) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (R) Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin (R) Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (R)
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 to be weak fliers. Ten species have been recorded in New Jersey.
Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans King rail, Rallus elegans Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Corn crake, Crex crex (R) Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (R) Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (R) Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis
Limpkin Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the cranes. It is found in marshes with some trees or scrub. One species has been recorded in New Jersey.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (R)
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". One species has been recorded in New Jersey.
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis
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 New Jersey.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious, noisy plover-like birds with strong bills used for smashing or prying open molluscs. One species has been recorded in New Jersey.
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
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. Eleven species have been recorded in New Jersey.
Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (R) Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (R) American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (R) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (R) Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia (R) Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (R)
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large, diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds which includes 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 multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. Forty-two species have been recorded in New Jersey.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (R*) Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (E) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (R) Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (R) Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (R) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax (R) Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (R) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (R) Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (R) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Little stint, Calidris minuta (R) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri