This list of birds of North Dakota includes species documented in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The list is derived from Checklist of North Dakota Birds produced in April 2016 by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGFD). The basic NDGFD list contains 420 confirmed and extant species, two extinct species. Three additional species have been added from the North Dakota Bird Records Committee (NDBRC) review list with some additions from Avibase. The combined lists contain 420 species. Of them, 194 and a subspecies are on the review list (see below). The NDGFD list considers 44 species to be accidental, and eight species have been introduced to North America. An additional accidental species has been added from another source.
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 North Dakota as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The tags below are used to annotate some species. There is much overlap among the (A), (R), and (H) categories.
(A) Accidental - species on the NDGFD checklist which "are not likely to occur in the state again, or may occur infrequently" (R) Review list - birds that if seen require more comprehensive documentation than regularly seen species. These birds are considered irregular or rare in North Dakota. (I) Introduced - a species established in North America as a result of human action (E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists
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-three species have been recorded in North Dakota.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (A) (R) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) (R) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Brant, Branta bernicla (A) (R) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (A) (R) (extirpated) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Wood duck, Aix sponsa Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (I) Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) (R) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (R) (nesting) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) (R) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos American black duck, Anas rubripes (R) (nesting) Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula (A) (R) 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 King eider, Somateria spectabilis (A) (R) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (A) (R) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (A) (R) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (R) (spring or summer) White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (R) (spring or summer) Black scoter, Melanitta americana (R) (spring or summer) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (R) (summer) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (R) (nesting outside of the Turtle Mountains) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (R) (nesting outside of the Turtle Mountains) Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (A) (R) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus Common merganser, Mergus merganser (R) (nesting other than along the Missouri River) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
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. Eight species have been recorded in North Dakota.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus (extirpated) Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus (A) (R) Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (I) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (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 North Dakota.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis Clark's grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii (R) (nesting)
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 North Dakota.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (A) (R) Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) Inca dove, Columbina inca (A) (R) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (A) (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 North Dakota.
Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (A) (R) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (R) (nesting) 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. Three species have been recorded in North Dakota.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii (R) (east of Hwy 85) Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (R) (nesting and all those west of ND Hwy 1)
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. One species has been recorded in North Dakota.
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica
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. Five species have been recorded in North Dakota.
Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri ((A) (R) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope ((A) (R) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus ((A) (R) Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus ((A) (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 tend to be weak fliers. Seven species have been recorded in North Dakota.
King rail, Rallus elegans (A) (R) Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (R) (winter) Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (A) (R) American coot, Fulica americana Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (R) (nesting) Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (A) (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". Three species have been recorded in North Dakota.
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (R) (nesting) Common crane, Grus grus (A) (R) Whooping crane, Grus americana (R) (summer)
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 North Dakota.
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 North Dakota.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (A) (R) Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (A) (R)
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 North Dakota.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (A) (R) Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (E) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax (A) (R) Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A) (R) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) (R) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Little stint, Calidris minuta (A) (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 (A) (R) Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus American woodcock, Scolopax minor (R) (nesting west of US Highway 83) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria 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 (A) (R)
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae