This list of birds of Vermont is a comprehensive listing of all the bird species recorded in the U.S. state of Vermont. This list is based on the list published by the Vermont Bird Records Committee (VBRC). As of March 2024 there were 396 species on the list, representing 22 orders and 63 families of bird. Of them, 111 are classed as vagrants anywhere in the state and 15 others are rare in certain regions. Of the vagrants, seven are additionally classed as hypothetical (see below). Nine species were introduced to North America or directly to Vermont, one is extinct, and two have been extirpated. An additional vagrant bird 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 Vermont as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species:
(V) Vagrant - birds that if observed anywhere in Vermont require more comprehensive documentation than regularly seen species (B) - birds that if observed outside the Burlington area require documentation (C) - birds that if observed outside the Lake Champlain Basin require documentation (K) - birds that if observed outside the Northeast Highlands (Northeast Kingdom) require documentation (I) Introduced - a species introduced to North America by humans (X) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists (E) Extirpated - a species no longer found in Vermont but existing elsewhere (H) Hypothetical - "single records that lack photo documentation or second party confirmation" per the VBRC.
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-four species have been recorded in Vermont.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (V) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (V) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (V) Brant, Branta bernicla Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (V) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Wood duck, Aix sponsa Garganey, Spatula querquedula (V) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors 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 (C) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis King eider, Somateria spectabilis (V) Common eider, Somateria mollissima Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (C) 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 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 Vermont.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (I)
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. Six species have been recorded in Vermont.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis (K) Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus (V) Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (I) (V) 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. Four species and a species pair have been recorded in Vermont.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (V) Western grebe/Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis/Aechmorphorus clarkii (H) (V)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Six species have been recorded in Vermont.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (V) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) (V) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (X) (V) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (V) 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. Two species have been recorded in Vermont.
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. Two species have been recorded in Vermont.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor 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 very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. One species has been recorded in Vermont.
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. Three species have been recorded in Vermont.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (V) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (V)
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. Six species have been recorded in Vermont.
King rail, Rallus elegans (V) Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans (V) Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (V)
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 Vermont.
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. One species has been recorded in Vermont.
American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (V)
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 Vermont.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (H) (V) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (V) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (V)
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-two species have been recorded in Vermont.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (V) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (V) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus (C) Ruff, Calidris pugnax (V) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (V) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii 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 (V) Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus American woodcock, Scolopax minor 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 (C) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius
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 Vermont.
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (C) Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (C) Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (C)
Auks, murres, and puffins Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae