This list of birds of British Columbia includes species documented in the Canadian province of British Columbia. As of June 2021, there are 593 species included in this list. Of them, 232 are rare or accidental and 17 have been introduced to British Columbia or elsewhere in North America. Five species have been extirpated and one is extinct. Thirty-nine species have only sight records or are classed as hypothetical (see below).Fenneman, Jamie and Rick Toochin. Checklist of the Birds of British Columbia. July 2014 and February 2017. In: Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2017. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [www.efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Retrieved July 7, 2020. An additional species of questionable origin is also included here.Szabo, Ildiko, Kimberly Walters, James Rourke, and Darren E. Irwin. First record of house swift (Apus nipalensis) in the Americas. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 129(2):411-416, 2017.
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 Canadian English spellings are used and the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
The following tags are used to describe some categories of occurrence.
(A) Accidental - a species seldom recorded in British Columbia (I) Introduced - a species that has been introduced to British Columbia by the actions of humans, either directly or indirectly (OU) Origin uncertain - species which might have arrived in British Columbia either from the wild or with human assistance (SR) Sight record - species with only sight records (no photo, specimen, or other tangible evidence) (H) Hypothetical - species with unverifiable records but which nevertheless have enough evidence for inclusion on the list
Population status symbols are those of the Red List published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).IUCN 2019. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2019-2. http://www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on July 30, 2019. The symbols apply to the species' worldwide status, not their status solely in Canada. The symbols and their meanings, in increasing order of peril, are:
+ Conservation status codes = least concern = near threatened = vulnerable = endangered = critically endangered = extinct in the wild = extinct
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
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.
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Emperor goose, Anser canagica (A) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis (A) Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (A) (OU) Brant, Branta bernicla Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (A) (OU) Wood duck, Aix sponsa Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (A) Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata (A) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos American black duck, Anas rubripes (I) (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (A) Spectacled eider, Somateria fischeri (A) King eider, Somateria spectabilis (A) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (A) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi Black scoter, Melanitta nigra Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Smew, Mergellus albellus (A) 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.
Mountain quail, Oreortyx pictus (I) (Extirpated) Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (I) (Extirpated) California quail, Callipepla californica (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.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (I) Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus (Extirpated) Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus Sooty grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus Grey partridge, Perdix perdix (I) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) Silver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera (I) (Not on the AOS Check-list) 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.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis Clark's grebe, Aechmophorus 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. They feed on seeds, fruit and plants. Unlike most other birds, the doves and pigeons produce "crop milk," which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis (A) (I) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (Extinct) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (A) 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.
Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (A) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A) 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 coloured to resemble bark or leaves.
Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis (A) Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (A) 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 long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A) (SR) Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi House swift, Apus nipalensis (A) ("A carcass...found in Ladner, British Columbia on 18 May 2012 appears to be the first documented record of this species in the Americas." In 2019 the species was added to the AOS Check-list appendix because it is not certain if it died before or after crossing into Canadian waters.) 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.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (A) Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (A) (Not yet assessed by the IUCN) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (A) Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae (A) Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (A) Calliope hummingbird, Stellula calliope Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Xantus's hummingbird, Basilinna xantusii (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 to be weak fliers.
Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (A) American coot, Fulica americana Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (A)
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (A) (OU) (Not on the AOS Check-list) Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis Common crane, Grus grus (A) Whooping crane, Grus americana (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.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (A) American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (A)
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani
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.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (A) (SR) American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (A) (SR) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A) Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (A) (SR) Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (A)