This list of birds of Tennessee includes species documented in the U.S. state of Tennessee and accepted by the Tennessee Bird Records Committee (TBRC) of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. As of February 2020, 423 species were on the official list. Of them, 41 are considered accidental, 30 are considered casual, and 13 are labeled provisional as defined below. Five species were introduced to North America, two are extinct, and three have been extirpated.
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 Tennessee as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species:
(A) Accidental – a "very rare and unpredictable vagrant" per the TBRC (C) Casual – a species which "occurs with some frequency but not every year" per the TBRC (P) Provisional – a species with "less than 3 accepted records within the state without photographs or a specimen" per the TBRC (E) Extinct – a recent species that no longer exists (Exp) Extirpated – a species which formerly occurred in Tennessee but exists elsewhere (I) Introduced – a species established solely as result of direct or indirect human intervention
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-five species have been recorded in Tennessee.
Black-bellied whistling duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (A) Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (C) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Brant, Branta bernicla (A) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (A) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) (C) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (A) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Wood duck, Aix sponsa Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos American black duck, Anas rubripes Mottled Duck, Anas fulvigula (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca carolinensis Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis King eider, Somateria spectabilis (A) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (A) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (A) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (C) Black scoter, Melanitta americana (C) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (C) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (A) (P) 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 Tennessee.
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. Three species have been recorded in Tennessee.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (Exp)
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 Tennessee.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (C) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (A) Clark's grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii (A)
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 Tennessee.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (A) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) Inca dove, Columbina inca (A) Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (C) 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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites. Three species have been recorded in Tennessee.
Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (A) 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. Three species have been recorded in Tennessee.
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 very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. One species has been recorded in Tennessee.
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. Nine species have been recorded in Tennessee.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (A) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (A) Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (A) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (A) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin (A) Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycerus (A) 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. Nine species have been recorded in Tennessee.
Clapper rail, Rallus longirostris (A) King rail, Rallus elegans (C) Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (C) American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (C) Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (C) Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (A)
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.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (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 Tennessee.
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis Hooded crane, Grus monacha (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 Tennessee.
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 Tennessee.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (C) Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia (A) (P) Snowy plover, Charadrius alexandrinus (A)
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 Tennessee.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (C) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (A) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (C) Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (C) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus (C) Ruff, Calidris pugnax (C) Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima (A) Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (A) 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 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 Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (C) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (C)
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae