This list of birds of Louisiana includes species credibly documented in the U.S. state of Louisiana, as accepted by the Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) of the Louisiana Ornithological Society. Of the 486 species on the list as of January 2024, 153 are classed as accidental and four were introduced to North America. Two species are known to be extinct, two others possibly are, and two have been extirpated. One species is classed as hypothetical. Birds that are considered probable escapees, although they may have been sighted flying free, are not included.
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.
The following tags have been used to designate some species:
(A) Accidental - a species on the Review List of the LBRC (I) Introduced - a species that has been introduced by the actions of humans, either directly or indirectly (E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists (e) Extirpated - a species formerly present in Louisiana which still exists elsewhere (H) Hypothetical - "Origin hypothetical" per the LBRC
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, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsonii Canada goose, Branta canadensis (A) Brant, Branta bernicla (A) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator ("Status in question") (e) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (A) Wood duck, Aix sponsa Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (H) (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos American black duck, Anas rubripes (A) Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas 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) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (A) Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (A) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus Common merganser, Mergus merganser (A) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus (A) 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.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae is the family containing the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial birds, variable in size but generally plump, with broad, relatively short wings. Many are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (e)
Flamingoes Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingoes are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber (A)
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.
Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus (A) Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (A) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (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.
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 Common ground dove, Columbina passerina White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica 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.
Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani (A) Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor (A) 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.
Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis (A) Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Antillean nighthawk, Chordeiles gundlachii (A) Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds, spending most of their lives flying. They 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.
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (A)
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.
Green-breasted mango, Anthracothorax prevostii (A) Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (A) Blue-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis clemenciae (A) Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (A) Lucifer hummingbird, Calothorax lucifer (A) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (A) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris (A) Buff-bellied hummingbird, Amazila yucatanensis
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
The 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, making them difficult to observe. Most have strong legs with long toes, short rounded wings, and are weak fliers.
Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans King rail, Rallus elegans Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis 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 in the Caribbean, South America, and southern Florida.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (A)
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, tall birds with long legs and long necks. Unlike the similar-looking but un-related herons, cranes fly with necks extended. Most have elaborate and noisy courtship displays or "dances". When in a group, they may also "dance" for no particular reason, jumping up and down in an elegant manner, seemingly just for pleasure or to attract a mate.
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis Whooping crane, Grus americana (e; reintroduction program in progress)
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 American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, conspicuous and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
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 generally found in open country, mostly in habitats near water.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluviali dominicas Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A) Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (A)
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large and diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds which includes the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. Most eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or sand. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (probably (E)) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (A) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax (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 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 (A) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A)
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae