This is a list of bird species confirmed in Canada. Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of Bird Checklists of the World as of July 2022. Of the 704 species listed here, 236 are accidental. Thirteen species were introduced to North America or directly to Canada, three species are extinct, and three (possibly four) have been extirpated. One species of uncertain origin is also included.

This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd 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.

Canadian birds most closely resemble those of Eurasia, which was connected to the continent as part of the supercontinent Laurasia until around 60 million years ago. Many families which occur in Canada are also found throughout the Northern Hemisphere or worldwide. However, some families are unique to the New World; those represented in this list are the hummingbirds, the New World vultures, the New World quail, the tyrant flycatchers, the mimids, the wood-warblers, the cardinals, and the icterids.Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2016. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ retrieved 11 August 2016. Three species on the list (Ross's goose, whooping crane, and Harris's sparrow) breed only in Canada. The extinct Labrador duck is also believed to have been a breeding endemic, though its breeding areas are not known.Chilton, G. (2020). Labrador Duck (Camptorhynchus labradorius), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.labduc.01. Retrieved February 24, 2021.

Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in Canada as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species:

(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Canada (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Canada as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (E) Extinct - a recent species which no longer exists (Ex) Extirpated - a species which no longer occurs in Canada but exists elsewhere

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 29, 2019. The symbols apply to the species' worldwide status, not their status solely in Canada. The symbols and their meanings, in decreasing order of peril, are:

Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized population well outside its previous range. Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Near threatened The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future. Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species. Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

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.

Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (A) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Emperor goose, Anser canagica (A) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greylag goose, Anser anser (A) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis (A) Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris (A) Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (A) Brant, Branta bernicla Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (A) 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) Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (A) Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna (A) 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 Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A) 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 Common eider, Somateria mollissima Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Labrador duck, Camptorhynchus labradorius (E) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi Common scoter, Melanitta nigra Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica Smew, Mergellus albellus (A) 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 ictus (I)Gutiérrez, R. J. and D. J. Delehanty (2020). Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.mouqua.01. Retrieved February 24, 2021. Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus California quail, Callipepla californica (I)Calkins, J. D., J. M. Gee, J. C. Hagelin, and D. F. Lott (2020). California Quail (Callipepla californica), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.calqua.01. Retrieved February 24, 2021.

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 Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus 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 Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (Ex)Johnson, J. A., M. A. Schroeder, and L. A. Robb (2020). Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.grpchi.01. Retrieved February 24, 2021. Grey partridge, Perdix perdix (I) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) Silver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera (I) (LC) Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I)

Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos (genus Phoenicopterus monotypic in family Phoenicopteridae) 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 specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.

Flamingos are not native to Canada. Wild sightings are extremely rare, although some have been documented.

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.

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.

Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus (A) White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala (A) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis (A) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) Inca dove, Columbina inca (A) Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (A) 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.

Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (A) Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (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 coloured to resemble bark or leaves.

Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii 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 long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Black swift, Cypseloides niger White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (A) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi Common swift, Apus apus (A) Pacific swift, Apus pacificus (A) House swift, Apus nipalensis 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. 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)