New Brunswick is a Maritime province within Canada, bordered by Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to the west. Lying within the Appalachian Mountain range, the province is largely covered by temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, with the northern part of the province also containing boreal forest. The coastlines of the province contain a large marine environment. These different ecosystems contribute to the diversity of birds in the province. Additionally, the Atlantic Flyway passes through New Brunswick's coast, with areas within the Bay of Fundy such as the Shepody Bay significantly contributing to the variety of bird species that breed in or migrate through the province.

The information provided is from the list of bird species accepted by the New Brunswick Bird Records Committee (NBBRC), which contains 441 species as of November 19, 2023. Of these, 94 are accidentals and 55 are noted as rare as defined below. Eight species have been introduced to North America, one species has been extirpated, three are extinct, and another is possibly extinct. 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 categorise some species:

(A) Accidental - a species that does not often occur in New Brunswick as a vagrant (B) Breeding - a species that currently breeds or has bred in New Brunswick (E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in New Brunswick, but populations still exist elsewhere (R) Rare - "Very rare (not expected annually)" per the NBBRC (I) Introduced - a species that has been introduced through human intervention, either directly or indirectly

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.

Black-bellied whistling-duck (), Dendrocygna autumnalis (A) Fulvous whistling-duck (), Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Snow goose (), Anser caerulescens Ross's goose (), Anser rossii (A) Graylag goose (), Anser anser (A) Greater white-fronted goose (), Anser albifrons (R) Pink-footed goose (), Anser brachyrhynchus (R) Brant (), Branta bernicla Barnacle goose (), Branta leucopsis (A) Cackling goose (), Branta hutchinsii (R) Canada goose (), Branta canadensis (B) Mute swan (), Cygnus olor (A) (I) Tundra swan (), Cygnus columbianus (R) Common shelduck (), Tadorna tadorna (A) Wood duck (), Aix sponsa (B) Garganey (), Spatula querquedula (A) Blue-winged teal (), Spatula discors (B) Cinnamon teal (), Spatula cyanoptera (A) Northern shoveler (), Spatula clypeata (B) Gadwall (), Mareca strepera (B) Eurasian wigeon (), Mareca penelope American wigeon (), Mareca americana (B) Mallard (), Anas platyrhynchos (B) American black duck (), Anas rubripes (B) Northern pintail (), Anas acuta (B) Green-winged teal (), Anas crecca (B) Canvasback (), Aythya valisineria (R) Redhead (), Aythya americana Ring-necked duck (), Aythya collaris (B) Tufted duck (), Aythya fuligula (R) Greater scaup (), Aythya marila (B) Lesser scaup (), Aythya affinis King eider (), Somateria spectabilis Common eider (), Somateria mollissima (B) Harlequin duck (), Histrionicus histrionicus Labrador duck (), Camptorhynchus labradorius (E) 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 (B) Barrow's goldeneye (), Bucephala islandica Hooded merganser (), Lophodytes cucullatus (B) Common merganser (), Mergus merganser (B) Red-breasted merganser (), Mergus serrator (B) Ruddy duck (), Oxyura jamaicensis

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 (B) Ruffed grouse (), Bonasa umbellus (B) Spruce grouse (), Canachites canadensis (B) Grey partridge (), Perdix perdix (Ex) (I) 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.

Pied-billed grebe (), Podilymbus podiceps (B) Horned grebe (), Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe (), Podiceps grisegena Eared grebe (), Podiceps nigricollis (A) 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. They have strong flight muscles, allowing them to take off almost vertically and fly for long distances. They typically feed on seeds and fruit plants, and produce "crop milk" to feed their young.

Rock pigeon (), Columba livia (B) (I) Band-tailed pigeon (), Patagioenas fasciata (A) Eurasian collared-dove (), Streptopelia decaocto (A) (I) Passenger pigeon (), Ectopistes migratorius (E) White-winged dove (), Zenaida asiatica Mourning dove (), Zenaida macroura (B)

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.

Yellow-billed cuckoo (), Coccyzus americanus Black-billed cuckoo (), Coccyzus erythropthalmus (B)

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.

Common nighthawk (), Chordeiles minor (B) Chuck-will's-widow (), Antrostomus carolinensis (A) Eastern whip-poor-will (), Antrostomus vociferus (B)

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.

Chimney swift (), Chaetura pelagica (B)

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.

Ruby-throated hummingbird (), Archilochus colubris (B) Black-chinned hummingbird (), Archilochus alexandri (A) Rufous hummingbird (), Selasphorus rufus (R) 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 to be weak fliers.

Clapper rail (), Rallus crepitans (R) King rail (), Rallus elegans (A) Virginia rail (), Rallus limicola (B) Sora (), Porzana carolina (B) Common gallinule (), Gallinula galeata (B) American coot (), Fulica americana (B) Purple gallinule (), Porphyrio martinicus (R) Yellow rail (), Coturnicops noveboracensis (B)

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".

Sandhill crane (), Antigone canadensis (R)

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 (R)

Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae

Oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

American oystercatcher (), Haematopus palliatus (R)

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.

Northern lapwing (), Vanellus vanellus (A) Black-bellied plover (), Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover (), Pluvialis dominica Killdeer (), Charadrius vociferus (B) Wilson's plover (), Charadrius wilsonia (A) Semipalmated plover (), Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover (), Charadrius melodus (B)

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.

Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (B) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (possibly extinct) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (A) Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (A) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (R) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax (R) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (R) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Little stint, Calidris minuta (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 (R) Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus American woodcock, Scolopax minor (B) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (B) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia (B) Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (B) Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes Willet, Tringa semipalmata (B) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius

Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae