This is a comprehensive listing of all the bird species recorded in Acadia National Park, which is in the U.S. state of Maine. The park's avifauna comprise 362 species according to the National Park Service (NPS) as of September 2025.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 66th Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS).Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, O. Johnson, N. A. Mason, and P. C. Rasmussen. 2025. Check-list of North American Birds (online). American Ornithological Society. https://checklist.americanornithology.org/taxa/ retrieved September 5, 2025 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 are considered to occur regularly in Acadia National Park as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The tags below are used to designate the abundance of some species. Acadia includes two large parcels on Mt. Desert Island, part of the Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland, part of Isle au Haut, and all or part of several smaller islands. Therefore, some species which are common or abundant on the Maine coast as a whole can be in the "less than common" categories within the Park boundaries.
(R) Rare - "usually seen only a few times each year" (26 species) (Unc) Uncommon - "likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season and may be locally common" (16 species) (O) Occasional - "occur in a park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year" (14 species) (Unk) Unknown (24 species) (Hist) Historical - "Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Designation of what constitutes "historical" is a judgment call" (27 species) (NC) Unconfirmed - "Attributed to the park based on weak ("unconfirmed record") or no evidence" (114 species) (I) Introduced - a species introduced to North America by the actions of man, either directly or indirectly (five species) (E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists (four 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.
Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (O) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (O) Brant, Branta bernicla Canada goose, Branta canadensis Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (NC) Wood duck, Aix sponsa Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (Unc) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (NC) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (Unk) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (Unk) American wigeon, Mareca americana (U) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos American black duck, Anas rubripes Northern pintail, Anas acuta (R) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (O) Redhead, Aythya americana (NC) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (NC) Labrador duck, Camptorhynchus labradorius (E) (NC) King eider, Somateria spectabilis (NC) Common eider, Somateria mollissima Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (NC) White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (NC) Black scoter, Melanitta americana (NC) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (NC) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (NC) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (Unc) Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (NC)
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 (NC)
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 (NC) Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis (R) Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (I) (Hist) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) (NC)
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 (R) Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (NC) Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (NC) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (NC)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) (NC) Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) (NC)
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 (Unk) Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (R)
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.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (NC) 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.
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.
Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (NC)
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 (NC)
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 (Hist) King rail, Rallus elegans (NC) Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (R) Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (O) American coot, Fulica americana (Unk) Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (Unk)
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.
American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (Unk)
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus (NC)
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 American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (NC) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (NC) Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (NC)
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 (R) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (R) Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (E) (NC) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (NC) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (Hist) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus (NC) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (Hist) Sanderling, Calidris alba (NC) Dunlin, Calidris alpina (NC) Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (Hist) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (Unc) Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (R) Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri (NC) Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (NC) American woodcock, Scolopax minor Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (R) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (Unc) Willet, Tringa semipalmata (NC) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (NC) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (NC) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (Hist)
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
They are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.
Great skua, Stercorarius skua (NC) Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (NC) Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (NC)
Auks, murres, and puffins Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae
Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colors, their upright posture, and some of their habits. However they are only distantly related to the penguins and are able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.
Dovekie, Alle alle (NC) Common murre, Uria aalge (Hist) Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia Razorbill, Alca torda (NC) Great auk, Pinguinus impennis (E) (Hist) Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica (NC)
Gulls, terns, and skimmers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae