List of birds of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is in the U.S. states of North Carolina and Tennessee. Unless otherwise noted, this list is based on one published in April 2020 by the Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA) with the National Park Service (NPS). The list contains 250 species.

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 species listed below are considered to occur regularly in the park as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species; the quoted definitions are from the checklist:

(U) Uncommon - "at least one individual seen per proper season or several per year" (O) Occasional - "one seen per year or less" (R) Rare - "has occurred in park at least once, but is not to be expected" (H) Historic - "last recorded sighting 50+ years ago" (I) Introduced - a species introduced to North America by the actions of humans

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 (R) Ross's goose, Anser rossii (R) Brant, Branta bernicla (R) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (U) Wood duck, Aix sponsa Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (O) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (R) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (R) American wigeon, Mareca americana (R) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (U) American black duck, Anas rubripes (U) Northern pintail, Anas acuta (R) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca carolinensis (R) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (R) Redhead, Aythya americana (R) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (U) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (R) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (R) White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (R) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (U) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (R) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (U) Common merganser, Mergus merganser (R) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (R) 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 (U)

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

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 (U) Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (R)

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 Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) (O)

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.

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

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 (O) Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (U) 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.

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

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 (O)

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.

King rail, Rallus elegans (R) Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (R) Sora, Porzana carolina (O) Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (R) American coot, Fulica americana (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.

American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (R) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (R) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (U)

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.

Ruff, Calidris pugnax (R) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (O) Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (R) American woodcock, Scolopax minor (U) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (U) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius (U) Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (O) Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (R) Willet, Tringa semipalmata (R) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (O) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (R) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (R)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.

Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia (R) Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (R) Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (O) Herring gull, Larus argentatus (R) Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus (R)

Loons Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely gray or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body.

Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata (R) Common loon, Gavia immer (O)

Northern storm-petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Band-rumped storm-petrel, Oceanodroma castro (R)

Cormorants and shags Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of colored skin on the face. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed.

Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum (O)

Pelicans Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.

American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (R)

Herons, egrets, and bitterns Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.

American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (O) Great blue heron, Ardea herodias (U) Great egret, Ardea alba (O) Western cattle-egret, Ardea ibis (R) Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea (O) Green heron, Butorides virescens (U) Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea (R) (H)

New World vultures Order: CathartiformesFamily: Cathartidae

The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers, however, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses.

Black vulture, Coragyps atratus Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura

Osprey Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae

Pandionidae is a family of fish-eating birds of prey, possessing a very large, powerful hooked beak for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. The family is monotypic.

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (U)

Hawks, eagles, and kites Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.

Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus (R) Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos (R) Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus (U) Cooper's hawk, Astur cooperii (U) American goshawk, Astur atricapillus (R) Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (U) Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (U) Mississippi kite, Ictinia mississippiensis (R) Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus (U) Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis (U)

Barn-owls Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae