This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Yosemite National Park, which is in the U.S. state of California. This list is based on one published by the National Park Service (NPS) with species confirmed to 2014. The list contains 264 species after taxonomic changes have been made.
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.
The following tags have been used to annotate some species. The main body of the NPS list uses a bar chart to depict rare, very rare, and variable species, and appends separate tables for the two classes of "additional species".
(R) Rare - "present in very small numbers; often highly localized" per the NPS list (16 species) (VR) Very rare - "three or fewer occurrences per season; may not be present every year" per the NPS list (31 species) (V) Variable - "may be present in a given area one year, rare or absent the next" per the NPS list (3 species) (4+) - "Additional species recorded at least four times" per the NPS list (47 species) (3-) - "Additional species recorded fewer than four times" per the NPS list (52 species) (I) Introduced - a species that has been introduced to North America or directly to California by the actions of humans (6 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 (4+) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (R) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (3-) Wood duck, Aix sponsa (4+) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (4+) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (4+) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (4+) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (3-) American wigeon, Mareca americana (4+) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (VR) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (4+) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (4+) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (4+) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (VR) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (VR) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (4+) Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (3-) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (4+) Common merganser, Mergus merganser Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (4+)
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 pictus California quail, Callipepla californica
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies, including partridges, grouse, turkeys, and Old World quail. 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 (I) (R) Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus (3-) White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus (I) (R) Sooty grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus
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 (VR) Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (3-) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (VR) Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (4+) Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii (3-)
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 Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) (3-) Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) (4+)
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.
Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus (3-)
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 (VR) Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii (VR)
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 (VR) Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi 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.
Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (4+) Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin (4+) Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (3-)
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, 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 (3-)
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.
Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (VR) Sora, Porzana carolina (4+) American coot, Fulica americana (4+) Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (3-)
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 (3-) American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (3-)
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.
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (R)
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.
Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (3-) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (R) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (3-) Willet, Tringa semipalmata (3-) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (3-) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (4+) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (4+) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (4+)
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.
Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (4+) California gull, Larus californicus Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia (4+)
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.
Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (3-) Common loon, Gavia immer (4+)
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 (4+)
Ibises and spoonbills Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
The family Threskiornithidae includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings. Their bodies tend to be elongated, the neck more so, with rather long legs. The bill is also long, decurved in the case of the ibises, straight and distinctively flattened in the spoonbills.
White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi (3-)
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 (4+) Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (3-)
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 (3-) Great blue heron, Ardea herodias Great egret, Ardea alba (4+) Snowy egret, Egretta thula (4+) Green heron, Butorides virescens (3-) Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (3-)
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.
Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura
Osprey Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
Pandionidae is a monotypic family of fish-eating birds of prey. Its single species possesses a very large and powerful hooked beak, strong legs, strong talons, and keen eyesight.