This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Denali National Park and Preserve, which is in the U.S. state of Alaska. Unless otherwise noted, this list is based on one published by the National Park Service (NPS) as of December 2007.
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.
This list contains 183 species. Unless otherwise noted, all are considered to occur regularly in Denali National Park and Preserve as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The following codes and definitions are used by the NPS checklist to annotate some species. When abundance varies by season, this list uses the code for the season of greatest abundance.
(R) = Rare - "occurs regularly, but in small numbers" (20 species) (O) = Occasional - "has been recorded no more than a few times and is beyond the periphery of normal annual range" (15 species) (X) = Accidental - "has been recorded one or two times and is so far beyond the periphery of normal annual range that reoccurrence is unlikely" (15 species) (H) = Hypothetical - "No satisfactory records exist ... in Denali, but the species has either been recorded near the park and/or recorded within the park with some uncertainty" (17 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 Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Brant, Branta bernicla (X) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (R) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (R) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera (O) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (O) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (R) Redhead, Aythya americana (R) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus 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 Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (H) Common merganser, Mergus merganser (R) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (H)
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.
Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus (R) Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus (H)
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.
Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
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 (H)
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.
Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (O)
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
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 (O) American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (O) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
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 Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (X) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (X) Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala (X) Surfbird, Calidris virgata Sanderling, Calidris alba (X) Dunlin, Calidris alpina (R) Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri (R) Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (H) Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria Wandering tattler, Tringa incana Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (H) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (X)
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
Jaegers and skuas 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.
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (X) Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus
Auks, murres, and puffins Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae
The family Alcidae includes auks, murres, and puffins. These are short-winged birds that live on the open sea and normally only come ashore for breeding.
Long-billed murrelet, Brachyramphus perdix (X)
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.
Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (H) Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia Short-billed gull, Larus brachyrinchcus California gull, Larus californicus (H) Herring gull, Larus argentatus (R) Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens (R) Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus (H) Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea
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 Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (R) Common loon, Gavia immer Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (O)
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.
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (R)
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.
Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus American goshawk, Astur atricapillus Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni (O) Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus
Owls Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus (O) Northern hawk owl, Surnia ulula Great gray owl, Strix nebulosa (R) Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus
Kingfishers Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.
Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon
Woodpeckers Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
American three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis Black-backed woodpecker, Picoides arcticus (O) Downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens (R) Hairy woodpecker, Dryobates villosus (R) Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus
Falcons and caracaras Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
American kestrel, Falco sparverius Merlin, Falco columbarius Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus (R)
Tyrant flycatchers Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tyrannidae
Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.
Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis (H) Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus (H) Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi Western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus Yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris (X) Alder flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum Hammond's flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii (R) Black phoebe, Sayornis nigricans (X) Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya
Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae