List of birds of the Aleutian Islands explained
The avifauna of the Aleutian Islands included 376 species according to Gibson and Byrd (2007), Bird Checklists of the World (Avibase), and the American Ornithological Society (AOS) as of March 2021.[1] [2] [3]
Of them, 44 (12%) are year-round residents and breeders, 26 (7%) migrate to the Aleutians to breed, 18 (5%) migrate to the Aleutians to winter, 6 (2%) are non-breeding summer residents, 37 (10%) are annual through-migrants, 196 (53%) are vagrants of less-than-annual occurrence. The status of the remaining 42 is not noted by either Gibson and Byrd or Avibase. Several of the vagrants have only a single record.
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 AOS.[3] 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 terms are used to denote the annual and seasonal status of each species reported by Gibson and Byrd (2007), or in the case of "Accidental", noted as such for species added from Avibase:
- Accidental – one or two records
- Casual – recorded in less than 30% of years in the appropriate season, but in at least three calendar years
- Intermittent – recorded in 30% or more years in the appropriate season, but not annually
- Migrant – annual through-migrant in spring or fall
- Resident – substantial numbers present throughout the year
- Summer – migrates to the Aleutians to breed or to summer offshore
- Winter – migrates to the Aleutians to winter
- Annual breeders are designated with an asterisk (*), as in resident* or summer*.
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
- Emperor goose, Anser canagica (winter)
- Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (casual)
- Ross's goose, Anser rossii (accidental)[2]
- Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (migrant)
- Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (accidental)
- Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis (intermittent)
- Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris[2]
- Brant, Branta bernicla (migrant)
- Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (summer*)
- Canada goose, Branta canadensis (accidental)
- Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator[2]
- Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (resident*)
- Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (winter)
- Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (casual)
- Garganey, Spatula querquendula (intermittent)
- Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (accidental)
- Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (migrant)
- Gadwall, Mareca strepera (winter)
- Falcated duck, Mareca falcata (intermittent)
- Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (migrant)
- American wigeon, Mareca americana (intermittent)
- Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha (casual)
- Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (resident*)
- Northern pintail, Anas acuta (resident*)
- Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (resident*)
- Canvasback, Aythya valisneria (casual or intermittent)
- Redhead, Aythya americana (accidental)
- Common pochard, Aythya ferina (intermittent)
- Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (casual)
- Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (migrant)
- Greater scaup, Aythya marila (resident*)
- Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (casual or intermittent)
- Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (winter)
- Spectacled eider, Somateria fischeri (accidental)
- King eider, Somateria spectabilis (winter)
- Common eider, Somateria mollissima (resident*)
- Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (resident)
- Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (casual or intermittent)
- White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (winter)
- Stejneger's Scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri[2]
- Black scoter, Melanitta amerivcana (winter)
- Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (winter)
- Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (winter)
- Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (winter)
- Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (winter)
- Smew, Mergellus albellus (winter)
- Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (casual)
- Common merganser, Mergus merganser (resident)
- Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (resident*)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
- Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (winter)
- Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (winter)
- Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
- Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) (accidental)[2]
- Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientlalis (casual or accidental)
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
- Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (intermittent)
- Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus (casual)
Nightjars
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Swifts
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Hummingbirds
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
- Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (accidental)[2]
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
- Sora, Porzana carolina (accidental)
- Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus (accidental)[2]
- Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra (accidental)[2]
- American coot, Fulica americana (accidental)
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Stilts and avocets
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
- Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (accidental)[2]
- Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola (migrant)
- European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (accidental)[2]
- American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (accidental)[2]
- Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (migrant)
- Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (casual)
- Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (accidental)[2]
- Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (casual)
- Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (summer*)
- Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius (casual)
- Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (migrant)
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
- Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (accidental)[2]
- Bristle-thighed curlew, Numenius tahitiensis (intermittent)
- Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (migrant)
- Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (accidental, possibly extinct)[2]
- Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis (intermittent)
- Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (migrant)
- Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (intermittent)
- Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (accidental)[2]
- Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa[2]
- Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (migrant)
- Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala[2]
- Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris (casual)
- Red knot, Calidris canutus (casual)
- Surfbird, Calidris virgata[2]
- Ruff, Calidris pugnax (migrant)
- Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus (casual)
- Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (migrant)
- Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (accidental)
- Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (casual)
- Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii (intermittent)
- Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta (migrant)
- Spoon-billed sandpiper, Calidris pygmeus (casual or accidental)
- Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (intermittent)
- Sanderling, Calidris alba (winter)
- Dunlin, Calidris alpina (migrant)
- Rock sandpiper, Calidris ptilocnemis (resident*)
- Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (intermittent)
- Little stint, Calidris minuta (casual)
- Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (summer*)
- White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (accidental)
- Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (casual)
- Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (migrant)
- Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (casual)
- Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri (intermittent)
- Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (casual)
- Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (migrant)
- Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (accidental)
- Solitary snipe, Gallinago solitaria (accidental)[2]
- Pin-tailed snipe, Gallinago stenura (casual or accidental)
- Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago (migrant)
- Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (summer*)
- Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (casual or intermittent)
- Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos (migrant)
- Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia (accidental)[2]
- Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus (casual)
- Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (accidental)[2]
- Gray-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes (migrant)
- Wandering tattler, Tringa incana (migrant)
- Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (casual)
- Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus (casual)
- Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia (migrant)
- Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (casual)
- Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola (migrant)
- Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis (casual)
- Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (accidental)[2]
- Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (summer*)
- Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (migrant)
Pratincoles and coursers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae
Skuas and jaegers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
Auks, murres, and puffins
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae
- Dovekie, Alle alle (casual)
- Common murre, Uria aalge (resident*)
- Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia (resident*)
- Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle[2]
- Pigeon guillemot, Cepphus columba (resident*)
- Long-billed murrelet, Brachyramphus perdix (accidental)
- Marbled murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratus (resident*)
- Kittlitz's murrelet, Brachyramphus brevirostris (summer*)
- Ancient murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus (resident*)
- Cassin's auklet, Ptychoramphus aleuticus (summer*)
- Parakeet auklet, Aethia psittacula (summer*)
- Least auklet, Aethia pusilla (resident*)
- Whiskered auklet, Aethia pygmaea (resident*)
- Crested auklet, Aethia cristatella (resident*)
- Rhinoceros auklet, Cerorhinca monocerata (casual)
- Horned puffin, Fratercula corniculata (summer*)
- Tufted puffin, Fratercula cirrhata (resident*)
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
- Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (resident*)
- Red-legged kittiwake, Rissa brevirostris (summer*)
- Ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea (accidental)[2]
- Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (migrant)
- Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia (accidental)[2]
- Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus (migrant)
- Ross's gull, Rhodostethia rosea (casual or accidental)
- Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (accidental)
- Pallas's gull, Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus (accidental)
- Black-tailed gull, Larus crassirostris (casual)
- Common gull, Larus canus
- Short-billed gull, Larus brachyrhynchus
- Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (accidental)[2]
- Herring gull, Larus argentatus (migrant)
- Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides (casual)
- Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus (accidental)
- Slaty-backed gull, Larus schistisagus (migrant)
- Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens (resident*)
- Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus (winter)
- Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus (accidental)
- Aleutian tern, Onychoprion aleuticus (summer*)
- Little/Least tern, Sternula albifrons/antillarum (accidental)
- Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia (accidental)[2]
- White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus (accidental)
- Common tern, Sterna hirundo (intermittent)
- Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (summer*)
Loons
Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Albatrosses
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae
Northern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
Frigatebirds
Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae
Boobies and gannets
Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
Cormorants and shags
Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Herons, egrets, and bitterns
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
- Yellow bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis (accidental)
- Great blue heron, Ardea herodias (accidental)[2]
- Gray heron, Ardea cinerea (accidental)[2]
- Great egret, Ardea alba (casual)
- Intermediate egret, Egretta intermedia (accidental)
- Chinese egret, Egretta eulophotes (accidental)
- Little egret, Egretta garzetta (accidental)
- Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis (accidental)
- Chinese pond-heron, Ardeola bacchus (accidental)[2]
- Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (casual)
Osprey
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
- Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (accidental)[2]
Hawks, eagles, and kites
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
- Golden eagle, Aquila chryaetos (resident*)
- Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (casual)
- Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus (accidental)
- Eurasian goshawk, Accipiter gentiles (accidental)
- American goshawk, Accipiter atricapillus (accidental)
- Black kite, Milvus migrans (accidental)[2]
- Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (resident*)
- White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla (resident*)
- Steller's sea eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus (casual)
- Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis (accidental)[2]
- Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus (summer*)
- Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus (accidental)[2]
Owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
- Oriental scops-owl, Otus sunia (accidental)
- Great Horned owl, Bubo virginianus (accidental)[2]
- Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus (resident*)
- Long-eared owl, Asio otus (accidental)[2]
- Short-eared owl, Aso flammeus (summer*)
- Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus (accidental)[2]
- Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus (accidental)[2]
- Northern boobook, Ninox scutulata (accidental)
Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
- Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (resident*)
Woodpeckers
Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Falcons and caracaras
Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
- Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus (casual)
- Merlin, Falco columbarius (casual or intermittent)
- Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo (casual)
- Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus (resident*)
- Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus (resident*)
Tyrant flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tyrannidae
Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae
Shrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Laniidae
Crows, jays, and magpies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae
- Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia (resident*)
- American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
- Common raven, Corvus corax (resident*)
Tits, chickadees, and titmice
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Paridae
- Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus (resident*)
Larks
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae
Grassbirds and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Locustellidae
Swallows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae
Leaf warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae
Kinglets
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Regulidae
Waxwings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae
Nuthatches
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sittidae
Wrens
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Troglodytidae
Mockingbirds and thrashers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Mimidae
- Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (accidental)[2]
Starlings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae
- European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (accidental)
Dippers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cinclidae
Thrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae
Old World flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae
- Gray-streaked flycatcher, Muscicapa griseisticta (intermittent)
- Asian brown flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica (casual or accidental)
- Dark-sided flycatcher, Muscicapa sibirica (casual)
- Siberian blue robin, Larvivora cyane (accidental)
- Rufous-tailed robin, Larvivora sibilans (accidental)[2]
- Bluethroat, Cyanecula svecica[2]
- Siberian rubythroat, Calliope calliope (migrant)
- Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus (casual)
- Narcissus flycatcher, Ficedula narcissina (casual or accidental)
- Mugimaki flycatcher, Ficedula mugimaki (accidental)
- Taiga flycatcher, Ficedula albicilla (intermittent)
- Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus (accidental)[2]
- Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (intermittent)
Accentors
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Prunellidae
Wagtails and pipits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Motacillidae
Finches, euphonias, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae
- Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla (migrant)
- Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes (accidental)[2]
- Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus (accidental)[2]
- Pallas's rosefinch, Carpodacus roseus (accidental)[2]
- Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (resident*)
- Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula (accidental)[2]
- Asian rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis (accidental)[2]
- Gray-crowned rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis (resident*)
- Purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus (accidental)[2]
- Oriental greenfinch, Chloris sinica (accidental)[2]
- Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea[2]
- Hoary redpoll, Acanthis hornemanni[2]
- Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra[2]
- White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera[2]
- Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus (accidental)[2]
- Pine siskin, Spinus pinus[2]
Longspurs and snow buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Calcariidae
Old World buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae
New World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passerellidae
Troupials and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteridae
New World warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Parulidae
- Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla (accidental)[2]
- Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis (accidental)[2]
- Tennessee warbler, Leiothlypis peregrina (accidental)[2]
- Orange-crowned warbler, Leiothlypis celata (casual)
- Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina (accidental)[2]
- Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia (accidental)[2]
- Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia (summer*)
- Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata (accidental)[2]
- Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum (accidental)[2]
- Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata (casual)
- Townsend's warbler, Setophaga townsendi (accidental)
- Wilson's warbler, Cardellina pusilla (summer*)
Cardinals and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cardinalidae
See also
Notes and References
- Book: Gibson, Daniel D. . Byrd . G. Vernon . Birds of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska . Nuttall Ornithological Club and American Ornithologists' Union . Series in Ornithology 1 . 2007.
- Web site: Checklist of Birds of the Aleutian Islands . Lepage . Denis . March 13, 2021 . Avibase bird checklists of the world . August 12, 2021.
- Web site: Check-list of North and Middle American Birds . . June 29, 2021 . American Ornithological Society . August 9, 2021.