List of birds of Aleutian Islands
This list of birds of the Aleutian Islands is a comprehensive listing of all bird species known from the Aleutian Islands, as documented by Gibson and Byrd (2007) and eBird.[1][2]
The known avifauna of the Aleutian Islands total 304 species as of late July 2019. Of that number, 44 (15%) are year-round residents and breeders, 27 (9%) migrate to the Aleutians to breed, 18 (6%) migrate to the Aleutians to winter, 6 (2%) are non-breeding summer residents, 37 (12%) are annual through-migrants, and the remaining 172 (56%) are vagrants of less-than-annual occurrence. 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 60th Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS).[3] Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list.
The following terms used to denote the annual and seasonal status of each species are from Gibson and Byrd (2007):
- Accidental – one or two records
- Casual – recorded in <30% of years in the appropriate season, but in at least three calendar years
- Intermittent – recorded in ≥30% of 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: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae
- Emperor goose, Anser canagica (Winter)
- Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (Casual)
- 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 (Casual)
- Brant, Branta bernicla (Migrant)
- Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (Summer*)
- Canada goose, Branta canadensis (Accidental)
- 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)
- Spot-billed duck, Anas poecilorhyncha (Casual)
- Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (Resident*)
- Northern pintail, Anas acuta (Resident*)
- Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (Resident*)
- Canvasback, Aythya valisneria (Casual to 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 to Intermittent)
- White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (Winter)
- Stejneger's Scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri (Accidental)
- 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: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae
- Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus (Resident*)
- Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus (Resident*)
Grebes
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae
- Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (Winter)
- Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (Winter)
Pigeons and doves
Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae
- Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientlalis (Casual or Accidental)
Cuckoos
Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae
- Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (Intermittent)
- Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus (Casual)
Nightjars
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae
- Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka (Accidental)
Swifts
Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae
- White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus (Casual)
- Fork-tailed swift, Apus pacificus (Casual)
Hummingbirds
Order: Apodiformes Family: Trochilidae
- Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (Accidental)
Coots
Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae
- Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra (Accidental)
- American coot, Fulica americana (Accidental)
Stilts
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae
- Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus (Casual or Accidental)
Oystercatchers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae
- Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani (Resident*)
Plovers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae
- Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola (Migrant)
- American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (Accidental)
- Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (Migrant)
- Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (Casual)
- 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: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae
- Bristle-thighed curlew, Numenius tahitiensis (Intermittent)
- Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (Migrant)
- Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis (Intermittent)
- Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (Migrant)
- Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (Intermittent)
- Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (Migrant)
- Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris (Casual)
- Red knot, Calidris canutus (Casual)
- Surfbird, Calidris virgata (Accidental)
- Ruff, Calidris pugnax (Migrant)
- Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus (Casual)
- Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (Migrant)
- 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*)
- 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)
- Solitary snipe, Gallinago solitaria (Accidental)
- 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)
- Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus (Casual)
- 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)
- Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (Summer*)
- Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (Migrant)
Pratincoles
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Glareolidae
- Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum (Accidental)
Skuas and jaegers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae
- South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (Casual)
- Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (Migrant)
- Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (Summer*)
- Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (Migrant)
Auks, murres, and puffins
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae
- Dovekie, Alle alle (Casual)
- Common murre, Uria aalge [Resident*)
- Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia (Resident*)
- 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 and terns
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae
- Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (Resident*)
- Red-legged kittiwake, Rissa brevirostris (Summer*)
- Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (Migrant)
- Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia (Accidental)
- 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) (This species has not been accepted by the Alaska Checklist Committee and is not on the AOS Check-list)
- Black-tailed gull, Larus crassirostris (Casual)
- Mew gull, Larus canus (Winter)
- 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)
- White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus (Accidental)
- Common tern, Sterna hirundo (Intermittent)
- Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (Summer*)
Loons
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae
- Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata (Summer*)
- Arctic loon, Gavia arctica (Migrant)
- Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (Migrant)
- Common loon, Gavia immer (Resident*)
- Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (Winter)
Albatrosses
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Diomedeidae
- Salvin's albatross, Thalassarche salvini (Accidental)
- Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis (Summer)
- Black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes (Summer)
- Short-tailed albatross, Phoebastria albatrus (Summer)
Northern storm-petrels
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae
- Fork-tailed storm-petrel, Hydrobates furcatus (Resident*)
- Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (Summer*)
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae
- Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis (Resident*)
- Mottled petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata (Summer)
- Cook's petrel, Pterodroma cookii (Casual or Accidental)
- Buller's shearwater, Ardenna bulleri (Accidental)
- Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris (Summer)
- Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (Summer)
- Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes (Accidental)
Cormorants
Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae
- Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus (Resident*)
- Red-faced cormorant, Phalacrocorax urile (Resident*)
- Pelagic cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus (Resident*)
Bitterns, egrets, and herons
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae
- Yellow bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis (Accidental)
- 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)
- Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (Casual)
Eagles and hawks
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae
- Golden eagle, Aquila chryaetos (Resident*)
- Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus (Accidental) (This species has not been accepted by the Alaska Checklist Committee and is not on the AOS Check-list)
- Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (Casual)
- Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus (Accidental)
- Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentiles (Accidental)
- Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Resident*)
- White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla (Resident*)
- Steller's sea eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus (Casual)
- Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus (Summer*)
Typical owls
Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae
- Oriental scops-owl, Otus sunia (Accidental)
- Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus (Resident*)
- Long-eared owl, Asio otus (Accidental)
- Short-eared owl, Aso flammeus (Summer*)
- Brown boobook, Ninox scutulata (Accidental) (This species has not been accepted by the Alaska Checklist Committee and is not on the AOS Check-list)
Kingfishers
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
- Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (Resident*)
Falcons
Order: Falconiformes Family: 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*)
Shrikes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae
- Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus (Accidental)
- Northern shrike, Lanius borealis (Casual or Intermittent)
Magpies and ravens
Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae
- Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia (Resident*)
- Common raven, Corvus corax (Resident*)
Larks
Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae
- Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis (Intermittent)
- Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris (Casual)
Swallows
Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae
- Bank swallow, Riparia riparia (Summer*)
- Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor (Casual or Intermittent)
- Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina (Casual or Intermittent)
- Purple martin, Progne subis (Accidental)
- Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica (Casual)
- Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Casual)
Chickadees
Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae
- Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus (Resident*)
Nuthatches
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sittidae
- Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis (Accidental)
Kinglets
Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae
- Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa (Accidental)
- Ruby-crowned kinglet, Regulus calendula (Accidental)
Leaf warblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Phylloscopidae
- Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Accidental)
- Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (Casual)
- Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (Accidental)
- Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis (Intermittent)
- Kamchatka leaf warbler, Phylloscopus examinandus (Accidental)
Grassbirds and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Locustellidae
- Middendorff's grasshopper-warbler, Locustella ochotensis (Casual)
- Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata (Casual or Accidental)
Old World flycatchers
Order: Passeriformes Family: 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)
- Bluethroat, Cyanecula svecica (Casual)
- Siberian rubythroat, Calliope calliope (Migrant)
- Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus (Casual)
- Narcissus flycatcher, Ficedula narcissina (Casual or Accidental)
- Taiga flycatcher, Ficedula albicilla (Intermittent)
- Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (Intermittent)
Thrushes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
- Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus (Accidental)
- Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus (Summer*)
- Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus (Migrant)
- Dusky thrush, Turdus naumanni (Intermittent)
- American robin, Turdus migratorius (Casual)
Waxwings
Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae
- Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (Casual or Accidental)
Accentors
Order: Passeriformes Family: Prunellidae
- Siberian accentor, Prunella montanella (Accidental)
Wagtails and pipits
Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae
- Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis (Migrant)
- Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea (Intermittent)
- White wagtail, Motacilla alba (Migrant)
- Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni (Intermittent to Casual)
- Pechora pipit, Anthus gustavi (Casual)
- Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus (Intermittent)
- American pipit, Anthus rubescens (Summer*)
Finches and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae
- Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla (Migrant)
- Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes (Casual or Intermittent)
- Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus (Casual)
- Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (Resident*)
- Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula (Casual)
- Asian rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis (Accidental)
- Gray-crowned rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis (Resident*)
- Oriental greenfinch, Chloris sinica (Accidental)
- Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea (Casual or Intermittent)
- Hoary redpoll, Acanthis hornemanni (Casual)
- Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra (Accidental)
- White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (Accidental)
- Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus (Accidental)
- Pine siskin, Spinus pinus (Casual)
Longspurs and snow buntings
Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae
- Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus (Summer*)
- Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis (Resident*)
- McKay's bunting, Plectrophenax hyperboreus (Casual or Intermittent)
Old World buntings
Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae
- Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos (Casual or Accidental)
- Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (Casual)
- Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (Intermittent)
- Yellow-throated bunting, Emberiza elegans (Accidental)
- Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (Casual)
- Gray bunting, Emberiza variabilis (Casual)
- Pallas's bunting, Emberiza pallasi (Accidental)
- Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus (Casual)
New World sparrows
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passerellidae
- Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina (Accidental)
- Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca (Summer*)
- American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea (Accidental)
- Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis (Casual)
- Golden-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla (Summer*)
- White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys (Accidental)
- Savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis (Summer*)
- Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia (Resident*)
Icterids
Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae
- Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater (Accidental)
- Rusty blackbird, Euphagus carolinus (Accidental)
Wood-warblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae
- Orange-crowned warbler, Leiothlypis celata (Casual)
- Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia (Summer*)
- Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum (Accidental)
- Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata (Casual)
- Townsend's warbler, Setophaga townsendi (Accidental)
- Wilson's warbler, Cardellina pusilla (Summer*)
References
- Gibson, Daniel D.; Byrd, G. Vernon (2007). Birds of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Series in Ornithology 1. Nuttall Ornithological Club and American Ornithologists’ Union.
- "eBird Bar Chart: Aleutian Islands West". Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- "Check-list of North and Middle American Birds". American Ornithological Society. July 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.