This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Yellowstone National Park, which is mostly in the U.S. state of Wyoming and also extends into Idaho and Montana. This list is based on one published by the National Park Service (NPS) dated June 2021 that contains 284 species when 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.

Unless otherwise noted, all the species on this list are considered to occur regularly in the park as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The tags below are used to designate the abundance of some species. Because the NPS checklist notes abundance by season, the tag for the highest abundance of the year is used. The quoted definitions are those of the NPS.

B = Breeding: "Confirmed as breeding in Yellowstone" (155 species) b = Unconfirmed breeding: "Suspected of breeding, but not confirmed by eggs or young" (four species) U = Uncommon: "Found in small numbers and usually, but not always, found with some effort in appropriate habitat" (64 species) R = Rare: "Occurs annually in very small numbers or in a very restricted habitat. Difficult to find" (76 species) O = Occasional: "Occurs in some years, but not every year" (four species) V = Vagrant: "accidental, vagrant, or species with few observations" for which documentation is requested (66 species) I = Introduced - a species introduced to North America by humans (seven 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. Thirty-four species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Snow goose Anser caerulescens R Ross's goose Anser rossii R Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons V Cackling goose Branta hutchinsii V Canada goose Branta canadensis B Trumpeter swan Cygnus buccinator B Tundra swan Cygnus columbianus U Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus V Wood duck Aix sponsa R Blue-winged teal Spatula discors B U Cinnamon teal Spatula cyanoptera B Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata B Gadwall Mareca strepera B Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope V American wigeon Mareca americana B Mallard Anas platyrhynchos B Northern pintail Anas acuta B Green-winged teal Anas crecca B Canvasback Aythya valisineria B U Redhead Aythya americana B U Ring-necked duck Aythya collaris B Greater scaup Aythya marila R Lesser scaup Aythya affinis B Harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus B U Surf scoter Melanitta perspicillata V White-winged scoter Melanitta deglandi V Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis V Bufflehead Bucephala albeola B Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye Bucephala islandica B Hooded merganser Lophodytes cucullatus B R Common merganser Mergus merganser B Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator U Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis B

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. Eight species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo V Ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus B Dusky grouse Dendragapus obscurus B Gray partridge Perdix perdix I V Chukar Alectoris chukar V

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. Six species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps B Horned grebe Podiceps auritus B R Red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena B R Eared grebe Podiceps nigricollis B U Western grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis b R Clark's grebe Aechmophorus clarkii 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. Four species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Mourning dove Zenaida macroura B R Band-tailed pigeon Patagioenas fasciata V Eurasian collared-dove Streptopelia decaocto I R Rock pigeon Columba livia I B U

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. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Black-billed cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus V

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. Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor B

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. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status White-throated swift Aeronautes saxatalis B U

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. Four species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Calliope hummingbird Selasphorus calliope B R Rufous hummingbird Selasphorus rufus B R Broad-tailed hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus B R

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". Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone. Common name Binomial Status Sandhill crane Antigone canadensis B Whooping crane Grus americana V

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. Five species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Virginia rail Rallus limicola B R Sora Porzana carolina B American coot Fulica americana B Yellow rail Coturnicops noveboracensis V

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. Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Black-necked stilt Himantopus mexicanus R American avocet Recurvirostra 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. Four species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Black-bellied plover Pluvialis squatarola R Killdeer Charadrius vociferus B Semipalmated plover Charadrius semipalmatus 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. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Upland sandpiper Bartramia longicauda R Long-billed curlew Numenius americanus B R Marbled godwit Limosa fedoa R Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres R Sanderling Calidris alba R Baird's sandpiper Calidris bairdii U Least sandpiper Calidris minutilla R White-rumped sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis R Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos R Semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla R Western sandpiper Calidris mauri R Short-billed dowitcher Limnodromus griseus R Long-billed dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus U Wilson's snipe Gallinago delicata B Spotted sandpiper Actitis macularia B Solitary sandpiper Tringa solitaria R Lesser yellowlegs Tringa flavipes R Willet Tringa semipalmata U Greater yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca U Wilson's phalarope Phalaropus tricolor B U Red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus R

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds which 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. Twelve species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Sabine's gull Xema sabini V Bonaparte's gull Larus philadelphia R Franklin's gull Larus pipixcan R Short-billed gull Larus brachyrhynchus V Ring-billed gull Larus delawarensis California gull Larus californicus B Herring gull Larus argentatus R Caspian tern Hydroprogne caspia B R Black tern Chlidonias niger V Common tern Sterna hirundo R Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea V Forster's tern Sterna forsteri B 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. Two species have been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Pacific loon Gavia pacifica V Common loon Gavia immer B U

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. One species has been recorded in Yellowstone.

Common name Binomial Status Double-crested cormorant Nannopterum auritum B U