List of birds of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

This is a comprehensive listing of all the bird species recorded in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in the U.S. state of Colorado. Unless otherwise noted, this list is based on one published by the National Park Service (NPS). The list contains 175 species.

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 codes and definitions are used to annotate some species. The others are residents, seasonal visitors, or migrants which one can expect to see in the proper season and habitat.

(PP) = Probably present - "High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed" per the NPS (31 species) (R) = Rare - "Present, but usually seen only a few times each year" per the NPS (38 species) (O) = Occasional - "Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year" per the NPS (11 species) (Unk) = Unknown - "Abundance unknown" per the NPS (two species) (I) = Introduced - a species introduced to North America by humans (five 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.

Canada goose, Branta canadensis Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (PP) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (PP) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (PP) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (PP) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta (PP) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (PP) Redhead, Aythya americana (PP) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (PP) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (O) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (O) Common merganser, Mergus merganser Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (PP)

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.

Gambel's quail, Callipepla gambelii (PP)

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 and relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.

Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (O) Gunnison sage-grouse, Centrocercus minimus (R) Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus (H) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) (O) Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I) (R)

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 (PP)

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 (R) Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)

Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars, also called goatsuckers, 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 Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

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.

White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis (R)

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 (R) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (PP) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus

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

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.

American coot, Fulica americana (PP)

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

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.

Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (PP) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia

Gulls, terns, and skimmers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes jaegers, skuas, 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.

Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (PP) Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (PP) California gull, Larus californicus (PP)

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.

Great blue heron, Ardea herodias Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (PP)

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.

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 Cooper's hawk, Astur cooperii American goshawk, Astur atricapillus (R) Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni (R) Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus (PP) Ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis (PP)

Barn-owls Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Barn owl, Tyto alba (O)

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.

Flammulated owl, Psiloscops flammeolus (O) Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus Northern pygmy-owl, Glaucidium gnoma (R) Long-eared owl, Asio otus (R) Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus (R)

Kingfishers Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.

Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (R)

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.

Lewis's woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis (R) Williamson's sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus (R) Red-naped sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis (R) American three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis 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 (O) Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus

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.

Ash-throated flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis (R) Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi (R) Western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus Willow flycatcher, Empidonax traillii (PP) Hammond's flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii (R) Gray flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii Dusky flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri