This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Kenai Fjords National Park, 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 September 2025. Most of the waters adjacent to the park are not actually part of it even when (as in the fjords), the water is almost entirely surrounded by park land. Species recorded in waters near the park are also included here.
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 226 species when taxonomic changes have been made. The following codes and definitions are used by the NPS to annotate some of them. The others are residents and regular migrants which a visitor can expect to see at least monthly in the proper season and habitat.
(PP) = Probably present - "High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed" (17 species) (Unc) = Unconfirmed - "Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent" (37 species) (Adj) = Adjacent - "Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries" (31 species) (R) = Rare - "Present, but usually seen only a few times each year" (27 species) (O) = Occasional - "Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year" (13 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.
Emperor goose, Anser canagica (PP) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (Unc) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (O) Brant, Branta bernicla Canada goose, Branta canadensis Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (R) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (O) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (PP) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (Unc) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (R) Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (O) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (O) Redhead, Aythya americana (Unc) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (O) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (PP) Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (Adj) King eider, Somateria spectabilis (Adj) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (Adj) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (Adj) White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (Adj) Black scoter, Melanitta americana (Adj) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (PP) Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
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.
Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus (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.
Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (Adj) Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (Adj)
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 (Unc) Rock pigeon, Columba livia (Unc) (Introduced to Alaska)Gibson, D.D, N.R. Hajdukovich, S.C. Heinl, A.J. Lang, Z.M. Polen, R.L. Scher, T.G. Tobish Jr., and J.J. Withrow Checklist of Alaska Birds, 31st edition - 2025 Alaska Records Committee: University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks http://www.uaf.edu/museum/bird/products/checklist.pdf Retrieved September 19, 2025.
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
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
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani
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 American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (R) Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (Unc) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (Unc) 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.
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis (Unc) Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (Unc) Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (Unc) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (PP) Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (R) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (R) Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala Surfbird, Calidris virgata (R) Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (PP) Sanderling, Calidris alba (PP) Dunlin, Calidris alpina Rock sandpiper, Calidris ptilocnemis (R) Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (Unc) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (R) Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (PP) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (O) Gray-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes (Unc) Wandering tattler, Tringa incana Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (R)
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 (Adj) Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (R) Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (Adj)
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.
Common murre, Uria aalge Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia (R) Pigeon guillemot, Cepphus columba Marbled murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratus Kittlitz's murrelet, Brachyramphus brevirostris Ancient murrelet, Synthliboarmphus antiquus (Adj) Cassin's auklet, Ptychoramphus aleuticus (Adj) Parakeet auklet, Aethia psittacula (Adj) Least auklet, Aethia pusilla (Unc) Crested auklet, Aethia cristatella (PP) Rhinoceros auklet, Cerorhinca monocerata (Adj) Horned puffin, Fratercula corniculata Tufted puffin, Fratercula cirrhata
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.
Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla Red-legged kittiwake, Rissa brevirostris (Unc) Ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea (Unc) Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (Adj) Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus (O) Short-billed gull, Larus brachyrhynchus Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (Unc) Herring gull, Larus argentatus Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides (Adj) Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus Aleutian tern, Onychoprion aleuticus (O) Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia (PP) 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 (Adj) Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (Adj) Common loon, Gavia immer (Adj) Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (Adj)
Albatrosses Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae
The albatrosses are amongst the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.
Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis (Adj) Black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes (Adj) Short-tailed albatross, Phoebastria albatrus (Adj)
Northern storm-petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Fork-tailed storm-petrel, Hydrobates furcatus (Adj) Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (Adj)
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis (Adj) Mottled petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata (Adj) Buller's shearwater, Ardenna bulleri (Adj) Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris (Adj) Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (Adj) Pink-footed shearwater, Ardenna creatopus (Adj) Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes (Unc) Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus (Unc)
Cormorants and shags Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae