Wikipedia:

List of New Jersey birds

The American Goldfinch is the state bird of New Jersey.
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The American Goldfinch is the state bird of New Jersey.

This is a list of every wild bird species ever seen in New Jersey, as recorded by the New Jersey Bird Records Committee. 458 species are included. Two species, whose records are of uncertain origin, have not been included. The following markings are used.

  • (A) = Accidental occurrence based fewer than 10 records, and unlikely to occur regularly.
  • (E) = Extinct; a recent member of the avifauna that no longer exists.
  • (Ex) = Extirpated; no longer occurs in area of interest, but other populations still exist elsewhere.
  • (I) = Introduced population established solely as result of direct or indirect human intervention; synonymous with non-native and non-indigenous.

Birds listed as accidental should not be expected to be found anywhere in New Jersey with regularity. Except for the accidental birds, only birds that are considered to have established, self-sustaining, wild populations in New Jersey or, in the case extinct or extinct species, have had such populations in New Jersey in the past are included on this list. This means that birds that are considered probable escapees, although they may have been sighted flying free in New Jersey, are not included on this list.

This list is presented in taxonomic order and follows The Check-list of North American Birds (7th ed., 1998), published by the American Ornithologists' Union. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family accounts. Introduced, casual, accidental, hypothetical, extirpated and extinct species are included in the total species counts for North America and New Jersey.


Table of contents

Non-passerines: Ducks, Geese, and Swans • Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Old World Quail • New World Quail • Loons • Grebes • Albatrosses • Fulmers, Petrels, Shearwaters • Storm-Petrels • Tropicbirds • Boobies and Gannets • Pelicans • Cormorants • Darters • Frigatebirds • Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets • Ibises and Spoonbills • Storks • New World Vultures • Hawks, Kites, and Eagles • Caracaras and Falcons • Rails, Gallinules, and Coots • Limpkins • Cranes • Lapwings and Plovers • Oystercatchers • Stilts and Avocets • Sandpipers, Curlews, Stints, Godwits, Snipes, and Phalaropes • Skuas, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers • Auks, Murres, and Puffins • Pigeons and Doves • Lories, Parakeets, Macaws, and Parrots • Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis • Barn owls • Typical owls • Nightjars • Swifts • Hummingbirds • Kingfishers • Woodpeckers, Sapsuckers, and Flickers

Passerines: Tyrant flycatchers • Shrikes • Vireos • Jays, Crows, Magpies, and Ravens • Larks • Swallows and Martins • Chickadees and Titmice • Nuthatches • Treecreepers • Wrens • Kinglets • Old World warblers and Gnatcatchers • Old World flycatchers • Thrushes • Mockingbirds and Thrashers • Starlings • Wagtails and Pipits • Waxwings • Wood-warblers • Tanagers • American sparrows, Towhees, Juncos, and Longspurs • Cardinals, Saltators, and Grosbeaks • Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, Cowbirds, Grackles, and Orioles • Finches • Old World sparrows

See also       References

Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swan. These are birds that are modified for 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. There are 131 species worldwide, 61 North American species, and 43 New Jersey species.

Brant Branta bernicla
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Brant Branta bernicla
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
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Wood Duck Aix sponsa
King Eider Somateria spectabilis
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King Eider Somateria spectabilis
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
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Bufflehead Bucephala albeola

Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Old World Quail

Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
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Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae is a family of birds which 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. There are 180 species worldwide, 16 North American species, and 4 New Jersey species.

New World Quail

Order:Galliformes Family: 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. There are 32 species, worldwide, all found only in the Americas, 6 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.

Common Loon Gavia immer
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Common Loon Gavia immer

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely grey or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well, and fly adequately, but, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body, are almost hopeless on land. There are five species worldwide, 5 North American species, and 3 New Jersey species.

Grebes

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
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Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large diving birds that breed on fresh water. 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. There are 20 species worldwide, 7 North American species, and 5 New Jersey species.

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds. There are 21 species worldwide and 8 North American species. Two of these species have appeared in New Jersey.

Fulmars, Petrels, Shearwaters

Greater Shearwater Puffinus gravis
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Greater Shearwater Puffinus gravis

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized 'true petrels', characterised by united nostrils with medium septum, and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species worldwide, 24 North American species, and 8 New Jersey species.

Storm-Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae

Leach's Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
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Leach's Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa

The storm-petrels are the smallest of 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. There are 21 species worldwide, 12 North American species, and 4 New Jersey species.

Tropicbirds

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head. There are 3 species worldwide, 3 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.

Boobies and Gannets

Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
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Northern Gannet Morus bassanus

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish. There are 8 species worldwide, 5 North American species, and 3 New Jersey species.

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under the beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes. There are 8 species worldwide, 2 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.

Cormorants

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
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Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus

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, a distinguishing feature of the Pelecaniformes order. There are 38 species worldwide, 6 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.

Darters

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Anhingidae

Darters are cormorant-like water birds with very long necks and long, straight beaks. They often swim with only the neck above water, and are fish-eaters. There are 4 species worldwide, 1 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.

Anhinga Anhinga anhinga (A)

Frigatebirds

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large sea-birds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have inflatable colored throat pouches. They do not swim or walk, and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week. There are 5 species worldwide, 3 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.

Bitterns, Herons, and Night Herons

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ardeidae

Great Blue Heron Egretta herodias
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Great Blue Heron Egretta herodias
Great Egret Ardea alba
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Great Egret Ardea alba

The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium-sized to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and more secretive. Unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide, 17 North American species, and 12 New Jersey species.

Ibises and Spoonbills

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Threskiornithidae

The family Threskiornithidae includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings. Their bodies tend to be elongated, the neck more so, with rather long legs. The bill is also long, decurved in the case of the ibises, straight and distinctively flattened in the spoonbills. There are 36 species worldwide, 5 North American species, and 4 New Jersey species.

Storks

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
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Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Threskiornithidae

Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They lack the powder down that other wading birds such as herons, spoonbills and ibises use to clean off fish slime. Storks lack a pharynx and are mute. There are 19 species worldwide, 2 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.

New World Vultures

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: 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, but unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, some New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they find carcasses. There are 7 species worldwide, all found only in the Americas, 3 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.

Kites, Eagles, Harriers, and Hawks

Osprey Pandion haliaetus preparing to dive.
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Osprey Pandion haliaetus preparing to dive.

Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae

The family Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey and include 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. There are 233 species worldwide, 28 North American species, and 15 New Jersey species.

Caracaras and Falcons

American Kestrel Falco sparverius
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American Kestrel Falco sparverius

Order: Falconiformes Family: 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 feet. There are 62 species worldwide, 10 North American species, and 5 New Jersey species.

Rails, Sora, Gallinules, Moorhens, and Coots

Order: Gruiformes Family: 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, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide, 13 North American species, and 10 New Jersey species.

King Rail Rallus elegans
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King Rail Rallus elegans

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes Family: 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". There are 15 species worldwide, 3 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.

Lapwings and Plovers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae

Piping Plover Charadrius melodus
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Piping Plover Charadrius melodus

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, although there are some exceptions. There are 66 species worldwide, 17 North American species, and 9 New Jersey species.

American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus
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American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds with strong bills used for smashing or prying open molluscs. There are 11 species worldwide, 2 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.

Stilts and Avocets

American Avocet Recurvirostra americana
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American Avocet Recurvirostra americana

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and the stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There are 9 species worldwide, 3 North American species, and 2 New Jersey species.

Sandpipers, Curlews, Stints, Godwits, Snipes, and Phalaropes

Willet Tringa melanoleuca
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Willet Tringa melanoleuca
Sanderling Calidris alba
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Sanderling Calidris alba
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
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Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
American Woodcock Scolopax minor
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American Woodcock Scolopax minor

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

The Scolopacidae are a large, diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds, including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. Most species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 86 species worldwide, 65 North American species, and 40 New Jersey species.

Skuas, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Herring Gull Larus argentatus
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Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
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Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
Least Tern Sternula antillarum
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Least Tern Sternula antillarum
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
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Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes jaegers, skuas, gulls, terns, kittiwakes and skimmers. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 108 species worldwide, 54 North American species, and 40 New Jersey species.

Auks, Murres, and Puffins

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae

Alcids are superficially similar to penguins in their black-and-white colors, their upright posture, and some of their habits. However they are not related to the penguins at all, being able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, deliberately coming ashore only to nest. There are 24 species worldwide and 22 North American species. Six of these species have occurred in New Jersey.

Pigeons and Doves

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
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Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide, 18 North American species, and 7 New Jersey species.

Lories and lorikeets, Parakeets, Macaws, and Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and the have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. There are 335 species worldwide, 8 North American species, and one extinct New Jersey species.

Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Unlike the cuckoo species of the Old World, North American cuckoos are not brood parasites. There are 138 species worldwide, 8 North American species, and 3 New Jersey species.

Barn owls

Barn Owl Tyto alba
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Barn Owl Tyto alba

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are 16 species worldwide, 1 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.

Typical owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: 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. There are 195 species worldwide, 21 North American species, and 9 New Jersey species.

Nightjars

Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis
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Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is crypically colored to resemble bark or leaves. There are 86 species worldwide, 9 North American species, and 3 New Jersey species.

Swifts

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Stellula calliope
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Ruby-throated Hummingbird Stellula calliope
Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon
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Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon

Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae

The swifts are small aerial birds, spending 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 long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. There are 98 species worldwide, 9 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.

Hummingbirds

Order: Apodiformes Family: 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. There are 337 species worldwide, 23 North American species, and 6 New Jersey species.

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Cerylidae

Kingfishers are medium sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. There are 94 species worldwide, 3 North American species, and 1 New Jersey species.

Woodpeckers, Sapsuckers, and Flickers

Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
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Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus

Order: Piciformes Family: 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. There are 218 species worldwide, 26 North American species, and 10 New Jersey species.