Birds of New Jersey: The Official State Checklist

All 323 birds on the list

• Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens
• Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum
• Amer. Swallowtail Kite Elanoides forficodus
• American Avocet Recurvirostra americana
• American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosos
• American Black Duck Anas rubripes
• American Coot Fulica americana
• American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
• American Golden-plover Pluvialis dominica
• American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis
• American Kestrel Falco sparverius
• American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus
• American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
• American Robin Turdus migratorius
• American tree Sparrow Spizella arborea
• American Wigeon Anas americana
• American Woodcock Philohela minor
• Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
• Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
• Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
• Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
• Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
• Barred Owl Strix varia
• Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea
• Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon
• Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
• Black Scoter Melanitta nigra
• Black Skimmer Rynchops niger
• Black Tern Childonias niger
• Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
• Black-and-white Warbler Miniotilta varia
• Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
• Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
• Black-capped Chickadee Paurs atricapillus
• Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
• Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
• Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus
• Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens
• Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens
• Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca
• Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata
• Blue Grosbeak Guiraca caerulea
• Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
• Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
• Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
• Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus
• Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major
• Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
• Bonaparte’s Gull Larus philadelphia
• Boreal Chickadee Parus hudsonicus
• Brant Branta bernicla
• Broad-winged hawk Buteo platypterus
• Brown Creeper Certhia americana
• Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
• Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
• Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper tryngites subruficollis
• Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
• Canada Goose Branta canadensis
• Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis
• Canvasback Aythya valisineria
• Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina
• Carolina Chickadee Parus carolinensis
• Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
• Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
• Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
• Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
• Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea
• Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica
• Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica
• Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
• Chuck-will’s-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis
• Chukar Alectoris graecaNonnative
• Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris
• Cliff Swallow Hirundo pyrrhonota
• Common Barn Owl Tyto alba
• Common Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
• Common Eider Somateria mollissima
• Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
• Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
• Common Loon Gavia immer
• Common Merganser Mergus merganser
• Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
• Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
• Common Raven Corvus corax
• Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea
• Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
• Common Tern Sterna hirundo
• Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
• Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis
• Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter Cooperii
• Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
• Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
• Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
• Dickcissel Spiza americana
• Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
• Dovekie Alle alle
• Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
• Dunlin Calidris alpina
• Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
• Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus Tyrannus
• Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
• Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
• Eastern Screech Owl Otus asio
• Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
• Eastern Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
• Eastern Wood Pewee Contopus virens
• Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
• European Starling Sturnus vulgarisNonnative
• Evening Grosbeak Hesperiphona vespertinus
• Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla
• Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus
• Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri
• Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca
• Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
• Gadwall Anas Strepera
• Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
• Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
• Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
• Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera
• Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
• Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
• Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus
• Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
• Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
• Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
• Great Egret Casmerodius albus
• Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
• Greater Scaup Aythya marila
• Greater Shearwater Puffinus gravis
• Greater Yellowlegs tringa melanoleuca
• Green Heron Butorides striatus
• Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
• Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica
• Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
• Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus
• Henslow’s Sparrow Ammodramus henslowii
• Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
• Herring Gull Larus argentatus
• Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
• Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina
• Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus
• Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
• House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus
• House Sparrow Passer domesticusNonnative
• House Wren troglogytes aedon
• Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica
• Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides
• Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
• Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus
• Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
• King Eider Somateria spectabilis
• King Rail Rallus elegans
• Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus
• Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus
• Laughing Gull Larus atricilla
• Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
• Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
• Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
• Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
• Least Tern Sterna antillarum
• Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
• Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
• Lesser Yellowlegs tringa flavipes
• Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
• Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
• Little Gull Larus minutus
• Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
• Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
• Long-eared Owl Asio otus
• Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus
• Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla
• Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia
• Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
• Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa
• Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
• Merlin Falco columbarius
• Mississippi Kite Ictinia mississippiensis
• Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
• Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia
• Mute Swan Cygnus olorNonnative
• Nashville Warbler Vermivora reficapilla
• Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow Ammodramus nelsoni
• No. Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
• Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
• Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
• Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
• Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
• Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
• Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
• Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
• Northern Parula Parula americana
• Northern Pintail Anas acuta
• Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus
• Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
• Northern Shrike Lanius exubitor
• Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis
• Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis
• Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus borealis
• Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata
• Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
• Osprey Pandion haliaetus
• Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus
• Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum
• Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
• Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
• Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
• Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus
• Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
• Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
• Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator
• Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus
• Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus
• Piping Plover Charadrius melodus
• Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus
• Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor
• Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea
• Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus
• Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica
• Purple martin Progne subis
• Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
• Razorbill Alca torda
• Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
• Red Knot Calidris canutus
• Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarias
• Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
• Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
• Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
• Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
• Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus
• Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
• Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
• Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus
• Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
• Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata
• Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
• Redhead Aythya americana
• Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
• Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
• Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
• Rock Dove Columba liviaNonnative
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
• Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
• Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus
• Royal Tern Sterna maxima
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
• Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
• Ruff Philomachus pugnax
• Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus
• Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus
• Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow Ammodramus caudacutus
• Sanderling Calidris alba
• Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
• Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea
• Seaside Sparrow Ammodramus maritima
• Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis
• Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
• Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
• Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
• Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
• Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
• Snow Bunting Plectophenax nivalis
• Snow Goose Chen caerulescens
• Snowy Egret Egretta thula
• Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca
• Solitary Sandpiper tringa solitaria
• Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
• Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus
• Sora Porzana carolina
• Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia
• Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
• Summer Tanager Piranga rubra
• Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata
• Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus
• Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
• Tennesee Warbler Vermivora peregrina
• Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia
• tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
• tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor
• Tufted Titmouse Parus bicolor
• Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
• Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
• Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
• Veery Catharus fuscescens
• Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus
• Virginia Rail Rallus limocola
• Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
• Water Pipit Anthus rubescens
• Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis
• Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri
• Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
• Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus
• White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
• White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
• White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
• White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
• White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
• White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera
• White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca
• Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
• Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii
• Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
• Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
• Wilson’s Warbler Wilsonia pusilla
• Winter Wren troglodytes troglodytes
• Wood Duck Aix sponsa
• Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina
• Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorus
• Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis
• Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia
• Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
• Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
• Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violaceus
• Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
• Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
• Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica

Birds people confuse

Turkey vulture or Black vulture?

Turkey vulture Not stated

No confirmed photo of Black vulture

Black vulture Not stated

Black vulture: grayish-black head, shorter tail, a white patch near the wing tips (seen from below), and wings held nearly horizontal when soaring, with frequent flapping (Missouri). Tennessee and NPS Everglades say the same: black head, white patch at the wing tips, wings held flat. Turkey vulture: red head (adults), two-toned wings held in a V, rarely flaps. Note: juvenile turkey vultures also have dark heads.

Turkey vulture or Eagle?

Turkey vulture Not stated

Eagle Not stated

An eagle holds its wings flat and they are uniformly black; a turkey vulture's are held in a slight V and are two-toned.

Bald eagle or Golden eagle?

Bald eagle Not stated

No confirmed photo of Golden eagle

Golden eagle Not stated

Young bald eagles lack the white head and tail and are often mistaken for golden eagles. Bald eagles have unfeathered lower legs and hold their wings flat when soaring; TWRA says golden eagles have feathered legs, limited white under the wing, and lift the outer wing in a slight V.

Red-tailed hawk or Red-shouldered hawk?

Red-tailed hawk Not stated

No confirmed photo of Red-shouldered hawk

Red-shouldered hawk Not stated

A red-tail's rust-colored, broad, short tail distinguishes it from the smaller red-shouldered hawk (North Carolina). Tennessee: the red-shouldered hawk has a black and white banded tail and appears more uniformly colored.

Northern cardinal or Summer tanager?

Northern cardinal Not stated

Summer tanager Not stated

MDC: the adult male summer tanager is entirely rosy red, slightly darker on wings and tail, and is a summer resident; the adult male northern cardinal has a crest and a black area around its large red bill and is present year-round. TWRA says the summer tanager is the only other all-red songbird in Tennessee.

Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.

When birds are active in New Jersey

Records of birds in New Jersey peak in March to June and September to October. They show when people record birds, not how many there are (about month bars).

About this list

The species list comes from Birds of New Jersey (checklist) (NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife, Last Updated: December 10, 2004).

Venom does not apply to birds.

"Nonnative" and "Invasive" follow the wording of the source list. See invasive species in New Jersey.