Birds of Vermont: The Official State Checklist

All 265 birds on the list

• Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum
• American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
• American Black Duck Anas rubripes
• American Coot Fulica americana
• American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
• American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica
• American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
• American Kestrel Falco sparverius
• American Pipit Anthus rubescens
• American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
• American Robin Turdus migratorius
• American Scoter Melanitta americana
• American Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides dorsalis
• American Tree Sparrow Spizelloides arborea
• American Wigeon Mareca americana
• American Woodcock Scolopax minor
• Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
• Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
• Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
• Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
• Barn Owl Tyto alba
• Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
• Barred Owl Strix varia
• Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
• Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea
• Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
• Bicknell's Thrush Catharus bicknelli
• Black Tern Chlidonias niger
• Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
• Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
• Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus
• Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
• Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
• Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
• Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax
• Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
• Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
• Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens
• Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens
• Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
• Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata
• Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
• Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
• Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors
• Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera
• Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
• Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus
• Bonaparte's Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia
• Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonicus
• Brant Branta bernicla
• Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
• Brown Creeper Certhia americana
• Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
• Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
• Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
• Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii
• Canada Goose Branta canadensis
• Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis
• Canvasback Aythya valisineria
• Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina
• Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
• Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
• Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
• Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
• Cerulean Warbler Setophaga cerulea
• Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica
• Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica
• Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
• Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida
• Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
• Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
• Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
• Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
• Common Loon Gavia immer
• Common Merganser Mergus merganser
• Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
• Common Raven Corvus corax
• Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea
• Common Tern Sterna hirundo
• Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
• Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis
• Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
• Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
• Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum
• Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens
• Dunlin Calidris alpina
• Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
• Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
• Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
• Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
• Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio
• Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
• Eastern Whip-poor-will Antrostomus vociferus
• Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
• European Starling Sturnus vulgarisNonnative
• Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus
• Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla
• Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus
• Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri
• Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca
• Gadwall Mareca strepera
• Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
• Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
• Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
• Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera
• Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
• Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
• Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis
• Gray Partridge Perdix perdixNonnative
• Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus
• Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
• Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
• Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
• Great Egret Ardea alba
• Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
• Greater Scaup Aythya marila
• Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
• Green Heron Butorides virescens
• Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
• Hairy Woodpecker Dryobates villosus
• Henslow's Sparrow Centronyx henslowii
• Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
• Herring Gull Larus argentatus
• Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
• Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus
• Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
• House Finch Haemorhous mexicanusNonnative
• House Sparrow Passer domesticusNonnative
• House Wren Troglodytes aedon
• Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides
• Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
• Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
• Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus
• Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
• Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
• Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
• Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
• Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
• Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
• Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus
• Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
• Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
• Long-eared Owl Asio otus
• Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
• Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus
• Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla
• Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia
• Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
• Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
• Merlin Falco columbarius
• Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
• Mourning Warbler Geothlypis philadelphia
• Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla
• Nelson's Sparrow Ammospiza nelsoni
• Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianusNonnative
• Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
• Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
• Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
• Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius
• Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
• Northern Parula Setophaga americana
• Northern Pintail Anas acuta
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
• Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus
• Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata
• Northern Shrike Lanius borealis
• Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
• Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi
• Orange-crowned Warbler Leiothlypis celata
• Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
• Osprey Pandion haliaetus
• Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
• Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica
• Palm Warbler Setophaga 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 Spinus pinus
• Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus
• Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus
• Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor
• Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus
• Purple Martin Progne subis
• Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
• Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
• 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 colchicusNonnative
• Rock Pigeon Columba liviaNonnative
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
• Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
• Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
• Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus
• Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus
• Sabine's Gull Xema sabini
• Sanderling Calidris alba
• Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis
• Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
• Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea
• Sedge Wren Cistothorus stellaris
• 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 Plectrophenax nivalis
• Snow Goose Anser caerulescens
• Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus
• Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
• Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
• Sora Porzana carolina
• Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
• Spruce Grouse Canachites canadensis
• Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata
• Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus
• Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
• Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina
• Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
• Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
• Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
• Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
• Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
• Veery Catharus fuscescens
• Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus
• Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
• Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
• White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
• White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
• White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
• White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
• White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera
• White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi
• Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
• Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii
• Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata
• Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla
• Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis
• Wood Duck Aix sponsa
• Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina
• Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia
• Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
• Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata
• Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons

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.

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.

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.

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

When birds are active in Vermont

Records of birds in Vermont peak in April to July and September. They show when people record birds, not how many there are (about month bars).

• Bears: feed birds only from December to March. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

If you see one

Official advice from Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department:

• Bears: never feed bears; feed birds only December to March; secure trash, pet food, chickens and beehives. Report a bear in a residential area or an aggressive bear to Vermont Fish & Wildlife. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

How to report

Reptiles and amphibians (including Timber Rattlesnake sightings): Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (vtherpatlas.org). Bear incidents and rare animals: F&W Citizen Reporting forms. Invasive insects and aquatic animals: vtinvasives.org Report It! pages. Wildlife conflicts: U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Damage Control Unit (name as given on the F&W page), Berlin VT, 802-223-8690. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

About this list

The species list comes from Birds of Vermont (Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department) (Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory), 13 March 2022).

Venom does not apply to birds.

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