Denali Bird Species

Checklist Information and Bird Orders

CHECKLIST INFORMATION	GRUIFORMES (cranes)
ANSERIFORMES (geese, swans & ducks)	CHARADRIIFORMES (shorebirds)
GALLIFORMES (grouse & ptarmigan)	STRIGIFORMES (owls)
GAVIIFORMES (loons)	APODIFORMES (hummingbirds)
PODICEPEDIFORMES (grebes)	CORACIIFORMES (kingfishers)
ACCIPTERIFORMES (hawks & eagles)	PICIFORMES (woodpeckers)
FALCONIFORMES (falcons)	PASSERIFORMES (songbirds)
	HYPOTHETICAL SPECIES

 

Code Key:

Seasonal Codes:
Sp	Spring	spring migration period occurring from late March through early June
Su	Summer	middle of June though July
B	Breeding	early April to mid-June
F	Fall	fall migration period occurring from late July through mid-October
W	Winter	late October through March

Abundance Codes:
A	Abundant	observed repeatedly in expected habitats
C	Common	observed frequently in expected habitats
FC	Fairly Common	occurs regularly in most expected habitats
U	Uncommon	occurs regularly, but infrequently in most expected habitats
R	Rare	occurs regularly, but in small numbers
O	Occasional	has been recorded no more than a few times and is beyond the periphery of normal annual range
X	Accidental	has been recorded one or two times and is so far beyond the periphery of normal annual range that reoccurrence is unlikely
n/a	not applicable	no applicable information

Migration Status Code:
Resident	overwinters regularly in area
Occasional Resident	some members of the species may overwinter in years of very high food supplies
Young Disperse	adults are resident, but young usually move out of the general area
Complete Migrant	virtually all members of the species leave their breeding range and Alaska during the nonbreeding season
Partial Migrant	seasonal movements away from a breeding range by some, but not all, members of a species with overlap between breeding and nonbreeding ranges
Irruptive Migrant	migrations that are not seasonally or geographically predictable irruptions may occur in one year but not again for many years distances and numbers of individuals involved are less predictable than for partial or complete migrants

 

Checklist:

Common Name	Genus species	Seasonal Abundance					Migration Status	General Habitat
		Sp	Su	B	F	W

 

Greater White-fronted Goose	Anser albifrons	U	U	R	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Snow Goose	Chen caerulescens	R	R	n/a	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Brant	Branta bernicla	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	R	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Trumpeter Swan	Cygnus buccinator	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Tundra Swan	Cygnus columbianus	U	O	n/a	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Gadwall	Anas strepera	O	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Eurasian Wigeon	Anas penelope	O	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
American Wigeon	Anas americana	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	FC	FC	U	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Blue-winged Teal	Anas discors	R	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Northern Shoveler	Anas clypeata	FC	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Canvasback	Aythya valisineria	R	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Redhead	Aythya americana	R	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	U	R	n/a	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Greater Scaup	Aythya marila	FC	FC	FC	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Harlequin Duck	Histrionicus histrionicus	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Streams, Rivers
Surf Scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
White-winged Scoter	Melanitta fusca	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Black Scoter	Melanitta americana	U	U	R	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Long-tailed Duck	Clangula hyemalis	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	FC	FC	FC	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	U	R	n/a	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Barrow's Goldeneye	Bucephala islandica	FC	FC	U	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	R	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands, Streams, Rivers

 

Ruffed Grouse	Bonasa umbellus	R	R	R	R	R	Resident	Forests
Spruce Grouse	Falcipennis canadensis	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC	Resident	Forests
Willow Ptarmigan	Lagopus lagopus	A	A	A	A	A	Resident	Shrub Thickets
Rock Ptarmigan	Lagopus muta	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC	Resident	Alpine Areas
White-tailed Ptarmigan	Lagopus leucura	U	U	U	U	U	Resident	Alpine Areas

 

Red-throated Loon	Gavia stellata	U	U	R	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes
Pacific Loon	Gavia pacifica	R	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes
Common Loon	Gavia immer	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes
Yellow-billed Loon	Gavia adamsii	O	n/a	n/a	O	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes

 

Horned Grebe	Podiceps auritus	FC	FC	FC	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes
Red-necked Grebe	Podiceps grisegena	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes

 

Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	R	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Streams, Rivers
Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	U	U	U	U	O	Partial Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Streams, Rivers
Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus	FC	C	C	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Wetlands, Lowlands, Uplands
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	U	U	U	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests
Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	U	U	U	U	R	Resident, Irruptive Migrant	Forests
Swainson's Hawk	Buteo swainsoni	O	O	n/a	O	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	U	U	R	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests
Rough-legged Hawk	Buteo lagopus	R	R	n/a	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Uplands
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	C	C	C	C	R	Complete Migrant, Occasional Resident	Uplands, Mountainous Regions

 

American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	FC	FC	FC	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests, Uplands
Merlin	Falco columbarius	FC	FC	FC	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests
Gyrfalcon	Falco rusticolus	U	U	U	U	R	Resident, Young Disperse	Cliffs, Alpine Areas, Mountainous Regions
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	R	R	R	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Cliffs, Riparian Areas

 

Sandhill Crane

Grus canadensis

U

U

U

C

n/a

Complete Migrant

Wetlands

 

Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	O	O	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes
American Golden-Plover	Pluvialis dominica	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Alpine Tundra
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	FC	FC	FC	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Riverbars
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	O	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularius	FC	U	U	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Streams, Ponds
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Streams, Wetlands, Ponds
Wandering Tattler	Tringa incana	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Streams
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	U	R	R	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Wetlands, Ponds
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Wetlands, Ponds
Upland Sandpiper	Bartramia longicauda	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Alpine Tundra
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Lowland Tundra
Hudsonian Godwit	Limosa haemastica	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a
Black Turnstone	Arenaria melanocephala	n/a	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a
Surfbird	Aphriza virgata	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Alpine Tundra
Sanderling	Calidris alba	n/a	n/a	n/a	X	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes
Semipalmated Sandpiper	Calidris pusilla	U	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Wetlands
Western Sandpiper	Calidris mauri	R	O	n/a	O	n/a	Complete Migrant	Wetlands
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	C	C	FC	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Lowland and Alpine Tundra
Baird's Sandpiper	Calidris bairdii	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Alpine Tundra
Pectoral Sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	U	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	R	O	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Long-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	U	U	n/a	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Wilson's Snipe	Gallinago delicata	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	C	FC	U	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes
Red Phalarope	Phalaropus fulicarius	X	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes
Bonaparte's Gull	Chroicocephalus philadelphia	FC	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Mew Gull	Larus canus	A	A	A	A	n/a	Complete Migrant	Wetlands, Ponds, Lakes, Riverbars
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus	R	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Wetlands, Ponds, Lakes, Riverbars
Glaucous-winged Gull	Larus glaucescens	R	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	Wetlands, Ponds, Lakes, Riverbars
Arctic Tern	Sterna paradisaea	FC	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes
Pomarine Jaeger	Stercorarius pomarinus	n/a	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a
Long-tailed Jaeger	Stercorarius longicaudus	FC	FC	FC	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Alpine Tundra
Long-billed Murrelet	Brachyramphus perdix	n/a	n/a	n/a	X	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a

 

Great-horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC	Resident	Forests
Snowy Owl	Bubo scandiacus	O	n/a	n/a	O	O	Partial Migrant	Uplands
Northern Hawk Owl	Surnia ulula	U	U	U	U	U	Irruptive Migrant	Forests
Great Gray Owl	Strix nebulosa	R	R	R	R	R	Irruptive Migrant	Forests
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Lowland and Alpine Tundra
Boreal Owl	Aegolius funereus	U	U	U	U	U	Resident	Forests

 

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

n/a

O

n/a

n/a

n/a

Complete Migrant

n/a

 

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

U

U

U

U

n/a

Complete Migrant

Riparian Corridors, Ponds, Lakes

 

Downy Woodpecker	Picoides pubescens	R	R	R	R	R	Resident	Forests
Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus	R	R	R	R	R	Resident	Forests
American Three-toed Woodpecker	Picoides dorsalis	U	U	U	U	U	Resident	Forests
Black-backed Woodpecker	Picoides arcticus	O	O	O	O	O	Resident	Forests
Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	FC	FC	FC	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests

 

Olive-sided Flycatcher	Contopus cooperi	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests
Western Wood-Pewee	Contopus sordidulus	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Empidonax flaviventris	n/a	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests, Shrubs
Alder Flycatcher	Empidonax alnorum	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests, Shrubs
Hammond's Flycatcher	Empidonax hammondii	R	R	R	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests
Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans	n/a	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Say's Phoebe	Sayornis saya	FC	FC	FC	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Cliffs, Rock Outcrops
Northern Shrike	Lanius excubitor	U	U	U	U	n/a	Resident, Partial Migrant	Shrubs, Open Forest
Red-eyed Vireo	Vireo olivaceus	n/a	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a
Gray Jay	Perisoreus canadensis	A	A	A	A	A	Resident	Forests, Shrubs
Steller's Jay	Cyanocitta stelleri	n/a	O	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Forest
Black-billed Magpie	Pica hudsonia	C	C	C	C	C	Resident	Shrubs, Open Forest
Common Raven	Corvus corax	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC	Resident	Cliffs, Riparian Corridors
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Alpine Tundra
Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests
Violet-green Swallow	Tachycineta thalassina	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests, Riparian Corridors
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Riparian Corridors
Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Riparian Corridors, Cliffs, Buildings
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	R	R	n/a	R	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a
Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	FC	U	U	FC	U	Resident	Forests, Shrubs
Boreal Chickadee	Poecile hudsonicus	C	C	C	C	C	Resident	Forests, Shrubs
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta canadensis	R	R	n/a	R	R	Irruptive Migrant	Forests
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana	O	O	n/a	O	O	Complete Migrant	Forests
American Dipper	Cinclus mexicanus	U	R	R	R	R	Resident	Streams, Rivers
Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa	n/a	O	n/a	O	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests, Shrubs
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula	C	C	C	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests
Arctic Warbler	Phylloscopus borealis	U	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Shrubs
Northern Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Alpine Tundra, Alpine River Bars
Townsend's Solitaire	Myadestes townsendi	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Mountainous Alpine Areas
Gray-cheeked Thrush	Catharus minimus	FC	FC	FC	FC	n/a	Complete Migrant	Shrubs, Forests
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Shrubs, Forests
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Shrubs, Forests
American Robin	Turdus migratorius	A	A	A	A	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests, Shrubs
Varied Thrush	Ixoreus naevius	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	X	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a
American Pipit	Anthus rubescens	A	A	A	A	n/a	Complete Migrant	Alpine Tundra
Bohemian Waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests
Lapland Longspur	Calcarius lapponicus	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Alpine Tundra
Smith's Longspur	Calcarius pictus	n/a	O	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	Lowland Tundra
Snow Bunting	Plectrophenax nivalis	FC	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Alpine Tundra, Glacial Moraines
Northern Waterthrush	Parkesia noveboracensis	U	R	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Riparian Corridors, Shrubs
Orange-crowned Warbler	Oreothlypis celata	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests, Shrubs
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla	O	O	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a
Yellow Warbler	Setophaga petechia	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests, Shrubs
Blackpoll Warbler	Setophaga striata	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests, Riparian Corridors
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	A	A	A	A	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests, Shrubs
Townsend's Warbler	Setophaga townsendi	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	Forests
Wilson's Warbler	Cardellina pusilla	A	A	A	A	n/a	Complete Migrant	Shrubs
American Tree Sparrow	Spizella arborea	A	A	A	A	n/a	Complete Migrant	Shrubs, Uplands
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	A	A	A	A	n/a	Complete Migrant	Uplands
Fox Sparrow	Passerella iliaca	C	C	C	C	n/a	Complete Migrant	Shrubs
Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii	U	FC	FC	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Shrubs
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	A	A	A	A	n/a	Complete Migrant	Shrubs
Golden-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia atricapilla	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Shrubs
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	A	A	A	A	O	Complete Migrant	Forest, Shrubs
Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana	n/a	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	n/a	O	n/a	O	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Rusty Blackbird	Euphagus carolinus	U	R	R	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater	X	X	n/a	n/a	n/a	Complete Migrant	n/a
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch	Leucosticte tephrocotis	U	U	U	U	n/a	Complete Migrant	Alpine Tundra, Mountainous Alpine Areas
Pine Grosbeak	Pinicola enucleator	U	U	U	U	U	Irruptive Migrant	Forests
White-winged Crossbill	Loxia leucoptera	U	U	U	U	U	Irruptive Migrant	Forests
Common Redpoll	Acanthis flammea	C	C	C	C	C	Irruptive Migrant	Forests, Shrubs
Hoary Redpoll	Acanthis hornemanni	R	n/a	n/a	R	R	Irruptive Migrant	Forests, Shrubs
Pine Siskin	Spinus pinus	U	U	U	U	n/a	Irruptive Migrant	Forests

 

Hypothetical:

No satisfactory records exist for the following birds in Denali, but the species has either been recorded near the park and/or recorded within the park with some uncertainty.

Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus
Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis
Sharp-tailed Grouse	Tympanuchus phasianellus
Short-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus
Wilson's Phalarope	Phalaropus tricolor
Sabine's Gull	Xema sabini
California Gull	Larus californicus
Glaucous Gull	Larus hyperboreus
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis
Eastern Kingbird	Tyrannus tyrannus
Gray-headed chickadee	Poecile cinctus
Mountain Bluebird	Sialia currucoides
Eastern Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla tschutschensis
White Wagtail	Motacilla alba
Tennessee Warbler	Oreothlypis peregrina
Purple Finch	Carpodacus purpureus

 

Checklist Information:

Park visitors can use this checklist to know what birds they can expect to see at different seasons and in different habitats in Denali. The National Park Service Checklist of Birds of Denali provides a general overview of the relative seasonal abundance, migration status, and general habitat of the 166 species of birds thus far recorded at Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. National Park Service scientists maintain a contemporary checklist to reflect results of ongoing bird studies in all portions of Denali.

The National Park Service Checklist of Birds in Denali was derived from the checklist of Denali's birds developed by Ken Kertell and Doug Murphy in 1985, and updated and revised by Alan Seegert and Carol McIntyre in 2006. This checklist of Denali's birds by Kertell, Murphy and Seegert is available for purchase through Alaska Geographic.

The abundance and distribution of many of the birds found in Denali often cycle with seasonal food resources. Therefore, this checklist may not accurately reflect abundance in all years. Northern hawk owls, short-eared owls, white-winged crossbills, and common redpolls may be common or abundant in one year and then nearly absent in others. Golden eagles usually migrate out of the area in fall, but some individuals may overwinter when food resources (snowshoe hare) are abundant.

Phylogenetic sequence and English and scientific names follow The A.O.U. Checklist of North America Birds (Seventh ed., 1998, and through the 52nd supplement 2011).

We gather new data on Denali's birds every year. Please report any new sightings to Denali National Park and Preserve personnel.