Like many national park areas, Petrified Forest National Park provides a unique place of protection and preservation. Here, birds can find food and shelter that may not be available in other regions on their journeys from habitat to habitat. Patches of healthy, undeveloped habitats are found in the modern fragmented landscape, connected by corridors such as Petrified Forest National Park.

Petrified Forest has a variety of habitats. Raptors, songbirds, and ground birds can be found in the grassland. Riparian corridors provide food and shelter for warblers, vireos, avocets, killdeer, and others. The exotic and native trees and shrubs around the Visitor Center and Rainbow Forest Museum provide home for western tanagers, hermit warblers, and house finches. The park also offers sightings of vagrant shore birds and rare Eastern birds not seen often in Arizona. Rarities, such as black-throated blue warbler, have been found by Maricopa Audubon Society members. September and early October seem to be the best time to visit the area to see these fascinating vagrants.

Like the canary in the mine, birds gauge the health and safety of our environment. By watching birds, noting species, and the migration of species, we can understand the changes in our environment.

 

Abridged Bird List for Petrified Forest National Park
Many of these birds are migrants, passing through the park during the fall and spring

*Non-native invasives

Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae

Aechmophorus occidentalis Western Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis Eared Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps Pied-billed Grebe

Tachybaptus dominicus Least Grebe

 

Pelecaniformes
Pelecanidae

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos American White Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican

 

Ciconiiformes
Ardeidae

Ardea herodias Great Blue Heron

Butorides striatus Green-backed Heron

Casmerodius albus Great Egret

Egretta thula Snowy Egret

Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-Heron

 

Ciconiiformes
Threskiornithidae

Plegadis chihi White-faced Ibis

 

Anseriformes
Anatidae

Anas acuta Northern Pintail

Anas americana American Wigeon

Anas clypeata Northern Shoveler

Anas crecca Green-winged Teal

Anas cyanoptera Cinnamon Teal

Anas discors Blue-winged Teal

Anas platyrhynchos Mallard

Aythya affinis Lesser Scaup

Aythya collaris Ring-necked Duck

Branta canadensis Canada Goose

Bucephala albeola Bufflehead

Oxyura jamaicensis Ruddy Duck

 

Falconiformes
Cathartidae

Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture

 

Falconiformes
Accipitridae

Accipiter cooperii Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter gentilis Northern Goshawk

Accipiter striatus Sharp-shinned Hawk

Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle

Buteo jamaicensis Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo lagopus Rough-legged Hawk

Buteo regalis Ferruginous Hawk

Buteo swainsoni Swainson's Hawk

Circus cyaneus Northern Harrier

Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle

Pandion haliaetus Osprey

 

Falconiformes
Falconidae

Falco columbarius Merlin

Falco mexicanus Prairie Falcon

Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon

Falco sparverius American Kestrel

 

Galliformes
Phasianidae

Callipepla squamata Scaled Quail

 

Gruiformes
Rallidae

Fulica americana American Coot

Porzana carolina Sora

Rallus limicola Virginia Rail

 

Charadriiformes
Charadriidae

Charadrius montanus Mountain Plover

Charadrius vociferus Killdeer

 

Charadriiformes
Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostra americana American Avocet

 

Charadriiformes
Scolopacidae

Actitis macularia Spotted Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris mauri Western Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla Least Sandpiper

Catoptrophorus semipalmatus Willet

Gallinago gallinago Common Snipe

Numenius americanus Long-billed Curlew

Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel

Phalaropus tricolor Wilson's Phalarope

Tringa flavipes Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa solitaria Solitary Sandpiper

 

Charadriiformes
Laridae

Larus argentatus Herring Gull

Larus delawarensis Ring-billed Gull

Larus pipixcan Franklin's Gull

Sterna nilotica Gull-billed Tern

 

Columbiformes
Columbidae

Columba fasciata Band-tailed Pigeon

Columba livia Rock Dove

Columbina inca Inca Dove

Zenaida macroura Mourning Dove

 

Cuculiformes
Cuculidae

Geococcyx californianus Greater Roadrunner

 

Strigiformes
Strigidae

Asio flammeus Short-eared Owl

Asio otus Long-eared Owl

Athene cunicularia Burrowing Owl

Bubo virginianus Great Horned Owl

Otus kennicottii Western Screech-Owl

 

Caprimulgiformes
Caprimulgidae

Chordeiles minor Common Nighthawk

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii Common Poorwill

 

Apodiformes
Apodidae

Aeronautes saxatalis White-throated Swift

Chaetura vauxi Vaux's Swift

 

Apodiformes
Trochilidae

Calypte anna Anna's Hummingbird

Selasphorus platycercus Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus sasin Allen's Hummingbird

 

Coraciiformes
Alcedinidae

Ceryle alcyon Belted Kingfisher

 

Piciformes
Picidae

Colaptes auratus Northern Flicker

Melanerpes formicivorus Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis Lewis' Woodpecker

Picoides pubescens Downy Woodpecker

Picoides scalaris Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Picoides villosus Hairy Woodpecker

Sphyrapicus thyroideus Williamson's Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

 

Passeriformes
Tyrannidae

Camptostoma imberbe Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet

Contopus borealis Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus sordidulus Western Wood-Pewee

Pyrocephalus rubinus Vermilion Flycatcher

Sayornis nigricans Black Phoebe

Sayornis saya Say's Phoebe

Tyrannus verticalis Western Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans Cassin's Kingbird

 

Passeriformes
Alaudidae

Eremophila alpestris Horned Lark

 

Passeriformes
Hirundinidae

Hirundo pyrrhonota Cliff Swallow

Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow

Progne subis Purple Martin

Riparia riparia Bank Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor Tree Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina Violet-green Swallow

 

Passeriformes
Corvidae

Aphelocoma coerulescens Scrub Jay

Corvus brachyrhynchos American Crow

Corvus corax Common Raven

Corvus cryptoleucus Chihuahuan Raven

Cyanocitta stelleri Steller's Jay

Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus Pinyon Jay

Nucifraga columbiana Clark's Nutcracker

 

Passeriformes
Paridae

Parus gambeli Mountain Chickadee

Parus inornatus Plain Titmouse

 

Passeriformes
Aegithalidae

Psaltriparus minimus Bushtit

 

Passeriformes
Sittidae

Sitta canadensis Red-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta pygmaea Pygmy Nuthatch

 

Passeriformes
Certhiidae

Certhia americana Brown Creeper

 

Passeriformes
Troglodytidae

Catherpes mexicanus Canyon Wren

Cistothorus palustris Marsh Wren

Salpinctes obsoletus Rock Wren

Thryomanes bewickii Bewick's Wren

Troglodytes aedon House Wren

 

Passeriformes
Muscicapidae

Catharus guttatus Hermit Thrush

Catharus ustulatus Swainson's Thrush

Myadestes townsendi Townsend's Solitaire

Polioptila caerulea Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Polioptila melanura Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Regulus calendula Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Regulus satrapa Golden-crowned Kinglet

Sialia currucoides Mountain Bluebird

Sialia mexicana Western Bluebird

Turdus migratorius American Robin

 

Passeriformes
Mimidae

Dumetella carolinensis Gray Catbird

Mimus polyglottos Northern Mockingbird

Oreoscoptes montanus Sage Thrasher

Toxostoma bendirei Bendire's Thrasher

Toxostoma curvirostre Curve-billed Thrasher

Toxostoma rufum Brown Thrasher

 

Passeriformes
Motacillidae

Anthus rubescens American Pipit

 

Passeriformes
Bombycillidae

Bombycilla cedrorum Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla garrulus Bohemian Waxwing

 

Passeriformes
Ptilogonatidae

Phainopepla nitens Phainopepla

 

Passeriformes
Laniidae

Lanius ludovicianus Loggerhead Shrike

 

Passeriformes
Sturnidae

Sturnus vulgaris* European Starling

 

Passeriformes
Vireonidae

Vireo gilvus Warbling Vireo

Vireo huttoni Hutton's Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo solitarius Solitary Vireo

Vireo vicinior Gray Vireo

 

Passeriformes
Emberizidae

Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird

Aimophila ruficeps Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Ammodramus bairdii Baird's Sparrow

Amphispiza belli Sage Sparrow

Amphispiza bilineata Black-throated Sparrow

Calamospiza melanocorys Lark Bunting

Calcarius ornatus Chestnut-collared Longspur

Cardinalis sinuatus Pyrrhuloxia

Chondestes grammacus Lark Sparrow

Dendroica coronata Yellow-rumped Warbler

Dendroica graciae Grace's Warbler

Dendroica nigrescens Black-throated Gray Warbler

Dendroica occidentalis Hermit Warbler

Dendroica petechia Yellow Warbler

Dendroica townsendi Townsend's Warbler

Euphagus cyanocephalus Brewer's Blackbird

Geothlypis trichas Common Yellowthroat

Guiraca caerulea Blue Grosbeak

Icteria virens Yellow-breasted Chat

Icterus cucullatus Hooded Oriole

Icterus galbula Northern Oriole

Icterus parisorum Scott's Oriole

Junco hyemalis Dark-eyed Junco

Melospiza lincolnii Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza melodia Song Sparrow

Mniotilta varia Black-and-white Warbler

Molothrus ater Brown-headed Cowbird

Oporornis tolmiei Macgillivray's Warbler

Passerculus sandwichensis Savannah Sparrow

Passerella iliaca Fox Sparrow

Passerina amoena Lazuli Bunting

Passerina ciris Painted Bunting

Passerina cyanea Indigo Bunting

Pheucticus ludovicianus Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pipilo chlorurus Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo erythrophthalmus Rufous-sided Towhee

Pipilo fuscus Canyon Towhee

Piranga flava Hepatic Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana Western Tanager

Piranga rubra Summer Tanager

Pooecetes gramineus Vesper Sparrow

Quiscalus mexicanus Great-tailed Grackle

Seiurus aurocapillus Ovenbird

Seiurus noveboracensis Northern Waterthrush

Setophaga ruticilla American Redstart

Spizella arborea American Tree Sparrow

Spizella breweri Brewer's Sparrow

Spizella passerina Chipping Sparrow

Sturnella neglecta Western Meadowlark

Vermivora celata Orange-crowned Warbler

Vermivora ruficapilla Nashville Warbler

Wilsonia pusilla Wilson's Warbler

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Yellow-headed Blackbird

Zonotrichia albicollis White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys White-crowned Sparrow

 

Passeriformes
Fringillidae

Carduelis pinus Pine Siskin

Carduelis psaltria Lesser Goldfinch

Carduelis tristis American Goldfinch

Carpodacus cassinii Cassin's Finch

Carpodacus mexicanus House Finch

Coccothraustes vespertinus Evening Grosbeak

Loxia curvirostra Red Crossbill

 

Passeriformes
Passeridae

Passer domesticus* House Sparrow