Valley Forge Bird List

An American Goldfinch snacks on a thistle seed in the meadows of the Grand Parade at Valley Forge.

NPS Photo / B. Dhunjisha

Over 227 species of birds have been observed within Valley Forge National Historical Park, and the Valley Forge Bird List is intended to reflect their present status.

It has been developed based on published and online records, including the online eBird resource maintained by the Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology, the Pennsylvania Bird Atlas maintained by Pennsylvania State University, and field observations by park staff, members of the Valley Forge Audubon Society, West Chester Bird Club, and volunteers over the past 40 years.

The list is organized by groups of closely-related species, and describes the seasons in which these species are most likely to be detected and how plentiful they are in each.

For additional information or to report a bird species not found on the checklist please contact our staff at: [e-mail]

Bird List Key

Seasonal Status

Spring – residents and migrants

Summer – mainly breeding residents

Fall – residents and migrants

Winter – mainly residents

Relative Abundance

Abundant - may be seen or heard daily in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.

Common - may be seen or heard daily in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.

Uncommon - likely to be seen or heard monthly in suitable habitat and season; may be locally common.

Rare - present in suitable habitat, but usually seen or heard only a few times during the indicated season.

Occasional - occurs in the park at least once every few years during the indicated season, but not necessarily every year.

Extremely Rare (listed at end of each bird group) - species for which Relative Abundance rating in Valley Forge National Historical Park does not exceed Occasional in any one season. These may most often be encountered during spring or fall migrations.

Special Notes

* Population reproduces in the park.

# Irruptive species: species that, when present (generally every 2-4 years in winter), may occur in relatively large numbers.

Water Fowl

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Mute Swan	Cygnus olor	Occasional		Occasional	Rare
Snow Goose	Chen caerulescens				Rare
Canada Goose *	Branta canadensis	Common	Common	Common	Abundant
Wood Duck *	Aix sponsa	Common	Uncommon	Uncommon	Rare
American Black Duck	Anas rubripes			Rare	Common
Mallard *	Anas platyrhynchos	Common	Common	Common	Common
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca	Rare			Rare
Redhead	Aythya americana				Rare
Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris				Uncommon
Lesser Scaup	Aythya affins				Rare
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Common		Occasional	Abundant
Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula				Uncommon
Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	Rare		Occasional	Uncommon
Common Merganser *	Mergus merganser	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Common

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Greater White-fronted Goose	Anser albifrons
Tundra Swan	Cygnus columbianus
White-winged Scoter	Melanitta fusca
Gadwall	Anas strepera
American Wigeon	Anas americana
Blue-winged Teal	Anas discors
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta
Canvasback	Aythya valisineria
Greater Scaup	Aythya marila
Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis

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Upland Fowl

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo
Ruffed Grouse	Bonasa umbellus
Ring-necked Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus
Northern Bobwhite	Colinus virginianus

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Loons, Grebes, and Cormorants

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	Occasional	Occasional	Occasional	Uncommon
Double-crested Cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Common Loon	Gavia immer
Red-necked Grebe	Podiceps grisegena
Horned Grebe	Podiceps auritus

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Herons

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Uncommon	Common	Common	Rare
Green Heron	Butorides virescens	Uncommon	Uncommon

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
American Bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	Nyctanassa violacea

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Vultures

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Black Vulture *	Coragyps atratus	Common	Common	Common	Common
Turkey Vulture *	Cathartes aura	Common	Common	Common	Common

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Owls

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Eastern Screech-Owl *	Megascops asio	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Great Horned Owl *	Bubo virginianus	Rare	Rare	Rare	Rare

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Long-eared Owl	Asio otus
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus
Barred Owl	Strix varia

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Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Rare	Occasional	Rare
Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Rare	Rare	Rare	Uncommon
Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus	Rare	Occasional	Rare	Uncommon
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	Rare	Occasional	Rare	Rare
Coopers Hawk *	Accipiter cooperii	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	Occasional	Occasional	Occasional	Uncommon
Broad-winged Hawk	Buteo platypterus	Uncommon	Occasional	Uncommon
Red-tailed Hawk *	Buteo jamaicensis	Common	Common	Common	Common
American Kestrel *	Falco sparverius	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Rare
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	Occasional		Occasional	Rare

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Rough-legged Hawk	Buteo lagopus
Merlin	Falco columbarius

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Coots

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
American Coot	Fulica americana

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Plovers and Sandpipers

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	Rare	Occasional		Rare
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitus macularius	Common	Rare
Wilson's Snipe	Gallinago delicata	Rare

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria
Woodcock	Scolopax minor
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla

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Gulls

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis			Uncommon	Common
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus			Occasional	Rare
Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus				Rare

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus

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Pigeons and Doves

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Rock Pigeon *	Columba livia	Common	Common	Common	Common
Mourning Dove *	Zenaida macroura	Common	Common	Common	Common

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Cuckoos

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Yellow-billed Cuckoo *	Coccyzus americanus	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Black-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus erythropthalmus

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Goatsuckers, Swifts, and Hummingbirds

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Common Nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	Rare	Rare
Chimney Swift *	Chaetura pelagica	Common	Abundant	Rare
Ruby-throated Hummingbird *	Archilochus colubris	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional

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Kingfishers

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Belted Kingfisher *	Megaceryle alcyon	Common	Common	Common	Common

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Woodpeckers

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Red-bellied Woodpecker *	Melanerpes carolinus	Common	Common	Common	Common
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	Occasional		Occasional	Uncommon
Downy Woodpecker *	Picoides pubescens	Common	Common	Common	Common
Hairy Woodpecker *	Picoides villosus	Common	Common	Common	Common
Northern Flicker *	Colaptes auratus	Common	Common	Common	Common
Pileated Woodpecker *	Dryocopus pileatus	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Red-headed Woodpecker	Melanerpes erythrocephalus

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Flycatchers and Kingbirds

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Eastern Wood-Pewee *	Contopus virens	Common	Common	Rare
Acadian Flycatcher *	Empidonax virescens	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional
Willow Flycatcher *	Empidonax traillii	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional
Eastern Phoebe *	Sayornis phoebe	Common	Common	Common	Rare
Great Crested Flycatcher *	Myiarchus crinitus	Common	Common
Eastern Kingbird *	Tyrannus tyrannus	Common	Common

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus

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Vireos

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
White-eyed Vireo *	Vireo griseus	Rare	Occasional	Occasional
Yellow-throated Vireo *	Vireo flavifrons	Rare	Rare
Blue-headed Vireo	Vireo solitarius	Rare		Rare
Warbling Vireo *	Vireo gilvus	Common	Common
Red-eyed Vireo *	Vireo olivaceus	Common	Common	Uncommon

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Corvids

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Blue Jay *	Cyanocitta cristata	Common	Abundant	Abundant	Common
American Crow *	Corvus brachyrhynchos	Common	Common	Common	Common
Fish Crow *	Corvus ossifragus	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasinoal	Occasional

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Common Raven	Corvus corax

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Larks

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris

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Swallows

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Tree Swallow *	Tachycineta bicolor	Common	Common	Uncommon
Northern Rough-winged Swallow *	Stelgidopteryx serripennis	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional
Barn Swallow *	Hirundo rustica	Abundant	Abundant	Uncommon

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Purple Martin	Progne subis
Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia

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Tits and Nuthatches

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Carolina Chickadee *	Poecile carolinensis	Common	Common	Common	Common
Tufted Titmouse *	Baeolophus bicolor	Common	Common	Common	Common
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta canadensis	Occasional	Occasional	Occasional	Rare
White-breasted Nuthatch *	Sitta carolinensis	Common	Common	Common	Common

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus

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Creepers and Wrens

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana	Occasional		Uncommon	Uncommon
Carolina Wren *	Thryothorus ludovicianus	Common	Common	Common	Common
House Wren *	Troglodytes aedon	Common	Common	Rare
Winter Wren	Troglodytes hiemalis	Occasional		Uncommon	Uncommon

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Kinglets and Gnatcatchers

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa	Occasional		Uncommon	Rare
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula	Uncommon	Abundant		Rare
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher *	Polioptila caerulea	Common	Uncommon

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Thrushes and Mimids

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Eastern Bluebird *	Sialia sialis	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus	Uncommon		Uncommon	Occasional
Wood Thrush *	Hylocichla mustelina	Common	Common	Occasional
American Robin *	Turdus migratorius	Common	Abundant	Common	Common
Gray Catbird *	Dumetella carolinensis	Common	Abundant	Common
Northern Mockingbird *	Mimus polyglottos	Common	Common	Common	Uncommon
Brown Thrasher *	Toxostoma rufum	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Veery	Catharus fuscescens
Swainson’s Thrush	Catharus ustulatus

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Starlings

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
European Starling *	Sturnus vulgaris	Abundant	Abundant	Abundant	Abundant

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Pipits and Waxwings

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Cedar Waxwing *	Bombycilla cedrorum	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
American Pipit	Anthus rubescens

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Wood Warblers

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Blue-winged Warbler *	Vermivora cyanoptera	Rare	Rare
Tennessee Warbler	Oreothlypis peregrina	Rare		Rare
Nashville Warbler	Oreothlypis ruficapilla	Rare	Rare	Rare
Northern Parula	Setophaga americana	Uncommon	Occasional	Occasional
Yellow Warbler *	Setophaga petechia	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Setophaga pensylvanica	Rare	Occasional	Rare
Magnolia Warbler	Setophaga magnolia	Occasional	Rare	Rare
Black-throated Blue Warbler	Setophaga caerulescens	Uncommon	Rare	Rare
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	Common		Common	Uncommon
Black-throated Green Warbler	Setophaga virens	Uncommon	Uncommon	Rare
Pine Warbler	Setophaga pinus	Rare	Occasional	Rare
Prairie Warbler *	Setophaga discolor	Rare	Rare
Palm Warbler	Setophaga palmarum	Uncommon		Uncommon
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla	Rare	Rare	Rare
Worm-eating Warbler *	Helmitheros vermivorum	Rare	Rare
Ovenbird *	Seiurus aurocapilla	Uncommon	Rare	Occasional
Louisiana Waterthrush *	Parkesia motacilla	Rare	Rare
Common Yellowthroat *	Geothlypis trichas	Common	Common	Rare

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Golden-winged Warbler	Vermivora chrysoptera
Cape May Warbler	Setophaga tigrina
Yellow-throated Warbler	Setophaga dominica
Blackpoll Warbler	Setophaga striata
Northern Waterthrush	Parkesia noveboracensis
Mourning Warbler	Geothlypis philadelphia
Wilson’s Warbler	Cardellina pusilla
Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens
Orange-crowned Warbler	Oreothlypis celata
Blackburnian Warbler	Setophaga fusca
Bay-breasted Warbler	Setophaga castanea
Cerulean Warbler	Setophaga cerulea
Kentucky Warbler	Geothlypis formosa
Hooded Warbler	Setophaga citrina
Canada Warbler	Cardellina canadensis

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Tanagers, Sparrows, and Grosbeaks

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Scarlet Tanager *	Piranga olivacea	Common	Common
Eastern Towhee *	Pipilo erythrophthalmus	Common	Common	Common	Rare
American Tree Sparrow	Spizella arborea	Rare		Rare	Rare
Chipping Sparrow *	Spizella passerina	Common	Common	Uncommon	Occasional
Field Sparrow *	Spizella pusilla	Common	Common	Uncommon	Uncommon
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	Rare		Occasional	Occasional
Fox Sparrow	Passerella iliaca	Occasional		Rare	Occasional
Song Sparrow *	Melospiza melodia	Abundant	Abundant	Abundant	Abundant
Swamp Sparrow	Melospiza georgiana	Rare		Occasional	Rare
White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	Common		Common	Common
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	Common		Common	Abundant
Northern Cardinal *	Cardinalis cardinalis	Common	Common	Common	Common
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	Rare	Occasional	Rare
Indigo Bunting *	Passerina cyanea	Common	Common	Occasional

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys
Blue Grosbeak	Passerina caerulea
Lincoln’s Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii

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Blackbirds and Finches

Common Name	Binomial Name	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Red-winged Blackbird *	Agelaius phoeniceus	Common	Abundant	Common	Occasional
Eastern Meadowlark *	Sturnella magna	Common	Common	Uncommon	Occasional
Common Grackle *	Quiscalus quiscula	Common	Common	Common	Rare
Brown-headed Cowbird *	Molothrus ater	Common	Common	Common	Rare
Orchard Oriole *	Icterus spurius	Common	Common
Baltimore Oriole *	Icterus galbula	Common	Common
House Finch *	Haemorhous mexicanus	Common	Common	Common	Common
American Goldfinch *	Spinus tristus	Common	Common	Common	Uncommon
House Sparrow *	Passer domesticus	Rare	Rare	Rare	Rare

Extremely Rare

Common Name	Binomial Name
Bobolink	Dolichonyx oryzivorus
# Evening Grosbeak	Coccothraustes vespertinus
# White-winged Crossbill	Loxia leucoptera
# Pine Siskin	Spinus pinus
Rusty Blackbird	Euphagus carolinus
# Purple Finch	Haemorhous purpureus
# Common Redpoll	Acanthis flammea

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