North American Birds

Curassows and guans

Order: Galliformes Family: Cracidae

The chachalacas, guans and curassows are birds in the family Cracidae. These are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colourful facial ornaments. There are 50 species world-wide, all of which are found only in the Americas, and 1 North American species.

* Plain Chachalaca, Ortalis vetula

Partridges, grouse, turkeys, and Old World quail
Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump, with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds, or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. There are 180 species world wide and 16 North American species.

* Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I)
* Himalayan Snowcock, Tetraogallus himalayensis (I)
* Gray Partridge, Perdix perdix (I)
* Ring-necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)
* Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus
* Greater Sage-Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
* Gunnison Sage-Grouse, Centrocercus minimus
* Spruce Grouse, Falcipennis canadensis
* Willow Ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus
* Rock Ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus
* White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus
* Dusky Grouse, Dendragapus obscurus
* Sooty Grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus
* Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus
* Greater Prairie-Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido
* Lesser Prairie-Chicken, Tympanuchus pallidicinctus
* Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo

New World quail

Order: Galliformes Family: Odontophoridae

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. There are 32 species, world-wide, all found only in the Americas and 6 North American species.

* Mountain Quail, Oreortyx pictus
* Scaled Quail, Callipepla squamata
* California Quail, Callipepla californica
* Gambel's Quail, Callipepla gambelii
* Northern Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
* Montezuma Quail, Cyrtonyx montezumae

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely grey or black, they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well, and fly adequately, but, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body, are almost hopeless on land. There are 5 species world-wide and 5 North American species.

* Red-throated Loon, Gavia stellata
* Arctic Loon, Gavia arctica
* Pacific Loon, Gavia pacifica
* Common Loon, Gavia immer
* Yellow-billed Loon, Gavia adamsii

Grebes
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large sized freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes, and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 20 species world-wide and 7 North American species.

* Least Grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus
* Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
* Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus
* Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena
* Eared Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
* Western Grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis
* Clark's Grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii


Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are amongst the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds. There are 21 species world wide and 8 North American species.

* Yellow-nosed Albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos (C)
* Shy Albatross, Thalassarche cauta (C)
* Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (A)
* Light-mantled Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata (A)
* Wandering Albatross, Diomedea exulans (A)
* Laysan Albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis
* Black-footed Albatross, Phoebastria nigripes
* Short-tailed Albatross, Phoebastria albatrus

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized 'true petrels', characterised by united nostrils with medium septum, and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species world wide and 24 North American species.

* Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis
* Great-winged Petrel, Pterodroma macroptera (A)
* Herald Petrel, Pterodroma arminjoniana
* Murphy's Petrel, Pterodroma ultima
* Mottled Petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata
* Bermuda Petrel, Pterodroma cahow (C)
* Black-capped Petrel, Pterodroma hasitata
* "Dark-rumped" Petrel Pterodroma phaeopygia/sandwichensis complex (A)
* Fea's/Zino's Petrel Pterodroma feae/madeira complex
* Cook's Petrel, Pterodroma cookii
* Stejneger's Petrel, Pterodroma longirostris (C)
* Bulwer's Petrel, Bulweria bulwerii (A)
* Parkinson's Petrel, Procellaria parkinsoni (A)
* Streaked Shearwater, Calonectris leucomelas (C)
* Cory's Shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
* Cape Verde Shearwater, Calonectris edwardsii (A)
* Pink-footed Shearwater, Puffinus creatopus
* Flesh-footed Shearwater, Puffinus carneipes
* Greater Shearwater, Puffinus gravis
* Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus pacificus (C)
* Buller's Shearwater, Puffinus bulleri
* Sooty Shearwater, Puffinus griseus
* Short-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus tenuirostris
* Manx Shearwater, Puffinus puffinus
* Black-vented Shearwater, Puffinus opisthomelas
* Audubon's Shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri
* Little Shearwater, Puffinus assimilis (A)

Storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are the smallest of seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 21 species world wide and 12 North American species.

* Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
* White-faced Storm-Petrel, Pelagodroma marina (C)
* Black-bellied Storm-Petrel, Fregetta tropica(A)
* European Storm-Petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus (A)
* Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma furcata
* Ringed Storm-petrel, Oceanodroma hornbyi (A)
* Leach’s Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa
* Ashy Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma homochroa
* Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma castro
* Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma tethys (A)
* Black Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma melania
* Least Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma microsoma