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Birds of NYC

The following is taken from the New York City Audubon Society Guide to Finding Birds in the Metropolitan Area.

  Loons to Cormorants
  Bitterns to Vultures
  Waterfowl
  Diurnal Raptors
  Pheasant to Rails
  Shorebirds
  Jaegers to Alcids
  Pigeons to Owls to Woodpeckers
  Flycatchers
  Shrikes to Vireos to Wrens
  Kinglets to Thrushes to Waxwings
  Warblers
  Tanagers to Sparrows to Grosbeaks
  Blackbirds, Grackle to Orioles, Finches, Old World Sparrows

Seasonal Occurrence
Winter - December to Februrary   
Spring - March to May   
Summer - June to mid-July   
Early Fall - mid-July to mid-September
Late Fall - mid-September to November

Abundance and Status
Common - easily seen; more than 12 individuals per day in season in habitat
Fairly Common - usually seen; 3-12 individuals per day in season in habitat
Uncommon - seen, but in small numbers; 1-3 individuals per day in season in habitat
Scarce - seen in habitat, but not daily
Rare - seen, but only a few times per season
Very Rare - not seen every season
Introduced - not native to North America/an alien species
Pelagic - Atlantic Ocean off of New York City, not normally or only rarely seen from shore
? - Nesting unconfirmed
*  nests within city limits
**  formerly nested within city limits

 

Loons to Cormorants  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
American White Pelican		VR
Brown Pelican		VR	VR
Common Loon	U	U		R	FC
Cory's Shearwater (P)
Double-crested Cormorant (*)	FC	C	C	C	C
Eared Grebe		VR		VR	VR
Greater Cormorant	FC-U	U-S			U
Greater Shearwater (P)
Horned Grebe	U	S			U
Leach's Storm-Petrel (P)
Northern Gannet (P)	U	C		S	FC-C
Northern Fulmar (P)
Pied-billed Grebe (*)	U	S	R	FC	U
Red-necked Grebe	VR	VR
Red-throated Loon	U				FC
Sooty Shearwater (P)
Wilson's Storm-Petrel			VR
Bitterns to Vultures  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
American Bittern (**)	R	R		VR	R
Black-crowned Night-Heron (*)	S	C	C	FC	S
Black Vulture		VR			VR
Cattle Egret (*)		U	U	U
Glossy Ibis (*)		FC	C	C
Great Blue Heron	S	U	U	FC	FC
Great Egret (*)	R	C	C	FC	U
Green Heron (*)		U	U	U
Least Bittern (*)			VR
Little Blue Heron (*)		R	R	R	VR
Snowy Egret (*)	VR	C	C	C	U
Tri-colored Heron (*)		R	S	R
Turkey Vulture	S	U	U	S	U
White-faced Ibis		VR	VR
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (*)		U	U	U
Waterfowl  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
American Black Duck (*)	C	C	U	U	C
American Wigeon (**)	FC	U	VR	C	FC
Barrow's Goldeneye	VR				VR
Black Scoter	R			R	FC
Blue-winged Teal (*)	R	R	R	U	S
Brant	C	C			C
Bufflehead	C	C		S	C
Canada Goose (*)	C	C	C	C	C
Canvasback	FC	FC		O	U
Common Eider	VR				R
Common Goldeneye	FC	S		S	U
Common Merganser	U	R		S	U
Eurasian Wigeon	VR				VR
Gadwall (*)	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC
Greater Scaup	C	FC		U	FC
Greater White-fronted Goose	VR
Green-winged Teal (**)	FC	FC	S	U	C
Harlequin Duck	R				R
Hooded Merganser	FC	FC		U	FC
King Eider	VR				VR
Lesser Scaup	FC	S		FC	FC
Mallard (*)	C	C	C	C	C
Mute Swan (*) (I)	C	C	C	C	C
Northern Pintail (**)	U			U	C
Northern Shoveler (*)	FC	U	S	FC	C
Oldsquaw	FC	U		U	FC
Red-breasted Merganser	C	FC			C
Redhead	R			R	R
Ring-necked Duck	S	S	VR	R	U
Ruddy Duck (*)	C	C	U	U	C
Snow Goose (*)	S				FC
Surf Scoter	U			U	U
Tufted Duck	VR				VR
Tundra Swan	R				R
White-winged Scoter	O				U
Wood Duck (*)	S	U	U	U	S
Diurnal Raptors  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
American Kestrel (*)	FC	U	S	FC	FC
Bald Eagle	R	R		U	S
Broad-winged Hawk (*)		U	S	FC	U
Cooper's Hawk (*) (?)	S	U		S	U
Golden Eagle					VR
Gyrfalcon	VR				VR
Merlin	R	R		S	U
Mississippi Kite		VR		VR
Northern Goshawk	VR			VR	VR
Northern Harrier (*)	U	U	S	U	FC
Osprey (*)		U	U	FC	U
Peregrine Falcon (*)	S	S	S	S	U
Red-shouldered Hawk (**)	R	S		S	U
Red-tailed Hawk (*)	FC	FC	U	FC	FC
Rough-legged Hawk	S	R			R
Sharp-shinned Hawk	U	U		U	FC
Swallow-tailed Kite		VR
Pheasants to Rails  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
American Coot (*)	U	FC	FC	FC	FC
Clapper Rail (*)	R	U	FC	U	R
Common Moorhen (*)		U	FC
King Rail (**)
Northern Bobwhite (*)	R	R	R	R	R
Purple Gallinule				VR
Ringed-necked Pheasant (*)	S	S	S	S	S
Sora	VR	S	S	S	VR
Virginia Rail (*)	R	U	U	S	R
Wild Turkey (*)	S	S	S	S	S
Shorebirds  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
American Avocet			VR	VR
American Golden-Plover	VR	VR	VR	S	VR
American Oystercatcher (*)	R	FC	FC	FC	FC
American Woodcock (*)	R	FC	S	FC	U
Baird's Sandpiper		R		R
Black-bellied Plover	R	C	S	C	FC
Black-necked Stilt		VR	VR
Buff-breasted Sandpiper		R		R
Common Snipe		U		U	U
Curlew Sandpiper		VR		VR
Dunlin	C	C		FC	C
Greater Yellowlegs	R	FC	FC	C	FC
Hudsonian Godwit		S		U
Killdeer (*)	S	U	FC	FC	S
Least Sandpiper		C	S	C
Lesser Yellowlegs		FC	U	C	U
Little Stint				VR
Long-billed Dowitcher	VR	R		S	R
Marbled Godwit		S		U
Pectoral Sandpiper		U		U	R
Piping Plover (*)		U	U	U
Purple Sandpiper	FC			FC
Red Knot	R	FC		FC	S
Red-necked Phalarope				VR
Red-necked Stint				VR
Red Phalarope (P)
Ruddy Turnstone	S	C	FC	C	FC
Ruff		VR		VR
Sanderling	C	C	S	C	C
Semipalmated Plover		C		C	S
Semipalmated Sandpiper		C	S	C	R
Short-billed Dowitcher		FC		C	U
Solitary Sandpiper		S	R	S
Spotted Sandpiper (*)		FC	FC	FC	S
Stilt Sandpiper		U		U
Upland Sandpiper (*)		R	R	S
Western Sandpiper		U		FC	R
Whimbrel		U	S	U
White-rumped Sandpiper		U		U
Willet (*)	VR	C	C	FC	R
Wilson's Phalarope				VR
Jaegers to Alcids  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
Arctic Tern			VR	VR
Atlantic Puffin (P)
Black-header Gull	R
Black-legged Kittiwake (P)	R	R			R
Black Skimmer (**)		FC	C	C
Black Tern			R	R
Bonaparte's Gull	C	FC			FC
Caspian Tern		R		S	S
Common Murre (P)
Common Tern (*)		C	C	C	S
Dovekie (P)
Forster's Tern (*)		C	C	C	S
Glaucous Gull	VR
Great Black-backed Gull (*)	C	C	C	C	C
Gull-billed Tern		S	R
Herring Gull (*)	C	C	C	C	C
Iceland Gull	R
Laughing Gull (*)	R	C	C	C	U
Least Tern (*)		U	FC	FC	S
Lesser Black-backed Gull	R			R
Little Gull	R
Parasitic Jaeger (P)
Pomarine Jaeger (P)		R		R	R
Razorbill (P)
Ring-billed Gull	C	C	C	C	C
Roseate Tern		R	S	S
Royal Tern				S	S
Sabine's Gull (P)					VR
Sandwich Tern			VR
Thick-billed Murre (P)
Pigeons to Owls to Woodpeckers  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
Barn Owl (*)	S	S	S	S	S
Barred Owl	VR	R		R	R
Belted Kingfisher (*) (?)	S	U	U	U	U
Black-billed Cuckoo (*)			S	S	R
Chimney Swift (*)		FC	C	FC	S
Chuck-will's-widow		R
Common Nighthawk (*)		S	FC	FC	FC
Downy Woodpecker (*)	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC
Eastern Screech-Owl (*)	S	S	S	S	S
Great Horned Owl (*)	U	U	U	U	U
Hairy Woodpecker (*)	S	S	S	S	S
Long-eared Owl	R				VR
Monk Parakeet (*) (I)	U	U	U	U	U
Mourning Dove (*)	C	C	C	C	C
Northern Flicker (*)	U	FC	FC	FC	FC
Northern Saw-whet Owl	R			R
Pileated Woodpecker	R	VR
Red-bellied Woodpecker (*)	U	U	U	U	U
Red-headed Woodpecker	R	R		R
Rock Dove (*) (I)	C	C	C	C	C
Ruby-throated Hummingbird		U	U	U	R
Short-eared Owl (**)	R	R		R	R
Snowy Owl	R				R
Whip-poor-will		R
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	S	U		U	U
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (*)			S	VR	S
Flycatchers  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
Acadian Flycatcher		S
Alder Flycatcher		S		S
Ash-throated Flycatcher					VR
Eastern Kingbird (*)		FC	FC	C
Eastern Phoebe (*)		FC	R	FC	FC
Eastern Wood-Pewee (*)		U	S	FC
Great Crested Flycatcher (*)		S	S	S
Least Flycatcher		U		U
Olive-sided Flycatcher		S		S
Western Kingbird	VR	VR		VR	R
Willow Flycatcher (*)		FC	FC	FC
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher		S		S
Shrikes to Vireos to Wrens  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
American Crow (*)	C	C	C	C	C
Bank Swallow		S			S
Barn Swallow (*)		C	C	C	S
Black-capped Chickadee (*)	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC
Blue-headed Vireo	VR	U			U
Blue  Jay (*)	C	C	C	C	C
Brown Creeper		S			S
Carolina Wren (*)	U	U	U	U	U
Cliff Swallow		S		S
Fish Crow (*)	U	C	C	C	FC
Horned Lark (*)	U	FC	S	S	U
House Wren (*)		FC	U	FC	R
Loggerhead Shrike	VR				VR
Marsh Wren (*)	S	FC	FC	FC	S
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (*)		U	FC	FC
Northern Shrike	VR
Philadelphia Vireo		R		R
Purple Martin (*)		S	S
Red-breasted Nuthatch	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC
Red-eyed Vireo (*)		C	R	FC	S
Sedge Wren					R
Tree Swallow (*)	S	C	C	C	C
Tufted Timouse (*)	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC
Warbling Vireo (*)		U	U	U
White-breasted Nuthatch (*)	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC
White-eyed Vireo (*)	VR	U	U	U	S
Winter Wren	R	S			S
Yellow-throated Vireo		S		S
Kinglets to Thrushes to Waxwings  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
American Pipit	VR			S	U
American Robin (*)	U	C	C	C	C
Bicknell's Thrush		R		VR
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (*)		U	R	U
Brown Thrasher (*)	R	U	U	U	U
Cedar Waxwing (*)	U	FC	FC	FC	FC
Eastern Bluebird (**)		R		R	R
European Starling (*) (I)	C	C	C	C	C
Golden-crowned Kinglet	S	FC		S	C
Gray Catbird (*)	R	C	C	C	U
Gray-cheeked Thrush		R		VR
Hermit Thrush	U	U		U	U
Northern Mockingbird (*)	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	S	FC		C	C
Swainson's Thrush		U	U	R
Varied Thrush	VR
Veery (*) (?)		U	R	U
Wood Thrush (*)	VR	U	S	U	R
Warblers  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
American Redstart (*)	C	R	C	U
Bay-breasted Warbler		S		S
Black-and-white Warbler	FC	FC
Black-throated Blue Warbler		FC		FC	U
Black-throated Green Warbler		FC		FC	S
Blackburnian Warbler		U		U	S
Blackpoll Warbler		FC		U	S
Blue-winged Warbler (*) (?)		U	S	U
Canada Warbler		FC		FC
Cape May Warbler		U		U	S
Cerulean Warbler		R
Chestnut-sided Warbler		U		U	S
Common Yellowthroat (*)		FC	FC	C	U
Connecticut Yellowthroat (*)		FC	FC	C	U
Golden-winged Warbler		R	R
Hooded Warbler		S		R
Kentucky Warbler		R		VR
Louisiana Waterthrush		R		R
Magnolia Warbler		U		U	S
Mourning Warbler		R		S
Nashville Warbler	VR	U		U	S
Northern Parula		FC		FC
Northern Waterthrush		U		U
Orange-crowned Warbler	R	R		R	R
Ovenbird (*)		FC		U
Palm Warbler	R	FC		U	FC
Pine Warbler		U			U
Prairie Warbler	VR	U		U
Prothonotary Warbler		R
Tennessee Warbler		U		U	R
Wilson's Warbler		U	U	S
Worm-eating Warbler		R		R
Yellow-breasted Chat (*)	VR	R	R	R	R
Yellow-rumped Warbler	U	C		C	C
Yellow-throated Warbler		R		R
Yellow Warbler (*)		FC	FC	FC
Tanagers to Sparrows to Grosbeaks  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
American Tree Sparrow	FC	U			U
Blue Grosbeak (*)		R	R	R	R
Chipping Sparrow (*)	R	U	U	FC	FC
Clay-colored Sparrow					FC
Dark-eyed Junco	C			S	C
Dickcissel	VR	R			R
Eastern Towhee (*)	S	FC	C	C	FC
Field Sparrow (*)	S	U	U	U	U
Fox Sparrow	S	U
Grasshopper Sparrow (**)		R	R	R	R
Henslow's Sparrow
Indigo Bunting (*)		S	U	U	S
Lapland Longspur	VR
Lark Sparrow	R				VR
LeConte's Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow		R			R
Northern Cardinal (*)	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (*)		U	R	U	S
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow (*)	U	U	U	U	FC
Savannah Sparrow (*)	U	FC	U	FC	C
Scarlet Tanager (*)		U	S	U
Seaside Sparrow (*)	R	S	S	S	S
Snow Bunting	U				U
Song Sparrow (*)	C	C	C	C	C
Summer Tanager		R
Swamp Sparrow (*)	U	FC	FC	FC	C
Vesper Sparrow		R	VR	VR	R
White-crowned Sparrow	R	U			U
White-throated Sparrow	C	C			C
Blackbirds, Grackles to Orioles, Finches, Old World Sparrows  [ Back to List and Legend ]
C-Common    FC-Fairly Common    U-Uncommon    S-Scarce    R-Rare    VR-Very Rare      I-Introduced    P-Pelagic    ?-Nesting unconfirmed    *-Nests within city limits    **-Formerly nested within city limits
Species	Winter	Spring	Summer	Early Fall	Late Fall
American Goldfinch (*)	U	FC	FC	FC	FC
Baltimore Oriole (*)	VR	FC	FC	FC	R
Boat-tailed Grackle (*)	FC	FC	FC	FC	FC
Bobolink		U		U	S
Brewer's Blackbird		U		U	U
Brown-headed Cowbird (*)	FC	C	FC	C	C
Common Grackle (*)	U	C	C	C	C
Common Redpoll	R			R
Eastern Meadowlark (*)	S	FC	S	FC	FC
Evening Grosbeak	R			R
House Finch (*)	C	C	C	C	C
House Sparrow (*) (I)	C	C	C	C	C
Orchard Oriole (*)		R	R	R
Pine Siskin	S			S
Purple Finch (*)	R	S		S
Red-winged Blackbird (*)	U	C	C	C	C
Red Crossbill	R			R
Rusty Blackbird	FC	FC			U
White-winged Crossbill	R			R
Yellow-headed Blackbird					VR