Bird Species Dictionary
A comprehensive reference guide to bird species. Learn identification tips, habitat preferences, and conservation status. Updated weekly with new species!
20 species documented • Updated weekly
About This Dictionary
This evergreen resource is continuously updated with new species each week. Each entry includes:
- Common and Scientific Names - Both everyday and taxonomic names
- Physical Description - Size, colors, and distinctive features
- Habitat Preferences - Where to find each species
- Geographic Range - Distribution across continents
- Conservation Status - Current population trends
- Field Marks - Key identification features for birders
Conservation status ratings follow the IUCN Red List categories. New species are added every Monday!
Hummingbirds
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Medium-sized hummingbird. Males have rose-pink head and throat. Year-round resident on West Coast.
Habitat
Coastal areas, gardens, chaparral
Range
Pacific Coast of North America
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Male: iridescent rose-red head and throat. Female: green above, grayish below with red throat spots
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Tiny jewel-like bird. Males have brilliant ruby-red throat patch. Only hummingbird in eastern North America.
Habitat
Gardens, woodland edges, meadows
Range
Eastern North America
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Tiny size, hovering flight, male has iridescent red throat, emerald green back
Kingfishers
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
A stocky, medium-sized bird with a distinctive large head, shaggy crest, and long, straight bill perfectly adapted for fishing. Known for its rattling call and dramatic diving behavior when hunting for fish from perches above water. One of the few North American bird species where females are more colorful than males.
Habitat
Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, and coastal areas with clear water and suitable perching sites
Range
Breeds across most of North America from Alaska to southern United States; winters in southern states, Mexico, and Central America
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Blue-gray above with white collar and underparts, prominent shaggy crest, long dagger-like bill, white spotting on wings and back; males have single blue breast band, females have additional rusty band below the blue
Owls
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Distinctive owl with heart-shaped white face. Often nests in barns and abandoned buildings.
Habitat
Open grasslands, agricultural areas, urban settings
Range
Nearly worldwide
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Heart-shaped white face, golden-buff back, white underparts, dark eyes
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Large, powerful owl with prominent ear tufts. Most widely distributed owl in the Americas.
Habitat
Forests, deserts, urban areas, open country
Range
Throughout North and South America
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Large size, prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, heavily barred underparts
Raptors (Birds of Prey)
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Swift, powerful falcon known as the world's fastest bird. Dark blue-gray above with barred underparts.
Habitat
Open areas near cliffs, cities, coastlines
Range
Cosmopolitan - found on every continent except Antarctica
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Distinctive "helmet" pattern, pointed wings, rapid wingbeats
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Large raptor with distinctive white head and tail in adults. Immatures are dark brown.
Habitat
Near large bodies of water, coasts, rivers, lakes
Range
North America, primarily near water
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
White head and tail (adults), massive yellow bill, large size
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Large, stocky hawk with broad wings and short, wide tail. Adults have distinctive rusty-red tail.
Habitat
Open country, woodlands, prairies, deserts
Range
Throughout North America
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Broad wings, short red tail (adults), dark patagial marks on underwing
Shorebirds
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
Very large, gray bird with red forehead patch. Known for elaborate dancing displays and distinctive rattling call.
Habitat
Wetlands, grasslands, agricultural fields
Range
North America, migrates in large flocks
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Large size, gray body, red forehead, long neck extended in flight
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Large plover known for its broken-wing display to distract predators from nest. Vocal and conspicuous.
Habitat
Fields, golf courses, parking lots, shores
Range
Throughout North America
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Two black breast bands, orange rump visible in flight, distinctive "kill-deer" call
Songbirds (Passerines)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
A compact, acrobatic songbird known for its ability to walk headfirst down tree trunks while foraging for insects and seeds. Distinguished by its unique upside-down feeding behavior and nasal 'yank-yank' call that echoes through woodlands. Often seen wedging seeds into bark crevices and hammering them open with their sharp bills.
Habitat
Mature deciduous and mixed forests, wooded parks, large shade trees in residential areas
Range
Year-round resident across most of the United States and southern Canada, from coast to coast
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Blue-gray upperparts, bright white face and underparts, black cap on males (gray on females), short tail, long straight bill, and distinctive head-down posture on tree trunks
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Tiny, acrobatic songbird with distinctive black cap and bib. Frequent visitor to feeders.
Habitat
Mixed and deciduous forests, parks, residential areas
Range
Northern United States and Canada
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Black cap and bib, white cheeks, gray back, buff sides
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Large, crested songbird with striking blue, white, and black plumage. Intelligent and vocal.
Habitat
Forests, parks, residential areas
Range
Eastern and central North America
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Blue crest and back, black necklace, white face and underparts, black and white wings
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Brilliant red songbird with prominent crest. Non-migratory year-round resident.
Habitat
Woodland edges, gardens, parks, thickets
Range
Eastern and southwestern United States, Mexico
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Male: all red with black face mask. Female: tan with reddish tinges. Both have prominent crest and thick orange bill
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Familiar thrush with brick-red breast, gray upperparts. Often seen hopping on lawns searching for earthworms.
Habitat
Lawns, parks, woodlands, gardens
Range
Throughout North America
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Red-orange breast, gray back, white eye ring, yellow bill
Waterfowl (Ducks, Geese, Swans)
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Spectacularly colorful duck that nests in tree cavities. Male is one of North America's most colorful waterfowl.
Habitat
Wooded swamps, marshes, streams
Range
Eastern and western North America
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Male: iridescent chestnut and green head, red eye, ornate pattern. Female: gray-brown with white eye-ring
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Large, familiar goose with distinctive black head and neck with white "chinstrap".
Habitat
Lakes, rivers, ponds, parks, agricultural fields
Range
North America, introduced to Europe
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Black head and neck, white chinstrap, brown body
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Most abundant and widespread duck in North America. Males have iridescent green head.
Habitat
Wetlands, parks, ponds, lakes, rivers
Range
Throughout Northern Hemisphere
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Male: green head, yellow bill, white collar. Female: mottled brown with orange bill
Woodpeckers
Downy Woodpecker
Dryocopus pubescens
Smallest North American woodpecker. Common backyard visitor to suet feeders.
Habitat
Woodlands, parks, orchards, backyards
Range
Throughout most of North America
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Small size, white back, short bill, males have red nape patch
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Crow-sized woodpecker with striking red crest. Largest woodpecker in most of North America.
Habitat
Mature forests with large trees
Range
Eastern and northwestern North America
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Field Marks
Large size, red crest, black body with white stripes, loud drumming
Learn More About Birds
Want to deepen your knowledge? Check out our expert contributors who write about bird identification, conservation, behavior, and more:
Note: This dictionary is automatically updated every Monday with a new species profile. Species information is generated by our AI ornithology experts and verified for accuracy. Conservation statuses are based on IUCN Red List assessments.