Birds
There are approximately 10,000 bird species on this beautiful planet. Here at 10,000 Birds, we expect to not only see but eventually photograph or write about every single one! Catch up on the latest posts about birds or check the taxonomic list below based on the IOC World Bird List.
NON-PASSERINES
RHEIDAE – Rheas
CRACIDAE – Chachalacas, Curassows and Guans
PROCELLARIIDAE – Shearwaters and Petrels
ANATIDAE – Ducks, Geese and Swans
- Domestic or Ganky Geese
- Tundra Swan
- Domestic or Manky Muscovy Ducks
- Northern Shoveler
- White-cheeked Pintails
- Hybrid Teals
- Eurasian and Green-winged Teals
- Mallard Complex
- Hybrid Mallards
- Domestic or Manky Mallards
- What is a Scoter?
- Bufflehead
- Common Goldeneye vs.Barrow’s Goldeneye
- What is a Merganser?
ARDEIDAE – Herons and Bitterns
SULIDAE – Gannets and Boobies
PHALACROCORACIDAE – Cormorants and Darters
- What is a Cormorant?
CATHARTIDAE – New World Vultures
PANDIONIDAE – Osprey
FALCONIDAE – Falcons and Caracaras
ACCIPITRIDAE – Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- What is a Raptor?
- ID Feature: Cooper’s vs. Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Buteos of the Mid-Atlantic
- Ridgway’s Hawk
- Harpy Eagle
EURYPGIDAE – Sunbittern
RALLIDAE – Rails, Crakes, and Coots
GRUIDAE – Cranes
MELEAGRIDAE – Turkeys
TETRAONIDAE – Grouse
PHASIANIDAE – Pheasants and Partridges
CHARADRIIDAE – Plovers and Lapwings
JACANIDAE – Jacanas
SCOLOPAClDAE – Sandpipers and Allies
LARIIDAE – Gulls and Terns
COLUMBIDAE – Pigeons and Doves
PSITTICIDAE – Parrots
CUCULIDAE – Cuckoos
STRIGIDAE – Typical Owls
STEATORNITHIDAE – Oilbird
TROCHILIDAE – Hummingbirds
- Veragaun Mango
- Emeralds
- Sword-billed Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Velvet-purple Coronet
- Ecuadorian Hillstar
CORACIIDAE – Rollers
TROGONIDAE – Trogons
GALBULIDAE – Jacamars
PICIDAE – Woodpeckers
PASSERINES
PITTIDAE – Pittas
FURNARIIDAE – Ovenbirds
THAMNOPHILIDAE – Antbirds
GRALLARIIDAE – Antpittas
TYRANNIDAE – Tyrant flycatchers
COTINGIDAE – Cotingas
HIRUNDINIDAE – Swallows
ALAUDIDAE – Larks
TROGLODYTIDAE – Wrens
SITTIDAE – Nuthatches
- What is a Nuthatch?
MIMIDAE – Mockingbirds and Thrashers
TURDIDAE – Thrushes and Allies
POLIOPTILDAE – Gnatcatchers
VIREONIDAE – Vireos
BOMBYCILLIDAE – Waxwings and Allies
PARIDAE – Chickadees and Tits
CORVIDAE – Crows, Jays and Magpies
- What is a Jay?
- Western (California) Scrub Jay
- Florida Scrub Jay
- Inca Jay vs. Green Jay
- Steller’s Jay
- Disturbing crow eating habit
- Corvid intelligence
- Black-billed Magpie
- Northern Raven
TICHODROMIDAE – Wallcreeper
STURNIDAE – Starlings
SYLVIIDAE – Old World Warblers
TIMALLIIDAE – Babblers
PASSERIDAE – Old World Sparrows
MOTACILLIIDAE – Pipits and Wagtails
FRINGILLIDAE – Siskins, Crossbills and Allies
DREPANIDIDAE – Hawaiian Honeycreepers
PARULIDAE – New World Warblers
- Warblers Of Eastern North America
- Kirtland’s Warbler
- Northern and Louisiana Waterthrushes
- Slate-throated Whitestart
THRAUPIDAE – Tanagers
EMBERIZIDAE – Buntings, Sparrows, Seedeaters and Allies
CARDINALIDAE – Saltators, Cardinals and Allies
ICTERIDAE – Troupials and Allies
I noticed the button for donations to saving parrots worldwide … and I wondered if this extends to New Zealand where one of the worlds rarest birds – the kakapo – survive. six million people and only 90 – yes ninety, kakapo.
The kakapo is a flightless and nocturnal, moss-green parrot. Read more about it on my blog at – kiwitravelwriter.wordpress.com
Friend put this on a listserve for our area to show the picture of Rochester, NY area wintering Virginia Rail . Very impressed with your goals and site. I look forward to viewing it often. Thank you very much.
Judy Thurber
If I sent you a picture of a bird I took here in the Calif Desert Mtns. could you please tell me what sort of bird this is? It sings and sings. Mimmics all sorts of other birds.. I once counted 30+ different tunes it does. beautiful whistling sounds. It is all grey.. with a bright yellow under belly. Maybe you know by this discription alone. Its a fair sized bird Grey everywhere else on its body.. with the exception of a light, almost white chin and chest. Then there’s its yellow belly. It will sing long before the sun comes up, and throughout the day. If you have time to answer this.. I would be so grateful. YOur pictures are phenominal.
Hi Cindy
Of course, please send it to charlie10000birds@gmail.com and I’ll do my best!
Thanks for the lovely comments too.
Charlie
Confusion over White-eared Bulbul & White-cheeked Bulbul. Following is my letter to authors of “Birds of the Middle East”:
Dear R.F. Porter, S. Christensen, & P. Schiermacker-Hansen,
First let me say how much I appreciate your “Birds of the Middle East”.
There is one matter which I feel compelled to raise with you in view of future corrections to your text. On page 146 (& on page 356), you describe the White-cheeked Bulbul, using the scientific name Pycnonotus leucogenys. This is incorrect. The illustration is correct but the name should be White-eared Bulbul, with the scientific name Pycnonotus leucotis. The following authorities concur:
IOC (International Ornithological Congress)World Bird List (1.7): Supplements “BIRDS OF THE WORLD Recommended English Names” (Frank Gill and Minturn Wright)
Pycnonotus leucotis White-eared Bulbul
Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul
World Institute for Conservation and Environment (WICE, Birds Worldwide) & GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility):
Pycnonotus leucotis White-eared Bulbul (authority: Gould, 1836)
Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul (authority: Gray, J.E., 1835)
Sibley/Monroe, World List of Bird Names (1998):
Pycnonotus leucotis White-eared Bulbul
Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul
ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System) Standard Report (2009)
Pycnonotus leucotis White-eared Bulbul (authority: Gould, 1836)
Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul (authority: Gray, J.E., 1835)
Clements (6.3.2. December 2008):
Pycnonotus leucotis White-eared Bulbul (e. Iraq to S. Iran, n. Arabia, s. Afghanistan, w. India)
Pycnonotus leucogenys White-cheeked Bulbul
Lists 4 sub-species (mesopotamiae, dactylus, humii, leucogenys)
On the basis of these (& other) references, the preferred name for the White-cheeked Bulbul would be Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys). This would avoid further confusion & would be consistent with the clear majority of authorities.
I live on Discovery Bay on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. I have been researching what birds migrate via Hong Kong at this time of year (Feb-May) as there is a black feather tipped head bird that makes a unique sound, awaking early and amusing, frustrating, disturbing the residents – the sounds is almost owllike in nature. It stimulates a great deal of discussion amongst the residents, and i want to find out more about the species. Having done some research i have not found much information. Would you know where to start looking for this type of information?
I took a picture of a bird behind our pond and would like for someone to tell me what kind it is. Is there a link I could upload a photo to?
Hi Todd
Send it to me at charlie10000birds AT gmail.com and I’ll see if I can identify it for you.
Charlie
Was at the beach on South Shore of Long Island ( Point Lookout ). Sawa dark sea bird, size of a small gull, with a long and very distinctive red beak. Was walking to the ocean, bringing back small clams or crabs in his beak and walking back from the water toward the grass ( possibly nest site ). Anyone know what it was. Never saw in around these parts. There were several of them, pretty noisy too
@Tony: Undoubtedly an American Oystercatcher. You can see a picture of some, from that very beach, here.
Thanks Corey………..you were right. That was them. I see plovers every year, but this was the first time I’ve seen these guys. Very good looking, and pretty funny to watch. Thanks for the info.
I’m going nuts trying to identify an egret type bird. I live in Fort Lauderdale. We do have the flocks of white egrets but we also have these brownish birds. They have extremely long legs and very long thin downturned beaks. They are on a mission – pecking at the grass and oblivious to all distractions. Their bodies are smaller than a duck and brownish but the downturned beaks and shorter necks have me baffled. Does anyone know what they are?
Are you describing Limpkins, Lauren? They’re pretty common in parts of Florida.
I’ve never heard of Limpkins – could very well be – I’m reviewing them now. Much thanks Mike! Never a dull bird moment here on the canal.
I was looking on your website to identify this wild looking bird I saw the other night around dusk. I see from your website it was a Night Heron. So cool! I live in Hollywood, FL and almost daily see wild parrots and yellow orioles. I love bird watching. At the beginning of the summer I watched a mom and dad mockingbird raise 3 babies. 2 fell out of the nest of the palm trees in our front yard and below we have a little pond! Thank goodness they didn’t land in that! Mom and dad took care of them and in about a month, they were flying!! It was really neat!!
I hope you can help,I live on the northwest side of Chicago and for the last week or so we have seen a group of about a thousand black birds acting as if they are going nuts, they are flying around three or four trees in a two block radius. Any idea why? Is it the weather?Or what?My kids say it’s a scene from The Birds movie.
@Peggy: Nothing needs to be done to help. In Autumn blackbirds, starlings, and other similar species often gather together in very large flocks, usually to roost for the night (safety in numbers). Appreciate this avian spectacle and enjoy!
I live in Fort Lauderdale near the water and we have so many birds here in the yard (we are on a canal). I can’t identify the one I saw several times this week and didn’t get to the camera fast enough this morning. This bird is the size of a crow, brown spots/patterned – but the most unusual thing about it is this wonderful full crown that looks more like a fur hood than feathers. I have never seen this bird before. I assume it’s a migrating bird since I’ve not seen it before.
Anyonw know?
I live in Fort Lauderdale near the water and we have so many birds here in the yard (we are on a canal). I can’t identify the one I saw several times this week and didn’t get to the camera fast enough this morning. This bird is the size of a crow with a long body and tail – a bit more delicate then a crow = brown spots/patterned – but the most unusual thing about it is this wonderful full crown that looks more like a fur hood than feathers.
Anyonw know?
I have owned a house in Placerville California for 18 years and noticed
two round holes at the top of my a frame home. I have had woodpeckers
in the past and just assumed that was my problem again. I saw two
large tan and rust colored birds resting in a tree on my property.
As I was walking into my house I saw one of the birds fly toward the top
of my house. The second bird just sat in the tree and flew away when
it saw me.Is it possible that these birds are nesting in these holes?
Of course I want to cover these holes but I’m concerned about if they
have a nest in there. Thankk you.
Lind
My friend and I saw an unusual bird in my Connecticut back yard yesterday. We’ve consulted every book and website we can. I think it will be easier to describe it to you than to continue to look. We have had a lot of turbulent weather all over the country recently, and we wonder if it got tossed off course somehow.
It is larger than a mourning dove, but smaller than a crow…10-12″ or so. it has a pretty long tail that hangs down when it is perched. the breast is about the same color as a robin’s, fading out to white a little more than halfway down the front. Then the white continues down the underside of the tail. There seems to be black bordering the inside edges of the two innermost tail feathers Legs and feet are pinky red. It has a reddish eyebrow. The back and top side of the wings are pure brown..no stripes or dots anywhere on this bird except on the lower back where there is a very dark gray streak that goes all the way down the tail, except when it rearranges its wings, when you can see a white patch with black marks, and as noted above the appearance of a black stripe down the midline of the underside of the tail.
This bird was very fluffed out due to the cold, and it looked like it had a raised rufus ruff on top of the head.
I hope you can help us, it is driving my friend crazy.
Winter plumage is difficult and your bird may be a first year making it even tougher. How about a rose-breasted grosbeak first year male in winter plumage? It has a black stripe mid-way down the underside of the tail. P.S I really like your website Charlie!
Lauren in FL, Is your bird a juvenile white ibis? They are mottled brown.
(Cindy Mar 24th, 2009 at 10:22 amIf I sent you a picture of a bird I took here in the Calif Desert Mtns. could you please tell me what sort of bird this is? It sings and sings. Mimmics all sorts of other birds.. I once counted 30+ different tunes it does. beautiful whistling sounds. It is all grey.. with a bright yellow under belly. Maybe you know by this discription alone. Its a fair sized bird Grey everywhere else on its body.. with the exception of a light, almost white chin and chest. Then there’s its yellow belly. It will sing long before the sun comes up, and throughout the day.)
Hi, Charlie – were you able to id the bird Cindy was talking about? This was a long time ago, but I am curious as to what it was – since I can’t see the picture!
Thanks, Peggy
I back the Bustard
Seen in Dec 2010 near Sarasota FL. It seems to slim to be a cattle heron, but the legs are black, the bill very yellow, eyes yellow so it doesn’t seem to be a great egret, a little egret, a snowy egret or any heron. Anyone know? Please feel free to email me at scotd@chds.org
thanks
Thank you so much for this inspirational site. I love hearing about all the unique ways to help. I wanted to share the story of Debbie Worland and her Swift Parrots of Muckleford. She is a citizen scientist and hearing stories like this makes me feel like all the little actions add up to great things. Any inspirations welcome!
Kathy, sorry for not seeing your comment sooner – no – it’s definitely not an Egret. I believe it’s a brown grackle – can’t figure out what else it is. We had a flock this morning traveling with a crow strangely enough – they hung out on the grass for a while upsetting our duck but flew off. Beautiful slender longish straight beak- bright brown and auburn – size of a grackle so I assume they must have more color variation than the grackles we normally see – black with the greenish hue on their wings.
I have a question. I’ve been noticing a very odd bird. Its green with a black face almost like its wearing a mask. Its the size of a crow it makes like a cuckoo sound. what is it called? I’ve never seen such a bird. Seen in Texas.
Hi everyone, I have a question similar to Courtney Davies’s question (posted May 2, 2009! 🙂 I also live in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, and I think I hear the same bird every morning; I’ve never been able to spot the bird though, so I’m not sure if it’s a “black feather tipped head bird” described by Courtney. However I have recorded the bird sound/ song, and I wonder if I could send it to someone, or post it on this website or a similar website, so we could identify what type of bird this is? Thank you very much in advance.
Hi, just to update & answer my own question about the bird in Discovery Bay, I found out it’s an Asian Koel 🙂
Hello, I rescued a small adult bird in Los Angeles from the jaws of the neighbours cat. His eyes were wild and he was on his side breathing heavily. I picked him up and put him in a shoe box with tissue paper. It has been over 9 hours now that he has been in my house. He has moved positions and I noticed he was sleeping earlier. I put a little water in for him and his breathing has calmed. It is now 9pm at night. Shall I try and release him in the morning? Please can you reply to my email kirstymillar@live.com.au any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I just want to give him the best chance at survival. (Also, I think his bird friend has been calling to him as the same bird was tweeting outside my window for most of the day.) Is this a possibility?