FieldGuides Birds

About Bird Types

The species in the Online Field Guide are divided into type categories based on shared characteristics or relationships. A silhouette illustration shows a representative species from each type. The list below tells which species are included in each type category.
	Long-legged Waders herons egrets storks spoonbills flamingos bitterns limpkins ibises cranes

	Upright-perching Water Birds auks murres puffins cormorants anhingas

	Duck-like Birds surface-feeding ducks diving ducks stiff-tailed ducks mergansers coots whistling-ducks geese swans pelicans grebes loons

	Gull-like Birds gulls fulmars shearwaters albatrosses terns skimmers gannets boobies storm-petrels frigatebirds skuas jaegers tropicbirds

	Sandpiper-like Birds sandpipers plovers turnstones phalaropes oystercatchers avocets stilts snipes

	Chicken-like Marsh Birds rails gallinules jacanas

	Upland Ground Birds woodcocks quails partridges pheasants grouse turkeys roadrunners chachalacas nightjars

	Owls true owls barn owls

	Hawk-like Birds hawks kites eagles ospreys harriers caracaras falcons vultures

	Pigeon-like Birds pigeons doves

	Swallow-like Birds swallows swifts

	Tree-clinging Birds woodpeckers nuthatches creepers

	Hummingbirds hummingbirds

	Perching Birds wood warblers vireos titmice cardinals grosbeaks buntings finches sparrows orioles blackbirds tanagers flycatchers meadowlarks thrushes mockingbirds thrashers shrikes jays magpies becards kingfishers gnatcatchers kinglets parrots wrens waxwings bulbuls cuckoos weaver finches wagtails pipits larks starlings crows ravens trogons wrentits silky flycatchers dippers
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Abbreviations Used in this Online Field Guide L = length, W or WS = wingspan In range descriptions, n = north, s = south, e = east, w = west, and c = central.