List of birds of Saint Pierre and Miquelon explained
This is a list of bird species confirmed in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France. Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of Bird Checklists of the World as of May 2023.[1] Of the 344 species on the checklist, 174 are rare or accidental and five were introduced by humans.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS).[2] Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them. French names in parentheses are also from the AOS Check-list.
The following tags are used to describe some categories of occurrence.
- (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- (I) Introduced - a species introduced by humans directly to the islands or elsewhere in North America
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
- Snow goose (French: oie des neiges), Anser caerulescens (A)
- Greater white-fronted goose (French: oie rieuse), Anser albifrons (A)
- Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (A)
- Brant (French: bernache cravant), Branta bernicla (A)
- Canada goose (French: bernache du Canada), Branta canadensis
- Tundra swan (French: cygne siffleur), Cygnus columbianus (A)
- Wood duck (French: canard branchu), Aix sponsa
- Garganey (French: sarcelle d'été), Spatula querquedula (A)
- Blue-winged teal (French: sarcelle à ailes bleues), Spatula discors
- Northern shoveler (French: canard souchet), Spatula clypeata (A)
- Gadwall (French: canard chipeau), Mareca strepera (A)
- Eurasian wigeon (French: canard siffleur), Mareca penelope (A)
- American wigeon (French: canard d'Amérique), Mareca americana
- Mallard (French: canard colvert), Anas platyrhynchos
- American black duck (French: canard noir), Anas rubripes
- Northern pintail (French: canard pilet), Anas acuta
- Green-winged teal (French: sarcelle d'hiver), Anas crecca
- Canvasback (French: fuligule à dos blanc), Aythya valisineria (A)
- Redhead (French: fuligule à tête rouge), Aythya americana (A)
- Ring-necked duck (French: fuligule à collier), Aythya collaris
- Tufted duck (French: fuligule morillon), Aythya fuligula (A)
- Greater scaup (French: fuligule milouinan), Aythya marila
- Lesser scaup (French: petit Fuligule), Aythya affinis (A)
- King eider (French: eider à tête grise), Somateria spectabilis
- Common eider (French: eider à duvet), Somateria mollissima
- Harlequin duck (French: arlequin plongeur), Histrionicus histrionicus
- Surf scoter (French: macreuse à front blanc), Melanitta perspicillata
- White-winged scoter (French: macreuse à ailes blanches), Melanitta deglandi
- Black scoter (French: macreuse à bec jaune), Melanitta americana
- Long-tailed duck (French: harelde kakawi), Clangula hyemalis
- Bufflehead (French: petit Garrot), Bucephala albeola (A)
- Common goldeneye (French: garrot à oeil d'or), Bucephala clangula
- Barrow's goldeneye (French: garrot d'Islande), Bucephala islandica (A)
- Hooded merganser (French: harle couronné), Lophodytes cucullatus (A)
- Common merganser (French: grand Harle), Mergus merganser (A)
- Red-breasted merganser (French: harle huppé), Mergus serrator
- Ruddy duck (French: érismature rousse), Oxyura jamaicensis (A)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae 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.
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large 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.
- Pied-billed grebe (French: grèbe à bec bigarré), Podilymbus podiceps (A)
- Horned grebe (French: grèbe esclavon), Podiceps auritus (A)
- Red-necked grebe (French: grèbe jougris), Podiceps grisegena
- Eared grebe (French: grèbe à cou noir), Podiceps nigricollis (A)
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. They feed on seeds, fruit and plants. Unlike most other birds, the doves and pigeons produce "crop milk," which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.
- Rock pigeon (French: pigeon biset), Columba livia (I)
- Eurasian collared-dove (French: tourterelle turque), Streptopelia decaocto (I) (A)
- White-winged dove (French: tourterelle à ailes blanches), Zenaida asiatica (A)
- Mourning dove (French: tourterelle triste), Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.
Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves.
Swifts
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
- Chimney swift (French: martinet ramoneur), Chaetura pelagica
- Common swift (French: martinet noir), Apus apus (A)
Hummingbirds
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.
- Ruby-throated hummingbird (French: colibri à gorge rubis), Archilochus colubris (A)
- Rufous hummingbird (French: colibri roux), Selasphorus rufus (A)
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
- Virginia rail (French: râle de Virginie), Rallus limicola (A)
- Corn crake (French: râle des genêts), Crex crex (A)
- Sora (French: marouette de Caroline), Porzana carolina (A)
- Common gallinule (French: gallinule d'Amérique), Gallinula galeata (A)
- American coot (French: foulque d'Amérique), Fulica americana
- Purple gallinule (French: talève violacée), Porphyrio martinicus (A)
- Yellow rail (French: râle jaune), Coturnicops noveboracensis (A)
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Stilts and avocets
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
- Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (A)
- American avocet (French: avocette d'Amérique
), Recurvirostra americana (A)
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prying open molluscs.
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
- Northern lapwing (French: vanneau huppé), Vanellus vanellus (A)
- Black-bellied plover (French: pluvier argenté), Pluvialis squatarola
- European golden-plover (French: pluvier doré), Pluvialis apricaria (A)
- American golden-plover (French: pluvier bronzé), Pluvialis dominica
- Killdeer (French: pluvier kildir), Charadrius vociferus
- Semipalmated plover (French: pluvier semipalmé), Charadrius semipalmatus
- Piping plover (French: pluvier siffleur), Charadrius melodus
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
- Upland sandpiper (French: maubèche des champs), Bartramia longicauda (A)
- Whimbrel (French: courlis corlieu), Numenius phaeopus
- Long-billed curlew (French: courlis à long bec), Numenius americanus (A)
- Bar-tailed godwit (French: barge rousse), Limosa lapponica (A)
- Black-tailed godwit (French: barge à queue noire), Limosa limosa (A)
- Hudsonian godwit (French: barge hudsonienne), Limosa haemastica (A)
- Marbled godwit (French: barge marbrée), Limosa fedoa (A)
- Ruddy turnstone (French: tournepierre à collier), Arenaria interpres
- Red knot (French: bécasseau maubèche), Calidris canutus
- Ruff (French: combattant varié), Calidris pugnax (A)
- Stilt sandpiper (French: bécasseau à échasses), Calidris himantopus (A)
- Curlew sandpiper (French: bécasseau cocorli), Calidris ferruginea (A)
- Red-necked stint (French: bécasseau à col roux), Calidris ruficollis (A)
- Sanderling (French: bécasseau sanderling), Calidris alba
- Dunlin (French: bécasseau variable), Calidris alpina
- Purple sandpiper (French: bécasseau violet), Calidris maritima
- Baird's sandpiper (French: bécasseau de Baird), Calidris bairdii (A)
- Least sandpiper (French: bécasseau minuscule), Calidris minutilla
- White-rumped sandpiper (French: bécasseau à croupion blanc), Calidris fuscicollis
- Buff-breasted sandpiper (French: bécasseau roussâtre), Calidris subruficollis (A)
- Pectoral sandpiper (French: bécasseau à poitrine cendrée), Calidris melanotos
- Semipalmated sandpiper (French: bécasseau semipalmé), Calidris pusilla
- Western sandpiper (French: bécasseau d'Alaska), Calidris mauri (A)
- Short-billed dowitcher (French: bécassin roux), Limnodromus griseus
- American woodcock (French: bécasse d'Amérique), Scolopax minor
- Wilson's snipe (French: bécassine de Wilson), Gallinago delicata
- Spotted sandpiper (French: chevalier grivelé), Actitis macularia
- Solitary sandpiper (French: chevalier solitaire), Tringa solitaria (A)
- Lesser yellowlegs (French: petit Chevalier), Tringa flavipes
- Willet (French: chevalier semipalmé), Tringa semipalmata (A)
- Common greenshank (French: chevalier aboyeur), Tringa nebularia (A)
- Greater yellowlegs (French: grand Chevalier), Tringa melanoleuca
- Wilson's phalarope (French: phalarope de Wilson), Phalaropus tricolor (A)
- Red-necked phalarope (French: phalarope à bec étroit), Phalaropus lobatus
- Red phalarope (French: phalarope à bec large), Phalaropus fulicarius
Skuas and jaegers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
Skuas and jaegers are in general medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.
Auks, murres, and puffins
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae
Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture, and some of their habits, however they are only distantly related to the penguins and are able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.
- Dovekie (French: mergule nain), Alle alle
- Common murre (French: guillemot marmette), Uria aalge
- Thick-billed murre (French: guillemot de Brünnich), Uria lomvia
- Razorbill (French: petit Pingouin), Alca torda
- Black guillemot (French: guillemot à miroir), Cepphus grylle
- Atlantic puffin (French: macareux moine), Fratercula arctica
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.
- Black-legged kittiwake (French: mouette tridactyle), Rissa tridactyla
- Ivory gull (French: mouette blanche), Pagophila eburnea (A)
- Sabine's gull (French: mouette de Sabine), Xema sabini (A)
- Bonaparte's gull (French: mouette de Bonaparte), Chroicocephalus philadelphia (A)
- Black-headed gull (French: mouette rieuse), Chroicocephalus ridibundus
- Little gull (French: mouette pygmée), Hydrocoleus minutus (A)
- Laughing gull (French: mouette atricille), Leucophaeus atricilla (A)
- Franklin's gull (French: mouette de Franklin), Leucophaeus pipixcan (A)
- Common gull (French: goéland cendré), Larus canus (A)
- Short-billed gull, Larus brachyrhynchus (A)
- Ring-billed gull (French: goéland à bec cerclé), Larus delawarensis
- Herring gull (French: goéland argenté), Larus argentatus
- Iceland gull (French: goéland arctique), Larus glaucoides
- Lesser black-backed gull (French: goéland brun), Larus fuscus (A)
- Glaucous gull (French: goéland bourgmestre), Larus hyperboreus
- Great black-backed gull (French: goéland marin), Larus marinus
- Least tern (French: petite Sterne), Sternula antillarum (A)
- Caspian tern (French: sterne caspienne), Hydroprogne caspia (A)
- Black tern (French: guifette noire), Chlidonias niger (A)
- Roseate tern (French: sterne de Dougall), Sterna dougallii (A)
- Common tern (French: sterne pierregarin), Sterna hirundo
- Arctic tern (French: sterne arctique), Sterna paradisaea
- Forster's tern (French: sterne de Forster), Sterna forsteri (A)
- Royal tern (French: sterne royale), Thalasseus maximus (A)
- Sandwich tern (French: sterne caugek), Thalasseus sandvicensis (A)
Loons
Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Loons are aquatic birds, the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely grey or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body.
- Red-throated loon (French: plongeon catmarin), Gavia stellata
- Common loon (French: plongeon huard), Gavia immer
Southern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
The storm-petrels are the smallest 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. Until 2018, this family's three species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae.
Northern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Frigatebirds
Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black, or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
Boobies and gannets
Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
- Northern gannet (French: fou de Bassan), Morus bassanus
Cormorants and shags
Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed.
Pelicans
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.
- American white pelican (French: pélican d'Amérique), Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (A)
Herons, egrets, and bitterns
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.
- American bittern (French: butor d'Amérique), Botaurus lentiginosus
- Least bittern (French: petit Blongios), Ixobrychus exilis (A)
- Great blue heron (French: grand Héron), Ardea herodias
- Grey heron, Ardea cinerea (A)
- Great egret (French: grande Aigrette), Ardea alba (A)
- Little egret (French: aigrette garzette), Egretta garzetta (A)
- Snowy egret (French: aigrette neigeuse), Egretta thula (A)
- Little blue heron (French: aigrette bleue), Egretta caerulea (A)
- Tricoloured heron (French: aigrette tricolore), Egretta tricolor (A)
- Cattle egret (French: héron garde-boeufs), Bubulcus ibis (A)
- Green heron (French: héron vert), Butorides virescens (A)
- Black-crowned night-heron (French: bihoreau gris), Nycticorax nycticorax (A)
- Yellow-crowned night-heron (French: bihoreau violacé), Nyctanassa violacea (A)
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae
The family Threskiornithidae includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings. Their bodies tend to be elongated, the neck more so, with rather long legs. The bill is also long, decurved in the case of the ibises, straight and distinctively flattened in the spoonbills.
- Glossy ibis (French: ibis falcinelle), Plegadis falcinellus (A)
Osprey
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
Pandionidae is a family of fish-eating birds of prey possessing a very large, powerful hooked beak for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. The family is monotypic.
- Osprey (French: balbuzard pêcheur), Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, eagles, and kites
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.
Owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
- Great horned owl (French: grand-duc d'Amérique), Bubo virginianus (A)
- Snowy owl (French: harfang des neiges), Bubo scandiacus
- Long-eared owl (French: hibou moyen-duc), Asio otus (A)
- Short-eared owl (French: hibou des marais), Asio flammeus
- Boreal owl (French: nyctale de Tengmalm), Aegolius funereus (A)
- Northern saw-whet owl (French: petite Nyctale), Aegolius acadicus (A)
Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.
- Belted kingfisher (French: martin-pêcheur d'Amérique
), Megaceryle alcyon
Woodpeckers
Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
Falcons and caracaras
Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
- American kestrel (French: crécerelle d'Amérique), Falco sparverius
- Merlin (French: faucon émerillon), Falco columbarius
- Gyrfalcon (French: faucon gerfaut), Falco rusticolus (A)
- Peregrine falcon (French: faucon pèlerin), Falco peregrinus
Tyrant flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tyrannidae
Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.
- Ash-throated flycatcher (French: tyran à gorge cendrée), Myiarchus cinerascens (A)
- Great crested flycatcher (French: tyran huppé), Myiarchus crinitus (A)
- Western kingbird (French: tyran de l'Ouest), Tyrannus verticalis (A)
- Eastern kingbird (French: tyran tritri), Tyrannus tyrannus
- Fork-tailed flycatcher (French: tyran des savanes), Tyrannus savana (A)
- Olive-sided flycatcher (French: moucherolle à côtés olive), Contopus cooperi
- Eastern wood-pewee (French: pioui de l'Est), Contopus virens
- Yellow-bellied flycatcher (French: moucherolle à ventre jaune), Empidonax flaviventris
- Alder flycatcher (French: moucherolle des aulnes), Empidonax alnorum (A)
- Least flycatcher (French: moucherolle tchébec), Empidonax minimus (A)
- Eastern phoebe (French: moucherolle phébi), Sayornis phoebe (A)
- Say's phoebe (French: moucherolle à ventre roux), Sayornis saya (A)
Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae
The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds mostly restricted to the New World, though a few other members of the family are found in Asia. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood-warblers apart from their heavier bills.
Shrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Laniidae
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.
Crows, jays, and magpies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
- Canada jay (French: mésangeai du Canada), Perisoreus canadensis (A)
- Blue jay (French: geai bleu), Cyanocitta cristata (A)
- Eurasian jackdaw (French: choucas des tours), Corvus monedula (A)
- American crow (French: corneille d'Amérique), Corvus brachyrhynchos
- Common raven (French: grand Corbeau), Corvus corax
Tits, chickadees, and titmice
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Paridae
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
- Black-capped chickadee (French: mésange à tête noire), Poecile atricapillus
- Boreal chickadee (French: mésange à tête brune), Poecile hudsonica
Larks
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
- Horned lark (French: alouette hausse-col), Eremophila alpestris
Swallows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
- Bank swallow (French: hirondelle de rivage), Riparia riparia
- Tree swallow (French: hirondelle bicolore), Tachycineta bicolor
- Northern rough-winged swallow (French: hirondelle à ailes hérissées), Stelgidopteryx serripennis (A)
- Purple martin (French: hirondelle noire), Progne subis (A)
- Barn swallow (French: hirondelle rustique), Hirundo rustica
- Common house-martin (French: hirondelle de fenêtre), Delichon urbica (A)
- Cliff swallow (French: hirondelle à front blanc), Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (A)
Kinglets
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Regulidae
The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice. They are very small insectivorous birds. The adults have coloured crowns, giving rise to their name.
Waxwings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae
The waxwings are a group of passerine birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.
Nuthatches
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sittidae
Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet.
Treecreepers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
Gnatcatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Polioptilidae
These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their structure and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. The gnatcatchers are mainly soft bluish grey in colour and have the typical insectivore's long sharp bill. Many species have distinctive black head patterns (especially males) and long, regularly cocked, black-and-white tails.
Wrens
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Troglodytidae
Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.
- House wren (French: troglodyte familier), Troglodytes aedon (A)
- Winter wren (French: troglodyte des forêts), Troglodytes hiemalis
Mockingbirds and thrashers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Mimidae
The mimids are a family of passerine birds which includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalization, especially their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. The species tend towards dull greys and browns in their appearance.
- Grey catbird (French: moqueur chat), Dumetella carolinensis
- Brown thrasher (French: trembleur brun), Toxostoma rufum (A)
- Northern mockingbird (French: moqueur polyglotte), Mimus polyglottos
Starlings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized Old World passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and most are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. The plumage of several species is dark with a metallic sheen.
- European starling (French: étourneau sansonnet
), Sturnus vulgaris (I)
Thrushes and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly but not exclusively in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
- Eastern bluebird (French: merlebleu de l'Est), Sialia sialis (A)
- Mountain bluebird (French: merlebleu azuré), Sialia currucoides (A)
- Veery (French: grive fauve), Catharus fuscescens (A)
- Grey-cheeked thrush (French: grive à joues grises), Catharus minimus
- Swainson's thrush (French: grive à dos olive), Catharus ustulatus
- Hermit thrush (French: grive solitaire), Catharus guttatus
- Wood thrush (French: grive des bois), Hylocichla mustelina (A)
- Fieldfare (French: grive litorne), Turdus pilaris (A)
- Redwing (French: grive mauvis), Turdus iliacus (A)
- American robin (French: merle d'Amérique), Turdus migratorius
- Varied thrush (French: grive à collier), Ixoreus naevius (A)
Old World flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae
The Old World flycatchers are a large family of small passerine birds. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing.
Old World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae
Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or greyish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
- House sparrow (French: moineau domestique), Passer domesticus (I)
Wagtails and pipits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.
Finches, euphonias, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.
- Evening grosbeak (French: gros-bec errant), Coccothraustes vespertinus
- Pine grosbeak (French: durbec des sapins), Pinicola enucleator
- Purple finch (French: roselin pourpré), Haemorhous purpureus
- Common redpoll (French: sizerin flammé), Acanthis flammea
- Hoary redpoll (French: sizerin blanchâtre), Acanthis hornemanni (A)
- Red crossbill (French: bec-croisé des sapins), Loxia curvirostra
- White-winged crossbill (French: bec-croisé bifascié), Loxia leucoptera
- Eurasian siskin (French: tarin des aulnes), Spinus spinus (A)
- Pine siskin (French: tarin des pins), Spinus pinus
- American goldfinch (French: chardonneret jaune), Spinus tristis
Longspurs and snow buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Calcariidae
The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that were traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.
New World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passerellidae
Until 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.
- Grasshopper sparrow (French: bruant sauterelle), Ammodramus savannarum (A)
- Black-throated sparrow (French: bruant à gorge noire), Amphispiza bilineata (A)
- Lark sparrow (French: bruant à joues marron), Chondestes grammacus (A)
- Chipping sparrow (French: bruant familier), Spizella passerina
- Clay-coloured sparrow (French: bruant des plaines), Spizella pallida (A)
- Field sparrow (French: bruant des champs), Spizella pusilla (A)
- Fox sparrow (French: bruant fauve), Passerella iliaca
- American tree sparrow (French: bruant hudsonien), Spizelloides arborea
- Dark-eyed junco (French: junco ardoisé), Junco hyemalis
- White-crowned sparrow (French: bruant à couronne blanche), Zonotrichia leucophrys
- Golden-crowned sparrow (French: bruant à couronne dorée), Zonotrichia atricapilla (A)
- White-throated sparrow (French: bruant à gorge blanche), Zonotrichia albicollis
- Vesper sparrow (French: bruant vespéral), Pooecetes gramineus (A)
- Savannah sparrow (French: bruant des prés), Passerculus sandwichensis
- Song sparrow (French: bruant chanteur), Melospiza melodia
- Lincoln's sparrow (French: bruant de Lincoln), Melospiza lincolnii
- Swamp sparrow (French: bruant des marais), Melospiza georgiana
- Eastern towhee (French: tohi à flancs roux), Pipilo erythrophthalmus (A)
Yellow-breasted chat
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteriidae
This species was historically placed in the wood-warblers (Parulidae) but nonetheless most authorities were unsure if it belonged there. It was placed in its own family in 2017.
Troupials and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteridae
The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.
- Yellow-headed blackbird (French: carouge à tête jaune), Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (A)
- Bobolink (French: goglu des prés), Dolichonyx oryzivorus
- Eastern meadowlark (French: sturnelle des prés), Sturnella magna (A)
- Orchard oriole (French: oriole des vergers), Icterus spurius (A)
- Baltimore oriole (French: oriole de Baltimore), Icterus galbula
- Red-winged blackbird (French: carouge à épaulettes), Agelaius phoeniceus
- Brown-headed cowbird (French: vacher à tête brune), Molothrus ater
- Rusty blackbird (French: quiscale rouilleux), Euphagus carolinus
- Common grackle (French: quiscale bronzé), Quiscalus quiscula
New World warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Parulidae
The wood-warblers are a group of small, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.
- Ovenbird (French: paruline couronnée), Seiurus aurocapilla
- Worm-eating warbler (French: paruline vermivore), Helmitheros vermivorum (A)
- Northern waterthrush (French: paruline des ruisseaux), Parkesia noveboracensis
- Blue-winged warbler (French: paruline à ailes bleues), Vermivora cyanoptera (A)
- Black-and-white warbler (French: paruline noir et blanc), Mniotilta varia
- Prothonotary warbler (French: paruline orangée), Protonotaria citrea (A)
- Tennessee warbler (French: paruline obscure), Leiothlypis peregrina
- Orange-crowned warbler (French: paruline verdâtre), Leiothlypis celata (A)
- Nashville warbler (French: paruline à joues grises), Leiothlypis ruficapilla (A)
- Mourning warbler (French: paruline triste), Geothlypis philadelphia
- Kentucky warbler (French: paruline du Kentucky), Geothlypis formosa (A)
- Common yellowthroat (French: paruline masquée), Geothlypis trichas
- Hooded warbler (French: paruline à capuchon), Setophaga citrina (A)
- American redstart (French: paruline flamboyante), Setophaga ruticilla
- Cape May warbler (French: paruline tigrée), Setophaga tigrina (A)
- Northern parula (French: paruline à collier), Setophaga americana
- Magnolia warbler (French: paruline à tête cendrée), Setophaga magnolia
- Bay-breasted warbler (French: paruline à poitrine baie), Setophaga castanea
- Blackburnian warbler (French: paruline à gorge orangée), Setophaga fusca (A)
- Yellow warbler (French: paruline jaune), Setophaga petechia
- Chestnut-sided warbler (French: paruline à flancs marron), Setophaga pensylvanica (A)
- Blackpoll warbler (French: paruline rayée), Setophaga striata
- Black-throated blue warbler (French: paruline bleue), Setophaga caerulescens (A)
- Palm warbler (French: paruline à couronne rousse), Setophaga palmarum
- Pine warbler (French: paruline des pins), Setophaga pinus (A)
- Yellow-rumped warbler (French: paruline à croupion jaune), Setophaga coronata
- Yellow-throated warbler (French: paruline à gorge jaune), Setophaga dominica (A)
- Prairie warbler (French: paruline des prés), Setophaga discolor (A)
- Townsend's warbler (French: paruline de Townsend), Setophaga townsendi (A)
- Black-throated green warbler (French: paruline à gorge noire), Setophaga virens
- Canada warbler (French: paruline du Canada), Cardellina canadensis (A)
- Wilson's warbler (French: paruline à calotte noire), Cardellina pusilla
Cardinals and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cardinalidae
The cardinals are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.
- Summer tanager (French: piranga vermillon), Piranga rubra (A)
- Scarlet tanager (French: piranga écarlate), Piranga olivacea (A)
- Western tanager (French: piranga à tête rouge), Piranga ludoviciana (A)
- Rose-breasted grosbeak (French: cardinal à poitrine rose), Pheucticus ludovicianus (A)
- Blue grosbeak (French: guiraca bleu), Passerina caerulea (A)
- Indigo bunting (French: passerin indigo), Passerina cyanea (A)
- Dickcissel (French: dickcissel d'Amérique), Spiza americana (A)
Notes and References
- Web site: Checklist of Birds of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon . Lepage . Denis . May 31, 2021 . Avibase bird checklists of the world . August 14, 2021 .
- Web site: Check-list of North and Middle American Birds . Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, A. W. Kratter, N. A. Mason, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2022. Check-list of North American Birds (online). American Ornithological Society. . July 29, 2022 . American Ornithological Society . July 7, 2022.