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Birds of Yellowstone National Park

The birds most often spotted in Yellowstone, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

21,133
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 21,133 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Yellowstone. The most frequently seen is the Common Raven, with 2,595 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Yellowstone include Barrow's Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck and Great Gray Owl - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Barrow's GoldeneyeHarlequin DuckGreat Gray Owl

Most-observed birds in Yellowstone

Common Raven
Corvus corax
2,595 observations
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
1,099 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
937 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
813 observations
Trumpeter Swan
Cygnus buccinator
751 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
710 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
684 observations
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
667 observations
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
666 observations
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
621 observations
Barrow's Goldeneye
Bucephala islandica
606 observations
Clark's Nutcracker
Nucifraga columbiana
593 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
544 observations
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
503 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
472 observations
Harlequin Duck
Histrionicus histrionicus
460 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
459 observations
Canada Jay
Perisoreus canadensis
445 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
433 observations
Dusky Grouse
Dendragapus obscurus
423 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
403 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
402 observations
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
376 observations
Violet-green Swallow
Tachycineta thalassina
370 observations
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
335 observations
American Dipper
Cinclus mexicanus
303 observations
American Wigeon
Mareca americana
290 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
289 observations
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
285 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
265 observations
American Coot
Fulica americana
255 observations
Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli
248 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
242 observations
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
242 observations
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
229 observations
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
220 observations
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
210 observations
Cinnamon Teal
Spatula cyanoptera
192 observations
Pine Siskin
Spinus pinus
149 observations
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
146 observations
Cassin's Finch
Haemorhous cassinii
146 observations
Swainson's Hawk
Buteo swainsoni
129 observations
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
123 observations
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
121 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
119 observations
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
117 observations
Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
115 observations
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
114 observations
Great Gray Owl
Strix nebulosa
109 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
108 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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