Birding
Birds recorded in Delaware
Some live here all year. Some pass through twice. Some have turned up once, been argued about, and been accepted. This list keeps those apart.
Why you will see two different totals
The Delaware Ornithological Society's records committee accepts432 species to the official state list, as of July 2025. eBird's Delaware checklist holds 460 species, plus 28 hybrids it counts separately.
Neither is wrong. They are different artifacts with different criteria — a records committee's judgement against a database of accepted observations. The list below is the eBird one, because that is what this site can join to a species code and keep current.
eBird checklist read 2026-08-09 · DOS state list read 9 August 2026
4 of them have a page here, because those are the ones I have something Delaware-specific to say about. The rest are on the list and nowhere else — a name without a fact behind it is not a page.
Tyrant Flycatchers
- Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens
- Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorum
- Ash-throated FlycatcherMyiarchus cinerascens
- Dusky FlycatcherEmpidonax oberholseri
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebe
- Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens
- Fork-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus savana
- Gray FlycatcherEmpidonax wrightii
- Gray KingbirdTyrannus dominicensis
- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus
- Hammond's FlycatcherEmpidonax hammondii
- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimus
- Olive-sided FlycatcherContopus cooperi
- Say's PhoebeSayornis saya
- Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus
- Tropical KingbirdTyrannus melancholicus
- Vermilion FlycatcherPyrocephalus rubinus
- Western FlycatcherEmpidonax difficilis
- Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalis
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventris
Hummingbirds
- Allen's HummingbirdSelasphorus sasin
- Black-chinned HummingbirdArchilochus alexandri
- Calliope HummingbirdSelasphorus calliope
- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris
- Rufous HummingbirdSelasphorus rufus
Stilts and Avocets
- American AvocetRecurvirostra americana
- Black-necked StiltDelaware specialtyHimantopus mexicanus
Barn-Owls
- American Barn OwlTyto furcata
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
- American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus
- Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
- Great EgretArdea alba
- Green HeronButorides virescens
- Least BitternBotaurus exilis
- Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Reddish EgretEgretta rufescens
- Snowy EgretEgretta thula
- Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor
- Western Cattle-EgretArdea ibis
- Yellow-crowned Night HeronNyctanassa violacea
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
- American Black DuckAnas rubripes
- American WigeonMareca americana
- Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- Black ScoterMelanitta americana
- Black SwanCygnus atratus
- Black-bellied Whistling-DuckDendrocygna autumnalis
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- BrantBranta bernicla
- BuffleheadBucephala albeola
- Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsii
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- CanvasbackAythya valisineria
- Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanoptera
- Common EiderSomateria mollissima
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- Common MerganserMergus merganser
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolor
- GadwallMareca strepera
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Graylag GooseAnser anser
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Green-winged TealAnas crecca
- Harlequin DuckHistrionicus histrionicus
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- King EiderSomateria spectabilis
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Muscovy DuckCairina moschata
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- RedheadAythya americana
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Ringed TealCallonetta leucophrys
- Ross's GooseAnser rossii
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
- Snow GooseAnser caerulescens
- Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata
- Swan GooseAnser cygnoides
- Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinator
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Tundra SwanCygnus columbianus
- White-winged ScoterMelanitta deglandi
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- American CootFulica americana
- Black RailLaterallus jamaicensis
- Clapper RailRallus crepitans
- Common GallinuleGallinula galeata
- Gray-headed SwamphenPorphyrio poliocephalus
- King RailRallus elegans
- Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinica
- SoraPorzana carolina
- Virginia RailRallus limicola
- Yellow RailCoturnicops noveboracensis
Crows, Jays, and Magpies
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Common RavenCorvus corax
- Fish CrowCorvus ossifragus
Flamingos
- American FlamingoChase rarityPhoenicopterus ruber
Plovers and Lapwings
- American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominica
- Black-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarola
- European Golden-PloverPluvialis apricaria
- KilldeerCharadrius vociferus
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellus
- Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulva
- Piping PloverCharadrius melodus
- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatus
- Wilson's PloverAnarhynchus wilsonia
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
- American GoldfinchSpinus tristis
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertina
- House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus
- Lesser GoldfinchSpinus psaltria
- Pine GrosbeakPinicola enucleator
- Pine SiskinSpinus pinus
- Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureus
- Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
- RedpollAcanthis flammea
- White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera
- Yellow-fronted CanaryCrithagra mozambica
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
- American GoshawkAstur atricapillus
- Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Cooper's HawkAstur cooperii
- Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos
- Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensis
- Northern HarrierCircus hudsonius
- Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopus
- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus
- Swainson's HawkButeo swainsoni
- Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatus
- Zone-tailed HawkButeo albonotatus
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
- Black SkimmerRynchops niger
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactyla
- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia
- Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetus
- California GullLarus californicus
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Common GullLarus canus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Elegant TernThalasseus elegans
- Forster's TernSterna forsteri
- Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcan
- Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
- Iceland GullLarus glaucoides
- Kelp GullLarus dominicanus
- Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla
- Least TernSternula antillarum
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- Roseate TernSterna dougallii
- Ross's GullRhodostethia rosea
- Royal TernThalasseus maximus
- Sabine's GullXema sabini
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Silver GullChroicocephalus novaehollandiae
- Slaty-backed GullLarus schistisagus
- Sooty TernOnychoprion fuscatus
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
Falcons and Caracaras
- American KestrelFalco sparverius
- Crested CaracaraCaracara plancus
- GyrfalconFalco rusticolus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Yellow-headed CaracaraDaptrius chimachima
Oystercatchers
- American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatus
Wagtails and Pipits
- American PipitAnthus rubescens
New World Warblers
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castanea
- Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia
- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens
- Black-throated Gray WarblerSetophaga nigrescens
- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virens
- Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fusca
- Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striata
- Blue-winged WarblerVermivora cyanoptera
- Canada WarblerCardellina canadensis
- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrina
- Cerulean WarblerSetophaga cerulea
- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanica
- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
- Connecticut WarblerOporornis agilis
- Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysoptera
- Hooded WarblerSetophaga citrina
- Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosa
- Louisiana WaterthrushParkesia motacilla
- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnolia
- Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphia
- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapilla
- Northern ParulaSetophaga americana
- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
- Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestiva
- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celata
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarum
- Pine WarblerSetophaga pinus
- Prairie WarblerSetophaga discolor
- Prothonotary WarblerDelaware specialtyProtonotaria citrea
- Swainson's WarblerLimnothlypis swainsonii
- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrina
- Townsend's WarblerSetophaga townsendi
- Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusilla
- Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorum
- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata
- Yellow-throated WarblerSetophaga dominica
Thrushes and Allies
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- Bicknell's ThrushCatharus bicknelli
- Eastern BluebirdSialia sialis
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimus
- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
- Townsend's SolitaireMyadestes townsendi
- Varied ThrushIxoreus naevius
- VeeryCatharus fuscescens
- Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelina
New World Sparrows
- American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arborea
- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
- Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallida
- Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis
- Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmus
- Field SparrowSpizella pusilla
- Fox SparrowPasserella iliaca
- Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarum
- Green-tailed TowheePipilo chlorurus
- Harris's SparrowZonotrichia querula
- Henslow's SparrowCentronyx henslowii
- Lark BuntingCalamospiza melanocorys
- Lark SparrowChondestes grammacus
- LeConte's SparrowAmmospiza leconteii
- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolnii
- Nelson's SparrowAmmospiza nelsoni
- Saltmarsh SparrowAmmospiza caudacuta
- Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
- Seaside SparrowAmmospiza maritima
- Song SparrowMelospiza melodia
- Spotted TowheePipilo maculatus
- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgiana
- Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineus
- White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
- White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis
Pelicans
- American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis
Sandpipers and Allies
- American WoodcockScolopax minor
- Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii
- Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa
- Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollis
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferruginea
- DunlinCalidris alpina
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleuca
- Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemastica
- Hudsonian WhimbrelNumenius hudsonicus
- Least SandpiperCalidris minutilla
- Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipes
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceus
- Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoa
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima
- Red KnotBucket-list birdCalidris canutus
- Red PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius
- Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus
- Red-necked StintCalidris ruficollis
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusilla
- Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminata
- Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseus
- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopus
- Upland SandpiperBartramia longicauda
- Western SandpiperCalidris mauri
- White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollis
- WilletTringa semipalmata
- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolor
- Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
Auks, Murres, and Puffins
- Ancient MurreletSynthliboramphus antiquus
- Atlantic PuffinFratercula arctica
- Black GuillemotCepphus grylle
- Common MurreUria aalge
- DovekieAlle alle
- RazorbillAlca torda
- Thick-billed MurreUria lomvia
Anhingas
- AnhingaAnhinga anhinga
Troupials and Allies
- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula
- Boat-tailed GrackleQuiscalus major
- BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorus
- Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalus
- Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater
- Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula
- Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magna
- Orchard OrioleIcterus spurius
- Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus
- Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinus
- Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Northern Storm-Petrels
- Band-rumped Storm-PetrelHydrobates castro
- Leach's Storm-PetrelHydrobates leucorhous
Swallows
- Bank SwallowRiparia riparia
- Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
- Cave SwallowPetrochelidon fulva
- Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis
- Purple MartinProgne subis
- Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor
Owls
- Barred OwlStrix varia
- Burrowing OwlAthene cunicularia
- Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
- Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicus
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Snowy OwlBubo scandiacus
Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis
- Bell's VireoVireo bellii
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- Eastern Warbling VireoVireo gilvus
- Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicus
- Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus
- White-eyed VireoVireo griseus
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
Kingfishers
- Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon
Wrens
- Bewick's WrenThryomanes bewickii
- Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianus
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- Northern House WrenTroglodytes aedon
- Sedge WrenCistothorus stellaris
- Winter WrenTroglodytes hiemalis
New World Vultures
- Black VultureCoragyps atratus
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
Cuckoos
- Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus
- Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice
- Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus
- Boreal ChickadeePoecile hudsonicus
- Carolina ChickadeePoecile carolinensis
- Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolor
Shearwaters and Petrels
- Black-capped PetrelPterodroma hasitata
- Cory's ShearwaterCalonectris borealis
- Great ShearwaterArdenna gravis
- Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus
- Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialis
- Sargasso ShearwaterPuffinus lherminieri
- Scopoli's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedea
- Sooty ShearwaterArdenna grisea
Cardinals and Allies
- Black-headed GrosbeakPheucticus melanocephalus
- Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea
- DickcisselSpiza americana
- Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea
- Lazuli BuntingPasserina amoena
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- Painted BuntingPasserina ciris
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea
- Summer TanagerPiranga rubra
- Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana
Gnatcatchers
- Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea
Boobies and Gannets
- Brown BoobySula leucogaster
- Masked BoobySula dactylatra
- Northern GannetMorus bassanus
Treecreepers
- Brown CreeperCerthia americana
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
- Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufum
- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
- Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos
- Sage ThrasherOreoscoptes montanus
Nuthatches
- Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusilla
- Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis
- White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis
Old World Parrots
- BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatus
Waxwings
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
Swifts
- Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagica
Nightjars and Allies
- Chuck-will's-widowAntrostomus carolinensis
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Eastern Whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferus
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
- ChukarAlectoris chukar
- Indian PeafowlPavo cristatus
- Red JunglefowlGallus gallus
- Ring-necked PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellus
- Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
Cockatoos
- CockatielNymphicus hollandicus
Pigeons and Doves
- Common Ground DoveColumbina passerina
- Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- Rock PigeonColumba livia
- White-winged DoveZenaida asiatica
Loons
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Pacific LoonGavia pacifica
- Red-throated LoonGavia stellata
Cormorants and Shags
- Double-crested CormorantNannopterum auritum
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Neotropic CormorantNannopterum brasilianum
Woodpeckers
- Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens
- Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus
- Northern FlickerColaptes auratus
- Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus
- Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus
- Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus
- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius
Grebes
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritus
- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
- Western GrebeAechmophorus occidentalis
Starlings
- European StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Ibises and Spoonbills
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajaja
- White IbisEudocimus albus
- White-faced IbisPlegadis chihi
Kinglets
- Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa
- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendula
Skuas and Jaegers
- Great SkuaStercorarius skua
- Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudus
- Parasitic JaegerStercorarius parasiticus
- Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinus
- South Polar SkuaStercorarius maccormicki
Guineafowl
- Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagris
Larks
- Horned LarkEremophila alpestris
Old World Sparrows
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus
- Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
Shrikes
- Loggerhead ShrikeLanius ludovicianus
- Northern ShrikeLanius borealis
Frigatebirds
- Magnificent FrigatebirdFregata magnificens
New World and African Parrots
- Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachus
- Nanday ParakeetAratinga nenday
New World Quail
- Northern BobwhiteColinus virginianus
Old World Flycatchers
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Osprey
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
Cranes
- Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensis
Southern Storm-Petrels
- White-faced Storm-PetrelPelagodroma marina
- Wilson's Storm-PetrelOceanites oceanicus
Tropicbirds
- White-tailed TropicbirdPhaethon lepturus
Storks
- Wood StorkMycteria americana
Yellow-breasted Chat
- Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virens
What this list does not tell you
Whether a bird is here today. A checklist is a record of what has been accepted, not a report of what is about. For live sightings,eBird's Delaware pageis the place, and it is updated by people who were actually outside.
Related
- Birding in Delaware — where to go, and when
- Birding for beginners — five places to start