Birding in Great Basin
Great Basin National Park is an excellent place to enjoy bird watching, as 253 species have been reported within the park and the vicinity, which includes Snake Valley and the north and south Snake Ranges. Other species may occur during migration. Please report any species not listed, or listed as Rare, Accidental or Hypothetical, on a Wildlife Observation Sheet - available at the Visitor Center. We also encourage bird observations to be entered in eBird.
This list was prepared in 1990 by Linelle Wagner, updated in 1993 by Suzi Unger, in 2004 by Melissa Renfro, and in 2017 by Kelly Colegrove of the Great Basin Bird Observatory.
Abundance
c...............................................Common
u...........................................Uncommon
r.......................................................Rare
a..............................................Accidental
h...........................................Hypothetical
Occurrence
R.................................................Resident
S....................................Summer Resident
W.....................................Winter Resident
M.................................................Migrant
FAMILY GAVIIDAE - Loons
Common Loon, Gavia immer, (r M)
FAMILY PODICIPEDIDAE - Grebes
Clark’s Grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii (r S, M)
Western Grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis,(r S, M)
Eared Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (u S, M)
Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (u M)
FAMILY PELECANIDAE - Pelicans
American White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (r M)
FAMILY PHALACROCORACIDAE - Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus (r S)
FAMILY ARDEIDAE - Bitterns and Herons
American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (a W)
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis (a)
Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (r M)
Snowy Egret, Egretta thula (u S, M)
Great Egret, Casmerodius albus (r S)
Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias (u S, M)
FAMILY THRESKIORNITHIDAE - Ibises and Spoonbills
White-faced Ibis, Plegadis chihi (r S, M)
FAMILY ANATIDAE - Swans, Geese, and Ducks
Tundra Swan, Cygnus columbianus (r W, M)
Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens (r M)
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis (c R)
Cackling Goose, Branta hutchinsii (h)
Wood Duck, Aix sponsa (r W)
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (c R)
Gadwall, Anas strepera (u M, W)
American Wigeon, Anas americana (r M, W)
Northern Pintail, Anas acuta (u M, W)
Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata (u M, W)
Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors (u S)
Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca (u S, W)
Cinnamon Teal, Anas cyanoptera (r S)
Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (u M, W)
Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (r M)
Redhead, Aythya americana (r S, M)
Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris (u M)
Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis (r M)
Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (r M)
Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (r W, M)
Common Merganser, Mergus merganser (c M)
Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (h M)
Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator (u M)
FAMILY CATHARTIDAE - Vultures
Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura (c S, M)
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE - Hawks, Eagles, and Accipiters
Northern Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis (u R)
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus (u R)
Cooper’s Hawk, Accipiter cooperii (c R)
Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus caeruleus (a)
Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus (c R)
Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus (u W)
Broad-winged Hawk, Buteo playpterus (h, M)
Ferruginous Hawk, Buteo regalis (u S, M)
Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis (c R)
Swainson’s Hawk, Buteo swainsoni (r S)
Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos (c R)
Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (r W)
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (r M)
FAMILY FALCONIDAE - Falcons
American Kestrel, Falco sparverius (c S, r W)
Merlin, Falco columbarius (r W)
Prairie Falcon, Falco mexicanus (u R)
Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus (r R, M)
FAMILY PHASIANIDAE - Grouse and Partidges
Ring-necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (h)
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (c R)
Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus (r S)
Dusky Grouse, Dendragapus obscurus (c R)
Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus (r R)
Greater Sage-Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus (u R)
Chukar, Alectoris chukar (c R)
Gray Partridge, Perdix perdix (r S)
FAMILY ODONTOPHORIDAE - New World Quail
California Quail, Callipepla californica (r R)
Gambel’s Quail, Callipepla gambelii (r R)
FAMILY GRUIDAE - Cranes
Sandhill Crane, Grus canadensis (r S, M)
FAMILY RALLIDAE - Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola (r S)
Sora, Porzana carolina (r S, M)
American Coot, Fulica americana (c R)
FAMILY RECURVIROSTRIDAE - Stilts and Avocets
American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana (r S, M)
Black-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (r S, M)
FAMILY CHARADRIIDAE - Plovers
Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (r M)
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (r W, c S)
FAMILY SCOLOPACIDAE - Sandpipers and Phalaropes
Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa (r M)
Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus (u S, M)
Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (r M)
Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (r M)
Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularia (c S)
Wilson’s Phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (r S, M)
Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (r M)
Long-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (r M)
Wilson’s Snipe, Gallinago delicata (r R)
Western Sandpiper, Calidris mauri (r M)
Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (r M)
FAMILY LARIDAE -Gulls and Terns
Bonaparte’s Gull, Larus philadelphia (r M)
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis (r S, M)
California Gull, Larus californicus (r S, M)
Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri (h S, M)
Black Tern, Chlidonias niger (r M)
Caspian Tern, Sterna caspia (a S)
FAMILY COLUMBIDAE - Pigeons and Doves
Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura (c S, u M)
White-winged Dove, Zenaida asiatica (r S)
Eurasian Collared-Dove, Streptopelia decaocto (c R)
Rock Pigeon, Columba livia (c R)
FAMILY CUCULIDAE - Cuckoos
Greater Roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus (r R)
FAMILY TYTONIDAE - Barn Owls
Common Barn-Owl, Tyto alba (r R)
FAMILY STRIGIDAE - Typical Owls
Flammulated Owl, Otus flammeolus (r S)
Western Screech-Owl, Megascops kennicottii (r R)
Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus (c R)
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus (r R)
Long-eared Owl, Asio otus (r R)
Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia (r S)
Northern Pygmy-Owl, Glaucidium gnoma (r R)
Northern Saw-whet Owl, Aegolius acadicus (u R)
FAMILY CAPRIMULGIDAE - Goatsuckers
Common Poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii (c S)
Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (c S)
Lesser Nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis (r S)
FAMILY APODIDAE - Swifts
White-throated Swift, Aeronautes saxatalis (u S)
FAMILY TROCHILIDAE - Hummingbirds
Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (c S)
Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (u S)
Calliope Hummingbird, Stellula calliope (r S)
Black-chinned Hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (c S)
FAMILY ALCEDINIDAE - Kingfishers
Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle alcyon (u R)
FAMILY PICIDAE - Woodpeckers and allies
Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus (c R)
Lewis’ Woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis (u M)
Williamson’s Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus (u R)
Red-naped Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis (c S)
Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus (c R)
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens (c R)
American Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis (r R)
Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus (a S)
FAMILY TYRANNIDAE - Tyrant Flycatchers
Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus (a S)
Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis (c S)
Ash-throated Flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens (u S)
Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans (aS)
Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya (c S)
Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax traillii (u S, M)
Hammond’s Flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii (u S, M)
Dusky Flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri (c S, M)
Gray Flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii (u S)
Cordilleran Flycatcher, Empidonax occidentalis (c S, M)
Western Wood-Pewee, Contopus sordidulus (c S)
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Contopus cooperi (u S, M)
FAMILY LANIIDAE - Shrikes
Northern Shrike, Lanius excubitor (r W)
Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus (c R)
FAMILY VIREONIDAE - Vireos
Plumbeous Vireo, Vireo plumbeous (c S)
Cassin’s Vireo, Vireo cassinii (h)
Warbling Vireo, Vireo gilvus (c S)
Gray Vireo, Vireo vicinior (u S)
FAMILY CORVIDAE - Jays, Crows, Ravens & Magpies
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma woodhouseii (c R)
Pinyon Jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus (c R)
Steller’s Jay, Cyanocitta stelleri (c R)
Clark’s Nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana (c R)
Black-billed Magpie, Pica hudsonia (c R)
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos (u R)
Common Raven, Corvus corax (c R)
FAMILY ALAUDIDAE - Larks
Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris (c R)
FAMILY HIRUNDINIDAE - Swallows
Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor (c S)
Violet-green Swallow, Tachycineta thalassina (c S)
Northern Rough-winged Sw., Stelgidopteryx serripennis (u S, M)
Bank Swallow, Riparia riparia (u S, M)
Cliff Swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (c S, M)
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica (c S, M)
FAMILY PARIDAE - Titmice and Chickadees
Juniper Titmouse (Plain), Baeolophus ridgwayi (c R)
Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus (u R)
Mountain Chickadee, Poecile gambeli (c R)
FAMILY AEGITHALIDAE - Bushtits
Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus (c R)
FAMILY SITTIDAE - Nuthatches
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis (c R)
White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis (c R)
Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea (u R)
FAMILY CERTHIIDAE - Creepers
Brown Creeper, Certhia americana (c R)
FAMILY TROGLODYTIDAE - Wrens
House Wren, Troglodytes aedon (c S)
Pacific Wren, Troglodytes pacificus (u W)
Bewick’s Wren,Thryomanes bewickii (c S, u W)
Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris (r R)
Canyon Wren, Catherpes mexicanus (c R)
Rock Wren, Salpinctes obsoletus (c S, u W)
FAMILY CINCLIDAE - Dippers
American Dipper, Cinclus mexicanus (u R)
FAMILY REGULIDAE - Kinglets
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa (c R)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula (c R)
FAMILY SYLVIIDAE - Gnatcatchers
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea (u S)
FAMILY MUSCICAPIDAE - Bluebirds
Western Bluebird, Sialia mexicana (r W)
Mountain Bluebird,Sialia currucoides (c S)
Townsend’s Solitaire, Myadestes townsendi (c R)
FAMILY TURDIDAE- Thrushes
Swainson’s Thrush, Catharus ustulatus (r S)
Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus (c R)
Varied Thrush, Ixoreus naevius (a W)
American Robin, Turdus migratorius (c R)
FAMILY MIMIDAE - Mockingbird,Thrashers & Catbirds
Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (a)Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (u S)
Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum (h)
Sage Thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus (u S)
FAMILY STURNIDAE - Starling
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris (c R)
FAMILY MOTACILLIDAE - Pipets
American Pipit, Anthus rubescens (u R)
FAMILY BOMBYCILLIDAE - Waxwings
Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (u W, M)
Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (c W, M)
FAMILY PARULIDAE - Wood Warblers
Blue-winged Warbler, Vermivora pinus (a S)
Golden-winged Warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera (a S)
Orange-crowned Warbler, Vermivora celata (u S)
Nashville Warbler, Vermivora ruficapilla (a S)
Virginia’s Warbler, Vermivora virginiae (u S)
Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia (c S)
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica (a S)
Audubon’s Warbler, Dendroica coronata (c S)
Townsend’s Warbler, Dendroica townsendi (r M)
Hermit Warbler, Dendroica occidentalis (r M)
Black-throated Gray Warbler, Dendroica nigrescens (c S, M)
MacGillivray’s Warbler, Oporornis tolmiei (c S)
Kentucky Warbler, Oporornis formosus (a M)
Common Yellowthroat, Geothylpis trichas (c S)
Yellow-breasted Chat, Icteria virens (u S)
Wilson’s Warbler, Wilsonia pusilla (u S, c M)
American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla (a M)
Red-faced Warbler, Cardellina rubrifrons (a)
FAMILY THRAUPIDAE - Tanagers
Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana (c S, M)
FAMILY CARDINALIDAE- Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Buntings
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus (u M)
Black-headed Grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus (c S)
Blue Grosbeak, Guiraca caerulea (r M)
Lazuli Bunting, Passerina amoena (c S)
Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea (r S)
FAMILY EMBERIZIDAE - Sparrows, Towhees, Juncos, and Longspurs
Green-tailed Towhee, Pipilo chlorurus (c S)
Spotted Towhee (Rufous-sided), Pipilo maculatus (c S)
American Tree Sparrow, Spizella arborea (h)
Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina (c S)
Brewer’s Sparrow, Spizella breweri (c S)
Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus (c S)
Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus (c S, M)
Black-throated Sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata (u S)
Sagebrush Sparrow, Artemisiospiza nevadensis (c R)
Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis (c S, M)
Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca (u S)
Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia (c S)
Lincoln’s Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii (r W, M)
Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Aimophila ruficeps (r S)
White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis (r M, S)
White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys (c R)
Harris’s Sparrow, Zonotrichia querula (a W)
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla (r M)
Lark Bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys (h)
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis (c R)Oregon Junco (c R), Gray-headed Junco (c R), andSlate-colored Junco (u R) are the same species, butmay be split out in the future.
FAMILY ICTERINAE - Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles, Cowbirds, Meadowlarks
Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus (c S)
Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta (c S)
Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (c S)
Brewer’s Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus (c S)
Great-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus (u S)
Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater (c S)
Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus (r S)
Bullock’s Oriole, Icterus bullocki (c S)
Scott’s Oriole, Icterus parisorum (u S)
FAMILY FRINGILLIDAE - Finches, Goldfinches, Crossbills, and Siskins
Black Rosy-Finch, Leucosticte atrata (c R)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis (r)
Cassin’s Finch, Haemorhous cassinii (c S, u W)
House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus (c R)
Purple Finch, Haemorhous pupureus (h)
Red Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra (u R, c M)
White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (h)
Pine Grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (r W)
Pine Siskin, Carduelis pinus (c W, u S)
Lesser Goldfinch, Carduelis psaltria (c R)
American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis (u M)
Evening Grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus (r S)
FAMILY PASSERIDAE - Weaver Finches
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus (c R)
