Birds

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is found in the park from March through September and breeds annually in the effluent ponds in the park.  It is a large sandpiper with an upturned bill found mostly west of the Mississippi River and along the gulf and east coasts.

NPS/Andy Bridges

 

The Petrified Forest National Park, like many national parks and protected areas for wildlife, provides habitat important to both resident and migratory bird species. The park’s rich cottonwood/willow riparian corridor along the Rio Puerco, thousands or acres of grassland and shrubland, juniper woodlands on mesa tops, and small areas of urban habitat provide for the needs of 258 bird species. There are many year-round resident species such as Common Raven, House Finch, Greater Roadrunner, Horned Lark, and Red-tailed Hawk, winter residents such as Dark-eyed Junco, Mountain Bluebird, and White-crowned Sparrow, and summer residents including Barn Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Burrowing Owl, and Lark Sparrow. August and September are the best times to see migratory species including Rufous Hummingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and almost a dozen warbler species.

Observing birds is a fun hobby, and opportunity to observe nature, and an important area of research to help us understand our world. To learn more about how Petrified Forest is a place for birds and to learn how the park is studying these amazing animals, please explore: http://go.nps.gov/pefobirds.

 

 

Bird List for Petrified Forest National Park (as of September 2018). Codes at end of list.

COMMON NAME (alphabetic within group)	SCIENTIFIC NAME	Park Status	Abundance	Residency
DUCKS, GEESE, and SWANS
American Wigeon	Mareca americana	P	O	m
Blue-winged Teal	Spatula discors	P	O	m
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	P	O	m
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	P	O	m
Cinnamon Teal	Spatula cyanoptera	P	O	m
Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	P	O	m
Gadwall	Mareca strepera	P	O	v
Greater White-fronted Goose	Anser albifrons	U	UK	u
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca	P	O	m
Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis	P	Oa	m
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	P	R	m
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	P	O	m
Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	P	O	m
Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	P	O	m
Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	P	O	m
UPLAND GAME BIRDS
Scaled Quail	Callipepla squamata	P	C	by
LOONS and GREBES
Eared Grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	P	O	m
Least Grebe	Tachybaptus dominicus	P	Oa	v
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	P	R	m
Western Grebe	Aechmophorus occidentalis	P	O	m
PELICANS
American White Pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos	P	O	m
WADING BIRDS
American Bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus	P	O	m
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	P	O	m
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	P	Oa	m
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	P	O	m
Great Egret	Ardea alba	P	Oa	m
Green Heron	Butorides virescens	P	O	m
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	P	Oa	m
White-faced Ibis	Plegadis chihi	P	O	m
HAWKS and VULTURES
Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	P	Oa	v
Cooper’s Hawk	Accipiter cooperii	P	R	bs
Ferruginous Hawk	Buteo regalis	P	O	r
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	P	UC	by
Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	U	UK	u
Northern Harrier	Circus hudsonius	P	C	r
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	P	Oa	v
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	P	C	by
Rough-legged Hawk	Buteo lagopus	P	O	m
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	P	R	bs
Swainson’s Hawk	Buteo swainsoni	P	UC	bs
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	P	R	bs
RAILS and COOTS
American Coot	Fulica americana	P	O	m
Sora	Porzana carolina	P	O	m
Virginia Rail	Rallus limicola	P	Oa	v
SHOREBIRDS
American Avocet	Recurvirostra americana	P	C	by
American Golden-Plover	Pluvialis dominica	P	UK	u
Baird’s Sandpiper	Calidris bairdii	P	O	m
Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago	P	O	m
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	P	C	by
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	P	O	m
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	P	O	m
Long-billed Curlew	Numenius americanus	P	Oa	m
Long-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	P	O	m
Mountain Plover	Charadrius montanus	P	O	m
Semipalmated Plover	Calidris pusilla	P	UK	u
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	P	UK	u
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularius	P	O	m
Upland Sandpiper	Bartramia longicauda	P	Oa	m
Western Sandpiper	Calidris mauri	P	Oa	m
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	P	O	m
Willet	Tringa semipalmata	P	O	m
Wilson’s Phalarope	Phalaropus tricolor	P	O	m
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	P	R	m
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	P	O	m
Stilt Sandpiper	Calidris himantopus	P	O	u
GULLS
Franklin’s Gull	Leucophaeus pipixcan	P	Oa	v
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus	P	Oa	v
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	P	O	v
PIGEONS and DOVES
Band-tailed Pigeon	Patagioenas fasciata	P	R	u
Eurasian Collared-Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	P	A	b
Inca Dove	Columbina inca	P	Oa	v
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	P	C	by
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	P	UC	u
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica	U	UK	u
CUCKOOS
Greater Roadrunner	Geococcyx californianus	P	UC	by
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus	H1	UK	u
OWLS
Barn Owl	Tyto alba	P	O	v
Burrowing Owl	Athene cunicularia	P	UC	bs
Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	P	UC	by
Long-eared Owl	Asio otus	P	R	by
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Aegolius acadicus	P	O	u
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus	P	R	by
Western Screech-Owl	Megascops kennicottii	P	R	by
NIGHTJARS
Common Nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	P	C	bs
Common Poorwill	Phalaenoptilus nuttallii	P	R	u
Lesser Nighthawk	Chordeiles acutipennis	U	UK	u
SWIFTS
Vaux’s Swift	Chaetura vauxi	P	Oa	v
White-throated Swift	Aeronautes saxatalis	P	O	m
HUMMINGBIRDS
Allen’s Hummingbird	Selasphorus sasin	P	Oa	v
Anna’s Hummingbird	Calypte anna	P	O	v
Black-chinned Hummingbird	Archilochus alexandri	P	UC	m
Broad-tailed Hummingbird	Selasphorus platycercus	P	UC	m
Calliope Hummingbird	Selasphorus calliope	P	Oa	m
Rufous Hummingbird	Selasphorus rufus	P	UC	m
KINGFISHERS
Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon	P	Oa	v
WOODPECKERS
Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus	P	O	m
Downy Woodpecker	Dryobates pubescens	P	O	u
Hairy Woodpecker	Dryobates villosus	P	O	u
Ladder-backed Woodpecker	Dryobates scalaris	P	Oa	v
Lewis’s Woodpecker	Melanerpes lewis	P	O	m
Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	P	C	by
Red-naped Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus nuchalis	P	C	r
Williamson’s Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus thyroideus	P	O	r
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	P	O	r
FALCONS
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	P	C	by
Merlin	Falco columbarius	P	R	m
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	U	UK	u
Prairie Falcon	Falco mexicanus	P	R	by
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Ash-throated Flycatcher	Myiarchus cinerascens	P	UC	bs
Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans	P	R	m
Cassin’s Kingbird	Tyrannus vociferans	P	UC	bs
Cordilleran Flycatcher	Empidonax occidentalis	P	UC	m
Dusky Flycatcher	Empidonax oberholseri	P	R	m
Gray Flycatcher	Empidonax wrightii	P	O	u
Hammond’s Flycatcher	Empidonax hammondii	P	O	m
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet	Camptostoma imberbe	P	Oa	v
Olive-sided Flycatcher	Contopus cooperi	P	UC	m
Say’s Phoebe	Sayornis saya	P	C	by
Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus	P	Oa	v
Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis	P	C	bs
Western Wood-Pewee	Contopus sordidulus	P	UC	m
SHRIKES
Loggerhead Shrike	Lanius ludovicianus	P	A	by
VIREOS
Bell’s Vireo	Vireo bellii	U	UK	u
Cassin's Vireo	Vireo cassinii	P	O	m
Gray Vireo	Vireo vicinior	U	UK	u
Hutton’s Vireo	Vireo huttoni	P	Oa	m
Philadelphia Vireo	Vireo philadelphicus	U	UK	v
Plumbeous Vireo	Vireo plumbeus	P	R	m
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus	P	R	m
CROWS and JAYS
American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	P	O	by
Black-billed Magpie	Pica hudsonia	P	Oa	v
Chihuahuan Raven	Corvus cryptoleucus	U	UK	u
Clark’s Nutcracker	Nucifraga columbiana	P	Oa	v
Common Raven	Corvus corax	P	C	by
Pinyon Jay	Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus	P	O	m
Steller’s Jay	Cyanocitta stelleri	P	O	m
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay	Aphelocoma woodhouseii	P	R	u
LARKS
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris	P	A	by
SWALLOWS
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia	P	O	m
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	P	UC	bs
Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	P	C	bs
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis	P	R	m
Purple Martin	Progne subis	P	Oa	v
Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor	P	O	m
Violet-green Swallow	Tachycineta thalassina	P	R	m
CHICKADEES and ALLIES
Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus	P	C	by
Juniper Titmouse	Baeolophus ridgwayi	P	O	u
Mountain Chickadee	Poecile gambeli	P	O	m
NUTHATCHES and CREEPERS
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana	P	O	m
Pygmy Nuthatch	Sitta pygmaea	P	Oa	m
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta canadensis	P	UC	m
White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	P	O	m
WRENS
Bewick’s Wren	Thryomanes bewickii	P	O	u
Canyon Wren	Catherpes mexicanus	H2	UK	u
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon	P	O	m
Marsh Wren	Cistothorus palustris	P	O	m
Pacific Wren	Troglodytes pacificus	U	UK	u
Rock Wren	Salpinctes obsoletus	P	C	by
GNATCATCHERS and KINGLETS
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher	Polioptila melanura	P	O	m
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea	P	UC	m
Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa	P	R	m
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula	P	UC	m
THRUSHES
American Robin	Turdus migratorius	P	C	r
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus	P	UC	m
Mountain Bluebird	Sialia currucoides	P	UC	r
Swainson’s Thrush	Catharus ustulatus	P	O	m
Townsend’s Solitaire	Myadestes townsendi	P	R	r
Western Bluebird	Sialia mexicana	P	R	r
MOCKINGBIRDS and THRASHERS
American Pipit	Anthus rubescens	P	O	m
Bendire’s Thrasher	Toxostoma bendirei	P	R	bs
Brown Thrasher	Toxostoma rufum	P	Oa	v
Crissal Thrasher	Toxostoma crissale	P	UC	r
Curve-billed Thrasher	Toxostoma curvirostre	P	O	by
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	P	C	by
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	P	O	u
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	P	C	bs
Sage Thrasher	Oreoscoptes montanus	P	UC	by
WAXWINGS and SILKY FLYCATCHERS
Bohemian Waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus	P	Oa	m
Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	P	R	m
Phainopepla	Phainopepla nitens	P	Oa	u
WOOD WARBLERS
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla	P	O	m
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia	P	O	m
Black-throated Gray Warbler	Setophaga nigrescens	P	R	m
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Setophaga pensylvanica	P	Oa	v
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas	P	O	m
Grace’s Warbler	Setophaga graciae	P	O	m
Hermit Warbler	Setophaga occidentalis	P	O	m
Kentucky Warbler	Geothlypis formosa	P	Oa	v
Lucy’s Warbler	Oreothlypis luciae	P	O	m
MacGillivray’s Warbler	Geothlypis tolmiei	P	C	m
Nashville Warbler	Oreothlypis ruficapilla	P	O	m
Northern Parula	Setophaga americana	P	O	m
Northern Waterthrush	Parkesia noveboracensis	P	O	m
Orange-crowned Warbler	Oreothlypis celata	P	C	m
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla	P	O	m
Palm Warbler	Setophaga palmarum	P	Oa	v
Red-faced Warbler	Cardellina rubrifrons	P	Oa	v
Townsend’s Warbler	Setophaga townsendi	P	O	m
Virginia’s Warbler	Oreothlypis virginiae	P	Oa	m
Wilson's Warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus	P	UC	m
Yellow Warbler	Setophaga petechia	P	R	m
Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens	P	Oa	m
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	P	C	m
EMBERIZINE SPARROWS
Abert's Towhee	Melozone aberti	F	UK	u
American Tree Sparrow	Spizelloides arborea	P	O	u
Baird’s Sparrow	Centronyx bairdii	P	O	v
Black-throated Sparrow	Amphispiza bilineata	P	A	bs
Brewer’s Sparrow	Euphagus cyanocephalus	P	O	u
Canyon Towhee	Melozone fusca	P	R	by
Cassin’s Sparrow	Peucaea cassinii	P	O	u
Chestnut-collared Longspur	Calcarius ornatus	P	Oa	m
Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina	P	O	m
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	P	C	r
Fox Sparrow	Passerella iliaca	P	O	u
Green-tailed Towhee	Pipilo chlorurus	P	R	m
Harris's Sparrow	Zonotrichia querula	P	C	m
Lark Bunting	Calamospiza melanocorys	P	R	m
Lark Sparrow	Chondestes grammacus	P	R	bs
Lincoln’s Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii	P	O	m
Rufous-crowned Sparrow	Aimophila ruficeps	P	O	u
Sagebrush Sparrow	Artemisiospiza nevadensis	P	C	r
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	P	O	v
Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	P	O	r
Spotted Towhee	Pipilo maculatus	P	R	m
Vesper Sparrow	Pooecetes gramineus	P	O	m
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	P	C	r
White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	P	O	m
Yellow-eyed Junco	Junco phaeonotus	F	UK	u
CARDINALS
Black-headed Grosbeak	Pheucticus melanocephalus	P	UC	m
Blue Grosbeak	Passerina caerulea	P	UC	bs
Hepatic Tanager	Piranga flava	P	Oa	v
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea	P	O	m
Lazuli Bunting	Passerina amoena	P	C	m
Painted Bunting	Passerina ciris	P	Oa	v
Pyrrhuloxia	Cardinalis sinuatus	P	Oa	v
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	P	Oa	m
Scarlet Tanager	Piranga olivacea	P	Oa	v
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra	P	Oa	v
Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana	P	UC	m
ORIOLES and BLACKBIRDS
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula	P	UK	v
Brewer’s Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus	P	R	m
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater	P	UC	bs
Bullock’s Oriole	Icterus bullockii	P	C	bs
Eastern Meadowlark	Sturnella magna	P	C	bs
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus	P	C	bs
Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus	U	Oa	v
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	P	O	m
Scott’s Oriole	Icterus parisorum	P	Oa	v
Western Meadowlark	Sturnella neglecta	P	C	bs
Yellow-headed Blackbird	Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus	P	O	m
FINCHES and ALLIES
American Goldfinch	Spinus tristis	P	O	m
Cassin's Finch	Haemorhous cassinii	P	O	m
Evening Grosbeak	Coccothraustes vespertinus	P	R	r
House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	P	C	by
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	P	C	by
Lesser Goldfinch	Spinus psaltria	P	UC	bs
Pine Siskin	Spinus pinus	P	O	m
Red Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra	P	Oa	v

 

CODES:
PARK STATUS
P	PRESENT: Species present in the park.
H	HISTORIC: Species historical occurrence in the park is documented, but recent investigations indicate that the species is now probably absent
U	UNCONFIRMED: Included for the park based on weak “unconfirmed record” giving minimal indication of the species occurrence in the park.
F	FALSE REPORT: Species previously recorded to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates that the report was based on misidentification.
ABUNDANCE
A	ABUNDANT: Easily seen daily in relatively large numbers in appropriate season and habitat.
C	COMMON: Easily seen daily in appropriate season and habitat, but not in large numbers.
UC	UNCOMMON: Likely to be seen weekly or monthly in appropriate season and habitat. May be locally common.
R	RARE: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
O	OCCASIONAL: Occasionally or sporadically seen, but not observed in the park every year.
UK	UNKNOWN: Abundance unknown.
	Abundance details: Species marked with “Oa” have been sighted in the park fewer than 3 times in the last 40 years.
RESIDENCY STATUS
b	BREEDER: Species that reproduces, or probably reproduces, in the park.
r	RESIDENT: A significant population is maintained in the park for more than two months of each year, but it is not known to breed there.
m	MIGRATORY: Migratory species that occur in the park approximately two months or less each year (usually spring and fall), and do not breed there.
v	VAGRANT: Park is outside of the species’ usual range.
u	UNKNOWN: Residency status in the park is unknown.
	Residency details: Species marked with “by” are breeders present in the park year-round; “bs” species are present during the summer breeding season (Mar.-Aug.) but not year-round. Species marked with “r” are present in winter (usually Oct.–Feb.) but not year-round. Species marked with “v” may be designated “unknown” in the national database.

 

References:

Bridges, A. E. 2018. Checklist 80 Common Birds Petrified Forest National Park.
Chesser, R. T., K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., D. F. Stotz, B. M. Winger, and K. Winker. 2018. Check-list of North American Birds (online). American Ornithological Society. http://checklist.aou.org/taxa
ebird.org. Accepted eBird checklists submitted by park staff and visitors. Accessed 9-24-2018.
iNaturalist.org. Research-grade observations from iNaturalist submitted by park staff and visitors. Accessed 9-24-2018.
Van Riper III, C., and M. Lamow. 2006. A 2006 bird checklist for Petrified Forest National Park. A Century pf Research at Petrified Forest National Park: 1906-2006. Museum of Northern Arizona Bulletin No. 63.