Birds of Napatree Point Conservation Area:
A Checklist and Photo Guide
By Reynold Larsen 		 
   
Last Revised: 12 July 2020  
Click on the species name for a photograph
(numbers in parentheses are additional photos of the same species) 		 
   
Species Latin Name
   
ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae - Ducks, Geese and Swans
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens
Brant Branta bernicla
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Gadwall Anas strepera
American Wigeon Anas americana
American Black Duck Anas rubripes
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
Canvasback Aythya valisineria
Redhead Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
Greater Scaup Aythya marila
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
King Eider Somateria spectabilis
Common Eider (2) Somateria mollissima
Harlequin Duck (2) Histrionicus histrionicus
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata
White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca
Black Scoter Melanitta americana
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
Common Merganser Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
 
GAVIIFORMES: Gaviidae - Loons
Red-throated Loon (2) (3) Gavia stellata
Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica
Common Loon, (2) Gavia immer
 
PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae - Grebes
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Horned Grebe (2) (3) Podiceps auritus
Red-necked Grebe, (2) Podiceps grisegena
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
 
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Procellariidae - Shearwaters and Petrels 
Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea
 
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Hydrobatidae - Storm-Petrels 
Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Leach's Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
 
SULIFORMES: Sulidae - Boobies and Gannets 
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
 
SULIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorant, (2) Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Cormorant, (2) (3) Phalacrocorax carbo
 
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae - Pelicans 
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
 
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae - Bitterns, Herons and Allies 
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Great Egret Ardea alba
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea
 
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae - Ibises and Spoonbills 
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi
 
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Cathartidae - New World Vultures 
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
 
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Pandionidae - Ospreys 
Osprey, (2) Pandion haliaetus
 
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae - Hawks, Kites, Eagles and Allies 
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
Cooper's Hawk, (2) Accipiter cooperii
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
 
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae - Rails, Gallinules and Coots 
Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
Sora Porzana carolina
American Coot Fulica americana
 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae - Stilts and Avocets 
American Avocet Recurvirostra americana
 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Haematopodidae - Oystercatchers
American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus
 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae - Lapwings and Plovers 
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica
Wilson's Plover Charadrius wilsonia
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
Piping Plover Charadrius melodus
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae - Sandpipers, Phalaropes and Allies 
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Greater Yellowlegs (2) Tringa melanoleuca
Willet Tringa semipalmata
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
Whimbrel (2) Numenius phaeopus
Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Red Knot Calidris canutus
Ruff Calidris pugnax
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
Sanderling Calidris alba
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Calidris subruficollis
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
American Woodcock Scolopax minor
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius
 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Stercorariidae - Skuas and Jaegers 
Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus
Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus
 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Alcidae - Auks, Murres and Puffins 
Dovekie Alle alle
Common Murre Uria aalge
Razorbill Alca torda
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle
 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae - Gulls, Terns and Skimmers 
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
Sabine's Gull Xema sabini
Bonaparte's Gull (2) Chroicocephalus philadelphia
Laughing Gull (2) Leucophaeus atricilla
Franklin's Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus
Bridled Tern Onychoppryon anaethetus
Least Tern Sternula antillarum
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
Black Skimmer Rynchops niger
 
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae - Pigeons and Doves 
Rock Pigeon Columba livia
White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
 
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae - Cuckoos, Roadrunners and Anis 
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
 
STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae - Barn Owls 
Barn Owl Tyto alba
 
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae - Typical Owls 
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus
Barred Owl Strix varia
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus
 
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae - Goatsuckers 
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
 
APODIFORMES: Apodidae - Swifts 
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica
 
APODIFORMES: Trochilidae - Hummingbirds 
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
 
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae - Kingfishers 
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
 
PICIFORMES: Picidae - Woodpeckers and Allies 
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
 
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae - Caracaras and Falcons  
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Merlin Falco columbarius
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
Peregrine Falcon (2) Falco peregrinus
 
PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae - Lories, Parakeets, Macaws and Parrots 
Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus
 
PASSERIFORMES: Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers 
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris
Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens
Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum
Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
 
PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae - Shrikes 
Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor
 
PASSERIFORMES: Vireonidae - Vireos 
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
 
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae - Jays and Crows 
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus
Common Raven Corvus corax
 
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae - Larks 
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
 
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae - Swallows 
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Purple Martin Progne subis
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva
 
PASSERIFORMES: Paridae - Chickadees and Titmice 
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonicus
 
PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae - Nuthatches 
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2) Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
 
PASSERIFORMES: Certhiidae - Creepers 
Brown Creeper Certhia americana
 
PASSERIFORMES: Troglodytidae - Wrens 
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis
Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
 
PASSERIFORMES: Polioptilidae - Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
 
PASSERIFORMES: Regulidae - Kinglets 
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
 
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae - Thrushes 
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
Veery Catharus fuscescens
Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus
Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina
American Robin Turdus migratorius
 
PASSERIFORMES: Mimidae - Mockingbirds and Thrashers 
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum

Northern Mockingbird (2)

Mimus polyglottos
 
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae - Starlings 
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
 
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae - Wagtails and Pipits 
American Pipit Anthus rubescens
 
PASSERIFORMES: Bombycillidae - Waxwings 
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
 
PASSERIFORMES: Calcariidae - Longspurs and Snow Buntings 
Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
 
PASSERIFORMES: Parulidae - Wood-Warblers 
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea
Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina
Orange-crowned Warbler Oreothlypis celata
Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla
Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis
Mourning Warbler Geothlypis philadelphia
Kentucky Warbler Geothlypis formosa
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina
Northern Parula Setophaga americana
Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia
Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea
Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia
Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica
Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata
Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum
Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus
Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata
Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor
Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens
Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis
Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
 
PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae - Emberizids
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
LeConte's Sparrow Ammodramus leconteii
Nelson's Sparrow Ammodramus nelsoni
Saltmarsh Sparrow Ammodramus caudacutus
Seaside Sparrow Ammodramus maritimus
American Tree Sparrow Spizelloides arborea
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida
Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla
Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Savannah Sparrow (Ipswich) Passerculus sandwichensis princeps
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
 
PASSERIFORMES: Cardinalidae - Cardinals, Piranga Tanagers and Allies 
Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
Dickcissel Spiza americana
 
PASSERIFORMES: Icteridae - Blackbirds
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
 
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae - Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies 
House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus
Red Crossbill (2, 3) Loxia curvirostra
White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera
Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea
Pine Siskin Spinus pinus
American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus
 
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae - Old World Sparrows 
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
References and Credits:
- The species listed here were observed by Reynold Larsen during bird surveys of Napatree Point he has conducted since 1963. Additional observations

were provided by Mr. Christopher Raithel of the RI Department of Environmental Management and Kevin Rogers of the Napatree Point Conservation Area.

- All photos were taken by Reynold Larsen unless otherwise indicated. Use is permitted for non-commerical purposes only. Please credit the photographer.


- Taxonomy obtained from Avibase - http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/avibase.jsp
- This list and photo atlas is provided as a free service by the Napatree Point Conservation Area (NTPCA),

Watch Hill Fire District/Watch Hill Conservancy. If you have questions or comments, please contact Napatreenaturalist@gmail.com