District of Columbia bird checklist
341 bird species in 59 families have been recorded in District of Columbia, according to eBird; about 263 of them are seen regularly, and the rest are rarities, vagrants and escaped or introduced birds. Download the full list as a PDF, or tick birds off on your phone, with counts and notes, even without signal.
Download the PDF (341 species)
Species data: eBird.org, updated · How these lists are made
The most common birds in District of Columbia right now
1House Sparrow
2Yellow-rumped Warbler
3Mourning Dove
4American Crow
5European Starling
6Rock Pigeon
7Mallard
8Turkey Vulture
9Red-winged Blackbird
10American Robin
District of Columbia bird checklist
341 species · loading the checklist tools…
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
- Snow Goose
- Ross's Goose
- Graylag Goose
- Greater White-fronted Goose
- Brant
- Barnacle Goose
- Cackling Goose
- Canada Goose
- Mute Swan
- Black Swan
- Trumpeter Swan
- Tundra Swan
- Egyptian Goose
- Muscovy Duck
- Wood Duck
- Blue-winged Teal
- Northern Shoveler
- Gadwall
- American Wigeon
- Mallard
- American Black Duck
- Northern Pintail
- Green-winged Teal
- Canvasback
- Redhead
- Ring-necked Duck
- Tufted Duck
- Greater Scaup
- Lesser Scaup
- Surf Scoter
- White-winged Scoter
- Black Scoter
- Long-tailed Duck
- Bufflehead
- Common Goldeneye
- Hooded Merganser
- Common Merganser
- Red-breasted Merganser
- Ruddy Duck
New World Quail
- Northern Bobwhite
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
- Wild Turkey
Pigeons and Doves
- Rock Pigeon
- Common Ground Dove
- White-winged Dove
- Mourning Dove
Cuckoos
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Black-billed Cuckoo
Nightjars and Allies
- Common Nighthawk
- Chuck-will's-widow
- Eastern Whip-poor-will
Swifts
- Chimney Swift
Hummingbirds
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- King Rail
- Clapper Rail
- Virginia Rail
- Sora
- Common Gallinule
- American Coot
- Yellow Rail
- Black Rail
Cranes
- Sandhill Crane
Stilts and Avocets
- Black-necked Stilt
- American Avocet
Plovers and Lapwings
- Black-bellied Plover
- American Golden-Plover
- Killdeer
- Semipalmated Plover
- Piping Plover
Sandpipers and Allies
- Upland Sandpiper
- Hudsonian Whimbrel
- Hudsonian Godwit
- Short-billed Dowitcher
- Long-billed Dowitcher
- American Woodcock
- Wilson's Snipe
- Wilson's Phalarope
- Red Phalarope
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Solitary Sandpiper
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Willet
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Red Knot
- Ruff
- Stilt Sandpiper
- Buff-breasted Sandpiper
- Sanderling
- Dunlin
- Baird's Sandpiper
- White-rumped Sandpiper
- Least Sandpiper
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- Western Sandpiper
- Semipalmated Sandpiper
Skuas and Jaegers
- Long-tailed Jaeger
- Parasitic Jaeger
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
- Little Gull
- Sabine's Gull
- Bonaparte's Gull
- Black-headed Gull
- Laughing Gull
- Franklin's Gull
- Ring-billed Gull
- American Herring Gull
- Yellow-legged Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Glaucous Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- California Gull
- Iceland Gull
- Black Skimmer
- Sooty Tern
- Least Tern
- Gull-billed Tern
- Caspian Tern
- Black Tern
- Forster's Tern
- Arctic Tern
- Common Tern
- Roseate Tern
- Royal Tern
Grebes
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Horned Grebe
- Red-necked Grebe
- Eared Grebe
Loons
- Red-throated Loon
- Pacific Loon
- Common Loon
Northern Storm-Petrels
- Band-rumped Storm-Petrel
Anhingas
- Anhinga
Cormorants and Shags
- Great Cormorant
- Double-crested Cormorant
Ibises and Spoonbills
- White Ibis
- Glossy Ibis
- Roseate Spoonbill
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
- American Bittern
- Least Bittern
- Yellow-crowned Night Heron
- Black-crowned Night Heron
- Little Blue Heron
- Tricolored Heron
- Snowy Egret
- Green Heron
- Western Cattle-Egret
- Great Egret
- Great Blue Heron
Pelicans
- American White Pelican
- Brown Pelican
New World Vultures
- Black Vulture
- Turkey Vulture
Osprey
- Osprey
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
- Swallow-tailed Kite
- Golden Eagle
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Cooper's Hawk
- American Goshawk
- Northern Harrier
- Bald Eagle
- Mississippi Kite
- Broad-winged Hawk
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Rough-legged Hawk
Barn-Owls
- American Barn Owl
Owls
- Eastern Screech-Owl
- Snowy Owl
- Great Horned Owl
- Barred Owl
- Long-eared Owl
- Short-eared Owl
- Northern Saw-whet Owl
Kingfishers
- Belted Kingfisher
Woodpeckers
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Red-headed Woodpecker
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
Falcons and Caracaras
- American Kestrel
- Merlin
- Peregrine Falcon
- Prairie Falcon
Cockatoos
- Cockatiel
Old World Parrots
- Budgerigar
New World and African Parrots
- Monk Parakeet
Tyrant Flycatchers
- Olive-sided Flycatcher
- Eastern Wood-Pewee
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
- Acadian Flycatcher
- Alder Flycatcher
- Willow Flycatcher
- Least Flycatcher
- Eastern Phoebe
- Say's Phoebe
- Ash-throated Flycatcher
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Western Kingbird
- Eastern Kingbird
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
- Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis
- White-eyed Vireo
- Bell's Vireo
- Yellow-throated Vireo
- Blue-headed Vireo
- Philadelphia Vireo
- Eastern Warbling Vireo
- Red-eyed Vireo
Shrikes
- Loggerhead Shrike
Crows, Jays, and Magpies
- Blue Jay
- American Crow
- Fish Crow
- Common Raven
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice
- Carolina Chickadee
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Tufted Titmouse
Larks
- Horned Lark
Swallows
- Bank Swallow
- Tree Swallow
- Purple Martin
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow
- Barn Swallow
- Cliff Swallow
- Cave Swallow
Kinglets
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
Nuthatches
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
Treecreepers
- Brown Creeper
Gnatcatchers
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Wrens
- Northern House Wren
- Winter Wren
- Sedge Wren
- Marsh Wren
- Carolina Wren
Starlings
- European Starling
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
- Gray Catbird
- Brown Thrasher
- Northern Mockingbird
Thrushes and Allies
- Eastern Bluebird
- Veery
- Gray-cheeked Thrush
- Bicknell's Thrush
- Swainson's Thrush
- Hermit Thrush
- Wood Thrush
- American Robin
Waxwings
- Cedar Waxwing
Old World Sparrows
- House Sparrow
Wagtails and Pipits
- American Pipit
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
- Evening Grosbeak
- House Finch
- Purple Finch
- Redpoll
- Red Crossbill
- White-winged Crossbill
- Pine Siskin
- American Goldfinch
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
- Lapland Longspur
- Snow Bunting
New World Sparrows
- Grasshopper Sparrow
- Chipping Sparrow
- Clay-colored Sparrow
- Field Sparrow
- Lark Sparrow
- American Tree Sparrow
- Fox Sparrow
- Dark-eyed Junco
- White-crowned Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Vesper Sparrow
- Seaside Sparrow
- Nelson's Sparrow
- Savannah Sparrow
- Henslow's Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Lincoln's Sparrow
- Swamp Sparrow
- Green-tailed Towhee
- Eastern Towhee
Yellow-breasted Chat
- Yellow-breasted Chat
Troupials and Allies
- Yellow-headed Blackbird
- Bobolink
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Orchard Oriole
- Baltimore Oriole
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Rusty Blackbird
- Common Grackle
New World Warblers
- Ovenbird
- Worm-eating Warbler
- Louisiana Waterthrush
- Northern Waterthrush
- Golden-winged Warbler
- Blue-winged Warbler
- Black-and-white Warbler
- Prothonotary Warbler
- Tennessee Warbler
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Nashville Warbler
- Connecticut Warbler
- MacGillivray's Warbler
- Mourning Warbler
- Kentucky Warbler
- Common Yellowthroat
- Hooded Warbler
- American Redstart
- Cape May Warbler
- Cerulean Warbler
- Northern Parula
- Magnolia Warbler
- Bay-breasted Warbler
- Blackburnian Warbler
- Northern Yellow Warbler
- Chestnut-sided Warbler
- Blackpoll Warbler
- Black-throated Blue Warbler
- Palm Warbler
- Pine Warbler
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Yellow-throated Warbler
- Prairie Warbler
- Black-throated Gray Warbler
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Canada Warbler
- Wilson's Warbler
Cardinals and Allies
- Summer Tanager
- Scarlet Tanager
- Western Tanager
- Northern Cardinal
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Blue Grosbeak
- Indigo Bunting
- Painted Bunting
- Dickcissel
Most common birds in District of Columbia
Ranked by how recently and how widely each was reported to eBird in the 30 days to 2026-10-13, and whether it is one of District of Columbia’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- European StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Rock PigeonColumba livia
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendula
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Northern FlickerColaptes auratus
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Great EgretArdea alba
- Double-crested CormorantNannopterum auritum
- American GoldfinchSpinus tristis
- Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagica
Largest bird families in District of Columbia
Among its regular birds.
- Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl33
- New World Warblers29
- Sandpipers and Allies24
- Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers21
- New World Sparrows14
- Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns9
- Hawks, Eagles, and Kites9
- Troupials and Allies8
Reported in the last 30 days
167 species reported to eBird in District of Columbia in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:
Cape May Warbler, Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, House Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Towhee, Tufted Titmouse, American Crow, Mourning Dove, Black Vulture, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Northern Mockingbird, Carolina Wren, Common Raven, Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Flicker, Red-winged Blackbird, Downy Woodpecker, European Starling, White-throated Sparrow, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Fish Crow, Rock Pigeon, Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Finch, Chimney Swift, White-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, Song Sparrow, Northern House Wren, Common Grackle, Northern Parula, …
Get to know some of them
Blue Jay
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ring-billed Gull
Canada Goose
Northern Flicker
Cedar Waxwing
Great Egret
Double-crested Cormorant
American Goldfinch
Chimney Swift
Swainson's Thrush
White-throated Sparrow
Common Grackle
Wood Duck
Other regions of United States
- Alabama (495)
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- Connecticut (485)
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- Georgia (478)
- Hawaii (362)
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- Indiana (453)
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