Virginia bird checklist
540 bird species in 76 families have been recorded in Virginia, according to eBird; about 371 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 (540 species)
Species data: eBird.org, updated · How these lists are made
The most common birds in Virginia right now
1Double-crested Cormorant
2Ring-billed Gull
3Canada Goose
4House Sparrow
5Yellow-rumped Warbler
6American Crow
7Turkey Vulture
8Great Blue Heron
9European Starling
10Mourning Dove
Virginia bird checklist
540 species · loading the checklist tools…
Cassowaries and Emu
- Emu
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
- West Indian Whistling-Duck
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck
- Bar-headed Goose
- Snow Goose
- Ross's Goose
- Graylag Goose
- Swan Goose
- Greater White-fronted Goose
- Pink-footed Goose
- Brant
- Barnacle Goose
- Cackling Goose
- Canada Goose
- Mute Swan
- Black Swan
- Black-necked Swan
- Trumpeter Swan
- Tundra Swan
- Egyptian Goose
- Ruddy Shelduck
- Muscovy Duck
- Ringed Teal
- Wood Duck
- Mandarin Duck
- Garganey
- Blue-winged Teal
- Cinnamon Teal
- Northern Shoveler
- Gadwall
- Eurasian Wigeon
- American Wigeon
- Mallard
- American Black Duck
- Mottled Duck
- White-cheeked Pintail
- Northern Pintail
- Green-winged Teal
- Canvasback
- Redhead
- Ring-necked Duck
- Tufted Duck
- Greater Scaup
- Lesser Scaup
- King Eider
- Common Eider
- Harlequin Duck
- Surf Scoter
- White-winged Scoter
- Black Scoter
- Long-tailed Duck
- Bufflehead
- Common Goldeneye
- Barrow's Goldeneye
- Hooded Merganser
- Common Merganser
- Red-breasted Merganser
- Ruddy Duck
Guineafowl
- Helmeted Guineafowl
New World Quail
- Northern Bobwhite
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
- Wild Turkey
- Ruffed Grouse
- Golden Pheasant
- Lady Amherst's Pheasant
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Green Pheasant
- Indian Peafowl
- Green Peafowl
- Red Junglefowl
- Chukar
Pigeons and Doves
- Rock Pigeon
- White-crowned Pigeon
- Passenger Pigeon
- Eurasian Collared-Dove
- African Collared-Dove
- Diamond Dove
- Inca Dove
- Common Ground Dove
- White-winged Dove
- Mourning Dove
Cuckoos
- Groove-billed Ani
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Black-billed Cuckoo
Nightjars and Allies
- Common Nighthawk
- Chuck-will's-widow
- Eastern Whip-poor-will
Swifts
- Chimney Swift
Hummingbirds
- Mexican Violetear
- Rivoli's Hummingbird
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Anna's Hummingbird
- Calliope Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Allen's Hummingbird
- Violet-crowned Hummingbird
- Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- King Rail
- Clapper Rail
- Virginia Rail
- Paint-billed Crake
- Sora
- Common Gallinule
- American Coot
- Purple Gallinule
- Yellow Rail
- Black Rail
Limpkin
- Limpkin
Cranes
- Sandhill Crane
Stilts and Avocets
- Black-necked Stilt
- American Avocet
Oystercatchers
- American Oystercatcher
Plovers and Lapwings
- Black-bellied Plover
- European Golden-Plover
- American Golden-Plover
- Killdeer
- Common Ringed Plover
- Semipalmated Plover
- Piping Plover
- Northern Lapwing
- Siberian Sand-Plover
- Wilson's Plover
- Mountain Plover
- Snowy Plover
Sandpipers and Allies
- Upland Sandpiper
- Hudsonian Whimbrel
- Eurasian Whimbrel
- Long-billed Curlew
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Hudsonian Godwit
- Marbled Godwit
- Short-billed Dowitcher
- Long-billed Dowitcher
- American Woodcock
- Eurasian Woodcock
- Wilson's Snipe
- Wilson's Phalarope
- Red Phalarope
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Terek Sandpiper
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Solitary Sandpiper
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Willet
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Red Knot
- Ruff
- Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Stilt Sandpiper
- Red-necked Stint
- Buff-breasted Sandpiper
- Sanderling
- Dunlin
- Purple Sandpiper
- Baird's Sandpiper
- White-rumped Sandpiper
- Least Sandpiper
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- Western Sandpiper
- Semipalmated Sandpiper
Skuas and Jaegers
- Long-tailed Jaeger
- Parasitic Jaeger
- Pomarine Jaeger
- Great Skua
- South Polar Skua
Auks, Murres, and Puffins
- Atlantic Puffin
- Black Guillemot
- Razorbill
- Dovekie
- Thick-billed Murre
- Common Murre
- Ancient Murrelet
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
- Little Gull
- Black-legged Kittiwake
- Sabine's Gull
- Bonaparte's Gull
- Black-headed Gull
- Laughing Gull
- Franklin's Gull
- Black-tailed Gull
- Heermann's Gull
- Common Gull
- Short-billed Gull
- Ring-billed Gull
- American Herring Gull
- Vega Gull
- Yellow-legged Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Glaucous Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- California Gull
- Iceland Gull
- Black Skimmer
- Brown Noddy
- Sooty Tern
- Bridled Tern
- Least Tern
- Gull-billed Tern
- Caspian Tern
- Black Tern
- White-winged Tern
- Forster's Tern
- Arctic Tern
- Common Tern
- Roseate Tern
- Sandwich Tern
- Elegant Tern
- Royal Tern
Flamingos
- Chilean Flamingo
- American Flamingo
Grebes
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Horned Grebe
- Red-necked Grebe
- Eared Grebe
- Western Grebe
- Clark's Grebe
Tropicbirds
- White-tailed Tropicbird
- Red-billed Tropicbird
Loons
- Red-throated Loon
- Pacific Loon
- Common Loon
Albatrosses
- Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
- Black-browed Albatross
Southern Storm-Petrels
- Wilson's Storm-Petrel
- White-faced Storm-Petrel
Northern Storm-Petrels
- European Storm-Petrel
- Leach's Storm-Petrel
- Band-rumped Storm-Petrel
Shearwaters and Petrels
- Northern Fulmar
- Trindade Petrel
- Desertas Petrel
- Bermuda Petrel
- Black-capped Petrel
- Bulwer's Petrel
- Cory's Shearwater
- Scopoli's Shearwater
- Great Shearwater
- Sooty Shearwater
- Manx Shearwater
- Sargasso Shearwater
Storks
- Wood Stork
Frigatebirds
- Magnificent Frigatebird
Boobies and Gannets
- Northern Gannet
- Brown Booby
- Masked Booby
Anhingas
- Anhinga
Cormorants and Shags
- Great Cormorant
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Neotropic Cormorant
Ibises and Spoonbills
- White Ibis
- Glossy Ibis
- White-faced Ibis
- Roseate Spoonbill
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
- American Bittern
- Least Bittern
- Yellow-crowned Night Heron
- Black-crowned Night Heron
- Little Blue Heron
- Tricolored Heron
- Reddish Egret
- Snowy Egret
- Little Egret
- Green Heron
- Western Cattle-Egret
- Great Egret
- Gray Heron
- Great Blue Heron
Pelicans
- American White Pelican
- Brown Pelican
New World Vultures
- Black Vulture
- Turkey Vulture
Osprey
- Osprey
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
- White-tailed Kite
- Swallow-tailed Kite
- Golden Eagle
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Cooper's Hawk
- American Goshawk
- Western Marsh Harrier
- Northern Harrier
- Bald Eagle
- Mississippi Kite
- Snail Kite
- Broad-winged Hawk
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Zone-tailed Hawk
- Swainson's Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Rough-legged Hawk
- Ferruginous Hawk
Barn-Owls
- American Barn Owl
Owls
- Eastern Screech-Owl
- Snowy Owl
- Great Horned Owl
- Burrowing Owl
- Barred Owl
- Long-eared Owl
- Short-eared Owl
- Northern Saw-whet Owl
Kingfishers
- Belted Kingfisher
Woodpeckers
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Lewis's Woodpecker
- Red-headed Woodpecker
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Red-cockaded Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
Falcons and Caracaras
- Crested Caracara
- American Kestrel
- Merlin
- Gyrfalcon
- Peregrine Falcon
- Prairie Falcon
Cockatoos
- Cockatiel
Old World Parrots
- Rose-ringed Parakeet
- Budgerigar
- Rosy-faced Lovebird
New World and African Parrots
- Monk Parakeet
- Nanday Parakeet
- Red-masked Parakeet
Tyrant Flycatchers
- Olive-sided Flycatcher
- Western Wood-Pewee
- Eastern Wood-Pewee
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
- Acadian Flycatcher
- Alder Flycatcher
- Willow Flycatcher
- Least Flycatcher
- Hammond's Flycatcher
- Gray Flycatcher
- Dusky Flycatcher
- Western Flycatcher
- Eastern Phoebe
- Say's Phoebe
- Vermilion Flycatcher
- Ash-throated Flycatcher
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Tropical Kingbird
- Couch's Kingbird
- Western Kingbird
- Eastern Kingbird
- Gray 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
- Black-whiskered Vireo
Shrikes
- Loggerhead Shrike
- Northern Shrike
Crows, Jays, and Magpies
- Blue Jay
- Black-billed Magpie
- House Crow
- American Crow
- Fish Crow
- Common Raven
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice
- Carolina Chickadee
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Boreal Chickadee
- Tufted Titmouse
- Great Tit
Larks
- Horned Lark
Swallows
- Bank Swallow
- Tree Swallow
- Violet-green Swallow
- Purple Martin
- Brown-chested Martin
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow
- Barn Swallow
- Cliff Swallow
- Cave Swallow
Kinglets
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
Nuthatches
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Brown-headed Nuthatch
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
Treecreepers
- Brown Creeper
Gnatcatchers
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Wrens
- Rock Wren
- Northern House Wren
- Winter Wren
- Sedge Wren
- Marsh Wren
- Carolina Wren
- Bewick's Wren
Starlings
- European Starling
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
- Gray Catbird
- Brown Thrasher
- Sage Thrasher
- Northern Mockingbird
Thrushes and Allies
- Eastern Bluebird
- Mountain Bluebird
- Townsend's Solitaire
- Varied Thrush
- Veery
- Gray-cheeked Thrush
- Bicknell's Thrush
- Swainson's Thrush
- Hermit Thrush
- Wood Thrush
- American Robin
Old World Flycatchers
- Red-flanked Bluetail
- Northern Wheatear
Waxwings
- Bohemian Waxwing
- Cedar Waxwing
Weavers and Allies
- Northern Red Bishop
Waxbills and Allies
- Zebra Finch
- Orange-cheeked Waxbill
Old World Sparrows
- House Sparrow
Wagtails and Pipits
- Eastern Yellow Wagtail
- White Wagtail
- American Pipit
- Sprague's Pipit
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
- Evening Grosbeak
- Pine Grosbeak
- Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
- House Finch
- Purple Finch
- European Greenfinch
- Redpoll
- Red Crossbill
- White-winged Crossbill
- European Goldfinch
- Island Canary
- Pine Siskin
- Lesser Goldfinch
- American Goldfinch
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
- Lapland Longspur
- Chestnut-collared Longspur
- Smith's Longspur
- Snow Bunting
New World Sparrows
- Bachman's Sparrow
- Grasshopper Sparrow
- Chipping Sparrow
- Clay-colored Sparrow
- Field Sparrow
- Brewer's Sparrow
- Black-throated Sparrow
- Lark Sparrow
- Lark Bunting
- American Tree Sparrow
- Fox Sparrow
- Dark-eyed Junco
- White-crowned Sparrow
- Harris's Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Vesper Sparrow
- LeConte's Sparrow
- Seaside Sparrow
- Nelson's Sparrow
- Saltmarsh Sparrow
- Savannah Sparrow
- Henslow's Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Lincoln's Sparrow
- Swamp Sparrow
- Green-tailed Towhee
- Spotted Towhee
- Eastern Towhee
Yellow-breasted Chat
- Yellow-breasted Chat
Troupials and Allies
- Yellow-headed Blackbird
- Bobolink
- Western Meadowlark
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Orchard Oriole
- Bullock's Oriole
- Baltimore Oriole
- Scott's Oriole
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Shiny Cowbird
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Rusty Blackbird
- Brewer's Blackbird
- Common Grackle
- Boat-tailed Grackle
New World Warblers
- Ovenbird
- Worm-eating Warbler
- Louisiana Waterthrush
- Northern Waterthrush
- Bachman's Warbler
- Golden-winged Warbler
- Blue-winged Warbler
- Black-and-white Warbler
- Prothonotary Warbler
- Swainson's Warbler
- Tennessee Warbler
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Lucy's Warbler
- Nashville Warbler
- Virginia's Warbler
- Connecticut Warbler
- MacGillivray's Warbler
- Mourning Warbler
- Kentucky Warbler
- Common Yellowthroat
- Hooded Warbler
- American Redstart
- Kirtland's Warbler
- 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
- Townsend's Warbler
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Canada Warbler
- Wilson's Warbler
Cardinals and Allies
- Summer Tanager
- Scarlet Tanager
- Western Tanager
- Northern Cardinal
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Black-headed Grosbeak
- Blue Grosbeak
- Lazuli Bunting
- Indigo Bunting
- Painted Bunting
- Dickcissel
Tanagers and Allies
- Saffron Finch
Most common birds in Virginia
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 Virginia’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.
- Double-crested CormorantNannopterum auritum
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
- European StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- Northern FlickerColaptes auratus
- Great EgretArdea alba
- Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla
- Forster's TernSterna forsteri
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus
- Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Largest bird families in Virginia
Among its regular birds.
- Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl43
- New World Warblers37
- Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers29
- Sandpipers and Allies29
- New World Sparrows20
- Troupials and Allies12
- Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns11
- Hawks, Eagles, and Kites10
Reported in the last 30 days
289 species reported to eBird in Virginia in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:
Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Mockingbird, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Northern Flicker, Eastern Towhee, Forster's Tern, Royal Tern, Laughing Gull, Gray Catbird, Canada Goose, Fish Crow, Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, House Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Carolina Chickadee, Eastern Bluebird, Brown Thrasher, House Finch, American Robin, Bald Eagle, Dark-eyed Junco, Chipping Sparrow, Pine Warbler, Black Vulture, Cape May Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern House Wren, …
Get to know some of them
American Robin
Northern Flicker
Great Egret
Laughing Gull
Forster's Tern
Blue Jay
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Dark-eyed Junco
Mallard
Chipping Sparrow
American Kestrel
American Goldfinch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Other regions of United States
- Alabama (495)
- Alaska (592)
- Arizona (627)
- Arkansas (442)
- California (900)
- Colorado (553)
- Connecticut (485)
- Delaware (460)
- District of Columbia (341)
- Florida (734)
- Georgia (478)
- Hawaii (362)
- Idaho (458)
- Illinois (513)
- Indiana (453)
- Iowa (448)
- Kansas (494)
- Kentucky (426)
- Louisiana (518)
- Maine (483)
- Maryland (514)
- Massachusetts (581)
- Michigan (488)
- Minnesota (474)
- Mississippi (438)
- Missouri (443)
- Montana (468)
- Nebraska (490)
- Nevada (524)
- New Hampshire (447)
- New Jersey (547)
- New Mexico (598)
- New York (605)
- North Carolina (519)
- North Dakota (434)
- Ohio (495)
- Oklahoma (490)
- Oregon (591)
- Pennsylvania (508)
- Rhode Island (447)
- South Carolina (484)
- South Dakota (452)
- Tennessee (472)
- Texas (791)
- Utah (508)
- Vermont (412)
- Washington (579)
- West Virginia (392)
- Wisconsin (508)
- Wyoming (473)