West Virginia bird checklist
392 bird species in 63 families have been recorded in West Virginia, according to eBird; about 299 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.
Species data: eBird.org, updated · How these lists are made
The most common birds in West Virginia right now
1Canada Goose
2American Robin
3American Crow
4Yellow-rumped Warbler
5Turkey Vulture
6Savannah Sparrow
7House Sparrow
8Blue Jay
9Swainson's Thrush
10Mourning Dove
West Virginia bird checklist
392 species · loading the checklist tools…
Cassowaries and Emu
- Emu
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
- Bar-headed Goose
- Snow Goose
- Ross's Goose
- Graylag Goose
- Swan Goose
- Greater White-fronted Goose
- Brant
- Barnacle Goose
- Cackling Goose
- Canada Goose
- Mute Swan
- Black Swan
- Trumpeter Swan
- Tundra Swan
- Egyptian Goose
- Ruddy Shelduck
- Muscovy Duck
- Wood Duck
- Mandarin Duck
- Garganey
- Blue-winged Teal
- Cinnamon Teal
- Northern Shoveler
- Gadwall
- Eurasian Wigeon
- American Wigeon
- Mallard
- American Black Duck
- White-cheeked Pintail
- Northern Pintail
- Green-winged Teal
- Canvasback
- Redhead
- Ring-necked Duck
- Tufted Duck
- Greater Scaup
- Lesser Scaup
- King Eider
- Harlequin Duck
- Surf Scoter
- White-winged Scoter
- Black Scoter
- Long-tailed Duck
- Bufflehead
- Common Goldeneye
- Hooded Merganser
- Common Merganser
- Red-breasted Merganser
- Ruddy Duck
Guineafowl
- Helmeted Guineafowl
New World Quail
- Northern Bobwhite
- California Quail
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
- Wild Turkey
- Ruffed Grouse
- Golden Pheasant
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Indian Peafowl
- Red Junglefowl
- Chukar
Pigeons and Doves
- Rock Pigeon
- Passenger Pigeon
- Eurasian Collared-Dove
- Inca Dove
- White-winged Dove
- Mourning Dove
Cuckoos
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Black-billed Cuckoo
Nightjars and Allies
- Lesser Nighthawk
- Common Nighthawk
- Chuck-will's-widow
- Eastern Whip-poor-will
Swifts
- Chimney Swift
Hummingbirds
- Mexican Violetear
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Rufous Hummingbird
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- King Rail
- Virginia Rail
- Sora
- Common Gallinule
- American Coot
- Purple Gallinule
- Yellow Rail
- Black Rail
Limpkin
- Limpkin
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
- Marbled 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
- Great Knot
- Red Knot
- 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
- Black-legged Kittiwake
- Sabine's Gull
- Bonaparte's Gull
- Laughing Gull
- Franklin's Gull
- Ring-billed Gull
- Kelp Gull
- American Herring Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Glaucous Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Iceland Gull
- Sooty Tern
- Least Tern
- Caspian Tern
- Black Tern
- Forster's Tern
- Arctic Tern
- Common Tern
Grebes
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Horned Grebe
- Red-necked Grebe
- Eared Grebe
- Western Grebe
Loons
- Red-throated Loon
- Pacific Loon
- Common Loon
Storks
- Wood Stork
Frigatebirds
- Magnificent Frigatebird
Anhingas
- Anhinga
Cormorants and Shags
- Great Cormorant
- Double-crested 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
- 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
- White-tailed Kite
- 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
- 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
- Northern Hawk 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
- Black-backed Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
Falcons and Caracaras
- Crested Caracara
- American Kestrel
- Merlin
- Gyrfalcon
- Peregrine Falcon
Old World Parrots
- Budgerigar
- Red Lory
- Fischer's Lovebird
New World and African Parrots
- Monk Parakeet
- Carolina 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
- Vermilion Flycatcher
- 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
- Northern Shrike
Crows, Jays, and Magpies
- Blue Jay
- Black-billed Magpie
- American Crow
- Fish Crow
- Common Raven
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice
- Carolina Chickadee
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Boreal 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
- Bewick's Wren
Starlings
- European Starling
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
- Gray Catbird
- Brown Thrasher
- Northern Mockingbird
Thrushes and Allies
- Eastern Bluebird
- Townsend's Solitaire
- Varied Thrush
- Veery
- Gray-cheeked Thrush
- Bicknell's Thrush
- Swainson's Thrush
- Hermit Thrush
- Wood Thrush
- American Robin
Waxwings
- Bohemian Waxwing
- Cedar Waxwing
Old World Sparrows
- House Sparrow
Wagtails and Pipits
- American Pipit
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
- Evening Grosbeak
- Pine Grosbeak
- House Finch
- Purple Finch
- Redpoll
- Red Crossbill
- White-winged Crossbill
- Pine Siskin
- American Goldfinch
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
- Lapland Longspur
- Smith's Longspur
- Snow Bunting
New World Sparrows
- Bachman's Sparrow
- Grasshopper Sparrow
- Chipping Sparrow
- Clay-colored Sparrow
- Field 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
- Nelson's Sparrow
- Savannah Sparrow
- Baird's 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
- Western Meadowlark
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Orchard Oriole
- Baltimore Oriole
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Rusty Blackbird
- Brewer's 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
- Swainson's Warbler
- Tennessee Warbler
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Nashville Warbler
- Virginia's Warbler
- Connecticut 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
- 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
- Indigo Bunting
- Painted Bunting
- Dickcissel
Tanagers and Allies
- Red-crested Cardinal
Most common birds in West 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 West Virginia’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrina
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Great EgretArdea alba
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Rock PigeonColumba livia
- American GoldfinchSpinus tristis
- Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea
- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapilla
- European StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- KilldeerCharadrius vociferus
Largest bird families in West Virginia
Among its regular birds.
- Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl38
- New World Warblers34
- Sandpipers and Allies26
- Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers18
- New World Sparrows16
- Hawks, Eagles, and Kites11
- Troupials and Allies10
- Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns9
Reported in the last 30 days
198 species reported to eBird in West Virginia in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:
Canada Goose, American Crow, Blue Jay, Cooper's Hawk, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, American Robin, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Savannah Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, Black Vulture, Nashville Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Tennessee Warbler, Tufted Titmouse, Indigo Bunting, House Finch, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Gray Catbird, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Chipping Sparrow, Turkey Vulture, Scarlet Tanager, Common Raven, Common Yellowthroat, White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Meadowlark, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Bay-breasted Warbler, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Ovenbird, Northern Flicker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, …
Get to know some of them
Canada Goose
American Robin
American Crow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Turkey Vulture
Savannah Sparrow
House Sparrow
Blue Jay
Swainson's Thrush
Mourning Dove
Tennessee Warbler
Cedar Waxwing
Great Egret
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Rock Pigeon
American Goldfinch
Indigo Bunting
Nashville Warbler
European Starling
Killdeer
Chipping Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Northern Flicker
House Finch
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