A print version of the Arctic Refuge bird list is available in PDF format (420 kb file). This file prints horizontally onto legal paper.(PDF information.)

Bird List

195 bird species have been recorded on the Arctic Refuge. This list describes their status and abundance. Many birds migrate outside of the Refuge in the winter, so unless otherwise noted the information is for spring, summer or fall.

REGIONS OF THE REFUGE

Coastal Plain

The area between the coast and the Brooks Range. This area is sometimes split in to the coast (the lagoons, barrier islands and Beaufort Sea areas) and inland (upland areas near the foothills of the Brooks Range).

Brooks Range

The mountains, valleys, and foothills north and south of the continental divide.

South Side

The foothills, taiga and boreal forest south of the Brooks Range.

STATUS

Permanent Resident

Present throughout the year and breeds in the area.

Summer Resident

Only present during the period from May to September.

Migrant

Travels through on the way to wintering or breeding areas.

Breeder

Documented as a breeding species.

Visitor

Present as a non-breeding species.

*

Not Documented

ABUNDANCE

Abundant

Very numerous in suitable habitats.

Common

Very likely to be seen or heard in suitable habitats.

Fairly Common

Numerous but not always present in suitable habitats.

Uncommon

Occurs regularly, but not always observed either because of lower abundance or secretive behaviors.

Rare

Occurs regularly but in very small numbers so not commonly observed.

Casual

Beyond its normal range but irregularly observed.

Accidental

Far from its normal range. Further observations unlikely.

GEESE, SWANS, DUCKS

___ Greater White-fronted Goose

Common spring/fall migrant and uncommon breeder on coastal plain. Rare migrant in Brooks Range. Common spring migrant on south side.

___ Snow Goose

Common spring migrant, rare summer visitor and abundant fall migrant on coastal plain. Uncommon spring migrant on south side.

___ Ross's Goose

Casual spring migrant on coastal plain. Hypothetical fall migrant (*).

___ Brant

Uncommon breeder and common migrant on coast.

___ Cackling Goose (formerly a subspecies of Canada Goose)

Common breeder and migrant on coastal plain.

___ Canada Goose

Uncommon breeder on south side. Rare migrant in Brooks Range.

___ Trumpeter Swan

Casual breeder and visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Tundra Swan

Common breeder on coastal plain. Uncommon migrant on south side.

___ Gadwall

Casual visitor to coastal plain.

___ Eurasian Wigeon

Casual visitor to coastal plain.

___ American Wigeon

Uncommon migrant on coastal plain. Uncommon in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Common breeder on south side.

___ Mallard

Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Uncommon elsewhere on coastal plain, in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Northern Shoveler

Uncommon visitor on coastal plain and south side. May breed in these areas (*). Rare visitor in Brooks Range.

___ Northern Pintail

Common breeder and migrant on coastal plain and on south side. Rare visitor in Brooks Range.

___ Green-winged Teal

Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain. Rare breeder and migrant along coast. Common in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Uncommon breeder on south side.

___ Canvasback

Casual visitor on coastal plain and south side.

___ Redhead

Casual visitor on south side.

___ Ring-necked Duck

Casual visitor in Brooks Range. Likely rare visitor on south side (*).

___ Greater Scaup

Uncommon migrant and visitor along coast. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Common visitor on south side.

___ Lesser Scaup

Rare breeder and visitor on inland areas of coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Common summer resident on south side, where it likely breeds (*).

___ Steller's Eider

Rare visitor along coast.

___ Spectacled Eider

Rare breeder and uncommon visitor along coast.

___ King Eider

Fairly common breeder and uncommon migrant along coast.

___ Common Eider

Common breeder on coastal islands. Common migrant along coast.

___ Harlequin Duck

Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Rare visitor on south side.

___ Surf Scoter

Uncommon migrant along coast. Uncommon on the inland coastal plain and south side. May breed in both areas (*).

___ White-winged Scoter

Rare on inland lakes of coastal plain. Common migrant along coast. Rare visitor in Brooks Range. Common visitor on south side. May breed in all areas (*).

___ Black Scoter

Uncommon migrant along coast.

___ Long-tailed Duck

Common breeder on coastal plain. Abundant fall migrant along coast. Uncommon in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Common visitor and uncommon breeder on south side.

___ Bufflehead

Rare visitor to Brooks Range and south side.

___ Common Goldeneye

Rare visitor to all areas. May breed on south side (*).

___ Barrow's Goldeneye

Casual visitor on south side.

___ Smew

Accidental visitor on coastal plain.

___ Common Merganser

Casual visitor on inland coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon visitor to south side.

___ Red-breasted Merganser

Rare breeder and fairly common migrant on coast. Fairly common breeder on inland coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range. Common on south side, where it may breed (*).

GROUSE, PTARMIGAN

___ Ruffed Grouse

Rare permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Spruce Grouse

Uncommon permanent resident on south side.

___ Willow Ptarmigan

Uncommon permanent resident along coast. Common to abundant permanent resident elsewhere on Refuge.

___ Rock Ptarmigan

Common permanent resident in all areas of Refuge.

___ Sharp-tailed Grouse

Annual populations vary. Uncommon permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

LOONS

___ Red-throated Loon

Fairly common breeder and migrant along coast. Rare breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Pacific Loon

Common breeder on coastal plain and south side. Common migrant along coast. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range.

___ Common Loon

Rare visitor along coast. Rare on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Yellow-billed Loon

Uncommon migrant on coast. Rare migrant on inland coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range and rare breeder on larger lakes in this area.

GREBES

___ Horned Grebe

Casual visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon on inland coastal plain and south side. May breed in both areas (*).

___ Red-necked Grebe

Casual visitor to coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Rare on south side, where it may breed (*).

FULMARS, SHEARWATERS

___ Northern Fulmar

Rare offshore visitor.

___ Short-tailed Shearwater

Rare visitor along coast, mostly offshore.

RAPTORS

___ Osprey

Accidental visitor on coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Bald Eagle

Casual visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon breeder on south side.

___ Northern Harrier

Uncommon summer resident on coastal plain. May breed on inland coastal plain (*). Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Uncommon visitor on south side.

___ Sharp-shinned Hawk

Casual visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Northern Goshawk

Casual visitor on inland coastal plain. Uncommon breeder on south side.

___ Swainson's Hawk

Casual breeder on south side.

___ Red-tailed Hawk

Rare visitor on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Rough-legged Hawk

Rare visitor along coast. Uncommon breeder on inland areas of coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Rare breeder on south side.

___ Golden Eagle

Fairly common visitor on coastal plain. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range. Uncommon breeder on south side.

FALCONS

___ American Kestrel

Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.

___ Merlin

Rare visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon in Brooks Range and on south side. May breed in all areas (*).

___ Gyrfalcon

Uncommon permanent resident on inland coastal plain, in Brooks Range and on south side. Rare visitor to coast.

___ Peregrine Falcon

Rare breeder and uncommon visitor on coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

COOTS, RAILS

___ American Coot

Rare visitor on south side.

CRANES

___ Sandhill Crane

Rare breeder and uncommon summer resident on coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).

SHOREBIRDS

___ Black-bellied Plover

Rare breeder and migrant on coastal plain. Fairly common fall migrant along coast. Rare visitor in Brooks Range.

___ American Golden-Plover

Common breeder on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Rare visitor on south side.

___ Semipalmated Plover

Uncommon breeder on coastal islands. Fairly common breeder on inland coastal plain. Rare visitor elsewhere on coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Killdeer

Casual visitor on coastal plain.

___ Eurasian Dotterel

Casual visitor on coastal plain.

___ Lesser Yellowlegs

Casual visitor along coast. Uncommon in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Common breeder on south side.

___ Solitary Sandpiper

Rare in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Uncommon breeder on south side.

___ Wandering Tattler

Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range. Fairly common breeder on south side.

___ Spotted Sandpiper

Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain.Common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Upland Sandpiper

Fairly common breeder on inland coastal plain, Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Whimbrel

Uncommon visitor to coast and in Brooks Range. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Rare visitor and breeder on south side.

___ Black-tailed Godwit

Accidental visitor to coast.

___ Hudsonian Godwit

Casual visitor on coastal plain.

___ Bar-tailed Godwit

Uncommon on coastal plain, where it may breed (*).

___ Ruddy Turnstone

Fairly common breeder on coast and uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range.

___ Surfbird

Rare breeder in Brooks Range.

___ Red Knot

Rare migrant along coast.

___ Sanderling

Rare breeder on coastal plain. Rare spring and uncommon fall migrant along coast. Casual visitor on south side.

___ Semipalmated Sandpiper

Abundant breeder in coastal areas and common breeder on inland coastal plain. Common fall migrant along coast. Rare visitor in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Western Sandpiper

Rare on coastal plain, where it may breed (*). Uncommon fall migrant along coast.

___ Red-necked Stint

Casual visitor on coast.

___ Least Sandpiper

Rare visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.

___ White-rumped Sandpiper

Rare breeder and spring migrant, and uncommon fall migrant, on coastal plain. Casual visitor on south side.

___ Baird's Sandpiper

Uncommon breeder on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Common migrant on south side.

___ Pectoral Sandpiper

Abundant breeder on coastal plain. Abundant fall migrant along coast. Fairly common migrant in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Casual migrant on coast.

___ Dunlin

Uncommon breeder and fall migrant along coast. Rare migrant on south side.

___ Stilt Sandpiper

Uncommon breeder and fall migrant on coastal plain.

___ Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Uncommon breeder and migrant on coastal plain.

___ Ruff

Casual visitor on coastal plain.

___ Long-billed Dowitcher

Uncommon breeder and fairly common summer visitor on coastal plain. Common fall migrant along coast. Uncommon migrant on south side.

___ Wilson's Snipe

Rare visitor on coastal plain. Fairly common in Brooks Range. May breed in both these areas (*). Common breeder on south side.

___ Wilson's Phalarope

Accidental visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range.

___ Red-necked Phalarope

Common breeder on coastal plain and south side. Common to abundant fall migrant along coast. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range.

___ Red Phalarope

Fairly common breeder in coastal areas, east to Jago Delta. Uncommon elsewhere on coastal plain. Uncommon fall migrant along coast.

JAEGERS, GULLS, TERNS

___ Pomarine Jaeger

Common spring migrant, summer visitor, and occasional common breeder on the coast. Breeding occurs in years of high lemming populations. Common migrant in Brooks Range.

___ Parasitic Jaeger

Common summer resident and uncommon breeder on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon migrant on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Long-tailed Jaeger

Fairly common breeder on inland coastal plain. Common summer resident and rare breeder along coast. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Rare visitor to south side.

___ Bonaparte's Gull

Casual visitor to coastal plain and Brooks Range. Uncommon visitor on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Mew Gull

Rare visitor and breeder on coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Herring Gull

Rare migrant and visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon breeder on south side.

___ Thayer's Gull

Rare visitor on coastal plain.

___ Slaty-backed Gull

Casual visitor along coast.

___ Glaucous-winged Gull

Casual visitor in Brooks Range.

___ Glaucous Gull

Common breeder and abundant summer resident along coast. Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain.Common breeder in Brooks Range.

___ Sabine's Gull

Uncommon breeder and migrant along coast.

___ Black-legged Kittiwake

Rare visitor along coast, mostly offshore.

___ Ross' Gull

Rare migrant along coast.

___ Ivory Gull

Rare migrant along coast.

___ Arctic Tern

Uncommon breeder on coast. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Common summer resident on coastal plain and Brooks Range (breeding not documented). Uncommon visitor on south side.

ALCIDS

___ Thick-billed Murre

Rare migrant along coast.

___ Black Guillemot

Uncommon summer resident and rare breeder along coast.

___ Least Auklet

Casual visitor along coast.

___ Horned Puffin

Rare visitor along coast.

OWLS

___ Great Horned Owl

Uncommon permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Snowy Owl

Annual populations vary. Uncommon to common permanent resident and occasional rare breeder on coastal plain. Breeding occurs in years of high lemming populations. Rare visitor in Brooks Range.

___ Northern Hawk-Owl

Uncommon permanent resident on south side.

___ Great Grey Owl

Rare permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Short-eared Owl

Uncommon to common breeder on coastal plain. Breeding occurs in years of high lemming populations. Fairly common in Brooks Range. Rare summer visitor on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Boreal Owl

Uncommon permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

GOATSUCKERS

___ Common Nighthawk

Casual visitor to coastal plain.

HUMMINGBIRDS

___ Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Accidental visitor in Brooks Range.

___ Rufous Hummingbird

Accidental visitor on coastal plain.

KINGFISHERS

___ Belted Kingfisher

Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon summer resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

WOODPECKERS

___ Downy Woodpecker

Rare permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Hairy Woodpecker

Rare permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ American Three-toed Woodpecker

Uncommon breeder on south side.

___ Black-backed Woodpecker

Rare permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Northern Flicker

Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS

___ Olive-sided Flycatcher

Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Alder Flycatcher

Common breeder on south side.

___ Hammond's Flycatcher

Accidental visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Eastern Phoebe

Accidental visitor on coastal plain.

___ Say's Phoebe

Rare visitor on coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range.

___ Eastern Kingbird

Accidental visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range.

SHRIKES

___ Northern Shrike

Rare visitor on inland coastal plain, where it may breed (*). Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

CORVIDS

___ Gray Jay

Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Common permanent resident on south side.

___ Common Raven

Uncommon permanent resident and possible rare breeder (*) on coastal plain. Uncommon permanent resident in Brooks Range and on south side, where it may breed (*).

LARKS

___ Horned Lark

Rare breeder inland and visitor elsewhere on coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range. Rare visitor on south side.

SWALLOWS

___ Tree Swallow

Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Violet-green Swallow

Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Bank Swallow

Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon in Brooks Range and on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Cliff Swallow

Rare visitor on coastal plain, where it may breed (*). Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Barn Swallow

Casual visitor on coastal plain.

CHICKADEES

___ Black-capped Chickadee

Uncommon permanent resident on south side.

___ Boreal Chickadee

Rare visitor in Brooks Range. Uncommon permanent resident on south side.

___ Gray-headed Chickadee

Uncommon permanent resident in Brooks Range and on south side.

NUTHATCHES

___ Red-breasted Nuthatch

Casual visitor on south side.

DIPPERS

___ American Dipper

Uncommon permanent resident throughout Refuge, except along the coast.

KINGLETS, OLD WORLD WARBLERS, AND THRUSHES

___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Uncommon visitor in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.

___ Arctic Warbler

Rare in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Uncommon breeder on south side.

___ Bluethroat

Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range.

___ Northern Wheatear

Rare visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range.

___ Townsend's Solitaire

Uncommon visitor in Brooks Range. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Gray-cheeked Thrush

Rare visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.

___ Swainson's Thrush

Common breeder on south side.

___ Hermit Thrush

Accidental visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ American Robin

Rare visitor to coast. Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range.Abundant breeder on south side.

___ Varied Thrush

Casual visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.

WAGTAILS, PIPITS

___ Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Fairly common breeder on coastal plain. Rare visitor to south side.

___ American Pipit

Rare breeder and uncommon fall migrant on coastal plain. Abundant breeder in Brooks Range.

WAXWINGS

___ Bohemian Waxwing

Casual visitor in Brooks Range. Fairly common summer resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Cedar Waxwing

Accidental visitor on coastal plain.

WOOD WARBLERS, SPARROWS, BUNTINGS, BLACKBIRDS

___ Orange-crowned Warbler

Casual visitor to coastal plain. Fairly common breeder on south side.

___ Yellow Warbler

Rare visitor to coast. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Fairly common breeder on south side.

___ Yellow-rumped Warbler

Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.

___ Blackpoll Warbler

Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Northern Waterthrush

Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Wilson's Warbler

Rare visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon breeder on south side.

___ Western Tanager

Accidental visitor in Brooks Range.

___ American Tree Sparrow

Rare visitor to coast. Common breeder on inland coastal plain. Abundant breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Chipping Sparrow

Casual visitor on coastal plain.

___ Clay-colored Sparrow

Accidental visitor on coastal plain.

___ Savannah Sparrow

Common breeder on coastal plain, in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Fox Sparrow

Rare visitor on coast. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Lincoln's Sparrow

Rare visitor on south side.

___ White-throated Sparrow

Casual visitor on coastal plain.

___ White-crowned Sparrow

Rare visitor along coast. Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range. Abundant breeder on south side.

___ Golden-crowned Sparrow

Rare in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Uncommon breeder on south side.

___ Dark-eyed Junco

Rare visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Abundant breeder on south side.

___ Lapland Longspur

Abundant breeder on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon migrant on south side.

___ Smith's Longspur

Rare visitor to coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.

___ Snow Bunting

Common breeder along coast and in Brooks Range.

___ Red-winged Blackbird

Casual visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range.

___ Rusty Blackbird

Casual visitor on coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range. Uncommon breeder on south side.

___ Brown-headed Cowbird

Casual visitor on coastal plain.

FINCHES

___ Gray-crowned Rosy-finch

Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range. Uncommon summer resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ Pine Grosbeak

Uncommon permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).

___ White-winged Crossbill

Common permanent resident on south side.

___ Common Redpoll

Common breeder on coastal plain, in Brooks Range and on south side. Permanent resident on south side.

___ Hoary Redpoll

Common breeder on coastal plain, in Brooks Range and on south side. Permanent resident on south side.

___ Pine Siskin

Casual visitor on coastal plain. Rare visitor on south side.

You can help us keep this check list current by sending information of any unusual sightings to arctic_refuge@fws.gov. Information on species not on the list, or those that have abundance or status listed as not documented, would be especially valuable. A photograph is the best way to document an usual sighting. To help you record bird sightings, daily observation sheets are available on our website at http://arctic.fws.gov/birdobs.htm.

[Bird listing updated October 2008.]