Places › National Parks › Yellowstone › Birds

Birds of Yellowstone National Park

The birds most often spotted in Yellowstone, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

21,238
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 21,238 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Yellowstone. The most frequently seen is the Common Raven, with 2,609 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Yellowstone include Barrow's Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck and Great Gray Owl - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Barrow's GoldeneyeHarlequin DuckGreat Gray Owl

Most-observed birds in Yellowstone

Common Raven
Corvus corax
2,609 observations
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
1,101 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
939 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
816 observations
Trumpeter Swan
Cygnus buccinator
756 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
715 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
686 observations
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
671 observations
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
668 observations
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
624 observations
Barrow's Goldeneye
Bucephala islandica
610 observations
Clark's Nutcracker
Nucifraga columbiana
595 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
549 observations
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
503 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
474 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
461 observations
Harlequin Duck
Histrionicus histrionicus
460 observations
Canada Jay
Perisoreus canadensis
449 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
435 observations
Dusky Grouse
Dendragapus obscurus
425 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
404 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
403 observations
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
383 observations
Violet-green Swallow
Tachycineta thalassina
370 observations
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
338 observations
American Dipper
Cinclus mexicanus
303 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
291 observations
American Wigeon
Mareca americana
291 observations
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
287 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
265 observations
American Coot
Fulica americana
258 observations
Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli
250 observations
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
244 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
243 observations
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
229 observations
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
222 observations
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
212 observations
Cinnamon Teal
Spatula cyanoptera
194 observations
Pine Siskin
Spinus pinus
151 observations
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
148 observations
Cassin's Finch
Haemorhous cassinii
146 observations
Swainson's Hawk
Buteo swainsoni
130 observations
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
123 observations
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
122 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
119 observations
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
118 observations
Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
116 observations
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
115 observations
Great Gray Owl
Strix nebulosa
109 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
108 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

Birds in nearby places

Out spotting birds in Yellowstone?

Take Huck with you. Identify any bird you find in seconds and build your collection.

Get Huck

Love birds? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.