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Carlsbad Caverns National Park

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This checklist includes all bird species found in Carlsbad Caverns National Park , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to .

The taxonomic order and nomenclature follows Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2). If you prefer to view the list based on a different authority, click on one of the list available below. Globally threatened species (status in red) were identified by Birdlife International in Birdlife Data Zone (species).

Bird Checklists of the World is part of Avibase and Bird links to the World, which are designed and maintained by Denis Lepage, and hosted by Birds Canada, which is a co-partner of Birdlife International.

© Denis Lepage 2025

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Country or region: Carlsbad Caverns National Park [map]

Number of species: 382
Number of globally threatened species: 8
Number of introduced species: 5
Last modified: 2024-11-27
See also: https://irma.nps.gov/NPSpecies/Reports/SpeciesList/Species%20Full%20List/CAVE/2/false
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ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae

Black-bellied Whistling DuckDendrocygna autumnalisRare/Accidental
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianus
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Snow GooseAnser caerulescens
Ross's GooseAnser rossii
BuffleheadBucephala albeola
Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
Barrow's GoldeneyeBucephala islandica
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
GoosanderMergus merganser
CanvasbackAythya valisineria
RedheadAythya americana
Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanoptera
Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
GadwallMareca strepera
American WigeonMareca americana
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Northern PintailAnas acuta
Common TealAnas crecca
Wood DuckAix sponsa

 
GALLIFORMES: Odontophoridae

Scaled QuailCallipepla squamata
Northern BobwhiteColinus virginianusNear-threatened
Montezuma QuailCyrtonyx montezumae

 
GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae

Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusIntroduced species
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
Lesser Prairie ChickenTympanuchus pallidicinctusVulnerable

 
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Podicipedidae

Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
Western GrebeAechmophorus occidentalis
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollis

 
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae

Rock DoveColumba liviaIntroduced species
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoIntroduced species
Band-tailed PigeonPatagioenas fasciata
White-winged DoveZenaida asiatica
Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
Inca DoveColumbina inca
Common Ground DoveColumbina passerina
Ruddy Ground DoveColumbina talpacotiRare/Accidental

 
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae

Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
Lesser NighthawkChordeiles acutipennis
Common PoorwillPhalaenoptilus nuttallii
Eastern Whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferusNear-threatened

 
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae

Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagicaVulnerable
White-throated SwiftAeronautes saxatalis

 
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Trochilidae

Broad-billed HummingbirdCynanthus latirostris
Magnificent HummingbirdEugenes fulgens
Blue-throated HummingbirdLampornis clemenciae
Lucifer HummingbirdCalothorax lucifer
Black-chinned HummingbirdArchilochus alexandri
Anna's HummingbirdCalypte anna
Costa's HummingbirdCalypte costae
Broad-tailed HummingbirdSelasphorus platycercus
Calliope HummingbirdSelasphorus calliope
Rufous HummingbirdSelasphorus rufusNear-threatened

 
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae

Groove-billed AniCrotophaga sulcirostrisRare/Accidental
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianus
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusRare/Accidental
Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus

 
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae

Virginia RailRallus limicola
SoraPorzana carolina
Common GallinuleGallinula galeata
American CootFulica americana

 
GRUIFORMES: Gruidae

Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensis

 
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae

American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos

 
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae

American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus
Least BitternIxobrychus exilis
Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night HeronNyctanassa violaceaRare/Accidental
Green HeronButorides virescens
Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
Great EgretArdea alba
Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor
Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
Snowy EgretEgretta thula

 
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae

White IbisEudocimus albusRare/Accidental
White-faced IbisPlegadis chihi

 
PELECANIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae

Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic CormorantPhalacrocorax brasilianus

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae

American AvocetRecurvirostra americana
Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae

KilldeerCharadrius vociferusNear-threatened
Snowy PloverCharadrius nivosusNear-threatened

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae

Upland SandpiperBartramia longicauda
Long-billed CurlewNumenius americanus
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusNear-threatened
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaNear-threatened
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaNear-threatened
Western SandpiperCalidris mauri
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusNear-threatened
American WoodcockScolopax minorRare/Accidental
Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata
Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria
WilletTringa semipalmata
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesVulnerable
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaNear-threatened
Wilson's PhalaropeSteganopus tricolor
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus

 
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae

Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcan
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
California GullLarus californicus
Least TernSternula antillarum
Black TernChlidonias niger
Forster's TernSterna forsteri

 
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Cathartidae

Turkey VultureCathartes aura
Black VultureCoragyps atratusRare/Accidental

 
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Pandionidae

OspreyPandion haliaetus

 
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae

White-tailed KiteElanus leucurus
Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatusRare/Accidental
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus
Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii
Northern GoshawkAccipiter gentilis
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus
Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensis
Harris's HawkParabuteo unicinctus
Common Black HawkButeogallus anthracinus
Gray HawkButeo plagiatus
Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatusRare/Accidental
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
Short-tailed HawkButeo brachyurusRare/Accidental
Swainson's HawkButeo swainsoni
Zone-tailed HawkButeo albonotatus
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus
Ferruginous HawkButeo regalis

 
STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae

Common Barn OwlTyto alba

 
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae

Elf OwlMicrathene whitneyi
Burrowing OwlAthene cunicularia
Northern Long-eared OwlAsio otus
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolus
Western Screech OwlMegascops kennicottii
Eastern Screech OwlMegascops asioRare/Accidental
Spotted OwlStrix occidentalisNear-threatened
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus

 
PICIFORMES: Picidae

Northern FlickerColaptes auratus
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideus
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalis
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewis
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorus
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusRare/Accidental
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerPicoides scalaris
Downy WoodpeckerPicoides pubescens
Hairy WoodpeckerPicoides villosus

 
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae

Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon

 
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae

American KestrelFalco sparverius
MerlinFalco columbarius
Prairie FalconFalco mexicanus
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Tyrannidae

Northern Beardless TyrannuletCamptostoma imberbe
Piratic FlycatcherLegatus leucophaiusRare/Accidental
Great KiskadeePitangus sulphuratusRare/Accidental
Tropical KingbirdTyrannus melancholicusRare/Accidental
Cassin's KingbirdTyrannus vociferans
Thick-billed KingbirdTyrannus crassirostris
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalis
Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus
Dusky-capped FlycatcherMyiarchus tuberculifer
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus
Brown-crested FlycatcherMyiarchus tyrannulus
Ash-throated FlycatcherMyiarchus cinerascens
Vermilion FlycatcherPyrocephalus rubinus
Black PhoebeSayornis nigricans
Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebe
Say's PhoebeSayornis saya
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisRare/Accidental
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimus
Hammond's FlycatcherEmpidonax hammondii
Gray FlycatcherEmpidonax wrightii
Dusky FlycatcherEmpidonax oberholseri
Pacific-slope FlycatcherEmpidonax difficilisRare/Accidental
Cordilleran FlycatcherEmpidonax occidentalis
Olive-sided FlycatcherContopus cooperiNear-threatened
Greater PeweeContopus pertinaxRare/Accidental
Western Wood PeweeContopus sordidulus
Eastern Wood PeweeContopus virensRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Vireonidae

White-eyed VireoVireo griseusRare/Accidental
Bell's VireoVireo bellii
Black-capped VireoVireo atricapillaRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Gray VireoVireo vicinior
Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifronsRare/Accidental
Plumbeous VireoVireo plumbeus
Cassin's VireoVireo cassinii
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusRare/Accidental
Hutton's VireoVireo huttoni
Warbling VireoVireo gilvus
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusRare/Accidental
Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus
Yellow-green VireoVireo flavoviridisRare/Accidental

 
PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae

Loggerhead ShrikeLanius ludovicianusNear-threatened

 
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae

Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia
Clark's NutcrackerNucifraga columbiana
Common RavenCorvus corax
Chihuahuan RavenCorvus cryptoleucus
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
Pinyon JayGymnorhinus cyanocephalusVulnerable
Woodhouse's Scrub JayAphelocoma woodhouseii
Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
Steller's JayCyanocitta stelleri

 
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae

House SparrowPasser domesticusIntroduced species

 
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae

American PipitAnthus rubescens
Sprague's PipitAnthus spragueiiVulnerable

 
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae

Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaVulnerable
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus
Cassin's FinchHaemorhous cassinii
Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureusRare/Accidental
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
Pine SiskinSpinus pinus
American GoldfinchSpinus tristis
Lesser GoldfinchSpinus psaltria

 
PASSERIFORMES: Calcariidae

Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcarius ornatusVulnerable
McCown's LongspurRhynchophanes mccownii

 
PASSERIFORMES: Passerellidae

Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallida
Black-chinned SparrowSpizella atrogularis
Field SparrowSpizella pusilla
Brewer's SparrowSpizella breweri
Black-throated SparrowAmphispiza bilineata
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacus
Lark BuntingCalamospiza melanocorys
Cassin's SparrowPeucaea cassinii
Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarum
Green-tailed TowheePipilo chlorurus
Spotted TowheePipilo maculatus
Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmusRare/Accidental
Canyon TowheeKieneria fusca
Rufous-crowned SparrowAimophila ruficeps
Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis
Harris's SparrowZonotrichia querulaNear-threatened
White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
Golden-crowned SparrowZonotrichia atricapilla
Fox SparrowPasserella iliaca
American Tree SparrowPasserella arborea
Le Conte's SparrowAmmospiza leconteiiRare/Accidental
Sagebrush SparrowArtemisiospiza nevadensis
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineus
Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
Baird's SparrowCentronyx bairdiiRare/Accidental
Song SparrowMelospiza melodia
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolnii
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgiana

 
PASSERIFORMES: Parulidae

OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorumRare/Accidental
Louisiana WaterthrushParkesia motacillaRare/Accidental
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysopteraRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Blue-winged WarblerVermivora cyanopteraRare/Accidental
Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
Swainson's WarblerLimnothlypis swainsoniiRare/Accidental
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaRare/Accidental
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celata
Lucy's WarblerLeiothlypis luciae
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapilla
Virginia's WarblerLeiothlypis virginiae
MacGillivray's WarblerGeothlypis tolmiei
Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosaRare/Accidental
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
Hooded WarblerSetophaga citrina
American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaRare/Accidental
Cerulean WarblerSetophaga ceruleaRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Northern ParulaSetophaga americana
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaRare/Accidental
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaRare/Accidental
Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fuscaRare/Accidental
Yellow WarblerSetophaga petechia
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanica
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataRare/Accidental Near-threatened
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumRare/Accidental
Pine WarblerSetophaga pinusRare/Accidental
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata
Yellow-throated WarblerSetophaga dominicaRare/Accidental
Prairie WarblerSetophaga discolorRare/Accidental
Grace's WarblerSetophaga graciae
Black-throated Gray WarblerSetophaga nigrescens
Townsend's WarblerSetophaga townsendi
Hermit WarblerSetophaga occidentalis
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensRare/Accidental
Canada WarblerCardellina canadensisRare/Accidental
Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusilla
Red-faced WarblerCardellina rubrifrons
Painted RedstartMyioborus pictus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Icteridae

Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virens
Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusRare/Accidental
Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magnaNear-threatened
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglecta
Scott's OrioleIcterus parisorum
Bullock's OrioleIcterus bullockii
Streak-backed OrioleIcterus pustulatusRare/Accidental
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaRare/Accidental
Hooded OrioleIcterus cucullatus
Orchard OrioleIcterus spurius
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus
Bronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneus
Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater
Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinusVulnerable
Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalus
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaNear-threatened
Great-tailed GrackleQuiscalus mexicanus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Cardinalidae

Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
Black-headed GrosbeakPheucticus melanocephalus
DickcisselSpiza americana
Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea
Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea
Lazuli BuntingPasserina amoena
Varied BuntingPasserina versicolor
Painted BuntingPasserina ciris
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaRare/Accidental
Summer TanagerPiranga rubra
Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana
Hepatic TanagerPiranga flava
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
PyrrhuloxiaCardinalis sinuatus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Paridae

Juniper TitmouseBaeolophus ridgwayi
Mountain ChickadeePoecile gambeli

 
PASSERIFORMES: Remizidae

VerdinAuriparus flaviceps

 
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae

Horned LarkEremophila alpestris

 
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae

Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave SwallowPetrochelidon fulva
Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor
Violet-green SwallowTachycineta thalassina
Purple MartinProgne subis
Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis

 
PASSERIFORMES: Aegithalidae

BushtitPsaltriparus minimus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Regulidae

Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendula
Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa

 
PASSERIFORMES: Bombycillidae

Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum

 
PASSERIFORMES: Ptiliogonatidae

PhainopeplaPhainopepla nitens

 
PASSERIFORMES: Certhiidae

American TreecreeperCerthia americana

 
PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae

Pygmy NuthatchSitta pygmaea
Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis

 
PASSERIFORMES: Troglodytidae

Boulder WrenSalpinctes obsoletus
Canyon WrenCatherpes mexicanus
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusRare/Accidental
Winter WrenTroglodytes hiemalis
House WrenTroglodytes aedon
Sedge WrenCistothorus platensisRare/Accidental
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianusRare/Accidental
Bewick's WrenThryomanes bewickii
Cactus WrenCampylorhynchus brunneicapillus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Polioptilidae

Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea
Black-tailed GnatcatcherPolioptila melanura

 
PASSERIFORMES: Mimidae

Blue MockingbirdMelanotis caerulescensRare/Accidental
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos
Sage ThrasherOreoscoptes montanus
Curve-billed ThrasherToxostoma curvirostre
Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufum
Long-billed ThrasherToxostoma longirostreRare/Accidental
Crissal ThrasherToxostoma crissale

 
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae

Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisIntroduced species

 
PASSERIFORMES: Cinclidae

American DipperCinclus mexicanus

 
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae

Western BluebirdSialia mexicana
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialis
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoides
Townsend's SolitaireMyadestes townsendi
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusRare/Accidental
Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelinaRare/Accidental
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
VeeryCatharus fuscescens
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusRare/Accidental
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus
American RobinTurdus migratorius

 

References (partial list)

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