List of birds of Wisconsin
Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in Wisconsin as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants.
These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground.
Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying.
Order: Apodiformes Family: Trochilidae Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings.
The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers.
They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings.
Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae Skuas and jaegers are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings.
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated.
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae Petrels and shearwaters are pelagic tubenoses which spend most of their time at sea.
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans.
Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of colored skin on the face.
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak.
Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae Pandionidae is a monotypic family of fish-eating birds of prey, possessing a very large, powerful hooked beak for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.
Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey.
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.
Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects.
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights.
These adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and short bills with a wide gape.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Polioptilidae These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their structure and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects.
Many species have distinctive black head patterns (especially males) and long, regularly cocked, black-and-white tails.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly but not exclusively in the Old World.
One hypothetical species has been recorded in Wisconsin Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae Old World sparrows are small passerine birds.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteriidae This species was historically placed in the wood-warblers (Parulidae) but nonetheless most authorities were unsure if it belonged there.
Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae The wood-warblers are a group of small and often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World.
