Assateague Naturalist Information

Birds of Winter

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Photos are included for birds common or abundant all year (others are being added).

Sighting Information:
Abundant - a species which is very numerous
Common - certain to be seen or heard in suitable habitat
Uncommon - present, but not certain to be seen
Occasional - seen only a few times during a season
Rare - seen at intervals of two to five years

Listing Order
Birds are listed alphabetically by the base word of the common name (such as Sandpiper) and then by the full common name (such as Baird's Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, etc.).

Please allow a moment or two for the data to download.
The data will appear below on this page.

Database Courtesy: Assateague.com

American Avocet
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

American Bittern
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Red-winged Blackbird
Winter Sighting Information: abundant
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Rusty Blackbird
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Eastern Bluebird
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Bobolink
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Northern Bobwhite
Winter Sighting Information: abundant
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Brant
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Bufflehead
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Snow Bunting
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Canvasback
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Northern Cardinal
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Gray Catbird
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Yellow-breasted Chat
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Carolina Chickadee
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

American Coot
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Double-crested Cormorant
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Great Cormorant
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Brown-headed Cowbird
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Brown Creeper
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Red Crossbill
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

American Crow
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Fish Crow
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Mourning Dove
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Rock Dove
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Long-billed Dowitcher
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Short-billed Dowitcher
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

American Black Duck
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Ring-necked Duck
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Ruddy Duck
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Wood Duck
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Dunlin
Winter Sighting Information: abundant
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Bald Eagle
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Great Egret
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Snowy Egret
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Common Eider
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Peregrine Falcon
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Northern Flicker
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Gadwall
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Common Goldeneye
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

American Goldfinch
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Canada Goose
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Greater Snow Goose
Winter Sighting Information: abundant
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Greater White-fronted Goose
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Boat-tailed Grackle
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Common Grackle
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Horned Grebe
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Pied-billed Grebe
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Red-necked Grebe
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Evening Grosbeak
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Bonaparte's Gull
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Greater Black-backed Gull
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Herring Gull
Winter Sighting Information: abundant
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Laughing Gull
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Ring-billed Gull
Winter Sighting Information: abundant
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Northern Harrier
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Cooper's Hawk
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Red-shouldered Hawk
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Red-tailed Hawk
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Rough-legged Hawk
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Black-crowned Night Heron
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Great Blue Heron
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Little Blue Heron
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Tricolored Heron
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Glossy Ibis
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Blue Jay
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Dark-eyed Junco
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

American Kestrel
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Killdeer
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Belted Kingfisher
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Golden-crowned Kinglet
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Red Knot
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Horned Lark
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Lapland Longspur
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Common Loon
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Red-throated Loon
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Mallard
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Eastern Meadowlark
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Common Merganser
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Hooded Merganser
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Red-breasted Merganser
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Merlin
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Northern Mockingbird
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Brown-headed Nuthatch
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Red-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

White-breasted Nuthatch
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Oldsquaw
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Barn Owl
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Eastern Screech Owl
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Great Horned Owl
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Long-eared Owl
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Short-eared Owl
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Snowy Owl
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

American Oystercatcher
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

American White Pelican
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Eastern Phoebe
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Northern Pintail
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

American Pipit
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Black-bellied Plover
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Clapper Rail
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

King Rail
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Virginia Rail
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Redhead
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Common Redpoll
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

American Robin
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Sanderling
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Least Sandpiper
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Pectoral Sandpiper
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Spotted Sandpiper
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Western Sandpiper
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Greater Scaup
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Lesser Scaup
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Black Scoter
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Surf Scoter
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

White-winged Scoter
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Northern Shoveler
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Pine Siskin
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Black Skimmer
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Common Snipe
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

American Tree Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Field Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Fox Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Savannah Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Seaside Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Song Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Swamp Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Vesper Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

White-crowned Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

White-throated Sparrow
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

European Starling
Winter Sighting Information: abundant
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Tree Swallow
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Mute Swan
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Tundra Swan
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Blue-winged Teal
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Green-winged Teal
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Common Tern
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Foster's Tern
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Royal Tern
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Brown Thrasher
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Hermit Thrush
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Eastern Towhee
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Ruddy Turnstone
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Black Vulture
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Turkey Vulture
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Orange-crowned Warbler
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Palm Warbler
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Pine Warbler
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Winter Sighting Information: abundant
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Cedar Waxwing
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Whimbrel
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

American Wigeon
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Eurasian Wigeon
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Willet
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

American Woodcock
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Downy Woodpecker
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Hairy Woodpecker
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Pileated Woodpecker
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Carolina Wren
Winter Sighting Information: common
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

House Wren
Winter Sighting Information: rare
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Sedge Wren
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Winter Wren
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Greater Yellowlegs
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Lesser Yellowlegs
Winter Sighting Information: occasional
Nest on or near Refuge? no

Common Yellowthroat
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? yes

Table data from:
Birds - Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
(Brochure, December 1997, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Photos in this section are from the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, G. Gough, I. Thomas, and B. G. Peterjohn. 1997. The North American Breeding Bird Survey Results and Analysis. Version 96.4. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD