Birds of Winter

 

Return to Birding Section
by Island Artist
Nancy Richards West

Please allow a moment for the data to load.
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