Birds of the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

logomarlow2.jpg (16956 bytes)

We do our birding all the way from Anchorage to Seward to Homer, and concentrate most of our birding trips in the Soldotna area. We do birding and wildlife viewing by road, hikes, power and drift boats, and canoes.

The following bird checklist is from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge list as shown on the USGS web site and the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. For a variety of bird lists, try the following web site: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/chekbird/index.htm

As the preface to the list indicates, birding in Alaska is relatively new, even though some of us have been birding for many years. This list is currently being revised by the Wildlife Refuge staff. Our list of birds seen on our trips is more extensive, and some of the ones they list as casual or accidental we have in our yard, or we often see on our trips. If you have specific birds in mind, we will do our best to help you find them. We do not claim to be "expert" birders, but we can help everyone, of all levels of expertise to find and enjoy our Alaskan birds.

BIRD LIST

Blackbirds	Dippers	Grouse	Kinglets	Ptarmigan	Terns
Bunting	Doves	Gulls	Larks	Raptors	Thrushes
Chickadees	Ducks	Herons	Loons	Sandpipers	Warblers
Cormorants	Finches	Hummingbirds	Nuthatches	Shorebirds	Woodpeckers
Cranes	Flycatchers	Jays	Owls	Sparrows
Creepers	Geese	Jaegers	Petrels	Swallows
Crows	Grebes	Kingfishers	Plovers	Swans

Abundance Key

**Loons**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Red-throated Loon	Gavia stellata*	U	U	U
Pacific Loon	Gavia pacifica*	U	U	U
Common Loon	Gavia immer*	C	C	C

Back

**Grebes**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Horned Grebe	Podiceps auritus*	U	C	C
Red-necked Grebe	Podiceps grisegena*	U	C	C

Back

**Petrels, Cormorants, Herons**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel	Oceanodroma leucorhoa		I	R
Double-crested Cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus*	U	U	U
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias			I

Back

**Swans, Geese, Ducks**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Tundra Swan	Cygnus columbianus	C		C
Trumpeter Swan	Cygnus buccinator*	C	C	C	R
Greater White-fronted Goose	Anser albifrons	A	U	U
Snow Goose	Chen caerulescens	A		R
Emperor Goose	Chen canagica	I		I	I
Brant	Branta bernicla	R	I	R
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis*	A	C	C
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca*	A	C	C
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos*	A	C	C	R
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta*	A	C	C
Blue-winged Teal	Anas discors	R	I	R
Cinnamon Teal	Anas cyanoptera			+
Northern Shoveler	Anas clypeata*	C	U	C
Gadwall	Anas strepera	R	I	R
Eurasian Wigeon	Anas penelope	R
American Wigeon	Anas americana*	A	C	C	R
Canvasback	Aythya valisineria	R	I	R
Redhead	Aythya americana	R	R
Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris*	R	R	R
Greater Scaup	Aythya marila*	C	U	C	U
Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis	R		R
Common Eider	Somateria mollissima		+
Harlequin Duck	Histrionicus histrionicus*	U	U	U	I
Oldsquaw	Clangula hyemalis	+		I
Black Scoter	Melanitta nigra	R	R	R
Surf Scoter	Melanitta perspicillata*	C	C	C
White-winged Scoter	Melanitta fusca*	R	R	R
Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula*	C	C	C	C
Barrow's Goldeneye	Bucephala islandica*	C	C	C	U
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	R		R	U
Common Merganser	Mergus merganser*	C	C	C	C
Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator*	U	U	U

Back

**Raptors**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus*	R	R	R
Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus*	C	C	C	C
Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus*	C	U	C
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus*	C	C	C
Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis*	U	U	U	U
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	C	C	C
Rough-legged Hawk	Buteo lagopus*	R		R
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos*	U	U	U
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius			I
Merlin	Falco columbarius	U	U	U	U
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus*	R	R	R	I
Gyrfalcon	Falco rusticolus	R	R	R	I

Back

**Grouse, Ptarmigan**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Ruffed Grouse	Bonasa umbellus*	R	R	R	R
Spruce Grouse	Dendragapus canadensis*	C	C	C	C
Willow Ptarmigan	Lagopus lagopus*	C	C	C	C
Rock Ptarmigan	Lagopus mutus*	U	U	U	U
White-tailed Ptarmigan	Lagopus leucurus*	U	U	U	U
Sharp-tailed Grouse	Tympanuchus phasianellus			+

Back

**Cranes**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Sandhill Crane	Grus canadensis*	A	C	C

Back

**Plovers, Sandpipers, Shorebirds**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	U		R
American Golden Plover	Pluvialis dominica	U		R
Pacific Golden Plover	Pluvialis fulva	U		U
Semi-palmated Plover	Charadrius mongolus*	C	C	C
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	R
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca*	C	C	C
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes*	C	C	C
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria*	U	U	U
Wandering Tattler	Heteroscelus incanus*	U	U	U
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia*	C	C	C
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	C	U	C
Hudsonian Godwit	Limosa haemastica*	C	C	U
Bar-tailed Godwit	Limosa lapponica			+
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	R	R
Black Turnstone	Arenaria melanocephala		R	R
Surfbird	Aphriza virgata	U	R	R
Red Knot	Calidris canutus			I
Sanderling	Calidris alba	R		R
Semipalmated Sandpiper	Calidris pusilla	U	R	U
Western Sandpiper	Calidris mauri	U	R	U
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla*	C	C	C
Baird's Sandpiper	Calidris bairdii	R		R
Pectoral Sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	C	U	C
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Calidris acuminata			R
Rock Sandpiper	Calidris ptilocnemis			I
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	U		R
Short-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus	C	C	C
Long-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	R
Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago*	C	C	C
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus*	C	C	U

Back

**Jaegers, Gulls, Terns**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Pomarine Jaeger	Stercorarius pomarinus	+
Parasitic Jaeger	Stercorarius parasiticus*	C	C	C
Long-tailed Jaeger	Stercorarius longicaudus	U	R	R
Franklin's Gull	Larus pipixcan	+
Common Black-headed Gull	Larus ridibundus		+
Bonaparte's Gull	Larus philadelphia*	C	C	C
Mew Gull	Larus canus*	A	A	A
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	I	I	I
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus*	C	C	C
Glaucous-winged Gull	Larus glaucescens*	A	A	A
Glaucous Gull	Larus hyperboreus	R	R	R
Black-legged Kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	R	R	U
Sabine's Gull	Xema sabini		I	I
Arctic Tern	Sterna paradisaea*	C	C	U
Aleutian Tern	Sterna aleutica*	R	R	R

Back

**Doves**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Mourning Dove	Zenaidura macroura	I		I

Back

**Owls**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus*	C	C	C	C
Snowy Owl	Nyctea scandiaca			I	I
Northern Hawk-Owl	Surnia ulula	U	U	U	U
Great Gray Owl	Strix nebulosa	R	R	R	R
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus*	U	U	U	R
Boreal Owl	Aegolius funereus*	U	U	U	U
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Aegolius acadicus*	R	R	R	R

Back

**Hummingbirds, Kingfishers**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Rufous Hummingbird	Selasphorus rufus	R	R	R
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon*	U	U	U	I

Back

**Woodpeckers**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Red-breasted Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus ruber	R	R	R
Downy Woodpecker	Picoides pubescens*	C	C	C	C
Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus*	C	C	C	C
Three-toed Woodpecker	Picoides tridactylus*	C	C	C	C
Black-backed Woodpecker	Picoides arcticus*	R	R	R	R
Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus*	R	R	R	R

Back

**Flycatchers**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Olive-sided Flycatcher	Contopus borealis*	U	U	U
Western Wood-Pewee	Contopus sordidulus*	U	U	U
Alder Flycatcher	Empidonax alnorum*	C	C	C
Say's Pheobe	Sayornis phoebe*	R	R	R

Back

**Larks**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris*	U	U	U

Back

**Swallows**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor*	C	C	R
Violet-green Swallow	Tachycineta thalassina*	C	C	R
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia*	C	C	C
Cliff Swallow	Hirundo pyrrhonota*	U	U	U

Back

**Jays, Crows**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Gray Jay	Perisoreus canadensis*	C	C	C	C
Steller's Jay	Cyanocitta stelleri	R	R	R	I
Black-billed Magpie	Pica pica*	C	C	C	C
Northwestern Crow	Corvus caurinus	R	R	R	R
Common Raven	Corvus corax*	C	C	C	C

Back

**Chickadees**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Black-capped Chickadee	Parus atricapillus*	C	C	C	C
Boreal Chickadee	Parus hudsonicus*	C	C	C	C

Back

**Nuthatches, Creepers, Dippers**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta canadensis	U	U	U	U
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana*	U	U	U	U
American Dipper	Cinclus mexicanus*	U	U	U	U

Back

**Warblers, Thrushes, Kinglets**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa*	R	R	U	R
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula*	C	C	C	R
Northern Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	R	R	R
Townsend's Solitaire	Myadestes townsendi	I	I	I
Gray-cheeked Thrush	Catharus minimus*	C	C	C
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus	C	C	C
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus*	C	C	C
American Robin	Turdus migratorius*	C	C	C
Varied Thrush	Ixoreus naevius*	C	C	C
American Pipit	Anthus rubescens*	C	C	C
Bohemian Waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus*	U	U	U	R
Northern Shrike	Lanius excubitor*	U	U	U	R
Orange-crowned Warbler	Vermivora celata*	C	C	C
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia*	U	U	U
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata*	C	C	C	I
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi*	U	U	U
Blackpoll Warbler	Dendroica striata*	U	U	U
Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis*	U	U	U
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla*	U	U	U

Back

**Sparrows**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
American Tree Sparrow	Spizella arborea*	U	U	U
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis*	C	C	C
Fox Sparrow	Passerella iliaca*	C	C	C
Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia*	R	R	R
Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii*	C	C	C
Golden-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia atricapilla*	C	C	C	R
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys*	C	C	C	R
Harris' Sparrow	Zonotrichia querula			+

Back

**Finches, Bunting, and Blackbirds**
Common Name	Scientific Name	S	S	F	W
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis*	C	C	C
Lapland Longspur	Calcarius lapponicus	C		U
Snow Bunting	Plectrophenax nivalis*	U	U	U	U
Rusty Blackbird	Euphagus carolinus*	U	U	U	I
Gray-crowned Rosy-finch	Leucosticte tephrocotis*	U	U	U
Pine Grosbeak	Pinicola enucleator*	U	U	U	U
Red Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra	R	R	R	R
White-winged Crossbill	Loxia leucoptera*	U	U	U	U
Common Redpoll	Carduelis flammea*	C	C	C	C
Hoary Redpoll	Carduelis hornemanni				R
Pine Siskin	Carduelis pinus*	C	C	C	C

Back

Abundance Key

Birds nesting locally are identified with an *.

Seasons: (across the top)

S=spring (Apr-May)

S=summer (Jun-Jul)

F=fall (Aug-Oct)

W=winter (Nov-Mar)

Abundance: The abundance of each species is listed by the following letters:

A	=	Abundant	I	=	Irregular
C	=	Common	+	=	Accidental
U	=	Uncommon	( )	=	never observed on KNWR
R	=	Rare

Back

For more information or reservations contact:
MARLOW'S ON THE KENAI

P.O. Box 2465 P
Soldotna, AK 99669
907-262-5218
E-mail:marlows@alaska.net

Outside of Alaska
Call Toll Free 1-800-725-3327

Home	Lodging	Fishing	Birding	Photos

Back To Top