201 bird species have been recorded on the Arctic Refuge. This list describes their status and abundance. Many birds migrate outside of the Refuge in the winter, so unless otherwise noted the information is for spring, summer or fall.
REGIONS OF THE REFUGE
Coastal Plain: The area between the coast and the Brooks Range. This area is sometimes split in to the coast (the lagoons, barrier islands and Beaufort Sea areas) and inland (upland areas near the foothills of the Brooks Range).
Brooks Range: The mountains, valleys, and foothills north and south of the continental divide.
South Side: The foothills, taiga and boreal forest south of the Brooks Range.
STATUS
Permanent Resident: Present throughout the year and breeds in the area.
Summer Resident: Only present during the period from May to September.
Migrant: Travels through on the way to wintering or breeding areas.
Breeder: Documented as a breeding species.
Visitor: Present as a non-breeding species.
*Not Documented
ABUNDANCE
Abundant: Very numerous in suitable habitats.
Common: Very likely to be seen or heard in suitable habitats.
Fairly Common: Numerous but not always present in suitable habitats.
Uncommon: Occurs regularly, but not always observed either because of lower abundance or secretive behaviors.
Rare: Occurs regularly but in very small numbers so not commonly observed.
Casual: Beyond its normal range but irregularly observed.
Accidental: Far from its normal range. Further observations unlikely.
GEESE, SWANS, DUCKS
___ Greater White-fronted Goose
Common spring/fall migrant and uncommon breeder on coastal plain. Rare migrant in Brooks Range. Common spring migrant on south side.
___ Snow Goose
Common spring migrant, rare summer visitor and abundant fall migrant on coastal plain. Uncommon spring migrant on south side.
___ Ross's Goose
Casual spring migrant on coastal plain. Hypothetical fall migrant (*).
___ Brant
Uncommon breeder and common migrant on coast.
___ Cackling Goose (formerly a subspecies of Canada Goose)
Common breeder and migrant on coastal plain.
___ Canada Goose
Uncommon breeder on south side. Rare migrant in Brooks Range.
___ Trumpeter Swan
Casual breeder and visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Tundra Swan
Common breeder on coastal plain. Uncommon migrant on south side.
___ Gadwall
Casual visitor to coastal plain.
___ Eurasian Wigeon
Casual visitor to coastal plain.
___ American Wigeon
Uncommon migrant on coastal plain. Uncommon in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Common breeder on south side.
___ Mallard
Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Uncommon elsewhere on coastal plain, in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Northern Shoveler
Uncommon visitor on coastal plain and south side. May breed in these areas (*). Rare visitor in Brooks Range.
___ Northern Pintail
Common breeder and migrant on coastal plain and on south side. Rare visitor in Brooks Range.
___ Green-winged Teal
Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain. Rare breeder and migrant along coast. Common in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Canvasback
Casual visitor on coastal plain and south side.
___ Redhead
Casual visitor on south side.
___ Ring-necked Duck
Casual visitor in Brooks Range. Likely rare visitor on south side (*).
___ Greater Scaup
Uncommon migrant and visitor along coast. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Common visitor on south side.
___ Lesser Scaup
Rare breeder and visitor on inland areas of coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Common summer resident on south side, where it likely breeds (*).
___ Steller's Eider
Rare visitor along coast.
___ Spectacled Eider
Rare breeder and uncommon visitor along coast.
___ King Eider
Fairly common breeder and uncommon migrant along coast.
___ Common Eider
Common breeder on coastal islands. Common migrant along coast.
___ Harlequin Duck
Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Rare visitor on south side.
___ Surf Scoter
Uncommon migrant along coast. Uncommon on the inland coastal plain and south side. May breed in both areas (*).
___ White-winged Scoter
Rare on inland lakes of coastal plain. Common migrant along coast. Rare visitor in Brooks Range. Common visitor on south side. May breed in all areas (*).
___ Black Scoter
Uncommon migrant along coast.
___ Long-tailed Duck
Common breeder on coastal plain. Abundant fall migrant along coast. Uncommon in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Common visitor and uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Bufflehead
Rare visitor to Brooks Range and south side.
___ Common Goldeneye
Rare visitor to all areas. May breed on south side (*).
___ Barrow's Goldeneye
Casual visitor on south side.
___ Smew
Accidental visitor on coastal plain.
___ Common Merganser
Casual visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon visitor to south side.
___ Red-breasted Merganser
Rare breeder and fairly common migrant on coast. Fairly common breeder on inland coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range. Common on south side, where it may breed (*).
GROUSE, PTARMIGAN
___ Ruffed Grouse
Rare permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Spruce Grouse
Uncommon permanent resident on south side.
___ Willow Ptarmigan
Uncommon permanent resident along coast. Common to abundant permanent resident elsewhere on Refuge.
___ Rock Ptarmigan
Common permanent resident in all areas of Refuge.
___ Sharp-tailed Grouse
Annual populations vary. Uncommon permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
LOONS
___ Red-throated Loon
Fairly common breeder and migrant along coast. Rare breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Pacific Loon
Common breeder on coastal plain and south side. Common migrant along coast. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range.
___ Common Loon
Rare visitor along coast. Rare on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Yellow-billed Loon
Uncommon migrant on coast. Rare migrant on inland coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range and rare breeder on larger lakes in this area.
GREBES
___ Horned Grebe
Casual visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon on inland coastal plain and south side. May breed in both areas (*).
___ Red-necked Grebe
Casual visitor to coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Rare on south side, where it may breed (*).
FULMARS, SHEARWATERS
___ Northern Fulmar
Rare offshore visitor.
___ Short-tailed Shearwater
Rare visitor along coast, mostly offshore.
RAPTORS
___ Osprey
Accidental visitor on coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Bald Eagle
Casual visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Northern Harrier
Uncommon summer resident on coastal plain. May breed on inland coastal plain (*). Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Uncommon visitor on south side.
___ Sharp-shinned Hawk
Casual visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Northern Goshawk
Casual visitor on inland coastal plain. Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Swainson's Hawk
Casual breeder on south side.
___ Red-tailed Hawk
Rare visitor on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Rough-legged Hawk
Rare visitor along coast. Uncommon breeder on inland areas of coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Rare breeder on south side.
___ Golden Eagle
Fairly common visitor on coastal plain. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range. Uncommon breeder on south side.
FALCONS
___ American Kestrel
Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.
___ Merlin
Rare visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon in Brooks Range and on south side. May breed in all areas (*).
___ Gyrfalcon
Uncommon permanent resident on inland coastal plain, in Brooks Range and on south side. Rare visitor to coast.
___ Peregrine Falcon
Rare breeder and uncommon visitor on coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
COOTS, RAILS
___ American Coot
Rare visitor on south side.
CRANES
___ Sandhill Crane
Rare breeder and uncommon summer resident on coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).
SHOREBIRDS
___ Black-bellied Plover
Rare breeder and migrant on coastal plain. Fairly common fall migrant along coast. Rare visitor in Brooks Range.
___ American Golden-Plover
Common breeder on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Rare visitor on south side.
___ Semipalmated Plover
Uncommon breeder on coastal islands. Fairly common breeder on inland coastal plain. Rare visitor elsewhere on coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Killdeer
Casual visitor on coastal plain.
___ Eurasian Dotterel
Casual visitor on coastal plain.
___ Spotted Sandpiper
Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain.Common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Solitary Sandpiper
Rare in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Wandering Tattler
Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range. Fairly common breeder on south side.
___ Lesser Yellowlegs
Casual visitor along coast. Uncommon in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Common breeder on south side.
___ Upland Sandpiper
Fairly common breeder on inland coastal plain, Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Whimbrel
Uncommon visitor to coast and in Brooks Range. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Rare visitor and breeder on south side.
___ Black-tailed Godwit
Accidental visitor to coast.
___ Hudsonian Godwit
Casual visitor on coastal plain.
___ Bar-tailed Godwit
Uncommon on coastal plain, where it may breed (*).
___ Ruddy Turnstone
Fairly common breeder on coast and uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range.
___ Surfbird
Rare breeder in Brooks Range.
___ Red Knot
Rare migrant along coast.
___ Sanderling
Rare breeder on coastal plain. Rare spring and uncommon fall migrant along coast. Casual visitor on south side.
___ Semipalmated Sandpiper
Abundant breeder in coastal areas and common breeder on inland coastal plain. Common fall migrant along coast. Rare visitor in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Western Sandpiper
Rare on coastal plain, where it may breed (*). Uncommon fall migrant along coast.
___ Red-necked Stint
Casual visitor on coast.
___ Least Sandpiper
Rare visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.
___ White-rumped Sandpiper
Rare breeder and spring migrant, and uncommon fall migrant, on coastal plain. Casual visitor on south side.
___ Baird's Sandpiper
Uncommon breeder on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Common migrant on south side.
___ Pectoral Sandpiper
Abundant breeder on coastal plain. Abundant fall migrant along coast. Fairly common migrant in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Casual migrant on coast.
___ Dunlin
Uncommon breeder and fall migrant along coast. Rare migrant on south side.
___ Stilt Sandpiper
Uncommon breeder and fall migrant on coastal plain.
___ Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Uncommon breeder and migrant on coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range.
___ Ruff
Casual visitor on coastal plain.
___ Long-billed Dowitcher
Uncommon breeder and fairly common summer visitor on coastal plain. Common fall migrant along coast. Uncommon migrant on south side.
___ Wilson's Snipe
Rare visitor on coastal plain. Fairly common in Brooks Range. May breed in both these areas (*). Common breeder on south side.
___ Wilson's Phalarope
Accidental visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range.
___ Red-necked Phalarope
Common breeder on coastal plain and south side. Common to abundant fall migrant along coast. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range.
___ Red Phalarope
Fairly common breeder in coastal areas, east to Jago Delta. Uncommon elsewhere on coastal plain. Uncommon fall migrant along coast.
JAEGERS, GULLS, TERNS
___ Black-legged Kittiwake
Rare visitor along coast, mostly offshore.
___ Ivory Gull
Rare migrant along coast.
___ Sabine's Gull
Uncommon breeder and migrant along coast.
___ Bonaparte's Gull
Casual visitor to coastal plain and Brooks Range. Uncommon visitor on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Ross' Gull
Rare migrant along coast.
___ Mew Gull
Rare visitor and breeder on coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Herring Gull
Rare migrant and visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Thayer's Gull
Rare visitor on coastal plain.
___ Slaty-backed Gull
Casual visitor along coast.
___ Glaucous-winged Gull
Casual visitor in Brooks Range and on coast.
___ Glaucous Gull
Common breeder and abundant summer resident along coast. Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain.Common breeder in Brooks Range.
___ Caspian Tern
Accidental visitor on coast.
___ Arctic Tern
Uncommon breeder on coast. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Common summer resident on coastal plain and Brooks Range (breeding not documented). Uncommon visitor on south side.
___ Pomarine Jaeger
Common spring migrant, summer visitor, and occasional common breeder on the coast. Breeding occurs in years of high lemming populations. Common migrant in Brooks Range.
___ Parasitic Jaeger
Common summer resident and uncommon breeder on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon migrant on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Long-tailed Jaeger
Fairly common breeder on inland coastal plain. Common summer resident and rare breeder along coast. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Rare visitor to south side.
ALCIDS
___ Thick-billed Murre
Rare migrant along coast.
___ Black Guillemot
Uncommon summer resident and rare breeder along coast.
___ Least Auklet
Casual visitor along coast.
___ Horned Puffin
Rare visitor along coast.
___ Tufted Puffin
Casual visitor along coast.
OWLS
___ Great Horned Owl
Uncommon permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Snowy Owl
Annual populations vary. Uncommon to common permanent resident and occasional rare breeder on coastal plain. Breeding occurs in years of high lemming populations. Rare visitor in Brooks Range.
___ Northern Hawk-Owl
Uncommon permanent resident on south side.
___ Great Grey Owl
Rare permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Short-eared Owl
Uncommon to common breeder on coastal plain. Breeding occurs in years of high lemming populations. Fairly common in Brooks Range. Rare summer visitor on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Boreal Owl
Uncommon permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
GOATSUCKERS
___ Common Nighthawk
Casual visitor to coastal plain.
HUMMINGBIRDS
___ Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Accidental visitor in Brooks Range.
___ Rufous Hummingbird
Accidental visitor on coastal plain.
KINGFISHERS
___ Belted Kingfisher
Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon summer resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
WOODPECKERS
___ Downy Woodpecker
Rare permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Hairy Woodpecker
Rare permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ American Three-toed Woodpecker
Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Black-backed Woodpecker
Rare permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Northern Flicker
Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
___ Olive-sided Flycatcher
Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Western Wood-Pewee
Rare on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Casual visitor on south side.
___ Alder Flycatcher
Common breeder on south side.
___ Hammond's Flycatcher
Accidental visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Eastern Phoebe
Accidental visitor on coastal plain.
___ Say's Phoebe
Rare visitor on coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range.
___ Eastern Kingbird
Accidental visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range.
SHRIKES
___ Northern Shrike
Rare visitor on inland coastal plain, where it may breed (*). Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
CORVIDS
___ Gray Jay
Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Common permanent resident on south side.
___ Common Raven
Uncommon permanent resident and possible rare breeder (*) on coastal plain. Uncommon permanent resident in Brooks Range and on south side, where it may breed (*).
LARKS
___ Horned Lark
Rare breeder inland and visitor elsewhere on coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range. Rare visitor on south side.
SWALLOWS
___ Tree Swallow
Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Violet-green Swallow
Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Bank Swallow
Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Cliff Swallow
Rare visitor on coastal plain, where it may breed (*). Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Barn Swallow
Casual visitor on coastal plain.
CHICKADEES
___ Black-capped Chickadee
Uncommon permanent resident on south side.
___ Boreal Chickadee
Rare visitor in Brooks Range. Uncommon permanent resident on south side.
___ Gray-headed Chickadee
Uncommon permanent resident in Brooks Range and on south side.
NUTHATCHES
___ Red-breasted Nuthatch
Casual visitor on south side.
DIPPERS
___ American Dipper
Uncommon permanent resident throughout Refuge, except along the coast.
KINGLETS, OLD WORLD WARBLERS, AND THRUSHES
___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Uncommon visitor in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.
___ Arctic Warbler
Rare in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Bluethroat
Rare breeder on inland coastal plain and in Brooks Range.
___ Northern Wheatear
Rare visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range.
___ Mountain Bluebird
Rare breeder in recent burns on south side.
___ Townsend's Solitaire
Uncommon visitor in Brooks Range. Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Gray-cheeked Thrush
Rare visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.
___ Swainson's Thrush
Common breeder on south side.
___ Hermit Thrush
Accidental visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ American Robin
Rare visitor to coast. Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range.Abundant breeder on south side.
___ Varied Thrush
Casual visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.
WAGTAILS, PIPITS
___ Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Fairly common breeder on coastal plain. Rare visitor to south side.
___ American Pipit
Rare breeder and uncommon fall migrant on coastal plain. Abundant breeder in Brooks Range.
WAXWINGS
___ Bohemian Waxwing
Casual visitor in Brooks Range. Fairly common summer resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Cedar Waxwing
Accidental visitor on coastal plain.
WOOD WARBLERS, SPARROWS, BUNTINGS, BLACKBIRDS
___ Lapland Longspur
Abundant breeder on coastal plain and in Brooks Range. Uncommon migrant on south side.
___ Smith's Longspur
Rare visitor to coastal plain. Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Snow Bunting
Common breeder along coast and in Brooks Range.
___ Tennessee Warbler
Casual visitor on south side.
___ Orange-crowned Warbler
Casual visitor to coastal plain. Fairly common breeder on south side.
___ Yellow Warbler
Rare visitor to coast. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Fairly common breeder on south side.
___ Yellow-rumped Warbler
Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon in Brooks Range. Common breeder on south side.
___ Blackpoll Warbler
Uncommon on south side, where it may breed (*). Rare visitor in Brooks Range.
___ Northern Waterthrush
Casual visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Wilson's Warbler
Rare visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ American Tree Sparrow
Rare visitor to coast. Common breeder on inland coastal plain. Abundant breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Chipping Sparrow
Casual visitor on coastal plain. Rare on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Clay-colored Sparrow
Accidental visitor on coastal plain.
___ Savannah Sparrow
Common breeder on coastal plain, in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Fox Sparrow
Rare visitor on coast. Rare breeder on inland coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range and on south side.
___ Lincoln's Sparrow
Rare breeder on south side.
___ White-throated Sparrow
Casual visitor on coastal plain.
___ White-crowned Sparrow
Rare visitor along coast. Uncommon breeder on inland coastal plain. Common breeder in Brooks Range. Abundant breeder on south side.
___ Golden-crowned Sparrow
Rare in Brooks Range, where it may breed (*). Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Dark-eyed Junco
Rare visitor on coastal plain. Uncommon breeder in Brooks Range. Abundant breeder on south side.
___ Western Tanager
Accidental visitor in Brooks Range.
___ Red-winged Blackbird
Casual visitor on coastal plain and in Brooks Range.
___ Rusty Blackbird
Casual visitor on coastal plain. Rare visitor in Brooks Range. Uncommon breeder on south side.
___ Brown-headed Cowbird
Casual visitor on coastal plain.
FINCHES
___ Gray-crowned Rosy-finch
Fairly common breeder in Brooks Range. Uncommon summer resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ Pine Grosbeak
Uncommon permanent resident on south side, where it may breed (*).
___ White-winged Crossbill
Common permanent resident on south side.
___ Common Redpoll
Common breeder on coastal plain, in Brooks Range and on south side. Permanent resident on south side.
___ Hoary Redpoll
Common breeder on coastal plain, in Brooks Range and on south side. Permanent resident on south side.
___ Pine Siskin
Casual visitor on coastal plain. Rare visitor on south side.
You can help us keep this check list current by sending information of any unusual sightings to arctic_refuge@fws.gov. Information on species not on the list, or those that have abundance or status listed as not documented, would be especially valuable. A photograph is the best way to document an unusual sighting.
[Bird listing updated September 2010.]