Iowa Checklist

432 Species (213 Nesting)

Status Codes

R - Regular - recorded in 7-10 of the last 10 years (311 species)
C - Casual - recorded in 5-8 of the last 10 years (27 species)
A - Accidental - recorded in 0-4 of the last 10 years (91 species)
X - Extirpated - Gone from Iowa (1 species)
E - Extinct - Gone forever (3 species)

Evidence Codes

S - Specimen (317 species)
P - Photo (103 species)
R - Recording (2 species)
D - Documentation (11 species)

Printable Tools

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Any species checked as on the review list requires additional review prior to publication. See the Review List to determine your course of action for any observations of these species. Please submit a documentation of any species on the review list requiring committee review to the Iowa Birds Records Committee. The reports icon on review list species opens all reports submitted for that species. Photos were taken in Iowa; some are from old documentations on file and quality is low. IWAP indicates that the species is included in the Iowa Wildlife Action Plan.

Ducks, Geese, Swans

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis	R	N	S
Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor	A		P
Snow Goose Anser caerulescens	R		S
Ross's Goose Anser rossii	R		S
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons	R		S
Taiga Bean-Goose Anser fabalis	A		P
Tundra Bean-Goose Anser serrirostris	A		P
Brant Branta bernicla	A		S
Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii	R		S
Canada Goose Branta canadensis	R	N	S
Mute Swan Cygnus olor	R		P
Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator	R	N	S
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	R		S
Wood Duck Aix sponsa	R	N	S
Garganey Spatula querquedula	A		P
Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors	R	N	S
Cinnamon Teal Spatula cyanoptera	R		P
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	R	N	S
Gadwall Mareca strepera	R	N	S
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	A		S
American Wigeon Mareca americana	R	N	S
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	R	N	S
American Black Duck Anas rubripes	R	N	S
Mottled Duck Anas fulvigula	C		P
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	R	N	S
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca	R	N	S
Canvasback Aythya valisineria	R	N	S
Redhead Aythya americana	R	N	S
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris	R	N	S
Greater Scaup Aythya marila	R		S
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis	R	N	S
King Eider Somateria spectabilis	A		S
Common Eider Somateria mollissima	A		P
Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus	C		S
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata	R		S
White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi	R		S
Black Scoter Melanitta americana	R		S
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis	R		S
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola	R	N	S
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula	R		S
Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica	A		P
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus	R	N	S
Common Merganser Mergus merganser	R		S
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	R		S
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis	R	N	S

New World Quail

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus		R		N	S

Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Old World Quail

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo	R	N	S
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus	R	N	S
Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus	X		S
Greater Prairie-Chicken Tympanuchus cupido	A	N	S
Gray Partridge Perdix perdix	R	N	S
Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus	R	N	S

Grebes

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps	R	N	S
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus	R	N	S
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena	R	N	S
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis	R	N	S
Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis	R	N	S
Clark's Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii	A		P

Pigeons, Doves

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Rock Pigeon Columba livia	R	N	S
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto	R	N	S
Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius	E	N	S
Inca Dove Columbina inca	A		P
Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina	A		P
White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica	R	N	P
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura	R	N	S

Cuckoos, Roadrunners, Anis

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris	A		P
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus	R	N	S
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus	R	N	S

Goatsuckers

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor	R	N	S
Chuck-will's-widow Antrostomus carolinensis	R	N	P
Eastern Whip-poor-will Antrostomus vociferus	R	N	S

Swifts

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica		R		N	S

Hummingbirds

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Mexican Violetear Colibri thalassinus	A		P
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris	R	N	S
Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna	A		P
Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus	C		S
Broad-billed Hummingbird Cynanthus latirostris	A		P

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
King Rail Rallus elegans	C	N	S
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola	R	N	S
Sora Porzana carolina	R	N	S
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata	R	N	S
American Coot Fulica americana	R	N	S
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus	A		S
Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis	R		S
Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis	A		R

Limpkins

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Limpkin Aramus Aramus guarauna		A			S

Cranes

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis		R		N	S
	Whooping Crane Grus americana		A		N	S

Stilts and Avocets

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus		R		N	P
	American Avocet Recurvirostra americana		R		N	S

Lapwings and Plovers

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola	R		S
American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica	R		S
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus	R	N	S
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus	R		S
Piping Plover Charadrius melodus	R	N	S
Snowy Plover Anarhynchus nivosus	A		P

Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda	R	N	S
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus	R		P
Eskimo Curlew Numenius borealis	E		S
Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus	A	N	S
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	A		P
Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica	R		S
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa	R	N	S
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	R		S
Red Knot Calidris canutus	C		S
Ruff Calidris pugnax	C		S
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata	A		P
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus	R		S
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea	A		P
Sanderling Calidris alba	R		S
Dunlin Calidris alpina	R		S
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii	R		S
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla	R		S
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis	R		S
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Calidris subruficollis	R		S
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos	R		S
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla	R		S
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri	R		S
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus	R		S
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus	R		S
American Woodcock Scolopax minor	R	N	S
Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata	R	N	S
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius	R	N	S
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria	R		S
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes	R		S
Willet Tringa semipalmata	R		S
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca	R		S
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor	R	N	S
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus	R		S
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius	C		P

Skuas and Jaegers

Species	Status	Evidence
Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus	A	P
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus	C	S
Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus	A	S

Auks, Murres, and Puffins

Species	Status	Evidence
Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia	A	D
Long-billed Murrelet Brachyramphus perdix	A	D
Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus	A	D

Gulls, Terns, Skimmers

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla	R		P
Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea	A		P
Sabine's Gull Xema sabini	R		S
Bonaparte's Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia	R		S
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus	A	N?	P
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus	C		P
Ross's Gull Rhodostethia rosea	A		P
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla	R		P
Franklin's Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan	R	N	S
Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris	A		P
Heermann's Gull Larus heermanni	A		P
Short-billed Gull Larus brachyrhynchus	A		P
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis	R	N	S
California Gull Larus californicus	R		P
Herring Gull Larus argentatus	R	N	S
Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides	R		P
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus	R		P
Slaty-backed Gull Larus schistisagus	A		P
Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens	A		P
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus	R		P
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus	R		P
Least Tern Sternula antillarum	R	N	S
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia	R		S
Black Tern Chlidonias niger	R	N	S
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	R		S
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	A		P
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri	R	N	S
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus	A		P

Loons

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata	R		P
Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica	R		S
Common Loon Gavia immer	R	N	S
Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii	A		P

Storks

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Wood Stork Mycteria americana		A			P

Frigatebirds

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens		A			P

Boobies and Gannets

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Brown Booby Sula leucogaster		A			P

Darters

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Anhinga Anhinga anhinga		A			D

Cormorants

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum		R		N	S
	Neotropic Cormorant Nannopterum brasilianum		R		N	P

Pelicans

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos		R		N	S
	Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis		A			P

Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus	R	N	S
Least Bittern Botaurus exilis	R	N	S
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias	R	N	S
Great Egret Ardea alba	R	N	S
Snowy Egret Egretta thula	R		S
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea	C	N?	P
Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor	A		P
Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens	A		P
Western Cattle Egret Ardea ibis	R	N	S
Green Heron Butorides virescens	R	N	S
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax	R	N	S
Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea	R	N	S

Ibises and Spoonbills

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
White Ibis Eudocimus albus	A		P
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	R		P
White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi	R	N	S
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja	A		P

New World Vultures

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Black Vulture Coragyps atratus		C			S
	Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura		R		N	S

Ospreys

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Osprey Pandion haliaetus		R		N	S

Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus	A		P
Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus	C	N	S
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos	R		S
Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius	R	N	S
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus	R	N	S
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii	R	N	S
American Goshawk Accipiter atricapillus	R		S
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus	R	N	S
Mississippi Kite Ictinia mississippiensis	R	N	P
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus	R	N	S
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus	R	N	S
Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni	R	N	S
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis	R	N	S
Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus	R		S
Ferruginous Hawk Buteo regalis	C		P

Barn Owls

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	American Barn Owl Tyto furcata		R		N	S

Typical Owls

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio	R	N	S
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus	R	N	S
Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus	R		S
Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula	A		P
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia	C	N	S
Barred Owl Strix varia	R	N	S
Great Gray Owl Strix nebulosa	A		S
Long-eared Owl Asio otus	R	N	S
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus	R	N	S
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus	A		S
Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus	R		S

Kingfishers

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon		R		N	S

Woodpeckers

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Lewis's Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis	A		P
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus	R	N	S
Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus	A		P
Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus	R	N	S
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius	R	N	S
Red-breasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber	A		P
Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus	A		P
Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens	R	N	S
Hairy Woodpecker Dryobates villosus	R	N	S
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus	R	N	S
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus	R	N	S

Caracaras and Falcons

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Crested Caracara Caracara plancus	A		P
American Kestrel Falco sparverius	R	N	S
Merlin Falco columbarius	R	N	S
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus	C		P
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	R	N	S
Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus	R		S

Parrots

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Carolina Parakeet Conuropsis carolinensis		E			D

Flycatchers

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus	R	N	S
Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis	R	N	S
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus	R	N	S
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus	R	N	S
Fork-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus savana	A		P
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi	R		S
Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus	A		D
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens	R	N	S
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris	R		S
Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens	R	N	S
Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum	R	N	R
Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii	R	N	S
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus	R	N	S
Western Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis	A		P
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe	R	N	S
Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya	C	N	P
Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus	A		P

Vireos

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus	R	N	P
Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii	R	N	S
Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons	R	N	S
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius	R		S
Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus	R		S
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus	R	N	S
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus	R	N	S

Shrikes

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus		R		N	S
	Northern Shrike Lanius borealis		R			S

Jays, Magpies, Crows

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Canada Jay Perisoreus canadensis	A		P
Pinyon Jay Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus	A		P
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata	R	N	S
Clark's Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana	A		S
Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia	C	N	S
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos	R	N	S
Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus	R	N	P
Common Raven Corvus corax	A		S

Chickadees, Titmice

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus	R	N	S
Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonicus	A		P
Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor	R	N	S

Larks

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris		R		N	S

Swallows

Species	Status	Nesting	Evidence
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia	R	N	S
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor	R	N	S
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina	A		P
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis	R	N	S
Purple Martin Progne subis	R	N	S
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica	R	N	S
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	R	N	S
Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva	A		D

Kinglets

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula		R			S
	Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa		R			S

Waxwings

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus		R			S
	Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum		R		N	S

Nuthatches

	Species	Distribution	Status	Review	Nesting	Evidence	IWAP
	Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis		R		N	S
	White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis		R		N	S