This list of birds of Georgia includes species documented in the U.S. state of Georgia and accepted by the Checklist and Records Committee of the Georgia Ornithological Society (GOSRC). As of August 2020, there are 427 species definitively included in the official list. Seven additional species are on the list but classed as provisional (see definitions below). Of the 427 species, 100 are classed as rare, four have been introduced to North America, and one is extinct. (Another, the ivory-billed woodpecker, is classed by the GOSRC as rare, but is arguably extinct. See its species account for the controversy surrounding this bird.) Additional accidental species have been added from different sources.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in Georgia as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The following tags are used to designate some species:
(R) – Rare – a species whose report is reviewable by the GOSRC (I) – Introduced – a species introduced to North America by humans, either directly or indirectly (E) – Extinct – a recent species that no longer exists (P) – Provisional list – "species with fewer than 4 accepted sight records" per the GOSRC
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are birds that are adapted for an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills that are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. Forty-one species of Anatidae have been recorded in Georgia.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (R) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Brant, Branta bernicla (R) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (accidental) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (R) Canada goose, Branta canadensis Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (R) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (accidental) Wood duck, Aix sponsa Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (R) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (R) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos American black duck, Anas rubripes Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca carolinensis Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis King eider, Somateria spectabilis (R) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (R) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (R) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus Common merganser, Mergus merganser (R) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus (R) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
Guans, chachalacas, and curassows
Order: GalliformesFamily: Cracidae
The chachalacas are tropical fowl native to the Neotropics, only entering into southern Texas in their native range. They were introduced to Sapelo, Blackbeard and Little St. Simons Islands in 1923.
Plain chachalaca, Ortalis vetula (I)
New World quail
Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. Only one species of New World quail has been recorded in Georgia
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae is the family containing the pheasants and related species. These are terrestrial birds, variable in size but generally plump, with broad, relatively short wings. Many are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. Two species of Phasianidae have been recorded in Georgia.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Five species of grebe have been recorded in Georgia.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (R)
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Seven species of columbidae have been recorded in Georgia.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Inca dove, Columbina inca (R) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) Common ground dove, Columbina passerina White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Three species of cuckoo have been recorded in Georgia.
Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani (R) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves. Four species of nightjar have been recorded in Georgia.
Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis (accidental) Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus
Swifts
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds, spending most of their lives flying. They have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have very long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. One species of swift has been recorded in Georgia.
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica
Hummingbirds
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards. Thirteen species of hummingbird have been recorded in Georgia.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (P) Green-breasted mango, Anthracothorax prevostii (R) Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (R) Blue-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis clemenciae (R) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (R) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (R) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin (R) Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (R) Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris (R) Buff-bellied hummingbird, Amazila yucatanensis (R)
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
The Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive, making them difficult to observe. Nine species of rails have been recorded in Georgia.
Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans King rail, Rallus elegans Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (R) Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (R)
Limpkin
Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the cranes. It is found in marshes with some trees or scrub in the Caribbean, South America and southern Florida. The family is monotypic, and its sole member has been recorded in Georgia.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks extended. Most have elaborate and noisy courtship displays or "dances". Two species of crane have been recorded in Georgia.
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis Whooping crane, Grus americana (R)
Stilts and avocets
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Two species of this family have been recorded in Georgia.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, conspicuous, and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. A single species of oystercatcher has been recorded in Georgia.
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
Lapwings and plovers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are generally found in open country, mostly in habitats near water. Eight species of Charadriidae have been definitively recorded in Georgia and another has been classed as provisional.
Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (R) Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluviali dominicas Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (R) Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (P)
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large and diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds. Most eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or sand. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. thirty-three species of scolopacidae have been recorded in Georgia.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (accidental) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (R) Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax (R) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (R) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla