This list of birds of Rhode Island is a comprehensive listing of all the bird species confirmed in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of the Rhode Island Avian Records Committee (RIARC) with some additions from Avibase. As of July 2021, there are 446 species on the list, of which 175 have nested. In addition, 123 are considered vagrants, six have been introduced to North America, and two are extinct. The state's review list (see below) contains 127 species.
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 Rhode Island as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species:
(B) Breeding (nesting) - confirmed nesting record(s) within Rhode Island
(I) Introduced - a species introduced to North America by the actions of humans, either directly or indirectly (E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists (V) Vagrant - birds considered to be accidental visitors, with few modern records; all of them are included on the review list (R) Review list - birds that if seen require more comprehensive documentation than regularly seen species. These birds are considered irregular or rare in Rhode Island.
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. Forty-five species have been recorded in Rhode Island.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (V)(R) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (V)(R) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii (V)(R) Graylag goose, Anser anser (V)(R) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (V)(R) Brant, Branta bernicla Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (V)(R) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (V)(R) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (B) Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I)(B) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (V)(R) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (R) Wood duck, Aix sponsa (B) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (B) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (V)(R) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera (B) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (B) American black duck, Anas rubripes (B) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (B) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (V)(R) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis King eider, Somateria spectabilis Common eider, Somateria mollissima (B) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus 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 Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica Smew, Mergullus albellus (V)(R) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (B) Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (B) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
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. One species has been recorded in Rhode Island.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (B)