List of birds of Missouri-Cedar Herald Index

This list of birds of Missouri includes species documented in the U.S. state of Missouri and accepted by the Missouri Birding Society (MBS). As of July 2021, there are 437 species included in the official list. Of them, 54 are classed as accidental, 31 are classed as casual, 11 are classed as provisional (see below), seven have been introduced to North America, four are extinct and one might be, and three have been extirpated.

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.

List of birds of Missouri

Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in Missouri as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The following codes are used to annotate some species:

List of birds of Missouri

(A) Accidental - "1-4 records; occasionally observed" per the ASM

(C) Casual - "5-15 records; occasionally observed" per the ASM

(I) Introduced - Species established in North America as a result of human action (E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists (Ex) Extirpated - a species no longer found in Missouri but which continues to exist elsewhere (P) Provisional - "one or more records that meet acceptance criteria, but either (a) no definitive state record (i.e., specimen, diagnostic photograph or audio, or multiple acceptable documentations); or (b) provenance uncertain" per the ASM

List of birds of Missouri

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.

Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis

Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor

Snow goose, Anser caerulescens

Ross's goose, Anser rossii

Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons

Brant, Branta bernicla (C) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (P) (provenance uncertain) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Wood duck, Aix sponsa Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (C) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos American black duck, Anas rubripes Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula (C) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (C) 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 (C) Smew, Mergellus albellus (A) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator 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.

Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies including the partridges, grouse, turkeys, and old world quail. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump, with broad, relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.