This list of birds of Nebraska includes species documented in the U.S. state of Nebraska and accepted by Nebraska Ornithologists' Union (NOU). As of August 2021, there are 467 species included in the official list. Of them, 95 are classed as accidental, 19 are classed as casual, two are extinct, and three have been extirpated. Four have been introduced to North America.
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 Nebraska as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species:
(C) - Casual - "acceptably reported in 4-7 of the past 10 years" per the NOU
(A) - Accidental - "acceptably reported in 0-2 of the past 10 years" per the NOU
(Ex) - Extirpated - "not acceptably reported in the past 50 years" per the NOU
(X) - Extinct - "no longer found alive anywhere in the world" per the NOU
(I) - Introduced - established in North America as a result of human action
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-six species have been recorded in Nebraska.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Emperor goose, Anser canagica (A) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis (A) Brant, Branta bernicla (C) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Mute swan, Cygnus olor (A) (Introduced) 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 (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis King eider, Somateria spectabilis (A) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (A) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (A) 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 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. One species has been recorded in Nebraska.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. 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. Eight species have been recorded in Nebraska.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus (Ex) Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus (A) Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido Lesser prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus pallidicinctus (Ex) Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (I) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)