Birds

Newfoundland and Labrador is a birdwatchers’ delight, with 373 species -including 204 native birds and 166 irregular visitors – found in the province.Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, and European Starling are considered exotic.

  • The province’s Species Status Advisory Committee (SSAC) and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) have assessed several bird species, resulting in three – Red Crossbill, Piping Plover, and Eskimo Curlew – being listed At Risk in the province.
  • Several bird species including Willet, Caspian Tern, Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Blackburian Warbler, Bobolink and Red-winged Blackbird May Be at Risk and require further consideration by the SSAC or COSEWIC.

Highlights from the 2000 Bird General Status Assessments

  • Two species are Extinct: Labrador Duck and Auk;
  • Three species are At Risk: Red Crossbill, Piping Plovers, and Eskimo Curlew;
  • Six species May Be at Risk and require further assessment;45% of species occurring in the province are not native, and are considered Accidental or Vagrant;
  • 72.6%  of Newfoundland’s native birds are listed as Secure;78% of Labrador’s native birds are Secure;In Newfoundland, 22 species are Sensitive. In Labrador, nine species are Sensitive.
2000 General Status of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Birds
Family Common Name Scientific Name Newfoundland Labrador Provincial
Order: Anseriformes
Anatidae Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus Accidental Accidental Accidental
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser
albifrons
Accidental Accidental Accidental
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens Accidental Accidental Accidental
Brant Branta bernicla Accidental Accidental Accidental
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Accidental Accidental
Canada Goose Branta canadensis Secure Secure Secure
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus Accidental Accidental Accidental
Wood Duck Aix sponsa Accidental Accidental Accidental
Gadwall Anas strepera Accidental Accidental Accidental
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Accidental Accidental Accidental
American Wigeon Anas americana Sensitive Sensitive Sensitive
American Black Duck Anas rubripes Secure Secure Secure
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Secure Secure Secure
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Sensitive Accidental Sensitive
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Sensitive Sensitive Sensitive
Northern Pintail Anas acuta Secure Secure Secure
Gargany Anas querquedula Accidental Accidental
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Secure Secure Secure
Green-winged Teal (European) A. c. crecca Accidental Accidental
Canvasback Aythya valisineria Accidental Accidental
Redhead Aythya americana Accidental Accidental
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Secure Secure Secure
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Accidental Accidental
Greater Scaup Aythya marila Secure Secure Secure
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Accidental Undetermined Undetermined
King Eider Somateria borealis Secure
Common Eider Somateria mollissima Sensitive Secure Secure
Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus May be at Risk Sensitive Sensitive
Labrador Duck Camptorhynchus labradorius Extinct Extinct Extinct
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata Secure Secure Secure
White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca Secure Secure Secure