Located on the Appalachian Plateau, New River Gorge National River offers a wide variety of habitats in its 53 miles of river and steep V-shaped gorge. Riparian areas, mixed hardwood forests, old fields, and high cliffs provide for an array of birds nesting or living year-round within the borders of the National River.

KEY
The following is the key used to indicate abundance and occurrence:
C - COMMON indicates that the species can usually be seen during the season indicated.
U - UNCOMMON indicates present but not certain to be seen.
R - RARE indicates a very low probability on encountering the species, although not out of normal range.
A - ACCIDENTAL indicates that the species is out of its normal range.
P - PERMANENT RESIDENT indicates that the species remains in the park year-round.
S - SUMMER indicates that the species can be found in the park during the summer months.
W - WINTER indicates that the species can be found in the park during the winter months.
T - TRANSIENT indicates migratory birds, usually seen spring and fall.

LOONS - HERONS
Loon, Common - UW
Grebe, Pied-billed - CW
Comorant, Double-crested - RW
Heron, Great Blue - PC
Heron, Green - SC

WATERFOWL
Swan, Mute - TR
Goose, Canada - PC
Duck, Wood - PC
Green Winged Teal - WC
Duck, American Black - WC
Mallard - PC
Northern Pintail - WR
Blue-winged Teal - WC
Gadwal - TU
American Wigeon - TU
Canvasback - TU
Redhead - TU
Ringed-neck - TC
Lesser Scaup - TC
Common Goldeneye - TC
Bufflehead - TC
Duck, Ruddy - TC
Merganser, Common - TU
Merganser, Red-breasted - TU
Merganser, Hooded - TU\

AMERICAN VULTURES
Vulture, Black - SU
Vulture, Turkey - PC

EAGLES AND HAWKS
Osprey - TU
Eagle, Bald - TR
Northern Harrier - TW
Hawk, Sharp Shinned - PC
Hawk, Coopers - PU
Hawk, Red-shouldered - PC
Hawk, Broad-winged - SC
Hawk, Red-tailed - PC
Hawk, Rough-legged - PU
Eagle, Golden - TR
Kestrel, American - PC
Falcon, Peregrine - TR

GAME BIRDS
Grouse, Ruffed - PC
Turkey, Wild - PC
Bobwhite, Northern - PU

SHOREBIRDS
Killdeer - PC
Sandpiper, Solitary-TC
Sandpiper, Spotted - SC
Gull, Ringed-billed - TC

DOVES
Dove, Rock - PC
Dove, Mourning - PC

CUCKOOS
Cuckoo, Black Billed - SU
Cuckoo, Yellow Billed - SC

OWLS
Screech-owl, Eastern - PU
Owl,Great Horned - PU
Owl, Barred - PC

NIGHTHAWKS, SWIFTS
Nighthawk, Common - SU
Whip-poor-will - SU
Swift, Chimney - SC

HUMMINGBIRD, KINGFISHER
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated - SC
Kingfisher, Belted - PC

WOODPECKERS
Woodpecker, R. Bellied - PC
Sapsucker, Y. Bellied - WU
Woodpecker, Downy - PC
Woodpecker, Hairy - PC
Flicker, Northern - PC
Woodpecker, Pileated - PC
Woodpecker, Redheaded - PR

FLYCATCHERS
Wood-pewee, Eastern - SC
Flycatcher, Acadian - SC
Flycatcher, Willow - SU
Flycatcher, Least - SU
Phoebe, Eastern - SC
Flycatcher, G. Crested - SC
Kingbird, Eastern - SC

LARKS, SWALLOWS
Lark, Horned - PR
Martin, Purple - SU
Swallow, Tree - SC
Swallow, Rough-winged - SC
Swallow, Bank - SC
Swallow, Cliff - SC
Swallow, Barn - SC

CROWS, JAYS
Jay, Blue - PC
Crow, American - PC
Raven, Common - PU

CHICKADEES, TITMICE
Chickadee, Blk. Capped - PC
Chickadee, Carolina - PC
Titmouse, Tufted - PC

NUTHATCHES, CREEPERS
Nuthatch, Red Breasted -WU
Nuthatch, Wh. Breasted - PC
Creeper, Brown - PC


WRENS
Wren, Carolina - PC
Wren, House - PC
Wren, Winter - WU

KINGLETS, GNATCATCHERS
Kinglet, Gold Crowned - WC
Kinglet, Ruby Crowned - WC
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray - SC

THRUSHES
Bluebird, Eastern - PC
Veery - TR
Thrush, Gray-Cheeked - TR
Thrush, Swainson's - SR
Thrush, Hermit - WU
Thrush, Wood - SC
Robin, American - SC

MIMICS
Catbird, Gray - SC
Mockingbird, Northern - PC
Thrasher, Brown - SC

WAXWINGS, STARLINGS, SHRIKES
Waxwing, Cedar - PU
Starling, European - PC
Shrike, Loggerhead - SR

VIREOS
Vireo, White-eyed - SC
Vireo, Solitary - SU
Vireo, Yellow Throated - SU
Vireo, Warbling - SU
Vireo, Red-eyed - SC

WARBLERS
Warbler, Blue-winged - SU
Warbler, Gold-winged - SC
Warbler, Tennessee - TR
Warbler, Nashville - TR
Parula, Northern - SU
Warbler, Yellow - SC
Warbler, Magnolia - WC
Warbler, Cape May - TR
Warbler, Blk-thr. Blue - SU
Warbler, Blk-thr. Green -SU
Warbler, Blackburnian -TU
Warbler, Yellow-throated - SU
Warbler, Pine - SU
Warbler, Prairie - SC
Warbler, Palm - TU
Warbler, Bay-breasted - TU
Warbler, Blackpoll - TU
Warbler, Cerulean - SC
Warbler, Black & White - SC
Redstart, American - SC
Warbler, Prothonotary - SU
Warbler, Worm-eating - SC
Warbler, Swainson's - SR
Ovenbird -SC
Waterthrush, Northern - TR
Waterthrush, Louisiana - SC
Warbler, Kentucky - SC
Yellowthroat, Common - SC
Warbler, Hooded - SC
Warbler, Wilson's - TR
Warbler, Canada - SU
Chat, Yellow Breasted - SC

TANAGERS
Tanager, Summer - SU
Tanager, Scarlet - SC

CARDINALS, GROSSBEAKS
Cardinal, Northern - PC
Grossbeak, Rose-breasted - SU
Grossbeak, Blue - SU
Bunting, Indigo - SC

SPARROWS
Towhee, Rufous-sided - PC
Sparrow, American Tree - WU
Sparrow, Chipping - SC
Sparrow, Field - PC
Sparrow, Vesper - SU
Sparrow, Savannah - SU
Sparrow, Grasshopper - SU
Sparrow, Fox - TU
Sparrow, Song - PC
Sparrow, Swamp - WU
Sparrow, White-throated - WC
Sparrow, White-crowned -WU
Junco, Slate-colored - WC

BLACKBIRDS
Blackbird, Red-winged - PC
Meadowlark, Eastern - PC
Grackle, Common - PC
Cowbird, Br.-headed - SC
Oriole, Northern - SC

FINCHES
Finch, Purple - WU
Finch, House - PC
Siskin, Pine - WU
Goldfinch, American - PC
Grossbeak, Evening - WC

WEAVERS
House Sparrow - PC