Labrador hosts a suite of terrestrial bird species adapted to life in boreal forest, taiga and low arctic tundra ecosystems, and seabirds characteristic of the cold Northwest Atlantic marine ecosystem.

In the boreal forest, the characteristic resident bird species include Spruce Grouse, Three-toed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Gray Jay, Pine Siskin, Pine Grosbeak and White-winged Crossbill. Songbirds that summer in Labrador and winter in tropical America include Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Tennessee, Palm and Wilson's Warblers and Northern Waterthrushes.

Productive old growth forest stands, such as along the eagle and Paradise Rivers, support an unusually rich and diverse avifauna. Waterbirds that frequent the thousands of lakes and ponds in the boreal forest include Common Loon and Common and Red-breasted Mergansers. Marshy wetland associated with these water bodies support uncommon breeding species such as Black Scoter and Short-billed Dowitchers.

Harlequin Ducks are a rare species that frequent fast-flowing rocky rivers throughout Labrador. In the Labrador taiga, a few hardy bird species such as Willow Ptarmigan, Northern Raven, and Blackpoll Warbler thrive. Where steep cliffs are present Golden Eagles, Rough-legged Hawks and Peregrine Falcons make their aeries.

On the windswept tundra of the Mealy Mountains and throughout much of northern Labrador the characteristic species include Rock Ptarmigan, Common Redpoll and American Pipit. Barrow's Goldeneye is a rare species that nests along the rugged northern coast. Rocky islets along the entire coast support colonies of Common Eider (now much reduced by hunting) and diverse seabird colonies that host Atlantic Puffins, Thick-billed and Common Murres, as well as the largest colony of Razorbill (the rarest Canadian auk) in North America.