Birds of North Dakota

The Checklist of North Dakota Birds, published by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGFD), enlists 400 birds inhabiting North Dakota. While around 150 are on the review list, almost 50 are accidental, and 6 are introduced.

The prominent birding hotspots in North Dakota include the Sully’s Hill National Game Preserve, the Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, and Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

The western meadowlark, living in the state between March and October, has been designated as North Dakota’s state bird since 1947.

Birds of North Dakota

  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  • Baird’s Sparrow
  • Bobolink
  • Pileated Woodpecker
  • Brewer’s Sparrow
  • Western Meadowlark
  • Chestnut-collared Longspur
  • Dickcissel
  • Grasshopper Sparrow
  • Greater Prairie Chicken
  • Greater Sage Grouse
  • Lark Bunting
  • Le Conte’s Sparrow
  • Loggerhead Shrike
  • McCown’s Longspur
  • Sprague’s Pipit
  • Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow
  • Sedge Wren
  • Sharp-tailed Grouse
  • Whooping Crane
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Mourning Dove
  • American Goldfinch
  • Song Sparrow
  • American Robin
  • Clay-colored Sparrow
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Yellow-throated Vireo
  • Chipping Sparrow
  • Killdeer
  • Black-billed Magpie
  • Blue Jay
  • American White Pelican
  • Wood Duck
  • Burrowing Owl
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Golden Eagle
  • Black-and-white Warbler
  • Northern Harrier
  • Hooded Merganser
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Common Redpoll
  • Bald Eagle
  • Brewer’s Blackbird
  • Black-crowned Night-Heron
  • Ovenbird
  • American Redstart
  • Double-crested Cormorant
  • American Kestrel
  • Ferruginous Hawk

Backyard Birds:

All-year-round: American Robin, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Black-capped Chickadee

Migratory Birds:

In Summer: Clay-colored Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Vireo, Western Meadowlark

In Winter:  American White Pelican, Bald Eagle, Common Tern, Black Tern, Sedge Wren

Birds of Prey: Ferruginous Hawk, American Kestrel, Golden Eagle, Burrowing Owl, Peregrine Falcon 

Common Birds Identification by Color

Black Birds  

  • Bobolink
  • Yellow-headed Blackbird
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Common Grackle
  • Red-winged Blackbird

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