Birds of Alabama

According to the 2020 list of the Bird Records Committee (BRC) of the Alabama Ornithological Society, there were around 449 birds in Alabama. Out of these, 158 were accidental, like the trumpeter swan, black-bellied whistling swan, and redhead, spotted rarely.

The Northern flicker has been the state bird of Alabama since 1927. It is also a winter bird, in season from December to March.

Birds of Alabama

Most Common Backyard Birds:

All-year-round: Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, House Finch

Migratory Birds:

In summer: Summer Tanager, Barn Swallow, Ruby-throated Hummingbird;

In winter:
Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Robin, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Flicker, American
Goldfinch

Birds of Prey: Bald Eagle, Barn Owl, Northern Harrier, Osprey, Swallow-tailed Kite

Water Birds: Mallard, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal

Rare Birds: Scarlet Tanager, Black-throated Green Warbler, Tree Swallow, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Trumpeter Swan

Common Birds Identification by Color

Yellow Birds

  • Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • Pine Warbler
  • American Goldfinch
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Hooded Warbler
  • Yellow-breasted Chat

Red Birds

  • Northern Cardinal
  • House Finch
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • Summer Tanager (Male)
  • Red Crossbill
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker

Blue Birds

  • Eastern Bluebird
  • Blue Jay
  • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
  • Blue-throated Mountaingem
  • Blue-winged Teal
  • Great Blue Heron

Black Birds

  • Black-and-white Warbler
  • European Starling
  • Black-bellied Plover
  • Black-bellied whistling-duck
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Black-chinned Hummingbird