Birds of Minnesota

Minnesota has around 446 bird species documented in October 2020, which the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee or MOURC also accepts. Of the species, around 90 are accidental, around 40 casual, 8 are introduced, 1 extirpated (swallow-tailed kite), and 2 are extinct (passenger pigeon, Eskimo curlew).

The sandhill crane, the largest among all Minnesota birds, is commonly seen here between March and April, though it was rare at one point in time. Regarding the smaller birds, house sparrow, house finch, and American goldfinch top the list.

The common loon with a black and white body and red eyes has been the state bird of Minnesota since 1961.

Birds of Minnesota

Backyard Birds:

All-year-round: American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow

Migratory Birds:

In Summer: Common Loon, Evening Grosbeak, Black-backed Woodpecker, Ruffled Grouse, Northern Goshawk

In Winter: House Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Snowy Bunting

Birds of Prey: Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Great Horned Owl

Water Birds: Wood Duck, Common Tern, Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Great Egret

Rare Birds: Vermillion Flycatcher, Neotropic Cormorant, Blue Grosbeak, Mute Swan

Common Birds Identification by Color

Black Birds

Yellow Birds

  • Yellow Warbler
  • Common Yellowthroat
  • Yellow-headed Blackbird

Red Birds

Blue Birds

  • Eastern Bluebird
  • Blue Jay
  • Blue-winged Teal

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