Birds of Missouri

Missouri has a varied topography with farmlands, forested areas, and alluvial plains stretched throughout the state. Hence, it is pretty evident that the state would abound in various bird species from summer to winter.

The Missouri Birding Society, or MBS, identifies around 450 species inhabiting the state. Out of these, around 50 are accidental or vagrants, and 7 are introduced. Extinct birds that used to be found in the state are the passenger pigeon, Carolina parakeet, and Eskimo curlew. Some birds, including the swallow-tailed kite, red-cockaded woodpecker, and burrowing owl, have been extirpated, meaning they no longer inhabit Missouri, but can be found in other states and countries.

The eastern bluebird has been Missouri’s official state bird since 1927.

Birds of Missouri

  • Eastern Bluebird
  • American Goldfinch
  • American Crow
  • Blue Jay
  • House Finch
  • Painted Bunting
  • Common Redpoll
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Pine Siskin
  • Brown Creeper
  • Black-backed Woodpecker
  • Black-crowned Night Heron
  • Ruffed Grouse
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Green Heron
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Red-shouldered Hawk
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Yellow-crowned Night Heron
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Boreal Chickadee
  • Rough-legged Hawk
  • Great Egret
  • American Robin
  • White-crowned Sparrow
  • Cooper’s Hawk
  • Glaucous Gull
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • Cattle Egret
  • American Bittern
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Cerulean Warbler
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Northern Goshawk
  • Snowy Egret
  • House Sparrow
  • Tree Sparrow
  • Winter Wren
  • Dickcissel
  • Swainson’s Warbler
  • Broad-winged Hawk
  • Northern Harrier
  • Blue Grosbeak
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Least Bittern
  • Yellow-headed Woodpecker
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Red-headed Woodpecker
  • Bald Eagle
  • Mississippi Kite
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk
  • Northern Shrike

Backyard Birds:

All-year-round:  American Goldfinch, Blue Jay, House Finch, Common Redpoll, American Robin

Migratory Birds:

In Summer: Common Redpoll, Black-backed Woodpecker, Ruffed Grouse, Evening Grosbeak, Eastern Bluebird

In Winter: Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch

Birds of Prey: Red-Tailed Hawk, Broad-Winged Hawk, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk

Water Birds: Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned night heron, American Bittern, Great Egret, Snowy Egret

Common Birds Identification by Color

Yellow Birds

  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • American Goldfinch
  • Eastern Meadowlark
  • Common Yellowthroat

Blue Birds

  • Indigo Bunting
  • Eastern Bluebird
  • Blue Jay
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Blue Grosbeak

Black Birds

  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Common Starling
  • Common Grackle
  • Rusty Blackbird

Red Birds

  • Red-headed Woodpecker
  • Northern Cardinal
  • House Finch
  • American Robin
  • Summer Tanager

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