Birds of Wisconsin

Wisconsin has around 450 species documented and accepted by the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Records Committee (WSORC). Of these, about 90 are accidental, over 30 are casual, over 50 are rare, 8 are introduced, and 2 are extinct.

There is a combination of big and small birds, some found year-round, while some are seasonal, inhabiting the state only in summer or winter. The big birds found here include the raptors like the red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, and bald eagle. On the other hand, the smaller species comprise the northern cardinal, American robin, and American crow.

The American robin, seen throughout the state mainly in summer, has been designated Wisconsin’s state bird since 1949.

Birds of Wisconsin

  • Bald Eagle
  • American Robin
  • American Goldfinch
  • Barn Owl
  • Northern Cardinal
  • American White Pelican
  • American Tree Sparrow
  • American Kestrel
  • Black-capped Chickadee
  • Barred Owl
  • Bobolink
  • Blue Jay
  • Common Loon
  • Common Yellowthroat
  • Canada Goose
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Common Redpoll
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Eastern Bluebird
  • Goshawk
  • Eastern Meadowlark
  • Pine Grosbeak
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Greater Prairie Chicken
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Mourning Dove
  • Ovenbird
  • Pileated Woodpecker
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Osprey
  • Pine Siskin
  • Red-headed Woodpecker
  • Northern Goshawk
  • Purple Finch
  • Ring-necked Pheasant
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • Cooper’s Hawk
  • Sandhill Crane
  • Wild Turkey
  • Sedge Wren
  • Horned Lark
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Red-shouldered Hawk
  • Snowy Owl
  • American Coot
  • Turkey Vulture
  • Vesper Sparrow
  • Ring-billed Gull
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk
  • Rough-legged Buzzard
  • Mallard
  • Upland Plover
  • Ruffed Grouse
  • Whooping Crane
  • Canadian Geese
  • Tundra Swan
  • Wood Duck

Backyard Birds:

All-year-round: American Crow, Mourning Dove, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird

Migratory Birds:

In Summer: Bobolink, American Robin, Sedge Wren, Horned Lark, Upland Sandpiper, Vesper Sparrow

In Winter: Blue Jay,  Dark-eyed Junco,  Downy Woodpecker ,  Pine Siskin, White-breasted Nuthatch

Birds of Prey: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Cooper’s Hawk , Bald Eagle

Rare Birds: Trumpeter Swan, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Water Birds: American Coot, Mallard, Great Blue Heron,Canadian Geese,Ring-billed Gull

Common Birds Identification by Color

Red Birds

Black Birds

Yellow Birds

Blue Birds

  • Eastern Bluebird
  • Blue Jay
  • Little Blue Heron
  • Black-throated Blue Warbler
  • Belted Kingfisher

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