Bird Guide

Where’s Wildlife · Explore the Bird Guide

Get to know your wild neighbors.

From backyard favorites to birds of the prairie and wetlands, explore the photographs and meet each species. Choose a bird below to open its field guide.

Take the Bird Quiz →← Back to Wildlife KnowledgeLearn bird shapes & identification features →

67 birds to explore

Bobolink male in side view on a bare stalk against blue sky.

Bobolink

Dolichonyx oryzivorusBlackbirdsExplore this bird →
Caspian Tern bird flying with its thick red bill pointed downward.

Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspiaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Clay-colored Sparrow bird perched among leafy branches.

Clay-colored Sparrow

Spizella pallidaFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Common Loon bird floating in blue water showing its white neck markings.

Common Loon

Gavia immerWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Dunlin two birds wading together in shallow water.

Dunlin

Calidris alpinaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Least Sandpiper bird in side view among wet mud and short vegetation.

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutillaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Northern Shrike bird looking sideways from an exposed twig.

Northern Shrike

Lanius borealisShrikesExplore this bird →
Osprey bird perched on a wooden post beside nest sticks.

Osprey

Pandion haliaetusHawks, falcons & eaglesExplore this bird →
Ovenbird bird in side view showing its olive back and streaked breast.

Ovenbird

Seiurus aurocapillaWarblersExplore this bird →
Pectoral Sandpiper bird probing mud beside a pale rock.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotosWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Rose-breasted Grosbeak male in side view on a bare branch against blue sky.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianusCardinals, buntings & tanagersExplore this bird →
Sandhill Crane adult standing on a grassy track.

Sandhill Crane

Antigone canadensisWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Savannah Sparrow bird perched among slender branches with its yellow eyebrow visible.

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensisFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Semipalmated Sandpiper bird wading in shallow water with its reflection below.

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusillaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Solitary Sandpiper bird standing in shallow water near upright reeds.

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitariaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Spotted Sandpiper bird walking right with its spotted belly visible.

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis maculariusWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Lincoln’s Sparrow bird looking upward among dry leaves and twigs.

Lincoln’s Sparrow

Melospiza lincolniiFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Trumpeter Swan two swans in side view with black bills visible.

Trumpeter Swan

Cygnus buccinatorWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Ruddy Duck male swimming with a chestnut body and white cheek.

Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensisWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys).

White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrysFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollisFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii).

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax trailliiFlycatchersExplore this bird →
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis).

Winter Wren

Troglodytes hiemalisWrensExplore this bird →
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa).

Wood Duck

Aix sponsaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus).

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanusCuckoosExplore this bird →
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata).

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Setophaga coronataWarblersExplore this bird →
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula).

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Corthylio calendulaKingletsExplore this bird →
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea).

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivaceaCardinals, buntings & tanagersExplore this bird →
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus).

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatusWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens).

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescensWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia).

Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodiaFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Sora (Porzana carolina).

Sora

Porzana carolinaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana).

Swamp Sparrow

Melospiza georgianaFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor).

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolorChickadees & titmiceExplore this bird →
Veery (Catharus fuscescens).

Veery

Catharus fuscescensThrushes & catbirdsExplore this bird →
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis).

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensisNuthatchesExplore this bird →
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor).

Mute Swan

Cygnus olorWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla).

Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis ruficapillaWarblersExplore this bird →
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis).

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennisSwallowsExplore this bird →
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata).

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeataWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius).

Orchard Oriole

Icterus spuriusBlackbirdsExplore this bird →
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum).

Palm Warbler

Setophaga palmarumWarblersExplore this bird →
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps).

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podicepsWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Purple Martin (Progne subis).

Purple Martin

Progne subisSwallowsExplore this bird →
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator).

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serratorWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensisHawks, falcons & eaglesExplore this bird →
Green Heron (Butorides virescens).

Green Heron

Butorides virescensWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca).

Green-winged Teal

Anas creccaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus).

Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatusThrushes & catbirdsExplore this bird →
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus).

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatusWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus).

House Finch

Haemorhous mexicanusFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).

House Sparrow

Passer domesticusFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon).

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedonWrensExplore this bird →
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus).

Killdeer

Charadrius vociferusWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia).

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnoliaWarblersExplore this bird →
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchosWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris).

European Starling

Sturnus vulgarisStarlingsExplore this bird →
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla).

Field Sparrow

Spizella pusillaFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca).

Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliacaFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Gadwall (Mareca strepera).

Gadwall

Mareca streperaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa).

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Regulus satrapaKingletsExplore this bird →
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum).

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarumFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodiasWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus).

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitusFlycatchersExplore this bird →
Great Egret (Ardea alba).

Great Egret

Ardea albaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons).

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifronsWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula).

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangulaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser).

Common Merganser

Mergus merganserWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor).

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minorNightjarsExplore this bird →
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis).

Dark-eyed Junco

Junco hyemalisFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum).

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritumWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus).

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannusFlycatchersExplore this bird →
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna).

Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magnaBlackbirdsExplore this bird →
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe).

Eastern Phoebe

Sayornis phoebeFlycatchersExplore this bird →
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus).

Eastern Towhee

Pipilo erythrophthalmusFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens).

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Contopus virensFlycatchersExplore this bird →
Black-necked Stilt wading, showing black-and-white plumage and long pink legs.

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanusWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher perched in profile with its white eye-ring visible.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caeruleaGnatcatchersExplore this bird →
Blue-winged Teal male swimming on blue water.

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discorsWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Brown Creeper clinging to bark, showing a curved bill and pale belly.

Brown Creeper

Certhia americanaCreepersExplore this bird →
Brown Thrasher standing on a path beside grass.

Brown Thrasher

Toxostoma rufumThrushes & catbirdsExplore this bird →
Bufflehead male swimming with its large white head patch visible.

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeolaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Canada Goose standing on ice with its black neck and white chin patch visible.

Canada Goose

Branta canadensisWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Cedar Waxwing perched on a log, showing its crest and black mask.

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorumWaxwingsExplore this bird →
Chestnut-sided Warbler on a wooden railing with its yellow crown and chestnut sides visible.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanicaWarblersExplore this bird →
Chipping Sparrow standing in leaf litter with its rusty crown and black eye line visible.

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerinaFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
American Crow

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchosCrows & jaysExplore this bird →
American Tree Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arboreaFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird →
Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbulaBlackbirdsExplore this bird →
Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rusticaSwallowsExplore this bird →
Bell’s Vireo

Bell’s Vireo

Vireo belliiVireosExplore this bird →
Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyonKingfishersExplore this bird →
Black-and-white Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta variaWarblersExplore this bird →
Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillusChickadees & titmiceExplore this bird →
Black-crowned Night Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticoraxWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird →
Brown-headed Cowbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus aterBlackbirdsExplore this bird
Common Grackle

Common Grackle

Quiscalus quisculaBlackbirdsExplore this bird
Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceusBlackbirdsExplore this bird
Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird

Euphagus carolinusBlackbirdsExplore this bird
Yellow-headed Blackbird

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalusBlackbirdsExplore this bird
Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Passerina caeruleaCardinals, buntings & tanagersExplore this bird
Dickcissel

Dickcissel

Spiza americanaCardinals, buntings & tanagersExplore this bird
Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Passerina cyaneaCardinals, buntings & tanagersExplore this bird
Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalisCardinals, buntings & tanagersExplore this bird
Summer Tanager

Summer Tanager

Piranga rubraCardinals, buntings & tanagersExplore this bird
Yellow-breasted Chat

Yellow-breasted Chat

Icteria virensChatsExplore this bird
Mourning Dove

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macrouraDovesExplore this bird
American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristisFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird
Henslow’s Sparrow

Henslow’s Sparrow

Centronyx henslowiiFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird
Lark Sparrow

Lark Sparrow

Chondestes grammacusFinches & sparrowsExplore this bird
American Kestrel

American Kestrel

Falco sparveriusHawks, falcons & eaglesExplore this bird
Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalusHawks, falcons & eaglesExplore this bird
Cooper’s Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

Astur cooperiiHawks, falcons & eaglesExplore this bird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubrisHummingbirdsExplore this bird
Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristataJaysExplore this bird
Barred Owl

Barred Owl

Strix variaOwlsExplore this bird
Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianusOwlsExplore this bird
Tree Swallow

Tree Swallow

Tachycineta bicolorSwallowsExplore this bird
American Robin

American Robin

Turdus migratoriusThrushes & catbirdsExplore this bird
Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialisThrushes & catbirdsExplore this bird
Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird

Dumetella carolinensisThrushes & catbirdsExplore this bird
Ring-necked Pheasant

Ring-necked Pheasant

Phasianus colchicusTurkeys & pheasantsExplore this bird
Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavoTurkeys & pheasantsExplore this bird
American Redstart

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticillaWarblersExplore this bird
Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castaneaWarblersExplore this bird
Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virensWarblersExplore this bird
Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fuscaWarblersExplore this bird
Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichasWarblersExplore this bird
Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestivaWarblersExplore this bird
American Coot

American Coot

Fulica americanaWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird
American White Pelican

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchosWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird
American Woodcock

American Woodcock

Scolopax minorWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird
Common Gallinule

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeataWaterbirds & shorebirdsExplore this bird
Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescensWoodpeckersExplore this bird
Hairy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates villosusWoodpeckersExplore this bird
Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratusWoodpeckersExplore this bird
Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatusWoodpeckersExplore this bird
Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinusWoodpeckersExplore this bird
Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalusWoodpeckersExplore this bird
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus variusWoodpeckersExplore this bird
Carolina Wren

Carolina Wren

Thryothorus ludovicianusWrensExplore this bird
Marsh Wren

Marsh Wren

Cistothorus palustrisWrensExplore this bird
Sedge Wren

Sedge Wren

Cistothorus stellarisWrensExplore this bird
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) Male Yellow Bird
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Close view of an American Robin with a rusty orange breast.
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
American Kestrel showing its patterned back from a wire perch.
American Coot (Fulica americana)
American Coot swimming between upright marsh stems.
American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)
American Woodcock beside a mossy log on the woodland floor.
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) warbler bird
American Redstart showing orange wing patches among green leaves.
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) big white bird on water
American White Pelican on the water.
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Red-bellied Woodpecker looking upward from a tree trunk against blue sky.
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
Red-headed Woodpecker perched on a broken wooden stump.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Woodpecker (Sphyrapicus varius)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker leaning away from a tree trunk against blue sky.
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
Pileated Woodpecker perched between weathered tree trunks.
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) woodpecker bird
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
Male Downy Woodpecker perched on a snow-covered branch.
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)
Hairy Woodpecker clinging to a rough tree trunk.
NortherNorthern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)brown and red bird
A male and female Northern Cardinal perched together in falling snow.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Two Bald Eagles perched side by side on a bare branch.
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) Bird
Yellow Warbler facing forward on a branch beneath green leaves.
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Bird
Blue Jay standing in fresh snow as snowflakes fall.
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) Bird
Cooper's Hawk showing its barred breast on a bare branch.
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) Bird
Common Gallinule standing among dry reeds at the water's edge.
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
Male Eastern Bluebird showing its rusty breast on a bare branch.
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) Male
Male Blue Grosbeak standing in sunlit grass with food in its bill.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird with a pale throat perched on a feeder rim.
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Tree Swallow perched on a broken stem, showing its blue back and white underside.
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
Lark Sparrow standing on bare ground among short plants and dry stems.
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) bird
Two Carolina Wrens standing together on a fallen log.
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
Marsh Wren showing its pale eyebrow among tall reeds.
Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) on a branch with a blurry grass background
Sedge Wren singing from a thin horizontal stem.
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Male Common Yellowthroat perched above broad green leaves.
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)
Bay-breasted Warbler foraging on a muddy bank beside water.
Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii)
Henslow's Sparrow balancing on a drooping grass seed head.
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)
Black-throated Green Warbler perched beneath yellow-green leaves.
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)
Yellow-breasted Chat perched among sunlit green leaves.
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) on tree branches with a light blue sky background
Rusty Blackbird leaning forward along a bare branch.
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Male Red-winged Blackbird showing a bright red shoulder patch among dry reeds.
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
Male Yellow-headed Blackbird clinging to a reed among tall marsh plants.
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Male Brown-headed Cowbird looking away from the top of a wooden post.
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
Common Grackle perched on fallen wood, showing an iridescent blue head.
Barred Owl (Strix varia)
Two Barred Owls resting side by side on a branch.
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Great Horned Owl perched in sunlight beside a large tree trunk.
Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Dickcissel (Spiza americana)
Male Dickcissel showing its yellow breast and chestnut shoulder on a twig.
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Gray Catbird perched on a lichen-covered branch among leaves.
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Male Wild Turkey standing in green grass with its head raised.
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Mourning Dove facing forward on a sunlit bare branch.