Birds of Minnesota

There are many bird-watching spots in Minnesota. The majority are near lakes or the Mississippi River. It is a national wildlife refuge and a home to many species of birds.

Minnesota also offers many other opportunities to see birds, like Minneapolis city parks, Duluth forest preserves, Agassiz NWR, and Minnesota Valley NWR.

The best months to go bird-watching in Minnesota are from May through August. Birds you might see when you go bird watching in Minnesota: Canada Goose, Mallard Duck, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Great Gray Owl, Indigo Bunting, and the American Sparrow. You might encounter warblers like the Green-Winged Warbler or Wood-Pewee. The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak is a common sight as well.

What Are the Most Common Birds in Minnesota?

Minnesota is a great place to live if you want to be close enough to nature. There are many common birds that can be seen throughout the state. Here are the most common wild birds in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Audubon Society:

What Are the Most Common Backyard Birds in Minnesota?

Everyone knows the cardinal. They’re the bright red bird that is so much a part of Minnesota that they’re featured on many local business logos and even restaurants. But there are many other birds that you might see in your own backyard or nearby natural areas. The most common birds you can expect to see in your backyard in Minnesota are:

What Are the Rare Birds in Minnesota?

Minnesota is home to some of the country’s most common birds, like swallows and robins. However, there are also plenty of rare birds that made their homes in Minnesota — from the Tundra Swan to the Greater Scaup. Check out this list to see if you can spot these gorgeous birds in the sky or on your own backyard feeder. The rarest bird of Minnesota include:

1. Townsend’s Warbler

Townsend's Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler

Family: Parulidae, Wood Warblers 

Description ADULT MALE Has streaked olive-yellow back and rump, darkish tail with white outer feathers, and blackish wings with two broad, white wing bars. Head markings are striking, with dark crown, dark “mask” (ear coverts) bordered entirely by yellow and with small yellow patch below eye, and black throat and chest. Underparts are yellow on breast and flanks, grading to white on belly and undertail coverts, with black streaks on flanks. ADULT FEMALE Similar, but paler overall; black elements of head pattern are olive-gray. IMMATURE Similar to adult female, but duller and less colorful; dark on breast is much reduced.

Dimensions Length: 4 1/4-5″ (11-13 cm)

Habitat Locally common summer visitor (May-Aug) to coniferous forests. Winters mainly California to Mexico.

Observation Tips Fairly easy to see in suitable habitats.

Range Southwest, Western Canada, Northwest, Alaska, Rocky Mountains, Texas, California, Plains

Voice Song is a breezy wee-wee-wee-weez-we’Che; call is a sharp tsic.

Similar Species Blackburnian Warbler D. fusca (L 4.75-5 in) has a mainly eastern range, extending west only in Canada. Male has striking orange throat and surround to dark ear coverts, and broad white wing patch; female and immature are much less colorful with two white wing bars replacing male’s white wing patch.

Discussion Stunning Pacific Northwest breeding species. Often forages high in treetops and sometimes joins mixed species flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are dissimilar.

2. Violet-green Swallow

Violet-green Swallow
Violet-green Swallow

Family: Hirundinidae, Swallows 

Description ADULT Has greenish back and wing coverts, greenish brown cap, and violet sheen to wings and upper tail. Underparts are white. Females have browner, much less colorful upperparts with white tips to tertials. JUVENILE Similar to female, but even browner, with gray-brown (not white) face.

Dimensions Length: 5-5 1/2″ (13-14 cm)

Habitat Widespread and common summer visitor (mainly Apr-Sep) to western North America. Favors a range of habitats including open, wooded mountain slopes, and cities and towns. Winters mainly in Central America.

Observation Tips Easy to find.

Range Alaska, Rocky Mountains, California, Southwest, Western Canada, Texas, Northwest, Plains

Voice   Utters a range of twittering and whistling notes.

Discussion Separable from similar Tree Swallow by white-faced appearance (white above and behind eye) and white sides to rump; in good light, color sheen is different, and note longer wings that extend well beyond relatively short tail when perched. Catches insects on the wing and sometimes congregates where feeding is good. Ne

3. Zone-tailed Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk

Family: Accipitridae, Hawks and Eagles

Description ADULT Has uniformly blackish plumage except for tail, which is banded above and below. Legs, feet, and cere are yellow. JUVENILE Similar to adult, but tail is gray with narrow, darker barring.

Dimensions Length: 18 1/2 -21 1/2″ (47-55 cm); Wngspn: 4′ (1.2 m)

Habitat Rather scarce summer visitor to dry, wooded valleys and riparian woodland in southern states; winters in Central America.

Observation Tips Search for soaring birds riding morning thermals, but beware confusion with Turkey Vulture.

Range Southwest, Texas, California, Plains

Voice Mostly silent.

Similar Species Common Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus (W 44-47 in) has similar adult plumage when perched, but entirely different outline in flight: wings are extremely broad and rounded and tail is very short and typically widely fanned. Adult is blackish, except for single broad white band on upper tail (above and below). Juvenile is brown and streaked; tail has many narrow and wavy dark bands. Scarce summer visitor to southern Utah and Texas wetlands.

Discussion Large, dark raptor. Rather long tail is banded black and white in adult birds. Wings are long and an even width; in all birds flight feathers are paler than rest of body and soaring birds (wings held stiffly in a shallow”V”) could be confused with Turkey Vulture. Note, however, Zone-tailed’s banded (adult) or barred (juvenile) tail (uniformly grayish in Turkey Vulture) and thicker neck. Sexes are similar.

4. Lewis’s Woodpecker

Lewis's Woodpecker
Lewis’s Woodpecker

Family: Picidae, Woodpeckers 

Description ADULT Can look rather dark in dull light, but, seen well, upperparts, including upper tail, are mostly dark glossy green. Chest is pale gray and this extends as a narrow collar around neck; collar is striking in flight, particularly when seen from above. Breast and belly are pink while vent and undertail are dark. Face is deep red with dark surround on crown, nape, and throat. JUVENILE Resembles an extremely dull adult with rather scaly-looking underparts.

Dimensions Length: 10 1/2 -11 1/2″ (27-29 cm)

Habitat Locally fairly common summer visitor (mainly Jun-Aug) to a range of forested habitats, including ponderosa pine woodland and pine-oak forests. In winter, also found in more dry, open woods with grassland and nomadic to a degree if food is in short supply.

Observation Tips Often perches in the open, on dead branch, making observation easy.

Range Southwest, Northwest, Plains, California, Rocky Mountains, Texas, Western Canada

Voice Utters a range of agitated and rapid chattering calls.

Discussion A distinctive and easily recognized woodpecker. Feeds on nuts, seeds, and wood-boring insects, but also catches flying insects in aerial sorties, when flight looks relatively slow and controlled. Sexes are similar.

5. Broad-billed Hummingbird

Broad-billed Hummingbird
Broad-billed Hummingbird

Family: Trochilidae, Hummingbirds 

Description ADULT MALE Has mainly metallic green plumage with blue throat and clearly demarcated white undertail coverts. Bill is long, mainly red, but dark-tipped. ADULT FEMALE Has greenish upperparts and dull gray underparts; note the grayish supercilium behind the eye. JUVENILE Similar to adult female. Male acquires adult characters in winter.

Dimensions Length: 3 1/4-4″ (8-10 cm)

Habitat Mainly Mexican species that is a summer visitor (mainly Apr-Aug) to arid woodland in southeast Arizona; occasionally winters too.

Observation Tips Best looked for at garden feeding stations within its range. Learn the call to improve your chances of observation.

Range California, Plains, Southwest, Texas

Voice Call is a chattering chtt-chtt-chtt.

Discussion Colorful hummingbird, males of which are particularly stunning. Sometimes detected in dense foliage by hearing its chattering calls. Forked tail is often obvious in perched birds. Sexes are dissimilar.

6. Trumpeter Swan

Trumpeter Swan
Trumpeter Swan

Family: Anatidae, Ducks and Geese

Description ADULT Has essentially pure white plumage although feathers on neck and belly are sometimes stained with mud, oxides, and algae. Legs are dark and bill is mainly dark, although close inspection reveals base of lower mandible to be pale. Upper surface of bill is straight (cf. Tundra Swan) and follows slope of forehead. JUVENILE Has mucky gunmetal grey plumage. Bill is dirty pink.

Dimensions Length: 60-72″ (1.5-1.8 m)

Habitat Nests beside forested lakes. Winters on coastal marshes and interior farmland where birds roost on freshwater lakes.

Observation Tips Easiest to observe in winter, with sightings at Yellowstone (the species also breeds in small numbers in the vicinity) almost guaranteed.

Range California, Great Lakes, Rocky Mountains, Western Canada, Plains, Southwest, Northwest, Alaska

Voice Utters a loud, nasal trumpeting oh-HO.

Discussion Large and impressive swan; the largest of its kind in the region and a conservation icon. Appreciably bigger than Tundra Swan when seen side-by-side. Note the plump body, relatively short legs, and extremely long neck. The bill is triangular in outline and looks disproportionately large for the size of the head (looks more in proportion in Tundra Swan). The sexes are similar. Grazes on grassland, and also feeds on aquatic plants uprooted by submerging long neck. In flight, head and neck are held outstretched.

7. Curve-billed Thrasher

Curve-billed Thrasher
Curve-billed Thrasher

Family: Mimidae, Mockingbirds and Thrashers 

Description ADULT Has gray-brown upperparts overall that are plain and unmarked, except for the two whitish wing bars. Note the fiery orange iris and subtle pale supercilium. Pale throat is bordered by dark brown malar stripe and underparts are otherwise rather pale, with subtle brown spots that are most intense on breast. Tail has white tips, broadest on outer feathers. Bill is curved and dark. JUVENILE Similar to adult, but with yellow iris, shorter bill, and less obvious spotting on underparts. Can be confused with Bendire’s.

Dimensions Length: 9 1/2 -11 1/2″ (24-29 cm)

Habitat Common resident of cactus deserts, especially where chollas are common. Often lives close to human habitation (where desert survives) as in Tucson.

Observation Tips Particularly easy to see in spring.

Range Texas, Southwest, California, Rocky Mountains, Plains

Voice Song is an attractive series of abrupt, chattering whistles and chirping trills; calls include a sharp, whistled wi’Weet.

Discussion Our most widespread long-billed, desert thrasher and the yardstick by which to judge other thrashers. Fortunately, compared to most others, it is not unduly shy, even outside breeding season. Searches for invertebrates on the ground and also feeds on berries. Sexes are similar.

8. Cactus Wren

Cactus Wren
Cactus Wren

Family: Troglodytidae, Wrens

Description ADULT Has brown or gray-brown upperparts overall, with dark barring on wings and tail and white streaks on back; in flight, note white tips and barred white outer edge to tail. Crown is rufous brown, and note the striking white supercilium. Face is streaked graybrown and underparts are whitish overall, but heavily spotted on the throat and breast. Belly and flanks are flushed orange-buff in interior birds, but white and more heavily spotted in birds from coastal California. JUVENILE Similar to adult, but with less distinct markings.

Dimensions Length: 7-8 1/4″ (18-21 cm)

Habitat Fairly common resident of dry brushy and desert habitats.

Observation Tips Easy to see in suitable locations.

Range Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Texas, Plains, California

Voice Song is a rapid series of dry, chattering notes; calls include various harsh notes.

Discussion Large and distinctive desert wren that recalls a miniature thrasher; has a proportionately large, downcurved bill. Often perches on, or forages among, cacti for insects and spiders. Builds decoy and real nests among dense cholla cacti. Sexes are similar.

9. Western Wood-Pewee

Western Wood-Pewee
Western Wood-Pewee

Family: Tyrannidae, Tyrant Flycatchers 

Description ADULT Has dark gray-brown upperparts overall. Wings and tail are mostly blackish, but note pale wing bars and pale fringes to secondaries and tertials. Underparts are graybrown overall, palest on throat and grading to whitish on belly and vent. JUVENILE Similar, but brighter-looking with buffy wing bars and fringes to inner flight feathers.

Dimensions Length: 6 1/2″ (17 cm)

Habitat Widespread and common, but declining summer visitor (mainly May-Sep) to open woodland. Winters in northern South America.

Observation Tips Easy to see.

Range California, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Texas, Alaska, Plains, Western Canada, New England, Northwest

Voice   Utters a piercing, downslurred psee-err.

Similar Species Eastern Wood-pewee C. virens (L 6-6.5 in) is almost identical; separate using summer range (much of eastern North America, barely overlapping with Western’s range) and song (tri-syllabic pee-err-wee). Plumage is paler than Western, with more obvious wing bars, and orange on lower mandible.

Discussion Slimmer and longer-tailed than Olive-sided Flycatcher, with more pronounced wing bars and uniformly olive-brown breast (without central white line bordered by dark “vest”). Compared to Willow and Alder Flycatchers, darker overall, with less striking wing bars and relatively longer wings (extending well beyond rump when perched). Legs are dark and bill is mostly dark, but with dull orange base to lower mandible. Makes aerial sorties after flying insects, from perch at mid-tree level (lower than Olivesided Flycatcher). Sexes are similar.

10. MacGillivray’s Warbler

MacGillivray's Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler

Family: Parulidae, Wood Warblers 

Description ADULT MALE Has olivegreen back, wings, and tail. Has a blue-gray hood (head and neck); lower margin grades into indistinct darker bib. Broken white eyering is emphasized by dark lores. Underparts are otherwise bright yellow, with olive wash on flanks. Legs are pinkish. ADULT FEMALE Similar, but hood is uniformly pale gray (without dark bib and lores); broken white eyering is striking. IMMATURE Recalls adult female, but has mostly olive-brown head and neck, with pale throat and darker, incomplete breast band (corresponding to lower margin of adult’s hood).

Dimensions Length: 4 3/4-5 1/2″ (12-14 cm)

Habitat Common summer visitor (mainly Jun-Aug) to dense thickets and secondary woodland, usually within coniferous forests and typically in vicinity of water. Winters in Central America.

Observation Tips A challenge to see well. Listen for its distinctive song.

Range Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Plains, Alaska, Western Canada, California, Texas, Northwest

Voice Song is a rich, chirpy swe’et-swe’et-swe’et-swe’et choo-ee-oo; call is a sharp tzik.

Discussion Western counterpart of Mourning Warbler. Separable on subtle plumage differences, and range and habitat preferences barely overlap. Secretive and mainly terrestrial. Sexes are separable.

11. Ferruginous Hawk

Ferruginous Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk

Family: Accipitridae, Hawks and Eagles

Description ADULT Light morph has a rufous back, pale head streaked gray on nape and cheeks, and pale underparts with rufous streaks on flanks and “pants.” In flight, from below looks pale with rufous on wing coverts and flanks; from above note rufous back and inner wing coverts and pale tail flushed rufous toward tip. Dark morph is dark brown with rufous on upper inner wing coverts, breast, and vent, and pale gray tail. In flight, from below the dark body and wing coverts contrast with pale wings and tail (wings have gray trailing edge and tips); from above, pale tail and primary bases contrast with otherwise dark plumage. JUVENILE Light morph is similar to adult, but rufous elements of plumage are gray-brown; looks very pale from below in flight. Dark morph is similar to adult, but pale carpal crescent on underwing is more striking.

Dimensions Length: 22 1/2 -25″ (57-64 cm); Wngspn: 4′ 8″ (1.4 m)

Habitat Widespread, but scarce. Favors arid, open country including farmland. Range contracts southward in winter.

Observation Tips Perched birds often give prolonged views.

Range Southwest, Western Canada, California, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Northwest, Great Lakes, Texas

Voice Utters a harsh whistling call at nest, but otherwise silent.

Similar Species White-tailed Hawk B. albicaudatus (W 51-52 in) is confined to grassland in southern Texas and so range does not overlap. Adult has gray head and back, rufous “shoulders” (inner wing coverts), dark wings, and white underparts; tail is white with a broad, black subterminal band. Juvenile is mainly dark, with white breast and vent; tail is buffy gray with a pale base. Acquires adult plumage over 3-year period.

Discussion The largest western Buteo; has a powerful bill and feathered legs. In flight, note long, broad-based, but rather pointed wings. Plumage is variable, but, in flight, all birds show white base to upperside of primaries and pale tail. Perches on posts and employs active, low flights when hunting small mammals and birds. Sexes are similar.

12. Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird

Family: Icteridae, Blackbirds and Orioles

Description ADULT MALE Has mostly black plumage with red colorful “shoulder.” In winter, black elements of plumage have subtle brown edges. ADULT FEMALE Brown overall and heavily streaked on back and underparts; plumage is palest on throat (sometimes washed pinkish buff) and has a pale supercilium. IMMATURE MALE Similar to winter adult, but with more extensive brown edging to feathers. IMMATURE FEMALE Recalls adult female, but lacks pinkish buff wash to throat.

Dimensions Length: 7-9 1/2″ (18-24 cm)

Habitat Contender for North America’s most abundant bird; favors farmland and wetlands. Present year-round across much of central and southern U.S., and summer range extends to fringe of Arctic. Northern birds move south in fall and winter range extends to Central America.

Observation Tips Hard to miss, even in suburbs.

Range Florida, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Eastern Canada, New England, Alaska, Rocky Mountains, Texas, Southwest, Plains, Great Lakes, Northwest, Western Canada, California

Voice Song is harsh, grating and screechy; call is a sharp tchik.

Discussion Widespread and familiar bird. Forms huge foraging and roosting flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are dissimilar.

13. Bullock’s Oriole

Bullock's Oriole
Bullock’s Oriole

Family: Icteridae, Blackbirds and Orioles 

Description ADULT MALE Has mainly orange face and underparts with black back, nape, crown, eyestripe, and narrow line on throat. Black wings have white edges to flight feathers and broad white patch on coverts. Rump is orange and orange tail is marked with an inverted black “T.” ADULT AND IMMATURE FEMALES Have an olive-gray back, pale yellow hood and breast, and otherwise mostly whitish underparts. Wings are blackish with white edges to flight feathers and two white wing bars. Rump and tail are yellowish. IMMATURE MALE Recalls adult male in terms of plumage pattern overall, but orange elements of plumage are yellow (very pale on belly), back is streaked olivegray, and crown is grayish yellow.

Dimensions Length: 7-8 1/2″ (18-22 cm)

Habitat Common and widespread summer visitor (mainly May-Aug) to open woodland, especially waterside habitats where cottonwoods and willows flourish; winters mostly in Mexico.

Observation Tips Although not unduly shy, surprisingly easy to overlook when foraging unobtrusively in dappled foliage.

Range California, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Plains, Texas, Northwest

Voice Song is a brisk, whistled tch-t’tch-pe’wee-tu-wee-weep; call is a dry tchup.

Discussion Colorful oriole that is the western counterpart of Baltimore; formerly, both were lumped together as single species, Northern Oriole. Male is unmistakable; confusion is possible between females and immatures of both species, although ranges barely overlap. Identification of dull individuals requires experience and may not be possible in some cases. But overall, immature Bullock’s in fall has a brighter yellow face and neck than Baltimore and back is plain gray (Baltimore’s back has faint dark streaks). To add to the confusion, hybridization occurs in narrow zone of overlap on Great Plains. Sexes are dissimilar.

14. Red-throated Loon

Red-throated Loon
Red-throated Loon

Family: Gaviidae, Loons 

Description ADULT Has blue-gray on face and sides of neck, red throat, and black and white lines on back of neck and, lower down, on sides of neck too. Upperparts are otherwise gray-brown while underparts are whitish. In winter, has gray upperparts, spangled with small white spots. Underparts are white. JUVENILE Similar to winter adult, but upper_parts are browner and underparts appear grubby.

Dimensions Length: 24-27″ (61-69 cm)

Habitat Nests beside small pools and fairly common within Arctic range. Outside breeding season, found in shallow coastal seas.

Observation Tips Easiest to find in winter.

Range Northwest, Eastern Canada, California, Western Canada, Southeast, Alaska, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic, Plains, Great Lakes, Texas, New England, Florida, Rocky Mountains

Voice Utters a gooselike kaa-kaa-kaa in flight.

Discussion Elegant loon that holds head and daggerlike bill tilted upward. Sexes are similar.

15. Kirtland’s Warbler

Kirtland's Warbler
Kirtland’s Warbler

Family: Parulidae, Wood Warblers

Description ADULT MALE Mostly blue-gray above, streaked on back with two white wing bars; color on head forms a distinct hood; note the broken white eyering. Throat and underparts are mostly yellow grading to white on vent and undertail coverts; has dark streaks on flanks. ADULT FEMALE Similar, but paler and less colorful overall. IMMATURE Recalls adult female, but plumage is paler and less colorful with buff gray wash to upperparts and less distinct eyering.

Dimensions Length: 6″ (15 cm)

Endangered Status The Kirtland’s Warbler is on the U.S. Endangered Species List. It is classified as endangered throughout its U.S. range in Michigan and Wisconsin. This warbler nests in Jack Pines, the cones of which need fire in order to open up and release their seeds. Fire suppression practices have devastated the species by inhibiting the regeneration of the pines. Among the measures being taken to save the Kirtland’s Warbler is controlled burning in its breeding range in an attempt to maintain the required habitat. Cowbird control is also essential to sustaining viable populations of this rare bird, as the nest predators are known to lay their eggs in Kirtland’s nests.

Habitat Rare summer visitor (mainly May-Aug) to young Jack Pine forests in Michigan; fire prevention (fire is essential for forest regrowth) was a major factor in species’ decline. Winters in Bahamas.

Observation Tips Join a U.S. Forest Service guided tour.

Range Great Lakes, Florida

Voice Song is a rich, accelerating wich-tchew-tchew-tchew-tchwe-wee; call is a soft tchh.

Discussion Endangered warbler that “pumps” tail up and down while feeding. Sexes are separable.

16. Ruff

Ruff 
Ruff

Family: Scolopacidae, Sandpipers

Description 11″ (28 cm). A stocky shorebird with a short tapered bill. Breeding males have extraordinarily variable plumage, showing ear tufts, ruffs, and gorgets in any combination of black, white, chestnut, gray, buff, etc. Females (called “Reeves”) and winter males are much duller-gray or brown above with pale spot at base of bill, white below; leg color varies from yellow to green, brown, and red. In flight, 2 oval white patches are visible at sides of rump. In all seasons male noticeably larger than female.

Habitat Short grassy meadows and marshy ponds.

Nesting 4 gray, green, or buff eggs, heavily marked with deep brown blotches, in a grass-lined depression in a meadow or marsh.

Range Breeds in northern Eurasia. A rare migrant along Pacific and Atlantic coasts and on Great Lakes.

Voice Usually silent, but occasionally a soft tu-whit when flushed.

Discussion The Ruff is one of the most remarkable of all shorebirds. It is one of the few waders in which the two sexes are dramatically different in color, pattern, and size during the breeding season. The males also form leks or display grounds and engage in courting. After mating, the females build their nests away from the courtship area.

17. Townsend’s Solitaire

Townsend's Solitaire
Townsend’s Solitaire

Family: Turdidae, Thrushes 

Description ADULT Has gray, mostly un – marked, plumage overall, palest on underparts; note the white eyering. Wings, however, are rather dark and contrastingly marked with orange-buff patches and whitish tips to tertials and greater coverts; in flight, dark median line to pale underwing coverts is striking, as is pale wing bar seen above. Tail is mostly black, but with white edges and broad tips to outer feathers. JUVENILE Shares wing and tail markings with adult, but body is brown overall with pale spots above and scaly appearance below.

Dimensions Length: 8-9 1/2″ (20-24 cm)

Habitat Common summer visitor (mainly May-Aug) to montane coniferous forests. Moves south and to lower altitudes in winter, and present year-round in parts of south.

Observation Tips Easy to see.

Range Western Canada, Eastern Canada, Great Lakes, Southwest, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Northwest, Alaska, Texas, California

Voice Song is a rich, chattering warble, with a finchlike quality; call is a whistled, sonar-bliplike tu, tuÖ.

Discussion Slim-bodied and long-tailed bird. is evocative of wilderness forests. Often sits on exposed perch for long periods, adopting upright posture. Varied diet includes insects and berries. Nests in crevices on steep slopes. Sexes are similar.

18. Common Poorwill

Common Poorwill
Common Poorwill

Family: Caprimulgidae, Nightjars

Description ADULT MALE Has grayish plumage overall, but close inspection reveals subtle and intricate dark lines and bars, and rufous flush to wings and nape that create superb cryptic pattern resembling tree bark. Dark chin and face are separated from blackish chest band by white throat. Note dark crown and white tips to outer tail feathers. ADULT FEMALE Similar, but tips to outer tail feathers are buff. JUVENILE Similar to adult.

Dimensions Length: 7-8 1/2″ (18-22 cm)

Habitat Locally fairly common summer visitor (mainly Apr-Sep) to north of range, birds wintering from southern U.S. to Mexico. Breeding birds from south of range are probably mostly resident, or partial altitudinal migrants. Favors a range of dry habitats, but typically rocky ground with scrub and grass cover.

Observation Tips Presence is easiest to detect by listening for song, after dark in spring. Sits tight when roosting and hard to spot in daytime.

Range Texas, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, California, Plains, Western Canada, Northwest

Voice Song, uttered after dark, is a liquid poor-will or poor-weeup.

Discussion Western North America’s smallest nightjar. Has a plump body, relatively short, rounded tail and wings, and proportionately large head. Mouth and gape are huge, allowing bird to engulf flying nocturnal insects, such as moths and beetles. In winter, metabolic rate slows down considerably and it enters a torpid state akin to hibernation. Sexes are separable with care.

19. Lesser Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinch

Family: Fringillidae, Finches

Description ADULT MALE Has bright yellow underparts. Eastern ssp. psaltria has mostly black upperparts, but with white wing bar and wing patch, and white on tertials; mostly black tail has striking white patches on sides. Western ssp. hesperophila has black cap, olive nape and back, and black wings with similar white markings. ADULT FEMALE Has yellowish underparts and olive-green upperparts with dark wings showing two faint wing bars, small white patch (base of primaries), and white edges to tertials. Some individuals are much brighter than others. JUVENILE Similar to female; immature male soon acquires hint of adult’s black cap and forehead.

Dimensions Length: 3 1/2-4″ (9-10 cm)

Habitat Favors dry, open woodland; resident in much of range, but interior birds move south in fall.

Observation Tips Easy to see.

Range Southwest, Northwest, Texas, Plains, Rocky Mountains, California

Voice Song is a varied, rambling series of short, chirpy whistles and squeaks; call is a sharp, whistled tee-oo.

Discussion Striking southwestern specialty. Forms flocks outside breeding season and then often seen on roadside thistles. Sexes are dissimilar.

20. Dusky Flycatcher

Dusky Flycatcher
Dusky Flycatcher

Family: Tyrannidae, Tyrant Flycatchers 

Description ADULT Has uniformly olive-gray upperparts with pale eyering. Wings are dark with two whitish wing bars and tail is dark. Underparts are pale gray, palest on throat and belly. Postbreeding molt occurs after migration, so fall birds look worn (compared to Hammond’s). Winter birds appear faintly washed olive-yellow. JUVENILE Similar, but brighter than fall adult, with buffy wing bars.

Dimensions Length: 5 1/4-6″ (13-15 cm)

Habitat Common summer visitor (mainly May-Aug) to mountain coniferous forests, chaparral, and brushy areas. Winters mainly in Mexico; small numbers in southern Arizona.

Observation Tips A challenge to identify with certainty.

Range Texas, Southwest, Western Canada, Plains, California, Alaska, Northwest, Rocky Mountains

Voice Song is a series of repeated phrases s’lit-chrrp, s’lit-cheepÖ; call is a soft whit.

Discussion Similar to both Gray and Hammond’s. Behavior, bill size and color, and relative wing length are useful pointers: less active than Hammond’s, but flicks tail and wings (like that species, but unlike Gray, which pumps tail); bill length is intermediate between Gray and Hammond’s, with an orange-pink base to dark-tipped lower mandible; primaries do not extend beyond rump when perched. Sexes are similar.

21. Cordilleran Flycatcher

Cordilleran Flycatcher
Cordilleran Flycatcher

Family: Tyrannidae, Tyrant Flycatchers 

Description ADULT Has subtly browner upperparts and marginally longer bill than Pacific-slope. Wings are dark with pale fringes to inner flight feathers and two buffy white wing bars; white elements on wing become less apparent through wear as summer progresses. Tail is dark and subtly longer than Pacific-slope’s. Underparts are pale, with olive or brownish wash on breast. JUVENILE Similar, but wing feather fringes and wing bars are buffy brown.

Dimensions Length: 5 1/2-6″ (14-15 cm)

Habitat Common summer visitor (mainly May-Aug) to coniferous forests in Rocky Mountains. Winters in Mexico.

Observation Tips Learn the call as an aid to identification.

Range Rocky Mountains, Northwest, California, Western Canada, Southwest, Texas, Plains

Voice Song typically comprises a thin see, a chirping see-oo and a thin, sharp pik; call is a thin, whistling tsee-seet, often almost disyllabic.

Discussion Almost identical to Pacific-slope. Silent birds, outside breeding range, can be impossible to identify with certainty. Breeding range is a good pointer and call, once learned, is reasonably diagnostic. Behavior is similar to that of Pacific-slope. Sexes are similar.

22. California Gull

California Gull
California Gull

Family: Laridae, Gulls and Terns

Description ADULT SUMMER Has gray back and upper wings with white trailing edge and black wingtips with small white “windows.” Bill is yellow with small red spot on gonys and dark subterminal band; note red orbital ring. ADULT WINTER Similar, but has brown streaking on head and nape, mainly on nape (dark streaking is more extensive on similar age Herring, and extends to throat and chest). JUVENILE Juvenile and first-winter birds have mottled brown plumage, with uniformly dark wingtips and two dark bands on inner upper wing. Bill is dark at first, but dark-tipped pink by first winter. Acquires adult plumage through several successive molts, back and upper wing becoming more uniformly gray. Retains some brown feathers on upper wing coverts, and faint dark band on tail, into third winter.

Dimensions Length: 20-23″ (51-58 cm)

Habitat Locally common. Nests colonially, mainly on islands in inland lakes. Mainly coastal outside breeding season, often congregating near regular food sources.

Observation Tips Easy to see along coast in winter months.

Range Plains, Texas, Southwest, Northwest, California, Alaska, Rocky Mountains, Western Canada

Voice Utters kyaoo calls, higher pitched than Herring.

Discussion Medium-sized gull. Compared to Herring, has slimmer body, long wings and legs, and longer, more even-width bill; appreciably larger than Ring-billed, with much longer bill and dark (not yellow) iris in adult birds. Legs are yellow in adults, but pinkish in younger birds. Eye is dark at all times. Takes 3 years to reach adult plumage. Sexes are similar.