Birds in Alabama - USA Birds

Few states can compete with Alabama’s avian richness. Their songs, colors, and habits enrich human lives in ways that no other animal group does, and they provide enormous recreational, economic, psychological, and scientific value. Alabama’s moderate winters and diverse habitats attract and support both winter visitors and summer breeders.

Additionally, Alabama is located along numerous species’ migration pathways, making it a desirable spot to rest and replenish during their lengthy treks between their wintering grounds and breeding areas in North America.

Alabama is home to two state birds. The Northern Flicker (yellowhammer) was a symbol of Southernness during the Civil War, and on September 6, 1927, it was designated the Yellowhammer State Bird. Eastern Wild Turkey was designated an approved game bird in 1980.

The Alabama Ornithological Society currently lists 433 species as having been observed in the state. Within Alabama’s borders, around 158 species are considered regular breeders, approximately 80 species are migrants, and approximately 175 species are categorized as winter residents.

Alabama birds of prey

An osprey is a bird of prey. Owls (Order Strigiformes) and falcons (Order Falconiformes) have similar talons (claws) for grabbing prey and hooked beaks for ripping flesh. While most raptors hunt during the day, owls only hunt at night.

In Alabama, just one eagle species is regularly seen: the bald eagle. Ospreys often mistaken for eagles due to their size and fondness for fish.

The state has two kite species and six hawk species. These aerial acrobats fly down to catch prey in the treetops. They inhabit forested marshes and floodplain woodlands in the state’s south.

The red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, and broad-winged hawk are enormous, broad-winged soaring buteos; the sharp-shinned hawk and Cooper’s hawk are smaller, sleeker, and faster accipiters; and the fast, tapered-winged falcons are the fastest tapered-winged falcons. The red-tailed hawk, Alabama’s most common hawk, prefers open territory and feeds on small mammals.

Alabama has four owl species. This owl’s thunderous call sounds like “three hoots for you, three hoots for you all.” In Alabama, barred owls inhabit moist woodlands, particularly swamps.

Cathartes Aura – Turkey Vulture

The turkey vulture, Cathartes aura in Latin, commonly known as the turkey buzzard (or simply buzzard) in North America, and ...

Coragyps Atratus – Black Vulture

The American black vulture, Coragyps atratus is a New World vulture whose range spans from the northeastern United States through ...

Pandion Haliaetus – Osprey

The osprey, or more particularly the western osprey, Pandion haliaetus, is a diurnal fish-eating bird of prey with a worldwide ...

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Barn owls or known in Latin as Tyto Alba hunt on the ground and eat mostly small creatures, which they ...

Falco Peregrinus – Peregrine Falcon

Known as the peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, commonly known as the duck hawk in North America, is a raptor in ...

Falco columbarius – Merlin

Known as the merlin, Falco columbarius is a tiny falcon found in North America and Eurasia in the family of ...

Buteo Platypterus – Broad-Winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus, known to be a Broad-winged hawk, in the Neotropics from Mexico to southern Brazil. Some subspecies live year-round ...

Buteo Lineatus – Red-Shouldered Hawk

Known as the Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus, breeds in eastern North America, California, and northern and northeastern-central Mexico. Throughout its ...

Haliaeetus Leucocephalus – Bald Eagle

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a North American raptor. With the white-tailed eagle, it is a species pair. Its ...

Accipiter Cooperii – Cooper’s Hawk

The Cooper's hawk, known to be Accipiter cooperii, is a medium-sized hawk found in southern Canada and Mexico. This species ...

Accipiter Striatus – Sharp-Shinned Hawk

The sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus, is a small but large-headed hawk that breeds from southeastern Canada and Maine south to ...

Circus Hudsonius – Northern Harrier

Known as the northern harrier, Circus Hudsonius is a bird of prey. It breeds throughout the northern hemisphere, including Canada ...

Aquila Chrysaetos – Golden Eagle

Because of their size and activity levels, Aquila Chrysaetos or commonly known as Golden eagles are among the most frequently ...

Buteo Jamaicensis – Red-Tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis, the red-tailed hawk, breeds over much of North America, from Alaska to Panama and the West Indies. It ...

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus, the great horned owl is a big owl native to the Americas. It is the most extensively distributed ...

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Megascops asio, commonly known as the eastern screech owl is a tiny owl found in eastern North America from Mexico ...

Strix Varia – Barred Owl

Strix varia, the northern barred owl is often known as the striped owl or hoot owl is a big North ...

Alabama water birds

Ducks, geese, and swans are all web-footed birds (Order Anseriformes). Due to their relatively lengthy necks and frequently stubby, broad beaks, they are an easily identifiable category. The approximately twenty species that live in Alabama’s numerous ponds, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters are all good swimmers.

Numerous species, such as the lesser scaup, hooded merganser, ruddy duck, and bufflehead, are excellent divers that feed on fish and aquatic invertebrates such as snails and mussels. Others, like as the Canada goose, mallard, gadwall, American wigeon, and blue-winged teal, are scavengers that graze on vegetation and animal life near the surface or by grazing.

Almost all of the waterfowl that visit Alabama are winter visitors seeking refuge from the cold, snow, and ice that plague higher latitudes during the winter months. These migratory normally arrive in the state in late September and October and depart in March and April for their more northern breeding habitats.

Only the wood duck is a year-round resident, although domestic Canada geese and mallards have been introduced and have established themselves as pests in many areas, particularly golf courses and parks.

Oxyura Jamaicensis – Ruddy Duck

Mergus Serrator – Red-Breasted Merganser

Mergus Merganser – Common Merganser

Lophodytes Cucullatus – Hooded Merganser

Bucephala Clangula – Common Goldeneye

Melanitta Americana – Black Scoter

Melanitta Deglandi – White-Winged Scoter

Aythya Marila – Greater Scaup

Aythya Americana – Redhead

Anas Crecca – Green-Winged Teal

Anas Acuta – Northern Pintail

Anas Rubripes – American Black Duck

Anas Platyrhynchos – Mallard

Mareca Americana – American Wigeon

Mareca Penelope – Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca Strepera – Gadwall

Spatula Clypeata – Northern Shoveler

Spatula Discors – Blue-Winged Teal

Aix Sponsa – Wood Duck

Branta Canadensis – Canada Geese

Branta Hutchinsii – Cackling Goose

Anser Rossii – Ross’s Geese

Anser Caerulescens – Snow Geese

Dendrocygna Bicolor – Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna Autumnalis – Black-Bellied Whistling Duck

Sterna Forsteri – Forster’s Tern

Sterna Hirundo – Common Tern

Chlidonias Niger – Black Tern

Hydroprogne Caspia – Caspian Tern

Gelochelidon Nilotica – Gull-Billed Tern

Larus Marinus – Great Black-Backed Gull

Larus Fuscus – Lesser Black-Backed Gull

Larus Argentatus – Herring Gull

Larus Delawarensis – Ring-Billed Gulls

Leucophaeus Atricilla – Laughing Gull

Charadrius Montanus – Mountain Plover

Charadrius Nivosus – Snowy Plover

Charadrius Vociferus – Killdeer

Pluvialis Dominica – American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis Squatarola – Black-Bellied Plover

Antigone Canadensis – Sandhill Crane

Backyard birds of Alabama

Birding is a lot of fun in this state, and today we’ll explore some of the birds you might encounter throughout the seasons, how to recognize them, what to feed them, and where they like to hang out when they’re not at your backyard feeder. Small birds are those that are visible at any time of year. Additionally, you can observe backyard birds during the spring, summer, early fall, fall, and winter seasons.

Alabama is home to an estimated 420 species of birds, and while we obviously lack the space to discuss them all, we’ve selected a few to keep an eye out for whether out on a walk or sipping tea on the backyard porch.

Hummingbirds in Alabama

Hummingbirds are fascinating to observe and easy to lure with feeders or flower planting in your yard. Feeders are economical and simple to maintain. Hummingbird viewing may be an exciting and enjoyable family pastime.

The ruby-throated hummingbird is widespread throughout Alabama. Males are easily identifiable by their dark red neck patch and dark greenback. Females resemble males except that they lack the red on their throats and have a paler greenback.

The rufous hummingbird is occasionally seen in Alabama, but it is not as frequent as the ruby-throated hummingbird. The male rufous’s back, flanks, tail, and head are all “rufous” or brown in color. Male rufous hummingbirds, like ruby-throated hummingbirds, have a reddish-colored throat patch, although it is more orange in hue than ruby.

Archilochus Colubris – Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris is a species of hummingbird native to Central America, Mexico, and Florida that migrates to Canada and other ...

Selasphorus Rufus – Rufous Hummingbird

It is a tiny hummingbird that may be found throughout the Americas and South America. These birds are renowned for ...

Woodpeckers of Alabama

Woodpeckers (Order Piciformes) are the avian world’s carpenters. Their chisel-like beak and lengthy, barbed, and frequently sticky tongues make them ideal tools for excavating and collecting wood-burrowing insects. Alabama is home to eight species, all of which are year-round residents except for the yellow-bellied sapsucker, which is a winter visitor.

Additionally, woodpeckers use their bills to create cavities for nesting and roosting, as well as drumming, a behavior that both sexes engage in during the spring breeding season to help establish territories and attract mates. The state bird is the northern flicker, often known as the yellowhammer. It enjoys open, park-like places to nest, and it is not uncommon to witness this species eating on ants on the ground. The red-cockaded woodpecker, a native of the Southeast’s longleaf pine environment, is threatened by habitat loss.

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus or commonly known as the northern flicker also known as the common flicker is a medium-sized bird belonging ...

Dryocopus Pileatus – Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus, commonly called the pileated woodpecker is a large woodpecker that is predominantly black in color and is native ...

Melanerpes Erythrocephalus – Red-Headed Woodpecker

The red-headed woodpecker or Melanerpes erythrocephalus in Latin is a medium-sized woodpecker that can be found in temperate North America's ...

Dryobates Villosus – Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates villosus, commonly known as hairy woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker that is found throughout North America. According to the ...

Dryobates Pubescens – Downy Woodpecker

In North America, the Dryobates pubescens or commonly called downy woodpecker is a species of woodpecker that is the smallest ...

Best Birdwatching Spots in Alabama

Alabama has a diverse natural history, which includes an abundance of birds. As the human population grows, it will continue to exert strain on the habitats required by many birds and other life forms.

Throughout the state, there are numerous great locations for seeing and studying birds. On the Gulf Coast, for example, Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan, and other coastal places are popular haunts for birds and birders alike. These places provide the largest variety of species for birders, but due to fast development, they also contain some of the state’s most vulnerable ecosystems and birds.

Like Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary which has 164-acre bird sanctuary located on the eastern side of Dauphin Island, Alabama. Dauphin Island is a declared Important Bird Area and serves as a stopover for birds migrating north which gives place for migrating birds.

Check out this top 5 list of birding spots in Alabama that you can visit.

Fort Morgan State Historic Site
Dauphin Island
Dauphin Island – Shell Mount Park
Wheeler NWR
Dauphin Island- Audobon Bird Santuary

Other birds of Alabama

Cardellina Pusilla – Wilson’s Warbler

Cardellina Canadensis – Canada Warbler

Setophaga Virens – Black-Throated Green Warbler

Setophaga Discolor – Prairie Warbler

Setophaga Dominica – Yellow-Throated Warblers

Setophaga Coronata – Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Setophaga Pinus – Pine Warbler

Setophaga Palmarum – Palm Warbler

Setophaga Caerulescens – Black-Throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga Striata – Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga Pensylvanica – Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Setophaga Petechia – Yellow Warbler

Setophaga Fusca – Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga Magnolia – Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga Americana – Northern Parula

Setophaga Cerulea – Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga Tigrina – Cape May Warbler

American Redstart – Setophaga Ruticilla

Setophaga Citrina – Hooded Warbler

Geothlypis Formosa – Kentucky Warblers

Geothlypis Philadelphia – Mourning Warbler

Oporornis Agilis – Connecticut Warbler

Leiothlypis Ruficapilla – Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis Celata – Orange-Crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis Peregrina – Tennessee Warblers

Protonotaria Citrea – Prothonotary Warbler

Vermivora Cyanoptera – Blue-Winged Warblers

Mniotilta Varia – Black-And-White Warbler

Parkesia Noveboracensis – Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia Motacilla – Louisiana Waterthrush

Helmitheros Vermivorum – Worm-Eating Warbler

Phalaropus Lobatus – Red-Necked Phalarope

Phalaropus Tricolor – Wilson’s Phalarope

Tringa Melanoleuca – Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa Semipalmata – Willet

Tringa Flavipes – Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa Solitaria – Solitary Sandpiper

Actitis Macularius – Spotted Sandpiper

Gallinago Delicata – Wilson’s Snipe

Limnodromus Scolopaceus- Long-Billed Dowitcher

Scolopax Minor – American Woodcock

Calidris Mauri – Western Sandpiper

Calidris Pusilla – Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris Melanotos – Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris Subruficollis – Buff-Breasted Sandpiper

Calidris Fuscicollis – White-Rumped Sandpiper

Calidris Minutilla – Least Sandpiper

Calidris Bairdii – Baird’s Sandpiper

Calidris Alpina – Dunlin

Calidris Alba – Sanderling

Arenaria Interpres – Ruddy Turnstone

Bartramia Longicauda – Upland Sandpipers

Hydrocoloeus Minutus – Little Gull

Chroicocephalus Philadelphia – Bonaparte’s Gull

Sayornis Phoebe – Eastern Phoebe

Empidonax Minimus – Least Flycatcher

Empidonax Traillii – Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax Virescens – Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax Flavive – Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher

Contopus Virens – Eastern Wood-Pewee

Contopus Cooperi – Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Tyrannus Forficatus – Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus Verticalis – Western Kingbird

Tyrannus Tyrannus – Eastern Kingbird

Myiarchus Crinitus – Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus Cinerascens – Ash-Throated Flycatcher

Spinus Tristis – American Goldfinch

Spinus Pinus – Pine Siskin

Haemorhous Purpureus – Purple Finch

Haemorhous Mexicanus – House Finch

Nyctanassa Violacea – Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Butorides Virescens – Green Heron

Bubulcus Ibis – Cattle Egret

Egretta Tricolor – Tricolored Heron

Egretta Caerulea – Little Blue Heron

Egretta Thula – Snowy Egrets

Ardea Herodias – Great Blue Heron

Ixobrychus Exilis – Least Bittern

Botaurus Lentiginosus – American Bittern

Coturnicops Noveboracensis – Yellow Rail

Gallinula Galeata – Common Gallinule

Porzana Carolina – Sora

Corvus Brachyrhynchos- American Crow

Cyanocitta Cristata – Blue Jay

Petrochelidon Fulva – Cave Swallow

Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota – Cliff Swallow

Hirundo Rustica – Barn Swallow

Progne Subis – Purple Martin

Stelgidopteryx Serripennis – Northern rough-winged Swallow

Tachycineta Bicolor – Tree Swallow

Riparia Riparia – Bank Swallow

Turdus Migratorius – American Robin

Hylocichla Mustelina – Wood Thrush

Catharus Guttatus – Hermit Thrush

Catharus Ustulatus – Swainson’s Thrush

Sialia Sialis – Eastern Bluebird

Catharus Minimus – Gray-Cheeked Thrush

Myadestes Townsendi – Townsend’s Solitaire

Quiscalus Guiscula – Common Grackle

Euphagus Cyanocephalus – Brewer’s Blackbird

Euphagus Carolinus – Rusty Blackbird

Molothrus Ater – Brown-headed Cowbird

Icterus Galbula – Baltimore Oriole

Icterus Spurius – Orchard Oriole

Sturnella Magna – Eastern Meadowlark

Dolichonyx Oryzivorus – Bobolink

Xanthocephalus Xanthocephalus – Yellow-headed Blackbird

Meleagris Gallopavo – Wild Turkey

Zenaida Macroura – Mourning Dove

Zenaida Asiatica – White-Winged Dove

Columbina Passerine - Common Ground Dove found in the US

Columbina Passerina – Common Ground Dove

Columbina Inca – Inca Dove

Streptopelia Decaocto – Eurasian Collared-Dove

Columba Livia – Rock Pigeon

Coccyzus Erythropthalmus – Black-Billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus Americanus – Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Podiceps Auratus – Horned Grebe

Podilymbus Podiceps – Pied-Billed Grebe

Chordeiles Minor – Common Nighthawk

Recurvirostra Americana – American Avocet

Himantopus Mexicanus – Black-Necked Stilt

Anhinga Anhinga – Anhinga

Nannopterum Auritum – Double-crested Cormorant

Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos – American White Pelican

Eudocimus Albus – White Ibis

Lanius Ludovicianus – Loggerhead Shrike

Regulus Satrapa – Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Corthylio Calendula – Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Bombycilla Cedrorum – Cedar Waxwing

Sitta Canadensis – Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Thryothorus Ludovicianus – Carolina Wren

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Dryocopus Pileatus – Pileated Woodpecker

Melanerpes Erythrocephalus – Red-Headed Woodpecker

Dryobates Villosus – Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates Pubescens – Downy Woodpecker

Passerculus Sandwichensis – Savannah Sparrow

Chondestes Grammacus – Lark Sparrow

Zonotrichia Leucophrys – White-Crowned Sparrow

Spizella Passerine – Chipping Sparrow

Junco Hyemalis – Dark-Eyed Junco

Pooecetes Gramineus – Vesper Sparrow

Melospiza Melodia – Song Sparrow

Cistothorus Palustris – Marsh Wren

Cistothorus Platensis – Sedge Wren

Troglodytes Hiemalis – Winter Wren

Sturnus Vulgaris – European Starling

Passer Domesticus – House Sparrow

Anthus Rubescens – American Pipit

Calcarius Pictus – Smith’s Longspur

Calcarius Ornatus – Chestnut-Collared Longspur

Icteria Virens – Yellow-Breasted Chat

Spiza americana – Dickcissel

Passerina Cyanea – Indigo Bunting

Passerina Versicolor – Varied Bunting

Passerina Amoena – Lazuli Bunting

Passerina Caerulea – Blue Grosbeak

Cardinalis Cardinalis – Northern Cardinal

Piranga Bidentata – Flame-Colored Tanager

Piranga Olivacea – Scarlet Tanager

Piranga Rubra – Summer Tanager

If you have found a bird in Alabama that is not on our list, make sure to upload your picture, description and state where it was found here on our bird identification page and we will do our best to ID it for you. On that page, you can also find some information on how to take the ideal picture of you bird to make the identification easier for us.