Birds in Kansas - USA Birds

Several types of birds live in Kansas and aren’t from outside. A lot of birds live in Kansas at different times of the year. There are more than 479 different species in the state.

Birds of Kansas is a list of species that have been found in the US state of Kansas and that have been accepted by the Kansas Ornithological Society (KOS). In April 2021, there are 479 species that have been officially added to the list of species. It turns out that 71 of them happen by accident, 10 are hypothetical, and five have been brought to North America. In addition to the 479 species, two have died out and one has been wiped out. They are no longer on the official list. In this case, another isn’t on the official list. It was not found at the species level. All four of them are here.

Birds in Kansas can be seen all over the place, from the American Robin to the Mountain Bluebird. State bird: Western meadowlark. It was made the state bird in 1937. The Western meadowlark has a lot of colors. Part of the bird’s body is yellow.

Kansas birds of prey

At 28 state parks, people can go hiking, camping, fishing, and look at a lot of different kinds of wildlife.

There are a lot of birds of prey, like hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and old-world vultures, in the wildlife that lives there. Large, powerful, hooked beaks are used to rip flesh from their prey. They have strong legs, powerful talons, and good eyesight as well.

Eagles in Kansas

Winter comes, and so do the eagles. They head south in search of open water. During the middle of January, the best time to look for eagles in the eastern part of Kansas is when the lakes and rivers aren’t full.

Lecompton, Kansas, used to be called Bald Eagle because so many bald eagles lived there each winter. Many eagles were hurt by pesticides in the 1950s and 1960s. This is because pesticides were used then. The species became endangered, and eagles were no longer found in the state.

Below, you can find out more about these eagles and other birds.

Buteo Platypterus – Broad-Winged Hawk

Buteo Lineatus – Red-Shouldered Hawk

Haliaeetus Leucocephalus – Bald Eagle

Accipiter Cooperii – Cooper’s Hawk

Accipiter Striatus – Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Circus Hudsonius – Northern Harrier

Aquila Chrysaetos – Golden Eagle

Buteo Jamaicensis – Red-Tailed Hawk

Owls in Kansas

There are kangaroo rats, mice, and voles of all kinds in Kansas for these birds to eat, as well. As you can see, eight types of owls find Kansas a good place to breed and live every day.

The owls in Kansas are very happy because they live in a near-perfect state. Here are some pictures and interesting facts about a few types of owls that live in the state of Kansas.

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Strix Varia – Barred Owl

Common backyard birds of Kansas

Kansas is a lot more diverse than you might think. Sand dunes, canyons, valleys, and mountains and plains are all in the same place in the world. Kansas is mostly known for its amazing views of huge flatlands that are home to one of the world’s largest areas of prairie.

Today, we’re going to talk about the birds in Kansas. As you can see, there are a lot of them. It is our goal today to give you a small taste of what birding is like in Kansas. We’ll show you some of the most common backyard birds and give you some tips on what to look for.

Woodpeckers in Kansas

Kansas woodpeckers are made up of a lot of different species that belong to all five of the native woodpecker genera. Members of Gratography can easily add to the section by signing up today. In fact, if you go to the north, you’ll find that the 5.2 million acres of forests and woodlands there will, even more, amaze you. There are a lot of different kinds of birds that live in this state, and you can see them in their natural habitat.

When we meet today, we’re going to talk about all the woodpeckers in Kansas. We’ll also talk about how we can tell them apart and how to get them into our homes.

Let’s get started now.

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Dryocopus Pileatus – Pileated Woodpecker

Melanerpes Erythrocephalus – Red-Headed Woodpecker

Dryobates Villosus – Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates Pubescens – Downy Woodpecker

Best Birdwatching Spots in Kansas

Visitors visiting Kansas will be pleasantly surprised. Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area are two key resting areas for migrating shorebirds. Wheatfields and tornadoes are famous in this state.

Kansas’ east-west topography contributes to its diverse bird population. The Ozark Plateau is in the state’s rainiest southeast section. Western Kansas is mostly dry High Plains.

A closer look into Kansas reveals a wild and untamed side. In genuine Kansas, prairie birds strut their thing, and clouds of geese spin in the sky. Use the e-bird tracker to locate hard-to-find birds.

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge
Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area
Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area
Shawnee Mission Park
Baker Wetlands

Other Kansas birds

List of beautiful other birds found in Kansas with pictures and their names are below, so you can see what they look like. We also included information on how often the birds can be seen, as well as when they can be seen, in our report.

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 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 Tigrina – Cape May Warbler

American Redstart – Setophaga Ruticilla

Setophaga Citrina – Hooded Warbler

Geothlypis Formosa – Kentucky Warblers

Geothlypis Philadelphia – Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis Tolmiei – MacGillivray’s 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

Oxyura Jamaicensis – Ruddy Duck

Parkesia Motacilla – Louisiana Waterthrush

Mergus Serrator – Red-Breasted Merganser

Mergus Merganser – Common Merganser

Lophodytes Cucullatus – Hooded Merganser

Bucephala Clangula – Common Goldeneye

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 Strepera – Gadwall

Spatula Clypeata – Northern Shoveler

Spatula Cyanoptera – Cinnamon Teal

Spatula Discors – Blue-Winged Teal

Aix Sponsa – Wood Duck

Cygnus Columbianus – Tundra Swan

Cygnus Buccinator – Trumpeter Swan

Branta Canadensis – Canada Geese

Branta Hutchinsii – Cackling Goose

Anser Rossii – Ross’s Geese

Anser Caerulescens – Snow Geese

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

Calidris Ferruginea – Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris Pugnax – Ruff

Arenaria Interpres – Ruddy Turnstone

Limosa Haemastica – Hudsonian Godwit

Bartramia Longicauda – Upland Sandpipers

Sterna Forsteri – Forster’s Tern

Sterna Hirundo – Common Tern

Chlidonias Niger – Black Tern

Hydroprogne Caspia – Caspian Tern

Sternula Antillarum – Least Tern

Larus Marinus – Great Black-Backed Gull

Larus Glaucoides – Iceland Gull

Larus Argentatus – Herring Gull

Larus Californicus – California Gull

Larus Delawarensis – Ring-Billed Gulls

Leucophaeus Pipixcan – Franklin’s Gull

Leucophaeus Atricilla – Laughing Gull

Chroicocephalus Philadelphia – Bonaparte’s Gull

Sayornis Saya – Say’s Phoebe

Sayornis Phoebe – Eastern Phoebe

Empidonax Oberholseri – Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax Minimus – Least Flycatcher

Empidonax Traillii – Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax Virescens – Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax Flavive – Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher

Contopus Virens – Eastern Wood-Pewee

Contopus Sordidulus – Western Wood-Pewee

Contopus Cooperi – Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Tyrannus Savana – Fork-Tailed 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

Coturnicops Noveboracensis – Yellow Rail

Porphyrio Martinicus – Purple Gallinule

Gallinula Galeata – Common Gallinule

Porzana Carolina – Sora

Charadrius Melodus – Piping Plover

Charadrius Vociferus – Killdeer

Pluvialis Dominica – American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis Squatarola – Black-Bellied Plover

Corvus Brachyrhynchos- American Crow

Pica Hudsonia – Black-billed Magpie

Cyanocitta Cristata – Blue Jay

Cyanocitta Stelleri – Steller’s 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 Neglect – Western Meadowlark

Sturnella Magna – Eastern Meadowlark

Dolichonyx Oryzivorus – Bobolink

Phasianus Colchicus – Ring-necked Pheasant

Meleagris Gallopavo – Wild Turkey

Zenaida Macroura – Mourning Dove

Streptopelia Decaocto – Eurasian Collared-Dove

Columba Livia – Rock Pigeon

Coccyzus Erythropthalmus – Black-Billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus Americanus – Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Geococcyx Californianus – Greater Roadrunner

Callipepla Squamata – Scaled Quail

Aechmophorus Occidentalis – Western Grebe

Podiceps Nigricollis – Eared Grebe

Podiceps Auratus – Horned Grebe

Podilymbus Podiceps – Pied-Billed Grebe

Antrostomus Carolinensis – Chuck-Will’s-Widow

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii – Common Poorwill

Chordeiles Minor – Common Nighthawk

Grus Americana – Whooping Crane

Antigone Canadensis – Sandhill Crane

Recurvirostra Americana – American Avocet

Himantopus Mexicanus – Black-Necked Stilt

Gavia Immer – Common Loon

Nannopterum Auritum – Double-crested Cormorant

Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos – American White Pelican

Plegadis Chihi – White-faced Ibis

Cathartes Aura – Turkey Vulture

Pandion Haliaetus – Osprey

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Falco Mexicanus – Prairie Falcon

Falco Peregrinus – Peregrine Falcon

Falco columbarius – Merlin

Lanius Borealis – Northern Shrike

Lanius Ludovicianus – Loggerhead Shrike

Baeolophus Bicolor – Tufted Titmouse

Regulus Satrapa – Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Corthylio Calendula – Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Bombycilla Cedrorum – Cedar Waxwing

Sitta Canadensis – Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Thryomanes Bewickii – Bewick’s Wren

Thryothorus Ludovicianus – Carolina Wren

Buteo Platypterus – Broad-Winged Hawk

Buteo Lineatus – Red-Shouldered Hawk

Haliaeetus Leucocephalus – Bald Eagle

Accipiter Cooperii – Cooper’s Hawk

Accipiter Striatus – Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Circus Hudsonius – Northern Harrier

Aquila Chrysaetos – Golden Eagle

Archilochus Colubris – Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Buteo Jamaicensis – Red-Tailed Hawk

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Strix Varia – Barred Owl

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Dryocopus Pileatus – Pileated Woodpecker

Melanerpes Erythrocephalus – Red-Headed Woodpecker

Dryobates Villosus – Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates Pubescens – Downy Woodpecker

Spizelloides Arborea – American Tree Sparrow

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

Cistothorus Palustris – Marsh Wren

Cistothorus Platensis – Sedge Wren

Troglodytes Hiemalis – Winter Wren

Salpinctes Obsoletus – Rock Wren

Mimus Polyglottos – Northern Mockingbird

Toxostoma crissale - Crissal thrasher photo capture in surprise

Toxostoma Rufum – Brown Thrasher

Toxostoma Curvirostre – Curve-Billed Thrasher

Sturnus Vulgaris – European Starling

Passer Domesticus – House Sparrow

Calcarius Pictus – Smith’s 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

Pheucticus Melanocephalus – Black-Headed Grosbeak

Cardinalis Sinuatus – Pyrrhuloxia

Cardinalis Cardinalis – Northern Cardinal

If you have encountered a bird in Kansas that is not yet on our list or that you cannot identify yourself, we’ll be happy to identify it for you. Simply take a picture of it and upload your picture, a quick description and the U.S. state where it was found here on our bird identification page.