Birds in Mississippi

Mississippi is home to a variety of indigenous bird species. As of March 2018, the official list contained 426 species. Of them, 22 are classified as casual, 90 as accidental, and four were brought into North America. Two species are extinct; the MBRC considers two others to be extirpated and may also be extinct. Mississippi’s state bird is the Northern mockingbird (Mimus Polyglottos). On February 23, 1944, Mississippi designated it as its official bird.

Birds in Mississippi range from the more commonly observed Northern Mockingbird to the less usually seen Vesper Sparrow.

Many birders immediately associate Mississippi birds with the Mississippi flyway for obvious reasons. Each season, the state is literally the first and last stop for a large number of migrating birds.

Below is a list of magnificent birds found in Mississippi, complete with photographs and identification. This section featured information on the frequency with which the birds are observed, as well as the time of year during which they are observed.

Birds of prey in Mississippi

Birds of prey, usually known as raptors, are found throughout North America. Raptors are popular animals that attract more attention than the majority of other species. Fortunately, Mississippi is home to a diverse range of animals inhabiting a variety of habitats.

Eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons are some of the more well-known and identifiable raptors. While raptors are typically seen soaring high in the sky, they may also be seen on the ground or sitting on a tree branch.

Continue reading to learn more about the raptors that call Mississippi home, as well as a few ways to identify them if you see them.

Owls in Mississippi

Mississippi is located within the Gulf Coastal Plain and is predominantly composed of gently rolling hills and lowlands. Of course, the state is famous for being named after the Mississippi River, for being the birthplace of Root Beer, and for being the birthplace of blues music. The river and its tributaries, together with the state’s 19.4 million acres of forested terrain, provide an attractive natural home for a variety of species.

Owls have adapted to live in a variety of settings throughout the world, save Antarctica. The great horned owl is one of the state’s largest owls. Numerous owl species consume their prey whole. The indigestible pieces of the bird are later cast or regurgitated. Biologists can investigate these casts or owl pellets to gain insight into the diets and habitat requirements of owls.

This section will focus on owls in Mississippi, where and when to look for them, and a brief description of each.

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Strix Varia – Barred Owl

Other birds of prey

Bluebirds in Mississippi

The bluebird is appropriately titled, as he sports a coat of the purest, richest, and most exquisite blue on his back, wings, and tail; no other North American bird merits the name more, as no other flashes so much bright blue in front of our admiring eyes.

In Mississippi, the eastern bluebird is a permanent inhabitant. Winter months saw population growth as more northern populations migrate south for the winter.

The Eastern Bluebird sings a lovely, melodic song and has a similar, easily identifiable flight call. They are most frequently encountered in open woodlands, parks, and fields, as well as around golf courses and cemeteries. They are prevalent in suburban locations with sufficient open space.

Sialia Sialis – Eastern Bluebird

In North America, the eastern bluebird, Sialia siali breeds in open forests, farmlands, and orchards. They belong to the Turdidae ...

Types of ducks in Mississippi

Waterfowl species that winter in the Mississippi Delta and are of interest to hunters are classified as dabbling ducks, diving ducks, and geese. When weather patterns get particularly cold and wide swaths of flood waters freeze, it is not uncommon to see a significant number of duck species congregating in areas of flowing water that has not frozen. Additionally, places inside the Habitat Complex attract a variety of waterfowl.

The blue-winged teal and northern shoveler are two of North America’s most common, ubiquitous, and regularly hunted ducks. Green-winged teal are also abundant in Mississippi waters.

For those who are accustomed to only seeing the ordinary Mallard, this list should be quite enlightening! The ducks depicted below are the most prevalent and therefore most likely to be observed. Indeed, the list of ducks that may be seen in Mississippi is much longer!

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

Aythya Alisineria – Canvasback

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 Caerulescens – Snow Geese

Dendrocygna Bicolor – Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna Autumnalis – Black-Bellied Whistling Duck

Best Birdwatching Spots in Mississippi

Many Mississippians enjoy birdwatching as a hobby. Mississippi and North America are home to hundreds of bird species. Certain birds are universally recognized. In the South, birds such as Northern Mockingbirds, Blue Jays, and American Goldfinch are easily recognized. Identification of birds requires a great deal of patience, practice, and education. You may choose to take a photograph of the bird you’re attempting to identify to aid in your memory.

Here are the top five sites to visit to see your favorite birds or to be amazed by newly discovered birds.

Seaman Rd Sewage Lagoons
Grand Bay NWR/NERR
Ansley
St. Catherine Creek NWR
Noxubee NWR

Other common birds in Mississippi

Mississippi is the 32nd largest state by area and the 35th most populous in the United States. It is most known for the Mississippi River and is primarily composed of low hills and lowland plains.

As you would understand, it was impossible to include all 426 bird species in the following section. As a result, we concentrated on the most frequently seen and observed species, including the Northern Mockingbird.

This list of Mississippi birds includes species that have been authentically documented in the United States of America’s state of Mississippi, as determined by the Mississippi Ornithological Society’s Bird Records Committee (MBRC).

Actitis Macularius – Spotted Sandpiper

Aechmophorus Occidentalis – Western Grebe

American Redstart – Setophaga Ruticilla

Anhinga Anhinga – Anhinga

Anthus Rubescens – American Pipit

Anthus Spragueii – Sprague’s Pipit

Antigone Canadensis – Sandhill Crane

Antrostomus Carolinensis – Chuck-Will’s-Widow

Antrostomus Vociferus – Eastern Whip-Poor-Will

Archilochus Colubris – Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ardea Alba – Great Egret

Ardea Herodias – Great Blue Heron

Arenaria Interpres – Ruddy Turnstone

Baeolophus Bicolor – Tufted Titmouse

Bartramia Longicauda – Upland Sandpipers

Bombycilla Cedrorum – Cedar Waxwing

Botaurus Lentiginosus – American Bittern

Bubulcus Ibis – Cattle Egret

Butorides Virescens – Green Heron

Calcarius Ornatus – Chestnut-Collared Longspur

Calcarius Pictus – Smith’s Longspur

Calidris Alpina – Dunlin

Calidris Bairdii – Baird’s Sandpiper

Calidris Fuscicollis – White-Rumped Sandpiper

Calidris Mauri – Western Sandpiper

Calidris Melanotos – Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris Minutilla – Least Sandpiper

Calidris Pusilla – Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris Subruficollis – Buff-Breasted Sandpiper

Cardellina Canadensis – Canada Warbler

Cardellina Pusilla – Wilson’s Warbler

Cardinalis Cardinalis – Northern Cardinal

Catharus Guttatus – Hermit Thrush

Catharus Minimus – Gray-Cheeked Thrush

Catharus Ustulatus – Swainson’s Thrush

Charadrius Melodus – Piping Plover

Charadrius Montanus – Mountain Plover

Charadrius Nivosus – Snowy Plover

Charadrius Vociferus – Killdeer

Chlidonias Niger – Black Tern

Chondestes Grammacus – Lark Sparrow

Chordeiles Minor – Common Nighthawk

Chroicocephalus Philadelphia – Bonaparte’s Gull

Cistothorus Palustris – Marsh Wren

Cistothorus Platensis – Sedge Wren

Coccyzus Americanus – Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus Erythropthalmus – Black-Billed Cuckoo

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Columba Livia – Rock Pigeon

Columbina Inca – Inca Dove

Columbina Passerine - Common Ground Dove found in the US

Columbina Passerina – Common Ground Dove

Contopus Cooperi – Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Contopus Virens – Eastern Wood-Pewee

Corthylio Calendula – Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Corvus Brachyrhynchos- American Crow

Coturnicops Noveboracensis – Yellow Rail

Cyanocitta Cristata – Blue Jay

Dolichonyx Oryzivorus – Bobolink

Dryobates Pubescens – Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates Villosus – Hairy Woodpecker

Dryocopus Pileatus – Pileated Woodpecker

Dumetella Carolinensis – Gray Catbird

Egretta Caerulea – Little Blue Heron

Egretta Rufescens – Reddish Egret

Egretta Thula – Snowy Egrets

Egretta Tricolor – Tricolored Heron

Empidonax Flavive – Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax Minimus – Least Flycatcher

Empidonax Traillii – Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax Virescens – Acadian Flycatcher

Euphagus Carolinus – Rusty Blackbird

Euphagus Cyanocephalus – Brewer’s Blackbird

Gallinago Delicata – Wilson’s Snipe

Gallinula Galeata – Common Gallinule

Gelochelidon Nilotica – Gull-Billed Tern

Geothlypis Formosa – Kentucky Warblers

Geothlypis Philadelphia – Mourning Warbler

Haemorhous Mexicanus – House Finch

Haemorhous Purpureus – Purple Finch

Helmitheros Vermivorum – Worm-Eating Warbler

Himantopus Mexicanus – Black-Necked Stilt

Hirundo Rustica – Barn Swallow

Hydrocoloeus Minutus – Little Gull

Hydroprogne Caspia – Caspian Tern

Hylocichla Mustelina – Wood Thrush

Icteria Virens – Yellow-Breasted Chat

Icterus Galbula – Baltimore Oriole

Icterus Spurius – Orchard Oriole

Ixobrychus Exilis – Least Bittern

Junco Hyemalis – Dark-Eyed Junco

Lanius Ludovicianus – Loggerhead Shrike

Larus Argentatus – Herring Gull

Larus Delawarensis – Ring-Billed Gulls

Larus Fuscus – Lesser Black-Backed Gull

Larus Marinus – Great Black-Backed Gull

Leiothlypis Celata – Orange-Crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis Peregrina – Tennessee Warblers

Leiothlypis Ruficapilla – Nashville Warbler

Leucophaeus Atricilla – Laughing Gull

Leucophaeus Pipixcan – Franklin’s Gull

Limnodromus Scolopaceus- Long-Billed Dowitcher

Melanerpes Erythrocephalus – Red-Headed Woodpecker

Meleagris Gallopavo – Wild Turkey

Melospiza Melodia – Song Sparrow

Mimus Polyglottos – Northern Mockingbird

Mniotilta Varia – Black-And-White Warbler

Molothrus Ater – Brown-headed Cowbird

Myadestes Townsendi – Townsend’s Solitaire

Myiarchus Cinerascens – Ash-Throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus Crinitus – Great Crested Flycatcher

Nannopterum Auritum – Double-crested Cormorant

Nyctanassa Violacea – Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Oporornis Agilis – Connecticut Warbler

Parkesia Motacilla – Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia Noveboracensis – Northern Waterthrush

Passer Domesticus – House Sparrow

Passerculus Sandwichensis – Savannah Sparrow

Passerina Amoena – Lazuli Bunting

Passerina Caerulea – Blue Grosbeak

Passerina Cyanea – Indigo Bunting

Passerina Versicolor – Varied Bunting

Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos – American White Pelican

Petrochelidon Fulva – Cave Swallow

Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota – Cliff Swallow

Peucedramus Taeniatus – Olive Warbler

Phalaropus Lobatus – Red-Necked Phalarope

Phalaropus Tricolor – Wilson’s Phalarope

Piranga Bidentata – Flame-Colored Tanager

Piranga Olivacea – Scarlet Tanager

Piranga Rubra – Summer Tanager

Pluvialis Dominica – American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis Squatarola – Black-Bellied Plover

Podiceps Auratus – Horned Grebe

Podiceps Nigricollis – Eared Grebe

Podilymbus Podiceps – Pied-Billed Grebe

Pooecetes Gramineus – Vesper Sparrow

Porphyrio Martinicus – Purple Gallinule

Porzana Carolina – Sora

Progne Subis – Purple Martin

Protonotaria Citrea – Prothonotary Warbler

Pyrocephalus Obscurus – Vermilion Flycatcher

Quiscalus Guiscula – Common Grackle

Recurvirostra Americana – American Avocet

Regulus Satrapa – Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Riparia Riparia – Bank Swallow

Sayornis Phoebe – Eastern Phoebe

Scolopax Minor – American Woodcock

Selasphorus Rufus – Rufous Hummingbird

Setophaga Americana – Northern Parula

Setophaga Caerulescens – Black-Throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga Cerulea – Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga Citrina – Hooded Warbler

Setophaga Coronata – Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Setophaga Discolor – Prairie Warbler

Setophaga Dominica – Yellow-Throated Warblers

Setophaga Fusca – Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga Magnolia – Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga Palmarum – Palm Warbler

Setophaga Pensylvanica – Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Setophaga Petechia – Yellow Warbler

Setophaga Pinus – Pine Warbler

Setophaga Striata – Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga Tigrina – Cape May Warbler

Setophaga Virens – Black-Throated Green Warbler

Sialia Sialis – Eastern Bluebird

Sitta Canadensis – Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Spinus Pinus – Pine Siskin

Spinus Tristis – American Goldfinch

Spiza americana – Dickcissel

Spizella Passerine – Chipping Sparrow

Stelgidopteryx Serripennis – Northern rough-winged Swallow

Sterna Forsteri – Forster’s Tern

Sterna Hirundo – Common Tern

Sternula Antillarum – Least Tern

Streptopelia Decaocto – Eurasian Collared-Dove

Sturnella Magna – Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnus Vulgaris – European Starling

Tachycineta Bicolor – Tree Swallow

Thryothorus Ludovicianus – Carolina Wren

Toxostoma crissale - Crissal thrasher photo capture in surprise

Toxostoma Rufum – Brown Thrasher

Tringa Flavipes – Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa Melanoleuca – Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa Semipalmata – Willet

Tringa Solitaria – Solitary Sandpiper

Troglodytes Hiemalis – Winter Wren

Turdus Migratorius – American Robin

Tyrannus Forficatus – Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus Savana – Fork-Tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus Tyrannus – Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus Verticalis – Western Kingbird

Vermivora Cyanoptera – Blue-Winged Warblers

Xanthocephalus Xanthocephalus – Yellow-headed Blackbird

Zenaida Asiatica – White-Winged Dove

Zenaida Macroura – Mourning Dove

Zonotrichia Leucophrys – White-Crowned Sparrow

If you have encountered a bird in Mississippi 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.