Birds in Missouri - USA Birds

Missouri is located in the core of North America, with a fauna that reflects influences from every direction. Being east of the Mississippi River, our state will always be included in the “eastern” volume of any two-volume field guide; but, one can sense a tug toward the west when encountering a Swainson’s Hawk, a Greater Roadrunner, or a Collared Lizard in a cedar glade.

Missouri boasts a robust bird list of 438 species, including five that are extinct, three that once thrived here but have been extirpated, and 11 that are tentative. As is the case in every state, a significant number of our listed birds are accidental or casual visitors; this totals approximately 80 species, leaving approximately 340 regular birds seen annually somewhere in the state.

Are you able to recognize several of these birds? Continue reading to learn more.

Missouri birds of prey

Birds of Prey colloquially referred to as Raptors, are distinguished from other types of birds by their ability to hunt and feed on other animals.

There are 290 raptor species globally, 33 in North America, and 19 in Missouri. There are eight distinct Raptor classifications, which can be further subdivided into Diurnal (Day-flying) and Nocturnal (Night-flying) species. All are diurnal, with the exception of owls, which specialize in hunting in low light.

Take a look at the section below to learn about the birds found in Missouri.

Eagles in Missouri

Eagles (genus Aquila) are big birds with massive beak, powerful wings, and broad bodies. Generally, they are spotted soaring in quest of food. Eagles, which are far larger and less nimble than Hawks, frequently prefer to pursue fish, rabbits, and squirrels over tiny rodents. The Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle are both common eagles in Missouri.

Missouri has over 175 active eagle nests. During the winter, more than 2,000 bald eagles are typically observed.

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 Missouri

Owls (order Strigiformes) have huge heads and eyes, as well as broad wings and tails. They have good vision in low light, superb hearing, and soft feathers that allow for stealthy flight. The Great Horned Owl, Snowy Owl, Barn Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, and Burrowing Owl are all common owls in Missouri.

For millennia, owls have captivated people’s minds with their secretive nature and distinctive appearance. Owls are also mentioned in numerous cultures’ mythology and traditions.

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Strix Varia – Barred Owl

Common backyard birds of Missouri

Missouri is an excellent location for bird watching. With almost 400 bird species, it resembles a birding hotspot, combining the best of neighboring states. Putting up bird feeders and watching what comes to visit is a lot of fun, but it’s much better if you know who they are and can identify birds in your backyard.

Now you may learn about the most popular backyard birds that visit feeders or hop across your grass in Missouri.

Baeolophus Bicolor – Tufted Titmouse

Known as the tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor, it is a tiny songbird native to North America and a member of ...

Thryothorus Ludovicianus – Carolina Wren

Thryothorus ludovicianus, or known as the Carolina wren is a common bird found in the southeastern part of the United ...

Cistothorus Palustris – Marsh Wren

Known as the Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris is a small songbird belonging to the wren family that lives in North ...

Cistothorus Platensis – Sedge Wren

Cistothorus stellaris, know to be a sedge wren, is a small Troglodytid bird in the family of Troglodytidae. North America ...

Troglodytes Hiemalis – Winter Wren

Troglodytes hiemalis is a small North American wren of the Troglodytidae family. It was once known as the winter wren, ...

Woodpeckers in Missouri

Missouri woodpeckers are comprised of seven species that represent each of the five indigenous woodpecker genera. They are often distributed across the state. Indeed, birders in St. Louis can observe all seven species.

The popularity of woodpeckers is partly due to their preference for dwelling in and around residential areas. As a result, they make excellent photographic subjects. Share your photos and experiences about woodpeckers with the community.

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 Missouri

Are you looking for a low-cost birding excursion in Missouri? We definitely have something intriguing to share with you right now, as we want you to learn about the top free birding spots in this state.

Bring binoculars, a full tank of gas, and be prepared to pay for parking on occasion after learning about our top 5 recommendations.

Big Oak Tree State Park
Bush Conservation Area and Weldon Spring Conservation Area
Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area
Mingo Wildlife Refuge
Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area

Other Missouri birds

Missouri’s nearly every corner offers something distinctive to offer the serious birder. Here are some of the other birds found in the state.

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

Oxyura Jamaicensis – Ruddy Duck

Parkesia Motacilla – Louisiana Waterthrush

Helmitheros Vermivorum – Worm-Eating Warbler

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

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 Glaucoides – Iceland Gull

Larus Argentatus – Herring Gull

Larus Delawarensis – Ring-Billed Gulls

Leucophaeus Pipixcan – Franklin’s Gull

Leucophaeus Atricilla – Laughing 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

Rallus Limicola – Virginia Rail

Charadrius Vociferus – Killdeer

Pluvialis Dominica – American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis Squatarola – Black-Bellied Plover

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

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

Podiceps Auratus – Horned Grebe

Podilymbus Podiceps – Pied-Billed Grebe

Antrostomus Carolinensis – Chuck-Will’s-Widow

Chordeiles Minor – Common Nighthawk

Antigone Canadensis – Sandhill Crane

Recurvirostra Americana – American Avocet

Gavia Immer – Common Loon

Anhinga Anhinga – Anhinga

Nannopterum Auritum – Double-crested Cormorant

Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos – American White Pelican

Cathartes Aura – Turkey Vulture

Pandion Haliaetus – Osprey

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

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

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

Mimus Polyglottos – Northern Mockingbird

Toxostoma crissale - Crissal thrasher photo capture in surprise

Toxostoma Rufum – Brown Thrasher

Sturnus Vulgaris – European Starling

Passer Domesticus – House Sparrow

Anthus Rubescens – American Pipit

Calcarius Pictus – Smith’s Longspur

Icteria Virens – Yellow-Breasted Chat

Passerina Cyanea – Indigo Bunting

Passerina Versicolor – Varied Bunting

Passerina Amoena – Lazuli Bunting

Passerina Caerulea – Blue Grosbeak

Pheucticus Ludovicianus – Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Cardinalis Cardinalis – Northern Cardinal

Piranga Olivacea – Scarlet Tanager

If you have encountered a bird in Missouri 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.