Birds in South Dakota

South Dakota’s diversified landscape supports a diversity of habitats and approximately 400 species of birds, ranging from rolling hills and prairie marshes and lakes to sky-piercing granite peaks and lush alpine meadows. In 1943, South Dakota made the Chinese ring-necked pheasant its official state bird.

Birds of South Dakota is a collection of species found in the United States of America’s state of South Dakota and recognized by the South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union (SDOU). As of October 2020, the official list contained 438 species. There are 66 classified as accidental, 20 classified as casual, four classified as hypothetical (see below), and eight classified as introduced to North America.

In this essay, we’ll look at some of the most easily identifiable and well-known birds in South Dakota, with an emphasis on those found close to home.

South Dakota of prey

This secret South Dakota treasure got its name from the hawks, eagles, and other raptors (birds of prey) who frequent the route throughout the winter months.

The 175-mile course passes through sections of open grassland with few trees. That presents no difficulty for birds who prefer to perch on fenceposts, power poles, and the rare tree.

On many days, a keen eye will spot up to 50 raptor sightings. Owls, especially the elusive Snowy Owl, are commonly seen, as is a bald eagle perched feet above fields of white snow.

Other photographs of these birds of prey are available below.

Eagles in South Dakota

An eagle is any bird of prey that is more powerful than a buteo. While an eagle’s structure and flight characteristics are similar to those of a vulture, it has a fully feathered (sometimes crested) head and strong feet armed with enormous curved talons.

For a long period of time, the state of South Dakota was devoid of Eagles. That all changed roughly 30 years ago when reports of the bird along the Missouri River began to circulate.

Learn more about the Eagles in South Dakota by clicking here.

Buteo Platypterus – Broad-Winged 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 South Dakota

Typical owls range in size from little to huge nocturnal birds of prey. They feature huge forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a prominent feathered circle called a face disk around each eye. In South Dakota, twelve species have been identified.

South Dakota, dubbed Mount Rushmore State, is recognized for its breathtaking landscapes and fauna. It’s unsurprising that it’s frequently referred to as “the land of limitless variation.”

The north-central state, which is evenly divided into four diverse geographical zones, has a little bit of everything! With all of this diversity, South Dakota is an ideal habitat for a particular species of stealthy raptor: the owl!

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Strix Nebulosa – Great Gray Owl

Megascops Kennicottii – Western Screech Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Strix Varia – Barred Owl

Finches of South Dakota

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds that range in size from small to somewhat large. They have a powerful beak that is normally conical in shape but can grow to be quite enormous in some species. Each species has twelve tail feathers and nine primary feathers.

These birds fly with a bounce, alternating between bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and the majority sing beautifully. South Dakota is home to fourteen species.

The following is a list of finches found in South Dakota.

Spinus Tristis – American Goldfinch

Spinus Pinus – Pine Siskin

Haemorhous Purpureus – Purple Finch

Haemorhous Mexicanus – House Finch

Leucosticte Tephrocoti – Gray-Crowned Rosy Finch

Coccothraustes Vespertinus – Evening Grosbeak

Hummingbirds of South Dakota

South Dakota, dubbed The Mount Rushmore State, is “home” to one of the state’s nine hummingbird species, the Ruby-throated hummingbird.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only species that breed, nest, and raise their young in South Dakota, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

While it’s natural to believe that all hummingbirds are the same when we only see them as a jewel-toned flash of color zipping around our hanging flowers and porches, they have a variety of temperaments, nesting patterns, and colors, and inhabit a variety of geographical regions.

Hummingbirds are known to dwell within specifically established ranges, either as year-round residents or as migratory species.

Archilochus Colubris – Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Backyard birds of South Dakota

Therefore, if you’re ready to go backyard birding in South Dakota, continue reading to learn how to recognize birds and attract additional birds to your yard.

The state of South Dakota is home to a variety of bird species. It is home to around 410 different bird species. Birds of South Dakota range from the more common American Robin to the less common Bell’s Vireo.

Best Birdwatching Spots in South Dakota

South Dakota is home to an abundance of birding possibilities spread over astonishing diversity of landscapes. While the majority of the state is grassland or was once grassland converted to crops and livestock, hills, vast reservoirs, and forested parts provide variety.

South Dakota offers six national parks, two national forests, three national grasslands, six national wildlife refuges, and 56 state parks that all provide good opportunities to observe birds in their native habitats.

Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge
Badlands National Park
Oahe Downstream Recreation Area
Oakwood Lakes State Park

Other South Dakota birds

This section describes the common birds found in and around South Dakota.

Cardellina Pusilla – Wilson’s Warbler

Cardellina Canadensis – Canada Warbler

Setophaga Virens – Black-Throated Green Warbler

Setophaga Coronata – Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Setophaga Striata – Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga Pensylvanica – Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Setophaga Petechia – Yellow Warbler

Setophaga Fusca – Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga Castanea – Bay-Breasted Warbler

Setophaga Magnolia – Magnolia Warbler

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

Leiothlypis Ruficapilla – Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis Celata – Orange-Crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis Peregrina – Tennessee Warblers

Protonotaria Citrea – Prothonotary Warbler

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 Islandica – Barrow’s Goldeneye

Bucephala Clangula – Common Goldeneye

Aythya Affinis – Lesser Scaup

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 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 Fedoa – Marbled Godwits

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 Fuscus – Lesser Black-Backed Gull

Larus Argentatus – Herring Gull

Larus Californicus – California Gull

Larus Delawarensis – Ring-Billed Gulls

Leucophaeus Pipixcan – Franklin’s 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 Flavive – Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher

Contopus Virens – Eastern Wood-Pewee

Contopus Cooperi – Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Tyrannus Verticalis – Western Kingbird

Tyrannus Tyrannus – Eastern Kingbird

Myiarchus Crinitus – Great Crested Flycatcher

Spinus Tristis – American Goldfinch

Spinus Pinus – Pine Siskin

Haemorhous Purpureus – Purple Finch

Haemorhous Mexicanus – House Finch

Leucosticte Tephrocoti – Gray-Crowned Rosy Finch

Coccothraustes Vespertinus – Evening Grosbeak

Nyctanassa Violacea – Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Butorides Virescens – Green Heron

Bubulcus Ibis – Cattle Egret

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

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

Gymnorhinus Cyanocephalus – Pinyon 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

Tympanuchus Phasianellus – Sharp-tailed Grouse

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

Aechmophorus Carkia – Clark’s Grebe

Podiceps Nigricollis – Eared Grebe

Podiceps Grisegena – Red-Necked Grebe

Podiceps Auratus – Horned Grebe

Podilymbus Podiceps – Pied-Billed Grebe

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii – Common Poorwill

Chordeiles Minor – Common Nighthawk

Grus Americana – Whooping Crane

Antigone Canadensis – Sandhill Crane

Recurvirostra Americana – American Avocet

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 Ridgwayi – Juniper Titmouse

Poecile Atricapillus – Black-Capped Chickadee

Regulus Satrapa – Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Corthylio Calendula – Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Bombycilla Cedrorum – Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla Garrulus – Bohemian Waxwing

Sitta Canadensis – Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Buteo Platypterus – Broad-Winged 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

Dryobates Scalaris – Ladder-Backed Woodpecker

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

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

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 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 Olivacea – Scarlet Tanager

If you have encountered a bird in South Dakota 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.