Birds in Utah - USA Birds

Utah has more than 37 million acres of protected and public lands inside its borders, including five large national parks, six national forests, and more than 40 state parks and recreation areas. There are a variety of habitats inside those millions of acres, from alpine forests and mountain meadows to scrub canyons, huge wetlands, sage plateaus, and open deserts.

Due to this environmental diversity and Utah’s strategic location on the Central North American migration flyway, the Beehive State is an ideal birding destination, with over 460 bird species recorded.

In 1955, the Utah legislature designated the California gull, Larus californicus, as the state bird (Utah Code, 63G-1-601. State symbols). Note: The state bird of California is the California gull, although the Utah Code refers to it generally as the seagull.

Continue checking out more of these birds as you progress through these sections.

Utah birds of prey

Understanding the hazards to raptors and devising strategies to mitigate them are the first steps toward assisting in the protection of birds of prey. Utah is home to a variety of raptors, several of which are frequently paired with falconers!

Hawks, eagles, kites, and harriers are all examples of birds of prey. These birds have enormous hooked beaks capable of shredding flesh from their victims, strong legs, sharp talons, and acute vision. In Utah, seventeen species have been identified.

More information about these birds can be found in the section below.

Eagles in Utah

When winter hits in Utah, a number of our bird species take to the road – but one prominent bird migrates to the state over the winter — the bald eagle.

According to DWR, February is the best month to see one of America’s most iconic birds. Bald eagles migrate to Utah in the winter in search of food and to avoid the harsher weather found further north. Bald eagles eat primarily fish. They are regularly spotted in Utah near and around bodies of water.

More fascinating facts about these eagles can be found in the section below.

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 ...

Owls in Utah

Utah is renowned for its gorgeous landscapes and magnificent National Parks. Between Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve landed on another planet if you’ve never visited the state.

Owls are fascinating creatures that captivate everyone fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of them. However, owls are more than their odd features and nocturnal lifestyles. Fortunately for bird lovers in Utah, the state is home to over 460 species of birds, including 14 owls.

In this part, we’ll examine the owl species found in Utah at various seasons of the year.

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Megascops Kennicottii – Western Screech Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Common backyard birds of Utah

Utah, the state that contains the Great Salt Lake, is home to numerous species of wild birds. While some of these species spend the entire year in Utah, others are migratory and only visit during the summer or winter. We’re going to look at the most frequent backyard birds in Utah and learn a little about each species in this part.

Woodpeckers in Utah

In comparison to their size, woodpeckers have the longest tongues of any bird. They sweep out holes in trees they have drilled with their tongues, bringing out whatever insects they come across.

In Utah, the greatest way to see woodpeckers is to go birding in the woods and forest. However, several species, including Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, and Northern Flickers, can be seen routinely at backyard feeders.

In Utah, there are now 11 species of woodpeckers. Continue reading to learn how to spot these renowned birds.

Dryobates Scalaris – Ladder-Backed Woodpecker

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Dryocopus Pileatus – Pileated Woodpecker

Dryobates Villosus – Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates Pubescens – Downy Woodpecker

Best Birdwatching Spots in Utah

Utah not only contains a diverse range of bird species, but also a diverse range of bird viewing places. National parks, state parks, municipal parks, federal refuges, state wildlife management areas, national forests, and federal public lands are only a sampling of the opportunities available to anybody in Utah interested in birding.

Fish Spring National Wildlife Refuge
Lytle Ranch Preserve
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Auto Tour Route
Antelope Island State Park
Provo Airport Dike

Other Utah birds

Utah is one of the best ski destinations in the United States and is also home to the western hemisphere’s largest saltwater lake. If you’re not a lover of skiing and spending a day at a Salt Lake isn’t your thing, you’ll be pleased to learn that Utah is a birder’s paradise, due to the 460 bird species that call the Beehive State home.

Myioborus Pictus – Painted Redstart

Cardellina Pusilla – Wilson’s Warbler

Setophaga Townsendi – Townsend’s Warbler

Setophaga Nigrescens – Black-Throated Gray Warbler

Setophaga Graciae – Grace’s Warbler

Setophaga Discolor – Prairie Warbler

Setophaga Coronata – Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Setophaga Petechia – Yellow Warbler

Setophaga Fusca – Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga Citrina – Hooded Warbler

Geothlypis Tolmiei – MacGillivray’s Warbler

Oporornis Agilis – Connecticut Warbler

Leiothlypis Ruficapilla – Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis Luciae – Lucy’s Warbler

Leiothlypis Celata – Orange-Crowned Warbler

Protonotaria Citrea – Prothonotary Warbler

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 Platyrhynchos – Mallard

Mareca Americana – American Wigeon

Mareca Penelope – Eurasian 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

Anser Rossii – Ross’s 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 Melanotos – Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris Minutilla – Least Sandpiper

Calidris Bairdii – Baird’s Sandpiper

Calidris Alpina – Dunlin

Limosa Fedoa – Marbled Godwits

Numenius Americanus – Long-Billed Curlew

Sterna Forsteri – Forster’s Tern

Sterna Hirundo – Common Tern

Chlidonias Niger – Black Tern

Hydroprogne Caspia – Caspian Tern

Larus Hyperboreus – Glaucous Gull

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 Nigricans – Black Phoebe

Empidonax Occidentalis – Cordilleran Flycatcher

Empidonax Oberholseri – Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax Wrightii – Gray Flycatcher

Empidonax Hammondii – Hammond’s Flycatcher

Empidonax Traillii – Willow Flycatcher

Contopus Cooperi – Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Tyrannus Verticalis – Western Kingbird

Tyrannus Tyrannus – Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus Vociferans – Cassin’s Kingbird

Myiarchus Cinerascens – Ash-Throated Flycatcher

Spinus Tristis – American Goldfinch

Spinus Psaltria – Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus Pinus – Pine Siskin

Haemorhous Cassinii – Cassin’s Finch

Haemorhous Mexicanus – House Finch

Leucosticte Tephrocoti – Gray-Crowned Rosy Finch

Pinicola Enucleator – Pine Grosbeak

Coccothraustes Vespertinus – Evening Grosbeak

Nyctanassa Violacea – Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Butorides Virescens – Green Heron

Bubulcus Ibis – Cattle Egret

Egretta Thula – Snowy Egrets

Ardea Herodias – Great Blue Heron

Ixobrychus Exilis – Least Bittern

Botaurus Lentiginosus – American Bittern

Gallinula Galeata – Common Gallinule

Porzana Carolina – Sora

Charadrius Montanus – Mountain Plover

Charadrius Nivosus – Snowy Plover

Charadrius Vociferus – Killdeer

Corvus Corax- Common Raven

Corvus Brachyrhynchos- American Crow

Pica Hudsonia – Black-billed Magpie

Nucifraga Columbiana – Clark’s Nutcracker

Aphelocoma Woodhouseii - Woodho found in western part of the US

Aphelocoma Woodhouseii – Woodhouse’s scrub-Jay

Cyanocitta Cristata – Blue Jay

Cyanocitta Stelleri – Steller’s Jay

Perisoreus Canadensis – Canada Jay

Petrochelidon Fulva – Cave Swallow

Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota – Cliff Swallow

Hirundo Rustica – Barn Swallow

Progne Subis – Purple Martin

Stelgidopteryx Serripennis – Northern rough-winged Swallow

Tachycineta Thalassina – Violet-Green Swallow

Tachycineta Bicolor – Tree Swallow

Riparia Riparia – Bank Swallow

Turdus Migratorius – American Robin

Catharus Guttatus – Hermit Thrush

Catharus Ustulatus – Swainson’s Thrush

Catharus Minimus – Gray-Cheeked Thrush

Myadestes Townsendi – Townsend’s Solitaire

Sialia Currucoides – Mountain Bluebird

Quiscalus Guiscula – Common Grackle

Molothrus Ater – Brown-headed Cowbird

Icterus Parisorum – Scott’s Oriole

Icterus Bullockii – Bullock’s Oriole

Sturnella Neglect – Western Meadowlark

Alectoris Chukar – Chukar

Phasianus Colchicus – Ring-necked Pheasant

Tympanuchus Phasianellus – Sharp-tailed Grouse

Dendragapus Obscurus – Dusky Grouse

Centrocercus Urophasianus – Greater Sage-Grouse

Meleagris Gallopavo – Wild Turkey

Zenaida Macroura – Mourning Dove

Streptopelia Decaocto – Eurasian Collared-Dove

Patagioenas Fasciata – Band-Tailed Pigeon

Columba Livia – Rock Pigeon

Coccyzus Americanus – Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Geococcyx Californianus – Greater Roadrunner

Callipepla Californica – California Quail

Callipepla Squamata – Scaled Quail

Aechmophorus Carkia – Clark’s Grebe

Aechmophorus Occidentalis – Western Grebe

Podiceps Nigricollis – Eared Grebe

Podiceps Auratus – Horned Grebe

Podilymbus Podiceps – Pied-Billed Grebe

Antrostomus Arizonae – Mexican Whip-Poor-Will

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii – Common Poorwill

Chordeiles Minor – Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles Acutipennis – Lesser Nighthawk

Aeronautes Saxatalis – White-Throated Swift

Cypseloides Niger – Black Swift

Antigone Canadensis – Sandhill Crane

Recurvirostra Americana – American Avocet

Himantopus Mexicanus – Black-Necked Stilt

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 Gambeli – Mountain Chickadee

Poecile Atricapillus – Black-Capped Chickadee

Psaltriparus Minimus – Bushtit

Regulus Satrapa – Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Corthylio Calendula – Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Bombycilla Cedrorum – Cedar Waxwing

Phainopepla nitens – Phainopepla

Sitta Pygmaea – Pygmy Nuthatch

Sitta Canadensis – Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Polioptila caerulea - Blue-gray gnatcatche in the United Statesr

Polioptila caerulea – Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Campylorhynchus Brunneicapillus – Cactus Wren

Thryomanes Bewickii – Bewick’s Wren

Thryothorus Ludovicianus – Carolina Wren

Haliaeetus Leucocephalus – Bald Eagle

Accipiter Cooperii – Cooper’s Hawk

Accipiter Striatus – Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Circus Hudsonius – Northern Harrier

Aquila Chrysaetos – Golden Eagle

Selasphorus Calliope – Calliope Hummingbird

Archilochus Alexandri – Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Selasphorus Rufus – Rufous Hummingbird

Buteo Jamaicensis – Red-Tailed Hawk

Megascops Kennicottii – Western Screech Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Dryobates Scalaris – Ladder-Backed Woodpecker

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Dryocopus Pileatus – Pileated 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

Amphispiza Bilineata – Black-Throated Sparrow

Cistothorus Palustris – Marsh Wren

Troglodytes Pacificus – Pacific Wren

Catherpes Mexicanus – Canyon Wren

Salpinctes Obsoletus – Rock Wren

Mimus Polyglottos – Northern Mockingbird

Oreoscoptes Montanus – Sage Thrashe

Toxostoma Crissale – Crissal Thrasher

Toxostoma Lecontei – LeConte’s Thrasher

Toxostoma Bendirei – Bendire’s Thrasher

Sturnus Vulgaris – European Starling

Passer Domesticus – House Sparrow

Anthus Rubescens – American Pipit

Rhynchophanes Mccownii – Thick-Billed Longspur

Icteria Virens – Yellow-Breasted Chat

Passerina Versicolor – Varied Bunting

Passerina Amoena – Lazuli Bunting

Pheucticus Melanocephalus – Black-Headed Grosbeak

If you have encountered a bird in Utah 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.