Birds in West Virginia

West Virginia, dubbed the Mountaineer State, has a rough topography punctuated by the stream and river valleys. West Virginia is home to more than 170 breeding bird species. Numerous birds are seasonal residents of the state. Certain birds spend their winters exclusively in West Virginia, while others migrate here just in the spring and summer.

Birds of West Virginia comprise species that have been documented in the United States of America’s state of West Virginia and acknowledged by the Brooks Bird Club’s West Virginia Bird Records Committee (BBC). The published list contains 354 species as of July 2021. 65 are considered rare, five have been imported to North America, and two have become extinct.

Additional 14 species are classed as speculative, and all of them are categorized as uncommon, with the exception of the extinct ivory-billed woodpecker. In 1949, West Virginia declared the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) to be the state bird.

West Virginia birds of prey

Birds of prey are predatory birds that hunt for food. Birds of prey are classified into two types: diurnal (active during the day) and nocturnal (active at night).

West Virginia is home to some of the most amazing vegetation and fauna on the planet. Due to the fact that many places remain in their original state or are used for farming, many creatures that would have been displaced by rapid development have remained in their native habitats.

Birds of prey, such as hawks, eagles, vultures, and falcons, continue to have a strong presence in West Virginia.

These diurnal birds of prey are also called raptors, which translates as “to seize and carry away.” The majority of nocturnal birds of prey are owls.

Eagles in West Virginia

These magnificent birds represent a variety of concepts, like liberty, courage, honesty, inspiration, victory, and pride. In comparison to other raptors, West Virginia has a dearth of eagle species.

Eagles build their nests in West Virginia from December through February. While bald eagles have been breeding in northern portions of the state since 1981, naturalists did not find a nesting pair on the New River until spring 2010. Since then, surveyors have documented scores of these birds nesting along southern West Virginia’s waterways.

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

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 West Virginia

With tourism as its primary sector, it’s unsurprising that people travel to West Virginia from all around North America. Numerous bird species also appreciate West Virginia’s stunning mountain landscape and lush greenery.

Typical or “genuine” owls are nocturnal solitary birds of prey ranging in size from small to large. 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 West Virginia, the largest owls are Great Horned Owls, while the smallest owls are Northern Saw-whet Owls.

Additional owls are included in the section below.

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Strix Varia – Barred Owl

Common backyard birds of West Virginia

West Virginia, renowned for its majestic mountains and rolling hills, is home to a variety of indigenous bird species. West Virginia is home to around 366 different kinds of birds at various periods of the year. Birds in West Virginia range from the more commonly observed Northern Cardinal to the less frequently seen Willow Flycatcher.

The following is a list of West Virginia backyard birds, complete with photographs and bird identifier information. Whether you’re seeking brown birds or more colorful birds, the list below is certain to have them.

Woodpeckers in West Virginia

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues that are employed for insect capture. Certain species have feet with two forward-facing toes and two backward-facing toes, whereas others have only three toes. Numerous woodpeckers have a propensity of tapping their beaks noisily on tree trunks.

The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in West Virginia, while the Downy Woodpecker is the smallest. Summer is the best time to see Northern Flickers and Red-headed Woodpeckers in West Virginia. Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are frequent winter woodpeckers in West Virginia.

Additional birds can be found in the section below.

Best Birdwatching Spots in West Virginia

Birdwatching is simple and accessible, requiring little particular equipment or skill. Birds can be seen and heard practically anywhere in West Virginia, from your home to deep in the woods. The following are some fundamentals to bear in mind when you search for birds.

Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
Dolly Sods Wilderness
Smoke Hole Recreation Area
Blackwater Falls State Park
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area

Other West Virginia birds

We’ve produced a list of some of the most attractive other birds found in West Virginia, complete with photographs and identification. Additionally, we added information on the frequency with which the birds are observed, as well as the time of year during which they are observed.

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 Castanea – Bay-Breasted Warbler

Setophaga Magnolia – Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga Americana – Northern Parula

Setophaga Cerulea – Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga Tigrina – Cape May Warbler

Setophaga Kirtlandii – Kirtland’s 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

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 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 Discors – Blue-Winged Teal

Aix Sponsa – Wood Duck

Cygnus Columbianus – Tundra Swan

Branta Canadensis – Canada Geese

Anser Rossii – Ross’s Geese

Anser Caerulescens – Snow Geese

Phalaropus Lobatus – Red-Necked Phalarope

Phalaropus Tricolor – Wilson’s Phalarope

Tringa Melanoleuca – Greater Yellowlegs

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

Limosa Fedoa – Marbled Godwits

Bartramia Longicauda – Upland Sandpipers

Sterna Forsteri – Forster’s Tern

Hydroprogne Caspia – Caspian Tern

Larus Marinus – Great Black-Backed Gull

Larus Fuscus – Lesser Black-Backed Gull

Larus Glaucoides – Iceland Gull

Larus Argentatus – Herring Gull

Larus Delawarensis – Ring-Billed Gulls

Chroicocephalus Philadelphia – Bonaparte’s 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 Savana – Fork-Tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus Forficatus – Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus Tyrannus – Eastern Kingbird

Myiarchus Cinerascens – Ash-Throated Flycatcher

Spinus Tristis – American Goldfinch

Spinus Pinus – Pine Siskin

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

Gallinula Galeata – Common Gallinule

Porzana Carolina – Sora

Charadrius Montanus – Mountain Plover

Charadrius Nivosus – Snowy Plover

Charadrius Vociferus – Killdeer

Pluvialis Dominica – American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis Squatarola – Black-Bellied Plover

Corvus Corax- Common Raven

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

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 Spurius – Orchard Oriole

Sturnella Magna – Eastern Meadowlark

Dolichonyx Oryzivorus – Bobolink

Xanthocephalus Xanthocephalus – Yellow-headed Blackbird

Phasianus Colchicus – Ring-necked Pheasant

Bonasa Umbellus – Ruffed Grouse

Meleagris Gallopavo – Wild Turkey

Zenaida Macroura – Mourning Dove

Zenaida Asiatica – White-Winged Dove

Columbina Passerine - Common Ground Dove found in the US

Columbina Passerina – Common Ground Dove

Columbina Inca – Inca 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

Chaetura Pelagica – Chimney Swift

Antigone Canadensis – Sandhill Crane

Nannopterum Auritum – Double-crested Cormorant

Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos – American White Pelican

Eudocimus Albus – White Ibis

Cathartes Aura – Turkey Vulture

Coragyps Atratus – Black Vulture

Pandion Haliaetus – Osprey

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Falco Peregrinus – Peregrine Falcon

Falco columbarius – Merlin

Falco Sparverius – American Kestrel

Baeolophus Bicolor – Tufted Titmouse

Poecile Atricapillus – Black-Capped Chickadee

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

Melanerpes Carolinus – Red-Bellied Woodpecker

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

Zonotrichia Leucophrys – White-Crowned Sparrow

Spizella Passerine – Chipping Sparrow

Zonotrichia Albicollis – White-Throated Sparrow

Pooecetes Gramineus – Vesper Sparrow

Melospiza Melodia – Song 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

Dumetella Carolinensis – Gray Catbird

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

Pheucticus Ludovicianus – Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Cardinalis Cardinalis – Northern Cardinal

Piranga Bidentata – Flame-Colored Tanager

Piranga Olivacea – Scarlet Tanager

If you have encountered a bird in West Virginia 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.