Birds in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is home to approximately 440 bird species and hundreds of birdwatchers. Robins, the official bird of Wisconsin, are abundant and easy to see in the spring, with their tawny bellies bobbing along the ground and in the air. However, they are not the only birds that can be seen in your backyard during the summer months.

Birds of Wisconsin comprise species that have been documented in the United States of America’s state of Wisconsin and accepted by the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology’s Records Committee (WSORC). As of March 2021, the official list contained 440 species and a species pair. 91 are accidental, 34 are casual, 53 are unusual, might have been imported to North America, and two are known to be extinct, while another is suspected to be. A further twelve species are classified as speculative.

Wisconsin birds of prey

In Wisconsin, the Forest Raptors group of birds comprises a variety of resident and migratory hawk and owl species. Northern Goshawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, American Kestrel, Long-eared Owl, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Great Gray Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, and Northern Saw-whet Owl are all included in this list. Raptors are seen as barometers of environmental health due to their status as top carnivores.

Due to the fact that many Forest Raptor species are secretive and difficult to census, basic information on their abundance and status is limited. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources increased its emphasis on data collection in 2002, through educational materials, training, and field surveys.

Eagles in Wisconsin

You are in luck if you want to view a bald eagle in Wisconsin. They can be found today in Wisconsin’s northern two-thirds. Bald eagle populations have been increasing year after year since the Endangered Species Act was enacted and DDT was banned.

The bald eagle, once an endangered species, has made a remarkable recovery, particularly in Wisconsin. Spotting one of these magnificent birds used to be an uncommon occurrence, but today, eagle sightings are almost anticipated in many regions of the state – yet they are no less spectacular.

Buteo Platypterus – Broad-Winged Hawk

Buteo Lineatus – Red-Shouldered Hawk

Accipiter Striatus – Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Aquila Chrysaetos – Golden Eagle

Buteo Jamaicensis – Red-Tailed Hawk

Owls in Wisconsin

Owls in Wisconsin rarely leave the state, as the state’s climate and prey are ideal for the state’s five most frequent owl species!

As with all predators, owls contribute significantly to nature by removing individuals considered surplus from prey populations. Owls utilize unique techniques to get an advantage over their prey. They have extraordinary vision and hearing, silent feathers, piercing talons, and razor-sharp beaks.

While in Wisconsin, pay attention to these Owls.

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Strix Nebulosa – Great Gray Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Strix Varia – Barred Owl

Common backyard birds of Wisconsin

There are bird species that are migratory and visit the state just during certain times of the year, while others are permanent residents. The birds that make Wisconsin their permanent home are more frequently observed in the backyards of feeder owners, as they frequent them. While migratory birds also frequent the feeders during their seasonal migration.

We’ve produced a list of some of the most attractive common backyard birds found in Wisconsin, 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.

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

Sturnus Vulgaris – European Starling

Woodpeckers in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is primarily aquatic, with over 32,900 miles of rivers and streams, 15,000 inland lakes, and hundreds of tiny ponds. This attracts a variety of insects to the numerous shores and surrounding woodlands, providing the ideal habitat for woodpeckers to pursue their prey.

A woodpecker’s unique bill enables it to search for insects beneath the bark of a tree. While some of the following woodpeckers are easy to view, others are difficult to locate and can only be seen at specific times of the year.

Sphyrapicus Varius – Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

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 Wisconsin

Spring is the best time in Wisconsin, and people can scarcely wait for the season’s welcoming, colorful blooms to appear. Spring is also the peak migration season for Wisconsin Birds! Bird watching has grown in popularity across the country, to the point where it is now regarded as the fastest-growing hobby.

Here are the top 5 spots you can visit when you are in Wisconsin.

Crex Meadows
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Superior/ North Woods Birding and Nature Trail
Sandhill Wildlife Area
Schlitz Audubon Center

Other Wisconsin birds

The following is a list of birds found in Wisconsin. The birds are illustrated and labeled with their bird identifiers. Whether you’re seeking for brown birds or more colorful birds, the list below is certain to have them.

Cardellina Pusilla – Wilson’s Warbler

Cardellina Canadensis – Canada Warbler

Setophaga Virens – Black-Throated Green 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

American Redstart – Setophaga Ruticilla

Setophaga Citrina – Hooded Warbler

Geothlypis Formosa – Kentucky Warblers

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 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

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

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 Maritima – Purple Sandpiper

Calidris Alpina – Dunlin

Calidris Alba – Sanderling

Calidris Ferruginea – Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris Pugnax – Ruff

Arenaria Interpres – Ruddy Turnstone

Bartramia Longicauda – Upland Sandpipers

Sterna Forsteri – Forster’s Tern

Sterna Hirundo – Common Tern

Hydroprogne Caspia – Caspian Tern

Larus Marinus – Great Black-Backed Gull

Larus Hyperboreus – Glaucous Gull

Larus Fuscus – Lesser Black-Backed Gull

Larus Argentatus – Herring Gull

Larus Delawarensis – Ring-Billed Gulls

Leucophaeus Pipixcan – Franklin’s Gull

Chroicocephalus Philadelphia – Bonaparte’s Gull

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 Crinitus – Great Crested Flycatcher

Spinus Tristis – American Goldfinch

Spinus Pinus – Pine Siskin

Loxia Curvirostra – Red Crossbill

Acanthis Flammea – Common Redpoll

Haemorhous Purpureus – Purple Finch

Haemorhous Mexicanus – House Finch

Pinicola Enucleator – Pine Grosbeak

Coccothraustes Vespertinus – Evening Grosbeak

Nyctanassa Violacea – Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Butorides Virescens – Green Heron

Bubulcus Ibis – Cattle Egret

Egretta Tricolor – Tricolored Heron

Egretta Caerulea – Little Blue Heron

Ardea Alba – Great Egret

Ardea Herodias – Great Blue Heron

Ixobrychus Exilis – Least Bittern

Botaurus Lentiginosus – American Bittern

Coturnicops Noveboracensis – Yellow Rail

Porphyrio Martinicus – Purple Gallinule

Gallinula Galeata – Common Gallinule

Porzana Carolina – Sora

Charadrius Melodus – Piping Plover

Charadrius Vociferus – Killdeer

Pluvialis Dominica – American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis Squatarola – Black-Bellied Plover

Corvus Brachyrhynchos- American Crow

Cyanocitta Cristata – Blue 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

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 Galbula – Baltimore Oriole

Icterus Spurius – Orchard Oriole

Sturnella Neglect – Western Meadowlark

Sturnella Magna – Eastern Meadowlark

Dolichonyx Oryzivorus – Bobolink

Phasianus Colchicus – Ring-necked Pheasant

Perdix Perdix – Gray Partridge

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 Occidentalis – Western Grebe

Podiceps Nigricollis – Eared Grebe

Podilymbus Podiceps – Pied-Billed Grebe

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii – Common Poorwill

Chordeiles Minor – Common Nighthawk

Antigone Canadensis – Sandhill Crane

Gavia Immer – Common Loon

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

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

Accipiter Striatus – Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Aquila Chrysaetos – Golden Eagle

Archilochus Colubris – Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Buteo Jamaicensis – Red-Tailed Hawk

Strix Nebulosa – Great Gray Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Strix Varia – Barred Owl

Sphyrapicus Varius – Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

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

Passerella Iliaca – Fox 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

Melospiza Melodia – Song Sparrow

Cistothorus Palustris – Marsh Wren

Cistothorus Platensis – Sedge Wren

Troglodytes Hiemalis – Winter Wren

Toxostoma crissale - Crissal thrasher photo capture in surprise

Toxostoma Rufum – Brown Thrasher

Sturnus Vulgaris – European Starling

Passer Domesticus – House Sparrow

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 Olivacea – Scarlet Tanager

If you have encountered a bird in Wisconsin 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.