Birds in Iowa

Explore 166 species found in this region.

Visiting in April? Look out for American Avocet and American Golden-Plover arriving this month, and American Black Duck and Cackling Goose depart for the season.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated HummingbirdSmallest · 7cm
to
Trumpeter Swan
Trumpeter SwanLargest · 157cm
Ranges from the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (7cm) to the Trumpeter Swan (157cm)40 families represented

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Showing 1–23 of 166 species

ResidentLives here year-roundBreedingVisits to breed in warmer monthsNon-breedingVisits outside breeding seasonPassagePasses through during migrationCommonly spottedReported on most outingsUncommonly spottedPresent but not always seenRarely spottedFew sightings each year
Alder Flycatcher

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorumLC

PassageRarely spotted

May–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Avocet

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americanaLC

PassageRarely spotted

Apr–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Bittern

American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosusLC

PassageRarely spotted

May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Black Duck

American Black Duck

Anas rubripesLC

Non-breedingRarely spotted

Nov–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Crow

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchosLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Golden-Plover

American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis dominicaLC

PassageRarely spotted

Apr–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Herring Gull

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianusLC

Non-breedingUncommonly spotted

Sep–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Redstart

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticillaLC

BreedingCommonly spotted

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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American Robin

American Robin

Turdus migratoriusLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Tree Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arboreaLC

Non-breedingUncommonly spotted

Oct–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Baird's Sandpiper

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdiiLC

PassageRarely spotted

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalusLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbulaLC

BreedingCommonly spotted

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rusticaLC

BreedingCommonly spotted

Apr–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Barred Owl

Barred Owl

Strix variaLC

ResidentUncommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castaneaLC

PassageRarely spotted

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black Tern

Black Tern

Chlidonias nigerLC

BreedingRarely spotted

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black-billed Cuckoo

Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus erythropthalmusLC

BreedingRarely spotted

May–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virensLC

PassageUncommonly spotted

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Blackpoll Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striataNT

PassageUncommonly spotted

May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristataLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Blue-headed Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo

Vireo solitariusLC

PassageUncommonly spotted

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Bobolink

Bobolink

Dolichonyx oryzivorusLC

BreedingUncommonly spotted

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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