Birds

Looking for birds is a great way to explore the environment. Birds inhabit every part of the landscape, from the skies and trees above to the land and water that surrounds us. Depending on the time of year, time of day, or location, you'll find different birds.

Pro-tip! A set of binoculars can make spotting birds much easier.

Tap the region of the country you're in and see how many birds you can find outside!

Birds of the Southeast

Here is a list of common birds that can be found in the Southeastern United States

Tap the picture of each bird you see to check them off.

  • American Robin

    Turdus migratorius

    “cheer-up, cheerily”

  • Blue Jay

    Cyanocitta cristata

    harsh "jaayyy!"

  • Mourning Dove

    Zenaida macroura

    mournful "coo-OOO"

  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird

    Archilochus colubris

    "chee-dit! chee-dit!"

  • Northern Cardinal

    Cardinalis cardinalis

    "cheer cheer cheer"

  • Downy Woodpecker

    Dryobates pubescens

    sharp repeated “pik”

  • Dark-eyed Junco

    Junco hyemalis

    "chip-chip-chip"

  • American Crow

    Corvus brachyrhynchos

    loud “Caww Caww”

  • Red-tailed Hawk

    Buteo jamaicensis

    screaming "KEEeer"

  • American Goldfinch

    Spinus tristis

    quiet "po-ta-to-chip"

Birds of the Rocky Mountains

Here is a list of common birds that can be found in the Rocky Mountain region.

Tap the picture of each bird you see to check them off.

  • American Robin

    Turdus migratorius

    “cheer-up, cheerily”

  • Steller's Jay

    Cyanocitta stelleri

    harsh "shook shook"

  • Mourning Dove

    Zenaida macroura

    mournful "coo-OOO"

  • Rufous Hummingbird

    Selasphorus rufus

    "chu-chu-chu"

  • Mountain Bluebird

    Sialia currucoides

    "(harsh) chik, (soft) pew"

  • Downy Woodpecker

    Dryobates pubescens

    sharp repeated “pik”

  • Dark-eyed Junco

    Junco hyemalis

    "chip-chip-chip"

  • American Crow

    Corvus brachyrhynchos

    loud “Caww Caww”

  • Red-tailed Hawk

    Buteo jamaicensis

    screaming "KEEeer"

  • American Goldfinch

    Spinus tristis

    quiet "po-ta-to-chip"

Birds of the Pacific States

Here is a list of common birds that can be found in the Pacific Region.

Tap the picture of each bird you see to check them off.

  • American Robin

    Turdus migratorius

    “cheer-up, cheerily”

  • California Scrub Jay

    Aphelocoma californica

    harsh "schlenk!"

  • Mourning Dove

    Zenaida macroura

    mournful "coo-OOO"

  • Anna's Hummingbird

    Calypte anna

    series of sharp "chip!"

  • Western Tanager

    Piranga ludoviciana

    chuckling 2-3 note

  • Downy Woodpecker

    Dryobates pubescens

    sharp repeated “pik”

  • Dark-eyed Junco

    Junco hyemalis

    "chip-chip-chip"

  • American Crow

    Corvus brachyrhynchos

    loud “Caww Caww”

  • Red-tailed Hawk

    Buteo jamaicensis

    screaming "KEEeer"

  • American Goldfinch

    Spinus tristis

    quiet "po-ta-to-chip"

Birds of the Midwest

Here is a list of common birds that can be found in the Midwestern United States.

Tap the picture of each bird you see to check them off.

  • American Robin

    Turdus migratorius

    “cheer-up, cheerily”

  • Blue Jay

    Cyanocitta cristata

    harsh "jaayyy!"

  • Mourning Dove

    Zenaida macroura

    mournful "coo-OOO"

  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird

    Archilochus colubris

    "chee-dit! chee-dit!"

  • Northern Cardinal

    Cardinalis cardinalis

    "cheer cheer cheer"

  • Downy Woodpecker

    Dryobates pubescens

    sharp repeated “pik”

  • Dark-eyed Junco

    Junco hyemalis

    "chip-chip-chip"

  • American Crow

    Corvus brachyrhynchos

    loud “Caww Caww”

  • Red-tailed Hawk

    Buteo jamaicensis

    screaming "KEEeer"

  • American Goldfinch

    Spinus tristis

    quiet "po-ta-to-chip"

Birds of the Southwest

Here is a list of common birds that can be found in the Southwestern United States.

Tap the picture of each bird you see to check them off.

  • American Robin

    Turdus migratorius

    “cheer-up, cheerily”

  • Canyon Wren

    Catherpes mexicanus

    scratchy, shrill "tsee!"

  • Mourning Dove

    Zenaida macroura

    mournful "coo-OOO"

  • Rufous Hummingbird

    Selasphorus rufus

    "chu-chu-chu"

  • Greater Roadrunner

    Geococcyx californianus

    "coo" & rapid clicks

  • Downy Woodpecker

    Dryobates pubescens

    sharp repeated “pik”

  • Dark-eyed Junco

    Junco hyemalis

    "chip-chip-chip"

  • American Crow

    Corvus brachyrhynchos

    loud “Caww Caww”

  • Red-tailed Hawk

    Buteo jamaicensis

    screaming "KEEeer"

  • American Goldfinch

    Spinus tristis

    quiet "po-ta-to-chip"

Birds of the Northeast

Here is a list of common birds that can be found in the Northeastern United States.

Tap the picture of each bird you see to check them off.

  • Baltimore Oriole

    Icterus galbula

    clear chatter

  • Blue Jay

    Cyanocitta cristata

    harsh "jaayyy!"

  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak

    Pheucticus ludovicianus

    short, sharp "chenk"

  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird

    Archilochus colubris

    "chee-dit! chee-dit!"

  • Northern Cardinal

    Cardinalis cardinalis

    "cheer cheer cheer"

  • Downy Woodpecker

    Dryobates pubescens

    sharp repeated “pik”

  • Dark-eyed Junco

    Junco hyemalis

    "chip-chip-chip"

  • Wood Thrush

    Hylocichla mustelina

    “ee-oh-lay”

  • Red-tailed Hawk

    Buteo jamaicensis

    screaming "KEEeer"

  • American Goldfinch

    Spinus tristis

    quiet "po-ta-to-chip"

Birds of Lakes and Rivers

Here is a list of common birds that can be found near bodies of water in United States.

Tap the picture of each bird you see to check them off.

  • Bald Eagle

    Haliaeetus leucocephalus

    weak, repeated piping

  • Osprey

    Pandion haliaetus

    high-pitched whistling

  • Canada Goose

    Branta canadensis

    loud "hooonk"

  • Double-crested Cormorant

    Phalacrocorax auritus

    grunting "oinks"

  • Pied-billed Grebe

    Podilymbus podiceps

    "kuk-kuk-kuk"

  • Great Blue Heron

    Ardea herodias

    deep repeated croaks

  • Common Loon

    Gavia immer

    Howling "oooo-OOOO"

  • Mallard

    Anas platyrhynchos

    “quack quack”

  • American Coot

    Fulica americana

    "krrrp krrrp"

  • Killdeer

    Charadrius vociferus

    high "kill-deer"

Field Marks

See a bird that isn't on the list? You can use field marks to help you identify birds you aren't familiar with.

Tap the diagram below to open the notes section and record any distinctive field marks. Research your findings in a bird ID book or website when you can to identify the birds your found.

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