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Birds of Badlands National Park

The birds most often spotted in Badlands, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

3,450
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 3,450 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Badlands. The most frequently seen is the Western Meadowlark, with 405 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Badlands include Greater Prairie-Chicken - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Greater Prairie-Chicken

Most-observed birds in Badlands

Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
405 observations
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
281 observations
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
263 observations
Rock Wren
Salpinctes obsoletus
258 observations
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
256 observations
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
235 observations
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
135 observations
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestris
128 observations
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
107 observations
Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
93 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
84 observations
Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
73 observations
Upland Sandpiper
Bartramia longicauda
70 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
69 observations
Lark Bunting
Calamospiza melanocorys
64 observations
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
55 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
52 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
52 observations
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor
48 observations
Blue Grosbeak
Passerina caerulea
48 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
46 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
46 observations
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
44 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
40 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
37 observations
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Tympanuchus phasianellus
36 observations
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
34 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
33 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
32 observations
Ferruginous Hawk
Buteo regalis
31 observations
Violet-green Swallow
Tachycineta thalassina
30 observations
Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
30 observations
Swainson's Hawk
Buteo swainsoni
25 observations
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
25 observations
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
17 observations
Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus savannarum
15 observations
Townsend's Solitaire
Myadestes townsendi
15 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
13 observations
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
13 observations
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Streptopelia decaocto
12 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
12 observations
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
12 observations
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
11 observations
Vesper Sparrow
Pooecetes gramineus
11 observations
Greater Prairie-Chicken
Tympanuchus cupido
9 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
9 observations
Long-billed Curlew
Numenius americanus
9 observations
Prairie Falcon
Falco mexicanus
9 observations
White-throated Swift
Aeronautes saxatalis
9 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
9 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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