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Birds of Illinois

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

340,952
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 340,952 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Illinois. The most frequently seen is the House Sparrow, with 20,731 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in Illinois

House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
20,731 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
18,986 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
18,621 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
18,282 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
16,235 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
14,473 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
10,783 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
10,052 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
9,628 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
9,329 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
8,819 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
8,265 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
7,659 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
6,957 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
6,724 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
6,044 observations
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
5,705 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
5,654 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
5,603 observations · iNaturalist
Great Egret
Ardea alba
5,588 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
5,537 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
5,515 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
5,422 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
5,081 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
4,970 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
4,827 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
4,818 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
4,758 observations
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
4,678 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
4,672 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
4,645 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
4,517 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
4,517 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
4,370 observations
American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
4,260 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
4,222 observations
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
4,069 observations
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
3,862 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
3,845 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
3,821 observations
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
3,593 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
3,572 observations
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
3,560 observations
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
3,529 observations
American Tree Sparrow
Spizelloides arborea
3,468 observations
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
3,446 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
3,440 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
3,366 observations
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
3,253 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
3,181 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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