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Birds of South Dakota

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

25,640
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 25,640 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in South Dakota. The most frequently seen is the American Robin, with 1,307 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in South Dakota

American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,307 observations
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
1,009 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
978 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
947 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
942 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
820 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
694 observations
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
669 observations
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
621 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
611 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
607 observations
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
604 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
599 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
558 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
544 observations
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
540 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
537 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
530 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
507 observations
Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
497 observations
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
491 observations
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
482 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
473 observations
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
471 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
470 observations
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
465 observations
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
456 observations
Upland Sandpiper
Bartramia longicauda
400 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
400 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
396 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
388 observations
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
388 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
386 observations
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
384 observations
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
378 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
372 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
362 observations
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
358 observations
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
357 observations
Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
353 observations
Ring-necked Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
352 observations
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
349 observations
Rock Wren
Salpinctes obsoletus
346 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
344 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
333 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
331 observations
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Streptopelia decaocto
311 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
309 observations
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
308 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
306 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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