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Birds of Tennessee

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

223,116
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 223,116 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Tennessee. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 15,216 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in Tennessee

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
15,216 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
11,642 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
9,553 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
8,076 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
7,666 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
7,029 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
6,808 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
6,626 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
6,597 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
6,217 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
6,215 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
6,167 observations
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
6,039 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
5,813 observations
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
5,804 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
5,632 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
5,327 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
4,986 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
4,841 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
4,621 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
4,517 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
4,353 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
3,891 observations
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
3,786 observations
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
3,714 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
3,605 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
3,604 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
3,249 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
3,176 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
3,053 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
2,988 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
2,943 observations
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
2,932 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
2,679 observations
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
2,529 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
2,480 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
2,402 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
2,401 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
2,380 observations
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
2,306 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
2,257 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
2,236 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
2,059 observations
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
2,048 observations
Field Sparrow
Spizella pusilla
1,924 observations
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
1,864 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
1,831 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
1,748 observations
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
1,653 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
1,633 observations · iNaturalist

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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