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Birds of Illinois

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

337,211
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 337,211 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Illinois. The most frequently seen is the House Sparrow, with 20,097 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in Illinois

House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
20,097 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
18,888 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
18,445 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
18,142 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
16,141 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
14,429 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
10,548 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
9,956 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
9,512 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
9,216 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
8,747 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
8,175 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
7,580 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
6,891 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
6,647 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
5,983 observations
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
5,650 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
5,630 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
5,531 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
5,507 observations · iNaturalist
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
5,481 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
5,438 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
5,368 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
5,036 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
4,922 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
4,809 observations
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
4,645 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
4,635 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
4,626 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
4,625 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
4,541 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
4,494 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
4,484 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
4,312 observations
American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
4,244 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
4,166 observations
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
4,049 observations
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
3,860 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
3,826 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
3,784 observations
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
3,587 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
3,566 observations
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
3,547 observations
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
3,526 observations
American Tree Sparrow
Spizelloides arborea
3,449 observations
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
3,427 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
3,385 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
3,342 observations
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
3,224 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
3,098 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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