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Birds of Illinois

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

342,380
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 342,380 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Illinois. The most frequently seen is the House Sparrow, with 20,830 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in Illinois

House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
20,830 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
19,010 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
18,667 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
18,367 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
16,276 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
14,489 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
10,851 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
10,101 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
9,692 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
9,371 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
8,842 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
8,382 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
7,745 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
7,005 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
6,766 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
6,062 observations
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
5,728 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
5,661 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
5,656 observations · iNaturalist
Great Egret
Ardea alba
5,600 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
5,557 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
5,540 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
5,453 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
5,111 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
4,990 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
4,839 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
4,821 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
4,796 observations
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
4,700 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
4,689 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
4,661 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
4,535 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
4,522 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
4,384 observations
American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
4,280 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
4,253 observations
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
4,073 observations
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
3,864 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
3,850 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
3,850 observations
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
3,594 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
3,577 observations
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
3,564 observations
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
3,532 observations
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
3,484 observations
American Tree Sparrow
Spizelloides arborea
3,476 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
3,447 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
3,372 observations
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
3,264 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
3,201 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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