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Birds of Iowa

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

72,124
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 72,124 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Iowa. The most frequently seen is the House Sparrow, with 7,931 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in Iowa

House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
7,931 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
4,152 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
3,451 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
3,164 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
2,566 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
2,372 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
2,289 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
2,091 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
2,066 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
2,024 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
1,835 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
1,756 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
1,747 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
1,517 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
1,503 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
1,503 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
1,468 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
1,357 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
1,318 observations
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
1,270 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
1,259 observations
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
1,242 observations
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
1,162 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
1,155 observations
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
1,136 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
1,068 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
1,029 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
978 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
949 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
940 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
911 observations
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
911 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
880 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
838 observations · iNaturalist
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
817 observations
Northern House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
780 observations
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
730 observations
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
724 observations
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
722 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
668 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
655 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
649 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
639 observations
Dickcissel
Spiza americana
634 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
600 observations
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
581 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
548 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
540 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
506 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
493 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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