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Birds of South Dakota

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

25,697
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 25,697 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in South Dakota. The most frequently seen is the American Robin, with 1,311 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in South Dakota

American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,311 observations
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
1,009 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
979 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
953 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
942 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
823 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
700 observations
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
669 observations
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
621 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
616 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
607 observations
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
603 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
599 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
561 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
546 observations
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
542 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
538 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
530 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
508 observations
Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
497 observations
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
491 observations
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
483 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
475 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
472 observations
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
471 observations
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
466 observations
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
456 observations
Upland Sandpiper
Bartramia longicauda
404 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
401 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
397 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
394 observations
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
389 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
387 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
363 observations
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
359 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
347 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
309 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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