Birding
Birds lift our spirits with their powers of flight, brilliant feathers, captivating songs and appealing antics. Throughout Missouri, many kinds of birds grace our home gardens, farms, prairies, forests and wetlands.
Missouri's birds come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They vary in wingspan from about 3 inches for the ruby-throated hummingbird to 9 feet for the American white pelican, and in weight from 1/8 ounce for the hummingbird to about 30 pounds for the trumpeter swan. Even their odd names--such as coot, snipe and prothonotary warbler--have special appeal.
Of estimated 9,000 species of birds in the world, approximately 900 occur in North America, and more than 400 have been recorded in Missouri. In addition to the 150-plus species that regularly nest in Missouri, other species migrate between nesting grounds to the north and wintering grounds to the south, and others wander in from the east and west.
The great variety of Missouri's birds makes seeing and learning about them a delightful, endless challenge. But where and how do we observe them? By exploring our state's varied habitats and carrying at least two tools: a good pair of binoculars and an identification field guide. As you will discover, bird watching, or birding, is a great way to enjoy outdoor Missouri.
Do you feed the birds? If so, you are among the more than 1 1/2 million Missourians who do, according to a Missouri Department of Conservation survey.
Learning to recognize and attract birds is just the beginning of an enjoyable pastime.
Sifting, sucking, cracking, crushing, spearing, tearing, picking, probing--these are just a few of the things birds can do with their beaks.
One of the best ways to learn about birds is to become involved with organizations such as the Audubon Society.
Each summer, the American redstart and 109 other species of Neotropical migratory birds travel from Mexico, Central and South America to the Midwest to raise their young.
Learn to identify, cultivate and monitor Missouri's beautiful state bird.
Audubon Society bird clubs throughout the country conduct bird counts around Christmas time. Find a scheduled bird count near you.
The public areas described on this page are among the choicest in the state for detecting a variety of birds.
Birds are active and fast, and you often don't have much time to observe individuals. Learn to note key features that will help you identify species later.
Missouri birds use five general habitats: grasslands, towns and backyards, shrubby areas, forests and wetlands.
Learn about purple martins and how to make a purple martin house with this brochure.
This article describes some basic shorebird biology, what kind of habitat they frequent and where in northwest Missouri to look for them.
Mourning doves delight with their haunting coo and mottled gray plumage. They also serve as game for hunters and table fare for adventurous cooks. Learn about this bird's migration, habitat, distribution and status.
Of the 18 owl species native to North America, eight live in Missouri or visit here. Owls are amazing nighttime hunters, and they help keep rodents in check. However, they are vulnerable to habitat loss and other pressures. Learn what you can do, including building nesting boxes, to help them survive in our state.
The ruby-throated hummingbird is one of the most fascinating birds in Missouri. The widespread appeal of these tiny birds lies in their shimmering, iridescent plumage, their darting, hovering flight and their bold, pugnacious behavior.
The following charts list those bird species that tend to occur in Missouri every year.
You need only two basic tools to enjoy birding: binoculars and a bird identification field guide.
Here are the most common questions asked about the backyard birds of Missouri.
View a list of birds that are uncommon visitors to Missouri or that formerly occurred in the state.
Every bird species exhibits its own identification clues.
Twenty-one types of sparrows can be found in some part of Missouri on a regular basis. While several sparrows nest in various parts of the state and a few merely pass through, winter is the season of choice for most of our little brown friends.
To the surprise of many people, Missouri is one of the leading bald eagle states. Each fall, thousands of these great birds migrate south from their nesting range in Canada and the Great Lakes states to hunt around the open waters of our rivers and lakes. Download this pamphlet to learn more.
