FG-0048 · Wildlife · 6 species
Identifying Common Birds of Minnesota
By Derek Gauger · Updated
Overview
Minnesota's lakes, north-woods forest, and prairie edges give it a classic upper-Midwest birdlife, from iconic loons to bugling sandhill cranes. Waterbirds and boreal songbirds are highlights.
This guide covers common and iconic Minnesota birds — the field marks that identify them, their habitats, and where to look. Pair it with a photo and the app to confirm any bird you spot.
Key species to know
FG-0048.01
Common Loon
Gavia immer
Minnesota's state bird — a large diving waterbird with a black head, checkerboard back, and dagger bill in summer. Famous for its haunting, yodeling calls.
Habitat: Clear northern lakes.
FG-0048.02
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
A tiny, tame bird with a black cap and bib, white cheeks, and soft gray back. Bold at feeders year-round, even in deep cold.
Habitat: Woodlands, suburbs, and backyard feeders.
FG-0048.03
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
The male is brilliant red with a black face and crest, the female warm buff with red highlights. A vivid splash of color against winter snow.
Habitat: Backyards, thickets, and woodland edges.
FG-0048.04
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
A small finch; the breeding male is bright yellow with black wings and cap, duller in winter. Bounds through the air with a canary-like flight call.
Habitat: Weedy fields, gardens, and feeders.
FG-0048.05
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
A tall gray crane with a red forehead and a bustle of feathers over the tail, giving loud, rolling bugle calls. Gathers in big flocks in fall.
Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes, and harvested fields.
FG-0048.06
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
A huge raptor; the adult has a white head and tail against a dark body. Common along Minnesota's rivers and lakes, especially the Mississippi.
Habitat: Large rivers, lakes, and their shorelines.
Through the seasons
- Spring and fall bring migrating waterfowl, cranes, and warblers in big numbers.
- Winter feeders concentrate chickadees, cardinals, nuthatches, and finches.
- Listen for loons on northern lakes at dusk in summer.
Questions
- What is the state bird of Minnesota?
- The common loon — a large diving waterbird of clear northern lakes, known for its yodeling summer calls. Minnesota has one of the largest loon populations in the country.
- How can I identify a bird I saw in Minnesota?
- Note its size, shape, and field marks, then take a photo and use an app like Spotter to identify the species along with its habitat and range.
From Field Notes
- How to Identify a Northern Cardinal (Male vs. Female)
- What Is the Tiny Bird With the Black Cap and Bib at My Feeder? Identifying Chickadees
- What Are the Tall Gray Birds Flying High and Rattling Overhead? Sandhill Crane Migration
- What Is the Bright Yellow Bird at My Feeder? Identifying the American Goldfinch
Not sure what you found?
Take a photo with Spotter for the name, field marks, look-alikes and safety notes in seconds.
In this guide
- Species
- 6
- Region
- Minnesota