Anhingas are cormorant-like water birds with very long necks and long, straight beaks. The wood warblers are a group of small often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World.
In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. Unfortunately, cowbirds are nest parasites and lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, reducing the other species numbers. These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their structure and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. Wingspan: 7.5-9.8 in. Males have bright red feathers and a black mask, females have duller colors and are more pale brown with some reddish coloring.
Females appear more brown. The Tufted Titmouse is found throughout Arkansas year-round. Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Wingspan: 17.7 in.
After that Ill show you how to attract them to your yard, give you a crash course in the 10 different types of bird feeders you can use to do so, and even mention a few birdwatching hotspots and birding organizations in Arkansas.
They include the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits.
They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.
The gnatcatchers are mainly soft bluish gray in color and have the typical insectivore's long sharp bill. Old World sparrows are small passerine birds.
The best and most obvious way to attract birds to your yard is to put out a bird feeder or two.
There may be are a few wandering species of hummingbirds in Arkansas, but ruby-throated hummingbirds are generally the main hummingbirds found in the state.
Grackles are foragers and will eat just about anything, they are often thought of as pests. The Cardinalidae are a family of robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance.
Length: 4.7-5.1 in They like to nest under the eaves of overhangs.
If you are an Arkansas resident and would like to add some new species to your life list, then take a look at this list Ive compiled some popular birding locations in Arkansas. They get their name because males have a bright ruby-red throat. Weight: 0.4-0.6 oz
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Their food is insects and seeds.
Males have a black mustache. We also participate in other affiliate programs.
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae. Many swifts have very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons, and caracaras. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers.
This coloring comes from the way their feathers reflect light rather than blue pigment. The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles.
They are also know for being highly intelligent problem solvers, like their cousin the raven.
Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses.
They are an invasive species so we suggest you do not attempt to attract them, theyll show up anyway.
Identify them by the black spots on their bellies, solid black bib, red patch on the back of their necks, and barred black and gray wings.
Many birds do not recognize the imposter egg and will raise the chick as their own.
They are typically associated with open woodland. Learn more about what each of these locations has to offer (and local birding events) from birdwatchersdigest.org. For many birds that eat nuts, berries, and seeds, having native plants that produce these things will only aide your efforts to attract more birds. Though they are described as red-bellied you may first notice the bright red streak along the back of their heads.
Weight: 2.0-3.2 oz
Their wings and tail have black stripes. Many species of birds will readily take up residence in birdhouses if put out in the right spot at the right time of year. Wingspan: 7.1-9.8 in. They are found throughout the state from Spring to Fall. The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. Their feet are four-toed and webbed. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.
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Order: PasseriformesFamily: Polioptilidae.
Its species only occur in North America as vagrants. You can always recognize them any time of year by the black on their wings, and their finch-like beaks.
Females and males share the same coloration, however the females colors appear much duller and more faded, especially the blue.
When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Wingspan: 7.9-9.1 in. These are short-winged birds that live on the open sea and normally only come ashore for breeding. Wingspan: 13.0-16.5 in. Wingspan: 14.2-18.1 in.
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes.
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects.
In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or grayish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked.
Wingspan: 11.4 in.
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. Length: 15.8-20.9 in
In many areas they retreat to the woods during winter and dont frequent yards again until spring. Most eastern phoebes are loners and they dont hang out in groups. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. Brown Thrashers can be found in Arkansas any time of year. They are the smallest woodpeckers in North America and are always one of the first species I see at a new bird feeder. "Check-list of North and Middle American Birds", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_birds_of_Arkansas&oldid=1087811094, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 14 May 2022, at 17:33.
Weight: 1.5 1.8 oz
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae. Length: 5.1-5.5 in Wingspan: 7.9-9.8 in.
Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae.
I suggest starting with a simple tube feeder, hopper feeder, platform feeder, or a window feeder.
Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae.
All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries.
[2] Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them. They are easy to identify by their solid coloring, long narrow body and tail, and yellow ringed eye. The family is monotypic.
Chickadees are tiny little birds that are very easy to recognize because of their black cap and black bib. Mourning doves are found all year throughout the whole state of Arkansas.
Their bright red, round bellies, and yellow beaks make them easy to identify. This species was historically placed in the wood-warblers (Parulidae) but nonetheless most authorities were unsure if it belonged there. Nuthatches will visit most seed feeders, offer them mixed seed blends, black sunflower seeds, peanuts, or suet.
The females often nest on or just above the ground in hidden areas of dense brush and vegetation. They are mostly brown in color, with some black and brown streaking on their wings and buffy chest. Scientific name: Poecile carolinensis Birds need water not only to bathe in but also to drink and adding a water feature to your yard will only increase your chances of attracting birds.
I sometimes see them on my tray feeder, but more often than not they are seen walking around on the ground.
Females are an all-over lighter brown. Like starlings, they were introduced in New York in the 1800s and have since spread across our country like wildfire. Scientific name: Melanerpes carolinus
Wingspan: 12.2-15.8 in.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteriidae.
Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks. Weight: 0.4-0.7 oz Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae.
These obviously arent all the species in the state, or even close to it, but they are some of the more notable and recognizable Arkansas backyard birds, many of which you can see at your bird feeders. Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae.
These birds are notable for their vocalization, especially their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors.
They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures.
Its estimated that a male mockingbird can learn up to 200 different songs in its lifetime. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Their cheeks are solid white, their wings and backs are gray, and their underbodies are puffy and light. Length: 7.5 8.7 in
Unfortunately they sometimes show up at feeders in flocks and gobble up seed quickly.
Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittacidae.
The species tend towards dull grays and browns in their appearance. During winter they will molt and their bright yellow fades out to a more dull brownish or olive tone.
Males are mostly streaked brown in color with some red on the head and chest, females are all brown. This is their main defense from predators.
Carolina chickadees can be found in Arkansas year round. Their wings are what really makes them easy to identify though, with the white and black barring. Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae. Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies including the partridges, grouse, turkeys and old world quail. Length: 9.1-11.8 in Length: 3.9-4.7 in
Weight: 3.0-6.0 oz Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. They destroy other birds nests, kill their young, and will overtake feeders not allowing other birds to get any of the food that you put out.
Another very well-known bird species in North America and the U.S. is the Blue Jay. Weight: 2.6-5.0 oz
Weight: 0.7-1.0 oz American Crows are omnivorous and generally do not visit bird feeders, they are much too large. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. Length: 4.3-5.1 in
Scientific name: Mimus polyglottos
Weight: 2.1-3.4 oz
About the size of a robin, doves are very common in backyards and will often sit perched on telephone wires or in groups in trees.
Wingspan: 33.5-39.4 in. Try a ground feeder with a mixed seed blend, or simply scatter some seeds on the ground.
Northern Mockingbirds are very common in backyards, but dont really visit bird feeders. Offer them black sunflower seeds, mixed seeds, and peanuts. They are seen at seed feeders more than Goldfinches, so try some black sunflower seeds to attract them as well. Scientific name: Cardinalis cardinalis
They are the only birds that can fly backwards. The adults have colored crowns, giving rise to their name. This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). I have this birdhouse in my backyard and a mating pair of bluebirds were checking it out the same day I installed it. Scientific name: Passerina cyanea Melanie has been a birding hobbyist for years and loves feeding and photographing birds of all types.
Weight: 2.5-3.5 oz The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying.
Blue Jays like platform feeders, peanut feeders, and feeders with large perches.
They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark.
Crows are found throughout the entire state of Arkansas all year long.
Phoebes are members of the flycatcher family and flying insects make up most of their diet.
They usually like to grab and run, taking a seed and immediately flying off to eat it or cache it in a nearby tree.
Length: 2.8-3.5 in Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces.
Wingspan: 16.5-20.1 in.
These adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and short bills with a wide gape. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and they have a generally erect stance.
Carolina chickadees, not to be confused with their near identical cousins Black-capped Chickadees which live further north, are common backyard birds in Arkansas. Below well look at 27 species of backyard birds in Arkansas, some are year-round residents and some arent. Wingspan: 12.6 15.0 in.
These little birds are very common at feeders and in backyards within their range.
The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Most are arboreal, but some are more terrestrial. There are multiple sub-species across the U.S. that have slightly different color variations.
Females lack the red throat feathers.
Take a look at these 5 simple tips, starting with the most obvious.
Wingspan: 9.8-12.2 in.
Pandionidae is a family of fish-eating birds of prey, possessing a very large, powerful hooked beak for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae.
Find even more hotspots with Audubon Arkansas Important Bird Areas.
In this article well take a look at some of the most commonly seen Arkansas birds, especially those that can be found close to home.
Scientific name: Picoides pubescens While not as common at feeders, they will sometimes visit especially if you offer mixed seed and nyjer.
Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.
Weight: 11.2-21.9 oz Interested in attracting some of these birds to your backyard?
Length: 9.1-13.4 in They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Certhiidae.
Weight: 2.7-3.0 oz They have a sturdy black beak and a yellow eye.
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.
Storks lack a pharynx and are mute.
Here the Eastern Bluebird can be found year round.
Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. Highly common in backyards, robins are mostly seen hopping around the grass looking for worms and other invertebrates to eat.
Weight: 0.1-0.2 oz
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. All are insectivorous.
They are often seen living in tall bushes and can often be quite aggressive of intruding birds.
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae.
Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz
During this period they are mostly yellow, or gold, with black-tipped wings and males have a black cap on top of their heads.
Wingspan: 7.9-10.2 in. Scientific name: Junco hyemalis The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. They are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings.
These are arboreal birds of northern forests. Their wings are mostly gray and black. Scientific name: Colaptes auratus
This list of birds of Arkansas includes species documented in the U.S. state of Arkansas and accepted by the Arkansas Audubon Society (AAS). Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds with strong feet. They are known as a polygynous species, meaning males will have up to 15 different females that they are mating with. Order: PasseriformesFamily: Tyrannidae.
White-throated sparrows readily visit feeders and like to pick up fallen seed below feeders.
Scientific name: Spinus tristis
Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae. Arkansas is home to a variety of wild birds.
Scientific name: Sturnus vulgaris Goldfinches can be found year-round throughout Arkansas.
The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice.
Many of these have distinctive head patterns.
Scientific name: Molothrus ater
The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. They have a plain white breast with an area of pinkish red lower down in their belly area which is often not visible. Wingspan: 12.2-13.8 in.
Try to avoid invasive and non-native plants that can out-compete the native plants that foster a healthy ecosystem.
Doves will often visit seed feeders, but prefer scouring the ground for seeds that have fallen. They have a large blue crest on top of their heads with mostly blue feathers along their back and white feathers on their chest and belly. They are mostly all dark with white specks on their backs and wings, and have yellow beaks and feet. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.
Skuas and jaegers are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings.
Put up a birdhouse and try your luck in attracting a mating pair, I was able to with this birdhouse on Amazon. Generally look at as pests, Houses Sparrows are the only other species of wild birds in the U.S. besides starlings that you can legally trap and humanely kill.
The mimids are a family of passerine birds that includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds.
They are overall aggressive towards other birds, especially around nests.
They are often thought of a bold and curious for their size. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. Red-bellied woodpeckers live all year throughout Arkansas. Crows will roost higher up in the tree tops in large groups where they can get a birds eye view of everything below. Look for them in summer singing along the edges of fields and woods. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.
Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. Like other finches, House Finches often visit thistle feeders.
The females of this species however, look quite different and are mostly brown with light streaks.
In my opinion they are also among some of the most colorful birds in North America. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. These medium sized backyard birds are mostly gray and white in color and can also be recognized by their rather long tail feathers.
Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes.
Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. Sometimes they sneak in and lay one egg among the others, sometimes they kick other eggs out of the nest to make room for their own.
Among the most abundant birds in all of North America, male Red-winged Blackbirds are unmistakable because of their red and yellow shoulders that stand out amongst their black bodies. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence. They are easily identifiable by their all white underbodies, black wings with white spots, black and white striped heads, and the red spot on the back of their heads (in males, females have no red). They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.
Weight: 0.9-1.1 oz Several species often hold their tails upright. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
