Birds to See in Illinois in November
115 bird species on our list for Illinois are recorded regularly in November
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Canada Goose, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay and House Sparrow. New this month: Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser and Common Redpoll and 6 more.
On the move in November
GBIF · NovArriving
At their peak
From Illinois’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 115 birds in November
115 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.83% in Nov
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.83% in Nov
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 3.47% in Nov
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.33% in Nov
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.24% in Nov
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 3.21% in Nov
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.17% in Nov
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 3.09% in Nov
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.00% in Nov
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Nov
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Nov
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Nov
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Nov
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Nov
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Nov
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.54% in Nov
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Nov
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Nov
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Nov
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Nov
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Nov
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Nov
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Nov
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Nov
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Nov
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorCommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Nov
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Nov
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Nov
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.68% in Nov
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorCommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.67% in Nov
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.66% in Nov
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.63% in Nov
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Nov
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.54% in Nov
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.54% in Nov
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Nov
Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Nov
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.53% in Nov
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.51% in Nov
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Nov
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.46% in Nov
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.46% in Nov
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.38% in Nov
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Nov
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Nov
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Nov
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.29% in Nov
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.27% in Nov
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Nov
Common LoonGavia immerPassage migrantUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.27% in Nov
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.27% in Nov
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.26% in Nov
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.25% in Nov
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.24% in Nov
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Nov
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Nov
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Nov
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Nov
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Nov
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.18% in Nov
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Nov
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorUncommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Nov
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.17% in Nov
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.16% in Nov
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorCommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.16% in Nov
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.15% in Nov
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Nov
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.15% in Nov
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.14% in Nov
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Nov
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.13% in Nov
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Nov
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.12% in Nov
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Nov
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Nov
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Nov
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Nov
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Nov
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.08% in Nov
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.07% in Nov
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Nov
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Nov
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Nov
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Nov
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Nov
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.06% in Nov
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentUncommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Nov
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.05% in Nov
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Nov
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.04% in Nov
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Nov
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Nov
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaPassage migrantRare16–22 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.04% in Nov
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Nov
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusResidentRare29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Nov
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Nov
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Nov
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantRare40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Nov
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Nov
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Nov
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopePassage migrantRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov · 0.02% in Nov
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Nov
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Nov
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Nov
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.01% in Nov
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentRare16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Nov
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.00% in Nov
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Nov
Greylag GooseAnser anserWinter visitorRare75–90 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.00% in Nov
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataSummer visitorRare66–84 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Nov
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made