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Records 2019–2024 · GBIF

Birds in Kentucky

Our list for Kentucky has 182 bird species recorded regularly there: 48 residents, 30 summer visitors, 49 winter visitors, 52 passage migrants and 3 scarce visitors

The list comes from 4.6 million birdwatchers' records from 2019–2024, shared through the eBird Observation Dataset on GBIF. A bird is listed when it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years and has a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur here than are listed; the months show when it is recorded most years.

Species on our list
182
In October
122
Common
60
Busiest month
May

What's special about Kentucky

vs United States

The birds recorded far more often here than across United States, as a share of all bird records. These are the ones Kentucky is worth visiting for.

  1. Prothonotary WarblerProthonotary Warbler3.3×Summer visitor · 0.26% of records here, 0.08% across United States
  2. Bay-breasted WarblerBay-breasted Warbler3.1×Passage migrant · 0.23% of records here, 0.07% across United States
  3. Philadelphia VireoPhiladelphia Vireo2.7×Passage migrant · 0.07% of records here, 0.03% across United States
  4. Tennessee WarblerTennessee Warbler2.7×Passage migrant · 0.38% of records here, 0.14% across United States
  5. Red-headed WoodpeckerRed-headed Woodpecker2.3×Resident · 0.55% of records here, 0.24% across United States
  6. Tufted TitmouseTufted Titmouse2.1×Resident · 4.2% of records here, 2.0% across United States
  7. Purple MartinPurple Martin2.0×Summer visitor · 0.55% of records here, 0.28% across United States
  8. Ruby-throated HummingbirdRuby-throated Hummingbird1.9×Summer visitor · 1.1% of records here, 0.60% across United States

This month: October

GBIF · Oct

Most likely

  1. Blue JayBlue Jay4.60%
  2. Northern CardinalNorthern Cardinal4.33%
  3. Red-bellied WoodpeckerRed-bellied Woodpecker3.40%
  4. American CrowAmerican Crow3.34%
  5. American RobinAmerican Robin3.28%
  6. Tufted TitmouseTufted Titmouse3.21%

Arriving now

  1. Yellow-rumped WarblerYellow-rumped WarblerWinter visitorSep 0.09% → Oct 2.01%
  2. Swamp SparrowSwamp SparrowWinter visitorSep 0.01% → Oct 0.69%
  3. Yellow-bellied SapsuckerYellow-bellied SapsuckerWinter visitorSep 0.03% → Oct 0.52%
  4. White-crowned SparrowWhite-crowned SparrowWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.35%
  5. Hermit ThrushHermit ThrushWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.17%
  6. GadwallGadwallWinter visitorSep 0.01% → Oct 0.12%

Share of all bird records in Kentucky in October, 2019–2024. “Arriving now” are the birds whose share rises most from last month. Each month links to that month’s page.

Near you this week

The birds most likely around your town or postcode right now, from the same records, for a square about 9 km across.

The bird calendar for Kentucky

Month by month

When each bird is around, through the year. The darker the square, the closer that month is to the bird’s busiest. Filter by summer or winter visitors to see the seasons turn over.

The year in Kentucky

Records by month
Bird records in Kentucky by month, 2019–2024
January266,630
February308,260
March370,388
April673,205
May823,265
June355,135
July304,182
August282,364
September357,337
October326,506
November253,138
December284,043

May has the most records (823,000). Records follow birdwatchers as well as birds: a busy month means more people out looking, as well as more birds passing through.

By family

12 of 24
All 24 families in Kentucky

How common

More of United States

All of United States

All 182 birds, A to Z

Show all 182 birds

Questions

4

What birds is Kentucky known for?

Compared with the rest of United States, Kentucky stands out for Prothonotary Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo and Tennessee Warbler. Each is recorded at least 2.6 times as often here as across United States, as a share of all bird records (2019–2024).

How many birds are on Birdfact's list for Kentucky?

182 species, each recorded regularly in Kentucky (in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024): 48 residents, 30 summer visitors, 49 winter visitors, 52 passage migrants and 3 scarce visitors. The list includes only birds with a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur in Kentucky, and rarer vagrants are not listed.

What birds can I see in Kentucky in October?

122 species on our list for Kentucky are recorded regularly in October. Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Crow and American Robin.

What are the most common birds in Kentucky?

Of the birds on our list, the ones birdwatchers record most often in Kentucky are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Robin, Mourning Dove and American Crow.

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

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