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Records 2019–2024 · GBIF

Birds in Minnesota

Our list for Minnesota has 201 bird species recorded regularly there: 25 residents, 81 summer visitors, 45 winter visitors, 49 passage migrants and 1 scarce visitor

The list comes from 14 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
201
In October
134
Common
81
Busiest month
May

What's special about Minnesota

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 Minnesota is worth visiting for.

  1. Trumpeter SwanTrumpeter Swan9.6×Resident · 1.2% of records here, 0.12% across United States
  2. Black-backed WoodpeckerBlack-backed Woodpecker8.7×Winter visitor · 0.05% of records here, 0.01% across United States
  3. Common RedpollCommon Redpoll7.8×Winter visitor · 0.40% of records here, 0.05% across United States
  4. Clay-colored SparrowClay-colored Sparrow7.0×Summer visitor · 0.35% of records here, 0.05% across United States
  5. Ruffed GrouseRuffed Grouse6.1×Winter visitor · 0.23% of records here, 0.04% across United States
  6. Common PheasantCommon Pheasant5.6×Resident · 0.55% of records here, 0.10% across United States
  7. Bohemian WaxwingBohemian Waxwing5.6×Winter visitor · 0.05% of records here, 0.01% across United States
  8. Mourning WarblerMourning Warbler4.6×Summer visitor · 0.11% of records here, 0.02% across United States

This month: October

GBIF · Oct

Most likely

  1. Blue JayBlue Jay4.35%
  2. American CrowAmerican Crow4.10%
  3. American RobinAmerican Robin3.55%
  4. White-breasted NuthatchWhite-breasted Nuthatch3.04%
  5. Downy WoodpeckerDowny Woodpecker3.04%
  6. Canada GooseCanada Goose3.04%

Arriving now

  1. American Tree SparrowAmerican Tree SparrowWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.78%
  2. Snow BuntingSnow BuntingWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.31%
  3. Rough-legged HawkRough-legged HawkWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.22%
  4. GoldeneyeGoldeneyeWinter visitorSep 0.05% → Oct 0.17%
  5. Golden EagleGolden EagleWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.09%
  6. Tundra SwanTundra SwanPassage migrantSep 0.00% → Oct 0.07%

Share of all bird records in Minnesota 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 Minnesota

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 Minnesota

Records by month
Bird records in Minnesota by month, 2019–2024
January510,997
February510,178
March756,601
April1,809,223
May3,250,112
June1,515,195
July1,140,141
August1,065,189
September1,157,672
October933,915
November525,558
December422,066

May has the most records (3.3 million). 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 27
All 27 families in Minnesota

How common

More of United States

All of United States

All 201 birds, A to Z

Show all 201 birds

Questions

4

What birds is Minnesota known for?

Compared with the rest of United States, Minnesota stands out for Trumpeter Swan, Black-backed Woodpecker, Common Redpoll and Clay-colored Sparrow. Each is recorded at least 6.9 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 Minnesota?

201 species, each recorded regularly in Minnesota (in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024): 25 residents, 81 summer visitors, 45 winter visitors, 49 passage migrants and 1 scarce visitor. The list includes only birds with a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur in Minnesota, and rarer vagrants are not listed.

What birds can I see in Minnesota in October?

134 species on our list for Minnesota are recorded regularly in October. Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, American Robin, White-breasted Nuthatch and Downy Woodpecker.

What are the most common birds in Minnesota?

Of the birds on our list, the ones birdwatchers record most often in Minnesota are American Crow, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay and Canada Goose.

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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