Skip to content
birdfact
Records 2019–2024 · GBIF

Birds in Missouri

Our list for Missouri has 194 bird species recorded regularly there: 43 residents, 37 summer visitors, 50 winter visitors, 61 passage migrants and 3 scarce visitors

The list comes from 8.2 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
194
In October
141
Common
69
Busiest month
May

What's special about Missouri

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 Missouri is worth visiting for.

  1. Eurasian Tree SparrowEurasian Tree Sparrow41×Resident · 0.73% of records here, 0.02% across United States
  2. DickcisselDickcissel5.9×Summer visitor · 0.50% of records here, 0.08% across United States
  3. Red-headed WoodpeckerRed-headed Woodpecker4.2×Resident · 1.00% of records here, 0.24% across United States
  4. Ross's GooseRoss's Goose3.6×Winter visitor · 0.08% of records here, 0.02% across United States
  5. Greater White-fronted GooseGreater White-fronted Goose3.3×Winter visitor · 0.25% of records here, 0.07% across United States
  6. Pectoral SandpiperPectoral Sandpiper2.9×Passage migrant · 0.22% of records here, 0.08% across United States
  7. Barred OwlBarred Owl2.8×Resident · 0.47% of records here, 0.17% across United States
  8. American Golden-PloverAmerican Golden-Plover2.7×Passage migrant · 0.05% of records here, 0.02% across United States

This month: October

GBIF · Oct

Share of all bird records in Missouri 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 Missouri

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 Missouri

Records by month
Bird records in Missouri by month, 2019–2024
January489,794
February518,733
March670,242
April1,258,403
May1,610,030
June619,277
July495,858
August455,946
September541,806
October551,604
November471,908
December495,057

May has the most records (1.6 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 Missouri

How common

More of United States

All of United States

All 194 birds, A to Z

Show all 194 birds

Questions

4

What birds is Missouri known for?

Compared with the rest of United States, Missouri stands out for Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Dickcissel, Red-headed Woodpecker and Ross's Goose. Each is recorded at least 3.5 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 Missouri?

194 species, each recorded regularly in Missouri (in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024): 43 residents, 37 summer visitors, 50 winter visitors, 61 passage migrants and 3 scarce visitors. The list includes only birds with a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur in Missouri, and rarer vagrants are not listed.

What birds can I see in Missouri in October?

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

What are the most common birds in Missouri?

Of the birds on our list, the ones birdwatchers record most often in Missouri are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker and Red-bellied Woodpecker.