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Records 2019–2024 · GBIF

Birds in Wisconsin

Our list for Wisconsin has 204 bird species recorded regularly there: 32 residents, 76 summer visitors, 48 winter visitors, 47 passage migrants and 1 scarce visitor

The list comes from 18 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
204
In October
146
Common
77
Busiest month
May

What's special about Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin is worth visiting for.

  1. Sandhill CraneSandhill Crane5.5×Summer visitor · 1.8% of records here, 0.33% across United States
  2. Mourning WarblerMourning Warbler4.2×Summer visitor · 0.09% of records here, 0.02% across United States
  3. Ruffed GrouseRuffed Grouse3.8×Resident · 0.15% of records here, 0.04% across United States
  4. Clay-colored SparrowClay-colored Sparrow3.8×Summer visitor · 0.19% of records here, 0.05% across United States
  5. Common RedpollCommon Redpoll3.3×Winter visitor · 0.17% of records here, 0.05% across United States
  6. American Tree SparrowAmerican Tree Sparrow3.3×Winter visitor · 0.67% of records here, 0.20% across United States
  7. Black-billed CuckooBlack-billed Cuckoo3.2×Summer visitor · 0.07% of records here, 0.02% across United States
  8. Snowy OwlSnowy Owl3.2×Winter visitor · 0.04% of records here, 0.01% across United States

This month: October

GBIF · Oct

Most likely

  1. Blue JayBlue Jay4.16%
  2. American CrowAmerican Crow3.81%
  3. American RobinAmerican Robin3.39%
  4. Downy WoodpeckerDowny Woodpecker3.07%
  5. White-breasted NuthatchWhite-breasted Nuthatch3.06%
  6. Canada GooseCanada Goose3.00%

Arriving now

  1. Fox SparrowFox SparrowWinter visitorSep 0.01% → Oct 0.52%
  2. American Tree SparrowAmerican Tree SparrowWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.41%
  3. Snow BuntingSnow BuntingWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.13%
  4. Red-breasted MerganserRed-breasted MerganserWinter visitorSep 0.02% → Oct 0.11%
  5. Surf ScoterSurf ScoterPassage migrantSep 0.00% → Oct 0.09%
  6. Greater ScaupGreater ScaupWinter visitorSep 0.02% → Oct 0.09%

Share of all bird records in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin

Records by month
Bird records in Wisconsin by month, 2019–2024
January664,851
February617,757
March1,245,975
April2,481,599
May4,619,553
June1,922,870
July1,410,376
August1,191,910
September1,296,296
October1,040,881
November664,646
December673,900

May has the most records (4.6 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 29
All 29 families in Wisconsin

How common

More of United States

All of United States

All 204 birds, A to Z

Show all 204 birds

Questions

4

What birds is Wisconsin known for?

Compared with the rest of United States, Wisconsin stands out for Sandhill Crane, Mourning Warbler, Ruffed Grouse and Clay-colored Sparrow. Each is recorded at least 3.7 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 Wisconsin?

204 species, each recorded regularly in Wisconsin (in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024): 32 residents, 76 summer visitors, 48 winter visitors, 47 passage migrants and 1 scarce visitor. The list includes only birds with a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur in Wisconsin, and rarer vagrants are not listed.

What birds can I see in Wisconsin in October?

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

What are the most common birds in Wisconsin?

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

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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