Top 15 Birds in Missouri
Missouri is home to a rich diversity of bird species, from vibrant songbirds to powerful birds of prey. Below are 15 of the most iconic birds you can spot across the state, complete with details about their lives and roles in the ecosystem.
1. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
- Description: A medium-sized songbird with bright red plumage (males) or warm brown with red tinges (females) and a distinctive crest.
- Habitat: Woodlands, gardens, shrublands, and residential areas across Missouri.
- Ecosystem Services: Seed disperser and insect control through feeding habits.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
2. Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
- Description: A small thrush with bright blue upperparts and a rusty red throat and chest.
- Habitat: Open fields, pastures, and orchards with scattered trees and nesting boxes.
- Ecosystem Services: Insect control and seed dispersal.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern, thanks to conservation and nest box programs.
3. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
- Description: A small finch with bright yellow plumage in males during summer and olive-brown in winter.
- Habitat: Fields, meadows, and suburban areas with weedy growth and thistles.
- Ecosystem Services: Seed disperser, especially of native plants and weeds.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
4. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
- Description: A large raptor with a reddish-brown tail and broad wings suited for soaring.
- Habitat: Forest edges, fields, and highways where they perch and hunt.
- Ecosystem Services: Rodent population control.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
5. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
- Description: A familiar songbird with a brick-red breast and gray-brown upperparts.
- Habitat: Lawns, parks, forests, and farmlands.
- Ecosystem Services: Insect and worm control, seed dispersal.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
6. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Description: A large raptor with a white head and tail, dark brown body, and powerful yellow beak.
- Habitat: Large lakes, rivers, and wetlands with abundant fish.
- Ecosystem Services: Scavenger and predator, helps control fish and waterfowl populations.
- Conservation Status: Recovered; Least Concern, but protected.
7. Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
- Description: A small bird with brilliant blue plumage in males and brown plumage in females.
- Habitat: Brushy and weedy areas, forest edges, and clearings.
- Ecosystem Services: Seed disperser and insect predator.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
8. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
- Description: A slender, gray-brown dove with a small head and long, pointed tail.
- Habitat: Open fields, wood edges, and urban areas.
- Ecosystem Services: Seed disperser and prey species for many raptors.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
9. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
- Description: A large woodpecker with black plumage, white stripes, and a bright red crest.
- Habitat: Mature forests with large, dead trees for nesting and foraging.
- Ecosystem Services: Controls tree-boring insect populations and creates cavities for other wildlife.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
10. Barred Owl (Strix varia)
- Description: A large owl with brown and white bars across its body and soulful dark eyes.
- Habitat: Mixed forests and wooded swamps.
- Ecosystem Services: Rodent and small mammal control.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
11. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
- Description: The smallest woodpecker in North America with black-and-white plumage and a tiny bill.
- Habitat: Forests, woodlots, parks, and gardens.
- Ecosystem Services: Insect control, particularly wood-boring pests.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
12. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
- Description: A tall, elegant wading bird with blue-gray feathers, long legs, and a dagger-like bill.
- Habitat: Wetlands, rivers, and lakes.
- Ecosystem Services: Predator of fish and amphibians, balancing aquatic ecosystems.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
13. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
- Description: A small gray bird with a tufted crest and a black forehead.
- Habitat: Deciduous and mixed forests, often visits feeders.
- Ecosystem Services: Insect control and seed dispersal.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
14. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
- Description: A large bird with dark plumage, bare red head, and broad wings held in a V shape during flight.
- Habitat: Open country, forests, and roadways where carrion is found.
- Ecosystem Services: Scavenger that cleans up dead animals, reducing disease risk.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
15. Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
- Description: A small, chunky wren with a loud voice, reddish-brown plumage, and a white eyebrow stripe.
- Habitat: Dense undergrowth in forests, suburban gardens, and thickets.
- Ecosystem Services: Insect control and seed dispersal.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
