Top 15 Birds in North Dakota
North Dakota's diverse landscapes support a rich variety of bird species. Here are 15 of the most iconic birds you can spot in this beautiful state:
1. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Description: A large raptor with a white head and tail, dark brown body, and piercing yellow eyes and beak.
- Habitat: Rivers, lakes, wetlands, and forested areas near water bodies.
- Ecosystem Services: Controls fish populations and scavenges carrion, helping to keep ecosystems clean.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (recovered from near extinction, but protected under federal law).
2. 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 areas with thistles and weeds.
- Ecosystem Services: Aids in seed dispersal and provides prey for native predators.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
3. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
- Description: A broad-winged hawk with a distinctive reddish tail, brown upperparts, and pale underparts.
- Habitat: Open country, prairies, woodlands, and roadside perches.
- Ecosystem Services: Controls rodent populations, supporting ecological balance.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
4. Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
- Description: A medium-sized songbird with a bright yellow breast marked by a black "V" and streaked brown back.
- Habitat: Grasslands, prairies, and agricultural fields.
- Ecosystem Services: Insect control and seed dispersal.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern, though populations are declining in some areas.
5. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
- Description: A powerful owl with ear tufts, mottled brown and gray plumage, and striking yellow eyes.
- Habitat: Forests, grasslands, and urban areas.
- Ecosystem Services: Top predator that helps control mammal and bird populations.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
6. Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
- Description: A large white owl with black barring, especially on females and juveniles.
- Habitat: Open tundra-like fields and prairies during winter irruptions.
- Ecosystem Services: Controls rodent populations during irruptions.
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable (due to climate change and habitat loss).
7. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Description: A familiar duck species with iridescent green head (male), brown-speckled body (female), and blue wing patches.
- Habitat: Ponds, lakes, wetlands, and rivers.
- Ecosystem Services: Seed dispersal, aquatic plant control, and food source for predators.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
8. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
- Description: A massive white waterbird with a long orange bill and black wing tips.
- Habitat: Lakes, rivers, and large wetlands.
- Ecosystem Services: Controls fish populations and contributes to nutrient cycling.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
9. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
- Description: A slender hawk with a white rump patch and owl-like facial disc.
- Habitat: Grasslands, marshes, and prairies.
- Ecosystem Services: Controls rodent and small bird populations.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern, though habitat loss poses risks.
10. Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
- Description: A colorful game bird with an iridescent green head, red face wattles, and white neck ring.
- Habitat: Agricultural fields, grasslands, and wetlands.
- Ecosystem Services: Seed dispersal and insect control.
- Conservation Status: Not native; managed as a game species.
11. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
- Description: A slender, grayish-brown dove with a long pointed tail and soft, mournful cooing call.
- Habitat: Open woodlands, farms, and urban areas.
- Ecosystem Services: Seed dispersal and prey for raptors.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
12. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
- Description: A medium-sized flycatcher with a black head, white underparts, and white-tipped tail.
- Habitat: Open fields, grasslands, and woodland edges.
- Ecosystem Services: Controls insect populations.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
13. Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
- Description: A small, bright yellow songbird with reddish streaks on the chest (males).
- Habitat: Shrubby wetlands, thickets, and riparian areas.
- Ecosystem Services: Insect control and indicator of healthy wetland habitats.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
14. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
- Description: A large woodpecker with brown barred back, black crescent on chest, and bright yellow underwings (in the eastern form).
- Habitat: Open woodlands, forest edges, and urban parks.
- Ecosystem Services: Controls insect pests and creates nesting cavities for other species.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern.
15. Common Loon (Gavia immer)
- Description: A striking black-and-white waterbird with a spear-like bill and eerie, haunting calls.
- Habitat: Deep freshwater lakes and large ponds during breeding season.
- Ecosystem Services: Top predator in aquatic ecosystems, helps regulate fish populations.
- Conservation Status: Least Concern, though sensitive to water pollution and human disturbance.
