Minnesota Bird Identification

Tools

The right tools will simplify the identification process when birdwatching in Minnesota. Make sure to bring an appropriate field guide such as a Sibley or Audubon Society guide geared toward birds in the region. Mark the pages of species that you are specifically looking for, or bring a notebook or sketchbook along to jot down notes as you spot birds so that you can refer to your field guide later. Bring a camera if you can, as referring to an image of the bird will aid in later identification in case you miss any vital details.

Minnesota is home to many lakes, and so there are a number of water birds located in habitats throughout the state. Birds that make a habitat out of lakes and streams typically have sharp, elongated beaks, long legs and flat, webbed feet. Examples of these shorebirds include the snowy egret, great egret, green heron and the great blue heron. Watch how these birds hunt and eat and pay attention to distinct details in their plumage to identify them properly.

Several different varieties of flycatchers call Minnesota their home. These birds are best identified by their hunting behavior. Flycatchers fly away from a branch, quickly swoop down to grab an insect from the air then return to their previous perch. Common flycatcher species in Minnesota include the olive-sided flycatcher, the least flycatcher and the eastern phoebe.

Minnesota is also home to a variety of different waterfowl species including ducks, swans, geese, grebes, gulls, loons, terns, plovers and sandpipers. Because there are so many species that call the lakes their home, identification should begin with relative size and shape to determine what family your bird belongs to. Once you know what family of species you are looking at, narrow your identification down further by using distinctive details in the colors and markings of the bird. For example, the difference between the males and the females of each species is that the males are typically more brightly colored than the females.

Raptors are birds of prey, and several species can be found in Minnesota. The northern harrier is just one of many vultures, falcons, eagles and hawks that you can identify in the state. Pay attention not only to the physical characteristics of these birds of prey, but also how and what they hunt. The hunting characteristics of these carnivorous birds can play a large role in identifying which species is which.