This bird list includes 246 species found by MBS during the breeding season. See About the Bird List for an explanation of which species are included and descriptions of the fields. See Other Bird Resources for additional information on birds breeding in Minnesota.
To find the map for a particular species scroll through the list below
List with number of records per species per county (2014).
| Common name | Scientific name | Rank | Habitat | Records |
| Ducks, Geese, & Swans | ||||
| Branta canadensis |
wetland |
730 | ||
| Cygnus buccinator |
wetland |
208 | ||
| Aix sponsa |
wetland |
618 | ||
| Anas strepera |
wetland |
91 | ||
| Anas americana |
wetland |
27 | ||
| Anas rubripes |
wetland |
31 | ||
| Anas platyrhynchos |
wetland |
1174 | ||
| Anas discors |
wetland |
470 | ||
| Anas clypeata |
wetland |
85 | ||
| Anas acuta |
wetland |
32 | ||
| Anas crecca |
wetland |
78 | ||
| Aythya valisineria |
wetland |
46 | ||
| Aythya americana |
wetland |
112 | ||
| Aythya collaris |
wetland |
290 | ||
| Aythya affinis |
wetland |
13 | ||
| Bucephala albeola |
wetland |
2 | ||
| Bucephala clangula |
wetland |
118 | ||
| Lophodytes cucullatus |
wetland |
180 | ||
| Mergus merganser |
|
wetland |
48 | |
| Mergus serrator |
wetland |
1 | ||
| Oxyura jamaicensis |
wetland |
134 | ||
| New World Quail | ||||
| Colinus virginianus |
fragmented |
2 | ||
| Partridge, Grouse, & Turkeys | ||||
| Perdix perdix |
open upland |
28 | ||
| Phasianus colchicus |
open upland |
813 | ||
| Bonasa umbellus |
deciduous forest |
304 | ||
| Falcipennis canadensis |
coniferous forest |
17 | ||
| Tympanuchus phasianellus |
open upland |
55 | ||
| Tympanuchus cupido |
open upland |
60 | ||
| Meleagris gallopavo |
deciduous forest |
120 | ||
| Loons | ||||
| Gavia immer |
wetland |
655 | ||
| Grebes | ||||
| Podilymbus podiceps |
wetland |
357 | ||
| Podiceps auritus |
wetland |
3 | ||
| Podiceps grisegena |
wetland |
130 | ||
| Podiceps nigricollis |
wetland |
20 | ||
| Aechmophorus occidentalis |
wetland |
48 | ||
| Aechmophorus clarkii |
wetland |
1 | ||
| Cormorants | ||||
| Phalacrocorax auritus |
wetland |
231 | ||
| Pelicans | ||||
| Pelecanus erythrorhynchos |
wetland |
297 | ||
| Herons & Bitterns | ||||
| Botaurus lentiginosus |
wetland |
353 | ||
| Ixobrychus exilis |
wetland |
68 | ||
| Ardea herodias |
wetland |
657 | ||
| Ardea alba |
wetland |
183 | ||
| Egretta thula |
wetland |
2 | ||
| Egretta caerulea |
wetland |
1 | ||
| Bubulcus ibis |
open upland |
9 | ||
| Butorides virescens |
wetland |
188 | ||
| Nycticorax nycticorax |
wetland |
78 | ||
| Nyctanassa violacea |
wetland |
1 | ||
| New World Vultures | ||||
| Cathartes aura |
fragmented |
214 | ||
| Osprey | ||||
| Pandion haliaetus |
wetland |
79 | ||
| Hawks & Eagles | ||||
| Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
wetland |
188 | ||
| Circus cyaneus |
wetland |
473 | ||
| Accipiter striatus |
coniferous forest |
20 | ||
| Accipiter cooperii |
deciduous forest |
90 | ||
| Accipiter gentilis |
SPC |
coniferous forest |
13 | |
| Buteo lineatus |
deciduous forest |
334 | ||
| Buteo platypterus |
mixed forest |
233 | ||
| Buteo swainsoni |
open upland |
86 | ||
| Buteo jamaicensis |
fragmented |
506 | ||
| Rails, Gallinules, & Coots | ||||
| Coturnicops noveboracensis |
wetland |
155 | ||
| Rallus limicola |
wetland |
145 | ||
| Porzana carolina |
wetland |
408 | ||
| Gallinula galeata | wetland | 15 | ||
| Fulica americana |
wetland |
189 | ||
| Cranes | ||||
| Grus canadensis |
wetland |
633 | ||
| Plovers | ||||
| Charadrius vociferus |
open upland |
799 | ||
| Sandpipers & Phalaropes | ||||
| Actitis macularius |
wetland |
103 | ||
| Tringa solitaria |
coniferous forest |
1 | ||
| Tringa semipalmata |
wetland |
2 | ||
| Bartramia longicauda |
open upland |
545 | ||
| Limosa fedoa |
open upland |
286 | ||
| Gallinago delicata |
wetland |
687 | ||
| Scolopax minor |
deciduous forest |
89 | ||
| Phalaropus tricolor |
wetland |
69 | ||
| Gulls & Terns | ||||
| Leucophaeus pipixcan |
wetland |
104 | ||
| Larus delawarensis |
wetland |
148 | ||
| Larus argentatus |
wetland |
66 | ||
| Chlidonias niger |
wetland |
475 | ||
| Sterna hirundo |
wetland |
15 | ||
| Sterna forsteri |
wetland |
100 | ||
| Pigeons & Doves | ||||
| Columba livia |
fragmented |
143 | ||
| Streptopelia decaocto |
fragmented |
7 | ||
| Zenaida macroura |
fragmented |
1805 | ||
| Cuckoos | ||||
| Coccyzus americanus |
|
deciduous forest |
167 | |
| Coccyzus erythropthalmus |
fragmented |
514 | ||
| Typical Owls | ||||
| Megascops asio |
deciduous forest |
2 | ||
| Bubo virginianus |
fragmented |
73 | ||
| Surnia ulula |
coniferous forest |
3 | ||
| Strix varia |
deciduous forest |
73 | ||
| Strix nebulosa |
coniferous forest |
15 | ||
| Asio otus |
mixed forest |
1 | ||
| Asio flammeus |
wetland |
20 | ||
| Aegolius funereus |
SPC |
coniferous forest |
1 | |
| Aegolius acadicus |
coniferous forest |
16 | ||
| Nightjars | ||||
| Chordeiles minor |
fragmented |
84 | ||
| Antrostomus vociferus |
mixed forest |
67 | ||
| Swifts | ||||
| Chaetura pelagica |
|
fragmented |
168 | |
| Hummingbirds | ||||
| Archilochus colubris |
deciduous forest |
276 | ||
| Kingfishers | ||||
| Megaceryle alcyon |
|
wetland |
290 | |
| Woodpeckers | ||||
| Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
fragmented |
320 | ||
| Melanerpes carolinus |
deciduous forest |
494 | ||
| Sphyrapicus varius |
mixed forest |
1165 | ||
| Picoides pubescens |
deciduous forest |
699 | ||
| Picoides villosus |
mixed forest |
747 | ||
| Picoides dorsalis |
coniferous forest |
5 | ||
| Picoides arcticus |
coniferous forest |
139 | ||
| Colaptes auratus |
|
mixed forest |
1014 | |
| Dryocopus pileatus |
mixed forest |
772 | ||
| Falcons | ||||
| Falco sparverius |
|
open upland |
279 | |
| Falco columbarius |
coniferous forest |
49 | ||
| Falco peregrinus |
fragmented |
5 | ||
| Tyrant Flycatchers | ||||
| Contopus cooperi |
coniferous forest |
145 | ||
| Contopus sordidulus |
mixed forest |
1 | ||
| Contopus virens |
mixed forest |
1932 | ||
| Empidonax flaviventris |
coniferous forest |
635 | ||
| Empidonax virescens |
deciduous forest |
54 | ||
| Empidonax alnorum |
fragmented |
1314 | ||
| Empidonax traillii |
fragmented |
438 | ||
| Empidonax minimus |
mixed forest |
1627 | ||
| Sayornis phoebe |
fragmented |
300 | ||
| Myiarchus crinitus |
deciduous forest |
1866 | ||
| Tyrannus verticalis |
|
open upland |
112 | |
| Tyrannus tyrannus |
open upland |
1086 | ||
| Shrikes | ||||
| Lanius ludovicianus |
open upland |
33 | ||
| Vireos | ||||
| Vireo griseus |
fragmented |
1 | ||
| Vireo bellii |
SPC |
fragmented |
12 | |
| Vireo flavifrons |
deciduous forest |
924 | ||
| Vireo solitarius |
coniferous forest |
355 | ||
| Vireo gilvus |
deciduous forest |
744 | ||
| Vireo philadelphicus |
mixed forest |
19 | ||
| Vireo olivaceus |
mixed forest |
4253 | ||
| Jays & Crows | ||||
| Perisoreus canadensis |
coniferous forest |
369 | ||
| Cyanocitta cristata |
mixed forest |
2493 | ||
| Pica hudsonia |
fragmented |
195 | ||
| Corvus brachyrhynchos |
fragmented |
2599 | ||
| Corvus corax |
mixed forest |
555 | ||
| Larks | ||||
| Eremophila alpestris |
open upland |
178 | ||
| Swallows | ||||
| Progne subis |
SPC |
fragmented |
101 | |
| Tachycineta bicolor |
fragmented |
1242 | ||
| Stelgidopteryx serripennis |
fragmented |
197 | ||
| Riparia riparia |
open upland |
277 | ||
| Petrochelidon pyrrhonota |
fragmented |
382 | ||
| Hirundo rustica |
open upland |
889 | ||
| Chickadees & Titmice | ||||
| Poecile atricapillus |
fragmented |
1502 | ||
| Poecile hudsonicus |
coniferous forest |
74 | ||
| Baeolophus bicolor |
deciduous forest |
16 | ||
| Nuthatches | ||||
| Sitta canadensis |
coniferous forest |
808 | ||
| Sitta carolinensis |
deciduous forest |
961 | ||
| Creepers | ||||
| Certhia americana |
mixed forest |
250 | ||
| Wrens | ||||
| Salpinctes obsoletus |
open upland |
1 | ||
| Troglodytes aedon |
deciduous forest |
1600 | ||
| Troglodytes hiemalis |
coniferous forest |
714 | ||
| Cistothorus platensis |
wetland |
1983 | ||
| Cistothorus palustris |
wetland |
893 | ||
| Gnatcatchers | ||||
| Polioptila caerulea |
deciduous forest |
362 | ||
| Kinglets | ||||
| Regulus satrapa |
coniferous forest |
350 | ||
| Regulus calendula |
coniferous forest |
341 | ||
| Thrushes | ||||
| Sialia sialis |
fragmented |
371 | ||
| Sialia currucoides |
open upland |
1 | ||
| Catharus fuscescens |
mixed forest |
2277 | ||
| Catharus ustulatus |
coniferous forest |
362 | ||
| Catharus guttatus |
coniferous forest |
1178 | ||
| Hylocichla mustelina |
deciduous forest |
422 | ||
| Turdus migratorius |
fragmented |
2466 | ||
| Mockingbirds & Thrashers | ||||
| Dumetella carolinensis |
fragmented |
1430 | ||
| Toxostoma rufum |
fragmented |
416 | ||
| Mimus polyglottos |
fragmented |
1 | ||
| Starlings | ||||
| Sturnus vulgaris |
fragmented |
396 | ||
| Pipits | ||||
| Anthus spragueii |
open upland |
3 | ||
| Waxwings | ||||
| Bombycilla cedrorum |
deciduous forest |
928 | ||
| Longspurs | ||||
| Calcarius ornatus |
open upland |
3 | ||
| New World Warblers | ||||
| Seiurus aurocapilla |
deciduous forest |
3409 | ||
| Parkesia motacilla |
deciduous forest |
83 | ||
| Parkesia noveboracensis |
coniferous forest |
328 | ||
| Vermivora chrysoptera |
coniferous forest |
547 | ||
| Vermivora cyanoptera |
deciduous forest |
107 | ||
| Mniotilta varia |
coniferous forest |
967 | ||
| Protonotaria citrea |
deciduous forest |
56 | ||
| Oreothlypis peregrina |
coniferous forest |
163 | ||
| Oreothlypis ruficapilla |
coniferous forest |
2078 | ||
| Oporornis agilis |
coniferous forest |
248 | ||
| Geothlypis philadelphia |
deciduous forest |
744 | ||
| Geothlypis formosa |
deciduous forest |
2 | ||
| Geothlypis trichas |
fragmented |
4616 | ||
| Setophaga citrina |
deciduous forest |
4 | ||
| Setophaga ruticilla |
deciduous forest |
1522 | ||
| Setophaga tigrina |
coniferous forest |
155 | ||
| Setophaga cerulea |
deciduous forest |
138 | ||
| Setophaga americana |
coniferous forest |
524 | ||
| Setophaga magnolia |
coniferous forest |
619 | ||
| Setophaga castanea |
|
16 | ||
| Setophaga fusca |
coniferous forest |
526 | ||
| Setophaga petechia |
fragmented |
1979 | ||
| Setophaga pensylvanica |
deciduous forest |
1290 | ||
| Setophaga caerulescens |
coniferous forest |
288 | ||
| Setophaga palmarum |
|
249 | ||
| Setophaga pinus |
coniferous forest |
477 | ||
| Setophaga coronata |
coniferous forest |
650 | ||
| Setophaga virens |
coniferous forest |
881 | ||
| Cardellina canadensis |
coniferous forest |
447 | ||
| Cardellina pusilla |
coniferous forest |
34 | ||
| Icteria virens |
open upland |
1 | ||
| Towhees & Sparrows | ||||
| Pipilo erythrophthalmus |
|
mixed forest |
280 | |
| Spizella passerina |
coniferous forest |
973 | ||
| Spizella pallida |
open upland |
1562 | ||
| Spizella pusilla |
open upland |
570 | ||
| Pooecetes gramineus |
open upland |
490 | ||
| Chondestes grammacus |
open upland |
61 | ||
| Calamospiza melanocorys |
open upland |
4 | ||
| Passerculus sandwichensis |
open upland |
1465 | ||
| Ammodramus savannarum |
open upland |
529 | ||
| Ammodramus bairdii |
open upland |
1 | ||
| Ammodramus henslowii |
open upland |
80 | ||
| Ammodramus leconteii |
wetland |
464 | ||
| Ammodramus nelsoni |
wetland |
115 | ||
| Melospiza melodia |
fragmented |
3228 | ||
| Melospiza lincolnii |
coniferous forest |
316 | ||
| Melospiza georgiana |
wetland |
2249 | ||
| Zonotrichia albicollis |
coniferous forest |
1805 | ||
| Junco hyemalis |
coniferous forest |
100 | ||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, & Grosbeaks | ||||
| Piranga rubra |
deciduous forest |
2 | ||
| Piranga olivacea |
deciduous forest |
1149 | ||
| Cardinalis cardinalis |
deciduous forest |
605 | ||
| Pheucticus ludovicianus |
deciduous forest |
1849 | ||
| Passerina caerulea |
framented |
69 | ||
| Passerina cyanea |
deciduous forest |
913 | ||
| Spiza americana |
open upland |
575 | ||
| New World Blackbirds & Orioles | ||||
| Dolichonyx oryzivorus |
open upland |
1653 | ||
| Agelaius phoeniceus |
fragmented |
3426 | ||
| Sturnella magna |
|
open upland |
256 | |
| Sturnella neglecta |
|
open upland |
931 | |
| Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus |
wetland |
861 | ||
| Euphagus cyanocephalus |
open upland |
284 | ||
| Quiscalus quiscula |
fragmented |
1161 | ||
| Quiscalus mexicanus |
wetland |
22 | ||
| Molothrus ater |
fragmented |
2142 | ||
| Icterus spurius |
fragmented |
320 | ||
| Icterus galbula |
deciduous forest |
1066 | ||
| Finches | ||||
| Haemorhous mexicanus |
fragmented |
65 | ||
| Haemorhous purpureus |
|
coniferous forest |
438 | |
| Loxia curvirostra |
coniferous forest |
33 | ||
| Loxia leucoptera |
coniferous forest |
61 | ||
| Spinus pinus |
coniferous forest |
53 | ||
| Spinus tristis |
fragmented |
2303 | ||
| Coccothraustes vespertinus |
|
coniferous forest |
114 | |
| Old World Sparrows | ||||
| Passer domesticus |
fragmented |
134 | ||