South Dakota Bird Checklist

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This checklist identifies the roughly 430 bird species that have been seen in South Dakota.  A handful of species listed here are "hypothetical", birds that haven't yet been seen, but are likely to be seen at some point in the future. The "code" column provides general information on seasonality within the state, and relative abundance.  Note the emphasis on "relative".  When abundance varies by season, the primary season of occurrence is provided. The "notes" column allows you to jot down a date or location for a sighting. 

Note that an exact copy of this checklist is available as a printer-friendly PDF.  Simply CLICK HERE to download a PDF that you can print and use in the field.

Codes

 W - Winter                            (1) Common to Abundant

 M - Migrant                           (2) Uncommon

 S - Summer                            (3) Rare or Accidental

 P - Permanent Resident      (E) Likely Extirpated in the State

 

X

Species

Code

Notes

 

X

Species

Code

Notes

Ducks, Geese, and Swans (Anatidae)

 

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

(3)

 

 

 

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

(3)

 

 

Greater White-fronted Goose

M (1)

 

 

 

Snow Goose

M (1)

 

 

Ross's Goose

M (2)

 

 

 

Brant

M (3)

 

 

Cackling Goose

MW (2)

 

 

 

Canada Goose

P (1)

 

 

Mute Swan

P (3)

 

 

 

Trumpeter Swan

P (2)

 

 

Tundra Swan

M (2)

 

 

 

Wood Duck

S (1)

 

 

Gadwall

SM (1)

 

 

 

Eurasian Wigeon

(3)

 

 

American Wigeon

SM (1)

 

 

 

American Black Duck

(3)

 

 

Mallard

P (1)

 

 

 

Blue-winged Teal

SM (1)

 

 

Cinnamon Teal

SM (3)

 

 

 

Northern Shoveler

SM (1)

 

 

Northern Pintail

SM (1)

 

 

 

Green-winged Teal

SM (1)

 

 

Canvasback

SM (1)

 

 

 

Redhead

SM(1)

 

 

Ring-necked Duck

M (1)

 

 

 

Greater Scaup

M(3)

 

 

Lesser Scaup

SM (1)

 

 

 

Common Eider

(3)

 

 

Harlequin Duck

W (3)

 

 

 

Surf Scoter

M (3)

 

 

White-winged Scoter

M (3)

 

 

 

Black Scoter

M (3)

 

 

Long-tailed Duck

(3)

 

 

 

Bufflehead

M (1)

 

 

Common Goldeneye

MW (1)

 

 

 

Barrow's Goldeneye

MW (3)

 

 

Hooded Merganser

SM (2)

 

 

 

Common Merganser

MW (1)

 

 

Red-breasted Merganser

M (2)

 

 

 

Ruddy Duck

SM (1)

 

New World Quail (Odontophoridae)

 

Northern Bobwhite

P (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Old World Quail (Phasianidae)

 

Chukar

P (3)

 

 

 

Gray Partridge

P (2)

 

 

Ring-necked Pheasant

P (1)

 

 

 

Ruffed Grouse

P (2)

 

 

Greater Sage Grouse

P (2)

 

 

 

Dusky Grouse

P (E)

 

 

Sharp-tailed Grouse

P (1)

 

 

 

Greater Prairie Chicken

P (2)

 

 

Wild Turkey

P (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loons (Gaviidae)

 

Red-throated Loon

(3)

 

 

 

Pacific Loon

(3)

 

 

Common Loon

M (2)

 

 

 

Yellow-billed Loon

(3)

 

Grebes (Podicipedidae)

 

Pied-billed Grebe

S (1)

 

 

 

Horned Grebe

SM (2)

 

 

Eared Grebe

SM (1)

 

 

 

Red-necked Grebe

SM (3)

 

 

Western Grebe

SM (1)

 

 

 

Clark's Grebe

(3)

 

Storks (Ciconiidae)

 

Wood Stork

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae)

 

Neotropic Cormorant

(3)

 

 

 

Double-crested Cormorant

SM (1)

 

Pelicans (Pelecanidae)

 

American White Pelican

SM (1)

 

 

 

Brown Pelican

(3)

 

Bitterns, Herons, and Allies (Ardeidae)

 

American Bittern

S (2)

 

 

 

Least Bittern

SM (2)

 

 

Great Blue Heron

SM (1)

 

 

 

Great Egret

SM (1)

 

 

Snowy Egret

SM (2)

 

 

 

Little Blue Heron

SM (3)

 

 

Tricolored Heron

(3)

 

 

 

Cattle Egret

SM (2)

 

 

Green Heron

S (2)

 

 

 

Black-crowned Night Heron

SM (2)

 

 

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiomithidae)

 

White Ibis

(3)

 

 

 

Glossy Ibis

(3)

 

 

White-faced Ibis

SM (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

New World Vultures (Cathartidae)

 

Black Vulture

(3)

 

 

 

Turkey Vulture

S (1)

 

Ospreys, Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies (Pandionidae and Accipitridae)

 

Osprey

SM (2)

 

 

 

Swallow-tailed Kite

(3)

 

 

White-tailed Kite

(3)

 

 

 

Mississippi Kite

(3)

 

 

Bald Eagle

P (2)

 

 

 

Northern Harrier

P (2)

 

 

Sharp-shinned Hawk

P (2)

 

 

 

Cooper's Hawk

SM (2)

 

 

Northern Goshawk

P (3)

 

 

 

Red-shouldered Hawk

(3)

 

 

Broad-winged Hawk

SM (2)

 

 

 

Swainson's Hawk

SM (1)

 

 

Red-tailed Hawk

P (1)

 

 

 

Ferruginous Hawk

P (2)

 

 

Rough-legged Hawk

W (1)

 

 

 

Golden Eagle

(P (2)

 

Caracaras and Falcons (Falconidae)

 

Crested Caracara

(3)

 

 

 

American Kestrel

P (1)

 

 

Merlin

P (2)

 

 

 

Gyrfalcon

W (3)

 

 

Peregrine Falcon

M (2)

 

 

 

Prairie Falcon

P (2)

 

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae)

 

Yellow Rail

SM (3)

 

 

 

Black Rail

(3)

 

 

King Rail

SM (3)

 

 

 

Virginia Rail

SM (1)

 

 

Sora

SM (1)

 

 

 

Purple Gallinule

(3)

 

 

Common Gallinule

S (3)

 

 

 

American Coot

SM (1)

 

Cranes (Gruidae)

 

Sandhill Crane

M (1)

 

 

 

Whooping Crane

M (3)

 

Lapwings and Plvoers (Charadriidae)

 

Black-bellied Plover

M (2)

 

 

 

American Golden Plover

M (2)

 

 

Snowy Plover

S (3)

 

 

 

Semipalmated Plover

M (2)

 

 

Piping Plover

SM (3)

 

 

 

Mountain Plover

S (3)

 

 

Killdeer

SM (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stilts and Avocets (Recurvirostridae)

 

Black-necked Stilt

SM (3)

 

 

 

American Avocet

SM (1)

 

Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies (Scolopacidae)

 

Spotted Sandpiper

SM (1)

 

 

 

Solitary Sandpiper

M (2)

 

 

Greater Yellowlegs

M (1)

 

 

 

Lesser Yellowlegs

M (1)

 

 

Willet

SM (2)

 

 

 

Upland Sandpiper

S (1)

 

 

Eskimo Curlew

(E)

 

 

 

Whimbrel

M (3)

 

 

Long-billed Curlew

SM (2)

 

 

 

Hudsonian Godwit

M (2)

 

 

Marbled Godwit

SM (2)

 

 

 

Ruddy Turnstone

M (3)

 

 

Red Knot

M (3)

 

 

 

Sanderling

M (2)

 

 

Semipalmated Sandpiper

M (1)

 

 

 

Western Sandpiper

M (3)

 

 

Least Sandpiper

M (1)

 

 

 

White-rumped Sandpiper

M (1)

 

 

Baird's Sandpiper

M (1)

 

 

 

Pectoral Sandpiper

M (1)

 

 

Dunlin

M (1)

 

 

 

Stilt Sandpiper

M (1)

 

 

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

M (3)

 

 

 

Ruff

M (3)

 

 

Short-billed Dowitcher

M (2)

 

 

 

Long-billed Dowitcher

M (1)

 

 

Wilson's Snipe

SM (1)

 

 

 

American Woodcock

SM (2)

 

 

Wilson's Phalarope

SM (1)

 

 

 

Red-necked Phalarope

M (2)

 

 

Red Phalarope

M (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae)

 

Black-legged Kittiwake

MW(3)

 

 

 

Ivory Gull

(3)

 

 

Sabine's Gull

(3)

 

 

 

Bonaparte's Gull

M (1)

 

 

Little Gull

(3)

 

 

 

Ross's Gull

(3)

 

 

Laughing Gull

(3)

 

 

 

Franklin's Gull

SM (1)

 

 

Mew Gull

(3)

 

 

 

Ring-billed Gull

P (1)

 

 

California Gull

SM (3)

 

 

 

Herring Gull

SMW (2)

 

 

Thayer's Gull

MW (3)

 

 

 

Iceland Gull

(3)

 

 

Lesser Black-backed Gull

(3)

 

 

 

Glaucous-winged Gull

(3)

 

 

Glaucous Gull

MW (3)

 

 

 

Great Black-backed Gull

(3)

 

 

Least Tern

SM (3)

 

 

 

Caspian Tern

SM (3)

 

 

Black Tern

S (3)

 

 

 

Common Tern

SM (2)

 

 

Arctic Tern

(3)

 

 

 

Forster's Tern

SM (1)

 

Skuas and Jaegers (Stercorariidae) and Auks (Alcidae)

 

Pomarine Jaeger

(3)

 

 

 

Parasitic Jaeger

(3)

 

 

Long-tailed Jaeger

(3)

 

 

 

Ancient Murrelet

(3)

 

Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)

 

Rock Pigeon

P (1)

 

 

 

Band-tailed Pigeon

(3)

 

 

Eurasian Collared Dove

P (1)

 

 

 

White-winged Dove

(3)

 

 

Mourning Dove

P (1)

 

 

 

Passenger Pigeon

(E)

 

 

Inca Dove

(3)

 

 

 

Common Ground-Dove

(3)

 

Lories, Parakeets, Macaws, and Parrots (Psittacidae)

 

Carolina Parakeet

(E)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis (Cuculidae)

 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

S (2)

 

 

 

Black-billed Cuckoo

S (2)

 

 

Groove-billed Ani

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barn Owls and Typical Owls (Tytonidae and Strigidae)

 

Barn Owl

S (2)

 

 

 

Flammulated Owl

(3)

 

 

Eastern Screech Owl

P (1)

 

 

 

Great Horned Owl

P (1)

 

 

Snowy Owl

W (3)

 

 

 

Northern Hawk Owl

(3)

 

 

Burrowing Owl

S (2)

 

 

 

Barred Owl

P (3)

 

 

Great Gray Owl

(3)

 

 

 

Long-eared Owl

P (2)

 

 

Short-eared Owl

P (2)

 

 

 

Boreal Owl

(3)

 

 

Northern Saw-whet Owl

P (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goatsuckers (Caprimulgidae)

 

Common Nighthawk

S (1)

 

 

 

Common Poorwill

S (2)

 

 

Chuck-will's Widow

S (3)

 

 

 

Eastern Whip-poor-will

S (2)

 

Swifts (Apodidae)

 

Chimney Swift

S (1)

 

 

 

White-throated Swift

S (2)

 

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)

 

Magnificent Hummingbird

(3)

 

 

 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

S (2)

 

 

Anna's Hummingbird

(3)

 

 

 

Costa's Hummingbird

(3)

 

 

Calliope Hummingbird

(3)

 

 

 

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

S (3)

 

 

Rufous Hummingbird

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)

 

Belted Kingfisher

P (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woodpeckers and Allies (Picidae)

 

Lewis's Woodpecker

P (2)

 

 

 

Red-headed Woodpecker

S (1)

 

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

P (2)

 

 

 

Williamson's Sapsucker

(3)

 

 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

S (1)

 

 

 

Red-naped Sapsucker

S (2)

 

 

Downy Woodpecker

P (1)

 

 

 

Hairy Woodpecker

P (2)

 

 

American Three-toed Woodpecker

P (3)

 

 

 

Black-backed Woodpecker

P (3)

 

 

Northern Flicker

P (1)

 

 

 

Pileated Woodpecker

P (3)

 

Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

 

Olive-sided Flycatcher

M (3)

 

 

 

Western Wood-pewee

S (1)

 

 

Eastern Wood-pewee

S (1)

 

 

 

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

M (3)

 

 

Acadian Flycatcher

(3)

 

 

 

Alder Flycatcher

M (2)

 

 

Willow Flycatcher

S (2)

 

 

 

Least Flycatcher

SM (1)

 

 

Hammond's Flycatcher

(3)

 

 

 

Dusky Flycatcher

S (1)

 

 

Cordilleran Flycatcher

S (2)

 

 

 

Eastern Phoebe

S (2)

 

 

Say's Phoebe

S (1)

 

 

 

Vermilion Flycatcher

(3)

 

 

Great Crested Flycatcher

S (1)

 

 

 

Great Kiskadee

(3)

 

 

Cassin's Kingbird

S (3)

 

 

 

Western Kingbird

S (1)

 

 

Eastern Kingbird

S (1)

 

 

 

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

(3)

 

Shrikes (Laniidae)

 

Loggerhead Shrike

S (2)

 

 

 

Northern Shrike

W (2)

 

Vireos (Vireonidae)

 

White-eyed Vireo

M (3)

 

 

 

Bell's Vireo

SM (1)

 

 

Yellow-throated Vireo

SM (2)

 

 

 

Plumbeous Vireo

SM (2)

 

 

Blue-headed Vireo

M (2)

 

 

 

Warbling Vireo

S (1)

 

 

Philadelphia Vireo

M (3)

 

 

 

Red-eyed Vireo

S (1)

 

Jays and Crows (Corvidae)

 

Gray Jay

P (2)

 

 

 

Pinyon Jay

P (2)

 

 

Steller's Jay

(3)

 

 

 

Blue Jay

P (1)

 

 

Clark's Nutcracker

P (3)

 

 

 

Black-billed Magpie

P (2)

 

 

American Crow

P (1)

 

 

 

Common Raven

(3)

 

Larks (Alaudidae)

 

Horned Lark

P (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swallows (Hirundinidae)

 

Purple Martin

S (1)

 

 

 

Tree Swallow

S (1)

 

 

Violet-green Swallow

S (1)

 

 

 

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

S (1)

 

 

Bank Swallow

S (1)

 

 

 

Cliff Swallow

S (1)

 

 

Barn Swallow

S (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chickadees and Titmice (Paridae)

 

Black-capped Chickadee

P (1)

 

 

 

Mountain Chickadee

(3)

 

 

Boreal Chickadee

(3)

 

 

 

Tufted Titmouse

S (3)

 

Nuthatches (Sittidae) and Creepers (Certhiidae)

 

Red-breasted Nuthatch

P (1)

 

 

 

White-breasted Nuthatch

P (1)

 

 

Pygmy Nuthatch

P (3)

 

 

 

Brown Creeper

P (2)

 

                                                               Wrens (Troglodytidae) and Gnatcatchers (Polioptillidae)

 

Rock Wren

S (1)

 

 

 

Canyon Wren

P (3)

 

 

Carolina Wren

(3)

 

 

 

Bewick's Wren

(3)

 

 

House Wren

S (1)

 

 

 

Pacific Wren

(3)

 

 

Winter Wren

W (3)

 

 

 

Sedge Wren

S (1)

 

 

Marsh Wren

S (1)

 

 

 

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

S (2)

 

Dippers (Cinclidae)

 

American Dipper

P (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kinglets (Regulidae)

 

Golden-crowned Kinglet

MW (1)

 

 

 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

PM (1)

 

Thrushes (Turdidae)

 

Eastern Bluebird

S (1)

 

 

 

Western Bluebird

(3)

 

 

Mountain Bluebird

S (1)

 

 

 

Townsend's Solitaire

P (2)

 

 

Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush

(3)

 

 

 

Veery

S (2)

 

 

Gray-cheeked Thrush

M (2)

 

 

 

Swainson's Thrush

M (1)

 

 

Hermit Thrush

M (2)

 

 

 

Wood Thrush

SM (2)

 

 

American Robin

P (1)

 

 

 

Varied Thrush

(3)

 

Mockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae), and Starlings (Sturnidae)

 

Gray Catbird

S (1)

 

 

 

Northern Mockingbird

S (2)

 

 

Sage Thrasher

S (2)

 

 

 

Brown Thrasher

S (1)

 

 

Curve-billed Thrasher

(3)

 

 

 

European Starling

P (1)

 

Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae), and Waxwings (Bombycillidae)

 

American Pipit

M (1)

 

 

 

Sprauge's Pipit

SM (2)

 

 

Cedar Waxwing

P (1)

 

 

 

Bohemian Waxwing

W (2)

 

Longspurs and Snow Buntings (Calcariidae)

 

Lapland Longspur

W (1)

 

 

 

Chestnut-collared Longspur

S (1)

 

 

Smith's Longspur

M (3)

 

 

 

McCown's Longspur

SM (3)

 

 

Snow Bunting

W (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wood-Warblers (Parulidae)

 

Blue-winged Warbler

SM (3)

 

 

 

Golden-winged Warbler

M (3)

 

 

Tennessee Warbler

M (1)

 

 

 

Orange-crowned Warbler

M (1)

 

 

Nashville Warbler

M (2)

 

 

 

Virginia's Warbler

S (3)

 

 

Northern Parula

M (3)

 

 

 

Yellow Warbler

S (1)

 

 

Chestnut-sided Warbler

M (2)

 

 

 

Magnolia Warbler

M (1)

 

 

Cape May Warbler

M (1)

 

 

 

Black-throated Blue Warbler

M (3)

 

 

Yellow-rumped Warbler

SM (1)

 

 

 

Black-throated Gray Warbler

M (3)

 

 

Black-throated Green Warbler

M (2)

 

 

 

Townsend's Warbler

M (3)

 

 

Blackburnian Warbler

M (2)

 

 

 

Pine Warbler

M (3)

 

 

Prairie Warbler

SM (3)

 

 

 

Palm Warbler

M (2)

 

 

Bay-breasted Warbler

M (2)

 

 

 

Blackpoll Warbler

M (1)

 

 

Cerulean Warbler

SM (3)

 

 

 

Black-and-White Warbler

SM (1)

 

 

American Redstart

SM (1)

 

 

 

Prothonotary Warbler

M (3)

 

 

Worm-eating Warbler

M (3)

 

 

 

Ovenbird

S (1)

 

 

Northern Waterthrush

M (2)

 

 

 

Louisiana Waterthrush

M (3)

 

 

Kentucky Warbler

SM (3)

 

 

 

Connecticut Warbler

M (3)

 

 

Mourning Warbler

M (2)

 

 

 

MacGillivray's Warbler

S (2)

 

 

Common Yellowthroat

S (1)

 

 

 

Hooded Warbler

M (3)

 

 

Wilson's Warbler

M (1)

 

 

 

Canada Warbler

M (2)

 

 

Yellow-breasted Chat

S (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Towhees, Sparrows, and their Allies (Emberizidae)

 

Green-tailed Towhee

(3)

 

 

 

Spotted Towhee

S (1)

 

 

Eastern Towhee

S (2)

 

 

 

Cassin's Sparrow

(3)

 

 

American Tree Sparrow

W (1)

 

 

 

Chipping Sparrow

S (1)

 

 

Clay-colored Sparrow

SM (1)

 

 

 

Brewer's Sparrow

S (2)

 

 

Field Sparrow

S (1)

 

 

 

Vesper Sparrow

S (1)

 

 

Lark Sparrow

S (1)

 

 

 

Black-throated Sparrow

(3)

 

 

Sage Sparrow

S (3)

 

 

 

Lark Bunting

S (1)

 

 

Savannah Sparrow

S (1)

 

 

 

Grasshopper Sparrow

S (1)

 

 

Baird's Sparrow

S (2)

 

 

 

Henslow's Sparrow

SM (3)

 

Towhees, Sparrows, and their Allies (Emberizidae) - Continued

 

Le Conte's Sparrow

SM (2)

 

 

 

Nelson's Sparrow

SM (3)

 

 

Fox Sparrow

MW (2)

 

 

 

Song Sparrow

S (1)

 

 

Lincoln's Sparrow

M (1)

 

 

 

Swamp Sparrow

S (2)

 

 

White-throated Sparrow

M (1)

 

 

 

Harris's Sparrow

M (1)

 

 

White-crowned Sparrow

M (1)

 

 

 

Golden-crowned Sparrow

(3)

 

 

Dark-eyed Junco

W (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cardinals, Piranga Tanagers, and Allies (Cardinialidae)

 

Summer Tanager

SM (3)

 

 

 

Scarlet Tanager

S (2)

 

 

Western Tanager

S (2)

 

 

 

Northern Cardinal

P (1)

 

 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

S (1)

 

 

 

Black-headed Grosbeak

S (1)

 

 

Blue Grosbeak

S (2)

 

 

 

Lazuli Bunting

S (2)

 

 

Indigo Bunting

S (1)

 

 

 

Painted Bunting

(3)

 

 

Dickcissel

S (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blackbirds (Icteridae)

 

Bobolink

S (1)

 

 

 

Red-winged Blackbird

P (1)

 

 

Eastern Meadowlark

P (3)

 

 

 

Western Meadowlark

P (1)

 

 

Yellow-headed Blackbird

S (1)

 

 

 

Rusty Blackbird

M (2)

 

 

Brewer's Blackbird

S (1)

 

 

 

Common Grackle

S (1)

 

 

Great-tailed Grackle

S (2)

 

 

 

Brown-headed Cowbird

S (1)

 

 

Orchard Oriole

S (1)

 

 

 

Baltimore Oriole

S (1)

 

 

Bullock's Oriole

S (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fringilline and Careuline Finches and Allies (Fringillidae)

 

Brambling

(3)

 

 

 

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch

W (2)

 

 

Pine Grosbeak

W (3)

 

 

 

Purple Finch

W (2)

 

 

Cassin's Finch

P (2)

 

 

 

House Finch

P (1)

 

 

Red Crossbill

P (1)

 

 

 

White-winged Crossbill

W (3)

 

 

Common Redpoll

W (2)

 

 

 

Hoary Redpoll

W (3)

 

 

Pine  Siskin

PW (1)

 

 

 

Lesser Goldfinch

S (3)

 

 

American Goldfinch

P (1)

 

 

 

Evening Grosbeak

P (2)

 

Old World Sparrows (Passeridae)

 

House Sparrow

P (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl

SOUTH DAKOTA BIRDS AND BIRDING - VISITOR LOCATIONS