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List of birds of Indiana facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Northern Cardinal Male-27527-4
The northern cardinal is the state bird of Indiana.

This article shares a list of birds found in the U.S. state of Indiana. The Indiana Audubon Society keeps track of these birds. As of January 2022, there were 422 different kinds of birds on their official list!

Some of these birds are quite special:

  • 133 kinds are considered rare, meaning they are not seen very often.
  • 10 kinds were introduced to North America by people.
  • 3 kinds are extinct, which means they no longer exist anywhere in the world.
  • 3 kinds are extirpated, meaning they used to live in Indiana but now only live in other places.

This list follows the order used by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). The names of the bird families come from the Clements taxonomy.

Unless we say otherwise, all the birds listed below are regularly seen in Indiana. They might live there all the time, visit in summer or winter, or just pass through during their migrations.

Here are some special notes you'll see:

  • (R) - Rare: This bird is not often seen and needs special reports when spotted.
  • (I) - Introduced: Humans brought this bird to North America.
  • (X) - Extinct: This bird no longer exists anywhere.
  • (E) - Extirpated: This bird used to live in Indiana but now lives only elsewhere.

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl

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Canada goose

These birds are part of the Anatidae family. They include ducks, geese, and swans. These birds are great at living in water. They have webbed feet, flat bills, and special feathers that shed water. Forty-two different kinds of these birds have been seen in Indiana.

New World Quail

This family, Odontophoridae, includes small, plump birds that live on the ground. Only one kind has been seen in Indiana.

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

The Phasianidae family includes pheasants and similar birds. They live on the ground and vary in size. Many are hunted for sport or raised for food. Five kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Flamingoes

Flamingoes (Phoenicopteridae family) are tall wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters) tall. They filter food like shellfish and algae from the water using their special upside-down beaks. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Grebes

Grebes (Podicipedidae family) are small to medium-sized diving birds that live in freshwater. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers. They are clumsy on land because their feet are far back on their bodies. Five kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Pigeons and Doves

The Columbidae family includes pigeons and doves. These birds have strong bodies, short necks, and thin bills. Seven kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Cuckoos

The Cuculidae family includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds have slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Three kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Nightjars and Allies

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Common nighthawk

Nightjars (Caprimulgidae family) are medium-sized birds that are active at night. They usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Three kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Swifts

Swifts (Apodidae family) are small birds that spend most of their lives flying. They have very short legs and usually perch only on vertical surfaces. Many have long, swept-back wings. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae family) are tiny birds known for hovering in the air by flapping their wings very fast. They are the only birds that can fly backward! Six kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

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American coot

The Rallidae family includes rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. These birds are small to medium-sized and often live in dense plants near water. They are usually shy and hard to spot. Most have strong legs and long toes. Eight kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Cranes

Cranes (Gruidae family) are large birds with long legs and necks. Unlike herons, cranes fly with their necks stretched out. They often have loud and fancy mating dances. Four kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Stilts and Avocets

The Recurvirostridae family includes avocets and stilts. These are large wading birds. Avocets have long legs and bills that curve upward. Stilts have very long legs and straight, thin bills. Two kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Plovers and Lapwings

Killdeer
Killdeer

The Charadriidae family includes plovers and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies and short, thick necks. They live in open areas, often near water. Nine kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Sandpipers and Allies

Phalaropus tricolor - breeding female
Wilson's phalarope

Scolopacidae is a large family of shorebirds, including sandpipers, curlews, and snipes. Most of these birds eat small bugs they find in mud or soil. Different bill and leg lengths allow many species to feed in the same area without competing for food. Thirty-eight kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Skuas and Jaegers

Skuas and jaegers (Stercorariidae family) are medium to large birds that look like dark gulls. They have hooked bills and webbed feet. They are strong, agile fliers.

Auks, Murres, and Puffins

The Alcidae family includes auks, murres, and puffins. These birds have short wings and live on the open sea. They only come to land for breeding. Three kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Ring-billed gull

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds. This group includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. They are usually gray or white, often with black marks. They have strong bills and webbed feet. Thirty-one kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Loons

Loons (Gaviidae family) are aquatic birds about the size of a large duck. They are mostly gray or black with spear-shaped bills. Loons swim and fly well, but they are very clumsy on land because their legs are at the back of their bodies. Four kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Northern Storm-Petrels

Storm petrels (Hydrobatidae family) are the smallest seabirds. They are related to petrels and eat tiny crustaceans and small fish from the ocean surface. They often hover like bats while feeding. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Storks

Storks (Ciconiidae family) are large, heavy wading birds with long legs, long necks, and strong bills. They have wide wings. Storks do not have a voice box and are silent. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Frigatebirds

Frigatebirds (Fregatidae family) are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are mostly black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. Males have colorful throat pouches that they can inflate. They cannot swim or walk well and cannot take off from flat ground. They can stay in the air for more than a week! One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Boobies and Gannets

The Sulidae family includes gannets and boobies. These are medium-large coastal seabirds that dive into the water to catch fish. Two kinds have been seen in Indiana.

  • Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (R)
  • Northern gannet, Morus bassanus (R)

Anhingas

Anhingas (Anhingidae family), also called darters or snakebirds, are water birds similar to cormorants. They have long necks and straight beaks. They eat fish and can dive for a long time. They often swim with only their neck above the water, looking like a snake.

Cormorants and Shags

Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae family) are medium to large water birds. They usually have dark feathers and colored skin on their faces. Their bills are long, thin, and hooked. Their feet have four webbed toes. Two kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Pelicans

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American white pelican

Pelicans (Pelecanidae family) are very large water birds with a special pouch under their beak. Like other birds in their group, they have four webbed toes. Two kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

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Great blue heron

The Ardeidae family includes herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns are usually shorter-necked and more secretive. These birds fly with their necks pulled back. Twelve kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Ibises and Spoonbills

The Threskiornithidae family includes ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings, long bodies, and long legs. Their bills are also long; ibises have curved bills, while spoonbills have flat, spoon-shaped bills. Four kinds have been seen in Indiana.

New World Vultures

New World vultures (Cathartidae family) look like Old World vultures but are not closely related. They both eat dead animals. New World vultures use their good sense of smell to find food. Two kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Osprey

The Pandionidae family has only one type of bird: the osprey. Ospreys are fish-eating birds of prey. They have large, hooked beaks, strong legs, powerful claws, and excellent eyesight. This one species is found worldwide and in Indiana.

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, including hawks, eagles, kites, and harriers. These birds have very large, powerful, hooked beaks for tearing meat. They also have strong legs, powerful claws, and sharp eyesight. Fifteen kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Barn-Owls

Barn owls (Tytonidae family) are medium to large owls with big heads and heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful claws. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Owls

Typical owls (Strigidae family) are mostly solitary birds of prey that are active at night. They have large eyes that face forward, good hearing, a hooked beak, and a circle of feathers around each eye. Eight kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Kingfishers

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae family) are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and short tails. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers (Picidae family) are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks. They have short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues for catching insects. Many woodpeckers tap loudly on tree trunks with their beaks. Eight kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Falcons and Caracaras

Falconidae is a family of birds of prey that are active during the day. This group includes falcons and caracaras. They kill their prey with their beaks, not their claws, unlike hawks and eagles. Six kinds have been seen in Indiana.

New World and African Parrots

Parrots (Psittacidae family) are small to large birds with a special curved beak. They can move their upper beak slightly. All parrots have two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward on each foot. Two kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Tyrant Flycatchers

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae family) are songbirds found across North and South America. They look a bit like Old World flycatchers but are stronger with tougher bills. Most eat insects. Eighteen kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis

Vireos (Vireonidae family) are small to medium-sized songbirds. They are usually greenish and look like wood-warblers, but they have heavier bills. Seven kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Shrikes

Shrikes (Laniidae family) are songbirds known for catching small animals and impaling them on thorns. Their beaks are hooked, like a bird of prey. Two kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

The Corvidae family includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. These birds are larger than average songbirds. Some of the bigger ones are very smart. Six kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

The Paridae family includes small, stocky woodland birds with short, strong bills. They can adapt to different foods, eating both seeds and insects. Four kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Larks

Larks (Alaudidae family) are small birds that live on the ground. They often have fancy songs and flight displays. Most larks are plain-looking. They eat insects and seeds. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Swallows

The Hirundinidae family includes swallows. These songbirds are built for catching food in the air. They have slender bodies, long pointed wings, and short bills with wide mouths. Their feet are good for perching, not walking. Seven kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Kinglets

Kinglets (Regulidae family) are a small group of birds that look like titmice. They are very small birds that eat insects. Adult kinglets have colorful crowns on their heads. Two kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Waxwings

Waxwings (Bombycillidae family) are songbirds with soft, silky feathers. They have unique red tips on some wing feathers that look like sealing wax. These birds live in northern forests and eat insects in summer and berries in winter. Two kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Nuthatches

Nuthatches (Sittidae family) are small woodland birds. They can climb down trees headfirst, which is unusual for birds. They have big heads, short tails, and strong bills and feet. Two kinds and a species pair have been seen in Indiana.

Treecreepers

Treecreepers (Certhiidae family) are small woodland birds, brown on top and white underneath. They have thin, curved bills that they use to pull insects from tree bark. Their stiff tail feathers help them support themselves on trees, like woodpeckers. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Gnatcatchers

Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae family) are delicate birds that move quickly through leaves looking for insects. They are mostly soft bluish-gray and have long, sharp bills. Many have black patterns on their heads and long, black-and-white tails that they often hold upright. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Wrens

Wrens (Troglodytidae family) are small and often hard to see, but they have very loud songs. They have short wings and thin, curved bills. Many species hold their tails straight up. All wrens eat insects. Seven kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

The Mimidae family includes thrashers, mockingbirds, and catbirds. These songbirds are famous for their amazing ability to copy the sounds of other birds and outdoor noises. They are usually dull gray and brown. Four kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Starlings

Starlings (Sturnidae family) are small to medium-sized songbirds with strong feet. They fly strongly and directly and often gather in large groups. They prefer open areas and eat insects and fruit. Their feathers are usually dark with a shiny, metallic look. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Thrushes and Allies

Thrushes (Turdidae family) are a group of songbirds, mostly found in the Old World. They are plump, soft-feathered, and small to medium-sized. They eat insects or sometimes everything, often feeding on the ground. Many have beautiful songs. Ten kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Old World Flycatchers

Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae family) are a large family of small songbirds. They are mostly small birds that live in trees and eat insects, often catching them while flying. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Old World Sparrows

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House sparrow

Old World sparrows (Passeridae family) are small songbirds. They are generally small, plump, brownish or grayish birds with short tails and strong beaks. Sparrows eat seeds, but also small insects. Two kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Wagtails and Pipits

Motacillidae is a family of small songbirds with medium to long tails. This group includes wagtails and pipits. They are slender birds that eat insects on the ground in open areas. One kind has been seen in Indiana.

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Finches (Fringillidae family) are songbirds that eat seeds. They are small to medium-sized and have strong, often cone-shaped beaks. They fly in a bouncy way, with flapping and gliding. Most sing well. Eleven kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Longspurs and Snow Buntings

The Calcariidae family includes longspurs and snow buntings. These songbirds were once grouped with New World sparrows but are different. They are usually found in open grassy areas. Four kinds have been seen in Indiana.

New World Sparrows

The Passerellidae family includes many species known as sparrows. These birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows. Many have unique head patterns. Twenty-six kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Yellow-breasted Chat

The Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteriidae family) used to be grouped with wood-warblers, but now it has its own family.

Troupials and Allies

The Icteridae family includes grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. These are small to medium-sized, often colorful songbirds found only in the New World. Most are mainly black, sometimes with yellow, orange, or red. Thirteen kinds have been seen in Indiana.

New World Warblers

The wood-warblers (Parulidae family) are a group of small, often colorful songbirds found only in the New World. Most live in trees, but some, like the ovenbird, live more on the ground. Most members of this family eat insects. Thirty-nine kinds have been seen in Indiana.

Cardinals and Allies

The Cardinalidae family includes strong, seed-eating birds with powerful bills. They usually live in open woodlands. Males and females often have different colored feathers. Eleven kinds have been seen in Indiana.

See Also

  • List of birds
  • Lists of birds by region
  • List of North American birds
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List of birds of Indiana Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.