List of birds of South Dakota facts for kids

This page lists the different types of birds found in South Dakota, a state in the United States. The South Dakota Ornithologists' Union (SDOU) keeps track of these birds. As of October 2021, there were 440 different bird species on their official list.

Some birds are marked with special tags:

• A means Accidental: This bird has only been seen 0-2 times in the last 10 years. It's very rare!
• C means Casual: This bird has been seen 4-6 times in the last 10 years. It's still rare, but a bit more common than "accidental" birds.
• I means Introduced: These birds were brought to North America by people, not by nature.

This list follows a special order set by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). The common names and scientific names (like Dendrocygna autumnalis) are also from their list.

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

This family includes ducks, geese, and swans. These birds are great at living in water. They have webbed feet, flat bills, and feathers that shed water easily because of special oils. Forty-one different kinds of these birds have been seen in South Dakota.

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

This group includes pheasants and their relatives. These birds live on land and vary in size. They are usually plump with wide, short wings. Many are hunted for sport or raised for food. Seven species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
• Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus
• Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
• Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus
• Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido
• Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (I)
• Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized birds that dive in freshwater. They have special lobed toes, which make them excellent swimmers and divers. However, their feet are set far back on their bodies, so they are clumsy on land. Six species have been seen in South Dakota.

• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
• Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis
• Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii

Pigeons and Doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are birds with sturdy bodies, short necks, and thin bills. Seven species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)
• Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (A)
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)
• Inca dove, Columbina inca (A)
• Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (A)
• White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (C)
• Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura

Nightjars and Allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized birds that are active at night. They usually build their nests on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Their soft feathers are colored to blend in with bark or leaves. Four species have been seen in South Dakota.

• Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
• Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
• Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis
• Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus

Hummingbirds

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are tiny birds famous for hovering in the air. They flap their wings incredibly fast. They are the only birds that can fly backward! Eight species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (A)
• Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris
• Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (A)
• Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (A)
• Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae (A)
• Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope
• Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
• Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

This is a large family of small to medium-sized birds. They include rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Most of these birds live in thick plants near lakes, swamps, or rivers. They are often shy and hard to spot. Seven species have been seen in South Dakota.

• King rail, Rallus elegans (A)
• Virginia rail, Rallus limicola
• Sora, Porzana carolina
• Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata
• American coot, Fulica americana
• Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A)
• Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (A)

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large birds with long legs and long necks. Unlike herons, which look similar, cranes fly with their necks stretched out. They often have loud and fancy "dances" to attract mates. Two species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis
• Whooping crane, Grus americana

Stilts and Avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

This family includes avocets and stilts. They are large wading birds. Avocets have long legs and bills that curve upwards. Stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Two species have been seen in South Dakota.

• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana

Plovers and Lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

This family includes plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies and short, thick necks. They live in open areas worldwide, often near water. Eight species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica
• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
• Piping plover, Charadrius melodus
• Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia (A)
• Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (C)
• Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (A)

Sandpipers and Allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

This is a large and varied family of small to medium-sized shorebirds. It includes sandpipers, curlews, godwits, and snipes. Most of these birds eat small bugs they find in mud or soil. Thirty-two species have been recorded in South Dakota.

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

This family includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. They are usually gray or white, often with black marks on their heads or wings. They have strong, longish bills and webbed feet. Twenty-four species have been recorded in South Dakota.

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons are water birds about the size of a large duck. They are mostly gray or black and have bills shaped like spears. Loons swim very well and can fly, but they are almost helpless on land because their legs are at the very back of their bodies. Four species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata (C)
• Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica
• Common loon, Gavia immer
• Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (A)

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds. They have a special pouch under their beak for catching fish. Like other birds in their group, they have four webbed toes. Two species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (A)

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

This 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. Eleven species have been recorded in South Dakota.

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

This family includes birds of prey like hawks, eagles, and kites. These birds have very large, strong, hooked beaks for tearing meat from their prey. They also have powerful legs, sharp talons, and excellent eyesight. Fifteen species have been recorded in South Dakota.

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Typical owls are usually solitary birds of prey that are active at night. They have large eyes that face forward and ears that help them hear well. They have a beak like a hawk and a noticeable circle of feathers around each eye. Twelve species have been recorded in South Dakota.

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds. They have beaks like chisels, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues for catching insects. Many woodpeckers tap loudly on tree trunks with their beaks. Twelve species have been recorded in South Dakota.

Falcons and Caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

This family includes falcons and caracaras. They are birds of prey that are active during the day. They are different from hawks and eagles because they kill their prey with their beaks, not their talons (claws). Six species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Crested caracara, Caracara plancus (A)
• American kestrel, Falco sparverius
• Merlin, Falco columbarius
• Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
• Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

This family includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. These birds are larger than average for songbirds. Some of the bigger species are very intelligent. Eight species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Canada jay, Perisoreus canadensis
• Pinyon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
• Steller's jay, Cyanocitta stelleri (A)
• Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata
• Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana
• Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia
• American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
• Common raven, Corvus corax (C)

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

Swallows are birds that are built for catching food while flying. They have slender bodies, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide mouth. Their feet are better for perching than walking. Seven species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
• Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
• Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
• Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
• Purple martin, Progne subis
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

Waxwings are a group of songbirds with soft, silky feathers. They have unique red tips on some of their wing feathers that look like sealing wax. These birds live in northern forests. They eat insects in summer and berries in winter. Two species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have a special ability to climb down trees headfirst, which most other birds cannot do. Nuthatches have large heads, short tails, and strong bills and feet. Three species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
• White-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
• Pygmy nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small birds that are hard to see, but they have very loud songs. They have short wings and thin, downward-curved bills. Many species often hold their tails straight up. All wrens eat insects. Nine species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus
• Canyon wren, Catherpes mexicanus
• House wren, Troglodytes aedon
• Pacific wren, Troglodytes pacificus (C)
• Winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis
• Sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis
• Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris
• Carolina wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus
• Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii (A)

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mimidae

This family includes thrashers, mockingbirds, and catbirds. These birds are known for their amazing songs and their ability to copy many different bird calls and other sounds. They are usually dull gray and brown in color. Five species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
• Curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre (A)
• Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
• Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus
• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos

Old World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small songbirds. They are generally plump, brownish or grayish birds with short tails and strong, short beaks. Sparrows eat seeds, but they also eat small insects. Two species have been recorded in South Dakota.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (I) (A)

Finches and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating songbirds. They are small to medium-sized and have strong, often cone-shaped beaks. They have a bouncy flight, flapping their wings and then gliding. Most finches sing well. Fourteen species have been recorded in South Dakota.

New World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

These birds are often called sparrows, but they are not closely related to the Old World sparrows. Many of them have unique patterns on their heads. Twenty-nine species have been recorded in South Dakota.

Troupials and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

This group includes grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. They are small to medium-sized songbirds, often very colorful. Most species have black as their main feather color, sometimes with bright yellow, orange, or red. Thirteen species have been recorded in South Dakota.

New World Warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

The wood warblers are a group of small, often colorful songbirds found only in the New World (Americas). Most live in trees, but some, like the ovenbird, live more on the ground. Most birds in this family eat insects. Forty species have been recorded in South Dakota.

Cardinals and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

Cardinals are a family of strong, seed-eating birds with powerful bills. They usually live in open woodlands. The males and females often have different feather colors. Eleven species have been recorded in South Dakota.

See also

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region
• List of North American birds