Indiana is Becoming Pit Stop for New Bird Species

A lot of new bird species are making a pit stop in Indiana.

According to a story in the Indy Star, Indiana's diverse environment is making it an easy target for migrating birds:

"For the first time in more than 30 years, birdwatchers saw the resilient red knot in Eagle Creek Park this month. The little bird typically migrates thousands of miles from the Arctic to as far south as South America and back every year.

This year, the red knot took a pit stop in Indianapolis."

Here are 30 of Indiana's most popular backyard birds. These are all reported on the 'What Birds Are in My Backyard?' blog, and the top list on this page is the frequency (by percentage) of birds throughout the year.

Common backyard birds in Indiana

  1. Northern Cardinal (59% frequency)
  2. American Robin (45%)
  3. Mourning Dove (43%)
  4. Blue Jay (43%)
  5. American Goldfinch (42%)
  6. Downy Woodpecker (42%)
  7. Red-bellied Woodpecker (39%)
  8. Tufted Titmouse (38%)
  9. White-breasted Nuthatch (38%)
  10. American Crow (38%)
  11. Song Sparrow (36%)
  12. Carolina Chickadee (33%)
  13. European Starling (33%)
  14. House Sparrow (30%)
  15. House Finch (27%)
  16. Carolina Wren (24%)
  17. Dark-eyed Junco (22%)
  18. Common Grackle (20%)

Most common backyard birds in winter

  1. Northern Cardinal (55% frequency)
  2. Dark-eyed Junco (46%)
  3. Downy Woodpecker (46%)
  4. White-breasted Nuthatch (40%)
  5. Blue Jay (39%)
  6. Red-bellied Woodpecker (39%)
  7. Tufted Titmouse (38%)
  8. American Crow (36%)
  9. Mourning Dove (35%)
  10. Carolina Chickadee (34%)
  11. American Goldfinch (34%)
  12. House Sparrow (33%)
  13. European Starling (32%)
  14. House Finch (30%)
  15. Song Sparrow (26%)
  16. American Tree Sparrow (23%)
  17. Carolina Wren (20%)
  18. American Robin (20%)

Most common backyard birds in summer

  1. American Robin (62% frequency)
  2. Northern Cardinal (60%)
  3. Mourning Dove (55%)
  4. American Goldfinch (48%)
  5. Song Sparrow (46%)
  6. Indigo Bunting (40%)
  7. Blue Jay (38%)
  8. Gray Catbird (37%)
  9. Downy Woodpecker (34%)
  10. American Crow (34%)
  11. House Sparrow (33%)
  12. Common Grackle (33%)
  13. Tufted Titmouse (32%)
  14. European Starling (32%)
  15. Chipping Sparrow (32%)
  16. White-breasted Nuthatch (31%)
  17. Red-bellied Woodpecker (31%)
  18. House Wren (30%)
  19. Barn Swallow (29%)
  20. House Finch (27%)
  21. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (25%)
  22. Eastern Wood-Pewee (25%)
  23. Carolina Chickadee (25%)
  24. Carolina Wren (23%)
  25. Field Sparrow (22%)
  26. Eastern Kingbird (21%)
  27. Eastern Bluebird (21%)
  28. Eastern Towhee (20%)

The birds of Indiana also include Blackbirds, Warbler, Great Blue Heron, Vultures, Orioles, Egrets, Northern Flicker, Plover, Cooper's Hawk, Sandpiper, Grosbeak, and Pelican.

Have you ever seen or heard of these wild birds? Please leave us a comment below!

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