Birds You Can Expect in Minnesota
Minnesota covers prairie in the southwest, hardwood forest in the southeast, and northern conifer forests, bogs, and lakes in the north and east. Hundreds of bird species have been recorded in the state, but a short list of regulars makes up most of what appears in a typical yard. Some stay through the winter; others arrive in spring and leave by fall. The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union maintains the state’s official checklist and is a good source for more detail.
Year-Round Residents
These are the birds most likely to be there when the snow is on the ground. Exact abundance varies by region, especially north to south.
- Black-capped Chickadee: a small, curious bird with a black cap and bib and a “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call. It is one of the most dependable winter feeder birds.
- White-breasted Nuthatch: blue-gray above and white below, often seen walking head-first down tree trunks. It takes seeds and suet.
- Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers: nearly identical black-and-white woodpeckers; the downy is smaller with a short bill, while the hairy is larger with a longer bill.
- Red-bellied Woodpecker: a zebra-backed woodpecker with a red cap, more common in the southern half of the state.
- Pileated Woodpecker: a crow-sized woodpecker with a red crest, found in mature forest and occasionally at suet.
- Blue Jay: loud and bold; fond of peanuts and sunflower seed.
- Northern Cardinal: mostly in the south and increasingly in other parts of the state, with males providing a welcome splash of red in winter.
- American Goldfinch: present in much of the state through winter, though males lose their bright yellow and look drab.
- Mourning Dove, House Finch, and House Sparrow: common around towns and suburbs.
- Ruffed Grouse and Wild Turkey: found in woodlands and woodland edges, sometimes seen at the edge of rural yards.
- Gray Jay: a northern forest bird of conifer woods, seen in the north rather than in southern suburbs.
Spring and Summer Arrivals
- American Robin: a classic sign of spring, though some stay through winter where food is available.
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird: the state’s hummingbird, arriving in spring and leaving in early fall.
- Baltimore Oriole: a bright orange-and-black songbird drawn to orange halves and jelly.
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak: the male has a white body, black head and back, and a rose-red triangle on the chest.
- Indigo Bunting, House Wren, and Chipping Sparrow: common nesting birds in yards and edges.
- Common Loon: Minnesota’s state bird, found on lakes in the north in summer. Its eerie calls are a hallmark of the north woods.
Winter Visitors
Birds from farther north visit when conditions push them south. Dark-eyed Juncos, American Tree Sparrows, Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins, and Bohemian Waxwings are among them, and numbers vary a lot from year to year. Evening Grosbeaks and Snowy Owls are also noteworthy visitors in some winters.
What to Feed Them in a Minnesota Winter
Black oil sunflower seed draws the widest variety, suet supports woodpeckers and nuthatches in cold weather, and nyjer seed appeals to goldfinches, siskins, and redpolls. Keep feeders stocked, since birds rely on them more when natural food is limited, and clear snow away from ground-feeding areas. Fresh, unfrozen water is also valued. Our Wisconsin bird list covers a very similar lineup for the neighboring state.
Rare and Notable Minnesota Birds
“Rare” depends on what you mean. The Great Gray Owl, a large owl of northern bogs, draws many birders to the north in winter. Kirtland’s Warbler, a conservation success story that was removed from the federal endangered list in 2019 but remains rare, is a very infrequent visitor. Unusual strays are posted to eBird and the state’s rare-bird reporting channels. For beginners, a good first goal is learning the regulars in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What birds stay in Minnesota all year?
Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals (mostly in the south), and others stay through winter.
What are common backyard birds?
Chickadees, goldfinches, robins, cardinals, house finches, mourning doves, and woodpeckers are among the most typical.
What is Minnesota’s official bird?
The Common Loon.
What is the rarest bird in Minnesota?
No single bird qualifies, but endangered and vagrant species are the rarest. Local birding groups track recent sightings.
For a very different mix of birds, compare with small birds in Colorado, or see the Southeast in our birds of North Carolina guide.