May 31, 2026
Hickory Hill Parki
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(c) eeyipes, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
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Birding Guide
Birding Guide for Iowa
Prairies, rivers, wetlands, and open skies
Birding highlights, common sightings, and the best places to look for birds in Iowa. Use the highlight list to start quickly, then work through the full guide for a broader local view.
Sightings
296
Species
79
Active Months
12
Category Overview
Birds across Iowa
This guide focuses on birdlife within Iowa's wider region guide, helping families explore common sightings, shoreline birds, forest species, and the places where birding is easier to begin.
Latest Sightings
Recent bird sightings in Iowa
A recent look at bird sightings across Iowa.
May 8, 2026
Iowa Arboretumi
Photo attribution
(c) evangrimes, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Apr 23, 2025
Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardensi
Photo attribution
(c) Caleb Catto, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
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Sightings Map
See where bird sightings cluster
Start wide, then zoom in to see where bird sightings cluster across Iowa.
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Top Highlights
Top 5 birds to see in Iowa
These birds are snapped the most across this region.
House Sparrow
70 snaps
American Robin
12 snaps
Canada Goose
12 snaps
House Finch
12 snaps
Northern Cardinal
8 snaps
Places to Start
Best places for birding in Iowa
These place guides connect well with the birds covered in this region.
Park49 sightings50 species
Iowa, US
Crapo Park
You might spot House Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, and House Finch.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Iowa, US
Mays Island
You might spot Canada Goose, House Sparrow, and Duck.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Iowa, US
Dubuque Millworking Historic District
You might spot Common Eastern Bumble Bee, American Pokeweed, and Bluegill.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Iowa, US
Hartman Reserve Nature Center
You might spot White-Tailed Deer, Jack-In-The-Pulpit, and White Fawnlily.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Iowa, US
Reiman Gardens
You might spot Dutchman's Breeches, Red Admiral, and White-Tailed Deer.
View place guide →
Park46 sightings50 species
Iowa, US
Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens
You might spot Common Eastern Bumble Bee and Eastern Cottontail.
View place guide →
Full Guide
Full Iowa birds list
The complete ranked list for this guide, ordered by sightings count.
170 snaps212 snaps312 snaps412 snaps58 snaps68 snaps77 snaps86 snaps96 snaps106 snaps116 snaps125 snaps135 snaps145 snaps155 snaps164 snaps174 snaps184 snaps194 snaps204 snaps214 snaps224 snaps233 snaps243 snaps253 snaps263 snaps273 snaps283 snaps293 snaps303 snaps313 snaps323 snaps333 snaps343 snaps352 snaps362 snaps372 snaps382 snaps392 snaps402 snaps412 snaps422 snaps432 snaps442 snaps452 snaps462 snaps472 snaps482 snaps491 snaps501 snaps511 snaps521 snaps531 snaps541 snaps551 snaps561 snaps571 snaps581 snaps591 snaps601 snaps611 snaps621 snaps631 snaps641 snaps651 snaps661 snaps671 snaps681 snaps691 snaps701 snaps711 snaps721 snaps731 snaps741 snaps751 snaps761 snaps771 snaps781 snaps791 snaps
House Sparrow
American Robin
Canada Goose
House Finch
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Downy Woodpecker
Gray Catbird
Great Blue Heron
Vulture
White-throated Sparrow
American White Pelican
Baltimore Oriole
Double-crested Cormorant
Duck
Barred Owl
Common Grackle
Killdeer
Narragansett Turkey
Northern House Wren
Red-headed Woodpecker
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
American Goldfinch
Bald Eagle
Bobolink
Brown-headed Cowbird
Chipping Sparrow
Cliff Swallow
European Starling
Grasshopper Sparrow
Palm Warbler
Purple Martin
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Rock Pigeon
American Redstart
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Cedar Waxwing
Cooper's Hawk
Dark-eyed Junco
Eastern Bluebird
Hairy Woodpecker
Indigo Bunting
Mourning Dove
Pileated Woodpecker
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Turkey
American Crow
American Kestrel
Barn Swallow
Belted Kingfisher
Broad-winged Hawk
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Eastern Kingbird
Golden Eagle
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Great Egret
Green Heron
Lincoln's Sparrow
Nashville Warbler
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Northern Yellow Warbler
Pigeon
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-eyed Vireo
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-necked Pheasant
Rough-legged Hawk
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Swainson's Thrush
Tree Swallow
Vesper Sparrow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Wood Duck
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Other Guides
Keep exploring Iowa
Switch from birding to flowers and bugs for a broader view of Iowa's wildlife and nature.
