May 15, 2026
Falls Parki
Photo attribution
(c) Joseph Hughes, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Birding Guide
Birding Guide for South Dakota
Prairies, badlands, hills, and iconic wildlife
Birding highlights, common sightings, and the best places to look for birds in South Dakota. Use the highlight list to start quickly, then work through the full guide for a broader local view.
Sightings
153
Species
57
Active Months
12
Category Overview
Birds across South Dakota
This guide focuses on birdlife within South Dakota'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 South Dakota
A recent look at bird sightings across South Dakota.
Sightings Map
See where bird sightings cluster
Start wide, then zoom in to see where bird sightings cluster across South Dakota.
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Top Highlights
Top 5 birds to see in South Dakota
These birds are snapped the most across this region.
Places to Start
Best places for birding in South Dakota
These place guides connect well with the birds covered in this region.
Park44 sightings50 species
South Dakota, US
Falls Park
You might spot Duck, Canada Goose, and Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
South Dakota, US
Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery
You might spot Bald Eagle, Canada Goose, and American Coot.
View place guide →
Park21 sightings12 species
South Dakota, US
Indian Creek Recreation Area
You might spot Mourning Dove, Vulture, and Woodhouse's Toad.
View place guide →
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Park40 sightings6 species
South Dakota, US
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
You might spot Least Chipmunk and Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
South Dakota, US
D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery
You might spot Wood Duck, Tansy, and Mountain Goat.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Iowa, US
Gitchie Manitou State Preserve
You might spot Plain Pocketbook, Fatmucket, and Wabash Pigtoe.
View place guide →
Full Guide
Full South Dakota birds list
The complete ranked list for this guide, ordered by sightings count.
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American Robin
Duck
Canada Goose
Dark-eyed Junco
Vulture
Bald Eagle
House Sparrow
Killdeer
Northern Flicker
American Goldfinch
Common Grackle
Eastern Kingbird
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Tree Swallow
American Coot
Barn Swallow
Blackpoll Warbler
Blue Jay
Eastern Bluebird
Great Blue Heron
House Finch
Narragansett Turkey
Northern House Wren
Northern Shoveler
Ring-billed Gull
Ring-necked Pheasant
Song Sparrow
American Crow
American Redstart
Black-billed Magpie
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-necked Stilt
Cedar Waxwing
Chipping Sparrow
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Eared Grebe
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Gadwall
Gray Catbird
Green-winged Teal
Indigo Bunting
Mountain Bluebird
Northern Cardinal
Pekin Duck
Red Crossbill
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-tailed Hawk
Semipalmated Plover
Snow Goose
Swainson's Thrush
Turkey
White-throated Sparrow
Wilson's Phalarope
Wood Duck
Other Guides
Keep exploring South Dakota
Switch from birding to flowers and bugs for a broader view of South Dakota's wildlife and nature.
