Birds

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Bird Watching Opportunities

There are many opportunities for bird watching around Lakeside Nature Center and within Swope Park.

The bird blind and feeding area, directly to the south of the center, allow bird watchers to view and photograph the many species that frequent the feeders and water features. The trails around the Nature Center and throughout Swope Park are also ideal for viewing.

Bird Watching Blind. Photo © John Whiteman

Birds Commonly Found in Our Area

American Bald Eagle

(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Observed fairly often year-round. For information on the Nature Center’s American bald eagle, go here.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

American Crow

(Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Observed commonly year-round. For information on the Nature Center’s American crow, go here.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

American Goldfinch

(Spinus tristis)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

American Kestrel

(Falco sparverius)

Observed commonly in winter.
For information on the Nature Center’s American kestrels, go here.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

American Robin

(Turdus migratorius)

Observed commonly in spring, summer and fall.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Baltimore Oriole

(Icterus galbula)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Barn Owl

(Tyto alba)

Observed rarely, year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Barn Swallow

(Hirundo rustica)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Barred Owl

(Strix varia)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Black-capped Chickadee

(Poecile atricapillus)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Blue Grosbeak

(Passerina caerulea)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Blue Jay

(Cyanocitta cristata)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Brewer’s Blackbird

(Euphagus cyanocephalus)

Observed fairly often in spring and fall.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Broad-winged Hawk

(Buteo platypterus)

Observed commonly in spring and fall.
For information on the Nature Center’s broad-winged hawk, go here.
_{Photo © Susie Harris}

Brown Creeper

(Certhia americana)

Observed commonly in spring and fall.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Brown-headed Cowbird

(Molothrus ater)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Burrowing Owl

(Athene cunicularia)

Observed rarely in spring and fall.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Canada Goose

(Branta canadensis)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Carolina Wren

(Thryothorus ludovicianus)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Chimney Swift

(Chaetura pelagica)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Chipping Sparrow

(Spizella passerina)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Common Grackle

(Quiscalus quiscula)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Cooper’s Hawk

(Accipiter cooperii)

Observed fairly often year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Dark-eyed Junco

(Junco hyemalis)

Observed commonly in winter.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Double-crested Cormorant

(Nannopterum auritum)

Observed commonly in spring and fall.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Downy Woodpecker

(Dryobates pubescens, formerly Picoides pubescens)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Eastern Bluebird

(Sialia sialis)

Observed commonly in summer and fairly often in winter.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Eastern Meadowlark

(Sturnella magna)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Dept. of Conservation}

Eastern Phoebe

(Sayornis phoebe)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Eastern Screech Owl

(Megascops asio)

Observed commonly year-round. For information on the Nature Center’s Eastern screech owl, go here.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

European Starling

(Sturnus vulgaris)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Franklin’s Gull

(Leucophaeus pipixcan)

Observed commonly in spring and fall.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Golden-crowned Kinglet

(Regulus satrapa)

Observed commonly in spring, summer and fall.

Great Blue Heron

(Ardea herodias)

Observed commonly in summer and fairly often in winter.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Great Crested Flycatcher

(Myiarchus crinitus)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Great Horned Owl

(Bubo virginianus)

Observed commonly year-round. For information on the Nature Center’s great horned owl, go here.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Green Heron

(Butorides virescens)

Observed fairly often.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Green-winged Teal

(Anas crecca)

Observed commonly in spring and fall.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Hairy Woodpecker

(Dryobates villosus)

Observed fairly often year-round.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Harris’s Sparrow

(Zonotrichia querula)

Observed commonly in spring and fall.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Hooded Merganser

(Lophodytes cucullatus)

Observed commonly in spring and fall.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

House Finch

(Haemorhous mexicanus)

Observed fairly often year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

House Sparrow

(Passer domesticus)

Observed often year-round.
_{Photo © PIxabay}

House Wren

(Troglodytes aedon)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Indigo Bunting

(Passerina cyanea)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © PIxabay}

Killdeer

(Charadrius vociferus)

Observed commonly in spring and fall.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Mallard

(Anas platyrhynchos)

Observed commonly in winter.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Mourning Dove

(Zenaida macroura)

Observed commonly in spring, summer and fall.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Northern Cardinal

(Cardinalis cardinalis)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © PIxabay}

Northern Flicker

(Colaptes auratus)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Northern Parula

(Setophaga americana)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © PIxabay}

Northern Saw-whet Owl

(Aegolius acadicus)

Observed rarely, in winter
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Peregrine Falcon

(Falco peregrinus)

Observed fairly often in spring and fall. For information on the Nature Center’s Peregrine Falcon, go here.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Pileated Woodpecker

(Dryocopus pileatus)

Observed rarely year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Red-bellied Woodpecker

(Melanerpes carolinus)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © PIxabay}

Red-headed Woodpecker

(Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Red-shouldered Hawk

(Buteo lineatus)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © PIxabay}

Red-tailed Hawk

(Buteo jamaicensis)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Red-winged Blackbird

(Agelaius phoeniceus)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Rock Pigeon

(Columba livia)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

(Archilochus colubris)

Observed commonly in spring, summer and fall.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Rusty Blackbird

(Euphagus carolinus)

Observed commonly in winter.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Sharp-shinned Hawk

(Accipiter striatus)

Observed fairly often in winter.
_{Photo © PIxabay}

Short-eared Owl

(Asio flammeus)

Observed rarely, in winter.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

Snow Goose

(Anser caerulescens)

Observed commonly in winter and rarely in summer.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Tufted Titmouse

(Baeolophus bicolor)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Turkey Vulture

(Cathartes aura)

Observed commonly in summer. For information on the Nature Center’s turkey vultures, go here.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Western Meadowlark

(Sturnella neglecta)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Missouri Dept. of Conservation}

White-breasted Nuthatch

(Sitta carolinensis)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © PIxabay}

White-throated Sparrow

(Zonotrichia albicollis)

Observed commonly in winter.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Wild Turkey

(Meleagris gallopavo)

Observed commonly year-round.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Wood Duck

(Aix sponsa)

Observed commonly in summer.
_{Photo © Pixabay}

Yellow-throated Vireo

(Vireo flavifrons)

Observed fairly often in summer.