Most commonly seen birds in Illinois

Written by:
March 14, 2023
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Most commonly seen birds in Illinois

Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in Illinois using data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Project FeederWatch. Birds are ranked by the percent of sites visited from Feb 18-Mar 3. Ties are broken by the average group size when seen, any further ties were not broken. Data was collected at 206 count sites in Illinois. States with less than 10 count sites were not included in rankings for each bird.

Project FeederWatch, a citizen science project where participants collect data on birds at their feeders, was founded in Ontario by Erica Dunn and the Long Point Bird Observatory in 1976. The project partnered with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology after 10 years to scale the project across the U.S. and Canada and now has over 20,000 participants.

The data Project FeederWatch collects is used by scientists to understand trends in bird populations. If you would like to participate as a FeederWatcher you can learn more about the project here.

Read on to see which birds are most commonly seen in your state.

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#44. Sharp-shinned Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 1.03
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Idaho: 12%
--- #2. Nevada: 11%
--- #3. Rhode Island: 10%
--- #4. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #4. New Mexico: 7%
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#43. Turkey Vulture

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 1.12
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 8%
--- #2. Florida: 4%
--- #2. New Jersey: 4%
--- #4. Maryland: 3%
--- #4. Pennsylvania: 3%
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#42. Mallard

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 6.72
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 8%
--- #2. Utah: 7%
--- #2. Rhode Island: 7%
--- #4. South Dakota: 5%
--- #4. Louisiana: 5%
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#41. Pileated Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Minnesota: 28%
--- #2. West Virginia: 21%
--- #3. Michigan: 17%
--- #4. Indiana: 16%
--- #4. Wisconsin: 16%
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#40. Fox Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.22
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 27%
--- #2. Washington: 15%
--- #3. California: 12%
--- #4. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #5. Missouri: 5%
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#39. Chipping Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 2.12
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 59%
--- #2. Mississippi: 50%
--- #3. South Carolina: 45%
--- #4. Louisiana: 40%
--- #5. Alabama: 39%
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#38. Eastern Bluebird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 2.73
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 70%
--- #2. North Carolina: 65%
--- #2. South Carolina: 65%
--- #4. Arkansas: 57%
--- #5. Virginia: 52%
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#37. Eurasian Collared-Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 1.81
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 69%
--- #2. South Dakota: 67%
--- #3. Wyoming: 61%
--- #4. Idaho: 48%
--- #4. Colorado: 48%
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#36. Northern Mockingbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 1.02
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Tennessee: 62%
--- #2. Louisiana: 60%
--- #3. Mississippi: 58%
--- #4. Alabama: 55%
--- #5. South Carolina: 53%
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#35. Canada Goose

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 4.44
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #3. West Virginia: 5%
--- #4. Illinois: 4%
--- #4. Indiana: 4%
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#34. Red-headed Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 1.3
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Iowa: 8%
--- #1. Missouri: 8%
--- #3. Arkansas: 7%
--- #4. Kentucky: 6%
--- #5. Louisiana: 5%
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#33. Eurasian Tree Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 4.95
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Missouri: 22%
--- #2. Iowa: 8%
--- #3. Illinois: 5%
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#32. Brown Creeper

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 1.08
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 15%
--- #2. New Hampshire: 13%
--- #3. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #3. Oklahoma: 10%
--- #3. South Dakota: 10%
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#31. Red-tailed Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.04
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Connecticut: 10%
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #3. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #3. Illinois: 7%
--- #5. Missouri: 6%
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#30. Song Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.19
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 70%
--- #2. Washington: 59%
--- #3. Oregon: 56%
--- #4. Rhode Island: 50%
--- #5. Delaware: 47%
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#29. White-crowned Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.92
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 74%
--- #2. California: 67%
--- #3. Arizona: 59%
--- #4. New Mexico: 36%
--- #5. Utah: 21%
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#28. Purple Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 2.37
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 50%
--- #2. Arkansas: 32%
--- #3. Alabama: 27%
--- #4. North Carolina: 25%
--- #5. Missouri: 24%
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#27. Carolina Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.85
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. South Carolina: 87%
--- #2. Arkansas: 86%
--- #3. Georgia: 84%
--- #4. Oklahoma: 79%
--- #5. North Carolina: 77%
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#26. Northern Flicker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 9%
- Average group size: 1.12
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 79%
--- #2. Colorado: 66%
--- #3. Montana: 65%
--- #4. Washington: 63%
--- #4. Nevada: 63%
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#25. Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 9%
- Average group size: 2.05
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 51%
--- #2. Missouri: 30%
--- #3. Pennsylvania: 27%
--- #4. Ohio: 24%
--- #4. Virginia: 24%
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#24. Brown-headed Cowbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 10%
- Average group size: 3.64
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Louisiana: 50%
--- #2. Mississippi: 42%
--- #3. Delaware: 30%
--- #4. South Carolina: 28%
--- #4. New Jersey: 28%
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#23. Carolina Wren

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 13%
- Average group size: 1.2
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. North Carolina: 84%
--- #3. South Carolina: 80%
--- #4. Virginia: 77%
--- #5. Georgia: 75%
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#22. White-throated Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 15%
- Average group size: 2.13
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 80%
--- #2. Arkansas: 79%
--- #3. Delaware: 77%
--- #4. Maryland: 72%
--- #5. Virginia: 69%
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#21. American Crow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 16%
- Average group size: 2.33
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 49%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 45%
--- #3. North Carolina: 39%
--- #4. Vermont: 37%
--- #5. Georgia: 34%
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#20. Cooper's Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- Average group size: 1.01
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 32%
--- #2. Arizona: 26%
--- #3. New Mexico: 18%
--- #4. Illinois: 17%
--- #4. Mississippi: 17%
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#19. American Tree Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 18%
- Average group size: 2.32
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Wisconsin: 25%
--- #2. Iowa: 23%
--- #2. Vermont: 23%
--- #4. Wyoming: 22%
--- #4. Michigan: 22%
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#18. Common Grackle

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 23%
- Average group size: 2.91
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Delaware: 65%
--- #2. New Jersey: 60%
--- #3. Washington, D.C.: 40%
--- #4. Ohio: 38%
--- #4. Kentucky: 38%
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#17. Tufted Titmouse

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 25%
- Average group size: 1.89
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 91%
--- #1. Connecticut: 91%
--- #3. New Hampshire: 90%
--- #4. North Carolina: 86%
--- #5. Tennessee: 84%
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#16. Hairy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 32%
- Average group size: 1.19
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Hampshire: 69%
--- #2. Maine: 67%
--- #3. Minnesota: 63%
--- #3. Vermont: 63%
--- #5. Connecticut: 61%
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#15. Red-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 34%
- Average group size: 1.24
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 69%
--- #2. South Dakota: 57%
--- #3. Alaska: 55%
--- #4. Montana: 54%
--- #5. Oregon: 45%
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#14. American Robin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 38%
- Average group size: 1.78
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 70%
--- #2. Arkansas: 64%
--- #3. Tennessee: 59%
--- #4. Nevada: 58%
--- #5. Oklahoma: 55%
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#13. Red-winged Blackbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 45%
- Average group size: 3.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Delaware: 60%
--- #2. New Jersey: 56%
--- #3. New York: 48%
--- #4. Louisiana: 45%
--- #4. Illinois: 45%
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#12. Blue Jay

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 51%
- Average group size: 1.97
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Rhode Island: 87%
--- #2. Massachusetts: 77%
--- #3. New Jersey: 76%
--- #4. Nebraska: 73%
--- #4. Ohio: 73%
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#11. European Starling

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 54%
- Average group size: 4.55
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. Nebraska: 67%
--- #3. Indiana: 66%
--- #4. Ohio: 62%
--- #4. Missouri: 62%
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#10. White-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 58%
- Average group size: 1.34
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 93%
--- #2. Maine: 85%
--- #2. Vermont: 85%
--- #4. Connecticut: 84%
--- #4. Massachusetts: 84%
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#9. Black-capped Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 63%
- Average group size: 1.9
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 97%
--- #2. Minnesota: 96%
--- #3. Vermont: 94%
--- #4. Rhode Island: 93%
--- #5. New Hampshire: 92%
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#8. American Goldfinch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 63%
- Average group size: 4.29
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 77%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 76%
--- #2. Wisconsin: 76%
--- #4. Michigan: 74%
--- #5. Missouri: 73%
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#7. Red-bellied Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 67%
- Average group size: 1.15
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 88%
--- #2. New Jersey: 86%
--- #3. Arkansas: 82%
--- #4. Connecticut: 80%
--- #5. Ohio: 78%
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#6. Downy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 81%
- Average group size: 1.58
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. Minnesota: 89%
--- #2. Arkansas: 89%
--- #4. Missouri: 88%
--- #4. Iowa: 88%
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#5. Mourning Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 81%
- Average group size: 3.67
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. New Jersey: 90%
--- #3. West Virginia: 88%
--- #3. Delaware: 88%
--- #5. Rhode Island: 87%
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#4. House Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 85%
- Average group size: 3.89
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 97%
--- #2. Arizona: 94%
--- #3. New Mexico: 90%
--- #4. Ohio: 87%
--- #5. Colorado: 86%
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#3. House Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 87%
- Average group size: 9.73
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. Iowa: 88%
--- #3. Illinois: 87%
--- #4. Nebraska: 79%
--- #5. Indiana: 74%
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#2. Dark-eyed Junco

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 90%
- Average group size: 4.36
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 96%
--- #2. Washington: 94%
--- #3. New Jersey: 93%
--- #3. Rhode Island: 93%
--- #5. Connecticut: 92%
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#1. Northern Cardinal

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 92%
- Average group size: 2.77
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. Arkansas: 96%
--- #3. Maryland: 95%
--- #3. South Carolina: 95%
--- #5. West Virginia: 93%

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