Most commonly seen birds in Iowa

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

Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in Iowa 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 60 count sites in Iowa. 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. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 20%
--- #2. Georgia: 16%
--- #3. Tennessee: 15%
--- #4. North Carolina: 14%
--- #5. South Carolina: 13%
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#43. Barred Owl

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.07
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oklahoma: 3%
--- #1. Georgia: 3%
--- #1. Nebraska: 3%
--- #4. Iowa: 2%
--- #4. Vermont: 2%
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#42. Pine Siskin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.3
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 49%
--- #2. Maine: 20%
--- #2. Colorado: 20%
--- #4. Arizona: 16%
--- #5. Montana: 13%
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#41. White-crowned Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.31
- 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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#40. Field Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 2.24
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Tennessee: 11%
--- #2. Louisiana: 5%
--- #3. Texas: 4%
--- #3. Arkansas: 4%
--- #5. Nebraska: 3%
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#39. Chipping Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 2.39
- 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. Cedar Waxwing

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 4.89
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 25%
--- #2. Texas: 20%
--- #3. Georgia: 19%
--- #4. Louisiana: 15%
--- #5. South Carolina: 12%
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#37. Northern Bobwhite

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 5.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Kansas: 2%
--- #1. Iowa: 2%
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#36. Canada Goose

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 14.45
- 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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#35. Sharp-shinned Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 1.0
- 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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#34. Purple Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 2.41
- 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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#33. Eastern Bluebird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 2.56
- 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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#32. Wild Turkey

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 4.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 21%
--- #2. New Hampshire: 15%
--- #3. Wisconsin: 12%
--- #3. Minnesota: 12%
--- #5. Wyoming: 11%
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#31. Carolina Wren

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 1.13
- 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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#30. Brown-headed Cowbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 1.53
- 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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#29. Common Grackle

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 2.11
- 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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#28. Brown Creeper

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.02
- 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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#27. Cooper's Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- 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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#26. Red-headed Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.16
- 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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#25. Harris's Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.7
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Kansas: 31%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 24%
--- #3. Nebraska: 15%
--- #4. Iowa: 8%
--- #5. Texas: 6%
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#24. Song Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.73
- 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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#23. Eurasian Collared-Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.93
- 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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#22. Eurasian Tree Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.97
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Missouri: 22%
--- #2. Iowa: 8%
--- #3. Illinois: 5%
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#21. American Crow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 13%
- Average group size: 2.05
- 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. American Robin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- Average group size: 2.28
- 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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#19. Red-winged Blackbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- Average group size: 2.3
- 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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#18. Northern Flicker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 18%
- Average group size: 1.2
- 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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#17. White-throated Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 18%
- Average group size: 1.76
- 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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#16. Red-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 20%
- Average group size: 1.15
- 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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#15. American Tree Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 23%
- Average group size: 2.27
- 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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#14. Tufted Titmouse

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 27%
- Average group size: 1.54
- 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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#13. Hairy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 35%
- 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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#12. Mourning Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 35%
- Average group size: 2.57
- 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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#11. European Starling

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 53%
- Average group size: 3.95
- 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. American Goldfinch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 58%
- Average group size: 3.4
- 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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#9. Red-bellied Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 60%
- Average group size: 1.19
- 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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#8. Blue Jay

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 62%
- Average group size: 2.15
- 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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#7. White-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 73%
- Average group size: 1.45
- 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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#6. Northern Cardinal

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 82%
- Average group size: 2.6
- 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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#5. House Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 85%
- Average group size: 4.33
- 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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#4. Black-capped Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 87%
- Average group size: 2.26
- 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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#3. Dark-eyed Junco

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 87%
- Average group size: 5.07
- 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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#2. Downy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 88%
- Average group size: 1.71
- 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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#1. House Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 88%
- Average group size: 9.75
- 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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