Most commonly seen birds in Kentucky

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

Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in Kentucky 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 53 count sites in Kentucky. 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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#43. Brown Thrasher (tie)

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. South Carolina: 40%
--- #2. Georgia: 38%
--- #3. North Carolina: 27%
--- #4. Alabama: 23%
--- #5. Louisiana: 20%
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#43. Black Vulture

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 8%
--- #2. Texas: 3%
--- #3. Kentucky: 2%
--- #4. Florida: 1%
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#41. Red-tailed Hawk (tie)

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.08
- 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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#41. Red-shouldered Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.08
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 15%
--- #2. North Carolina: 10%
--- #2. Georgia: 10%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 10%
--- #5. Alabama: 9%
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#40. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.1
- 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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#39. Pileated Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.41
- 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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#38. White-crowned Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 2.08
- 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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#37. American Tree Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 2.33
- 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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#36. Chipping Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 1.68
- 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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#35. Eurasian Collared-Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 2.0
- 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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#34. Rock Pigeon

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 2.8
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 32%
--- #2. Arizona: 18%
--- #3. New Mexico: 16%
--- #4. South Dakota: 14%
--- #5. Colorado: 6%
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#33. Brown Creeper

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 1.03
- 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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#32. Red-headed Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 1.23
- 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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#31. Eastern Towhee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.3
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. North Carolina: 37%
--- #1. Georgia: 37%
--- #3. Tennessee: 34%
--- #4. Alabama: 23%
--- #5. South Carolina: 22%
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#30. Black-capped Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.57
- 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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#29. Northern Flicker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 9%
- 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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#28. Eastern Bluebird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 9%
- Average group size: 2.0
- 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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#27. Cooper's Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 11%
- Average group size: 1.02
- 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. Hairy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 11%
- Average group size: 1.21
- 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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#25. Red-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 13%
- Average group size: 1.22
- 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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#24. Brown-headed Cowbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 13%
- Average group size: 2.11
- 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. American Crow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 15%
- Average group size: 2.91
- 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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#22. Purple Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 15%
- Average group size: 3.2
- 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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#21. Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- Average group size: 1.94
- 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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#20. Red-winged Blackbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 26%
- Average group size: 2.5
- 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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#19. Northern Mockingbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 34%
- Average group size: 1.08
- 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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#18. Common Grackle

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 38%
- Average group size: 2.18
- 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. Song Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 40%
- Average group size: 1.25
- 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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#16. White-throated Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 42%
- Average group size: 2.11
- 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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#15. Carolina Wren

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 45%
- Average group size: 1.23
- 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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#14. House Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 45%
- Average group size: 4.81
- 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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#13. American Robin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 47%
- Average group size: 1.94
- 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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#12. White-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 53%
- Average group size: 1.38
- 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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#11. European Starling

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 53%
- Average group size: 4.76
- 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. Carolina Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 62%
- Average group size: 1.96
- 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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#9. Red-bellied Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 66%
- 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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#8. American Goldfinch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 68%
- Average group size: 4.14
- 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. Blue Jay

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 70%
- Average group size: 2.37
- 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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#6. Dark-eyed Junco

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 75%
- Average group size: 3.3
- 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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#5. Mourning Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 75%
- Average group size: 3.64
- 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: 79%
- Average group size: 4.26
- 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. Tufted Titmouse

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 83%
- Average group size: 2.37
- 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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#2. Downy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 85%
- Average group size: 1.48
- 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. Northern Cardinal

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 92%
- Average group size: 3.8
- 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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