Iowa Bird Identification Guide for Beginners

Iowa is a birdwatcher's paradise, with over 400 species documented in the state. The Hawkeye State's diverse landscape, from prairies to woodlands, provides a unique habitat for many birds.

The American Robin is a common sight in Iowa's backyards and parks, known for its distinctive red breast and brown back. They're often seen foraging for worms and insects on lawns and in gardens.

In Iowa, the breeding season for birds typically runs from March to September, with many species migrating through the state during the spring and fall. This makes spring and fall the best times to spot a wide variety of birds.

The Pileated Woodpecker is a large woodpecker found in Iowa's woodlands, known for its loud drumming and red crest. They're a great bird to spot for beginners, as they're relatively easy to identify.

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The American Goldfinch is a small, sparrow-sized bird with a short, notched tail. Its bright yellow body, black wings with wing bars, and heavy, finch-like bill make it easy to identify in Spring and Summer.

The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak is a medium-sized songbird with a very large conical bill and distinctive black hood and back. Males have a bright red chevron extending from the black throat down the middle of the breast.

If you're visiting Iowa during the breeding season, you'll likely spot the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak in open woodlands, second-growth forests, forest edges, hedgerows, and yards with trees and shrubs. They prefer these areas for shelter and avoid dry woodlands and grasslands.

The Pine Siskin is a small finch with a thin, sharply pointed bill and two dusky wing bars that fade to white over time. They have a distinctive yellow patch on their tails and wings, with white streaks appearing on the wings as well.

In Iowa, the Pine Siskin can be found in conifers, where they build their nests in a shallow saucer of bark, twigs, and moss lined with plant down and feathers.

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Bird identification can be a fascinating hobby, and with the right tools and knowledge, you can easily spot and identify the beautiful birds that visit your backyard.

A good bird identification poster can be a great starting point, featuring high-quality images of the most common birds found in your area. These posters can be perfect for bird enthusiasts, classrooms, and nature centers.

To get started, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the different bird species in your area. For example, the American Goldfinch is a small, sparrow-sized bird with a short, notched tail. Its bright yellow body, black wings with wing bars, and heavy, finch-like bill make it a striking sight.

Some birds, like the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, are easily identifiable by their unique colors and markings. Males have a black hood and back, a bright red chevron extending from the black throat down the middle of the breast, and white underparts and rump.

Here's a quick reference guide to help you identify some common bird species:

By paying attention to these distinctive features, you can start to identify the birds that visit your backyard and learn more about their habits and habitats.

Indigo Buntings are a delight to spot in the wild, and with their striking blue and brown plumage, they're hard to miss. They're small birds, measuring 4.7-5.1 inches in length.

You can attract Indigo Buntings to your backyard feeders by using small seeds, especially thistle or nyjer.

The females build the nest close to the ground in open fields, near wood edges, near roadways, and even by railroad tracks. Males often watch, but don't help with the nest building.

Indigo Buntings are known for their whistling song, which you can hear as they flit about in their bushy habitats along woods, forests, and backyards. They're usually solitary birds, but will form flocks when migrating south for the winter.

They're incredibly agile flyers, able to fly up to 35 miles per hour and even fly backward.

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The House Wren is a small songbird weighing about the same as two quarters.

It has a distinctive coloring, all brown with a darker brown on the wings and tail, and a long curved beak.

House Wrens are known to nest in nest boxes and tree holes, and they prefer areas where humans are present over heavily wooded areas.

They line their nests with twigs, and the female lays 3 to 10 white-speckled eggs.

The incubation period is 9 to 16 days, and the nestling period is 15 to 17 days.

House Wrens eat a variety of insects, including flies, spiders, and snail shells.

They have a very large range and can be seen over the entire Western Hemisphere, including in Iowa during the summer.

House Wrens will often visit backyards, especially if there's downed brush for them to hide under and eat insects.

The female House Wren typically lays 2 tiny white eggs, and the incubation period is 12-14 days.

The young House Wrens remain in the nest between 18 and 22 days.

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Birds have some amazing ways to deal with intruders in their nests. The Yellow Warbler is a great example of this, as it builds another nest on top of a Brown-headed Cowbird egg, effectively smothering it and allowing its own eggs to hatch safely.

One of the reasons the Yellow Warbler can do this is that it's much smaller than the Brown-headed Cowbird, so it can't just push the Cowbird egg out of the nest.

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The Northern Cardinal is a bird species that's easy to spot in backyards and bird feeders. They're medium-sized songbirds with a distinctive crest and big orange-red beak.

Males are bright red with a black throat and face, and have dusky red on their back, wings, and tail. This coloration is a dead giveaway to identify them.

Females, on the other hand, are grayish-brown and buff with some black on their face and throat. They also have red highlights in their crest, wings, and long, rounded tail.

One way to identify Northern Cardinals is by their distinctive song. They sing a clear, whistled song of repeated notes, which can sound like "cheer, cheer, chew, chew, chew, chew" or a quick "birdee,birdee,birdee,birdee,birdee".

In flight, Northern Cardinals make sharp chip notes. This is a great way to tell them apart from other birds.

Here are some key characteristics to look out for when identifying Northern Cardinals:

By knowing these characteristics, you'll be able to spot Northern Cardinals in no time!

If you're new to birdwatching in Iowa, you might be surprised to spot a large bodied raptor with fairly narrow and long wings and a long tail.

One of the most distinctive features of the Rough-legged Hawk is its feathered legs, which extend all the way to the feet. This is a trait that sets it apart from many other hawks.

During the winter months in Iowa, you can spot these hawks in grassland, wetland, and agricultural areas with patchy trees. They're known to hunt either while perched or on the wing.

Here are some key characteristics to look out for:

The Northern Harrier is a unique hawk species. It's one of the most recognizable hawks due to its distinctive white rump patch.

These birds are medium-sized, measuring between 17 and 24 inches in length. They have a narrow wingspan, typically ranging from 3 to 4 feet.

Northern Harriers are known for their exceptional hunting skills, using their acute hearing to locate prey in dense vegetation. They can fly low over fields and forests, scanning the ground for small mammals and birds.

Their diet consists mainly of small mammals, such as rodents and rabbits, as well as birds and insects.

The Cooper's Hawk is a fascinating bird of prey. It's a small to medium-sized raptor with short, broad wings and a long, narrow tail.

One of the distinctive features of the Cooper's Hawk is its tail, which has horizontal stripes alternating between dark and light. This pattern is visible on both the top and underside of the tail.

The adult Cooper's Hawk has a striking appearance, with a dark blue-gray back and a contrasting black cap on its head. Its eye is a bright red, and it has pale, dense orange barring on its breast.

If you're trying to identify a Cooper's Hawk, look for its unique flight pattern, which involves a flap-flap-glide motion with the head sticking out past the wings.

Immature Cooper's Hawks are a bit harder to distinguish, as they're brown with thick brown streaks on their breast and a yellow eye.

Here are some key differences between Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks to look out for:

Cooper's Hawks are found in forests, including wooded neighborhoods, and they feed on small songbirds.

The Red-Tailed Hawk is a common sight in Iowa, and for good reason - they're the most abundant hawk species in the state. You can often spot them perched in trees, on signs, or on power lines and poles along roadsides, scanning for prey.

Their distinctive red tail is one of their most recognizable features, but that's not the only thing that sets them apart. Adult Red-Tailed Hawks have a light breast with a variable dark belly band, and their underwings are a lighter color with darker wing tips and edges of flight feathers.

Immature birds are similar to adults but with more streaking on their breast, barring under their wings, and a brown barred tail. And did you know that there are many color morphs of Red-Tailed Hawks, ranging from completely dark brown to almost completely white?

The Rough-Legged Hawk is a large bodied raptor with fairly narrow and long wings and a long tail.

They have a unique feature - their legs are feathered all the way to the feet, unlike many other hawks.

In flight, adults have distinctively dark patches at the bend (wrist) of their underwing, with the tail white at the base and black at the tip.

Juveniles, on the other hand, often have a much darker contrasting belly band and lighter underwings with very distinct dark wrist patches under the wings.

This hawk can be seen during winter in Iowa, and is commonly found in grassland, wetland and agricultural areas with patchy trees.

It's worth noting that they have a unique hunting style, and can be seen hunting either while perched or on the wing.

The Rough-Legged Hawk breeds in the arctic, and it's not uncommon to spot them in these regions during their breeding season.

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The American Kestrel is a small but mighty hawk, about the size of a mourning dove. They have a distinctive appearance, with a small head and beak, and pointed wings and narrow tail.

Adult males have a striking tan body with a rusty orange back and slate-blue wings and head, and two vertical black patches on the face. These patches give them a distinctive "mustache and sideburn" look.

Adult females are similar in pattern, but overall more dull in color, with dark barring on the wings and back. They're a bit harder to spot, but still just as fascinating.

Juvenile birds look similar to females but have vertical streaking on the breast. They molt into adult plumage during their first fall, losing those streaks and developing their adult feathers.

In flight, American Kestrels are identified by their long pointed wings, barring under their wings, pale breast, and deep wing beats. It's a unique combination that sets them apart from other hawks.

Here are some interesting habits of the American Kestrel:

Woodpeckers are common birds in Iowa, and you can spot them in various habitats, including residential areas, cities, farmland, and wooded areas.

The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in North America, measuring 5.5-6.7 inches in length, and is mostly black and white with a short, black beak.

Downy Woodpeckers forage on trees, in bushes, and at feeders for insects, seeds, and suet.

They nest in tree cavities, and both males and females take turns incubating eggs for 11-14 days.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers, on the other hand, can be identified by their red belly and black and white stripes down their back, and are found in all Eastern US states, including Iowa.

Here is a comparison of some key characteristics of Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers:

The Red-Bellied Woodpecker is a year-round visitor to backyards in the Eastern US states. It's a common sight in wooded areas, often staying close to the ground.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers have a distinctive red belly and black and white stripes down their back. Males also sport a red cap, while females have a red nape.

These woodpeckers build nests in dead trees and reuse the same nest each year. They lay 4-5 eggs on top of wood chips inside the nest cavity.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers are avid eaters of spiders, insects, and seeds from grasses, fruits, and nuts. They have a particular fondness for acorns and beech nuts.

They cache, or store, more food than they can eat in one sitting, playing a crucial role in dispersing these seeds. This behavior is a great example of how these woodpeckers contribute to their ecosystem.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers tend to stay in open country with scattered trees and shrubs, and can often be found in birdfeeders in these areas.

The Downy Woodpecker is a common sight in many backyards, particularly in areas with trees. They're known to visit suet and nut feeders, making them a welcome visitor to many bird enthusiasts.

These small woodpeckers are patterned black and white, with a short, black beak and a distinctive red patch on the male's head. The female has a similar appearance, but lacks the red patch.

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Downy Woodpeckers are primarily insect-eaters, but they also enjoy seeds, weeds, and fruit. They'll forage on trees, in bushes, and even at feeders, making them a versatile and adaptable species.

One of the most interesting facts about Downy Woodpeckers is their nesting habits. They carve out an area in dead trees or live trees with dead areas, and line the nest with wood chips. The male and female work together to create the nest, which can take weeks to complete.

Here are some key characteristics of the Downy Woodpecker:

Downy Woodpeckers are found throughout much of Canada and the USA, but are not typically seen in arid habitats. They're a common sight in residential areas, cities, farmland, and wooded areas, making them a great bird to spot in your local neighborhood.

If you're new to Iowa bird identification, you might be surprised by the variety of birds that call our state home. One of the most common birds you'll spot is the Song Sparrow.

The Song Sparrow is a medium-sized bird with a brown body and streaks of white/light gray throughout. They're not afraid of humans and can often be found nesting in bushes or trees near water, or even on lights or poles near your home.

Song Sparrows are also known for their love of seeds and berries, and they'll happily visit your feeders if you offer them some.

The Red-Winged Blackbird is a common sight in many backyards, including those in Iowa where it's seen all year round.

Its distinctive appearance is hard to miss, with the male sporting a black body, white underparts, and a bright red patch on its shoulder.

The female, on the other hand, is striped and brown-streaked in color, a bit more subdued but still easily recognizable.

Red-winged Blackbirds are usually active during the day, but they can also be seen at night near lights, which is a pretty cool adaptation.

Their nests are often found in marshes or near water, but they've also been known to take up residence on flat roofs and even in chimneys, which is quite resourceful.

The female lays 4 to 6 eggs that are a pale blue-green color with black, brown, and purple speckles, and both parents take turns incubating them for about 12 days.

After 14 days, the young leave the nest, and the parents continue to care for them as they learn to forage for food.

Red-winged Blackbirds are omnivores, eating a variety of insects, seeds, and berries, including corn, wheat, and other grains, as well as berries from shrubs and trees like elderberry and mulberry.

Their loud, clear whistle is a familiar sound in many backyards, often accompanied by a variety of cackling and chattering noises, which can be quite entertaining to listen to.

The Song Sparrow is a medium-sized bird with a mostly brown body and white/light gray streaks. They have a long, rounded tail and broad wings.

Song Sparrows are not afraid of humans and can be found nesting in bushes or trees near water, or even in flower beds near your home.

Their nests are made of grass, twigs, hair, feathers, and wool, and they lay one to six eggs that are blue, blue-green, or gray-green with brown spots.

The incubation period is 12 to 15 days, and the young spend another 9 to 12 days in the nest. Song Sparrows can have up to seven broods per year.

These birds are common in Iowa and can be found all over the state. They eat insects, seeds, and berries, and will come to your feeders for seeds or suet.

Song Sparrows are relatively small, measuring 4.3 to 5.1 inches in length.

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The chipping sparrow is a small bird that's easy to spot, with its plain brown breast and long tail.

You'll often find them nesting in dense shrubs or small trees near the ground, sometimes even under bird feeders.

The female builds the nest out of grass and other plant material, lining it with hair or fine grasses.

They lay 3 to 5 eggs at a time, which hatch after 11 days of incubation.

Both parents feed the chicks until they leave the nest, usually after about 12 days.

Chipping sparrows eat seeds, insects, and spiders, and they're known to visit suet and black-oil sunflower seed feeders.

You can find them in the woods, especially where there are pine trees, as well as on backyards lawns, in cities, towns, and farms.

In the fall and winter, chipping sparrows often gather in flocks.

They have two distinct calls: a sharp "chip" and a long, high-pitched trill.

The White-throated Sparrow is a small bird, measuring only 6.3-7.1 inches in length.

Their diet consists of insects, seeds, and berries, and they can be seen feeding from seeds on the ground.

White-throated sparrows are very social birds and can be seen in large flocks during migration.

They are migrating birds that breed in Canada, and head south in the fall.

In the winter, they can be found in Iowa, especially in small groups in brushy areas of parks and fields.

These birds are attracted to black oil sunflower seeds and millet, so consider adding these to your bird feeders.

Their nests are small, usually around 4 inches in diameter and about 2 inches deep, and are built on the ground or just above it.

White-throated sparrows lay pale blue eggs with several colored speckles, and can have up to 6 eggs in a brood.

The Brown-Headed Cowbird is a chunky, dark-eyed blackbird with short tails and thick bills, growing up to 7.5 inches in size.

Adult males are glossy black with iridescent brown heads, while females are brown with light streaks on the belly.

Brown-Headed Cowbirds are notorious parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other birds and relying on the hosts to raise their young.

In many cases, larger Cowbird nestlings will push the other species' eggs or chicks out of the nest, giving them a significant advantage.

Seeds, grasses, and insects make up most of the Brown-Headed Cowbird's diet, with females supplementing this with snails and eggs from nests they parasitize to meet their high calcium needs.

Brown-Headed Cowbirds are common visitors to backyard feeders, often joining Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and European Starlings.

Their name comes from their habit of foraging among herds of grazing buffalo and cattle.

The House Sparrow is a familiar sight in many of our backyards and parks. They're small, plump birds with a conical, finch-like beak.

House Sparrows are gray and brown birds with a distinctive bold pattern on their head. Males have a gray and rufous head with pale cheeks, and black near their eyes and on their throat.

These birds are regular visitors to bird feeders and often dominate other smaller species. They feed on seeds, grain, and insects, and can be seen foraging on the ground in urban areas and farmlands.

House Sparrows are known for their friendly song, a series of short chirping calls that sound like "see,chirrup,see,chirrup,see,chirrup". They're also quite vocal, making short chirping calls throughout the day.

Here are some interesting facts about House Sparrows:

The Northern Cardinal is a common backyard bird that's easy to spot, thanks to its bright red plumage and distinctive song. Males are a vibrant red color with a black face and throat, while females are grayish-brown and buff with red highlights.

These birds are known for their short, rounded wings, which make them look like they're bouncing up and down as they move through the air. In flight, they also make sharp chip notes.

One of the best ways to attract Northern Cardinals to your yard is to offer them their favorite foods, such as black oil sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, peanuts, and corn. They're also happy to forage for seeds and insects on and near the ground.

If you're interested in learning more about the Northern Cardinal's song, here are some examples of their different vocalizations:

By providing a welcoming environment and the right food, you can enjoy the company of these beautiful birds in your own backyard.

The American Robin is a familiar and common bird in many backyards, including mine. It's dark gray above and brick red below, with an orange-yellow bill and blackish head.

One of the easiest ways to identify an American Robin is by its distinctive calls. It makes a loud, sharp "yenk!" call and quieter "check, check, check" calls.

These birds are quite vocal, and their cheerful song is a treat to hear. It's a series of caroled phrases, "cheery, cheery, cheery, cheery, cheer, cheer".

American Robins are also known for their foraging habits. They search for worms and bugs on lawns and other open grassy areas, and in the winter, they flock together to feed on fruiting trees.

In terms of nesting, American Robins make a cup nest in trees.

The world of Iowa bird identification is vast and exciting, but sometimes the birds that don't fit into neat categories are just as fascinating.

The American Robin, a common sight in Iowa's backyards, can be distinguished from the Red-winged Blackbird by its brown back and red breast.

The Northern Cardinal, a year-round resident in Iowa, is a striking bird with its vibrant red plumage and distinctive song.

The American Crow, a large and intelligent bird, is a common sight in Iowa's fields and forests.

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The American Goldfinch is a stunning bird with bright yellow feathers covering most of its body, a black cap on its head, black wings, and a black partially forked tail during breeding months.

Their nonbreeding plumage is quite different, with duller brownish bodies, a yellowish head, and black wings with white wing bars.

Females are still bright yellow in breeding plumage, but not to the same degree as males, and have less black on the top of their head.

American Goldfinches can be found throughout most of the United States, following a typical migration path of traveling south in winter and north into Canada to breed in summer.

They are also found year-round in many of the Midwestern, Northeastern, and Northwestern states.

American Goldfinches primarily eat seeds, with sunflower and nyjer being some of their favorites.

You can attract them to your backyard with finch feeders filled with nyjer, thistle, or sunflower seeds.

In their native range, American Goldfinches are plentiful and easy to find in fields with tall weeds and grass, deciduous and coniferous forests, parks, and backyards.

The Pine Siskin is a bird with a distinctive appearance, featuring a brownish-tan color with cream-colored wing bars and a lighter-colored underside.

They have heavy streaking on the sides and a lighter-colored eyebrow stripe, making them a bit easier to spot in the wild.

Pine Siskins are known for their bright yellow edging on their wing and tail feathers, adding a pop of color to their overall appearance.

These birds have a remarkable range, spanning across the US and Canada, with some populations living year-round in Southern Canada and the Northern United States.

In the winter, their southern movements can be unpredictable, sometimes making it as far as Mexico and the Southeastern US.

Pine Siskins are opportunistic eaters, feeding on a wide variety of food items including insects, buds, and seeds.

Seeds are a major component of their diet during the colder months, particularly those from deciduous trees and conifers.

Their love for pine seeds is evident in their name, and they're often found feeding in flocks, flying from tree to tree and making their distinctive, buzzy call.

If you're looking to spot a Pine Siskin, try exploring deciduous and coniferous woods, parks, or even your own backyard, especially if you have a bird feeder that attracts finches.

They tend to flock together with other finch species, such as American Goldfinches and House Finches, making for a lively and entertaining bird-watching experience.

Waterbirds are a fascinating group, and one of the most common types you'll spot in Iowa is the Mallard duck. They're easily recognizable by their green heads and yellow bills.

Herons and egrets are also common waterbirds in Iowa, with the Great Blue Heron being a year-round resident.

Sparrows are another type of bird that can be found in Iowa, with the American Tree Sparrow being a common migrant. They're known for their distinctive black spot on their breast.

Warblers are a type of bird that can be challenging to identify, but the Yellow Warbler is a common sight in Iowa during the spring and summer months. They're known for their bright yellow color and distinctive song.

The Northern Cardinal is a year-round resident in Iowa, and is easily recognizable by its vibrant red plumage.

American Goldfinches are spotted in Iowa all year long, making them a year-round resident in the state. They can be found in bushes and trees all over Iowa during the winter months.

They prefer to inhabit deciduous forest floors and the grass in your backyard. If you're looking to spot one, these are great places to start.

American Goldfinches that breed in Canada and the Midwest migrate to the southern US States for winter, but those in Iowa stay put.

Nesting typically begins later than most birds in this area, with American Goldfinches starting around late June. The female lays 2 to 7 eggs.

These eggs take 12 to 14 days to hatch. The young are fed by the male. The young stay in the nest for 11 to 17 days.

American Goldfinches can be found in most areas of North America, making them a common sight in many parts of the country. They're year-round residents in some areas, but others migrate to warmer states for the winter.

You can spot them on deciduous forest floors, and they love to hang out in the grass in your backyard. They're also found in bushes and trees, especially during the winter months.

In Iowa, American Goldfinches are spotted all year long, making it a great place to observe them.

Birds in Iowa are known to be social creatures, often gathering in large flocks, especially during migration periods.

The American Goldfinch, for example, is a common sight in Iowa's fields and meadows, typically traveling in groups of up to 20 individuals.

Some bird species, like the Northern Cardinal, are known to be territorial and will fiercely defend their territory from other birds.

These birds are also known to be monogamous, with many pairs forming long-term bonds that can last for many years.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak's song is similar to that of the American Robin, but with sweeter, clearer, fluted tones. It's a beautiful sound that's sure to catch your attention.

Their contact call is a distinct "chink" that's easy to recognize. This call is often used for communication between birds.

The clarity of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak's song makes it a great example of how birds use their voices to attract mates and defend territories.

Birds are attracted to backyards with diverse food sources, such as seeds, fruits, and insects.

Offering a variety of bird feeders can help meet the needs of different bird species. For example, finches prefer thistle seed, while cardinals enjoy sunflower seeds.

Planting native vegetation can provide birds with the food and shelter they need to thrive. In fact, native plants can be up to 20 times more attractive to birds than non-native plants.

Birds often prefer areas with dense vegetation, as it provides them with protection from predators and harsh weather conditions.

By incorporating a source of water, such as a birdbath or pond, into your backyard, you can attract birds that need water for drinking and bathing.

Suet feeders can be a great way to attract woodpeckers and nuthatches, especially during the winter months when other food sources are scarce.

The most commonly observed birds in Iowa are listed on eBird, with the top 15 species making up the bulk of registered bird sightings.

These birds are widely distributed throughout the state, which means you're likely to spot them in various habitats, from woodlands to backyards.

According to eBird, many other bird species are also common in Iowa, including Hairy Woodpeckers and Song Sparrows.

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The American Robin is a familiar and common thrush that's a staple in many backyards. It's dark gray above and brick red below, with an orange-yellow bill and a blackish head with white markings around the eyes and on the throat.

This bird is quite vocal, making a loud, sharp "yenk!" call and quieter "check, check, check" calls. It also has a lovely cheerful song of caroled phrases.

In flight, the American Robin shows white corners in its outer tail feathers. It's a fair-sized songbird, and both sexes are similar but males are darker above and more reddish on the underparts.

Young American Robins have more white marks on their faces and spotting on orange underparts. They forage on the ground for worms, insects, snails, and other small creatures.

In winter, these common birds flock together and perch in trees and bushes to eat berries and fruit. They make a cup nest in trees, and as one of the most common backyard birds of Iowa, they're often seen foraging and raising their young.

Here are some key characteristics of the American Robin:

The most common birds in Iowa are a fascinating topic. According to eBird, the most commonly observed birds of Iowa are listed on their website.

In Iowa, the top 15 most common birds are based on registered bird sightings. This means that birds at the bottom of the list are still common birds too.

You might be surprised to know that some birds didn't make it to the top 15 list, but that doesn't mean they're not common.