You’re walking through one of Milwaukee’s parks on your way to the city and you spot a bird you’ve not seen before. It sits in a tree, leaving you just enough time to snap a quick picture before it flies off. What was that bird? It’s a Wisconsin nature mystery!
Bird Identification Wisconsin
When it comes to Bird Identification in Wisconsin, there’s more than 410 bird species it could be! But bird identification is a great skill to have and there’s no better place than Wisconsin to start getting into nature. Your quick picture, no matter how blurry or poor quality it is, can help you begin your birdwatching journey; simply log it on the Birda app and let the AI Bird ID feature identify it for you, or ask the Birda community to help.
Introducing Birda, a free birdwatching app filled with Wisconsin nature lovers, just like you. From the newest bird-noticer, to the seasoned ornithologist, Birda has something for everyone. Try the app, it’s free!
But going back to your mystery bird, we’ll delve into the 10 most common birds Wisconsin has to offer and go over some key identification features for each, with song and flight.
Top 10 Common Bird Identification in Wisconsin
1. Black-capped Chickadee
Bird Identification – The Black-capped Chickadee, one of the most common birds in Wisconsin. This is a small bird with white cheeks, a black cap and a gray back. They are named after their call, “chick-a-dee chick-a-dee”, but you might also hear their other call, “cheese-burger”. Spot this little bird briefly on your back-yard feeder.
Fun fact – Black-capped Chickadees have great memories and can remember places where they’ve hidden food for up to a month.
2. American Robin
Bird Identification – American Robins are a great spring indicator in Wisconsin. A gray back with a bright, red chest and yellow bill. Take a look in the backyards for a medium-sized bouncing bird on your lawn. Watch as they cock their heads to listen for worms underneath the ground! Listen out for their song too, “cheerily, cheer up!”
Fun fact – This bird isn’t a true Robin, they were named after the European Robin which also shares the bright red chest.
3. Northern Cardinal
Bird Identification – A bright red bird found in Wisconsin, the Northern Cardinal. You’ll definitely notice this little bird and it’s vibrant feathers. Look for the pointed crest and listen out for its “chur chur chur, pretty pretty pretty” call. The females on the other hand are slightly duller in colour, but none the less pretty. Keep your bird table stocked to bring the birds closer to you.
Fun fact – Northern Cardinals get their name from the Roman Catholic Church as they are named after Cardinals who also wear bright red.
4. American Goldfinch
Bird Identification – A sweet and welcome bird to any Wisconsin backyard, the American Goldfinch. Look for the bright yellow feathers and dark cap of the males. You’ll also hear a beautiful, jingling song as they fly. This bird is roughly sparrow-sized.
Fun fact – A group of Goldfinches is called a Charm!
5. Mourning Dove
This slender and sleek dove is similar in size to the pigeons flying around Wisconsin’s cities but is slightly more elegant. The Mourning Dove is a sandy-brown color with dark spots on its back and will be a recognisable bird in most Wisconsin backyards. You’ll definitely know it’s song, a mournful cooing sound. Keep an eye under your birdfeeders as this dove tends to feed on discarded seeds.
Fun fact – the Mourning Dove is named after its sad, mournful song.
Tips for Starting birding in Wisconsin
Just beginning your birdwatching journey? Here’s a few tips to begin birding in Wisconsin:
- Start local – Try nearby parks and your backyard to get familiar with the birds you’ll see most often. Try putting out a bird feeder to entice birds closer to you!
- Details – Keep an eye out for little details of your bird; colors, shape and size are most important for Wisconsin bird identification. Use these to narrow down your search for a bird.
- A Helping App – You can grab a bird identification book or download a birding app, like Birda, to assist with bird identification Wisconsin.
- Find others like you – Join a community of birdwatchers just like you, interested in nature and keen to learn more. Local Audubon groups like the Milwaukee Audubon Society or the community on the Birda app are fantastic places to start.
- Slow and steady – Be patient with the birds and be patient with yourself. If you’ve just put out a bird feeder, it can take some time to get birds coming closer and it can also take some time to ‘get your eye in’ to find birds. Keep practicing and you’ll see your progression soar.
Try Birda, it's FREE
6. Blue Jay
Bird Identification – This bird is unmistakable and has bright blue feathers. The Blue Jay belongs to the big brained family of Corvids so is related to the American Crow. Keep an eye out for the myriad of blue feathers and light colored chest. You might also hear their whisper song or see them mimic other birds too!
Fun fact – This bird can mimic other birds, like hawks, to either warn others of danger or scare birds from a food source!
7. Red-winged Blackbird
Bird identification – A wonderful flash of red, the Red-winged Blackbird is a sight to behold in Wisconsin. Roughly the size of an American Robin, this bird can usually be found on a notable perch singing their lovely song. Whilst the males sport a bright red shoulder against polished black feathers, the females are more muted and streaky-brown in color. They don’t really look like they belong to the same species, but a good identification feature is their pointed beak and size.
Fun fact – Did you know that the Red-winged blackbird can reach 30mph whilst flying?
8. Canada Goose
Bird Identification – Long-necked and honking, the Canada goose is familiar in Wisconsin. You might hear these birds flying overhead and watch as they head towards their destination in a ‘V’ formation across the sky. This goose’s main identification feature is the white chin-strap. Think ‘C’ for Canada and ‘C’ under the chin.
Fun fact – Canada Geese can travel up to 1,500 miles in a day whilst on migration.
9. American Crow
Bird Identification – The classic ‘caw caw’ will make you instantly think of the American Crow. A bulky bird with black feathers, you might see this bird alone or in a large flock. They are omnivorous, meaning they eat anything they can find and are often very opportunistic when it comes to food.
Fun fact – American crows in California have been observed to use cars to crack nuts by timing their actions with traffic lights!
10. Downy Woodpecker
Bird Identification – The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest type of woodpecker in Wisconsin. This is a dainty bird with black and white feathers and the males sport a red spot on the back of their heads. Roughly the length of a pencil, this bird measures around 14cm-18cm.
Fun fact – the Downy Woodpecker has specialised feathers around its nostrils to prevent it breathing small woodchips.
Top 5 Places in Wisconsin to go birding
1. Lakeshore State Park, Milwaukee
Even with the backdrop of a busy and bustling city like Milwaukee, Lakeshore State Park is a fantastic place to visit to find some great birds. Cities can help bring birds closer to us as many birds found here will be used to seeing people which is helpful when you’re just starting out. Lakeshore State Park is a great place to see Double-crested Cormorants with wings outstretched on the docks and common birds like Mallards.
2. Grant Park, Milwaukee
Slightly further out of Milwaukee city, Grant Park is also a great place to go to find birds in Wisconsin. Lake Park is an essential migration stopping point for many birds that travel north into Canada. Spot birds like Ring-billed Gull and Common Grackle. Look for the common species like Downy Woodpecker and American Robin.
3. Wyalusing State Park
Located on the Wisconsin River, Wyalusing State Park has so much to offer when looking for birds in Wisconsin. During the summer months, Wyalusing is a hotspot for songbirds like American Redstart, Baltimore Oriole and plenty of warblers. Head to this State Park in Autumn to witness a great hawk migration. Learn more about hawk identification here.
4. Wisconsin Point, border of Wisconsin and Minnesota
A fascinating place to visit, Wisconsin Point brings the birds to you on their migration. Just on the tip of the border of Minnesota, Wisconsin Point is a small strip of land that funnels the birds migrating north and south. Bald Eagles can be seen from here and this strip of land can bring rare birds to you. Keep an eye out for warblers in the spring and autumn here.
5. Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area
A great place to find marsh-dwelling birds, Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area is a large wetland you’ll love exploring. You can expect to see plenty of Canada geese whilst you’re here and you may also hear the Marsh Wren and the sight and song of the wintering Trumpeter Swans are second to none!
Conclusion
You might be just starting out your journey, or you’re a seasoned birdwatcher, Wisconsin holds a huge number of birds to explore. With so many nature spots and birding locations to explore in Wisconsin, birdwatching is one of the easiest hobbies to start in this state.
For another helpful resource, learn more about bird identification in the US here.
Enhance your birdwatching journey by joining the Birda app. Keep track of the birds you’ve seen and the progress you’ve made and turn your birding adventures into a game by joining motivating challenges and unlocking fun badges. Download Birda today, it’s free!
Quick FAQs
Why is Wisconsin good for birdwatching?
Wisconsin is one of the best states to begin birdwatching. It is directly on the migration route for many birds in spring and autumn and the state has many wetlands and lakes which make it perfect for waders and waterfowl.
What tools do I need to start bird identification in Wisconsin?
To start bird identification, you’ll just need your eyes and ears. Take part in the free hobby from anywhere in Wisconsin and use your senses to explore birds around you. There are a few enhancements you can give yourself once you get more into birdwatching. Many birdwatchers carry binoculars to bring the birds closer and easier to identify. If you’re curious which binoculars would be best for you, take a look at our binocular guide here. There is a free enhancement to your birdwatching, and that is download a birdwatching app like Birda. It makes bird identification easy with the AI Identification tool, a huge community of birdwatchers keen to assist you and an integrated species guide.
How do I attract birds to a bird feeder in Wisconsin?
Introducing a bird feeder to your backyard is a great way to bring the birds to you to get started on bird identification Wisconsin. Here’s a few tips below –
- Protein and Fat – Make sure your feeders are kept full with protein-rich and fat-rich foods like sunflower seeds, peanuts and dried mealworms. These keep birds coming back for more. You can also make your own bird feeder for plenty of fun with the family.
- Bushes and Branches – Put your feeders close to greenery so the birds can have an easy escape route in case a predator, like the Coopers Hawk, is lurking. The safer your backyard birds feel, the better chance you’ll have of seeing them
- Water – Keep a water feature or birdbath close by. The birds wont need to go too far to catch a drink.
- Cleanliness – Keeping your feeders and birdbath clean is important to ensure your birds keep coming back. Some diseases carried by birds can be trasnferred to other birds through bird feeders (we are safe from these) but it’s always a good idea to keep your feeders clean. Every month or so, run a hot soapy bath outside for your feeders and give them a good scrub. Once dry, fill back with seeds and food.
Common Hawks in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s most common hawk is the Red-tailed Hawk, recognisable by that vibrant red tail. There are plenty of hawks in Wisconsin so learn how to identify hawks here.
