GO-TO GUIDEBOOK TO MISSOURI BIRDWATCHING

Resident Birds to Keep an Eye Out For!

Missouri is a place where a variety of regions come together and create an array of bird habitats. Thanks to the Show Me State's unique terrain, it has welcomed about 438 bird species with 340 of them considered residential birds, according to Missouri Birding Society. MBS, formerly known as Audubon Society of Missouri, works to protect and preserve birds, the habitat they reside and other wildlife friends who inhabit the great outdoors as well.

Below are five of Missouri's most common residential birds, and you might even be able to find them in your own backyard! Each bird picture is acommpanied with its own description that includes each bird's common markings, average size, usual diet and where they like to live! By clicking each image (or the line below each photo's credit), you'll be redirected to Cornell Lab of Ornithology's site to hear bird sounds corresponding to the bird you select.

All the birds identified here are sourced from the Cornell Lab's "All About Birds" tool and the "Audobon Bird Guide." If you're interested in keeping tabs on these birds and many more, MBS provides a detailed list of all 438 bird species you might spot in Missouri.

1. Tufted Titmouse

Close up image of a Tufted Titmouse sitting on a tree branch. The titmouse ha a silvery-blue color on its back, wings and tail. Its chest and belly are white with a peachy coloration on its sides under its wings.
Photo by Eric Bégin is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Hear Tufted Titmouse sounds from the Cornell Lab

  • Markings: Tufted Titmice have a lovely silvery-blue color on their back, wings and tail. Its chest and belly are white with a peachy coloration on its sides (peaking right underneath its wings). The titmice’s bluey color gives its eyes a wider look and gives the impression it’s bigger than it actually is. This birdy also has a distinct black patch right above its tiny, slightly curved bill.
  • Size: Both males and females measure from 5.5 to 6.3 inches in length and have a wingspan of 7.9 to 10.2 inches.
  • Diet: Lots of different foods make titmice happy! They enjoy peanuts, grapes or black oil sunflower seeds the most but they always like to mix it up.
  • Habitat: You can tell titmice’s favorite color is green because they love being around evergreen and bushy woodland areas — but they also like to visit the occasional park and backyard.

2. Downy Woodpecker

Close up image of a Downy Woodpecker sitting on a tree branch. The downy has white and black feathers and snow white belly. The back of its head has a red patch meaning it is a male bird.
Photo by Eric Bégin is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Hear Downy Woodpecker sounds from the Cornell Lab

  • Markings: Downy’s are a smaller-bodied version of the classic woodpecker. They have a blocky head, wide shoulders, and a thin straight bill. Their feathers are white and black which gives off a checkered impression. Their bellies are snow-white, their head is striped and often have a broad white stripe down their backs. Males typically have a distinctive red patch on the back of their heads.
  • Size: Both males and females measure from 5.5 to 6.7 inches in length and have a wingspan of 9.8 to 11.8 inches.
  • Diet: These birdies enjoy picking at peanuts, black oil sunflower seeds and white proso millet (a favorite among other ground-feeding birds).
  • Habitat: Downy’s absolutely love open woodsy areas, they especially love being among trees that are beginning to shed their leaves (deciduous trees), brushy areas and weedy spaces. You can often catch them visiting parks and backyards.

3. White-Throated Sparrow

Close up image of a White-Throated Sparrow sitting on a tree branch. The sparrow is a plump bird with a skunk colored head and brownish greyish feathers.
Photo by ibm4381 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Hear White-Throated Sparrow sounds from the Cornell Lab

  • Markings: White-throated sparrows are fairly plump birds with round heads, long narrow tails and prominent slightly curved silver bills. The top halves of these sparrows are brown and the bottom halves are gray — their heads have a striking feature. This birdy has a skunk-colored cap (top of head) and a bright yellow streak between their eye and bill.
  • Size: Both males and females measure from 6.3 to 7.1 inches in length and have a wingspan of 7.9 to 9.1 inches.
  • Diet: White-throated sparrow’s favorite snacks include white proso millet and black oil sunflower seeds — put either of these out for them and you are sure to make a new friend!
  • Habitat: These birdies enjoy a home in the foresty woods and like to spend time near the edges of ponds and bogs. Despite being a year-round resident, white-throated sparrow’s favorite time of year to visit backyards is the winter — where they might have an easier time finding food.

4. Dark-Eyed Junco

Close up image of a Dark-Eyed Junco sitting on a tree branch. The junco has a dark grey top half and snow white belly. It's bill is a light pink.
Photo by Eric Bégin is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Hear Dark-Eyed Junco sounds from the Cornell Lab

  • Markings: Junco’s are generally a lovely dark grey or a tannish brown bird with a stout (thick) pink bill and a fairly long tail. Their chests are typically white, the color approaching the belly and the underside of the tail. The face of the bird is often a dark grey color that makes it’s the pink color on its bill pop even more.
  • Size: Both males and females measure from 5.5 to 6.3 inches in length and have a wingspan of 7.1 to 9.8 inches.
  • Diet: Junco’s surely do enjoy to grub on some snacks, whether it be cracked corn, white proso millet or some hulled black oil sunflower seeds — these treats will certainly make for a happy Junco visitor.
  • Habitat: Junco’s enjoy living and exploring the open woods — more specifically they love spending time in pine-like trees (coniferous forests). But all is fair game when they’re out foraging so keep an eye out at the park or your backyard because you might just get a visit from a Junco.

5. Black-Capped Chickadee

Close up image of a Black-Capped Chickadee sitting on a tree branch. The chickadee is a plump bird with a black colored head and chest. The rest of its body is snow white.
Photo by Michael W Klotz is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Hear Black-Capped Chickadee sounds from the Cornell Lab

  • Markings: Black-Capped Chickadee’s are tiny birds with big heads that have a distinct plump shape. It also has a black cap and bib (the area underneath the bill). This pretty bird also has a trick up its beak — its black little cap goes down beyond the Chickadee’s black eyes, making it a bit trickier to spot sometimes.
  • Size: Both males and females measure from 4.7 to 5.9 inches in length and have a wingspan of 6.3 to 8.3 inches.
  • Diet: Black-Capped Chickadee’s are not the pickiest of birdy’s — they’ll eat anything from peanuts to suet (beef fat) to black oil sunflower seeds. Have these handy and get ready to make companions as you explore the great outdoors.
  • Habitat: Chickadee’s are a big fan of dense trees and woodsy shrubs — whether it be in grand forests or woodsy neighborhood lots, you are sure to spot a happy Chickadee. They are also known to frequently nest in birch or alder trees.