Birds in Nebraska
When the state's notable birds are present through the year, with arrival and departure timing.
Species recorded in Nebraska on the USGS Breeding Bird Survey, ordered by how consistently they appear on survey routes. Monthly presence describes typical seasonal timing modeled from regional patterns, not month-by-month survey counts. The chart below shows when each is present through the year.
Data updated: August 2026Sources & method · Corrections
- Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
- Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
- Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
- Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
- Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta
- American Robin Turdus migratorius
- Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
- Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
- Dickcissel Spiza americana
- Northern House Wren Troglodytes aedon
- Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
- Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
- Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
- European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
- Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
- Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus
- Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
- Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
- Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
- Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
- Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia
- Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
| Species | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura | January: abundant | February: abundant | March: abundant | April: abundant | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: abundant | October: abundant | November: abundant | December: abundant |
| Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus | January: scarce | February: scarce | March: common | April: abundant | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: abundant | October: common | November: scarce | December: scarce |
| Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica | January: absent | February: absent | March: scarce | April: scarce | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: scarce | October: scarce | November: absent | December: absent |
| Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater | January: scarce | February: scarce | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: scarce | December: scarce |
| Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus | January: absent | February: absent | March: scarce | April: scarce | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: scarce | October: scarce | November: absent | December: absent |
| Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta | January: scarce | February: scarce | March: common | April: abundant | May: abundant | June: abundant | July: abundant | August: abundant | September: abundant | October: common | November: scarce | December: scarce |
| American Robin Turdus migratorius | January: scarce | February: scarce | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: scarce | December: scarce |
| Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula | January: scarce | February: scarce | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: scarce | December: scarce |
| Killdeer Charadrius vociferus | January: scarce | February: scarce | March: scarce | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: scarce | November: scarce | December: scarce |
| Dickcissel Spiza americana | January: absent | February: absent | March: scarce | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: scarce | November: absent | December: absent |
| Northern House Wren Troglodytes aedon | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: common | December: common |
| Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: common | December: common |
| Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum | January: scarce | February: scarce | March: scarce | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: scarce | November: scarce | December: scarce |
| Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius | January: absent | February: absent | March: scarce | April: scarce | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: scarce | October: scarce | November: absent | December: absent |
| European Starling Sturnus vulgaris | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: common | December: common |
| Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: common | December: common |
| American Goldfinch Spinus tristis | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: common | December: common |
| Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus | January: scarce | February: scarce | March: scarce | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: scarce | November: scarce | December: scarce |
| Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: common | December: common |
| Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum | January: scarce | February: scarce | March: scarce | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: scarce | November: scarce | December: scarce |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: common | December: common |
| Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: common | December: common |
| Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia | January: absent | February: absent | March: scarce | April: scarce | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: scarce | October: scarce | November: absent | December: absent |
| Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata | January: common | February: common | March: common | April: common | May: common | June: common | July: common | August: common | September: common | October: common | November: common | December: common |
The Nebraska birds you'll actually see
A printable checklist of the birds most consistently recorded in Nebraska.
The complete Birds of Nebraska
The state's most-recorded birds, ranked from survey data, with when each is present through the year and a life list to keep.
Want it on paper? See the printable Birds of Nebraska.