I’ve put this resource together for you to answer your question: What birds are in my backyard in Oklahoma?
This article lists and discusses the identification of the most common birds in your backyard. The birds chosen in this article are compiled from actual data from the citizen science program eBird. Thus, it is more accurate than some other similar articles you may find on the web. I provide pictures of each bird species mentioned. I tell how to attract them to your backyard.
These are the most common backyard birds in Oklahoma:
- Northern Cardinal
- Mourning Dove
- American Crow
- Blue Jay
- European Starling
- Carolina Chickadee
- American Robin
- Northern Mockingbird
- House Sparrow
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Carolina Wren
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Tufted Titmouse
- Downy Woodpecker
- Eastern Bluebird
- Dark-eyed Junco
- House Finch
- American Goldfinch
- Eurasian Collared-Dove
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Eastern Phoebe
- Northern Flicker
- Barn Swallow
- Common Grackle
- Painted Bunting
Oklahoma Birds and Birding in Oklahoma State
eBird lists over 460 types of birds as occurring in the state of Oklahoma.
The most common bird in Oklahoma: the most frequently seen bird in the state is Northern Cardinal. It is reported on 50% of bird watching lists.
If you are serious about knowing the birds native to Oklahoma, then check out eBird for Oklahoma. It has recent sightings and photos, illustrated checklists with weekly abundance bar charts for state, counties, and individual hotspots of the best birding locations.
If you want to know about other people interested in birds in your area, join a local bird group. The American Birding Association maintains a list of bird watching clubs for each state.
Oklahoma Bird Identification
This section is the species accounts. These are designed to help you to recognize birds you see in your backyard. I have used eBird to select the birds that are most common. “Common” means the birds seen most often throughout the year, not necessarily the most numerous.
Each species account starts with a photograph. In the identification section I am using size and shape and bill type before considering the color or patterns on the birds. I find these more reliable when trying to identify an unknown bird. Pay attention to body and tail shape and especially bill shape of birds you see, not just plumage color.
In the section on bird feeders and foods I tell how to attract each species. Not all types of backyard birds will come to feeders. But all backyard birds can be attracted with water. So don’t forget to add a birdbath to your bird feeding station.
Do you live in Northeastern Oklahoma? Central Oklahoma? Eastern Oklahoma? Southern Oklahoma?
To appear in this article, most birds are widely distributed throughout the state and are often year-round residents. However, for those birds that are more localized in place or time, I list the general region and seasonality. Please see the section following these species accounts for the lists of common species by season.
Even if a species is found in a general area, they occur only in the habitat they prefer. So, the exact habitat of your neighborhood is important for the presence of absence of certain kinds of birds.
1. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
This is one of the most common and popular backyard birds in the eastern half of the United States.
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| Northern Cardinal. GeorgeB2 from Pixaby |
Range in Oklahoma: Northern Cardinals are year-round residents throughout most of Oklahoma, absent in the far west panhandle.
Identification:
Size: Cardinals are a bit smaller than American Robins, about the same size as Red-winged Blackbirds.
Shape: Plump body with fairly long full tail. Wispy crest.
Bill: Short, heavy, conical, pink.
Color: That bright red color is matched by few other birds. Black face. The female is grayer, but with hints of red in wings and tail, and has a crest, too.
Habitat, range & behavior: Cardinals are year-round residents in shrubby woodland edges.
They are found from the eastern United States to Texas and Arizona south into Mexico.
That large conical bill is made for chewing seeds. Watch them crack open sunflower seeds, spit out the hulls, and pluck the kernel with their tongues!
Food and feeder preference: Black oil sunflower seeds. Many types of seeds, berries, nuts in larger hopper or tray feeders.
You may like my in-depth article on attracting Northern Cardinals.
2. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Mourning Doves are the most widespread and most frequent backyard bird in the Lower 48 states of the United States.
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| Mourning Dove. Greg Gillson |
Range in Oklahoma: Mourning Doves are year-round residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: About 12 inches long from bill tip to tail tip. About same size as Northern Flicker. Larger than American Robin. Slightly smaller than domestic city pigeon.
Shape: Very plump with a small round head. Tail is long and pointed. Legs are short.
Bill: Small and rather slender.
Color: Pale brown-pink body, darker wings and tail. White edges on side of tail.
Habitat, range & behavior: Semi-open areas such as urban areas, farmlands, woods. Often seen perched on wires, fences.
It is a resident across the lower-48 states and Mexico, with some movement out of northern areas in winter.
Their mournful cooing is a familiar spring birdsong.
Food and feeder preference: Mourning Doves eat seeds almost exclusively. Attract with black oil sunflower seeds on a large sturdy tray feeder or on the ground.
3. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
This larger all-black bird is common in cities and country. Its cawing call is familiar to most people.
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| American Crow. Greg Gillson |
Range in Oklahoma: American Crows are year-round residents in Oklahoma.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: About 17-1/2 inches long from bill tip to tail tip, though there is much size variation throughout its range. Larger than blackbirds and grackles. Smaller than ravens.
Shape: Thick neck, large head, rather short square-ended tail. Longer legs. In flight has rounded wing tips with each primary feather separated from others forming “fingers.”
Bill: As long as head, thick, black.
Color: Glossy black throughout.
Habitat, range & behavior: They prefer open areas with trees, fields, farms, cities.
They are common across most of the United States lower-48, except in the desert southwest. They move into southern Canada in summer.
They gather in evening communal roosts in large flocks that may number into the thousands and then move out at dawn into the surrounding area.
Food and feeder preference: Omnivorous, they feed on large insects, grain, small mammals, carrion. You probably don’t want these large entirely black birds in your backyard feeders. So don’t feed table scraps to birds.
4. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
A common and well-known bird in the eastern half of the United States.
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| Blue Jay. skeeze from Pixabay |
Range in Oklahoma: Blue Jays are year-round residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification:
Size: About that of American Robin.
Shape: Fluffy, large crested head, ample tail. Large strong legs.
Bill: Black, long and stout.
Color: Blue above, white below. Black neck collar. White patches in wing.
Habitat, range & behavior: Woodlands and towns.
Found in the eastern half of the United States. In summer into southern Canada.
Bold and brash. May bully smaller birds. Jays gulp lots of seeds or other food at once, storing it in their crop. Then they fly off and bury food items in a hidden cache.
Food and feeder preference: Omnivorous. They can quickly empty your feeder!
Because they are also aggressive toward other feeder birds, some people put mesh cages around smaller bird feeders. Small birds can go through, squirrels and larger “pest” birds are prevented entry.
Some people feed jays peanuts, perhaps away from the seed feeders.
5. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Introduced to North America in the late 1800’s, they crossed the continent, often to the detriment of native cavity-nesting birds. The prime example of an invasive species.
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| European Starling. Greg Gillson |
Range in Oklahoma: European Starlings are year-round residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: 8-1/2 inches from bill tip to tail tip. About the size of a Red-winged Blackbird. Smaller than an American Robin. Larger than a White-crowned Sparrow or Spotted/Eastern towhee.
Shape: Stocky with large head, short square-ended tail. Longer legs.
Bill: As long as head. Sharp pointed. Yellow in spring, otherwise dark.
Color: They are grayish brown much of the year, with glossy iridescence and white spotting during the spring.
Habitat, range & behavior: Lowland birds that need trees large enough for nest cavities but plenty of open area for feeding. They are most abundant in urban and suburban areas where they find food and artificial nest cavities.
Resident from coast-to-coast from southern Canada to northern Mexico. In summer north across Canada and Alaska. Native range is Europe to Pakistan, north Africa.
Often viewed as a pest, starlings often bully other backyard birds, taking over bird feeders, and stealing nest cavities from smaller native birds. In winter they can form into flocks of tens of thousands.
Food and feeder preference: Primarily insects when available, often feeding on the ground. Discourage them from your backyard hopper and tray feeders by never feeding birds table scraps (including bread or meat). They have weak feet and do not perch well on tube feeders. A cage mesh around smaller hopper feeders may keep them out.
6. Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
Chickadees are common feeder birds throughout much of North America. This one is common in the southeastern United States.
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| Carolina Chickadee. GeorgeB2 from Pixabay |
Range in Oklahoma: Carolina Chickadees are year-round residents throughout most of Oklahoma, but absent from the panhandle.
Identification:
Size: This small bid is the size of an American Goldfinch.
Shape: Round body, round head, longer tail.
Bill: Short, straight, stout.
Color: Gray above. Paler below. Black cap, white face, black bib.
Habitat, range & behavior: Lower elevation deciduous forests, wooded residential areas.
This chickadee is a resident in the southeastern US.
Chickadees cannot chew as sparrows do, so they take one large sunflower seed at a time from your feeder and fly off to a branch to pound it open with their stout bills.
Food and feeder preference: Most of their diet is insects, also seeds. They will eat black oil sunflower seeds from hopper feeders.
7. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
This familiar bird is a resident in the northern half of the United States and a winter visitor in the southern half.
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| American Robin. Greg Gillson |
Range in Oklahoma: American Robins are year-round residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: 10 inches long from bill tip to tail tip. About the same size as a Blue Jay or one of the Scrub-Jays. Larger than Red-winged Blackbird. Smaller than a Mourning Dove.
Shape: Very plump with a fairly long tail.
Bill: Straight and fairly slender, curved at the tip.
Color: Gray-brown upperparts, rusty orange breast.
Habitat, range & behavior: Open woodlands, farmlands, urban parks and lawns.
Migratory, breeds north across Alaska and Canada. Resident in most of the United States (lower 48). Winters in the United States, Mexico, to central America.
Hops on your lawn turning head this way and that looking for food. Their caroling song is one of the early signs of spring in the north.
Food and feeder preference: Worms and other invertebrates in the lawn. May eat fruit from a tray feeder or the ground. Eat small berries from trees and bushes.
8. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
This bird sings from exposed perches most of the year and often through the night. They have an unending supply of their own unique short phrases that they repeat about 3 times each, but frequently intersperse songs of other birds.
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| Northern Mockingbird. Greg Gillson |
Range in Oklahoma: Northern Mockingbirds are year-round residents throughout most of Oklahoma, but summer residents only in the panhandle.
Identification:
Size: The length of an American Robin.
Shape: Slender and long tailed. Long legs.
Bill: Medium length, slender, slightly curved.
Color: Gray, darker above, with white patches in wing and tail.
Habitat, range & behavior: They prefer edge habitat with scattered trees and bushes, parks and residential areas.
It is found in eastern and southern parts of the US, West Indies, and south into Mexico. In summer birds are found a bit farther north.
They boldly defend their nests from other birds, cats, and intruders.
Food and feeder preference: Eats insects, berries, and fruit. You may attract mockingbirds to your feeder with grapes, raisins, apple slices. They will come to a suet block. They readily use a bird bath.
9. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Like the starling, this is another bird introduced from Europe in the 1800’s. This sparrow is commonly found in cities and farmlands. It is considered a pest in most areas where it has been introduced.
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| House Sparrow. Greg Gillson |
Range in Oklahoma: House Sparrows are year-round residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification:
Size: The size of a House Finch or Dark-eyed Junco.
Shape: Chunkier than native North American sparrows with large head, barrel chest, short neck, medium tail, short legs.
Bill: Short, conical.
Color: Males are brown and gray with a black mask. Females lack the black and are tan and brown with a pale line back from the eye.
Habitat, range & behavior: Cities and farms.
Range in North American from southern Canada through Central America. In summer northward through Canada to southern Alaska. Originated in Middle East and spread to most of Europe and Asia. Introduced in South America, Africa, Australia–nearly anywhere there are people and cities.
They tend to be messy… and have a good appetite and may occur in large noisy chirping flocks. They are aggressive toward other feeder birds.
Food and feeder preference: They eat grain, seed, and insects. To discourage them from your hopper and tray feeders do not feed birds human food scraps. They have a bit of difficulty eating from tube feeders.
10. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
These noisy flocking birds are most often found in marshes. But in winter they are found in backyards.
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| Male Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson. |
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| Female Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Oklahoma: Red-winged Blackbirds are year-round residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: About 8-3/4 inches long from bill tip to tail tip. About the size of a Northern Cardinal. Smaller than an American Robin.
Shape: Pot-bellied with a longer bill and flat forehead. Tail average.
Bill: Long and sharp pointed.
Color: Males are black with red and yellow shoulder patch. Females are streaked brown and rusty (sparrow-like but pointed bill and flat forehead).
Habitat, range, and behavior: Cattail marshes and wetlands are their summer habitat. In winter they feed in grain fields.
They breed across most of the North American continent. In winter they withdraw from most of Alaska and Canada.
They are found in colonies in summer and large flocks in winter.
Food and feeder preference: They eat insects in summer. In winter they eat grain and seeds. They visit feeders, more often in large winter flocks, and eat most seeds and suet.
11. Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
This is a fairly common backyard bird in the much of the eastern United States.
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| Carolina Wren. theSOARnet from Pixabay |
Range in Oklahoma: Carolina Wrens are year-round residents in the eastern half of Oklahoma.
Identification:
Size: A smaller bird, between the size of American Goldfinch and House Finch.
Shape: Round body, short neck, flat head, long tail flipped about actively.
Bill: Fairly long, thin, pointed and slightly curved.
Color: Upper parts rusty brown with black bars on the wings and tail. A white eyebrow line and buff under parts.
Habitat, range & behavior: Shrubby thickets and brushy suburban yards.
It is found in the southeastern United States and Yucatan. Northern parts of range expand and contract depending upon harshness of winters.
Males sing throughout the year and are very loud for their size.
Food and feeder preference: Feed mostly on insects and spiders. They will feed on suet.
12. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
This is one of the most common species in the eastern half of the United States.
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker. skeeze from Pixabay |
Range in Oklahoma: Red-bellied Woodpeckers are year-round residents throughout most of Oklahoma, but absent from the western panhandle.
Identification:
Size: Fairly large for a backyard bird. Between a Starling and American Robin in size. Smaller than a Northern Flicker.
Shape: Stout with large head and short tail. Clings to tree trunk on strong short legs propped up with short stiff tail.
Bill: Long, chisel shaped.
Color: Pale gray body, many thin black-and-white bars across back and wings. Red nape, extending forward on crown on male.
Habitat, range & behavior: These birds are found in many woodland types, including oak, hickory and pine.
They are found from the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in the lower-48 states from Texas to extreme southern Canada, and eastward from Florida northward just to the southern edge of the New England states.
In typical woodpecker fashion, it hitches up the tree trunk and larger branches.
Food and feeder preference: This species eats insects and nuts. They may eat peanuts from a tray feeder and eat from a suet block.
13. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
Related to chickadees, they lack the black bib, but have a crest instead.
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| Tufted Titmouse. anne773 from Pixabay |
Range in Oklahoma: Tufted Titmice are year-round residents throughout most of Oklahoma except the panhandle.
Identification:
Size: A small bird, but a large titmouse, this species is larger than chickadees, about the size of a junco or House Finch.
Shape: Rounded body, long full tail, big head, long legs.
Bill: Short and stout, compressed (taller than wide), black.
Color: Dark blue-gray above, pale below. Black feathers around eye accentuates its size.
Habitat, range & behavior: Lives in deciduous forests with heavy canopy, parks.
Found in eastern and southeastern United States is expanding its range north and west.
Backyard bird feeders might be helping this species expand its range northward.
Food and feeder preference: Insects and seeds. At your hopper or tray feeder they like black oil sunflower seeds and suet.
14. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
This tiny woodpecker is found across the United States.
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| Downy Woodpecker. Greg Gillson |
Range in Oklahoma: Downy Woodpeckers are year-round residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification:
Size: Bigger than a junco or House Finch. Smaller than a Red-winged Blackbird. About the same size as a White-crowned Sparrow, but with a much shorter tail.
Shape: Stocky with large head and short stiff tail.
Bill: Short, chisel shaped.
Color: Black-and-white striped head. Black wings with white spots. Solid white back. White under parts. Black tail with white outer tail feathers with black bars or spots. Male with small red spot at back of head.
Habitat, range & behavior: Found in small deciduous trees, willows, and even weed stocks such as teasel, especially near water.
Ranges coast-to-coast across all but northernmost parts of Canada and Alaska south to the southern US. Absent in the desert southwest.
Interestingly, I learned today that the males may more often be found in smaller plants and twigs, while females are more likely on tree trunks.
Food and feeder preference: Insects, fruits, and seeds. Gleans arthropods from the bark of trees. Attract with suet feeder. Will also eat black oil sunflower seeds.
15. Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
A beloved bird of open fields with trees and fence lines for perching.
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| Eastern Bluebird. skeeze from Pixabay |
Range in Oklahoma: Eastern Bluebirds are year-round residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification:
Size: Larger than House Finches. Much smaller than starlings. About length of White-crowned Sparrow but differently proportioned.
Shape: Chunky, large head, short tail. Bill: Straight, fairly slender, curved at tip.
Color: Males are brilliant blue above (including wings and tail), rusty orange below with white belly and under tail. Females are often much paler, almost grayish.
Habitat, range & behavior: Found in pasture, fields, golf courses, open woodland edges.
They are resident in most of eastern US, highlands of Middle America. In summer reach northernmost eastern US and southernmost eastern Canada, withdrawing somewhat in winter.
They readily use nest boxes, but the entrance hole must be smaller than the head of a starling, and without a perch.
Food and feeder preference: They eat flying insects primarily, but also other invertebrates and berries. They will eat mealworms at your feeder and frequent birdbaths.
16. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Colloquially called “snowbirds,” they often arrive in backyards in winter from nearby mountain forests or more northern climes.
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| Dark-eyed Junco. skeeze from Pixabay |
Range in Oklahoma: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter visitors throughout Oklahoma.
Identification:
Size: Small birds about the size of a House Finch.
Shape: Round body, short neck, round head, fairly long square-ended tail.
Bill: Short, pointed, conical, pink.
Color: Eastern birds are a darker all-gray with white belly. Western birds have jet black hoods over their head, brown back, and pink sides.
Habitat, range & behavior: Breed in coniferous forests. Winters widely. Avoids heavy brush, preferring widely spaced bushes.
Breeds across most of Canada, Alaska, and the western half of the United States. Winters from southern Canada and all of the lower 48-states to extreme northern Mexico.
Spend much of their time hopping and feeding on the ground.
Food and feeder preference: Eats mostly seeds, also insects in summer. Readily feed at backyard feeders on mixed seeds on hopper or tray feeders and ground.
You may like my in-depth article on attracting Dark-eyed Juncos.
17. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
These are one of the most common backyard birds in the United States. There are other red finches, but these are the ones most likely in residential areas.
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| House Finch. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Oklahoma: House Finches are year-round residents from the central to the north-central parts of Oklahoma. They are also year-round residents in the far western part of the panhandle.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: About 6 inches from bill tip to tail tip. Larger than goldfinches and chickadees. Smaller than a White-crowned Sparrows or Spotted/Eastern towhees.
Shape: Medium build with a medium-long notched tail. Round head.
Bill: Short, conical.
Color: Brown and gray above with streaks on the sides of the pale underparts. Males with red (sometimes orange or rarely yellow) crown, chest, rump.
Habitat, range & behavior: You’ll find small flocks on wires, in short treetops and in bushes. Originally deserts and grasslands. Rural areas and towns are where they’re now most common.
Formerly found in the western United States and Mexico. Then introduced into the northeastern United States, but now found in nearly all of the lower-48 states and extreme southern Canada. Rare in plains states (Dakotas to Texas) and southern Florida.
House Finches are not territorial, but males sing throughout the year–a lively, wiry song ending in a couple of buzzy notes.
Food and feeder preference: House Finches love sunflower seeds and tube feeders. May eat from thistle socks.
You may like my in-depth article on attracting House Finches.
18. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
A beautiful tiny finch familiar to many in its bright yellow summer plumage. Colloquially called a “wild canary.”
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| American Goldfinch. Greg Gillson |
Range in Oklahoma: American Goldfinches are year-round residents in the northeastern half of Oklahoma, and winter visitors only in the southwestern half of the state and panhandle.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: Very small at about 5 inches from bill tip to tail tip. Similar in size to a chickadee. Larger than hummingbirds. Smaller than juncos and House Finches.
Shape: Tiny, somewhat plump with larger head and short tail.
Bill: Short, conical, pink.
Color: Males in summer are bright lemon yellow with black forehead and black wings and tail with white bars. White under tail coverts. Females are dull olive, wings and tail browner. Winter birds are pale grayish-yellow with tan and brown wings and tail.
Habitat, range & behavior: This species is found in weedy fields and similar clearings with thistles and similar plants.
It is found coast-to-coast throughout the year across most of the middle lower-48 states. In summer moves north to the Canada border. In the winter found south to the Mexico border.
The flight is highly undulating, rising and falling as they flap in short bursts.
Besides a long, sweet lilting song, they call in flight a lilting 4-part: “potato chip!”
Food and feeder preference: Feeds on weed seeds, thistle seed. May eat black oil sunflower seeds from tube feeder. Love Nyjer seed in a feeder called a “thistle sock.”
You may like my in-depth article on attracting American Goldfinches.
19. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
These large pale pigeons have only been in the United States since invading Florida in 1983. But they have taken over much of the continent.
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| Eurasian Collared-Dove. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Oklahoma: Eurasian Collared-Doves are year-round residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification:
Size: Large pigeon. Larger than Mourning Dove. Same size as domestic pigeon.
Shape: Full plump breast. Round head. Long square tail.
Bill: Small, blunt.
Color: Cream-colored, may be slightly warmer brown on back or, conversely, may be nearly white. Black hind neck mark. Broad white band at end of tail. From underneath when perched on wire, note the black base to the underside of the tail.
Habitat, range & behavior: These pigeons are found in residential areas and farmlands. Look for them perched on electric lines or in trees.
They are year-round residents in residential areas throughout almost all of the United States, except rare in the Northeast.
A pair of birds nest in one area nearly year-round, then build in numbers over a couple of years. Then several birds from the group fly up to 500 miles and set up a new colony. In this way this species took over much of Europe in the last century, and most of North America, starting from Florida in 1983 (from birds escaped from or vagrant in Bahamas).
Food and feeder preference: Eat grain. Will eat all seeds at bird feeders. Large, hungry, and often visit feeders in groups.
20. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)
These birds have very long tails! Look for them on fence lines in open country.
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| Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Oklahoma: Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are summer residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification:
Size: These birds are about the size of Western Kingbirds, but the outer tail feathers are extremely long. The body is smaller than an American Robin. The body is larger than Eastern Phoebe.
Shape: Typical flycatcher shape with large head full belly. Long tail with extremely long outer tail feathers as long as the rest of the bird.
Bill: Stout. Flat. Wide.
Color: Pale gray on head, back, breast. Peach-colored flanks. Blackish wings and tail with broad pale edges.
Habitat, range & behavior: Open land, pastures, scrubby fields with small trees.
Breeds on southern Plains States. Winters in Middle America.
Pairs defend their breeding territory by chasing others of their kinds, but also hawks, grackles, shrikes, crows, and other birds.
Food and feeder preference: They eat insects they catch on the wing. They do not come to feeders.
21. Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Cowbirds are small blackbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other smaller birds, such as warblers. The adoptive parents raise their young!
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| Brown-headed Cowbird. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Oklahoma: Brown-headed Cowbirds are year-round residents throughout most of Oklahoma, but summer residents only in the panhandle.
Identification:
Size: Larger than White-crowned Sparrows, but smaller than Rose-breasted or Black-headed Grosbeaks. Smaller than other blackbirds, starlings, and grackles.
Shape: Perhaps a little bit pot-bellied. Medium length tail. Flat forehead as typical for blackbirds.
Bill: Rather thick and stout.
Color: Males are glossy black with rich brown head. Females are dusty gray-brown throughout. Long-held juvenile plumage similar to pale female, scaly, being fed by Yellow Warbler or Song Sparrow or a hundred other host species.
Habitat, range & behavior: They are found in woodlands and farms. Also, with other blackbirds in winter at shopping center parking lots.
In summer they breed across Canada and most of the United States and Mexico. In winter they move south out of Canada and occupy both coasts and southeastern States in the US.
These small blackbirds join other flocks of blackbirds in cattle feedlots. You may see cowbirds riding on the backs of cattle, sheep, or horses. They originally rode on the backs of American bison on the Great Plains, but expanded when forests were cut.
Food and feeder preference: Cowbirds eat grains, seeds, and insects. They will readily come to hopper and platform feeders. They are larger and more aggressive, so keep other birds from feeders and have a big appetite!
22. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
This plain bird is common in backyards in the East.
Range in Oklahoma: Eastern Phoebes are summer residents throughout most of Oklahoma. They are year-round residents in the southeastern corner of the state. They are migrants only in the panhandle and western edge of Oklahoma.
Identification:
Size: About the size of bluebirds. Larger than House Sparrows.
Shape: Rather stout, with long wings, medium-length tail. Pointed but flat bill. Upright posture.
Bill: Black, pointed, wide and flat.
Color: Brownish-gray above, slightly yellow-olive on sides. White under tail coverts. No eye ring or wing bars help distinguish them from some other flycatchers.
Habitat, range & behavior: Found in woodlands, suburbs, farms. Frequently nest in rafters, under eaves, porches.
They are summer residents east of the Rocky Mountains from Canada southward. Year-round residents through the interior of the Southeast, to Texas. Winter visitor to Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic.
Phoebes pump their tail down. They also frequently spread their tails.
Food and feeder preference: They eat flying insects that they catch on the wing. Not a feeder visitor.
23. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
Of all the bird identification questions I get asked, this common larger backyard bird is the bird most people ask about. It doesn’t occur to those unfamiliar with it that this could be a woodpecker.
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| Northern Flicker. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Oklahoma: Northern Flickers are year-round residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification:
Size: About the size of a Mourning Dove. Larger than a robin.
Shape: Stocky with short legs, short tail, big head.
Bill: As long as head, thin, slightly curved.
Color: Back is brown with black bars. Under parts pinkish with black spots. Undersides of black wing and tail feathers are bright salmon red (West) or yellow (East). Head gray (West) or brown (East) and males with red (West) or black (East) whisker marks and nape marks (East). Black crescent across chest. White rump seen in flight.
Habitat, range & behavior: Found in woodland edges and forests.
Year-round resident from extreme southern Canada, across all of the lower-48 states and in the mountains of Mexico and Middle America. In summer breeds northward well into Canada and Alaska.
Frequently noted hopping on ground pecking in the ground for insects. In late spring, males proclaim their territory by rapid pounding on a hollow tree branch, though the ringing of metal downspouts at dawn is louder and carries much farther, to the exasperation of anyone trying to sleep inside!
Food and feeder preference: Ants and beetles are their primary foods. Will eat black oil sunflower seeds and are attracted to suet.
24. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
These swallows are widely distributed throughout the world, primarily breeding in the northern hemisphere, and wintering in the mid-latitudes and southern hemisphere.
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| Barn Swallow. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Oklahoma: Barn Swallows are summer residents throughout Oklahoma.
Identification:
Size: About the size of a House Finch but with a much longer tail.
Shape: Stocky, short necked but with long body and tail. Tail is forked, with very long outer tail feathers. Wings pointed.
Bill: Short, wide.
Color: Glossy dark purplish-blue above. Pinkish-orange below.
Habitat, range & behavior: Barn Swallows live in open country, frequently near humans. Farmlands. Nest in barns, under small bridges.
In North America breed from Mexico to northern Canada and Alaska, wintering from southern Mexico throughout most of South America.
Frequently seen swooping low over the ground hunting flying insects. Perch on wires, fences. Voice is twitters and chirps with grating sounds.
Food and feeder preference: Eat flying insects on the wing and are not attracted to backyard feeders.
25. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
Sometimes considered a pest to crops, grackles are longer and lankier than very similar blackbirds.
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| Common Grackle. GeorgiaLens from Pixabay |
Range in Oklahoma: Common Grackles are year-round residents throughout most of Oklahoma, summer residents only in the western panhandle.
Identification:
Size: Larger than Red-winged Blackbirds, they are near the length of Mourning Doves.
Shape: Long, with long full keel-shaped tail, long legs, flat crown.
Bill: Longer than head, pointed, but stouter than other blackbirds.
Color: Glossy black with hint of bronze or green on head (depending upon population). Yellow eye.
Habitat, range & behavior: They are found in agricultural areas, woodland edges, city parks and lawns.
Resident in the southeastern United States. In summer they migrate northward and west to the central United States and Canada.
They monopolize feeders and are bullies toward other birds.
Food and feeder preference: Grain, corn, acorns, small aquatic fish and amphibians. To discourage them, use tube feeders, rather than hopper or tray feeders. Don’t over-feed, keep spilled seed picked up.
26. Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)
Male Painted Buntings are one of the most gaudily colored birds in North America!
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| Painted Bunting. Israel Alapag from Pixabay. |
Range in Oklahoma: Painted Buntings are summer residents throughout most of Oklahoma, but absent in the panhandle.
Identification:
Size: Small. Larger than American Goldfinch. Smaller than House Sparrow.
Shape: Chunky with large round head. Shorter tail with notched end. Heavy bill.
Bill: Short and triangular with heavy base.
Color: Females are yellow-green throughout, slightly darker above. Males have a blue hooded head with red eye ring and red belly and throat. They have a bright yellow-green back. The lower back and rump are red. The wings and tail are variable with blues and greens.
Habitat, range & behavior: Overgrown grassy fields and brushy road edges. Old farms.
Two separate populations. Found in southern Plains States and Atlantic coastal Southeast.
They tend to hide in dense thickets.
Food and feeder preference: Most of the year they eat seeds from grasses and low ground plants, but feed insects to their young and switch to mostly insects during the breeding season. They visit backyard hopper feeders for seeds in later summer.
Common Birds in Oklahoma
To determine how common each species is I used the data from actual bird sightings from the citizen science program eBird. Birds are listed by frequency. That is, how often the species is recorded on checklists submitted to eBird (a percentage).
When choosing the birds to include in this article I leaned strongly to birds that are present throughout the year in good numbers. Thus, many of the common birds are
year-round residents. This means that they live in the same location all year. They raise their young in your neighborhood. They don’t migrate. Or if the species does migrate, the ones living in your area don’t. If this is the case, some migrants may move into your area during certain times of year, adding to the same species that are in your yard full time.
Some migrant birds visit your yard during the “summer.” Often, they arrive in spring and remain until late fall. They nest and raise their young in your neighborhood. These are the summer residents.
Other migrant birds visit your backyard during the “winter.” Some of these winter visitors may arrive in July and remain into April. Others may only be found in the cold of December or January. They key here is that they nest and raise their young somewhere else. They only visit your yard in the non-breeding season.
Migration is an amazing spectacle. There will be birds that fly through your region in spring or fall (or both). They may visit your backyard only a few days or weeks a year. They aren’t regular enough, or stay long enough, to be included in this article. But the number of briefly visiting migrant birds could double the number of species presented here. You may see them over time. Consult checklists in eBird for your county to see what is possible.
I have generally excluded common waterfowl, birds of prey, shorebirds, seabirds, and others that aren’t usually found in residential areas. But they may certainly fly over or be seen regularly if your home is on a shoreline, for instance.
Most common backyard birds in Oklahoma throughout the year
- Northern Cardinal (50% frequency)
- Mourning Dove (37%)
- American Crow (36%)
- Blue Jay (34%)
- European Starling (33%)
- Carolina Chickadee (32%)
- American Robin (32%)
- Northern Mockingbird (30%)
- House Sparrow (27%)
- Red-winged Blackbird (25%)
- Carolina Wren (25%)
- Red-bellied Woodpecker (24%)
- Tufted Titmouse (22%)
- Downy Woodpecker (21%)
- Eastern Bluebird (20%)
- Dark-eyed Junco (20%)
- House Finch (18%)
- American Goldfinch (17%)
- Eurasian Collared-Dove (16%)
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (15%)
- Brown-headed Cowbird (15%)
- Eastern Phoebe (15%)
Most common backyard birds in Oklahoma in winter
- Northern Cardinal (49% frequency)
- Dark-eyed Junco (46%)
- American Crow (36%)
- Carolina Chickadee (35%)
- Blue Jay (35%)
- American Robin (33%)
- European Starling (30%)
- American Goldfinch (27%)
- House Sparrow (26%)
- Red-bellied Woodpecker (25%)
- Northern Mockingbird (24%)
- Mourning Dove (24%)
- Downy Woodpecker (24%)
- Carolina Wren (22%)
- Northern Flicker (22%)
- Tufted Titmouse (21%)
- Eastern Bluebird (20%)
- Red-winged Blackbird (20%)
- House Finch (19%)
Most common backyard birds in Oklahoma in summer
- Northern Cardinal (53%)
- Mourning Dove (52% frequency)
- Northern Mockingbird (42%)
- House Sparrow (33%)
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (31%)
- American Crow (31%)
- European Starling (30%)
- Barn Swallow (29%)
- American Robin (29%)
- Carolina Chickadee (28%)
- Red-winged Blackbird (27%)
- Blue Jay (26%)
- Carolina Wren (26%)
- Brown-headed Cowbird (25%)
- Common Grackle (22%)
- Painted Bunting (21%)
- Eurasian Collared-Dove (20%)
- Tufted Titmouse (20%)
- Red-bellied Woodpecker (20%)
How do birds differ between winter and summer?
Dark-eyed Juncos, Blue Jays are more common in winter.
Mourning Doves, Northern Mockingbirds, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Barn Swallows, Painted Buntings are more common in summer.
Common backyard birds of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
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| Eurasian Collared-Dove. Greg Gillson |
- Northern Cardinal (45% frequency)
- Blue Jay (40%)
- European Starling (40%)
- House Sparrow (36%)
- American Robin (35%)
- American Crow (33%)
- Northern Mockingbird (31%)
- Eurasian Collared-Dove (31%)
- Mourning Dove (30%)
- Carolina Chickadee (25%)
- Downy Woodpecker (21%)
- Carolina Wren (20%)
- House Finch (20%)
Eurasian Collared-Doves are more common in Oklahoma City than in the state of Oklahoma as a whole.
Otherwise, the birds of Oklahoma City are very similar in abundance to that in the state as a whole.
Common Backyard Birds of Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Northern Cardinal (56% frequency)
- European Starling (40%)
- Blue Jay (39%)
- House Sparrow (39%)
- American Robin (39%)
- Carolina Chickadee (35%)
- Carolina Wren (33%)
- Mourning Dove (32%)
- Northern Mockingbird (31%)
- Downy Woodpecker (28%)
- American Crow (28%)
- Red-bellied Woodpecker (25%)
- Tufted Titmouse (24%)
- House Finch (22%)
- Dark-eyed Junco (21%)
- Eastern Bluebird (20%)
- Red-winged Blackbird (20%)
European Starlings, House Sparrows, American Robins, Carolina Wrens, Downy Woodpeckers are more common in Tulsa than the state average.
American Crows are less common in Tulsa than in the rest of the state, on average.
Wrapping Up
The rolling pastures of Oklahoma are complemented by areas of wetland. Here are some of my favorite common birds outside of the backyard in the Sooner State.
Birds of Open Fields and Prairies:
Western Meadowlark: These striking birds with yellow chests and black V-neck markings are prevalent in grasslands and meadows. Their melodious songs fill the air during spring and summer.
Grasshopper Sparrow: These small, brown sparrows with streaked chests are masters of camouflage in grasslands. Listen for their distinctive, buzzy songs during warm months.
Killdeer: These noisy shorebirds with long legs and two distinct black bands on their chest are often seen in open fields and near water. Their piercing calls are a recognizable sound of the countryside.
Northern Mockingbird: These talented mimics with gray plumage and long tails readily adapt to various habitats, including fields and edges of woodlands. They are known for their vast repertoire of songs and calls.
Waterfowl and Birds of Wetlands:
Canada Goose: These iconic migratory birds with black necks and honking calls are frequently seen in lakes, ponds, and rivers throughout the year.
Mallard Duck: These common ducks with green heads and brown bodies are abundant in aquatic habitats. Look for them swimming and dabbling for food along shorelines.
Great Blue Heron: These majestic wading birds with long legs and blue-gray plumage stand tall in marshes and shallow water, preying on fish and frogs.
Belted Kingfisher: These vibrant birds with orange chests and blue-green backs perch prominently on branches near water, diving for fish with their pointed bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the state bird of Oklahoma?
The state bird of Oklahoma is the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher! This stunning bird boasts a long, forked tail that can be almost twice the length of its body, making it instantly recognizable and a beloved symbol of the state.
The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was adopted as Oklahoma’s state bird in 1951 due to its unique appearance, graceful flight, and association with the state’s open landscapes. So, keep your eyes peeled for this feathered wonder next time you’re in Oklahoma, and appreciate the beauty of the state’s official bird!
What is the small gray bird in Oklahoma?
Identifying a small gray bird in Oklahoma can be tricky, as several species fit that description. Some possibilities include:
- House Finch: Common backyard bird, brown with streaked chest and reddish face in males.
- Dark-eyed Junco: Gray with darker back and white wing bars, often seen on the ground in winter.
- Mourning Dove: Brownish-gray with long, pointed tail, often seen cooing.
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: Tiny blue-gray bird with black wings and white eye rings, seen in woodlands.
- Tufted Titmouse: Gray with white underparts and a crest, common in various habitats.
Where can I find the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Oklahoma?
The scissor-tailed flycatcher is a common sight in Oklahoma, especially during the warmer months when they return from their wintering grounds in South America. Here are some tips for finding these elegant feathered friends:
Habitat:
- Open Areas: Look for Scissor-tailed Flycatchers in open fields, grasslands, pastures, and prairies, often with scattered trees or fence lines. They prefer landscapes with perches for hunting insects and building nests.
- Edge Habitats: They also frequent the edges of woodlands and agricultural fields, where they can access both open spaces and cover.
- Urban Areas: Surprisingly, scissor-tails can adapt to urban environments, perching on power lines, telephone poles, and even rooftops.
Time of Day:
- Dawn and Dusk: These flycatchers are most active during the early morning and late afternoon, hunting for insects when their prey is most abundant.
- Look Up: Be sure to scan the skies, as they often perform their mesmerizing aerial displays, especially during courtship and nesting periods.
Specific Locations:
- State Parks and Wildlife Refuges: Many protected areas in Oklahoma offer excellent opportunities to see scissor-tails, like Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, and Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.
- Farms and Ranches: With permission, you might be able to explore privately owned land with suitable habitat, potentially increasing your chances of spotting a scissor-tail.
- Backyards: If you have open areas in your yard with scattered trees or shrubs, you might attract scissor-tails, especially if you offer them perches and nesting materials.
Related Articles:
Red, Orange, & Yellow Birds of Oklahoma
34 of the most common birds in the United States (with photos)
