Illinois is a great state for birdwatching because it has prairies, forests, wetlands, rivers, lakes, farms, city parks, and neighborhoods. This mix gives birders a chance to see backyard birds, water birds, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, sparrows, blackbirds, herons, ducks, warblers, and many migrating songbirds.
Birds in Illinois change by season and habitat. Spring and fall migration can bring warblers, shorebirds, waterfowl, hawks, and songbirds through the state. Wetlands and rivers attract ducks, geese, herons, and egrets, while forests and neighborhoods are home to cardinals, robins, blue jays, chickadees, woodpeckers, wrens, and nuthatches.
This guide covers common and interesting birds in Illinois, with simple identification tips based on color, size, habitat, season, and behavior. You can also explore our main Birds in the United States guide to find bird identification pages for all 50 states.
Quick Look at Birds in Illinois
| Bird | Main ID Clue | Common Habitat |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Cardinal | Bright red male, crest | Backyards, shrubs, woodland edges |
| American Robin | Orange chest, gray-brown back | Lawns, parks, open woods |
| Blue Jay | Blue body, crest, loud call | Forests, yards, parks |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Black cap, white cheeks | Woods, feeders, neighborhoods |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | Barred back, red head markings | Woodlands, feeders, yards |
| Downy Woodpecker | Small black-and-white woodpecker | Yards, woods, parks |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Broad wings, reddish tail | Roadsides, fields, forests |
| Great Blue Heron | Tall gray-blue wading bird | Rivers, ponds, wetlands |
| Mallard | Green-headed male duck | Lakes, ponds, rivers |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Black male, red shoulder patches | Marshes, fields, wetlands |
