Birds in Louisiana: Identification Guide for Birdwatchers

Louisiana is one of the most exciting birdwatching states in the South because it has bayous, swamps, marshes, rivers, lakes, pine forests, bottomland hardwoods, coastal wetlands, barrier islands, farms, and city parks. This mix gives birders a chance to see pelicans, herons, egrets, ibises, ducks, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, shorebirds, warblers, sparrows, and many familiar backyard birds.

Birds in Louisiana change by habitat and season. Coastal marshes and wetlands are excellent for wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, gulls, terns, and pelicans. Swamps and bottomland forests are good for woodpeckers, owls, herons, warblers, and songbirds. Backyards and neighborhoods often attract cardinals, blue jays, wrens, chickadees, doves, finches, and mockingbirds.

This guide covers common and interesting birds in Louisiana, 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 Louisiana

Bird	Main ID Clue	Common Habitat
Brown Pelican	Large coastal bird, long bill pouch	Coasts, bays, barrier islands
Northern Cardinal	Bright red male, crest	Backyards, shrubs, woodland edges
Great Blue Heron	Tall gray-blue wading bird	Swamps, rivers, marshes
Great Egret	Tall white bird, yellow bill	Wetlands, marshes, ponds
White Ibis	White body, curved orange bill	Lawns, marshes, wetlands
Roseate Spoonbill	Pink body, spoon-shaped bill	Coastal marshes, wetlands
Red-shouldered Hawk	Reddish chest, barred wings	Swamps, forests, neighborhoods
Barred Owl	Brown-and-white barred body	Wooded swamps, forests
Pileated Woodpecker	Large black woodpecker, red crest	Mature forests, wooded swamps
Wood Duck	Colorful male, crested head	Swamps, wooded ponds, rivers