Birds of Wisconsin (ID Guide)

ByTammy Poppie Updated on
birds of wisconsin

Inside: List of birds in Wisconsin plus a color photo of each bird, details about habitat, diet, appearance, nesting habits, and a range map for accurate and fast identification.

You spotted a bird in Wisconsin – but what type is it? There are more than 80 species of birds in Wisconsin to enjoy and I’ve included them all in this complete list of Wisconsin birds.

With more than 20 years of experience attracting backyard birds to my yard in Wisconsin, I’ve studied many of the birds in my area so I have the information you’re looking for. For the remaining species, I rely on my field guides and friends at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology to guide me.

This article includes the species of wild birds in Wisconsin you might find in and around your backyard (excludes waterfowl). They could be red, blue, brown or some other color. They could be tiny, small, medium, large, or enormous – all size variations are here! Some wild birds live in Wisconsin year-round, others are here to breed, and others are just migrating through. The range maps are color-coded so you know if it’s a year-round bird, there to breed, migrating through, or there during a nonbreeding time.

range map color coded key

I also included a beautiful closeup photo to help you identify your new feathered friends along with detail such as:

  • Size + appearance description
  • Diet in the wild and at the feeder
  • Habitat
  • Nest & eggs description
  • Range map

My hope is that this article will help you easily identify the bird you saw or plan to see one day.

If it’s a blue-colored bird in Wisconsin you’re trying to identify, check out Blue Birds in Wisconsin.

Let’s meet the birds of Wisconsin!

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We Wisconsinites are lucky – we get to experience so many different species of birds that live or are just passing through. Keep this article handy. When you see an amazing wild bird in Wisconsin I guarantee you’ll want to know the species and details about it. Trust me! 

Happy Birding!

Sources

All About Birds. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2021
eBird. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2021
Noah, Strycker, and Alderfer Jonathan. National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America. 2nd ed., National Geographic, 2019.