Bird Species

Every US state has an official state bird. See the complete list of all 50 state birds, learn how they were chosen, and discover the most common ones.

The female mallard is a mottled brown duck with an orange bill and blue wing patch, unlike the male. Learn how to identify a female mallard and tell her from the male.

The female grackle is a dark brown, less glossy bird with a pale yellow eye, smaller than the male. Learn how to identify a female grackle and tell her from lookalikes.

The female goldfinch is a duller olive-yellow bird with dark wings and wingbars, lacking the male’s black cap. Learn how to identify a female goldfinch year round.

The female house finch is a plain grayish-brown, streaky bird with no red, unlike the male. Learn how to identify a female house finch and tell her from lookalikes.

The correct hummingbird sugar water ratio is 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water, a simple mix that closely matches natural flower nectar.

Allen’s hummingbird is a narrow-range California coastal specialist, nearly identical to the rufous hummingbird except for its green rather than orange back.

The calliope hummingbird is the smallest breeding bird in the United States and Canada, a tiny mountain specialist named after the Greek muse of poetry.

The broad-tailed hummingbird is the classic hummingbird of the Rocky Mountains, announcing its presence with a distinctive metallic trill produced by its wings.

The black-chinned hummingbird is one of the most widespread and adaptable hummingbirds in the western United States, at home from desert to city park.