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Mississippi National River and Recreation AreaA white pelican flies across the water.
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Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Birds
 

Birds and the Mississippi River
Each day, birds must find food, water, shelter, and safe places to avoid predators. A river corridor, with its rich variety of habitat, provides birds with those critical resources. The Mississippi River is also an important migratory path. Nearly 40% of migratory North American birds use all or part the river corridor during migration. The diversity of birdlife along the Mississippi River and its valley makes it a wonderful place to observe birds.

 
Selected Bird Species
The following links provide information about some of the bird species that either inhabit or migrate through the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

Blackbird, Red-winged
Bluebird
Cardinal, Northern
Chickadee, Black-capped
Coot, American
Cormorant, Double-crested
Crow, American
Dove, Mourning
Dove, Rock (Pigeon)
Eagle, Bald

Egret, Great
Falcon, Peregrine
Finch, House
Flicker, Northern
Goldfinch, American
Goose, Canada
Grackle, Common
Grebe, Pied-billed
Grosbeak, Rose-breasted
Gull, Herring
Hawk, Red-Tailed

Heron, Great Blue
Jay, Blue
Killdeer
Kingfisher, Belted
Mallard
Oriole, Baltimore
Pheasant, Ring-necked
Robin, American
Sandpiper, Spotted
Sparrow, House
Starling
Swallow, Bank
Swallow, Barn
Swallow, Tree
Thrasher, Brown
Vulture, Turkey
Wood Duck
Woodpecker, Downy
Woodpecker, Hairy
Warbler, Yellow
 

What Bird was That?
Use this simple key to help identify birds in your backyard or on your visits to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

A blackcapped chickadee sits on a grapevine.
Birding the Park
Find great places to go birding along the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities area.
more...
A goldfinch on a feeder.
Feeding Birds
Feeding birds is a rewarding hobby and helps the birds too.
more...
Red-bellied woodpecker.
Project FeederWatch
You can help researchers learn more about backyard birds in this annual winter-long census.
more...
The mississippi river at night.  

Did You Know?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 50 cities rely on the Mississippi River for daily water supply.

Last Updated: April 02, 2009 at 15:41 EST