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A bird flies through the air.
Purple Martin A purple martin soars through the air. © Shutterstock

Stories in Kentucky

Kentucky Birds

See what's visiting our nature preserves each season.

No matter what the season, there are always interesting birds to see at The Nature Conservancy's Kentucky nature preserves. In fact, birds move through Kentucky all year long. Some change habitats within state borders; others stop by during spring and fall as part of long journeys between breeding grounds and warmer climates.

Here are a few favorites you might see at one of our Kentucky nature preserves or state Wildlife Management Areas—places where we are working with partners to protect and manage habitats for avian visitors. See you outside!

Summer

In summer,  birds are feeding young hatchlings. Soon the youngsters learn to fly and eventually leave the nest. As days grow shorter and summer begins to wane, birds are no longer as vocal as they had been in spring and early summer. Neotropical migrants prepare to make the long journey south for winter. In spite of shorter days, there is still a lot to see and hear before cooler weather arrives.

Kentucky Summer Birds

A brown and black bird rests in grass.
Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) If you are near a grassland, you will likely hear, and maybe even see, this bird. This species is in decline, likely due to loss of habitat. © Rick Conner
A colorful duck swims towards the camera. .
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) After breeding season ends in early summer, colorful wood ducks nest and raise their young in ponds, lakes and streams near forests throughout Kentucky. © Shutterstock
A small hummingbird in flight.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Don’t be fooled by the small size.of these jewel-colored birds. They can cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight. © Kent Mason
A brown bird rests on a branch.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) This bird prefers to stay hidden but can’t hide from its distinctive call. The best chance to catch a glimpse of this bird is at a conservation area. © Jim Williams
An orange and black bird sits in a puddle.
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) Fond of fruit and nectar as well as insects, Baltimore Orioles are easily lured to backyard feeders. They are commonly seen near streams a © Creative Commons/Andy Reago and Chrissy McClaren
An green and blue bird rests in wetlands.
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) These smaller herons can be found looking for fish anywhere there is a water, likely a pond. © Steve S. Meyer
A brown bird rests on a branch.
Great-crested Flycatcher (Butorides virescens) These smaller herons can be found looking for fish anywhere there is a water, likely a pond. © Creative Commons/Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren
A bright blue bird rests on a branch.
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) This bird represents one of the most common migrating birds in Kentucky during the summer. © Creative Commons/ Kurt Bauschardt
× A brown and black bird rests in grass.
× A colorful duck swims towards the camera. .
× A small hummingbird in flight.
× A brown bird rests on a branch.
× An orange and black bird sits in a puddle.
× An green and blue bird rests in wetlands.
× A brown bird rests on a branch.
× A bright blue bird rests on a branch.

Fall

Fall is a time when falling leaves allow birdwatchers to catch a glimpse of some species that would otherwise be hidden in the trees. First come songbirds like warblers and vireos, followed by thrushes, grosbeaks and sparrows. As winter approaches, the woodpeckers, geese, ducks, loons and hawks arrive. 

Kentucky Fall Birds

A bird with a yellow tail rests on a branch.
Yellow-rumped Warbler This winter songbird can be found in dizzying numbers up in the trees. © Dan Pancamo/Creative Commons
A brown bird on a branch viewed from behind.
Winter Wren This petite bird with an energetic song visits southern states during winter. © Jolanda den Hartog
Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrush This visitor feeds on insects located on Kentucky forest floors. © Becky Matsubara
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet You are sure to come across this tiny bird during a hike through one of our nature preserves. © Creative Commons/Dale Scott
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch This small active bird will likely be spotted on the trunk of a tree in search of insects. © Creative Commons
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow You may find this winter visitor foraging on the ground, beneath the bird feeder. © Creative Commons/USFWS
Ring-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull Likely seen near water, these gulls actually make Kentucky a winter home. © Creative Commons/David Slater
Wilson's Snipe
Wilson's Snipe This is a shorebird that makes a winter home in Kentucky wetlands. © Creative Commons/Glen Golson, Jr.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Listen before you look for this member of the woodpecker family! © Andrew Weitzel/Creative Commons
Sandhill Cranes
Sandhill Crane Most commonly spotted in central and western Kentucky, these elegant birds impress when seen in large numbers flying across the sky. © The Nature Conservancy/Chris Hezler
Common Loon
Common Loon This bird is often seen on Kentucky’s larger lakes and rivers, which serve as ideal wintering grounds. © Shutterstock
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk The smallest hawk in North America is easier to find with leaves off of the trees. © Creative Commons/Festive Coquette
× A bird with a yellow tail rests on a branch.
× A brown bird on a branch viewed from behind.
× Hermit Thrush
× Ruby-crowned Kinglet
× Red-breasted Nuthatch
× White-crowned Sparrow
× Ring-billed Gull
× Wilson's Snipe
× Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
× Sandhill Cranes
× Common Loon
× Sharp-shinned Hawk

Winter

In winter, birdwatchers have a chance to catch a glimpse of woodpeckers, geese, ducks, loons, hawks and other species that become more visible after trees lose their leaves.

Kentucky Winter Birds

A gray bird rests on a thin brown branch.
Eastern Phoebe While some migrate, many Eastern Phoebes remain in Kentucky during winter, switching from a diet of insects to berries and seeds. © Creative Commons/Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren
Several large, brown birds gather in a pond near a field.
Sandhill Cranes You might see or hear Sandhill cranes, especially in central or western Kentucky, they fly overhead during winter migration. © The Nature Conservancy/Chris Hezler
A small bird rests in a snowy landscape.
Lapland Longspur Look beyond the woods during winter to find interesting ground birds that have a talent for blending in among open fields. © Creative Commons/Seabanirum
A plump bird seeks food in a tree trunk.
Brown Creeper Common to Kentucky during winter, the Brown Creeper weasels into tree bark with its long bill to find a meal. © Creative Commons/Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren
A bluebird holds a blueberry in its mouth.
Eastern Bluebird Partial to a mix of open grasslands and scattered trees, this forest “edge” species is admired for its beauty, gentle disposition, family devotion and delightful call. © Creative Commons
A brown bird rests on a bush.
Fox Sparrow With similar coloring to a fox, this bird can be seen in Kentucky throughout the winter. © Creative Commons/Mark Sawyer
A duck with a red head floats on the water.
Canvasback Canvasbacks follow the freeze line during winter, going only as far south as they have to. Most winters they spend time wherever there is open water in Kentucky. © Creative Commons/Judy Gallagher
A hawk flies over a grassy field.
Northern Harrier With a face that almost looks like an owl, this hawk is always on the move—often hunting just above the ground over open land and agricultural areas. © Michael Janke
A brown bird rests on the forest floor.
American Woodcock Although ground-dwelling woodcocks reside in Kentucky year-round, they are usually only seen during February and March. © Creative Commons/Fyn Kynd
A head shot of a brown owl shows off its yellow eyes.
Great Horned Owl As early as January, Great-horned owls have formed bonding pairs, begin nesting and are quite vocal, making a winter encounter with them even more rewarding. © Mark Conlin
A black bird with red markings rests on a branch.
Red-winged Blackbird This blackbird sticks around during winter and can be found in flocks of thousands. © Creative Commons/synspectrum
× A gray bird rests on a thin brown branch.
× Several large, brown birds gather in a pond near a field.
× A small bird rests in a snowy landscape.
× A plump bird seeks food in a tree trunk.
× A bluebird holds a blueberry in its mouth.
× A brown bird rests on a bush.
× A duck with a red head floats on the water.
× A hawk flies over a grassy field.
× A brown bird rests on the forest floor.
× A head shot of a brown owl shows off its yellow eyes.
× A black bird with red markings rests on a branch.

Spring

In springtime, Kentucky’s forests, grasslands, streams and prairies harbor an array of birds, especially spectacular populations of warblers. 

Kentucky Spring Birds

A small bird is a mix of black, white and orange.
Bay-breasted Warbler This songbird prefers the cover of Kentucky’s woodlands. © Creative Commons/Dan Pancamo
A small bird has a black head and a white belly.
American Redstart This lively warbler in the Halloween-themed colors hops among tree branches in search of insects. Listen up! © Creative Commons/Dan Pancamo
A small orange and black bird rests on a branch.
Blackburnian Warbler The Blackburnian Warbler is breathtaking in its brilliant orange-and-black breeding plumage. © Creative Commons/Paul Hurtado
A yellow and black bird rests on a branch.
Kentucky Warbler The Kentucky Warbler prefers to be heard, but not seen, usually hiding and nesting within a forest’s ground cover. © Creative Commons/Christopher Eliot
A yellow and black bird rests on a dry stem.
Prairie Warbler Contrary to its name, prairie warblers are more common to scrubby fields and forests throughout the eastern and south-central United States. © Creative Commons/Mill Majoros
A small bird with a red neck flies through the air.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird These jewel-colored birds, eastern North America’s sole breeding hummingbird, can cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight. © Creative Commons/Matt Tillett
An orange and black bird sits in a puddle.
Baltimore Oriole Fond of fruit and nectar as well as insects, Baltimore Orioles are easily lured to backyard feeders. © Creative Commons/Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren
A blue bird sits on a branch.
Indigo Bunting During spring, these brilliantly colored birds can be heard singing from dawn to dusk atop the tallest perch in sight or foraging for seeds and insects in low vegetation. © Creative Commons/Kurt Bauschardt
A brown bird rests on a branch.
Wood Thrush Though still numerous, this bird’s rapidly declining numbers may be due to nest parasitism at the edges of fragmenting habitat and to the effect of acid rain on its prey. © Creative Commons/Issac Sanchez
A fluffy gray bird rests in a branch.
Red-eyed Vireo A single male red-eyed vireo is known to sing more than 20,000 songs per day, contributing to the characteristic sound of an Eastern forest in spring and summer. © Creative Commons/Greg Schechter
A black, red and white bird rests on a branch.
Rose-breasted grosbeak Common along forest edges and on bird feeders, this bird’s song resembles an American Robin with a little extra “squeak.” © Creative Commons/Andy M
× A small bird is a mix of black, white and orange.
× A small bird has a black head and a white belly.
× A small orange and black bird rests on a branch.
× A yellow and black bird rests on a branch.
× A yellow and black bird rests on a dry stem.
× A small bird with a red neck flies through the air.
× An orange and black bird sits in a puddle.
× A blue bird sits on a branch.
× A brown bird rests on a branch.
× A fluffy gray bird rests in a branch.
× A black, red and white bird rests on a branch.

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