Birds Of Idaho: 20 Birds To Find In Idaho

At the end of 2019, there were 432 species of birds found in Idaho. To be considered an Idaho bird, each species will have had to establish a self-sustaining and wild population. Of the 432 species, one is threatened to be endangered, and only four are not protected. Protected species cannot be hunted or possessed even if they are found dead.

Only game birds can only be pursued under Idaho hunting laws. To share information on all 432 species of Idaho birds would require writing a book. Instead, we will look at 20 common and not-so-common birds found throughout the state.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

The genus name “Kokkuzo Americana”, comes from Ancient Greek and means common cuckoo of America. Although the name states common cuckoo, the species has rapidly declined in eastern and western states over the last century.

The yellow-billed cuckoo has been on the list of the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species since November of 2014. If you are lucky enough to spot a yellow-billed cuckoo, adult birds will have a long tail that is colored brown on top with a white and black undertail. The rest of the body is brown on top and white on the bottom.

The yellow-billed cuckoo lives in deciduous woods, migrating to Central America and Argentina during the cold season. Foraging in dense shrubbery and trees, these birds eat insects with an occasional lizard, egg from another bird, or berries.

Mountain Bluebird

The mountain bluebird is the state bird for Idaho. The female has a duller blue color on her wings and tail with a grey-colored underside, neck, and head.

As the seasons change from summer to fall and the colors turn from green to orange, the female mountain bluebird can be seen with red-orange highlights on her throat and breast, and brownish colors contrasting with white undertail colors.

While both the female and male mountain bluebird are beautiful to look at the male steals the show with his bright turquoise blue back and slightly lighter-colored belly. Mountain bluebirds like to eat insects such as spiders, grasshoppers, and flies. They are also known to eat small fruits.

During the winter months, berries and fruit seeds make up most of their diet, but they will join other birds at platform feeders if live mealworms or peanuts are added. Some bluebirds will remain in a single state year-round. Others will fly as far north as Alaska during the summer or as far south as Mexico during the winter.

Snow Goose

The snow goose can easily be imagined as a white goose hanging around a public park. However, there are two variations of a snow goose, white morph and blue morph. A white snow goose is primarily white with black-tipped wings and can often be seen in Idaho.

A blue morph snow goose has a blue-grey body with a white head and white-tipped wings. The blue morph snow goose may be seen in Idaho, but it is less common than the white snow goose.

Migration occurs when temperatures start to drop and colder seasons start. During migration, large flocks of snow geese will fly high and travel more than 3,000 miles to reach coastal areas and warmer marsh-like lands. Snow geese will feed in flocks, eating grains, grasses, and dug-up roots.

Wood Duck

The wood duck is one of the most colorful ducks in North America. Like the mountain bluebird, the male wood duck spends his time in the spotlight showing off his vibrant colors and symmetrical patterns while the female, still pleasing to look at has more of a subtle appearance.

Male ducks are multi-colored with black, brown, tan, green, and iridescent colors. They have red eyes and a white flare down their neck. Females are more neutral-colored with brown tans, whites, and a small bit of green on their wings. There is also a white eye-ring and a white throat to mark the females apart from the males.

In southern parts of the country, wood ducks will stay year-round. In the northern regions, the ducks will migrate south for the winter. Nests can usually be found in tree cavities near bodies of water that include wooded swamps, shallow lakes, marshes, ponds, and creeks.

Mountain Quail

Mountain quails have a natural beauty about them. They are somewhat medium-sized ground-dwelling birds and have learned to survive by moving quickly. The birds have a brown face, gray breast, brown back, and white barred underside. A unique feature distinguishing quail from other birds is the top knot on their heads.

The mountain quail species lives in mountainous regions and can be found as high as 9,800 feet above sea level. Generally, this species is non-migratory, but some flocks have been known to be altitudinal migrants as they move throughout mountain ranges.

Being a ground-dwelling bird, mountain quail gets around by walking incredibly quickly when needed. It is not common to see a quail try to fly. Any flight movement will be short-lived and be seen as gliding back to the ground.

For most of the year, late summer through winter, adult quail and juvenile quail will live in groups of up to 20 birds. Living habitats are usually kept secret to protect the large family.

Wild Turkey

Wild turkeys prefer forested habitats combined with scattered pastures and seasonal marshes. The colors of the turkey’s plumage help the turkey blend in with its surroundings while foraging or scouting the area.

Adult male wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green legs, dark-colored feathers on their body, bronze wings, and tail feathers that are red, purple, green, copper, bronze, and gold iridescence. Male wild turkeys are much more colorful than the females, who have a duller color in shades of brown and gray.

Wild turkeys have an average of 5,000 to 6,000 feathers each. Adult males are also known as a tom can weigh 11 to 24 pounds. Adult females, also known as hens, usually, weigh around 5 to 12 pounds. Wingspans range from 4 feet to 5 feet, and the tail can be between 9 inches and 20 inches.

Wild turkeys are surprisingly fast fliers but typically fly close to the ground for no more than a quarter-mile at a time. Unfortunately, turkeys have poor eyesight at night compared to their excellent vision during the day and fall victim to their predators during the dark hours.

Since wild turkeys are non-migratory it is crucial for them to find large conifer trees with sturdy branches that provide shelter and elemental protection during storms and winter weather.

A wild turkey’s eating habits include ground foraging for acorns, nuts, seeds, berries, buds, leaves, fern fonds, roots, insects, and sometimes small amphibians such as lizards and salamanders.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the most seen hummingbird east of the Mississippi River, making it a joy to have in Idaho as it is less common. Measuring in at only 2 to 4 inches long, a wingspan of only 3 to 4 inches, a bill less than one inch long, and weighing less than half an ounce, small may be an understatement.

An adult male ruby-throated hummingbird has an iridescent ruby-red throat patch and a velvety black upper side. The forked tail of the male is also black with a violet sheen.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate to Florida, Mexico, and Central America during winter. Hummingbirds move so fast that they can not only hover in one place and fly forwards, but they can also fly backward.

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill cranes are usually gray-colored with red foreheads, white cheeks, and dark-colored bills. Juvenile cranes will be more reddish-brown. The typical height of a full-grown sandhill crane is between 2.5 feet and 4.5 feet, with a wingspan of 78 inches.

These birds are excellent at soaring like hawks and eagles with such a long wingspan. Sandhill cranes are social birds. As they migrate south for the winter, this species will create survival groups and travel together.

Black-Necked Stilt

The black-necked stilt is interesting to see. It has a length of 13 to 15 inches, a weight of 5 to 6 ounces, and a wingspan of 28 to 29 inches. The bird’s bill is long, thin, and black. White underbodies, black wings, and a white top tail show off long pink legs.

Compared to other birds where the male is more colorful and vibrant the black-necked stilt male and females look alike. These birds find their food through foraging mudflats and lakeshores using a probing and gleaning method.

Killdeer

Killdeer are known for their often-heard call that can sound like its name. The upper parts of the bird are primarily brown with patches of white on the head. The underside of the bird is predominantly white. On the bird’s neck, one to two black rings can be seen with a black ring that goes around the bird’s eyes.

The killdeer is a very vocal bird and can be heard foraging at night, protecting its nest during the day, or just calling out in general. These birds eat insects as a primary food source but are also known to eat seeds and forage in fields. Killdeer nest in open fields and flat areas with short vegetation.

Often nests and eggs will blend into the surroundings and risk being harmed by unaware humans. Approximately 53% of killdeer eggs are lost to predators or human mistakes each year.

It is common to see a killdeer trying to persuade predators away from the concealed nest as they pace, flap, and call out from a location pretending to be a nest.

Ancient Murrelet

The ancient murrelet has a blackhead, black throat, black neck, a grey back, and a white underbody. This bird has a short beak and a rounded black tail. As the bird ages, white streaks appear on the head to give it an aged appearance. They are 8 to 9 inches long, 5 to 9 ounces in weight and have 17 to 18 inches wingspan.

Ancient murrelets feed by foraging underwater and eating small fish and crustaceans. Ancient Murrelets are the only birds that spend less time on land than any other species.

Yellow-Billed Loon

The yellow-billed loon is the largest in the species. This loon can be 30 to 38 inches long, have a 53 to 63 inches wingspan, and weigh 8 to 14 pounds. Males have a blackhead, white underbody, a checkered black and white upper body, and a long yellow bill. Loons will typically dive for their food and ear fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and ringed worms.

Aside from their appearance, the calls a loon will make are among its most identifying features.

Wood Stork

The wood stork is a wading bird with primarily white feathers, a tail with black, green, and purple colors, and a bare head and neck. The bill is shaped in a downward curve and becomes darker as the bird ages. Standing 33 to 45 inches tall and having a wingspan of 55 to 71 inches, this bird is quite the sight to be seen.

The wood stork is the only stork to breed in North America. Spending most of its time in a tropical and subtropical climate, it is not common to spot a wood stork in Idaho, but they have been recorded as established in the state.

Snowy Egret

The snowy egret is a small white bird that is part of the heron family. The unique stature of this bird is quite amusing. Covered in all white feathers, the only other color on the snowy egret is the yellow on the inner beak, the yellow feet, and the yellow-black legs.

In the early 1900s, snowy egrets were hunted for their long white plumes. Women would pay large amounts of money for hats showcasing the giant plumes, and a fashion trend was started. However, in 1910 the trend ended in North America to preserve the species.

Golden Eagle and Bald Eagle

The golden eagle and the bald eagle have both found refuge in Idaho. Noted to be one of the best-known birds of prey, the birds are agile, quick, and strong. The golden eagle is between 26 and 40 inches in length with a wingspan that spreads 5 feet to 8 feet. That is the fifth largest wingspan among living eagle species.

The female golden eagle is larger than the male and about 37% heavier than males, weighing in between 1 and 14 pounds. Both the male and the female have similar coloring, primarily dark brown, grey on the inner wing and part of the tail, and a lighter brown or golden color on the top of the head and back of the neck.

Golden eagles are the best fliers among raptorial birds. The bald eagle is similar in size to the golden eagle and has a brown body, white head and tail, and a yellow beak. The bald eagle has rightly earned its place as the national bird due to its size, strength, and agility.

Once on the endangered species list and near extinction, in 1995. the bald eagle population had recovered enough to be moved from endangered to threatened. As of 2007, the bald eagle demonstrated its perseverance and was removed from the threatened species list across the country.

Snowy Owl

The snowy owl is also known as the white owl, polar owl, and Arctic owl. It is a large owl and the only one with white feathers. Male snowy owls are seen with more white feathers, while the females have white feathers with darker colored flecks. As female owls age, the marks change from dark to white.

Differing from other owls, the snowy owl is active during the day. Known as a nomadic bird this owl will rarely breed at the same location twice and his migratory habits.

When owl chicks are born, they are initially a gray and white color that changes to a dark gray and brown color before ultimately changing to white. Unlike other primarily white birds, the snowy owl does not have black-tipped wings.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tail hawks are birds of prey that eat smaller mammals and rodents as their primary food source. There are 14 subspecies of the red-tailed hawk. Color variations occur through morphing based on each hawk’s region. There are three main morphs: light, intermediate, and dark. The same feather patterns of horizontal streaks appear to be the same for all three morphs, keeping the basic appearance of red-tailed hawks consistent and identifiable.

Red-Naped Sapsucker

The red-naped sapsucker is a woodpecker with medium-size, black bodies and heads, red foreheads, white stripes, and a red spot on the nape. Their wings are black with white bars, and males have a red throat patch.

Like typical woodpeckers, the Red-naped sapsucker lives in cavities found in trees that served as former nests for other birds and small animals. Sapsuckers are known to drill holes in trees to feed on the sap that gets released and the insects that become trapped in the sticky mess.

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine falcons are raptors the size of large crows. The natural beauty of these birds could be misleading if you didn’t know how good of a hunter they are. They have a blue-grey back, blackhead, and a white flecked underbody.

Peregrine falcons eat medium-sized birds as their first option, but will also eat small mammals, insects, and small reptiles. The largest peregrine falcons weigh up to 3.5 pounds and have a body length of only 13 to 23 inches.

Northern Mockingbird

The northern mockingbird may look like an ordinary bird, but it is well known for its mimicking ability. It has gray and brown upper body gray and brown wings and a paler underside. There are white patches on its tail and wings that can be seen while the bird is flying.

Male and female northern mockingbirds look alike, making it challenging to identify the appropriate sex from afar.

In 2009, a study of the northern mockingbird showed an unexpected intelligence. The mockingbirds in the study showed they could recognize individual humans as good or bad based on role-playing scenarios, recognize breeding their breeding spots, and mimic what they heard.

Conclusion

With over 432 bird species to see and learn about, this is only the beginning of the adventure. If you have any questions, please leave a comment, and we will get back to you.

Birdwatching in Idaho is a rewarding and informative hobby. The 20 birds we introduced you to can be found right outside your window if you know what you are looking for