BFI Guide to Birds of Conservation Concern
Use this guide to plan community activities for the birds of greatest conservation concern in Iowa. Some need nesting habitat while others are migratory and are in need of safe places to feed and rest as they make their treks north and south.
| Family |
Species |
Scientific Name |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans |
Trumpeter Swan |
Cygnus buccinator |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans |
Blue-winged Teal |
Spatula discors |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans |
American Wigeon |
Mareca americana |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans |
Northern Pintail |
Anas acuta |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans |
Canvasback |
Aythya valisineria |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans |
Redhead |
Aythya americana |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans |
Ring-necked Duck |
Aythya collaris |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans |
Lesser Scaup |
Aythya affinis |
| Upland Game Birds |
Northern Bobwhite |
Colinus virginianus |
| Upland Game Birds |
Ruffed Grouse |
Bonasa umbellus |
| Upland Game Birds |
Sharp-tailed Grouse |
Tympanuchus phasianellus |
| Upland Game Birds |
Greater Prairie-Chicken |
Tympanuchus cupido |
| Grebes |
Red-necked Grebe |
Podiceps grisegena |
| Grebes |
Eared Grebe |
Podiceps nigricollis |
| Cuckoos, Roadrunners, Anis |
Yellow-billed Cuckoo |
Coccyzus americanus |
| Cuckoos, Roadrunners, Anis |
Black-billed Cuckoo |
Coccyzus erythropthalmus |
| Nighthawks, Nightjars |
Common Nighthawk |
Chordeiles minor |
| Nighthawks, Nightjars |
Chuck-will's-widow |
Caprimulgus carolinensis |
| Nighthawks, Nightjars |
Eastern Whip-poor-will |
Caprimulgus vociferus |
| Swifts, Hummingbirds |
Chimney Swift |
Chaetura pelagica |
| Rails, Coots, Cranes |
King Rail |
Rallus elegans |
| Rails, Coots, Cranes |
Common Gallinule |
Gallinula galeata |
| Shorebirds |
Piping Plover |
Charadrius melodus |
| Shorebirds |
Upland Sandpiper |
Bartramia longicauda |
| Shorebirds |
American Woodcock |
Scolopax minor |
| Shorebirds |
Wilson's Snipe |
Gallinago delicata |
| Shorebirds |
Wilson's Phalarope |
Phalaropus tricolor |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers |
Franklin's Gull |
Leucophaeus pipixcan |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers |
Least Tern |
Sternula antillarum |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers |
Black Tern |
Chlidonias niger |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers |
Forster's Tern |
Sterna forsteri |
| Pelicans, Herons, Ibises |
American White Pelican |
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos |
| Pelicans, Herons, Ibises |
American Bittern |
Botaurus lentiginosus |
| Pelicans, Herons, Ibises |
Black-crowned Night-Heron |
Nycticorax nycticorax |
| Pelicans, Herons, Ibises |
White-faced Ibis |
Plegadis chihi |
| New World Vultures, Kites, Hawks, Eagles |
Northern Harrier |
Circus hudsonius |
| New World Vultures, Kites, Hawks, Eagles |
Bald Eagle |
Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| New World Vultures, Kites, Hawks, Eagles |
Red-shouldered Hawk |
Buteo lineatus |
| New World Vultures, Kites, Hawks, Eagles |
Broad-winged Hawk |
Buteo platypterus |
| New World Vultures, Kites, Hawks, Eagles |
Swainson's Hawk |
Buteo swainsoni |
| Owls |
Barn Owl |
Tyto alba |
| Owls |
Eastern Screech-Owl |
Megascops asio |
| Owls |
Burrowing Owl |
Athene cunicularia |
| Owls |
Long-eared Owl |
Asio otus |
| Owls |
Short-eared Owl |
Asio flammeus |
| Kingfishers |
Belted Kingfisher |
Megaceryle alcyon |
| Woodpeckers |
Red-headed Woodpecker |
Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
| Woodpeckers |
Northern Flicker |
Colaptes auratus |
| Falcons |
American Kestrel |
Falco sparverius |
| Falcons |
Peregrine Falcon |
Falco peregrinus |
| Flycatchers |
Eastern Kingbird |
Tyrannus tyrannus |
| Flycatchers |
Eastern Wood-Pewee |
Contopus virens |
| Flycatchers |
Acadian Flycatcher |
Empidonax virescens |
| Flycatchers |
Say's Phoebe |
Sayornis saya |
| Shrikes |
Loggerhead Shrike |
Lanius ludovicianus |
| Vireos |
Bell's Vireo |
Vireo bellii |
| Larks |
Horned Lark |
Eremophila alpestris |
| Swallows |
Purple Martin |
Progne subis |
| Swallows |
Bank Swallow |
Riparia riparia |
| Wrens |
Sedge Wren |
Cistothorus platensis |
| Wrens |
Bewick's Wren |
Thryomanes bewickii |
| Thrushes |
Veery |
Catharus fuscescens |
| Thrushes |
Wood Thrush |
Hylocichla mustelinus |
| Mimids |
Brown Thrasher |
Toxostoma rufum |
| Towhees, Sparrows |
Field Sparrow |
Spizella pusilla |
| Towhees, Sparrows |
Grasshopper Sparrow |
Ammodramus savannarum |
| Towhees, Sparrows |
Henslow's Sparrow |
Centronyx henslowii |
| Blackbirds, Orioles |
Bobolink |
Dolichonyx oryzivorus |
| Blackbirds, Orioles |
Eastern Meadowlark |
Sturnella magna |
| Blackbirds, Orioles |
Western Meadowlark |
Sturnella neglecta |
| Blackbirds, Orioles |
Baltimore Oriole |
Icterus galbula |
| Wood-warblers |
Worm-eating Warbler |
Helmitheros vermivorus |
| Wood-warblers |
Golden-winged Warbler |
Vermivora chrysoptera |
| Wood-warblers |
Prothonotary Warbler |
Protonotaria citrea |
| Wood-warblers |
Kentucky Warbler |
Geothlypis formosus |
| Wood-warblers |
Common Yellowthroat |
Geothlypis trichas |
| Wood-warblers |
Cerulean Warbler |
Setophaga cerulea |
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings |
Dickcissel |
Spiza americana |