Louisiana Birds: Common Birds in Louisiana (with Pictures)
A variety of native bird species may be found in Louisiana. There are over 477 different bird species in Louisiana that may be seen at different times of the year. States like Texas and Mississippi border Louisiana, and as a result, they share a lot of birds.
Birds in Louisiana range from common species like the Northern Cardinal to uncommon species like the Western Kingbird.
The Brown Pelican is the official bird of Louisiana, and it has been a symbol of the state since the advent of European settlers, who were captivated by the pelican’s loving attitude toward their young. Here is a list of Louisiana birds that can be found in your backyard is provided below.
Table of Contents
1. Pine Warbler
The Pine Warbler is a little new world warbler of the Parulidae family. This songbird is known for its beautiful singing, which it utilizes to attract females as well as communicate with others.
Pine warblers get their names because they pass a lot of time feeding on the limbs and stems of pine trees. The pine warbler is a migrating bird that spends the winter migrating from north to south.
Color
A white belly and white wing bands distinguish this bird’s plumage. For feeding on the ground and in pine trees, they have a longer break. Adult Pine Warblers have a full olive-yellow plumage, with olive-yellow hues on their breasts and upper parts.
Females and juvenile Pine Warblers have a body-color that differs somewhat from males. Their breasts and necks are somewhat pale.
Length
An adult pine warbler’s body length ranges from 5 to 5.75 inches, with a wingspan of up to 8.75 inches.
Food & Habitat
The Pine Warbler feeds on microscopic insects, wheat grains, and pine nuts. They dwell in the woods and only come to the bird feeders’ backyards for food on rare occasions.
2. White-eyed Vireo
One of the tiniest songbirds in North America is the White-eyed Vireo, commonly known as Vireo griseus.
Color
The White-eyed Vireo’s plumage is stunning and vibrant. Olive-colored feathers cover the head and throat of this bird. The bird’s top portions, back, and wings are olive to dark, with black and white flanks.
In their eyes, there is a white ring. They have yellow underbelly.
Length
A White-eyed Vireo’s body length can range from 4.3 to 5.1 inches (11 to 13 cm), with a wingspan of almost 6.7 inches (17 cm).
Three to six eggs are laid by the female White-eyed Vireo. Both the male and female sit on the eggs until they hatch. They build open nests in the shape of cups. The White-eyed Vireo eats a diversity of invertebrates and nematodes.
Food
They also eat microscopic grains, nuts, or plums from a variety of plants. In the United States, sparrows are renowned to attend bird feeders.
3. Belted Kingfisher
A medium-sized kingfisher with a band around its neck, the Belted Kingfisher is a member of the kingfisher family.
Color
Their beak is large and robust, and their heads feature a shaggy crest. Males are brighter and have more dazzling colors than females of this species. They also have white dots on their blue and black wings.
Length & Weight
The male Belted Kingfisher has a body length of 27 to 34 centimeters and a wingspan of 47 to 57 centimeters. An adult Belted Kingfisher weighs between 113 and 178 grams. The females are larger than the males, with a greater wingspan and heavier weight, due to reversal dimorphism.
Food
They devour tiny amphibians, rodents, and reptiles, among other things. Females deposit eggs, which they wait on until they hatch. The male provides sustenance for his young as well as the female.
4. Pileated Woodpecker
The Pileated Woodpecker is a North American medium-sized woodpecker .
Color
The pileated red crest of this bird is especially well-known. They have a red crest on top of their heads, which makes them easy to see. Except for the red limit on top of the head, they look like other woodpecker species.
Their distinctive crown sets them apart from other Woodpecker species.
Length & Weight
A Pileated Woodpecker has a 17-inch body length and a 28-inch wing as an adult. A mature woodpecker can range anywhere between 8 and 24 ounces.
Male & female Pileated Woodpeckers have subtly different looks. The males have black wings, whereas the females have brown feathers.
Food
They, just like all the similar woodpeckers, eat tree trunks and drill holes in them. They also eat a wide range of nuts, grapes, and veggies.
5. Eastern Bluebird
The Eastern Bluebird is a tiny North American songbird that belongs to the Turdidae family. Farmland, orchids, gardens, and open forests are the most common places to find it. It travels widely throughout the United States, mostly to feeders. With its voice, it generates a lovely tune.
Color
The blue wings, head, and upper parts of the Eastern Bluebird are its most distinctive features. Their necks are surrounded by an orange-brown collar. Their tail is likewise blue and has a large white belly.
Length
They are 16–21 cm long with a wingspan of 25–32 cm and a weight of around 27–34 g. Males and females differ mostly in color; males are blue while females are drab blue to brownish pale.
Food
The adult Eastern Bluebird feeds mostly on worms and insects such as grasshoppers and katydids.
6. Purple Martin
Their name derives from their plumage which is not literally purple but rather blackish blue, but when they fly in the sunshine, it takes on a gleaming purple hue. Their lustrous plumage can also reflect greenish-blue hues.
Color
Female Purple Martins are distinct from male Purple Martins in that they are smaller and weigh less. Females, on the other hand, have a different plumage hue than males. They feature a brown underbelly and breasts, as well as a brown belly.
Length & Weight
An adult’s body length can range from 7.5-7.9 inches, and its wingspan can be about 15.3-16.1 inches. An adult Purple Martin can weigh anywhere from 1.6 to 2.1 oz. As soon as the winter is through, they return to the North.
Food
This bird eats worms and tiny insects. From the air, they assault their victim. In North America, they seldom frequent bird feeders.
7. Indigo Bunting
The Indigo Bunting a tiny seed-eating bird in the Cardinalidae family, is a tiny cotyledons bird. This bird is endemic to North America, however, it spends the wintertime in the southern American States.
They are capable of seeing in the dark and even at night. They travel mostly at night but pass the entire day searching for food whenever they fly. The Indigo Bunting takes its title from the color of its feathers, which is indigo blue.
Color
Male Indigo Buntings possess a sparkling blue indigo coloration that encompasses the feathers, back, forehead, above parts, abdomen, and underparts; feminine Indigo Buntings possess brown coloration. In addition, the male Indigo Bunting’s wings have a blackish tint.
Females have a grey-white underbelly and brown and dark brown upper parts.
Length & Weight
An adult Indigo Bunting bird’s body length ranges from 11.5–13 cm (4.5–5.1 in) to 18.5–23 cm (7.1–9.1 in), with a wingspan of almost 18–23 cm (7.1–9.1 in). A breeding male bird can weigh anything from 11.2–21.4 g (0.40–0.75 oz.) as an adult.
Food
The Indigo Bunting is well-known for its seed-eating habits since they rely nearly completely on seeds found in fields. They scour the ground for seeds, which they consume. They consume grains, fruits, berries, and vegetative materials in addition to the seeds.
8. Eastern Towhee
The Passerellidae family among passerine species includes the Eastern Towhee, a small new world bird . Because of its rufous-sided markings, the Eastern Towhee is also known as the rufous-sided towhee.
Color
They have a lovely look with plumage that is a blend of black, white, brown, and red colors. Such species are also migratory, moving from one part of the country to the next. The Eastern Towhee is rufous on both sides and has a white belly.
Their tail is lengthy, with white dots or borders running down the length of it. The eyes of the Eastern Towhee are crimson. Males & females have very little in common in terms of looks. Males have one black tail and upper body, while females have one brown tail and upper chest.
Length
The Eastern Towhee does have a wingspan of roughly 20–30 cm and a total height of 17.3 to 23 cm.
Food
Eastern Towhees build their nests in shrubs or small trees. They have a lovely song that they sing to attract mates. The Eastern Towhee consumes a wide variety of tiny insects, such as mosquitoes, bugs, and caterpillars. Green vegetable debris berries and tiny fruits are also eaten by them. They also feed the birds at the bird feeders.
9. Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum, often known as the Brown Thrasher, is a large bird that belongs to the Mimidae species of thrashers. The Brown Thrasher is a species that may be spotted in rocky locations all over the world, including the United States.
Color
As its names demonstrate, the bird is fully covered in brown coloration. They possess dark brown or black spots above their wings and on the tops of their feathers.
It’s tough to distinguish between male or female Brown Thrasher birds since their form, color, and size are so similar. Brown Thrasher babies are born without feathers and with drab coloration.
Length & Weight
Brown Thrashers have a body size of 23.5 to 30.5 cm and a wingspan of 29 to 33 cm. The average adult Brown Thrasher weighs approximately 61 and 89 grams (2.2 to 3.1 oz). The Brown Thrasher’s female lays 3 to 5 eggs, which she watches till they develop. The male provides sustenance throughout these days.
Food
The Brown Thrasher eats mostly small insects and worms. The Brown Thrasher eats the nuts, grain, grapes, or buds of several birds. If the bird feeders include suet and other similar foods, they will visit them on a pretty regular schedule.
10. White-breasted Nuthatch
The White-Breasted Nuthatch would be a tiny bird belonging to the nuthatch species. They thrive in moderate North American climates. They have such a shorter tail, a huge head, a robust beak, and robust claws.
Color
Possessing a black crown and a blue-grey rear, they have a white patch, flanks, as well as chest. They are available in nine different hues making them simple to recognize.
Length & Weight
White-breasted Nuthatches may grow up to 14 cm in length and have a wingspan of 27 cm. They weigh anything from 0.6 to 1.0 ounces.
Food
They may compose a range of melodies relying on the circumstance. Their primary dietary resources are bugs & spores from small trees and shrubs. They also eat and preserve the nuts of other plants, including oak, in tree stumps, that they devour all throughout the winter period.
11. Red-headed Woodpecker
A Red-headed Woodpecker is a small bird endemic to the North States. These are migratory birds that migrate from north to south throughout the winter.
Color
The words “woodpecker” come after the bird’s gleaming reddish-brown plumage. This bird’s coloration is stunning and gleaming. The Red-headed Woodpecker’s chest, underbelly, and breasts are completely white. The head of the juvenile Red-headed Woodpeckers is grey.
Length & Weight
Red-headed Woodpeckers possess a wingspan of approximately 42.5 cm and a body mass of 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 in). As a mature, a Red-headed Woodpecker might weigh anywhere from 56 to 97 g.
Food
The Red-headed Woodpecker has been well for pecking holes in tree stumps and living within them. This bird consumes insects that are captured in mid-flight by this breed. They don’t feed on the ground too often. They mostly look for food in the trees. Their preferred foods are little seeds, almonds, and grains.
12. White-throated Sparrow
The Zonotrichia albicollis, often known as the White-throated Sparrow, is a tiny passerine songbird belonging to the Passerellidae family of new world sparrows.
Color
As the name says, their necks are whitish. In their pupils, yellow specks emerge. The White-throated Sparrow’s forehead is adorned with white, black, or light-skinned stripes. The White-throated Sparrow has black, brown, and white stripes on its wings, head, and feathers. They also have brownish tails. Males and females have various differences.
Length & Weight
The body length of a White-throated Sparrow is 15 to 19 cm (5.9 to 7.5 in), with a wingspan of around 23 cm. As an adult, a White-throated Sparrow might measure anywhere from 22 to 32 grams. The White-throated Sparrow builds its nest in dense vegetation.
Food
The White-throated Sparrow feeds on tiny grains and wheat. They also visit the bird feeders to nourish the birdies.
13. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a small bird recently discovered in North America. They receive their name from the ruby red complexion of their neck. They go south in the winter as seasonal hummingbird subspecies.
Color
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird has metallic green upperparts and white-grey underparts. Their wings are blackish-brown and their beak is large.
Even though its throats are not as red as male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds’, female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds appear to be similar to males.
Length & Weight
Ruby-throated hummingbirds have a body length of 7 to 9 cm and a wingspan of 8 to 11 cm. A Ruby-throated hummingbird can weigh anything from 2 to 6 grams as an adult.
Color
They drink nectar from the flower’s ovary using their lengthy beaks. During their migration and flight, they devour small insects and worms.
14. Downy Woodpecker
Color
The Downy Woodpecker belongs to the woodpecker family and is a tiny bird. The plumage of the bird is predominantly black with white patches above the wings and black and white stripes across the head. This species’ male and female have similar plumage colors, but the female lacks the little red dot on the male’s head.
The Downy Woodpecker has white spots on its wings and a white belly. A male Downy Woodpecker weighs more and has a wider wingspan than a female. Female Downy Woodpeckers are similarly somewhat smaller than their male counterparts in terms of body size.
Food
The feeders that give them with suet entice them. In comparison to the summer, they are more commonly found in the feeding areas throughout the winter.
15. Tufted Titmouse
Color
The Tufted Titmouse is a small species native to North America. Its head is crowned with a black crest.
Length & Weight
An adult Tufted Titmouse’s body length ranges from 5.6 to 6.2 inches (13-16 cm), with a wingspan of 7.9-10.2 inches (20-26 cm) and a bodyweight of 20 to 26 grams (0.6 to 1 oz.).
The physical form and size of men and females are identical. They may appear to be identical, but their tufted crest allows you to tell them apart. They have rust-colored flanks and an upper torso that is rust-colored. They have great and exquisite music with about 20 different rhythm variations.
They use these different rhymes in different contexts, resulting in a different sort of song relying on the scenario. Unlike many other species they do not create open nests rather; they use the cracks in tree trunks to build their nests inside.
Food
They eat grains and seeds from a wide range of small plants and herbs. Their preferred meals are little berries and fruits. Insects and hornets are other favorites of the Tufted Titmouse.
16. Barn Swallow
The Hirundinidae family includes the Barn Swallow, which is a medium-sized bird . They’re also one of the most common swallow species on the planet. Their long tail and brilliant blue and white plumage distinguish them.
Color
The Barn Swallow’s upperparts and tails are almost entirely brightly colored. Meanwhile, the underbelly and breasts are completely white. Their necks are similarly adorned with blackish-brown rings.
Because of their long tail, they have a longer body than other birds; their body is typical, but their forked tail is lengthy. The juvenile Barn Swallows have distinct body coloration, with black upperparts and wings and pale white underparts and breasts.
Length & Weight
The typical body length of a Barn Swallow is 7.2 inches, with a total wingspan of 33 cm. An adult male’s typical weight is around 20 g. Females are smaller, lighter, and have a smaller wingspan than males.
Food
Tiny insects, such as big flies, sand martins, and other small arthropods and worms, are eaten by them.
Conclusion
This article depicts some of Louisiana’s most popular backyard birds. As you can see, birders in the Pelican state will have a busy and exciting time with over 470 different kinds of birds.
If you decide to attend one of the hotspots listed, make sure to bring your binoculars and camera, but most importantly, bring your patience.
These tiny angels are lovely, yet you all know how bashful they can be.
FAQ
How many different bird species can you find in Louisiana?
Within Louisiana’s boundaries, more than 470 bird species have been identified. Because Louisiana has such a diverse range of habitats, it attracts a wide range of birds.
What is the most effective approach to identify a bird in my backyard?
Using a balanced observation technique that takes into consideration the bird’s behavior, color, and field markings is the simplest way to recognize backyard birds. A guidebook can also help you recognize the most common garden birds in your region.
Is it lawful in Louisiana to kill egrets?
Shooting herons and egrets without permission from the USFWS is prohibited. Commercial fish farms can seek a permit to supplement their nonlethal harassing methods.
Is that really illegal to own an owl feather?
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to possess feathers and other components of native North American birds without a license. Molted feathers, as well as those obtained from the road- or window-killed birds, are not excluded.
About Lily Aldrin
I am Lily Aldrin. I attended Cornell University, where I obtained my degree to become an Ornithologist so I could pursue my love of these magnificent creatures in and out of their natural habitats.
