Top 20 Most Common Bird in Hannibal
The environs of Hannibal provide a rich tapestry of landscapes, housing an array of fascinating bird species across its forests, rivers, and grasslands. The region's geographic diversity contributes to the variety in avian life, with habitats ranging from lush woodlands to riparian zones, teeming with 20 common bird species. From the iconic Bald Eagle cruising the skies, the evocative call of the Northern Cardinal, to the charming American Goldfinch, Hannibal serves as a haven for both everyday and extraordinary bird species.
Most Common Bird
1. Northern Cardinal
The northern Cardinal is a distinctive, medium-sized songbird that inhabits temperate forests and yards. Its name is derived from the male's brilliant red plumage color which resembles red-robed Roman Catholic cardinals, while its crest looks like a bishop's mitre. Compared to the male, the female is much duller in color. The highly territorial males can be quite aggressive. Quite popular, this is the state bird of seven U.S. states.
2. Turkey Vulture
The turkey Vulture is a common sight, especially around roads, where they keep a sharp eye out for roadkill. Seeing these large birds in the sky can often make you take a second look to see if it’s an eagle or a hawk. Here’s one quick way to tell the difference. When in flight, a turkey Vulture will circle unsteadily, with its wings lifted to make a V shape. Though they are not appreciated, they do the dirty work of the animal kingdom by cleaning up the countryside as they scavenge.
3. Red-bellied Woodpecker
The red-bellied Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker that commonly nests in dead trees, sometimes taking over other birds' nests. In the search of insects inside tree cavities, it can extend its tongue almost 5 cm past its beak. By excavating insects and larvae from tree bark, this bird is able to "clean" the infested tree. The red-bellied Woodpecker is known to hide food in all kinds of places as a store for later use.
4. Blue Jay
The blue Jay is the largest and the most common Jay in North America. This frequent visitor of birdfeeders is quite opportunistic when it comes to food - it is known as "a nest robber." Able to produce a wide range of musical sounds, this loud songbird can even imitate a Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus). Intelligent and sociable, the blue Jay is said to form strong family bonds.
5. American Robin
The american Robin is the most common, and largest, thrush in North America. It's a bird of striking colors, including its vibrant, red-breasted plumage and pale blue eggs. It likes to feed on summer fruit and berries, but worms play an important role in its diet as well. This songbird is a state bird of Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Its cheery song is considered one of the first signs of spring.
6. Black-capped Chickadee
This small songbird is the most common garden bird in Canada and the northern USA, and also one of the most scientifically studied birds in the world. Able to produce more than 15 complex sounds, the black-capped Chickadee can easily confuse predators with its calls. It's a clever, skillful, and adaptable bird—it can retrieve hidden food after a month and it's able to fly even when its body temperature drops.
7. Mourning Dove
One of the most famous and widespread doves of North America, the mourning Dove can be often seen in urban areas perching on telephone wires. It is named after its distinctive, plaintive-sounding song. It is also a popular game bird, but its population is still abundant thanks to the prolific breeding and its ability to raise up to five to six broods in a single year.
8. European Starling
The european Starling, a large, hardy songbird, is one of the most commonly seen bird species in North America. Originally from Europe, this species was brought to the U.S. in the 1890s by enthusiasts of William Shakespeare, who had the unique goal of bringing over every single species of bird that was mentioned in Shakespeare's collective works. Unfortunately, the european Starling, being an adaptable, generalist species, spread invasively across the continent, hurting many native species' populations in the process.
9. Tufted Titmouse
The tufted Titmouse is the largest of all titmouse species. Quite plain in appearance, but known for its echoing song, this woodland bird is a frequent visitor to urban areas, particularly during winter. It's a highly territorial bird that mostly feeds on insects, but won't shy away from seeds when need be. As a non-migratory species, it prepares food supplies for the winter by hiding seeds from birdfeeders for later use.
10. House Sparrow
Just as its name implies, the little house Sparrow socializes with humans more than any other bird species. Able to adapt and thrive in almost any habitat, excluding the extremes such as deserts and mountain peaks, this species was once restricted only to North Africa and Eurasia but now is found across the globe. Unfortunately, this opportunistic eater is not completely harmless—it can cause considerable damage to crops.
11. Common Grackle
The common Grackle is a medium-sized blackbird that prefers open areas with widely-spaced trees. It produces a distinctive, loud, and unpleasant sound that is said to resemble rusty hinges on the gate. This bird is highly sociable and it's rarely seen alone. Being a regular visitor of urban and suburban areas, this clever crafter uses numerous man-made materials to make its nest. Due to its preference for various foods, including berries and crops, it's considered a pest by farmers.
12. Red-headed Woodpecker
An instantly recognizable bird, the red-headed Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker that prefers an open country full of dead trees. This striking bird is quite skilled at catching insects in the air. One of the four woodpeckers that store food for winter, this clever bird even covers the food with a piece of bark. A true North American woodpecker, it is a war symbol of the Cherokees.
13. Red-winged Blackbird
One of the earliest spring harbingers in North America, the red-winged Blackbird migrates in enormous flocks. Gathered in these large groups, the songbirds produce a loud cacophony. The red-winged Blackbird is an opportunistic omnivore. It feeds on numerous insect species, keeping pests under control, but due to its preference for crops and berries, the red-winged Blackbird is sometimes considered a pest itself.
14. Downy Woodpecker
The smallest woodpecker in North America, the downy Woodpecker is almost identical to the Hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus), but it's significantly smaller and has a shorter bill. It inhabits woods and wooded areas, but is also regularly encountered in urban environments. It often visits birdfeeders, which is an unusual behavior among woodpeckers.
15. Chimney Swift
The chimney Swift is a very distinct bird and can easily be identified due to its silhouette and call. Interestingly, these birds spend most of their lives aloft. They actually cannot perch, so instead they cling to the sides of trees and chimneys - a practice for which they were named. New closed-chimney house designs have caused the species to suffer.
16. Brown-headed Cowbird
The Molothrus ater is a small obligate cowbird found in subtropical regions in North America. It is commonly called brown-headed Cowbird because of the brown feathers on its head. Interestingly it always lays its eggs in the nests of other perching birds.
17. American Crow
The american Crow is a big black bird that can be found in forests, fields, river groves, and among human habitations. Interestingly, it is known to stand atop ant hills and allow ants to climb onto its feathers; this apparently discharges their formic acid and makes them more palatable for the crow to eat. Sadly, american Crow numbers have been substantially affected by the West Nile virus in North America. Infected birds die from West Nile in less than a week.
18. Bald Eagle
The national symbol of the United States, the large, distinctively white-headed bald Eagle has a deep sense of symbolism and meaning for that country. It’s no wonder why it was chosen for the role. The bald Eagle is regal, formal, and inspiring to see. It’s incredibly strong and very dangerous to its prey.
19. Indigo Bunting
One of the most brilliantly colored birds of North America, this sparrow-sized bird likes disturbed habitats such as weedy fields and rural areas. The indigo Bunting is actually more cyan-blue than indigo, but at one point during the mating season, the male's face turns indigo before it goes purple. It is considered one of the most cheerful songbirds of North America.
20. American Goldfinch
Brilliant yellow plumage characterizes the small american Goldfinch, but this prominent yellow color is present only in males during the mating season. A strict vegetarian, this bird feeds on seeds and other plant material. The american Goldfinch is an active and acrobatic bird, which can be often seen flying in a bouncy pattern.
