Prairie Bird Identification

The prairie grasslands of the Midwest and western states abound with bird life. Many of these birds possess coloration that allows them to blend into the countryside to avoid detection by potential predators.

  1. Northern Bobwhite

    • The Northern Bobwhite quail has a mottled reddish brown body and resembles a plump little chicken. The male has a white stripe extending from the eye, while the female has one that is more of a cream color.

    Horned Lark

    • The Horned Lark gets its name from the feathers on its head that rise up and look like a pair of horns. The songbird has a dull brown back and black patches on both the chest and the head that highlight a yellow throat.

    Ring-necked Pheasant

    • Male Ring-necked Pheasant

      A game bird introduced from Asia, the Ring-necked Pheasant has a long tail and looks much like a chicken. The male has a red face and a glistening green neck to go with a white ring around the throat.

    Sedge Wren

    • The Sedge Wren is a light brown bird with a tail usually held in an upright position. It is a poor flier, staying low over the prairie grasses and typically making "crash landings."

    White-throated Sparrow

    • The White-throated Sparrow has some markings on the head that make it easily discernable from other sparrows. These include a black stripe from the eye to the crown of the head, a yellow patch between the eye and the stripe, and of course a white throat.