Arkansas Birds: Pictures And Bird Identification Tips

No sense talking Arkansas birds without first mentioning the Northern Mockingbird, the official state bird.

When the Mockingbird talk ends, it’s a good bet that the state’s Mockingbird population will pick up the conversation. Arkansas residents who host Mockingbirds in their yard are well aware of their propensity to talk and sing all day long.

Less well known might be the fact that the songbird Arkansas residents hear while they are relaxing in the house might not even be a songbird. It might be the resident mockingbird. As the most common of the mimic birds, they have the ability to mimic the vocalizations of dozens of bird species.

They are also territorial birds that can be seen in conflict with other bird species that enter their territory.

The Arkansas birds list extends well beyond the Mocking bird. A quick check on a variety of sources shows up to approximately four hundred additional species that permanently or temporarily call the state home. Twenty of them vie for attention in many back yards throughout the state and go by the common name sparrow.

The Chipping Sparrow in the picture is one such bird. It’s not very common in much of the winter, so seeing one can be a pleasure.

Northwest Arkansas, commonly referred to as the Ozarks, offers multiple birding opportunities, from the Ozark National Forest for woodland birding, to Fayetteville for some urban birding.

Arkansas Birds: The Ozarks

The Ozark National Forest continues to be an important birding area that lays the foundation for a healthy bird population throughout the entire Ozark Region.

Habitat usually determines the types of birds that thrive in different parts of the areas. Oak forests dominate the Ozark National Forest. Pine forests, smaller rolling hill areas, rivers and valleys host a variety of species.

According to the National Park Service, half of the state’s birds, approximately 200 species, can be found at the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Spring and fall migration represent the peak of the season, especially for favorites such as warblers, tanagers and vireos.

For tourists interested in urban birding Lake Fayetteville is a short car ride north of the city. The lake hosts over two hundred species and provides multiple birding trails. The picture shows a White-eyes Vireo, one of seven different Vireo species that make an appearance throughout the Ozarks during migration.

The following gallery provides a nice representative sample of the common migratory birds and spring visitors to the state.

Woodpeckers rank high in the Arkansas birds category because most species visit back yards and parks.

Flickers, one of Arkansas’ most common woodpeckers. More specifically, it’s home to the Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker. The color designation refers to the under the wing color of their tail and wing feathers.

They are ground feeders that prefer open habitats such as fields and residential areas. because they supply them with their primary food sources such as insects, seeds and berries. The male is distinguished from the female by the red patch on the cheek.

Popular birds, they are welcome at many back yard feeders. As the picture shows, they especially enjoy a snack of suet and water.

The red crested head and white stripes across the face makes it difficult to mistake the Pileated Woodpecker for any other species. It’s the only species in the Dryocopus genus in the United Sates and probably the largest woodpecker in any area.

Pileated Woodpeckers are habitat adaptable. That fact partially explains their range. With the exception of the Rocky Mountain states and the Midwest, they can be found from coast to coast. They need some dense forested area for habitat. In the West, they prefer old growth habitat and in the East they can adapt to the younger forests.

They are described as both shy and adapted to human environments. Their attitude toward humans probably depends on the particulars of their territory. In instances where they breed and live in non-residential areas, they can be shy. There are also ample examples of their being enticed to backyard bird feeders.

Arkansas hosts two wide-spread Melanerpes species, the first being the Red-bellied woodpecker. They are larger than average birds with an outgoing personality. They easily adapt to backyard feeders and their loud vocalizations can often be heard through the neighborhood.

Physically, the name red-bellied can be a bit misleading because the stomach feathers have barely a hint of red to them. The back and top of the male’s head is red. The female’s head is buffy and the nape is red.

Like Acorn Woodpeckers, they are known to store food in cracks in trees. Their diet also consists of in season fruit, nuts and insects.

Red-headed woodpeckers rank as the other most wide spread of the Arkansas Melanerpes species. It’s physical appearance translates into easy identification. The head, covered in red feathers, along with a white stomach stands out in a crowded woodpecker field. Both males and females share this feature. Juveniles have brown feathers on the head for their first year.

They enjoy open areas with grasses and woodlands, especially oak dominated areas because the consume acorns. Their propensity for nuts also means they are easily enticed to backyard feeders with suet or other healthy nuts such as sunflower seeds.

Woodpecker enthusiasts with backyard feeders can attest to their gregarious nature. They don’t mind flocking in large groups when food is plentiful. In those times, they can be a bit vocal. In the northernmost area of their range they are a summer resident for breeding and then migrate south for the winter.

The only woodpecker species on the Endangered Species List, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker makes its home in the mostly longleaf pines of Arkansas. Fifteen counties in central and southern Arkansas now have habitat protection to insure that the Red-cockaded Woodpecker once again thrives in the state.

Physically it is a medium sized woodpecker with a common barred black and white feathers. A black cap and nape surrounding white facial feathers are the best field identification clues. Males have red stripes across the crown. The were called cockades after a 19th century hat fashion.

Downy woodpeckers are another very common Arkansas woodpecker. Physically, the Downy’s black and white feather pattern resembles the slightly larger Hairy Woodpecker, another Arkansas resident. In instances where size comparisons might not be available, experts suggest examining the bill size in relation to the head size. Downy Woodpeckers typically have small bills.

Everything that is written about the Downy Woodpecker can be written about the Hairy Woodpecker with few caveats. The picture highlights the most important caveat, they have a larger bill than the Downy. Otherwise, the black and white striped face, white belly and back feathers look very similar. Males also have a red crown.

Look for them at the backyard feeder.

Last but not least of the Arkansas woodpeckers are the Sapsuckers. You know, the woodpeckers that drill holes into trees to consume the sap.