Metro Area Bird Species Composition

A total of 298 bird species regularly occur within the metro area; of those, 163 are breeders or permanent residents, while the others are migrants or winter/summer visitors (Appendix A). This impressive tally doesn’t include an additional 97 occasional/accidental visitants that have also been documented within at least one of the seven counties of the metro area (Appendix B). While it is important to acknowledge and continue to track the presence of accidental species, these birds will not be discussed further as it is difficult to determine their habitat associations and they are not present in manageable numbers. Species considered to be regular visitors to or residents of the metro area can be further categorized into three groups; migratory species (non-breeders), birds that nest in the metro area (common backyard birds, nuisance species and birds enhanced by human alterations to the environment), and breeding birds of conservation concern.

Migratory Birds

Migratory birds pulse through the metro area in waves each spring and fallⁱ, often stopping to forage before continuing on their journeys. Waterfowl are generally the first migrants to arrive in spring. They appear once the ice starts to break up, anywhere from late February through April. “Puddle ducks,” such as Mallards, Wood Ducks, Northern Shovelers and Blue-winged Teal, require shallow water and congregate a bit later in the spring on expanding patches of open water. The second wave of spring migrants includes shorebirds, which typically travel thousands of miles before stopping to rest, refuel and then head farther north into Canada and the Arctic to breed. While a few, such as Killdeer, are summer residents, the majority are migrants that arrive from late April through May. The last wave of migrants includes the songbirds that arrive from late April and peak in numbers in mid- to late May. The presence of these migrants, although sometimes brief, embellishes the rich birding opportunities that are available throughout the year. Many Twin Cities residents anxiously await the arrival of spring migrants after a long cold winter. And the metro area provides important habitat where these species can rest and “refuel”.

Birds that Nest in the Metro Area

Backyard and Common Birds
Bird life throughout the Twin Cities metro area is rich and varied. Metro area residents are fortunate to enjoy a surprising diversity of common birds. A colorful array of birds, including Northern Cardinals, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, American Goldfinches, Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Orioles, and American Robins grace even the most densely urbanized areas. Even some larger birds are easily found along rivers and other water bodies, including Ospreys, Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets. Other iconic birds that were once hard to spot are rapidly increasing in numbers, such as the Cooper’s Hawk, Bald Eagle and Wild Turkey.

Nuisance Species
Because the nuisance designation is one of human perception, any species, including native species, could potentially be considered a nuisance. A species generally becomes a "nuisance" when its population becomes so dense that it causes human/wildlife conflicts. Some familiar "nuisance" birds found throughout the metro area include Canada Geese, and non-native European Starlings, House Sparrows, and Rock Doves (pigeons).

Canada Geese thrive where lakes or wetlands border the open space of parks, golf courses and athletic fields, a combination that is very common in the metro area. A large resident population is present year-round and it can almost triple when fall migrant Canada geese come through. Large concentrations of Canada geese are often considered both a messy nuisance and dangerous. Geese are also the biggest concern at metro airports, followed by starlings.

European Starlings consume a wide variety of food but are mainly insectivores. They nest in cavities and will aggressively displace native cavity-nesting birds such as Purple Martins, Bluebirds and Woodpeckers. By competing for these nest sites, Starlings are believed to be partly responsible for the decline of some of these native species.

House Sparrows are considered a nuisance in the Twin Cities primarily because they dominate bird feeders and may drive away native birds such as Northern Cardinals, various finches and Chickadees. Like Starlings, they also compete with some native cavity-nesters. It appears that repeated introductions occurred in various parts of the U.S and Canada in the 1850’s and in Saint Paul as early as the fall of 1876. They are now one of the most abundant songbirds on the continent.

Rock Pigeons are ubiquitously associated with city landscapes. They are social and can nest and forage in large flocks, leaving large amounts of droppings which can pose a human health hazard and be destructive to buildings and other structures. The city of Saint Paul is experimenting with contraception, mixing OvoControl-P with cracked corn and grain scattered about the rooftops. The pellets do not harm the birds, but prevent eggs from hatching.

Birds Enhanced by Alterations in the Urban Environment

A small number of species have become increasingly dependent on human-made structures and nesting sites. These include cavity nesting species such as Eastern Bluebirds or Wood Ducks, whose use of nest boxes mitigates for the lack of suitable dead trees and snags in the urban environment. Purple Martins are cavity nesters that, east of the Rockies, are totally dependent on human-supplied housing. Others, such as Chimney Swifts and Ospreys, can adapt to specific human-made structures (such as chimneys or power and light poles) and will also use structures specifically designed and placed for their needs. Other species, such as Barn Swallows and Peregrine Falcons, have adapted to nesting under bridges or on ledges or rooftops of tall buildings.

Birds of Conservation Concern

As part of the Audubon Minnesota 2012: Operational Blueprint for Bird Conservation in Minnesota, priority bird species were identified for major landscapes throughout the state. The metro area is part of a larger landscape, identified for bird conservation purposes as Bird Conservation Region (BCR) 23 - the Prairie Hardwood Transition. Priority bird species in BCR 23 which also occur in the metro area are listed as “Birds of Conservation Concern” (Table 1.1). Species in all three categories of concern share each of the following characteristics: 1) populations in decline, 2) dependency on vulnerable habitats and 3) are present in manageable numbers.