Birds in Illinois in February

Percent of complete checklists in Illinois that reported the bird during these weeks, 2016–2025 (95,403 checklists). It shows how likely you are to list the bird, not how many there are. Methods.

1. 1Northern Cardinal51%
2. 2Canada Goose46%
3. 3Dark-eyed Junco43%
4. 4House Sparrow40%
5. 5Downy Woodpecker39%
6. 6Black-capped Chickadee35%
7. 7Red-bellied Woodpecker32%
8. 8American Crow32%
9. 9European Starling30%
10. 10Mallard30%
11. 11Mourning Dove30%
12. 12White-breasted Nuthatch29%
13. 13House Finch27%
14. 14Blue Jay27%
15. 15American Robin25%
16. 16American Goldfinch22%
17. 17Red-winged Blackbird19%
18. 18Ring-billed Gull19%
19. 19American Tree Sparrow18%
20. 20Red-tailed Hawk17%
21. 21Common Goldeneye17%
22. 22American Herring Gull15%
23. 23Tufted Titmouse14%
24. 24Common Merganser13%
25. 25Hairy Woodpecker13%
26. 26White-throated Sparrow12%
27. 27Bald Eagle12%

• Red-winged Blackbirdfirst arrivals late February, peaks mid May
• Brown-headed Cowbirdfirst arrivals mid February, peaks early May
• Common Gracklefirst arrivals the second week of February, peaks mid May
• Killdeerfirst arrivals the second week of February, peaks the second week of August
• Wood Duckfirst arrivals mid February, peaks the second week of April
• Eastern Meadowlarkfirst arrivals mid February, peaks the second week of June
• Pied-billed Grebefirst arrivals late February, peaks early April
• Sandhill Cranefirst arrivals the second week of February, peaks the second week of March
• Green-winged Tealfirst arrivals early February, peaks mid March
• Horned Grebefirst arrivals late February, peaks late March
• American White Pelicanfirst arrivals the second week of February, peaks early April
• American Wigeonfirst arrivals the second week of February, peaks mid March

28. 28Song Sparrow9.7%
29. 29Red-breasted Merganser9.1%
30. 30Carolina Wren8.4%
31. 31Rock Pigeon7.9%
32. 32Northern Flicker7.5%
33. 33Killdeer5.9%
34. 34Redhead5.8%
35. 35Red-breasted Nuthatch5.8%
36. 36Greater White-fronted Goose5.6%
37. 37Bufflehead5.5%
38. 38Eastern Bluebird5.4%
39. 39Lesser Scaup5.4%
40. 40Common Grackle5.3%
41. 41Hooded Merganser5.1%
42. 42Carolina Chickadee5.1%
43. 43Cooper's Hawk5.0%
44. 44Great Blue Heron5.0%
45. 45Gadwall4.8%
46. 46Greater Scaup4.5%
47. 47Ring-necked Duck4.3%
48. 48Snow Goose4.1%
49. 49Turkey Vulture3.9%
50. 50Brown Creeper3.7%
51. 51Brown-headed Cowbird3.6%
52. 52American Kestrel3.6%
53. 53Mute Swan3.6%
54. 54Horned Lark3.5%
55. 55American Coot3.4%
56. 56Red-headed Woodpecker3.3%
57. 57Northern Harrier3.3%
58. 58Red-shouldered Hawk3.2%
59. 59Belted Kingfisher3.2%

60. 60Sandhill Crane3.0%