Birds in Central Oklahoma

Welcome to the world of birds! This site will show you twenty birds that you can find in the central part of Oklahoma. You will learn about birds and get to go bird watching without ever having to leave your computer!

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a large "fish hawk." They have a brown back and white belly. They are fairly common in coastal areas, marshes, ponds, lakes, and wetlands. They fly 30-100 feet above the surface of the water, then will suddenly plunge down into the water to grab their food. They range from Alaska to Arizona and across to Florida. They are in Oklahoma during the winter months.

The Killdeer--Charadius vociferus--has a brown upper and white lower color, with two black bands across its breast. The bird has a long tail. They live in grassy fields, meadows, farm fields, and are usually seen flying alone. They range from Alaska and Canada and stays the winter months in the southern parts of the United States.

The Eastern Screech Owl, Otus asio, is a smaller owl that has clearly defined ear tufts when they are raised. They have large yellow eyes and are grey in color. They live in forests and woodlands. The owl is nocturnal and is fairly common, but not usually seen. They range from southern Canada south to the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. They are present in Oklahoma year round. The owl can lay 3-8 eggs in their nests.

The Royal Tern (Sterna maxima) is a larg tern with a long orange beak. They are pale gray with a black head and tail. They live around saltwater areas, and are rare inland. They will dive below the water to get their food. They are not native to Oklahoma, but are seen when they are passing through for summer/winter migration. They range from Maryland to Texas.

Parus carolinensis, a.k.a. the Carolina Chickadee, is a small bird that could fit in your hand. they are blue, white, and have a black head. The live in deciduous and coniferous forest, woodland edges, swampy areas, clearings, fields, and thickets. They range from southeastern Kansas down to Texas and up to New Jersey. This Chickadee bird is common in Oklahoma and more abundant in the winter months.

The American Robin (Turdus migratorinus) is a small bird that is grey on their backs, bright red on their chest, and have a yellow beak. They live in moist woodlands, swamps, gardens, hedges, forest edges, and often nest close to human structures. They are in Alaska and to the east and southern parts of the United States. They can be seen in Oklahoma throughout the year.

The Brown Thrasher, known in scientifically as the Toxostoma

rufum, is 11 and a half inches long. They are brown on their backs with a white underbelly that has brown streaks. The birds have a long tail and yellow eyes. They rang from Canada to the Gulf Coast. In Oklahoma, they are mostly seen in the summer and rarely seen in the winter. They live in woodland edges, brushy areas, and are usually seen on or near the ground.

Cyanocitta cristat, are the birds named Blue Jays after their blue top. They are blue, white, and black, and are known for their intelligence and complex social systems. These birds are very close to their family. They range from the Great Plains in the United States all they way east to the Atlantic States. They live near forest edges and are often seen in towns.

The White-breasted Nuthatch, or Sittas carolinensis, is 5-6" with a blue back and a white breast. They live in the forest, suburbs, towns, and other regions with oak or pine trees. they nest anywhere they can fit through, such as in a bird house. They will lay 5-6 eggs at a time. The birds are present in Oklahoma, but is rarely seen in the panhandle. They range from Canada to almost all of the United States except the Great Plains.

The Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis, is about 8-9" in length. They are olive-brown on top and yellowish below with a gray head. They can lay 4 eggs and they nest in a tree or brush. They usually live in dry open areas with few trees. They are statewide in Oklahoma during the summer, but are more prevelant in the western part of the United States. They range from Canada to Mexico.