
Mallard is the most common bird species in the US and the most recognizable and the most commonly harvested duck in Indiana. Pygmy Nuthatch, the smallest bird in Indiana.Sharp-shinned Hawk, the tiniest hawk in Indiana.Pileated Woodpecker, the largest woodpecker in Indiana.Northern Saw-whet Owl, one of the tiniest owls worldwide.Indigo Bunting, the most abundant songbird in Indiana.Black-necked Stilt, the rarest bird species you can see in Indiana.

This beautiful red-feathered bird is the state bird of Indiana since 1933 and also the official state bird in six other states. With 59% frequency, Northern Cardinal is the most common backyard Indiana bird throughout the year.

Here at the Lab, where many of us have spent a fair amount of time studying birds, people seem reluctant to describe themselves as “true birders” unless they can keep up with a certain echelon of folks, the kind who can, say, spot a Yellow-billed Loon in a New Jersey subdivision pond at 45 m.p.h. How would you describe yourself? Do you use the two terms interchangeably, or perhaps different words altogether – I’ve also heard “naturalist,” “bird lover,” “nature enthusiast,” “outdoorsman” (or “outdoorswoman”), and “environmentalist.” Do you think there’s a difference between a “bird watcher” and a “birder”? Has it ever been suggested that you’re a “twitcher,” a “stringer,” or a “lister”? Like the Inuit and their fabled number of words for snow, the bird-watching tribe has invented a vocabulary that can handle subtle gradations of enthusiasm (or obsession). Or maybe you’ve got an all-out expedition planned, and you’ll be bagging rarities on the other side of the horizon. Perhaps you’ll sit quietly and watch your hummingbird feeder – or get up early and stroll through the park looking for fledglings. There’s a long weekend of fireworks and barbecues approaching – but I’m sure some of our readers will take some time to watch the midsummer birds.

BIRD WATCHER NAME HOW TO
Bird ID Skills: How to Learn Bird Songs and Calls
