Kansas is home to an amazing array of birds, from the regal red-tailed hawk to the state bird, the eloquent western meadowlark.

For a landlocked state, this diversity is impressive. Kansas birdwatchers can be glad we are located right on the central flyway and have a number of excellent hot spots to attract migrants.

In this guide, you can find out more about the appearance, best field marks, voice, distribution and occurrence, and behavior of our state’s many bird species. You will also learn how to attract them for viewing or hunting purposes (when applicable) and how to distinguish them from confusingly similar species.

Along the way, you may come across terms that are unfamiliar to you. You can look them up in our birdwatching glossary.

The birds are organized by taxonomical order (with the exception of whistling-ducks, which we have grouped with ducks for convenience). The sequence and scientific names used can be found in the “Kansas Ornithological Society Checklist of Kansas Birds.”

Are you ready to check more birds off your life list? Follow the links below to get started.

Geese, Swans, and Ducks (Family Anatidae)

Geese & Swans (Subfamily Anserinae)

 

Ducks (Subfamilies Dendrocygninae and Anatinae)