Birds

A bald eagle scavenges a deer carcass
Bald eagle and crow near an animal carcass

Lucy Barnes Slater

Approximately 200 species of birds use the Buffalo National River for at least some part of the year. Nearly half of those species live here year round and can be seen frequently during canoe trips down the river.

Great Blue Herons, Belted Kingfishers, and Wood Ducks are a common sight in almost any section of the river, and Bald Eagles are observed frequently during the winter, as they rest in trees on the ridge tops that overlook the river. Nearly 100 of the recorded species migrate to the oak-hickory forest that surround the river to build nests, lay eggs, and raise their young here during the summer.

The unbroken tracts of forest attract other migrators to feed and rest during their spring and fall migrations between breeding grounds of northern U.S. and Canada and wintering grounds in Central and South America. Many of the birds found within the canopy of the forest are more likely to be heard than seen. The challenge of identifying these cryptic birds by only their song or call can be a rewarding experience and one easily found within the dense woods of Buffalo National River.

 
A mallard duck in flight
A mallard in flight

Dan Davis

Bird Checklist

Summer Birds
Bunting, Indigo
Catbird, Gray
Chat, Yellow-Breasted
Chuck-Will's Widow
Cuckoo, Yellow-Billed
Dickcissel
Flycatcher, Acadian
Flycatcher, Great Crested
Flycatcher, Scissor-Tailed
Gnatcher, Blue-Gray
Grosbeak, Blue
Hawk, Broad-Winged
Heron, Green
Hummingbird, Ruby-Throated
Kingbird, Eastern
Martin, Purple
Nighthawk, Common
Oriole, Baltimore
Oriole, Orchard
Redstart, American
Ovenbird
Parula, American
Swallow, Bank
Swallow, Barn
Swallow, Cliff
Swallow, Northern Rough-Winged
Swift, Chimney
Tanager, Scarlet
Tanager, Summer
Teal, Blue-Winged
Thrush, Wood
Vireo, Red-Eyed
Vireo, White-Eyed
Vireo, Yellow-Throated
Warbler, Black-and-White
Warbler, Blue-Winged
Warbler, Hooded
Warbler, Kentucky
Warbler, Pine
Warbler, Prairie
Warbler, Prothonotary
Warbler, Swainson's
Warbler, Yellow
Warbler, Yellow-Throated
Waterthrush, Louisiana
Yellowthroat, Common
Winter Birds
Chickadee, Carolina
Creeper, Brown
Duck, Green-Winged Teal
Duck, Mallard
Duck, Ring-Necked
Finch, Purple
Hawk, Northern
Hawk, Sharp-Shinned
Junco, Dark-Eyed
Kinglet, Golden-Crowned
Kinglet, Ruby-Crowned
Sapsucker, Yellow-Bellied
Sparrow, Fox
Sparrow, Song
Sparrow, White-Throated
Thrush, Hermit
Warbler, Yellow-Rumped
Waxwing, Cedar
Year-Round Birds
Blackbird, Red-Winged
Bluebird, Eastern
Bluejay
Bobwhite, Northern
Cardinal, Northern
Chickadee, Carolina
Cowbird, Brown-Headed
Crow, American
Crow Fish
Cuckoo, Blackbilled
Dove, Eurasian Collared
Dove, Mourning
Dove, Rock
Duck, Wood
Eagle, Bald
Flicker, Northern
Finch, House
Goldfinch, American
Grackle, Common
Hawk, Cooper's
Hawk, Red-Tailed
Hawk, Red-Shouldered
Heron, Great Blue
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingfisher, Belted
Meadowlark, Eastern
Mockingbird, Northern
Nuthatch, White-Breasted
Owl, Barred
Owl, Eastern Screech
Phoebe, Eastern
Pigeon, Rock
Robin, American
Roadrunner, Greater
Sparrow, Chipping
Sparrow, Field
Sparrow, House
Starling, European
Thrasher, Brown
Titmouse, Tufted
Towhee, Eastern
Turkey, Wild
Vireo, Yellow-Throated
Vulture, Black
Vulture, Turkey
Woodcock, American
Woodpecker, Downy
Woodpecker, Hairy
Woodpecker, Pileated
Woodpecker, Red-Bellied
Woodpecker, Red-Headed
Wren, Carolina
Migrating Birds
Cormorant, Double-Crested
Blackbird, Yellow-Headed
Bobolink
Cuckoo, Black-Billed
Flycatcher, Least
Flycatcher, Yellow-Bellied
Grosbeak, Rose-Breasted
Sandpiper, Upland
Thrush, Swainson's
Vireo, Philadelphia
Warbler, Blackburnian
Warbler, Black-Throated Green
Warbler, Canada
Warbler, Chesnut-Sided
Warbler, Hooded
Warbler, Magnolia
Warbler, Mourning
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, Tennessee
Warbler, Wilson's
Waterthrush, Northern

Last updated: August 13, 2021

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402 N. Walnut Street
Suite 136

Harrison, AR 72601

Phone:

870 439-2502

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