South Dakota Bird Watching and Feeding Information

South Dakota is a great place to watch and feed birds. Birdbaths, misters and drippers are especially effective in attracting birds, including non seed-eating species. Species that might be expected at feeders include: American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, Common Redpoll, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird and Mourning Dove. Each of these species is shown in the Nifty Fifty mini-guide.

The Nifty Fifty

The Nifty Fifty is a mini-guide to the birds of South Dakota. It includes descriptions, images, video and songs of 50 of the most often observed birds of South Dakota. View the guide by clicking here or on the Nifty Fifty link on the left.

If the guide does not load, try downloading the free Flash player.

Ring-necked Pheasant - South Dakota State Bird

Bird feeding

Developing bird-friendly habitat in your yard is the best way to attract a greater variety of species and to support local and migrating species. Native plants provide food and cover, are more insect and disease resistant than non-native species, and may require less water. A list of bird-friendly native plants for South Dakota is available by following the link on the left.

Bluebirds

The Eastern Bluebird is a summer resident in South Dakota. Mountain Bluebirds extend their range to most parts of the state during migration.

Bluebirds are usually found in fields, open woodlands, parks or along golf courses or other open areas, including suburban locations with open spaces and scattered tress. In the mountains, they are found in clearings and meadows.

The Mountain Bluebird is well known for its hovering flight as it hawks for insects.

The Eastern Bluebird has a musical flight call that often reveals its presence.

Visit the bluebird section for detailed information on feeding bluebirds or building your own bluebird house.

Bluebirds can be attracted to peanut butter mixes, suet and fruit. Raisins soaked in hot water to soften them are well received. The bluebird's special favorite is mealworms.

Nesting
The Eastern Bluebird nests throughout North Dakota in appropriate habitat. One or two broods may be produced. Three to five light blue eggs are typical.

The nesting range of the Mountain Bluebird is limited to isolated areas in the western edge of the state. The typical clutch for Mountain Bluebirds is 4 to 6 pale, blue eggs.

If you have a bluebird box, watch for House Sparrows trying to use the next box and immediately remove any House Sparrow nesting material.

Hummingbirds

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird species found in South Dakota. Its range is limited to the eastern half of the state.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Visit the hummingbird section for details on attracting hummingbirds as well as images of all regularly occurring North American hummingbirds.

Purple Martins

Purple Martins summer and nest in the eastern half of South Dakota, and can be found throughout the state duing migration. The nesting preference in North Dakota is natural cavities, compared to Purple Martins in the eastern United States, which rely almost exclusively on made made housing.

Visit the Purple Martin section of the this site for detailed information.

Birding

South Dakota provides birders with a variety of exciting birding locations.

The birding section of this site has tips on birding locations and bird identification. The state-based birding information section provides additional birding related information.

South Dakota Resource Information

Missouri Breaks Audubon Society
P.O. Box 832
Pierre, SD 57501
605-224-6566

Prairie Hills Audubon Society of Western S.D.
P.O. Box 788
Black Hawk, SD 57718
605-787-6466
Fax 605-787-6466

Additional resources

If you have suggestions for additional resources for watching or feeding birds in Alabama, please submit them using this form. The resource does not need to be a particular location.

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