Birds of Iowa

What birds are common in Iowa?

The birds you are most likely to run into in Iowa right now are American White Pelican, Ring-billed Gull, and Common Grackle. Birders reported 207 species across Iowa on eBird during August 22–28, 2026 — the 18below are the ones that turned up on the most of those days, which is as close to “common” as sightings data gets.

• American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

  Reported on all 7 of the last 7 days

• Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis

  Reported on all 7 of the last 7 days

• Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula

  Reported on all 7 of the last 7 days

• Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos

  Reported on all 7 of the last 7 days

• European Starling Sturnus vulgaris

  Reported on all 7 of the last 7 days

• Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica

  Reported on all 7 of the last 7 days

• Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum

  Reported on all 7 of the last 7 days

• Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

  Reported on all 7 of the last 7 days

• Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater

How this is measured: eBird publishes, for each day, every species reported anywhere in Iowa. We count how many of the 7 days sampled (August 22–28, 2026) each species appears on and rank by that count — nothing here is estimated or modelled. Species tied on days are ordered by the total number of individuals in those records. Rarities work the other way round: rare bird alerts tell you when a bird that is not common shows up near you.