The state with the Great Salt Lake, Utah, is home to many species of wild birds. Some of these species live in Utah all year, others are migratory and only spend the summer or winter in the state. In this article, we’re going to take a look at 24 of the most common backyard birds in Utah and learn a little about each species.
After that, I’ll show you how to attract them to your yard and give you a crash course on the 10 different types of bird feeders you can use. Lastly, I’ll mention a few birdwatching hotspots in Utah and some great local birding organizations.
How many different species of wild birds are in Utah?
It’s difficult to get an exact number of how many bird species are found in North America, the United States, or even in the state of Utah. However, according to the Utah Bird Records Committee, as of July 2022, there are at least 469 species of birds on the official state list for Utah.
Most reputable sources believe there are between around 800 – 1100 species of birds in North America. Here are a few of them:
- National Wildlife Federation – more than 800 species
- Ornithology.com – about 900 species
- Audubon – over 800 species
- Wikipedia – 1125 species
For the purposes of this article, we are just going to look at some of the species people frequently see in Utah, especially in backyards.
24 common backyard birds in Utah
Below we’ll look at 24 species of backyard birds in Utah, including some migrants. These obviously aren’t all the species in the state, or even close to it, but they are some of the birds that are most likely to frequent backyards in Utah. Let’s get to it!