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Learn the birds of Minnesota

72 birds in 12 short units, from your backyard to northwoods, prairie potholes, Lake Superior and river bluffs. By sight, sound and story, with real photos and recordings.

Learn the birds of MinnesotaTry a question first
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A few you’ll meet first

The course

Each unit is a small group of birds, easiest first, with look-alikes kept apart. Meet them, learn them by sight, sound and story, then finish with a Field test. The units get harder as you go.

Minnesota Essentials

  1. Unit 1: Gentle startWild Turkey, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Black-capped Chickadee and American Goldfinch
  2. Unit 2: Gentle startDowny Woodpecker, Mallard, Blue Jay, Sandhill Crane, White-breasted Nuthatch and House Sparrow
  3. Unit 3: Gentle startTrumpeter Swan, Great Blue Heron, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Crow and Song Sparrow
  4. Unit 4: Building upCanada Goose, Common Grackle, House Finch, White-throated Sparrow, Common Loon and Green Heron
  5. Unit 5: Building upWood Duck, Dark-eyed Junco, Great Egret, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant and Bald Eagle
  6. Unit 6: Building upPileated Woodpecker, Hooded Merganser, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Red-tailed Hawk and Chipping Sparrow

Beyond the Basics

  1. Unit 7: SteadyMourning Dove, Cedar Waxwing, Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird, Hairy Woodpecker and American White Pelican
  2. Unit 8: SteadyAmerican Coot, Northern Flicker, Common Merganser, Ruffed Grouse, Pied-billed Grebe, Brown-headed Cowbird, Barred Owl and Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  3. Unit 9: SteadyRing-necked Duck, Killdeer, Turkey Vulture, Eastern Phoebe, American Redstart and Cooper’s Hawk
  4. Unit 10: HardestBlue-winged Teal, Eastern Kingbird, European Starling, Osprey and Northern Yellow Warbler
  5. Unit 11: HardestCommon Goldeneye, Tree Swallow, Broad-winged Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Common Yellowthroat
  6. Unit 12: HardestRed-breasted Nuthatch, Barn Swallow, Redpoll, Indigo Bunting and Palm Warbler
Start the Minnesota course

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