New Hampshire is known for its diverse bird population; among them are some of the most giant birds found in North America.
These majestic birds are a remarkable sight to behold, boasting impressive wingspans and powerful beaks, and their presence in the state adds to its beauty and rich wildlife.
In this article, we will explore some magnificent large birds found in New Hampshire, including eagles, hawks, and owls, and learn about their fascinating characteristics and behaviors.
So, let’s dive into the world of these soaring creatures and discover more about their natural history and importance in New Hampshire’s ecosystem.
14 Large Birds In New Hampshire
You are lucky if you are a bird lover and live in New Hampshire. The state is home to many beautiful and fascinating birds, some large and impressive.
Here are 14 large birds that you can find in New Hampshire.
1. American Robin
The American robin is a migratory bird belonging to the valid thrush genus and Turdidae family.
It was named after its European counterpart due to the similar reddish-orange breast they possess; however, they are not closely related.
This species can be seen through most of North America during winter and in parts of Mexico and Central America, where it also breeds.
They have plump bodies with gray upperparts and white underparts that vary from yellow on their throats down to orange toward their bellies.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae |
| Genus | Turdus |
| Species | T. migratorius |
Also Featured In: Most Common United States Birds, Most Common Winter Birds
2. Common Loon
The Common Loon is a beautiful bird found in North America. It has a large black head and neck, with a greenish to purple sheen that stands out against its dark grey upperparts.
The underparts are white except for some black on the undertail cover and vent.
During the non-breeding season, adults have brown plumage instead of the bright shades they show during the breeding season.
They also exhibit unique behaviors, such as diving underwater to catch fish or swimming along lakeshores while calling loudly, which is how they got their name “great northern diver.”
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gaviiformes |
| Family | Gaviidae |
| Genus | Gavia |
| Species | G. immer |
Also Featured In: Most Common Songs Birds that Live around You, Summer Birds that Live around Us
3. Common Starling
The Common Starling is a medium-sized passerine bird that belongs to the Starling family. It has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen; at certain times of the year, it can be sprinkled with white.
The bill and legs are typically pink or black depending on the season, while its length measures about 8 inches long.
Its diet consists mainly of insects but includes small fruits, seeds, and human food waste.
They live in large flocks, which protects predators, although they can become quite aggressive when defending their nesting sites during breeding seasons.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Sturnidae |
| Genus | Sturnus |
| Species | S. vulgaris |
Also Featured In: Flocks Birds around Us, Ukrainian Birds You Should Know
4. American Wigeon
The American Wigeon, also known as the Baldpate, is a species of dabbling duck found throughout North America.
It closely resembles its Eurasian counterpart and was formally described in 1789 by German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin.
This medium-sized bird has a grey body with white feathers on its face and belly, giving it a distinctive bald appearance.
Its wings are brownish black with green speculum markings, while the tail is dark brown or black at the base and gradually lightens near the tips to become chestnut-colored.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Genus | Mareca |
| Species | M. americana |
Also Featured In: Most Popular Bird Species in North America, British Columbian Birds
5. Barred Owl
The Barred Owl is a large species of owl native to eastern North America. It belongs to the genus Strix, part of the true owl family Strigidae.
These beautiful birds are mainly brown with distinct stripes on their bodies and wings. Its face has dark eyes, a white chin patch, and two black bars across its yellow-brownish beak, giving it an intimidating appearance.
The barred owls have powerful nails for hunting small mammals like mice and voles and other animals such as fish, amphibians, or insects.
They also rely heavily on hearing when looking for prey in low-light conditions.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae |
| Genus | Strix |
| Species | S. varia |
Also Featured In: Birds You’ll Find in Zoo, Everglades Birds
6. Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl is an impressive bird native to the Americas. It is well-known for its wide range and adaptability, as it can be found in many habitats across the continent.
Its diet consists primarily of rabbits, hares, rats, and mice; however, it also consumes skunks, geese, and other birds.
With their powerful talons capable of quickly crushing prey, these owls have earned themselves a fearsome reputation due to their incredible strength.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Strigiformes |
| Family | Strigidae |
| Genus | Bubo |
| Species | B. virginianus |
Also Featured In: Birds that Live in the Deserts, Birds that Live in San Francisco Bay Area
7. White-Throated Sparrow
The White-throated Sparrow is a small passerine bird of the New World sparrow family P,asserellidae.
It has distinctive yellow and black stripes on its head, white throat, chest,rey back and wings, and light brown legs.
The scientific name “Zonotrichia albicollis” comes from Ancient Greek for ‘band’ (ζώνη) r, referring to its distinctive striped crown, and Latin for ‘white neck’ (albus collum).
These birds are usually found in wooded areas such as coniferous forests or deciduous habitats in North America w; they feed mainly on insects during summer, transitioning to seeds during winter.
They build their nests near ground level using grasses, twigs, or moss lined with feathers.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Passerellidae |
| Genus | Zonotrichia |
| Species | Z. albicollis |
Also Featured In: Common Birds in Canada, Birds that Migrate through Illinois in the Spring
8. Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a majestic wading bird found in many parts of North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and even as far away as the Galapagos Islands.
It has an impressive wingspan which can reach up to six feet wide. Its feathers are mainly bluish-gray with brownish streaks on its neck and chest w, while its head displays white plumes.
The adult herons can also be identified by their yellow bill and legs.
They live near bodies of water such as lakes, marshes, or rivers w; here, they eat fish using a spear-like motion with their sharp bills.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
| Genus | Ardea |
| Species | A. herodias |
Also Featured In: Flight Birds You Should Know, Birds You’ll Find in South Texas
9. Pileated Woodpecker
The pileated woodpecker is a large, majestic bird native to North America.
Its striking black plumage and red crest make it an unmistakable sight in the forest canopy of deciduous forests across eastern North America, the Great Lakes region, Canada’s boreal forests, and parts of the Pacific Coast.
It is one of the largest woodpeckers in North America: larger than any other confirmed species except for perhaps its relative, the ivory-billed woodpecker.
Insectivorous by nature, this stunning creature can be seen pecking away at tree trunks, searching for food, or making nest cavities – all with remarkable skill.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
| Genus | Dryocopus |
| Species | D. pileatus |
Also Featured In: Birds that Live in Mississippi, Birds You’ll Find in Vancouver Island
10. Red-Tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a majestic bird of prey with a distinctive red tail. It can be found throughout North America, from Alaska in the north to Panama and the West Indies in the south.
This species belongs to the Buteo genus, making it one of Earth’s most common raptors.
These hawks mainly hunt small mammals such as rabbits or squirrels but also feed on reptiles and birds during migration season.
Unlike other predator birds, they prefer open areas for hunting, like fields or grasslands, rather than dense forests.
They build their nests high on trees, staying all year long unless humans or animals are nearby.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Genus | Buteo |
| Species | B. jamaicensis |
Also Featured In Dominican Republic birds, Common Birds That Live in Las Vegas
11. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a hummingbird species with an impressive migration pattern, spending the winter in Central America, Mexico, and Florida before flying to Canada and other parts of Eastern North America for the breeding season.
It’s the most common type seen east of the Mississippi River in North America.
Formally described by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758, this tiny bird has bright metallic green upperparts with white underparts, a small black bill, and a red throat patch w, which gives it its name; they measure around 3 inches long on average.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Apodiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae |
| Genus | Archilochus |
| Species | A. colubris |
Also Featured In: Georgia Birds, Autumn Birds You Should Know
12. Sharp-Shinned Hawk
The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small hawk found throughout the United States and Canada. It is one of the smallest hawks in North America but more significant than some Neotropical species, such as the tiny hawk.
The taxonomy of this bird remains uncertain, with some authorities suggesting that southern taxa may represent three distinct species: white-breasted hawk (A. chionogaster), plain-breasted hawk (A. ventralis), and rufous morphsharp-shinned hawk k(A. rufiventris).
These birds feed primarily on small birds like finches, sparrows, woodpeckers, and warblers while hunting from perches or by flying through dense vegetation to surprise unsuspecting prey items.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Genus | Accipiter |
| Species | A. striatus |
Also Featured In: Utah Birds, New Hampshire Birds You Should Know
13. Wood Duck
The wood duck, also known as the Carolina Duck, is a species of perching duck native to North America. It is renowned for its beautiful plumage and vibrant colors.
On average, an adult wood duck stands 19 to 21 inches long with a wingspan ranging from 26 to 29 inches. Its weight typically falls between 454 and 800 grams, depending on gender and seasonality.
This medium-sized bird can be seen swimming or perched atop branches near bodies of water like lakes, ponds, and rivers – where it feeds mainly aquatic plants and insects.
The female builds nests inside cavities in trees close to these waters, while the male protects her eggs during the incubation period, and they hatch into adorable little chicks.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Genus | Aix |
| Species | A. sponsa |
Also Featured In: birds of New Mexico, Water Birds Live around Us
14. Northern Flicker
The Northern flicker is a woodpecker species found in North America, Central America, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands. This medium-sized bird is known for its unique migration behavior.
Over 100 common names refer to the Northern Flicker, one of them being “yellowhammer”..” It is a beautiful bird with distinctive markings and colorful plumage.
The Northern Flicker is an essential species in its ecosystem and is crucial in maintaining a healthy environmental balance.
Despite being a woodpecker, the Northern Flicker has a diverse diet, including insects, fruits, and seeds.
Observing his bird as it pecks at trees in search of food communicates with its unique vocalizations and performs its incredible aerial displays.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
| Genus | Colaptes |
| Species | C. auratus |
Conclusion
New Hampshire hosts a diverse array of large bird species, from majestic raptors like the Bald Eagle and Red-tailed hawks to striking waterfowl like the Great Blue Heron and Common Loon.
The state’s varied habitats provide ample opportunities for birdwatching enthusiasts to observe these impressive creatures in their natural surroundings, contributing to the rich avian biodiversity of the region.