This list has 246 Minnesota breeding bird species found by the Minnesota Biological Survey. Several of these species are very rare and may not nest annually in Minnesota. Although mapped records meet at least the minimum breeding criteria described (see about the Bird Maps), not all may have actually nested. A total of 266 species have at least one record of documented nesting in Minnesota. For a complete list see the Checklist of The Birds of Minnesota, published by the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The following Information is included in the list:
- Bird Group (such as Cranes, Owls, Vireos)
- Common Name
- Scientific Name
- Minnesota Rank (Listed Species, Species of Greatest Conservation Need):
- Endangered (END)
- A species is considered endangered if the species is threatened with extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range within Minnesota.
- Threatened (THR)
- A species is considered threatened if the species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range within Minnesota.
- Special concern (SPC)
- A species is considered a species of special concern if, although the species is not endangered or threatened, it is extremely uncommon in Minnesota, or has unique or highly specific habitat requirements and deserves careful monitoring of its status. Species on the periphery of their range that are not listed as threatened may be included in this category along with those species that were once threatened or endangered but now have increasing or protected, stable populations.
- Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are animal species whose populations are rare, declining, or vulnerable in Minnesota.
- Primary Breeding Habitat
- deciduous forest
- coniferous forest
- open upland
- wetland
- fragmented
- Species are assigned to one of the following general habitat categories:
- Number of MBS records for that species