Date: 12/24/25 9:20 am From: Chris Anderson via groups.io <canderson1...> Subject: [sd-birds] Sioux Falls CBC results
The Sioux Falls Christmas Bird Count was held this past Saturday, Dec. 20. Our 19 field observers and 6 feeder watchers enjoyed a mostly sunny day in the 30s with a decent northwest wind gusting up to 30 mph at times. With a few feeder watchers yet to report, we our tentative totals were 53 species and 7,640 individuals observed. The 53 species is down slightly from last year's record of 56, but above the last ten-year average of 49.
Notable species included the first-ever finding of a Red-shouldered Hawk for the count. There are not many records of Red-shouldered Hawk for Minnehaha County period. We also had a Hooded Merganser for just the 5th time in 86 counts, and a record high number of 9 Fox Sparrows (previously just 1). There was also a pair of Carolina Wrens observed during count week for just the 6th time.
Not many notable absences to mention; Common Merganser is probably the only species not found that could be considered expected.
Thanks to everyone who participated and made it a great day!
Chris Anderson
Sioux Falls, SD
Canada Goose - 2,073
Wood Duck - 1
Mallard - 1,831
Common Goldeneye - 6
Hooded Merganser - 1
Wild Turkey - 186
Ring-necked Pheasant - 7
Rock Pigeon - 1,688
Eurasian Collar-Dove - 16
Mourning Dove - 1
American Coot - 2
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Cooper's Hawk - 5
Bald Eagle - 21
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 39
Rough-legged Hawk - 2
Eastern Screech-Owl - 2
Great Horned Owl - 2
Barred Owl - 1
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 15
Downy Woodpecker - 21
Hairy Woodpecker - 16
Northern Flicker - 7
American Kestrel - 4
Merlin - 2
Northern Shrike - 1
Blue Jay - 18
American Crow - 43
Black-capped Chickadee - 51
Horned Lark - 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 10
White-breasted Nuthatch - 24
Carolina Wren - 2 CW
Brown Creeper - 4
European Starling - 576
American Robin - 12
Cedar Waxwing - 30
House Sparrow - 297
House Finch - 10
Purple Finch - 25
Pine Siskin - 1
American Goldfinch - 23
Snow Bunting - 1
American Tree Sparrow - 21
Fox Sparrow - 9
Dark-eyed Junco - 129
Harris's Sparrow - 3
Song Sparrow - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 357
Northern Cardinal - 32
