By: Chet Bjorklund Alex Langsjoen

Minnesota State Bird *The Common Loon* Food Source: Fish, crustaceans Food Source: Fish, crustaceans

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Food Source: Fish, also the occasional small animal Food Source: Fish, also the occasional small animal

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Food Source: Variety of grasses, wheat, beans, rice, corn Food Source: Variety of grasses, wheat, beans, rice, corn Fun Fact: Researchers have identified about 13 different calls from Canada Geese Fun Fact: Researchers have identified about 13 different calls from Canada Geese

Mallard (Anas platyrhnchos) Food Source: Insects, mollusks, crustaceans Food Source: Insects, mollusks, crustaceans Fun Fact: They frequently breed with domestic ducks, producing a large variety of patterns and colors Fun Fact: They frequently breed with domestic ducks, producing a large variety of patterns and colors

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) Food Source: Insects, veggies, snails, tadpoles, smaller reptiles Food Source: Insects, veggies, snails, tadpoles, smaller reptiles Fun Fact: Hunted nearly to extinction during the late 19th and early 20th centuries Fun Fact: Hunted nearly to extinction during the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Food Source: Smaller animals, other birds and sometimes even a reptile or two Food Source: Smaller animals, other birds and sometimes even a reptile or two Fun Fact: The raspy cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is typically used in movies to represent any eagle or hawk anywhere in the world Fun Fact: The raspy cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is typically used in movies to represent any eagle or hawk anywhere in the world

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Food Source: FISH (just fish) Food Source: FISH (just fish) Fun Fact: Their outer toe is reversible so that it can grasp with three toes forward and one toe backward or with two forward and two backward, which provides a more stable grip in flight. Fun Fact: Their outer toe is reversible so that it can grasp with three toes forward and one toe backward or with two forward and two backward, which provides a more stable grip in flight.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Food Source: Primarily fish, turtles, rabbits, road kill, other birds Food Source: Primarily fish, turtles, rabbits, road kill, other birds Fun Fact: The Bald Eagle has been the symbol of the United States of America since Fun Fact: The Bald Eagle has been the symbol of the United States of America since 1782.

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) Food Source: Fruits, snails, small birds, eggs, insects, road kill, mice, toads Food Source: Fruits, snails, small birds, eggs, insects, road kill, mice, toads Fun Fact: They have been taught to mimic the human voice. They can count and work out solutions to simple problems and are fascinated with and collect shiny objects such as rings, keys and foil. Fun Fact: They have been taught to mimic the human voice. They can count and work out solutions to simple problems and are fascinated with and collect shiny objects such as rings, keys and foil.

Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) Food Source: Insects, spiders, millipedes, centipedes, seeds, nuts…., berries Food Source: Insects, spiders, millipedes, centipedes, seeds, nuts…., berries Fun Fact: This bird was featured on a United States Postal Service 2-cent stamp in Fun Fact: This bird was featured on a United States Postal Service 2-cent stamp in 1996.

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Food Source: Seeds, acorns, leaves, grains, berries, insects Food Source: Seeds, acorns, leaves, grains, berries, insects Fun Fact: The idea that Benjamin Franklin preferred the Turkey as the national bird of the United States comes from a letter he wrote to his daughter in He criticized the choice of the Eagle as the national bird and suggested that a Turkey would have made a better alternative. Fun Fact: The idea that Benjamin Franklin preferred the Turkey as the national bird of the United States comes from a letter he wrote to his daughter in He criticized the choice of the Eagle as the national bird and suggested that a Turkey would have made a better alternative.

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Food Source: Fruits, earthworms, insects Food Source: Fruits, earthworms, insects Fun Fact: There is a Crayola crayon named Robin’s Egg Blue. Fun Fact: There is a Crayola crayon named Robin’s Egg Blue.

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) Food Source: Insects, earthworms, snails, other invertebrates, very depended on berries Food Source: Insects, earthworms, snails, other invertebrates, very depended on berries Fun Fact: Their numbers have declined due to competition from starlings and house sparrows for nest sites. Fun Fact: Their numbers have declined due to competition from starlings and house sparrows for nest sites.

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Food Source: Seeds, insects, fruits, snails Food Source: Seeds, insects, fruits, snails Fun Fact: The Northern Cardinal can live up to 15 years in the wild. Fun Fact: The Northern Cardinal can live up to 15 years in the wild.

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) Food Source: Suet, millet, thistle, fruit, sunflower seeds Food Source: Suet, millet, thistle, fruit, sunflower seeds Fun Fact: A group of goldfinches has many collective nouns, including a " 007", "charm", "rush", "treasury", and "vein" of goldfinches Fun Fact: A group of goldfinches has many collective nouns, including a " 007", "charm", "rush", "treasury", and "vein" of goldfinches

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Food Source: Grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies, beetles, moss Food Source: Grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies, beetles, moss Fun Fact: Females prefer to mate with males that have the longest and most symmetrical tails and a dark red chest color Fun Fact: Females prefer to mate with males that have the longest and most symmetrical tails and a dark red chest color

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Food Source: Nuts, seeds, mice, frogs, young bird eggs Food Source: Nuts, seeds, mice, frogs, young bird eggs Fun Fact: Captive jays have been observed using tools and strips of newspaper to rake in food pellets from outside their cages Fun Fact: Captive jays have been observed using tools and strips of newspaper to rake in food pellets from outside their cages

Northern Oriole (Icterus galbula) Food Source: Seeds, fruits, insects Food Source: Seeds, fruits, insects Fun Fact: Young male Baltimore Orioles do not achieve adult plumage until the fall of their second year. But some first-year males with female-like plumage succeed in attracting a mate and nest successfully. Fun Fact: Young male Baltimore Orioles do not achieve adult plumage until the fall of their second year. But some first-year males with female-like plumage succeed in attracting a mate and nest successfully.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Food Source: Nectar, insects, flowers, spiders Food Source: Nectar, insects, flowers, spiders Fun Fact: These birds can fly fast either forward or backward and are also capable of hovering Fun Fact: These birds can fly fast either forward or backward and are also capable of hovering

Common Raven (Corvus corax) Food Source: Road kill along with maggots, nuts, beetles Food Source: Road kill along with maggots, nuts, beetles Fun Fact: It is an acrobatic flier and has even been observed flying upside down for as far as one kilometer Fun Fact: It is an acrobatic flier and has even been observed flying upside down for as far as one kilometer