Since the first state encyclopedia (1929), West Virginia's bird populations have changed dramatically, mostly due to changes in habitat and new laws.

In the past, the wild turkey and wood duck were rare or almost gone. Thanks to successful reintroduction programs and habitat management, they are common today. Conversely, the northern bobwhite was common in 1929 but has nearly disappeared due to the loss of grassland habitat. The Canada goose was once just a migrant passing through, but now it is a permanent resident here.

In the early 1900s, many people thought hawks, owls, and eagles were pests and often shot them. Now, strict laws protect these birds, and the ban on the pesticide DDT helped them recover. The number of bald eagle nests in West Virginia soared from 13 in 2002 to 300 by 2024. Turkey vultures (and the more southern black vultures) have spread across the state. This is partly due to the huge number of white-tailed deer, which provides roadkill and winter-killed deer for them to eat.

West Virginia's landscape is now about 78% forested, up from only 35% in 1922, benefiting many species. Birds that love open fields, such as the northern bobwhite and many types of sparrows, are less common today because their grassland habitat has shrunk. The introduction of aggressive European starlings and house sparrows has also hurt native birds, like the red-headed woodpecker, by stealing their nesting spots.

The total list of bird species found in West Virginia has grown from 268 to about 354, including more than 170 breeding species. Birds are a great way to check the health of our environment. Organizations like the Audubon Society track these changes through annual surveys. You can help by joining a bird-watching group or learning more about the birds in your own backyard.