Birds are warm-blooded (body temperature is internally regulated and constant, regardless of the external temperature), egg-laying, feathered vertebrates with forelimbs modified to form wings.
Bird watching has become a popular pastime for many people in the state. Not only do birds offer tremendous recreational, economic, and psychological benefit, they are often great indicators of environmental health. Decreasing populations and threats to certain species may indicate an ecosystem in peril. To ignore the warning signs may eventually be detrimental to our own species. To ensure that Alabama birdlife remains healthy, a diversity of healthy ecosystems in the state must be maintained and protected. The primary purpose of this list is to educate the reader about the birds that breed, overwinter, and migrate through our beautiful state. It is hoped that an increasing awareness of Alabama"s birdlife will stimulate a greater appreciation and protection of Alabama's natural resources so that future generations will have an opportunity to enjoy and benefit from them.