10

Backyard Birds to Know

and How to Attract Them

to Your Property

They can produce up to three broods a year, and adults can live at least 6 years.

1. American Robin  (Turdus migratorius)

This large, stunningly beautiful bird is intelligent, playful, and somewhat of a bully, often chasing other birds away from feeders.

2. Blue Jay  (Cyanocitta cristata)

While it’s actually carotenoid-rich seeds that give them their bright yellow coloring, they are most often associated with nyjer (thistle), and will frequent tube feeders filled with the tiny seeds.

3. American Goldfinch  (Spinus tristis)

One of the friendliest American birds, the black-capped chickadee might just be tempted to eat from your hand.

4. Black-capped Chickadee  (Poecile atricapillus)

Its melancholy cooing is sometimes confused with the hooting of an owl, but the whistling sound made by its wings when it flies belies that mistaken identity.

5. Mourning Dove  (Zenaida macroura)

A platform feeder offering black oil sunflower seeds, millet, and peanuts, or a suet feeder, will draw them to your yard.

6. Downy Woodpecker  (Dryobates pubescens)

Females have softer coloring with yellow instead of orange and a lighter hood.

7. Baltimore Oriole  (Icterus galbula)

The omnipresent European starling is an introduced species many consider invasive. They’re noisy, and they can mimic some other bird species.

8. European Starling  (Sturnus vulgaris)

Carolina wrens are more brightly colored than most wrens. They’ll visit backyard feeders offering hulled sunflower seeds, suet, or peanut hearts.

9. Carolina Wren  (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

Often seen perched near farm fields, feedlots, pastures, and meadows, the diet of this bird consists primarily of insects and seeds.

10. Red-winged Blackbird  (Agelaius phoeniceus)

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