From our backyard

How to Attract Backyard Birds

Find your bird. Find its favorite feeder and food.

166 birds and growing

Pick a feeder or a food below to see which birds use it, or search by name.

Quick bird-care rules

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Cardinals & finches

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

A small, bright yellow finch that loves nyjer seed and coneflowers.

An American goldfinch in its olive-brown winter feathers at a feeder, with snow behind

At a glance

Favorite foods: nyjer seed, sunflower hearts
Best feeders: nyjer tube, mesh feeder, sunflower tube, platform
Plants: coneflowers, sunflowers, asters, native thistles, milkweed
Habitat: open fields and gardens with seed-bearing flowers
Nesting: late summer, after thistle and other seeds ripen
Seasonality: year-round in much of Michigan

Best foods

Nyjer (thistle) seed is the favorite. Sunflower hearts, which are sunflower seeds with the hulls removed, are a good second choice.

Best feeders

Use a nyjer tube or mesh feeder with small ports. A sunflower tube feeder or a platform feeder works well too.

Plants that attract

Coneflowers, sunflowers, asters, native thistles and milkweed. Goldfinches eat the seeds, so leave the seed heads standing.

Water and habitat

Keep a shallow birdbath filled with fresh water, and leave patches of seed-bearing flowers in the garden.

Nesting and shelter

Goldfinches nest late, in summer, because they wait for seeds to ripen. Their nests are small cups in shrubs and saplings, and they do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Goldfinches look dull olive in winter and turn bright yellow in spring. Keep a nyjer feeder up all year.

One practical tip

Leave the seed heads on coneflowers and sunflowers until late fall so goldfinches can feed from them.

Fun fact

Goldfinches molt twice a year, which is why they change from bright yellow to a dull olive.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the American Goldfinch will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Nyjer or sunflower hearts
A nyjer tube or mesh feeder
Seed-bearing flowers left standing
Fresh water

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Cardinals & finches

Black-headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus

An orange and black bird with a big, thick beak that visits in spring and summer.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the Black-headed Grosbeak will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: black oil sunflower seed, safflower, fruit and insects
Best feeders: platform, hopper, tube
Plants: elderberry, serviceberry, oaks, native shrubs
Habitat: open woods and streamside trees
Nesting: a loose cup in a shrub or tree
Seasonality: spring to late summer; winters in Mexico

Best foods

Grosbeaks love black oil sunflower seed and safflower. They also eat fruit and insects.

Best feeders

A platform feeder, hopper feeder or tube feeder with a good perch works well.

Plants that attract

Elderberry, serviceberry and native shrubs.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water, and keep trees close.

Nesting and shelter

Black-headed Grosbeaks nest in shrubs and small trees. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Look for them from spring to late summer.

One practical tip

Put out sunflower seed on a platform feeder as soon as the first males arrive in spring.

Fun fact

Both the male and the female Black-headed Grosbeak sing.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Black-headed Grosbeak will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Black oil sunflower seed or safflower
A platform, hopper or tube feeder
Shrubs and trees
Fresh water

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Cardinals & finches

House Finch

Haemorhous mexicanus

A cheerful, streaky finch that is happy at almost any feeder.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the House Finch will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: black oil sunflower seed, nyjer, sunflower hearts
Best feeders: tube, hopper, platform, nyjer feeder
Plants: seed-bearing flowers and fruiting shrubs
Habitat: yards, parks and towns
Nesting: ledges, hanging planters and trees
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Black oil sunflower seed is the favorite. House Finches also eat nyjer and sunflower hearts.

Best feeders

A tube, hopper or platform feeder works well. They also use nyjer feeders.

Plants that attract

Seed-bearing flowers such as coneflowers and sunflowers, and fruiting shrubs.

Water and habitat

Offer a clean birdbath with fresh water.

Nesting and shelter

House Finches often nest on ledges, in hanging planters and in the branches of evergreens.

Seasonal tips

House Finches stay all year, so keep feeders stocked in winter.

One practical tip

Clean feeders every week or two. Finches that crowd a feeder can pass on illness, so clean feeders keep them healthy.

Fun fact

The red color on a male House Finch comes from his food, so a diet rich in carotenoids makes him redder.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the House Finch will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Black oil sunflower seed or nyjer
A tube, hopper or platform feeder
A clean feeder, every week or two
Fresh water

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Cardinals & finches

Indigo Bunting

Passerina cyanea

A small bird that looks bright blue in the sun.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the Indigo Bunting will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: small seeds, nyjer, white millet, insects
Best feeders: nyjer feeder, platform feeder
Plants: weedy fields, thistles, brambles
Habitat: brushy fields and woodland edges
Nesting: a cup low in dense shrubs
Seasonality: spring to early fall

Best foods

Indigo Buntings eat small seeds. Offer nyjer, white millet and sunflower hearts, and leave seed heads standing.

Best feeders

A nyjer feeder or a platform feeder works well, near shrubs.

Plants that attract

Thistles, brambles and other weedy plants that go to seed, with dense shrubs for nesting.

Water and habitat

A shallow birdbath with fresh water helps.

Nesting and shelter

Indigo Buntings nest low in shrubs and brambles. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Look for them from late spring to early fall.

One practical tip

Leave a weedy corner and seed heads standing. Buntings forage there.

Fun fact

Indigo Buntings migrate at night, and they use the stars to find their way.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Indigo Bunting will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Nyjer or small seeds
A nyjer or platform feeder
A weedy corner or brambles
Fresh water

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Cardinals & finches

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

A tiny finch of the West with a yellow chest and a black cap.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the Lesser Goldfinch will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: nyjer seed, sunflower hearts
Best feeders: nyjer tube or mesh feeder, tube
Plants: sunflowers, thistles, native composites
Habitat: open woods, brush and gardens
Nesting: a small cup in a shrub or tree
Seasonality: year-round in much of the West

Best foods

Nyjer (thistle) seed is the favorite. Sunflower hearts also work well.

Best feeders

A nyjer tube or mesh feeder with small ports.

Plants that attract

Sunflowers and other seed-bearing flowers. Leave the seed heads standing.

Water and habitat

A shallow birdbath with fresh water.

Nesting and shelter

Lesser Goldfinches nest in shrubs and trees in summer. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

They stay all year in much of the West, but may move to find seed.

One practical tip

Keep a nyjer feeder clean and full, and plant sunflowers for seed.

Fun fact

In the western United States, male Lesser Goldfinches usually have a black back, while those in Texas have a green back.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Lesser Goldfinch will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Nyjer seed
A nyjer tube or mesh feeder
Seed-bearing flowers
Fresh water

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Cardinals & finches

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

A bright red visitor that stays all year and loves a sunflower seed.

A male northern cardinal with his crest raised, standing on the edge of a tray feeder full of seed

About the Northern Cardinal

Nothing brightens a snowy yard like a cardinal. The male is brilliant red with a crest and a black mask around his thick bill. The female is a warm brownish tan with touches of red, the same crest, and a pinkish bill. Both sing, and the female often sings in spring before nesting.

Cardinals stay all year and don't migrate. For decades they have been spreading north, and backyard feeders stocked with sunflower seed may have helped. In spring, a male may fight his own reflection in a window, thinking it's a rival.

At a glance

Favorite foods: black oil sunflower seed, safflower
Best feeders: platform, hopper, ground tray
Plants: native sunflowers, dogwood, elderberry, serviceberry, brambles
Habitat: dense shrubs and thickets for cover
Nesting: cup nests in shrubs, not birdhouses
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Black oil sunflower seed is the favorite. Safflower is a good second choice, and cardinals will also take sunflower hearts and a little cracked corn.

Best feeders

Cardinals like a place to perch while they eat. Offer seed on a platform feeder, in a hopper feeder with a good perch, or in a ground tray.

Plants that attract

Native sunflowers, dogwood, elderberry, serviceberry and brambles give cardinals seeds, berries and thick cover.

Water and habitat

Plant a mix of shrubs so cardinals can slip into cover, and add a birdbath with fresh water, a shallow one is best.

Nesting and shelter

Cardinals build cup nests in dense shrubs and vines. They do not use birdhouses, so leave some thick shrubs in the yard.

Seasonal tips

Cardinals stay all year, so keep feeders full in winter, when their red stands out against the snow.

One practical tip

Place a feeder close to a shrub or other cover. Cardinals feel safest when they can dart back to cover.

Fun fact

Female cardinals sing too, which is unusual among North American songbirds.

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Quick checklist

Black oil sunflower or safflower seed
A platform, hopper or ground feeder
Shrubs or thickets nearby
Fresh water

Facts checked against the National Audubon Society field guide.

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Cardinals & finches

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

A tiny, rainbow-colored bird that visits Southeast feeders in summer.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the Painted Bunting will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: white proso millet, sunflower hearts, small seeds
Best feeders: platform feeder, ground tray
Plants: native grasses and weedy thickets
Habitat: shrubby edges and thickets near the coast
Nesting: in dense shrubs
Seasonality: spring and summer, then south for winter

Best foods

Painted Buntings eat small seeds. Offer white proso millet, sunflower hearts and a little nyjer.

Best feeders

A platform feeder or a ground tray works well, near shrubs for cover.

Plants that attract

Native grasses and weedy, seed-bearing plants, with dense shrubs for cover.

Water and habitat

A shallow birdbath with fresh water is a big draw.

Nesting and shelter

Painted Buntings nest in dense shrubs and thickets, so they do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Look for Painted Buntings from spring to late summer. They head south in fall.

One practical tip

Put out a platform feeder with white millet near a thicket. The males are shy, so be patient.

Fun fact

The French nickname for the Painted Bunting is “nonpareil,” which means “without equal.”

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Painted Bunting will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

White millet or sunflower hearts
A platform or ground feeder
A thicket nearby
Fresh water

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Cardinals & finches

Pine Siskin

Spinus pinus

A small, streaky finch with yellow flashes in its wings that arrives in flocks.

A streaky brown pine siskin with a thin pointed bill and a touch of yellow in its wing, standing on a tray feeder

About the Pine Siskin

Some winters you won't see a single pine siskin. Other winters, a whole twittering flock shows up and empties the thistle feeder in an afternoon. Their numbers swing wildly from year to year.

At first glance a siskin looks like a streaky brown sparrow, but look closer: it has a thin, sharp bill and flashes of yellow in its wings and tail, easiest to see when it flies. It's really a little finch in disguise, and it often feeds right alongside goldfinches.

At a glance

Favorite foods: nyjer seed, sunflower seed
Best feeders: nyjer tube, tube
Plants: evergreens, alders and birches
Habitat: evergreen forests
Nesting: in evergreen trees
Seasonality: irregular winter visitor in much of the region

Best foods

Pine Siskins love nyjer seed. They also eat sunflower hearts and black oil sunflower seed.

Best feeders

A nyjer tube or mesh feeder, or a tube feeder.

Plants that attract

Evergreens, alders and birches.

Water and habitat

A shallow birdbath with fresh water.

Nesting and shelter

Pine Siskins nest in evergreen trees, so they do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Siskins come and go by year. In some winters, they show up in big flocks.

One practical tip

Clean feeders every week or two, especially when siskins visit. Crowded finches can pass on illness.

Fun fact

Pine Siskins flash yellow in their wings and tail when they fly.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Pine Siskin will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Nyjer or sunflower seed
A nyjer or tube feeder
A clean feeder, every week or two
Evergreens nearby

Facts checked against the National Audubon Society field guide.

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Cardinals & finches

Purple Finch

Haemorhous purpureus

A finch that looks as if it was dipped in raspberry juice.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the Purple Finch will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: black oil sunflower seed, sunflower hearts
Best feeders: tube, hopper, platform
Plants: evergreens and trees with buds and seeds
Habitat: woods and yards with evergreens
Nesting: in evergreen trees
Seasonality: winter visitor in much of the region; summers farther north

Best foods

Black oil sunflower seed is the favorite. Sunflower hearts also work well.

Best feeders

A tube feeder, hopper feeder or platform feeder works well.

Plants that attract

Evergreens, and trees whose buds and seeds Purple Finches eat.

Water and habitat

Offer fresh water in a birdbath, and keep some evergreens nearby for cover.

Nesting and shelter

Purple Finches nest in evergreen trees, so they do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Purple Finches visit feeders most often in fall and winter.

One practical tip

Keep sunflower seed fresh in a feeder near evergreens. Purple Finches often arrive in small groups in winter.

Fun fact

The male Purple Finch was famously described as looking like a sparrow dipped in raspberry juice.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Purple Finch will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Black oil sunflower seed
A tube, hopper or platform feeder
Evergreens nearby
Fresh water

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Cardinals & finches

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

A black and white bird with a bright rose-red patch on the chest.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: black oil sunflower seed, safflower, fruit and insects
Best feeders: platform, hopper, tube
Plants: elderberry, serviceberry, mulberry, dogwood
Habitat: open woods and wooded edges
Nesting: a loose cup in a small tree or shrub
Seasonality: spring and summer; winters far to the south

Best foods

Grosbeaks love black oil sunflower seed and safflower. They also eat fruit and insects.

Best feeders

A platform feeder, hopper feeder or tube feeder with a good perch works well.

Plants that attract

Elderberry, serviceberry, mulberry and dogwood.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water, and keep trees and shrubs close.

Nesting and shelter

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks build a loose cup nest in a small tree or shrub. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Look for them in spring when they return, and keep seed fresh through the summer.

One practical tip

Put out sunflower seed on a platform feeder as soon as the first males arrive in spring.

Fun fact

Both male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks sing, and males help sit on the eggs.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Black oil sunflower seed or safflower
A platform, hopper or tube feeder
Shrubs and small trees
Fresh water

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Jays

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

A loud, clever blue bird that goes straight for peanuts in the shell.

A close-up of a blue jay picking up peanuts from a tray feeder, with red and gold fall trees behind

At a glance

Favorite foods: peanuts in the shell, black oil sunflower seed, cracked corn
Best feeders: platform feeder, peanut feeder, ground tray
Plants: oaks (acorns), beeches, dogwood
Habitat: woods and yards with big trees
Nesting: in the fork of a tree, not birdhouses
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Peanuts in the shell are the favorite. Blue Jays also eat black oil sunflower seed, cracked corn and acorns.

Best feeders

Blue Jays are big birds, so give them room: a platform feeder or a sturdy tray, or a feeder made for whole peanuts.

Plants that attract

Oaks are the best plant for Blue Jays because they love acorns. Beeches and dogwood help too.

Water and habitat

Blue Jays visit birdbaths. Keep the water fresh, and keep tall trees nearby for them to perch in.

Nesting and shelter

Blue Jays build bulky cup nests in the forks of trees. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Blue Jays stay in much of Michigan in winter. Whole peanuts are a good winter treat.

One practical tip

Put out a handful of peanuts in the shell on a platform feeder at the same time each day. Blue Jays learn the routine fast.

Fun fact

Blue Jays bury acorns and forget some of them, which helps new oak trees grow.

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Quick checklist

Peanuts in the shell
A platform feeder or tray
Oak or other big trees
Fresh water

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Jays

Steller’s Jay

Cyanocitta stelleri

A dark blue jay with a tall black crest, at home in the evergreen forests of the West.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the Steller’s Jay will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: peanuts in the shell, black oil sunflower seed, suet
Best feeders: platform, peanut feeder, ground tray
Plants: pines, firs, oaks and other cone and nut trees
Habitat: evergreen and mixed forests
Nesting: a bulky nest in an evergreen tree
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Peanuts in the shell are a favorite. Steller’s Jays also eat black oil sunflower seed, suet and acorns.

Best feeders

A sturdy platform feeder or tray, or a feeder made for whole peanuts. Jays are big, so give them room.

Plants that attract

Pines, firs and oaks give them cones, seeds and nuts.

Water and habitat

A large, shallow birdbath with fresh water.

Nesting and shelter

Steller’s Jays build bulky nests in evergreen trees. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

In winter, jays visit feeders more, so keep peanuts and seed stocked.

One practical tip

Put out peanuts in the shell at the same time each morning. Jays learn the routine quickly.

Fun fact

Steller’s Jays can imitate the calls of hawks.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Steller’s Jay will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Peanuts in the shell
A platform feeder or tray
Evergreen trees nearby
A large birdbath

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Chickadees, titmice & nuthatches

Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus

A tiny, friendly bird that grabs one seed at a time and flies off to eat it.

A fluffy black-capped chickadee holding a peanut piece on the edge of a green tray feeder

About the Black-capped Chickadee

Few birds are as friendly at the feeder as the chickadee. It's tiny, about 5 inches, with a black cap and bib, white cheeks, and a soft buff wash on its sides. You'll hear it before you see it, calling its own name: chick-a-dee-dee-dee. In late winter, listen for its sweet, whistled fee-bee.

Watch a chickadee for a minute and you'll see it grab one sunflower seed, fly off, and tuck it into a crack in the bark to eat later. In winter, chickadees travel in little flocks that often bring nuthatches, woodpeckers, and kinglets along with them. They nest in tree holes and will use a nest box.

At a glance

Favorite foods: black oil sunflower seed, suet, peanuts
Best feeders: tube, hopper, suet
Plants: birch, oaks, pines, native shrubs
Habitat: woods and yards with trees
Nesting: nest boxes with a small hole, or old tree cavities
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Black oil sunflower seed is the favorite, and chickadees also take suet, peanuts and sunflower hearts.

Best feeders

A tube feeder or hopper feeder works well. A suet feeder is a good winter addition.

Plants that attract

Birches, oaks and pines, and native shrubs that host caterpillars, which chickadees feed to their young.

Water and habitat

Offer a shallow birdbath with fresh water, and keep some trees and shrubs close for quick cover.

Nesting and shelter

Chickadees will use a nest box with a small entrance hole, about 1 1/8 inches. Put a few wood chips inside. They also dig into soft, rotting wood.

Seasonal tips

In winter, chickadees visit feeders often. Keep feeders full on the coldest days.

One practical tip

Place a feeder near a tree or shrub. Chickadees take a seed and fly to cover to eat it, so they like a perch close by.

Fun fact

The chickadee call gets more “dee” notes when a predator is near, a little warning for other birds.

Shop this bird

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As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Black oil sunflower seed or suet
A tube, hopper or suet feeder
Trees or shrubs nearby
A nest box with a 1 1/8 inch hole

Facts checked against the National Audubon Society field guide.

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Chickadees, titmice & nuthatches

Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis

The Southeast’s tiny, friendly chickadee, a close cousin of the Black-capped.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the Carolina Chickadee will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: black oil sunflower seed, suet, peanuts
Best feeders: tube, hopper, suet
Plants: oaks, pines, native shrubs
Habitat: woods and wooded yards
Nesting: nest boxes with a small hole, or old tree cavities
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Black oil sunflower seed is the favorite. Chickadees also take suet, peanuts and sunflower hearts.

Best feeders

A tube feeder or hopper feeder works well, and a suet feeder is a good extra.

Plants that attract

Oaks and pines, and native shrubs that host caterpillars, which chickadees feed to their young.

Water and habitat

Offer a shallow birdbath with fresh water, and keep trees and shrubs close for quick cover.

Nesting and shelter

Chickadees will use a nest box with a small entrance hole, about 1 1/8 inches, with wood chips inside. They also dig into soft, rotting wood.

Seasonal tips

Chickadees visit feeders often in winter, so keep them full on the coldest days.

One practical tip

Place a feeder near a tree or shrub. Chickadees take one seed and fly to cover to eat it.

Fun fact

The Carolina and Black-capped Chickadees look almost alike. Listen to the song: the Carolina sings four notes, the Black-capped two.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Carolina Chickadee will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Black oil sunflower seed or suet
A tube, hopper or suet feeder
Trees or shrubs nearby
A nest box with a 1 1/8 inch hole

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Chickadees, titmice & nuthatches

Mountain Chickadee

Poecile gambeli

A small mountain chickadee with a white stripe over the eye.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the Mountain Chickadee will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: black oil sunflower seed, suet, peanuts
Best feeders: tube, hopper, suet
Plants: pines, firs and other evergreens
Habitat: mountain evergreen forests
Nesting: tree cavities and nest boxes
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Black oil sunflower seed is the favorite. Mountain Chickadees also take suet and peanuts.

Best feeders

A tube feeder or hopper feeder works well, and a suet feeder is a good extra.

Plants that attract

Pines, firs and other evergreens.

Water and habitat

A shallow birdbath with fresh water.

Nesting and shelter

Mountain Chickadees nest in tree cavities, and will use a nest box with a small hole, about 1 1/8 inches.

Seasonal tips

In winter, they come down from the mountains to feeders in some places.

One practical tip

Put the feeder near a tree where they can dart away with a seed.

Fun fact

The Mountain Chickadee has a white stripe over each eye, which the Black-capped Chickadee does not.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Mountain Chickadee will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Black oil sunflower seed or suet
A tube, hopper or suet feeder
Evergreen trees
Fresh water

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Chickadees, titmice & nuthatches

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

A gray bird with a crest that grabs a seed and takes it away to eat.

A tufted titmouse with a peanut in its beak on a seed tray, with snow and winter trees behind

At a glance

Favorite foods: black oil sunflower seed, peanuts, suet
Best feeders: tube, hopper, suet
Plants: oaks, beeches, dogwood, native shrubs
Habitat: woods and wooded yards
Nesting: old woodpecker holes and nest boxes
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Black oil sunflower seed is the favorite. Titmice also take peanuts, sunflower hearts and suet.

Best feeders

A tube feeder, a hopper feeder or a suet feeder works well, with a perch nearby.

Plants that attract

Oaks, beeches and dogwood, and native shrubs that host caterpillars.

Water and habitat

Keep a birdbath filled with fresh water, and leave some mature trees in the yard.

Nesting and shelter

Titmice nest in tree holes and will use a nest box with a hole about 1 1/4 inches wide.

Seasonal tips

Titmice stay all year, so keep a feeder going in winter.

One practical tip

Hang a feeder near trees. Titmice take one seed at a time and fly to a branch to eat it.

Fun fact

Titmice sometimes line their nests with hair, and they may even pull it from a dog or other animal.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Tufted Titmouse will go here once Sara adds her links.

As an Amazon Associate, QT Bird earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick checklist

Black oil sunflower seed or peanuts
A tube, hopper or suet feeder
Mature trees nearby
Fresh water

QT Bird · qtbird.com/backyard-birds/

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Chickadees, titmice & nuthatches

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

A small bird that walks head-first down tree trunks.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the White-breasted Nuthatch will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: suet, black oil sunflower seed, peanuts
Best feeders: suet feeder, tube, hopper
Plants: oaks, hickories and other mature trees
Habitat: mature woods and wooded yards
Nesting: tree cavities
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Suet is a favorite, along with black oil sunflower seed, sunflower hearts and peanuts.

Best feeders

A suet feeder, tube feeder or hopper feeder works well. Nuthatches like to land on the trunk or a feeder near a tree.

Plants that attract

Oaks, hickories and other mature trees with bark that holds insects and seeds.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water, and keep mature trees in the yard.

Nesting and shelter

Nuthatches nest in tree cavities. Leave dead trees standing when it is safe to do so.

Seasonal tips

Nuthatches visit feeders all winter. Suet is especially welcome in cold weather.

One practical tip

Put a suet feeder on a tree trunk or on a post near trees. Nuthatches go to feeders close to tree trunks.

Fun fact

The nuthatch often climbs down a tree trunk head first, which most other birds do not do.

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Feeder and food picks for the White-breasted Nuthatch will go here once Sara adds her links.

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Quick checklist

Suet or black oil sunflower seed
A suet, tube or hopper feeder
Mature trees
Fresh water

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Woodpeckers

Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

A small black-and-white woodpecker that loves suet.

A female downy woodpecker, black and white with a short bill, perched on a branch beside a feeder

About the Downy Woodpecker

The downy is North America's smallest woodpecker, and one of the easiest to welcome to the yard. It's black and white with a white stripe down its back and a short, stubby bill. Males have a small red patch on the back of the head. The look-alike hairy woodpecker is bigger, with a much longer bill.

Downies climb all over trunks, branches, and even weed stalks, often hanging upside down. In winter they join the chickadees and nuthatches as they make their rounds. Listen for a quiet "pik" and a rattling call that runs down the scale.

At a glance

Favorite foods: suet, black oil sunflower seed, peanuts
Best feeders: suet feeder, tube, hopper
Plants: trees with dead branches, native shrubs
Habitat: woods, orchards and wooded yards
Nesting: holes the bird digs in dead wood
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Suet is the favorite. Downy Woodpeckers also eat black oil sunflower seed and peanuts.

Best feeders

Use a suet feeder, with a tail prop if you can. A tube or hopper feeder also works.

Plants that attract

Trees with some dead wood, and native plants that bring insects.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath, and leave a dead tree or branch standing if it is safe.

Nesting and shelter

Downy Woodpeckers dig their own nest holes in dead wood. They do not use nest boxes much.

Seasonal tips

Suet is especially helpful in winter, when insects are hard to find.

One practical tip

Offer suet year-round, and clean the feeder often so the suet stays fresh.

Fun fact

The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in North America.

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Quick checklist

Suet
A suet feeder
A dead branch or tree, if safe
Fresh water

Facts checked against the National Audubon Society field guide.

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Woodpeckers

Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates villosus

A black-and-white woodpecker like the Downy, but bigger, with a long bill.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: suet, peanuts, black oil sunflower seed
Best feeders: suet feeder, peanut feeder, hopper
Plants: mature trees, including some dead wood
Habitat: woods and large wooded yards
Nesting: holes the bird digs in trees
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Suet is the favorite. Hairy Woodpeckers also eat peanuts and black oil sunflower seed.

Best feeders

Use a sturdy suet feeder, a peanut feeder or a hopper feeder. This is a bigger bird than the Downy, so give it room.

Plants that attract

Mature trees, and a dead tree or branch if it is safe to leave one standing.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water, and keep large trees nearby.

Nesting and shelter

Hairy Woodpeckers dig their own nest holes in trees, so they do not use nest boxes much.

Seasonal tips

Suet is especially welcome in winter, when insects are hard to find.

One practical tip

If you see a Downy-like woodpecker that is bigger, check the bill. It is the easiest way to tell the two apart.

Fun fact

A Hairy Woodpecker has a bill almost as long as its head, while the Downy’s bill is much shorter.

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Quick checklist

Suet or peanuts
A sturdy suet or peanut feeder
Mature trees
Fresh water

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Woodpeckers

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

A spotted woodpecker that often feeds on the ground, hunting for ants.

Photo coming soon
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At a glance

Favorite foods: ants and other insects, suet, peanuts
Best feeders: suet feeder, ground or platform
Plants: berry shrubs and mature trees
Habitat: open woods, edges and lawns
Nesting: a hole in a dead tree or branch
Seasonality: year-round in much of the region; many migrate north

Best foods

Flickers eat many ants and beetles. At feeders they take suet, and sometimes peanuts.

Best feeders

Use a sturdy suet feeder with a tail prop, or put suet on a platform. Flickers also feed on the lawn.

Plants that attract

Berry shrubs such as dogwood and sumac, and mature trees.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water, and leave an open lawn where they can hunt ants.

Nesting and shelter

Flickers dig nest holes in dead trees. They will use a large nest box filled with wood chips.

Seasonal tips

Many flickers leave in fall and return in spring, but some stay all winter and love suet.

One practical tip

Leave a dead tree standing when it is safe, and skip the lawn chemicals.

Fun fact

Unlike most woodpeckers, flickers often feed on the ground.

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Quick checklist

Suet
A sturdy suet feeder
A lawn without chemicals
A dead tree, if safe

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Woodpeckers

Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus

A big black woodpecker with a bright red crest.

Photo coming soon
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At a glance

Favorite foods: carpenter ants, suet, fruit and nuts
Best feeders: large, sturdy suet feeder
Plants: mature trees, fruiting shrubs
Habitat: mature forest and big wooded yards
Nesting: a big hole in a dead tree
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Pileated Woodpeckers eat carpenter ants. At feeders they take suet, and they also eat fruit and nuts.

Best feeders

Use a big, sturdy suet feeder, such as a log or a large cage feeder, and mount it on a tree trunk or a stout post.

Plants that attract

Mature trees, and fruiting plants such as dogwood and elderberry.

Water and habitat

Offer a large birdbath with fresh water, and keep mature trees close.

Nesting and shelter

Pileated Woodpeckers dig big nest holes in dead trees. They do not use ordinary nest boxes.

Seasonal tips

Offer suet all year, especially in winter.

One practical tip

Leave dead trees and stumps standing, where it is safe. They are the best pantry for this bird.

Fun fact

A Pileated Woodpecker can dig a hole that is oval or rectangular and large enough to see from a distance.

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Quick checklist

Suet
A big, sturdy suet feeder
Mature trees and dead wood
Fresh water

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Woodpeckers

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

A medium woodpecker with a zebra back and a red cap.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: suet, peanuts, sunflower seed, fruit
Best feeders: suet feeder, peanut feeder, platform
Plants: oaks, native fruiting trees
Habitat: woods and wooded yards
Nesting: holes the bird digs in dead trees
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Suet and peanuts are favorites. Red-bellied Woodpeckers also take sunflower seed, oranges and other fruit.

Best feeders

A suet feeder, a peanut feeder or a sturdy platform feeder works well.

Plants that attract

Oaks and native trees that bear fruit and nuts.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath, and leave mature trees and some dead wood in the yard.

Nesting and shelter

Red-bellied Woodpeckers dig their own nest holes in dead trees or branches.

Seasonal tips

They visit feeders all year and rely on suet and peanuts in winter.

One practical tip

Put out peanuts or suet and be patient. These woodpeckers are shy and often take a bite and fly away.

Fun fact

The Red-bellied Woodpecker has a tongue that can reach about 2 inches beyond its bill, which helps it grab insects from cracks in bark.

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Quick checklist

Suet or peanuts
A suet or peanut feeder
Mature trees
Fresh water

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Doves

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

A gentle, soft-colored bird that feeds on the ground.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: small seeds, millet, cracked corn, sunflower seed
Best feeders: ground tray, platform feeder
Plants: native grasses and seed-bearing plants
Habitat: open areas with trees for perching
Nesting: a thin platform of twigs in a tree or shrub
Seasonality: year-round in much of Michigan

Best foods

Mourning Doves eat small seeds. Offer millet, cracked corn and black oil sunflower seed.

Best feeders

Doves feed on the ground, so use a ground tray or a platform feeder. Tube feeders are too small for them.

Plants that attract

Native grasses and seed-bearing plants, plus evergreens and shrubs for nesting.

Water and habitat

Doves like a birdbath at ground level or a shallow dish with fresh water.

Nesting and shelter

Mourning Doves build a thin platform of twigs in trees or shrubs. Evergreens are a good place for nests.

Seasonal tips

In winter, scatter seed on a cleared patch of ground or a tray after snow.

One practical tip

Put out seed on a tray close to the ground, and sweep up old seed so it does not get damp.

Fun fact

Doves can drink with their heads down, sucking up water, which most birds cannot do.

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Feeder and food picks for the Mourning Dove will go here once Sara adds her links.

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Quick checklist

Millet, cracked corn or sunflower seed
A ground tray or platform feeder
Evergreens or shrubs
A shallow water dish

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Robins & thrushes

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

A familiar lawn bird that does not eat seed, but likes mealworms and fruit.

Photo coming soon
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At a glance

Favorite foods: earthworms, insects, fruit, mealworms
Best feeders: platform feeder or open tray
Plants: serviceberry, dogwood, crabapple, winterberry
Habitat: lawns and garden beds with open soil
Nesting: a cup of grass and mud on a ledge or in a tree
Seasonality: spring to fall, and some stay all winter

Best foods

Robins do not usually eat birdseed. Offer mealworms, chopped apple, raisins and berries, and leave a chemical-free lawn for the worms.

Best feeders

Use an open platform feeder or a shallow tray. Robins do not like feeders with small perches or ports.

Plants that attract

Serviceberry, dogwood, crabapple and winterberry give robins fruit, and they are good for other birds too.

Water and habitat

Robins love a birdbath for drinking and splashing. A shallow dish with fresh water helps.

Nesting and shelter

Robins build a cup of grass and mud on a ledge, a sturdy branch or a nesting shelf. An open-front nest platform under an overhang can help.

Seasonal tips

In spring, robins hunt for worms on damp lawns. In winter, the robins that stay in Michigan turn to fruit.

One practical tip

Skip the lawn chemicals. Robins eat worms and bugs from the lawn, so a chemical-free lawn is the best feeder.

Fun fact

Robins can find worms by sight, tilting their heads to look instead of listening.

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Feeder and food picks for the American Robin will go here once Sara adds her links.

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Quick checklist

Mealworms or fruit on an open tray
A shallow birdbath
Chemical-free lawn
Fruiting shrubs

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Robins & thrushes

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

A blue and orange thrush that likes mealworms and a nest box in an open yard.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: mealworms, fruit, suet bits (not seed)
Best feeders: open platform or bluebird feeder
Plants: native berry plants such as dogwood, holly and sumac
Habitat: open lawns and fields with a few trees
Nesting: nest boxes, with a 1 1/2 inch hole
Seasonality: year-round in the Southeast, spring to fall farther north

Best foods

Bluebirds do not eat birdseed. Offer mealworms, and fruit such as raisins and berries, on an open tray.

Best feeders

Use an open platform feeder or a feeder made for bluebirds, with a hole big enough for them to enter.

Plants that attract

Native berry plants such as dogwood, holly and sumac. Short grass with a few trees to perch on helps too.

Water and habitat

Bluebirds love a birdbath, especially a shallow one. Add moving water if you can.

Nesting and shelter

Put up a nest box with a 1 1/2 inch entrance hole, on a pole in an open area, and keep it clean. Check the North American Bluebird Society for plans.

Seasonal tips

Put the nest box up by late winter, before nesting starts.

One practical tip

Place the nest box on a smooth pole in a mowed, open area with a tree or two nearby.

Fun fact

The bluebird’s blue is not a pigment. It comes from the tiny structure of the feathers.

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Quick checklist

Mealworms or fruit on an open tray
A nest box with a 1 1/2 inch hole
An open lawn
Fresh water

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Robins & thrushes

Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

A blue and rust-colored bluebird of open woods in the West.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: mealworms, fruit, suet bits (not seed)
Best feeders: open platform or bluebird feeder
Plants: berry shrubs and oaks
Habitat: open woods and meadows
Nesting: nest boxes, with a 1 1/2 inch hole
Seasonality: year-round in much of the West

Best foods

Bluebirds do not eat birdseed. Offer mealworms and fruit such as raisins and berries on an open tray.

Best feeders

An open platform or a bluebird feeder.

Plants that attract

Berry shrubs such as elderberry, and oaks and other trees for perches.

Water and habitat

A shallow birdbath, especially with moving water.

Nesting and shelter

Put up a nest box with a 1 1/2 inch entrance hole on a pole in an open area, and keep it clean.

Seasonal tips

Put the nest box up in late winter, before nesting starts.

One practical tip

Place the box in a mowed, open area with a tree or two nearby.

Fun fact

Western Bluebirds sometimes have young from earlier broods help at the nest.

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Feeder and food picks for the Western Bluebird will go here once Sara adds her links.

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Quick checklist

Mealworms or fruit on an open tray
A nest box with a 1 1/2 inch hole
An open lawn or meadow
Fresh water

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Sparrows & juncos

Dark-eyed Junco

Junco hyemalis

A small gray bird that visits Michigan yards in winter.

A plump dark-eyed junco with a seed in its beak, sitting in a tray feeder in a fall yard

About the Dark-eyed Junco

When the first gray little birds start hopping under the feeder, winter isn't far behind. That's why so many people call juncos "snowbirds." In the East they're slate gray on top with a white belly, and they flash white outer tail feathers when they fly. Out West they come in several color forms, some with dark hoods and rusty sides.

Juncos are ground birds. They hop and scratch through leaves and snow for seeds, and they'd rather pick up what falls from the feeder than perch on it. In winter, weed and grass seeds make up most of what they eat.

At a glance

Favorite foods: millet, small seeds, sunflower hearts
Best feeders: ground tray, platform feeder
Plants: native grasses and weeds that hold seed
Habitat: brushy edges and yards with cover
Nesting: on the ground, mostly farther north
Seasonality: winter visitor in much of Michigan

Best foods

Juncos eat small seeds. Offer millet and sunflower hearts, and scatter seed on the ground.

Best feeders

Use a ground tray or a platform feeder. Juncos feed on the ground and under feeders.

Plants that attract

Leave native grasses and seed heads standing, and keep a brush pile or shrubs for cover.

Water and habitat

Keep a shallow dish of fresh water, and keep it from freezing with a heated birdbath if you can.

Nesting and shelter

Juncos nest on the ground, usually north of most Michigan yards. In winter, they need cover from shrubs and brush piles.

Seasonal tips

Juncos arrive in fall and leave in spring. Keep seed on the ground after snowfall.

One practical tip

Shovel a patch of ground and scatter seed on it after a snow. Juncos find it quickly.

Fun fact

The white outer tail feathers flash when a junco flies, which looks like a quick flash of white.

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Quick checklist

Millet or sunflower hearts
A ground tray or platform feeder
Shrubs or a brush pile
Water that stays unfrozen

Facts checked against the National Audubon Society field guide.

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Sparrows & juncos

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

A common small brown bird of towns and yards, not native to North America.

Photo coming soon
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At a glance

Favorite foods: cracked corn, millet, sunflower seed, bread crumbs
Best feeders: hopper, platform, tube, ground
Plants: grasses and shrubs near buildings
Habitat: towns, farms and yards
Nesting: in cavities and nest boxes
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

House Sparrows eat cracked corn, millet and sunflower seed. They often crowd feeders.

Best feeders

They use almost any feeder. A feeder with a small perch or a cage can make it harder for them to take over.

Plants that attract

Grasses and shrubs near buildings. They are not fussy.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water.

Nesting and shelter

House Sparrows nest in cavities and boxes, and can take over a bluebird box.

Seasonal tips

They are around all year, and they may crowd feeders in winter.

One practical tip

To keep House Sparrows from crowding other birds, offer less cracked corn and millet, and more safflower.

Fun fact

House Sparrows were brought to North America from Europe in the 1850s.

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Feeder and food picks for the House Sparrow will go here once Sara adds her links.

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Quick checklist

Seed in a hopper or platform feeder
Safflower to favor other birds
A birdbath
A clean feeder

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Sparrows & juncos

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

A sparrow with a white throat and yellow spots that visits in winter.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: millet, black oil sunflower seed, cracked corn
Best feeders: ground tray, platform feeder
Plants: native shrubs, brush and fruiting plants
Habitat: brushy edges and thickets
Nesting: on or near the ground, mostly farther north
Seasonality: winter visitor in much of the region

Best foods

White-throated Sparrows eat seed off the ground. Offer millet, black oil sunflower seed and cracked corn.

Best feeders

A ground tray or a platform feeder works best, close to a shrub or brush pile.

Plants that attract

Native shrubs and brushy tangles. Leave some leaf litter, where they scratch for seeds.

Water and habitat

Offer a shallow birdbath, and keep a brush pile or thicket nearby for cover.

Nesting and shelter

White-throated Sparrows nest on or near the ground, mostly north of most yards in the region. In winter they need brushy cover.

Seasonal tips

They arrive in fall and leave in spring. Scatter seed on the ground near cover.

One practical tip

Leave a little leaf litter under shrubs. White-throated Sparrows scratch the ground, towhee-style, to find seeds.

Fun fact

The song is often described as “Old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody.”

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the White-throated Sparrow will go here once Sara adds her links.

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Quick checklist

Millet or sunflower seed
A ground tray or platform feeder
Brush pile or shrubs
A shallow water dish

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Owls

Eastern Screech-Owl

Megascops asio

A small owl that does not use feeders, but may use a nest box.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: insects, small mammals and birds (it does not use feeders)
Best feeders: none
Plants: mature trees with cavities
Habitat: woods and wooded yards
Nesting: tree cavities and large nest boxes
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Screech-owls do not eat birdseed. They hunt insects, small mammals and small birds at night.

Best feeders

Owls do not use feeders. Skip the feeders and offer a nest box and a birdbath instead.

Plants that attract

Mature trees, especially those with natural cavities, give screech-owls a place to rest during the day.

Water and habitat

A birdbath with fresh water helps. Screech-owls will bathe and drink, and a few trees nearby give them cover.

Nesting and shelter

Screech-owls use tree cavities and nest boxes. A nest box needs an entrance hole about 3 inches wide. Check the Cornell Lab plans for the right size and height.

Seasonal tips

Screech-owls are around all year and nest in early spring.

One practical tip

Leave dead trees standing when it is safe, and put up a nest box in late winter, before the nesting season.

Fun fact

Screech-owls come in two color forms, a gray one and a reddish one, even within the same family.

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Feeder and food picks for the Eastern Screech-Owl will go here once Sara adds her links.

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Quick checklist

Mature trees with cavities
No pesticides
Fresh water

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Owls

Western Screech-Owl

Megascops kennicottii

A small, gray owl with ear tufts, found in the West.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: insects, small mammals and birds (it does not use feeders)
Best feeders: none; offer a nest box
Plants: oaks, cottonwoods and trees with cavities
Habitat: woods, streamsides and wooded yards
Nesting: in a tree cavity or a nest box
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Insects, small mammals and birds (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

This bird does not use feeders. Offer a nest box instead.

Plants that attract

Oaks, cottonwoods and trees with cavities.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water, and change it often.

Nesting and shelter

In a tree cavity or a nest box.

Seasonal tips

Year-round.

One practical tip

Put up a nest box with the right hole size, and leave dead trees where it is safe.

Fun fact

The Western Screech-Owl’s call sounds like a bouncing ball that speeds up.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Western Screech-Owl will go here once Sara adds her links.

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Quick checklist

Oaks
A nest box of the right size
No pesticides
Fresh water

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Wrens

Carolina Wren

Thryothorus ludovicianus

A small, round, rusty bird with a very loud song.

Photo coming soon
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At a glance

Favorite foods: suet, mealworms, peanut bits
Best feeders: suet feeder, platform feeder
Plants: dense shrubs, vines and brush piles
Habitat: tangles, brush and woodland edges
Nesting: nooks and crannies, even flowerpots and mailboxes
Seasonality: year-round, but not common in the far north

Best foods

Carolina Wrens mostly eat insects. Suet, mealworms and peanut bits are good choices.

Best feeders

A suet feeder or a platform feeder works well. Keep it low and close to cover.

Plants that attract

Dense shrubs, vines and a brush pile give wrens places to hunt and hide.

Water and habitat

Offer a shallow birdbath with fresh water, and keep a tangle of shrubs or brush nearby.

Nesting and shelter

Carolina Wrens nest in odd places such as flowerpots, mailboxes and porch shelves. A sheltered nest box or a quiet nook will do.

Seasonal tips

Very cold winters are hard on Carolina Wrens, so suet and mealworms help on the coldest days.

One practical tip

Leave a brush pile in a corner of the yard, and check porches and sheds before nesting season.

Fun fact

The Carolina Wren is only about 5 inches long, but its song is surprisingly loud.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Carolina Wren will go here once Sara adds her links.

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Quick checklist

Suet or mealworms
A suet or platform feeder near cover
A brush pile or dense shrubs
A sheltered nesting nook

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Mockingbirds & thrashers

Brown Thrasher

Toxostoma rufum

A rusty-brown bird that scratches in leaf litter and sings from the treetops.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: insects, fruit, cracked corn, sunflower seed
Best feeders: ground tray, platform feeder
Plants: dense shrubs, berry plants and thickets
Habitat: thickets and brushy edges
Nesting: low in dense shrubs
Seasonality: year-round in the Southeast, spring to fall farther north

Best foods

Brown Thrashers eat insects and fruit, and will also take cracked corn and sunflower seed from the ground.

Best feeders

A ground tray or a low platform feeder works well, close to shrubs.

Plants that attract

Dense shrubs, berry plants and thickets. Leave some leaf litter under shrubs.

Water and habitat

Offer a shallow birdbath at ground level, and keep a thicket or brush pile nearby.

Nesting and shelter

Brown Thrashers nest low in dense shrubs and thickets, so they do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

In summer they sing from high perches. In the north they leave in fall.

One practical tip

Keep a dense shrub corner and a bit of leaf litter, and place seed near it.

Fun fact

The Brown Thrasher has one of the biggest song repertoires of any North American bird, with more than a thousand song types.

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Quick checklist

Cracked corn, sunflower seed or fruit
A ground tray or low platform feeder
Dense shrubs
Fresh water

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Mockingbirds & thrashers

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

A gray bird with white wing patches and a song borrowed from other birds.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: fruit, berries, suet, mealworms
Best feeders: platform feeder, suet feeder
Plants: native berry shrubs such as holly and hawthorn
Habitat: open areas with shrubs and short grass
Nesting: dense shrubs and small trees
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Mockingbirds mostly eat insects and fruit. Offer raisins, chopped fruit, mealworms and suet.

Best feeders

Use an open platform feeder or a suet feeder. Mockingbirds are not seed eaters.

Plants that attract

Native berry shrubs such as holly, hawthorn and dogwood.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water, and keep dense shrubs nearby for nesting.

Nesting and shelter

Mockingbirds nest in dense shrubs and small trees, so they do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

In winter, a mockingbird may guard a berry bush or a feeder from other birds.

One practical tip

Plant a berry shrub. Mockingbirds often claim one and sing from it.

Fun fact

A Northern Mockingbird borrows songs from other birds, and one male can learn many different songs.

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Quick checklist

Fruit, mealworms or suet
A platform or suet feeder
Berry shrubs
Fresh water

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Warblers

Pine Warbler

Setophaga pinus

A yellow warbler that lives in pine woods, and one of few that will visit a feeder.

Photo coming soon
Sara’s own photo of the Pine Warbler will go here.

At a glance

Favorite foods: suet, sunflower hearts, insects
Best feeders: suet feeder, platform feeder
Plants: pine trees
Habitat: pine woods and pine yards
Nesting: high in pine trees
Seasonality: year-round in much of the Southeast, spring to fall farther north

Best foods

Pine Warblers eat insects, but also take suet and sunflower hearts at feeders.

Best feeders

A suet feeder or a platform feeder works well, close to pine trees.

Plants that attract

Pine trees are the best plant for Pine Warblers.

Water and habitat

Offer a shallow birdbath with fresh water, and keep some pines nearby.

Nesting and shelter

Pine Warblers nest high in pine trees, so they do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

In the Southeast, Pine Warblers stay for winter and visit suet feeders more then.

One practical tip

Put out suet near pines in winter. Pine Warblers are often among the first warblers to show up in spring.

Fun fact

Pine Warblers are among the few warblers that eat seeds, which is why they visit feeders.

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Quick checklist

Suet or sunflower hearts
A suet or platform feeder
Pine trees nearby
Fresh water

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Hummingbirds

Anna’s Hummingbird

Calypte anna

A hummingbird with a rosy-red throat that stays all year along the Pacific coast.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: nectar from flowers and feeders, plus tiny insects
Best feeders: nectar (hummingbird) feeder
Plants: fuchsia, salvia, manzanita, red-flowering currant
Habitat: gardens and coastal scrub
Nesting: a tiny cup on a branch
Seasonality: year-round along much of the Pacific coast

Best foods

Make nectar with 1 part plain white sugar to 4 parts water. Do not add red dye or honey.

Best feeders

Use a hummingbird feeder with feeding ports, and clean it each time you refill it. Change the nectar every few days, and more often in hot weather.

Plants that attract

Fuchsia, salvia, manzanita and red-flowering currant give nectar, and some bloom in winter.

Water and habitat

A fine mist or a shallow fountain is a favorite. Skip pesticides, since they also eat tiny insects.

Nesting and shelter

Anna’s Hummingbirds build a tiny cup nest on a branch. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Because they stay all year in many places, keep the feeder up in winter too, and keep it from freezing.

One practical tip

Hang the feeder in light shade, and clean it often.

Fun fact

A male Anna’s makes a sharp chirp with his tail feathers when he dives during his courtship display.

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Quick checklist

Fresh nectar: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water
A clean hummingbird feeder
Winter-blooming flowers
No pesticides

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Hummingbirds

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

A tiny summer visitor that drinks nectar and loves red flowers.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: nectar from flowers and feeders, plus tiny insects
Best feeders: nectar (hummingbird) feeder
Plants: bee balm, cardinal flower, trumpet vine, salvia
Habitat: gardens and woodland edges
Nesting: a tiny cup of plant down on a branch
Seasonality: spring to early fall; winters far to the south

Best foods

Make nectar with 1 part plain white sugar to 4 parts water. Do not add red dye or honey, and do not use sugar substitutes.

Best feeders

Use a hummingbird feeder with feeding ports, and clean it each time you refill it. Change the nectar every few days, and more often in hot weather.

Plants that attract

Bee balm, cardinal flower, trumpet vine and salvia give hummingbirds nectar. Flowers that are red or orange and tubular are favorites.

Water and habitat

A fine mist or a shallow fountain is a favorite. Hummingbirds also eat tiny insects, so skip pesticides.

Nesting and shelter

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds build a tiny cup nest, about the size of a walnut, on a branch. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Put your feeder out when hummingbirds return in spring, and leave it up a couple of weeks after you see the last one in fall.

One practical tip

Hang the feeder in light shade, and put it near flowers they already visit.

Fun fact

A hummingbird’s wings beat about 50 times a second.

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Quick checklist

Fresh nectar: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water
A clean hummingbird feeder
Red and orange tubular flowers
No pesticides

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Hummingbirds

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

A feisty, orange-brown hummingbird that nests in the Northwest and migrates far.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: nectar from flowers and feeders, plus tiny insects
Best feeders: nectar (hummingbird) feeder
Plants: red-flowering currant, salvia, columbine, penstemon
Habitat: mountain meadows, gardens and forest edges
Nesting: a tiny cup in a tree or shrub
Seasonality: spring to late summer; winters in Mexico

Best foods

Make nectar with 1 part plain white sugar to 4 parts water. Do not add red dye or honey.

Best feeders

Use a hummingbird feeder with feeding ports, and clean it each time you refill it.

Plants that attract

Red-flowering currant, salvia, columbine and penstemon.

Water and habitat

A fine mist or a shallow fountain is a favorite.

Nesting and shelter

Rufous Hummingbirds build a tiny cup nest in trees and shrubs. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

They pass through in spring and again in late summer. Put the feeder up early and leave it up for late migrants.

One practical tip

Put several feeders out of sight of each other. Rufous Hummingbirds are very territorial.

Fun fact

The Rufous Hummingbird makes one of the longest migrations of any bird for its size.

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Quick checklist

Fresh nectar: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water
A clean hummingbird feeder
Red and orange tubular flowers
No pesticides

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Orioles & blackbirds

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

A bright orange and black bird that loves oranges and grape jelly.

Photo coming soon
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At a glance

Favorite foods: orange halves, grape jelly, nectar, fruit and insects
Best feeders: oriole nectar feeder, open platform or fruit feeder
Plants: mulberry, serviceberry, cherry, tall shade trees
Habitat: open woods and tall trees near yards
Nesting: a woven hanging pouch high in a tree
Seasonality: spring to late summer

Best foods

Orioles like halved oranges, grape jelly and nectar. They also eat fruit such as mulberries and cherries, and insects.

Best feeders

Use an oriole feeder with larger ports, or an open platform with orange halves and a small dish of jelly. Keep jelly and nectar fresh.

Plants that attract

Mulberry, serviceberry and cherry trees give fruit. Tall shade trees give a place to hang a nest.

Water and habitat

Orioles will visit a birdbath, and moving water is a favorite.

Nesting and shelter

Orioles weave a hanging pouch nest, high in a tall tree. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Put out oranges as soon as orioles return in spring, usually in May in Michigan. They come for only a few months.

One practical tip

Spear orange halves on a feeder or nail them to a post, and put out only a spoonful or two of jelly at a time.

Fun fact

The Baltimore Oriole weaves a hanging, sock-shaped nest.

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Quick checklist

Orange halves, jelly or nectar
An oriole feeder or open tray
Tall trees nearby
Fresh water

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Orioles & blackbirds

Common Grackle

Quiscalus quiscula

A large, glossy blackbird with a long tail and a pale eye.

Photo coming soon
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At a glance

Favorite foods: cracked corn, sunflower seed, suet, insects
Best feeders: platform, ground tray, hopper
Plants: tall conifers and wetland plants
Habitat: open fields, parks and wet areas
Nesting: in trees, often evergreens
Seasonality: spring to fall; some stay in winter

Best foods

Common Grackles eat cracked corn, sunflower seed and suet, plus many insects.

Best feeders

A platform feeder, ground tray or hopper feeder works well.

Plants that attract

Tall conifers for nesting, and wetland plants.

Water and habitat

A birdbath with fresh water; grackles often dunk their food.

Nesting and shelter

Common Grackles nest in trees, often in evergreens, and sometimes in small colonies.

Seasonal tips

Grackles arrive in flocks in spring.

One practical tip

If grackles crowd your feeders, switch to safflower, which most of them skip.

Fun fact

A Common Grackle’s glossy head can look purple, blue or green, depending on the light.

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Quick checklist

Cracked corn or sunflower seed
A platform or ground feeder
Tall evergreens
Fresh water

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Orioles & blackbirds

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

A glossy black bird with red and yellow shoulder patches.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: cracked corn, black oil sunflower seed, insects
Best feeders: platform, ground tray, hopper
Plants: cattails, native grasses and wetland plants
Habitat: marshes, ponds and wet fields
Nesting: in cattails and tall grass
Seasonality: spring to fall in the north; some stay in winter

Best foods

Red-winged Blackbirds eat cracked corn and sunflower seed at feeders, and many insects.

Best feeders

A platform feeder, ground tray or hopper feeder works well.

Plants that attract

Cattails and native wetland grasses.

Water and habitat

A pond or wet area is the best draw. A birdbath works too.

Nesting and shelter

Red-winged Blackbirds nest in cattails and tall grass near water. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Males arrive in early spring, often before the snow is gone.

One practical tip

If you do not want large flocks, put out only a little seed at a time.

Fun fact

A male may have several mates nesting in his marsh territory.

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Quick checklist

Cracked corn or sunflower seed
A platform or ground feeder
Cattails or tall grass
Water nearby

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Waxwings

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

A sleek, crested bird that travels in flocks and loves berries.

Photo coming soon
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At a glance

Favorite foods: berries and other small fruit
Best feeders: open platform with fruit
Plants: serviceberry, juniper, dogwood, winterberry, crabapple
Habitat: open woods and yards with fruit
Nesting: a cup in a tree, in summer
Seasonality: year-round in much of the region, moving to find fruit

Best foods

Cedar Waxwings eat fruit, and few seeds. Berries, grapes, raisins and chopped apple are good choices.

Best feeders

They rarely use seed feeders. A platform with fruit can attract them, but berry shrubs work best.

Plants that attract

Serviceberry, juniper, dogwood, winterberry and crabapple are favorites.

Water and habitat

A birdbath with fresh water, especially a shallow one.

Nesting and shelter

Cedar Waxwings nest late in summer, when fruit ripens, in a cup in a tree.

Seasonal tips

Waxwings roam in flocks in fall and winter, looking for berries.

One practical tip

Plant berry shrubs and leave the fruit on over winter.

Fun fact

Cedar Waxwings sometimes pass a berry from bird to bird along a line.

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Quick checklist

Berry shrubs
Fruit on a platform
A shallow birdbath
Trees for perching

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More backyard birds

Greater Roadrunner

Geococcyx californianus

A long-tailed bird of the Southwest that runs across the ground and hunts lizards and snakes.

Photo coming soon
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At a glance

Favorite foods: lizards, insects, snakes and small animals (it rarely visits feeders)
Best feeders: none; offer water, rock piles and desert plants
Plants: cactus, mesquite and desert shrubs
Habitat: desert scrub, dry brush and desert yards
Nesting: in a bulky nest of sticks in a cactus or low shrub
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Lizards, insects, snakes and small animals (it rarely visits feeders).

Best feeders

This bird does not use feeders. Offer water, rock piles and desert plants instead.

Plants that attract

Cactus, mesquite and desert shrubs.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water, and change it often.

Nesting and shelter

In a bulky nest of sticks in a cactus or low shrub.

Seasonal tips

Year-round.

One practical tip

Offer a shallow dish of water, and leave rock piles and brush for lizards.

Fun fact

The Greater Roadrunner is the state bird of New Mexico, and it can run about 20 miles an hour.

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Quick checklist

Cactus
No pesticides
Fresh water

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Hawks & falcons

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

A small, colorful falcon that hovers over fields and uses nest boxes.

Photo coming soon
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At a glance

Favorite foods: insects, mice and small birds (it does not use feeders)
Best feeders: none; offer a nest box
Plants: open fields with perches and some tall trees
Habitat: open fields, farms and edges
Nesting: in a tree cavity or a nest box with a 3 inch hole
Seasonality: year-round in much of the country, spring to fall in the north

Best foods

Insects, mice and small birds (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

This bird does not use feeders. Offer a nest box instead.

Plants that attract

Open fields with perches and some tall trees.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water, and change it often.

Nesting and shelter

In a tree cavity or a nest box with a 3 inch hole.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in much of the country, spring to fall in the north.

One practical tip

Put the nest box on a pole at the edge of an open field.

Fun fact

The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America.

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Quick checklist

Open fields with perches and some tall trees
A nest box of the right size
No pesticides
Fresh water

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Hawks & falcons

Cooper’s Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

A medium hawk that hunts birds through trees, and sometimes visits yards with feeders.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: small birds (it does not eat seed, but it hunts at feeders)
Best feeders: it visits feeders to hunt; offer cover near them
Plants: dense shrubs and thickets close to feeders, for small birds to dive into
Habitat: woods, towns and yards
Nesting: in a stick nest high in a tree
Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Small birds, which is why it visits yards with feeders. It does not eat seed.

Best feeders

It does visit feeders, but to hunt the birds that gather there, not to eat seed. Place feeders near dense shrubs or evergreens so small birds can dive into cover.

Plants that attract

Dense shrubs and thickets close to feeders, for small birds to dive into.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water, and change it often.

Nesting and shelter

In a stick nest high in a tree.

Seasonal tips

Year-round.

One practical tip

If a hawk visits, keep feeders near dense shrubs so small birds can hide. Hawks are protected by law, and the visits are natural.

Fun fact

A female Cooper’s Hawk is noticeably larger than the male.

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Quick checklist

Dense shrubs and thickets close to feeders
No pesticides
Fresh water

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Hawks & falcons

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

A small, quick hawk that hunts songbirds, often in winter around feeders.

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At a glance

Favorite foods: small birds (it does not eat seed)
Best feeders: it visits feeders to hunt; offer cover near them
Plants: dense shrubs and evergreens near feeders
Habitat: woods, edges and yards
Nesting: in a stick nest high in a conifer
Seasonality: year-round in much of the country, winter visitor in the south

Best foods

Small birds, which is why it visits yards with feeders. It does not eat seed.

Best feeders

It does visit feeders, but to hunt the birds that gather there, not to eat seed. Place feeders near dense shrubs or evergreens so small birds can dive into cover.

Plants that attract

Dense shrubs and evergreens near feeders.

Water and habitat

Offer a birdbath with fresh water, and change it often.

Nesting and shelter

In a stick nest high in a conifer.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in much of the country, winter visitor in the south.

One practical tip

Place feeders near dense shrubs so small birds can dart into cover. Hawks are protected by law.

Fun fact

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest of the bird-hunting hawks in North America.

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Quick checklist

Dense shrubs and evergreens near feeders
No pesticides
Fresh water

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Cardinals & finches

Jays

Chickadees, titmice & nuthatches

Woodpeckers

Doves

Robins & thrushes

Sparrows & juncos

Owls

Wrens

Mockingbirds & thrashers

Warblers

Hummingbirds

Orioles & blackbirds

Waxwings

Crows

Starlings

Quail & turkeys

Tanagers

Swallows & martins

Flycatchers

Kinglets & gnatcatchers

More backyard birds

Hawks & falcons

American Goldfinch

At a glance

Best foods

Best feeders

Plants that attract

Water and habitat

Nesting and shelter

Seasonal tips

One practical tip

Fun fact

Shop this bird

Quick checklist

Black-headed Grosbeak

At a glance

Best foods

Best feeders

Plants that attract

Water and habitat

Nesting and shelter

Seasonal tips

One practical tip

Fun fact

Shop this bird

Quick checklist

Cassin’s Finch

At a glance

Best foods

Best feeders

Plants that attract

Water and habitat

Nesting and shelter

Seasonal tips

One practical tip

Fun fact

Shop this bird

Quick checklist

Common Redpoll

At a glance

Best foods

Best feeders

Plants that attract

Water and habitat

Nesting and shelter

Seasonal tips

One practical tip

Fun fact

Shop this bird

Quick checklist

Evening Grosbeak

At a glance

Best foods

Best feeders

Plants that attract

Water and habitat

Nesting and shelter

Seasonal tips

One practical tip