How to Attract Backyard Birds

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.

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Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: nyjer seed, sunflower hearts
• Best feeders: nyjer tube or mesh feeder, tube
• Plants: birches, alders and weedy seed heads
• Habitat: open fields and birch woods
• Nesting: far to the north, on the tundra
• Seasonality: irregular winter visitor

Best foods

Nyjer seed, sunflower hearts.

Best feeders

Try nyjer tube or mesh feeder, tube.

Plants that attract

Birches, alders and weedy seed heads.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

Far to the north, on the tundra.

Seasonal tips

Irregular winter visitor.

One practical tip

Keep a nyjer feeder stocked and clean in winter.

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Quick checklist

• Nyjer seed
• A nyjer tube or mesh feeder
• Birches
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: black oil sunflower seed, sunflower hearts
• Best feeders: platform feeder, hopper feeder
• Plants: box elder, maples and fruiting trees
• Habitat: evergreen and mixed forests
• Nesting: high in a tree, in a loose cup
• Seasonality: irregular winter visitor

Best foods

Black oil sunflower seed, sunflower hearts.

Best feeders

Try platform feeder, hopper feeder.

Plants that attract

Box elder, maples and fruiting trees.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

High in a tree, in a loose cup.

Seasonal tips

Irregular winter visitor.

One practical tip

Keep feeders full and clean in winters when flocks show up.

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Quick checklist

• Black oil sunflower seed
• A platform feeder
• Box elder
• Fresh water

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: suet, peanuts, scraps
• Best feeders: platform feeder, suet feeder
• Plants: spruce, pine and fir
• Habitat: northern evergreen forests
• Nesting: in a bulky nest in an evergreen, early in the year
• Seasonality: year-round in the north

Best foods

Suet, peanuts, scraps.

Best feeders

Try platform feeder, suet feeder.

Plants that attract

Spruce, pine and fir.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a bulky nest in an evergreen, early in the year.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in the north.

One practical tip

Offer suet and peanuts on a platform in northern woods.

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Quick checklist

• Suet
• A platform feeder
• Spruce
• Fresh water

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.

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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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: suet, especially smeared on bark
• Best feeders: suet smeared on a rough tree trunk, suet feeder
• Plants: large mature trees with rough bark
• Habitat: mature forests and wooded yards
• Nesting: behind a loose flake of bark
• Seasonality: year-round in many areas, winter visitor farther south

Best foods

Suet, especially smeared on bark.

Best feeders

Try suet smeared on a rough tree trunk, suet feeder.

Plants that attract

Large mature trees with rough bark.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

Behind a loose flake of bark.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in many areas, winter visitor farther south.

One practical tip

Smear a little suet on the rough bark of a tree trunk.

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Quick checklist

• Suet
• A suet smeared on a rough tree trunk feeder
• Large mature trees with rough bark
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: suet, black oil sunflower seed, peanuts
• Best feeders: suet, tube, hopper
• Plants: pines, spruces, firs
• Habitat: evergreen forests
• Nesting: holes in dead trees
• Seasonality: year-round in the north and West, winter visitor farther south

Best foods

Suet, black oil sunflower seed and peanuts all work.

Best feeders

A suet feeder, tube feeder or hopper feeder near evergreen trees.

Plants that attract

Pines, spruces and firs.

Water and habitat

A shallow birdbath with fresh water.

Nesting and shelter

Red-breasted Nuthatches dig nest holes in dead trees or branches, or use a nest box with a small hole.

Seasonal tips

In some winters, more of them move south to visit feeders.

One practical tip

Put the feeder near evergreen trees.

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Quick checklist

• Suet or sunflower seed
• A suet, tube or hopper feeder
• Evergreens
• Fresh water

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: acorns, suet, peanuts, fruit
• Best feeders: suet feeder, peanut feeder, platform
• Plants: oaks and beeches
• Habitat: open woods and large wooded yards
• Nesting: in a hole in a dead tree
• Seasonality: year-round in the South, spring to fall farther north

Best foods

Acorns, suet, peanuts, fruit.

Best feeders

Try suet feeder, peanut feeder, platform.

Plants that attract

Oaks and beeches.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a hole in a dead tree.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in the South, spring to fall farther north.

One practical tip

Leave a dead tree standing where it is safe, and offer peanuts and suet.

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Quick checklist

• Acorns
• A suet feeder
• Oaks and beeches
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: tree sap, suet, fruit
• Best feeders: suet feeder
• Plants: birches, maples and fruit trees
• Habitat: woods and wooded yards
• Nesting: in a hole in a dead tree, far north
• Seasonality: winter in much of the country

Best foods

Tree sap, suet, fruit.

Best feeders

Try suet feeder.

Plants that attract

Birches, maples and fruit trees.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a hole in a dead tree, far north.

Seasonal tips

Winter in much of the country.

One practical tip

Offer suet and orange halves in winter.

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Quick checklist

• Tree sap
• A suet feeder
• Birches
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: cracked corn, millet, sunflower seed
• Best feeders: ground tray, platform feeder
• Plants: evergreens and trees for nesting
• Habitat: towns, farms and yards
• Nesting: a thin platform of twigs in trees
• Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Cracked corn, millet, sunflower seed.

Best feeders

Try ground tray, platform feeder.

Plants that attract

Evergreens and trees for nesting.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

A thin platform of twigs in trees.

Seasonal tips

Year-round.

One practical tip

Offer seed on a tray close to the ground.

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Quick checklist

• Cracked corn
• A ground tray
• Evergreens and trees for nesting
• Fresh water

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.

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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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: cracked corn, millet, sunflower seed
• Best feeders: ground tray, platform feeder
• Plants: buildings and ledges, rather than plants
• Habitat: towns, farms and parks
• Nesting: on ledges and in buildings
• Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Cracked corn, millet, sunflower seed.

Best feeders

Try ground tray, platform feeder.

Plants that attract

Buildings and ledges, rather than plants.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

On ledges and in buildings.

Seasonal tips

Year-round.

One practical tip

If you prefer not to feed pigeons, use tube feeders and avoid spilled seed.

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Quick checklist

• Cracked corn
• A ground tray
• Buildings and ledges
• Fresh water

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.

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Quick checklist

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

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.

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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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: berries, mealworms, raisins
• Best feeders: open platform
• Plants: dogwood, holly, juniper and other berry plants
• Habitat: woods and shady yards
• Nesting: on or near the ground in woods
• Seasonality: winter in most of the country, summer in the north and mountains

Best foods

Berries, mealworms, raisins.

Best feeders

Try open platform.

Plants that attract

Dogwood, holly, juniper and other berry plants.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

On or near the ground in woods.

Seasonal tips

Winter in most of the country, summer in the north and mountains.

One practical tip

Offer fruit and mealworms on a low platform in winter.

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Quick checklist

• Berries
• A open platform
• Dogwood
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: mealworms, fruit
• Best feeders: open platform, bluebird feeder
• Plants: native grasses and shrubs with berries
• Habitat: open meadows and rangeland
• Nesting: in a nest box or cavity, with a 1 1/2 inch hole
• Seasonality: spring to fall in the mountains; winters in the lowlands

Best foods

Mealworms, fruit.

Best feeders

Try open platform, bluebird feeder.

Plants that attract

Native grasses and shrubs with berries.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a nest box or cavity, with a 1 1/2 inch hole.

Seasonal tips

Spring to fall in the mountains; winters in the lowlands.

One practical tip

Put the nest box in an open area on a pole.

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Quick checklist

• Mealworms
• A open platform
• Native grasses and shrubs with berries
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: mealworms, berries, insects
• Best feeders: open platform, near woods
• Plants: dogwood, spicebush and shrubs in shady yards
• Habitat: shady woods and large yards
• Nesting: in a cup in a tree or shrub
• Seasonality: spring to early fall

Best foods

Mealworms, berries, insects.

Best feeders

Try open platform, near woods.

Plants that attract

Dogwood, spicebush and shrubs in shady yards.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a cup in a tree or shrub.

Seasonal tips

Spring to early fall.

One practical tip

Keep shady, leafy corners with leaf litter.

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Quick checklist

• Mealworms
• A open platform
• Dogwood
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: millet, sunflower hearts, cracked corn
• Best feeders: ground tray, platform feeder
• Plants: native grasses, weeds with seed and brush
• Habitat: open fields and brushy edges
• Nesting: far to the north in the Arctic, not in yards
• Seasonality: winter only

Best foods

Millet, sunflower hearts, cracked corn.

Best feeders

Try ground tray, platform feeder.

Plants that attract

Native grasses, weeds with seed and brush.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

Far to the north in the Arctic, not in yards.

Seasonal tips

Winter only.

One practical tip

Leave weedy seed heads standing and scatter seed on cleared ground after snow.

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Quick checklist

• Millet
• A ground tray
• Native grasses
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: millet, sunflower hearts, cracked corn
• Best feeders: ground tray, platform feeder
• Plants: native grasses, shrubs and evergreens
• Habitat: lawns, open woods and edges
• Nesting: in a small cup in a shrub or evergreen, and does not use birdhouses
• Seasonality: spring to fall; winters in the South

Best foods

Millet, sunflower hearts, cracked corn.

Best feeders

Try ground tray, platform feeder.

Plants that attract

Native grasses, shrubs and evergreens.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a small cup in a shrub or evergreen, and does not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Spring to fall; winters in the South.

One practical tip

Scatter seed near a shrub or evergreen so it has cover close by.

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Quick checklist

• Millet
• A ground tray
• Native grasses
• Fresh water

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.

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HiBird smart feeder
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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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: black oil sunflower seed, cracked corn, millet
• Best feeders: ground tray
• Plants: dense shrubs, thickets and leaf litter
• Habitat: brushy edges and young woods
• Nesting: on or near the ground under shrubs
• Seasonality: year-round in the South, spring to fall in the north

Best foods

Black oil sunflower seed, cracked corn, millet.

Best feeders

Try ground tray.

Plants that attract

Dense shrubs, thickets and leaf litter.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

On or near the ground under shrubs.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in the South, spring to fall in the north.

One practical tip

Leave leaf litter under shrubs, where towhees scratch for food.

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Quick checklist

• Black oil sunflower seed
• A ground tray
• Dense shrubs
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: millet, sunflower seed, cracked corn
• Best feeders: ground tray
• Plants: dense shrubs and brush piles
• Habitat: brushy thickets and woodland edges
• Nesting: on or near the ground, mostly in the far north
• Seasonality: winter in most of the country

Best foods

Millet, sunflower seed, cracked corn.

Best feeders

Try ground tray.

Plants that attract

Dense shrubs and brush piles.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

On or near the ground, mostly in the far north.

Seasonal tips

Winter in most of the country.

One practical tip

Leave leaf litter and a brush pile where it can scratch and hide.

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Quick checklist

• Millet
• A ground tray
• Dense shrubs and brush piles
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: millet, sunflower seed, cracked corn
• Best feeders: ground tray, platform feeder
• Plants: native grasses, shrubs and brush
• Habitat: brushy edges and hedgerows
• Nesting: far to the north in Canada
• Seasonality: winter only

Best foods

Millet, sunflower seed, cracked corn.

Best feeders

Try ground tray, platform feeder.

Plants that attract

Native grasses, shrubs and brush.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

Far to the north in Canada.

Seasonal tips

Winter only.

One practical tip

Offer seed near hedges and shrubs.

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Quick checklist

• Millet
• A ground tray
• Native grasses
• Fresh water

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.

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Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: millet, sunflower seed, small grains
• Best feeders: ground tray
• Plants: native grasses and open brush
• Habitat: open grasslands and fields with scattered trees
• Nesting: on the ground or low in a shrub
• Seasonality: spring to fall; winters in the South

Best foods

Millet, sunflower seed, small grains.

Best feeders

Try ground tray.

Plants that attract

Native grasses and open brush.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

On the ground or low in a shrub.

Seasonal tips

Spring to fall; winters in the South.

One practical tip

Scatter seed on the ground in an open area near shrubs.

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Quick checklist

• Millet
• A ground tray
• Native grasses and open brush
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: millet, black oil sunflower seed, cracked corn
• Best feeders: ground tray, platform
• Plants: shrubs, brush and native grasses
• Habitat: brushy edges and wet areas
• Nesting: on or near the ground in dense cover
• Seasonality: year-round in much of the region

Best foods

Song Sparrows eat small seeds. Offer millet, sunflower seed and cracked corn.

Best feeders

A ground tray or a platform feeder works best, near shrubs.

Plants that attract

Shrubs, brush piles and native grasses.

Water and habitat

A shallow birdbath at ground level.

Nesting and shelter

Song Sparrows nest low in dense cover. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

They stay all year in much of the region, but many go south in the far north.

One practical tip

Keep a brush pile or dense shrubs near the feeder so they can hide.

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Quick checklist

• Millet or sunflower seed
• A ground tray or platform feeder
• Brush pile or dense shrubs
• Water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: millet, black oil sunflower seed, cracked corn
• Best feeders: ground tray, platform
• Plants: shrubs, grasses and brush
• Habitat: brushy edges and open areas
• Nesting: on or near the ground
• Seasonality: year-round on the Pacific coast, winter visitor in much of the West

Best foods

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

Best feeders

A ground tray or platform feeder, near shrubs.

Plants that attract

Native shrubs and grasses, and a brush pile for cover.

Water and habitat

A shallow birdbath at ground level.

Nesting and shelter

White-crowned Sparrows nest on or near the ground, in shrubs and grass.

Seasonal tips

In winter, flocks visit yards and feeders.

One practical tip

Scatter seed near shrubs, so they have cover close by.

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Quick checklist

• Millet or sunflower seed
• A ground tray or platform feeder
• Shrubs or a brush pile
• Water

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.

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Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: mice and voles (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer a nest box
• Plants: open fields and rough grass
• Habitat: open fields, farms and edges
• Nesting: in a barn, silo or a large nest box
• Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Mice and voles (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

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

Plants that attract

Open fields and rough grass.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a barn, silo or a large nest box.

Seasonal tips

Year-round.

One practical tip

Put up a barn owl box in a quiet barn or on a pole near open fields.

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Quick checklist

• Open fields and rough grass
• A nest box of the right size
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: mice, small mammals, frogs (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer big trees, and maybe a large nest box
• Plants: large mature trees, especially near water
• Habitat: mature woods and wooded neighborhoods
• Nesting: in a large tree cavity or a large nest box
• Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Mice, small mammals, frogs (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

This bird does not use feeders. Offer big trees, and maybe a large nest box instead.

Plants that attract

Large mature trees, especially near water.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a large tree cavity or a large nest box.

Seasonal tips

Year-round.

One practical tip

Leave big trees, including dead ones, where it is safe.

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Quick checklist

• Large mature trees
• A nest box of the right size
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: insects and small animals (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer open ground and burrows
• Plants: open, short grassland with burrows
• Habitat: open prairies, deserts and fields
• Nesting: in an underground burrow, often dug by another animal
• Seasonality: year-round in the south and West, summer farther north

Best foods

Insects and small animals (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

This bird does not use feeders. Offer open ground and burrows instead.

Plants that attract

Open, short grassland with burrows.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In an underground burrow, often dug by another animal.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in the south and West, summer farther north.

One practical tip

Leave open ground with burrows if you have the space.

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Quick checklist

• Open
• Open ground with burrows
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

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.

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Quick checklist

• Mature trees with cavities
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: rabbits, rodents, birds (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer tall trees and quiet
• Plants: mature trees, including conifers
• Habitat: woods, farms, parks and yards
• Nesting: in an old hawk, crow or heron nest, or a tree cavity
• Seasonality: year-round; nests in winter

Best foods

Rabbits, rodents, birds (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

This bird does not use feeders. Offer tall trees and quiet instead.

Plants that attract

Mature trees, including conifers.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In an old hawk, crow or heron nest, or a tree cavity.

Seasonal tips

Year-round; nests in winter.

One practical tip

Leave tall trees, and keep small pets inside at night.

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Quick checklist

• Mature trees
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: mice and other small animals (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer a nest box
• Plants: dense evergreens and mixed woods
• Habitat: forests with dense conifers
• Nesting: in a tree cavity or a nest box
• Seasonality: year-round in the north, winter in the south

Best foods

Mice and other small animals (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

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

Plants that attract

Dense evergreens and mixed woods.

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 in the north, winter in the south.

One practical tip

Leave dense evergreens in a quiet corner.

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Quick checklist

• Dense evergreens and mixed woods
• A nest box of the right size
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

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.

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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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: insects, plus suet and mealworms
• Best feeders: suet feeder, nest box
• Plants: shrubs, brush and trees with cavities
• Habitat: yards, gardens and woodland edges
• Nesting: in a nest box with a 1 1/8 inch hole, or any cavity
• Seasonality: spring to fall; winters in the South

Best foods

Insects, plus suet and mealworms.

Best feeders

Try suet feeder, nest box.

Plants that attract

Shrubs, brush and trees with cavities.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a nest box with a 1 1/8 inch hole, or any cavity.

Seasonal tips

Spring to fall; winters in the South.

One practical tip

Put up a nest box with a small hole, away from other boxes.

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Quick checklist

• Insects
• A suet feeder
• Shrubs
• Fresh water

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.

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Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: fruit, grape jelly, mealworms, suet
• Best feeders: open platform, suet feeder
• Plants: dense shrubs, brambles and berry plants
• Habitat: thickets and shrubby yards
• Nesting: in a cup in dense shrubs
• Seasonality: spring to fall; some stay in the South in winter

Best foods

Fruit, grape jelly, mealworms, suet.

Best feeders

Try open platform, suet feeder.

Plants that attract

Dense shrubs, brambles and berry plants.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a cup in dense shrubs.

Seasonal tips

Spring to fall; some stay in the South in winter.

One practical tip

Plant a berry shrub and leave a thick tangle for cover.

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Quick checklist

• Fruit
• A open platform
• Dense shrubs
• Fresh water

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.

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Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: suet, mealworms, fruit and berries
• Best feeders: suet feeder, open platform
• Plants: bayberry, wax myrtle, juniper and other berry plants
• Habitat: woods, edges and shrubby yards
• Nesting: high in an evergreen, far north
• Seasonality: fall to spring in most of the country

Best foods

Suet, mealworms, fruit and berries.

Best feeders

Try suet feeder, open platform.

Plants that attract

Bayberry, wax myrtle, juniper and other berry plants.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

High in an evergreen, far north.

Seasonal tips

Fall to spring in most of the country.

One practical tip

Plant bayberry or juniper, and offer suet in winter.

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Quick checklist

• Suet
• A suet feeder
• Bayberry
• Fresh water

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.

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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

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.

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Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: cracked corn, millet, sunflower seed
• Best feeders: ground tray, platform feeder
• Plants: open lawns and fields
• Habitat: open ground, parks and farms
• Nesting: in a loose group in shrubs or trees
• Seasonality: year-round in much of the West

Best foods

Cracked corn, millet, sunflower seed.

Best feeders

Try ground tray, platform feeder.

Plants that attract

Open lawns and fields.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a loose group in shrubs or trees.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in much of the West.

One practical tip

If blackbirds crowd your feeders, offer only a little seed at a time.

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Quick checklist

• Cracked corn
• A ground tray
• Open lawns and fields
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: millet, cracked corn, sunflower seed
• Best feeders: ground tray, platform feeder
• Plants: open fields and edges
• Habitat: fields, edges and yards
• Nesting: in other birds’ nests, not its own
• Seasonality: year-round in the South, spring to fall in the north

Best foods

Millet, cracked corn, sunflower seed.

Best feeders

Try ground tray, platform feeder.

Plants that attract

Open fields and edges.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In other birds’ nests, not its own.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in the South, spring to fall in the north.

One practical tip

If you do not want cowbirds, skip millet and cracked corn, and offer sunflower or safflower.

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Quick checklist

• Millet
• A ground tray
• Open fields and edges
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: orange halves, grape jelly, nectar
• Best feeders: oriole feeder, open platform
• Plants: cottonwoods, willows and fruit trees
• Habitat: streamside woods and open country
• Nesting: in a hanging woven pouch high in a tree
• Seasonality: spring to late summer

Best foods

Orange halves, grape jelly, nectar.

Best feeders

Try oriole feeder, open platform.

Plants that attract

Cottonwoods, willows and fruit trees.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a hanging woven pouch high in a tree.

Seasonal tips

Spring to late summer.

One practical tip

Put out oranges as soon as orioles return in spring.

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Quick checklist

• Orange halves
• A oriole feeder
• Cottonwoods
• Fresh water

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.

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Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: insects and seeds; sometimes cracked corn
• Best feeders: ground tray
• Plants: native grasses and meadow flowers
• Habitat: open fields and large lawns
• Nesting: on the ground in tall grass, in a domed nest
• Seasonality: year-round in the South, spring to fall in the north

Best foods

Insects and seeds; sometimes cracked corn.

Best feeders

Try ground tray.

Plants that attract

Native grasses and meadow flowers.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

On the ground in tall grass, in a domed nest.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in the South, spring to fall in the north.

One practical tip

Leave a patch of tall grass or meadow if you have the space.

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Quick checklist

• Insects and seeds; sometimes cracked corn
• A ground tray
• Native grasses and meadow flowers
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: orange halves, grape jelly, nectar
• Best feeders: oriole feeder, open platform
• Plants: mulberry, cherry and fruiting trees
• Habitat: open woods, orchards and yards
• Nesting: in a woven hanging pouch
• Seasonality: spring to late summer

Best foods

Orange halves, grape jelly, nectar.

Best feeders

Try oriole feeder, open platform.

Plants that attract

Mulberry, cherry and fruiting trees.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a woven hanging pouch.

Seasonal tips

Spring to late summer.

One practical tip

Put out oranges and nectar when orioles return in spring.

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Quick checklist

• Orange halves
• A oriole feeder
• Mulberry
• Fresh water

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.

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Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: insects and seeds; sometimes cracked corn
• Best feeders: ground tray
• Plants: native grasses and meadow flowers
• Habitat: open grasslands and large fields
• Nesting: on the ground in tall grass, in a domed nest
• Seasonality: year-round in much of the West, spring to fall farther north

Best foods

Insects and seeds; sometimes cracked corn.

Best feeders

Try ground tray.

Plants that attract

Native grasses and meadow flowers.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

On the ground in tall grass, in a domed nest.

Seasonal tips

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

One practical tip

Leave a patch of tall grass if you have the space.

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Quick checklist

• Insects and seeds; sometimes cracked corn
• A ground tray
• Native grasses and meadow flowers
• Fresh water

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.

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Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: peanuts, cracked corn, scraps, insects
• Best feeders: platform, ground
• Plants: tall trees for roosting
• Habitat: almost anywhere
• Nesting: in tall trees
• Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Crows eat almost anything. Peanuts in the shell and cracked corn are favorites.

Best feeders

A platform feeder or the ground works well. Crows are large and wary, so give them room.

Plants that attract

Tall trees, especially conifers and oaks.

Water and habitat

A large, shallow birdbath.

Nesting and shelter

Crows build large stick nests high in trees. They do not use birdhouses.

Seasonal tips

Crows stay all year and may roost in big groups in winter.

One practical tip

Put peanuts out at the same time each day. Crows learn the routine quickly.

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Quick checklist

• Peanuts in the shell
• A platform feeder or ground tray
• Tall trees
• A large birdbath

At a glance

• Favorite foods: peanuts, suet, scraps, cracked corn
• Best feeders: platform feeder, ground tray
• Plants: cottonwoods, willows and shrubs
• Habitat: open country with trees
• Nesting: a large domed nest of sticks in a tree
• Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Peanuts, suet, scraps, cracked corn.

Best feeders

Try platform feeder, ground tray.

Plants that attract

Cottonwoods, willows and shrubs.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

A large domed nest of sticks in a tree.

Seasonal tips

Year-round.

One practical tip

Offer peanuts in the shell on a sturdy platform.

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Quick checklist

• Peanuts
• A platform feeder
• Cottonwoods
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: suet, cracked corn, fruit, insects
• Best feeders: suet, platform
• Plants: lawns with insects, fruiting trees
• Habitat: towns, farms and yards
• Nesting: in cavities
• Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Starlings eat suet, cracked corn, fruit and many insects.

Best feeders

They use suet and platform feeders, and often arrive in groups and empty them fast.

Plants that attract

Fruiting trees and lawns with insects.

Water and habitat

A birdbath with fresh water. Starlings love to bathe.

Nesting and shelter

Starlings nest in cavities and can take over woodpecker holes and nest boxes.

Seasonal tips

Starlings flock in fall and winter.

One practical tip

To make life harder for starlings, use feeders that need clinging, such as upside-down suet feeders, and offer less cracked corn.

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Quick checklist

• A suet or platform feeder
• A clean feeder
• A birdbath
• Fewer cracked-corn offerings if starlings take over

At a glance

• Favorite foods: acorns, seeds, cracked corn
• Best feeders: ground tray, or seed scattered on the ground
• Plants: oaks, beeches and other nut trees
• Habitat: woods and fields
• Nesting: on the ground in leaves
• Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Acorns, seeds, cracked corn.

Best feeders

Try ground tray, or seed scattered on the ground.

Plants that attract

Oaks, beeches and other nut trees.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

On the ground in leaves.

Seasonal tips

Year-round.

One practical tip

Keep feeding spots clean and consider feeding only when you have the space.

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Quick checklist

• Acorns
• A ground tray
• Oaks
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: flying insects (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer a nest shelf
• Plants: open fields, ponds and water for mud
• Habitat: open fields, farms and barns
• Nesting: a cup of mud on a beam or ledge in a barn or porch
• Seasonality: spring to fall

Best foods

Flying insects (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

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

Plants that attract

Open fields, ponds and water for mud.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

A cup of mud on a beam or ledge in a barn or porch.

Seasonal tips

Spring to fall.

One practical tip

Leave old nests in place, and offer a nest shelf under a roof edge.

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Quick checklist

• Open fields
• A nest shelf under an eave
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: flying insects (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer a martin house or gourds
• Plants: open lawns and fields
• Habitat: open areas near water, with a martin house
• Nesting: in a multi-room martin house or hanging gourds
• Seasonality: spring to late summer

Best foods

Flying insects (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

This bird does not use feeders. Offer a martin house or gourds instead.

Plants that attract

Open lawns and fields.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a multi-room martin house or hanging gourds.

Seasonal tips

Spring to late summer.

One practical tip

Put up a martin house in an open area, and watch for them in spring.

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Quick checklist

• Open lawns and fields
• A martin house or gourds
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: flying insects (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer a nest box
• Plants: open fields and ponds with insects
• Habitat: open fields, meadows and wetlands
• Nesting: in a nest box with a 1 1/2 inch hole, or an old woodpecker hole
• Seasonality: spring to fall in the north, winter in the South

Best foods

Flying insects (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

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

Plants that attract

Open fields and ponds with insects.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a nest box with a 1 1/2 inch hole, or an old woodpecker hole.

Seasonal tips

Spring to fall in the north, winter in the South.

One practical tip

Put the nest box on a pole in an open area, near water if you can.

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Quick checklist

• Open fields and ponds with insects
• A nest box of the right size
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: flying insects (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer a nest shelf
• Plants: native shrubs and trees that bring insects
• Habitat: woods edges, streams and yards
• Nesting: on a ledge under an eave, a bridge or a nest shelf
• Seasonality: spring to fall; winters in the South

Best foods

Flying insects (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

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

Plants that attract

Native shrubs and trees that bring insects.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

On a ledge under an eave, a bridge or a nest shelf.

Seasonal tips

Spring to fall; winters in the South.

One practical tip

Put up a nest shelf under an eave, near a yard with insects.

Shop this bird

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

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

Quick checklist

• Native shrubs and trees that bring insects
• A nest shelf under an eave
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: insects on open ground (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer open ground
• Plants: open gravel, lawns and fields
• Habitat: open ground near water, lawns and gravel
• Nesting: on bare ground, in a shallow scrape
• Seasonality: year-round in the south, spring to fall in the north

Best foods

Insects on open ground (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

This bird does not use feeders. Offer open ground instead.

Plants that attract

Open gravel, lawns and fields.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

On bare ground, in a shallow scrape.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in the south, spring to fall in the north.

One practical tip

Leave a bare patch or gravel area, and keep pets away from nests.

Shop this bird

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

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

Quick checklist

• Open gravel
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

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.

Shop this bird

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

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

Quick checklist

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

At a glance

• Favorite foods: fish, waterfowl and carrion (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer tall trees near water, and distance
• Plants: tall, mature trees near water
• Habitat: lakes, rivers, coasts and nearby woods
• Nesting: in a huge stick nest in a tall tree near water
• Seasonality: year-round in many places, winter visitor in others

Best foods

Fish, waterfowl and carrion (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

This bird does not use feeders. Offer tall trees near water, and distance instead.

Plants that attract

Tall, mature trees near water.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a huge stick nest in a tall tree near water.

Seasonal tips

Year-round in many places, winter visitor in others.

One practical tip

Enjoy it from a distance, and never approach a nest. Eagles are protected by federal law.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Bald Eagle will go here once Sara adds her links.

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

Quick checklist

• Tall
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

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.

Shop this bird

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

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

Quick checklist

• Dense shrubs and thickets close to feeders
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: frogs, snakes, small mammals and birds (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer big trees near water
• Plants: mature trees near water
• Habitat: wet woods and wooded neighborhoods
• Nesting: in a stick nest high in a large tree
• Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

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

Best feeders

This bird does not use feeders. Offer big trees near water instead.

Plants that attract

Mature trees near water.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a stick nest high in a large tree.

Seasonal tips

Year-round.

One practical tip

Leave big trees near any water on the property. Hawks are protected by law.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Red-shouldered Hawk will go here once Sara adds her links.

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

Quick checklist

• Mature trees near water
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

At a glance

• Favorite foods: rodents, rabbits and other small animals (it does not use feeders)
• Best feeders: none; offer tall trees and open fields
• Plants: tall trees for nesting and perching
• Habitat: open country, edges and farms
• Nesting: in a large stick nest high in a tall tree or on a cliff
• Seasonality: year-round

Best foods

Rodents, rabbits and other small animals (it does not use feeders).

Best feeders

This bird does not use feeders. Offer tall trees and open fields instead.

Plants that attract

Tall trees for nesting and perching.

Water and habitat

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

Nesting and shelter

In a large stick nest high in a tall tree or on a cliff.

Seasonal tips

Year-round.

One practical tip

Leave tall trees for perching and nesting. Hawks are protected by law.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Red-tailed Hawk will go here once Sara adds her links.

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

Quick checklist

• Tall trees for nesting and perching
• No pesticides
• Fresh water

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.

Shop this bird

Feeder and food picks for the Sharp-shinned Hawk will go here once Sara adds her links.

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

Quick checklist

• Dense shrubs and evergreens near feeders
• No pesticides
• Fresh water