Common Backyard Birds in North America

These birds are great to start looking for if you’re in North America (like I am) because you don’t have to wait for the next season to roll around. Plus they’re amazing to see!

Table of Contents

• Year-Round Residents: Birds You Can See in Any Sea …

• Seasonal Visitors: Birds That Appear at Certain Ti …

• Common Feeder Birds: Species That Regularly Visit …

• Birds That Benefit from Backyard Habitat

• Encouraging More Birds to Your Yard

Year-Round Residents: Birds You Can See in Any Season

Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal is one of the most recognizable backyard birds. Males are bright red with a black mask around the face, while females have warm brown plumage with hints of red on the wings and tail. Their clear, whistled songs can be heard throughout the year, often from a high perch. Cardinals prefer dense shrubs for nesting and are frequent visitors to feeders that offer sunflower seeds, safflower, or cracked corn. Unlike many songbirds, they do not migrate, making them a constant presence in backyards across the eastern and central U.S.

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadees are small, energetic birds with a black cap and bib, white cheeks, and soft gray feathers. Their “chick-a-dee-dee” call is easy to recognize, and their curiosity often leads them to investigate bird feeders and even people. They readily take sunflower seeds, suet, and peanuts, sometimes grabbing a seed and flying off to hide it for later. These birds are adaptable, nesting in tree cavities or nest boxes, and are common in wooded areas, parks, and suburban yards.

American Robin

American Robins are often seen hopping across lawns in search of earthworms. They have a distinctive red-orange breast, dark gray back, and a cheerful song that signals the arrival of spring. Unlike many backyard birds, robins do not rely heavily on feeders, but they will visit yards with fruiting trees and shrubs. In winter, they gather in large flocks, moving through areas where berries and other natural food sources are available.

Mourning Dove

Mourning Doves are soft gray with a slender body, long tail, and small head. Their gentle cooing song is a familiar backyard sound. These birds often forage on the ground, picking up seeds from beneath feeders. They prefer open spaces and can be seen perched on power lines, fences, or tree branches. Mourning Doves nest in simple, loosely built platforms of twigs, often in trees, shrubs, or even on ledges around homes. Their rapid, whistling wingbeats can be heard as they take off in flight.

Seasonal Visitors: Birds That Appear at Certain Times of the Year

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive in backyards across the eastern United States and Canada in late spring and stay through summer. Males have a shimmering red throat, while females are a duller green with a white underside. These tiny birds hover in front of flowers, using their long tongues to extract nectar. They are highly territorial and will chase away other hummingbirds from feeders. Providing sugar-water feeders and planting native flowers like trumpet vine and bee balm helps attract them. In early fall, they migrate south to Central America, often flying nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico.

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter visitors in much of the U.S., retreating to Canada and northern forests during the breeding season. These small birds are mostly gray with white bellies and pinkish bills. They spend most of their time on the ground, hopping through leaf litter or scratching for seeds. Juncos prefer to feed on millet and cracked corn, often foraging beneath feeders where other birds have dropped seeds. They move in loose flocks and can be seen darting in and out of shrubs for cover when startled.

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Orioles are striking birds with bright orange and black plumage in males, while females are more yellow-orange with brownish wings. They arrive in late spring and stay through summer, nesting in woven, hanging nests high in trees. Orioles are drawn to fruit and nectar, making orange halves and grape jelly popular feeder offerings. They prefer tall deciduous trees and are often seen flitting through the canopy. In late summer, they migrate south to Central and South America, disappearing from backyards until the following spring.

White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrows migrate through much of North America in spring and fall, stopping in backyards and wooded areas along the way. They have a distinct white throat patch, bold head stripes, and a yellow spot between the eyes and bill. Their clear, whistled song is often heard as they pass through during migration. These sparrows forage on the ground, scratching through leaves for seeds and insects. They are more likely to visit backyards with brush piles, dense shrubs, or areas with scattered millet and sunflower seeds.

Common Feeder Birds: Species That Regularly Visit Feeders

House Finch

House Finches are small, social birds that gather in flocks around backyard feeders. Males have red plumage on the head and chest, while females are brown with streaked undersides. They are frequent visitors to sunflower seed feeders but also eat millet and nyjer seed. House Finches often perch on feeder trays or hang from mesh bags, pecking at seeds throughout the day. They are adaptable and thrive in both urban and suburban areas, often nesting in hanging plants, porch lights, and building ledges.

Tufted Titmouse

The Tufted Titmouse is a small, gray bird with a pointed crest and black eyes that give it an alert expression. It is an active feeder visitor, grabbing sunflower seeds and peanuts before flying to a nearby branch to crack them open. Unlike some birds that feed in flocks, titmice often travel in pairs or small family groups. They are curious and bold, sometimes taking food directly from people’s hands. They nest in tree cavities and will use nest boxes filled with soft materials like moss and fur.

Downy Woodpecker

The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in North America, easily recognized by its black-and-white plumage and small size. Males have a red patch on the back of the head, while females lack this marking. They are frequent visitors to suet feeders, clinging to cages while pecking at the fatty food. They also eat sunflower seeds and peanuts, often mixing with chickadees and titmice at feeding stations. Their drumming on tree trunks is a common backyard sound, used to communicate and establish territory.

Blue Jay

Blue Jays are large, intelligent birds known for their striking blue feathers, black markings, and loud calls. They are highly social and often dominate backyard feeders, scaring off smaller birds. They prefer peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet but also eat corn and acorns. Blue Jays are known for storing food, carrying seeds away to hide for later use. They mimic the calls of hawks, sometimes using this trick to startle other birds and take over feeding spots. They are often seen in wooded areas, parks, and suburban neighborhoods, moving in small family groups.

Birds That Benefit from Backyard Habitat

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebirds thrive in open areas with scattered trees and short grass, making backyards, orchards, and pastures good habitats. Males have bright blue plumage with an orange chest, while females are more muted with grayish-blue feathers. They rely on cavities for nesting but struggle to find natural sites due to competition from invasive species like European Starlings and House Sparrows. Providing a properly designed nest box with a small entrance hole and no perch helps attract bluebirds while keeping out aggressive competitors. They prefer mealworms, berries, and insects but occasionally visit feeders with suet or chopped fruit.

Carolina Wren

Carolina Wrens are small, energetic birds with rich brown plumage, a bold white eyebrow stripe, and an upward-cocked tail. Their loud, musical song is often heard before they are seen. They prefer brush piles, dense shrubs, and woodpiles for cover and nesting. These wrens will use nest boxes, open sheds, or hanging flower baskets to raise their young. They eat insects, spiders, and berries but also visit suet feeders. Providing natural shelter, such as native plants and fallen logs, helps create a welcoming space for them.

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinches are small, bright yellow birds in summer, with black wings and caps on males. In winter, they molt into a duller olive color. They are drawn to backyards with native wildflowers, especially those that produce seed heads, such as coneflowers, thistles, and sunflowers. Nyjer seed feeders are their favorite food source, but they also eat dandelion and goldenrod seeds. They nest later than most songbirds, waiting until mid to late summer when their preferred food sources are abundant.

Common Grackle

Common Grackles are large, glossy blackbirds with iridescent blue and purple tones on their heads. They gather in noisy flocks, moving between fields, marshes, and suburban yards. Grackles are opportunistic feeders, eating everything from seeds and insects to small animals. They often visit ground feeders or forage under trees where seeds have fallen. They prefer areas with tall trees and open lawns, making them common in backyards with large shade trees. Some people discourage them due to their aggressive behavior at feeders, but they play an important role in controlling insect populations.

Encouraging More Birds to Your Yard

Attracting more birds to your yard is a whole topic. And thankfully, I’ve already done that! Be sure to check out my complete guide to attracting birds to your yard.

Providing Food

Different bird species have specific food preferences, and offering a variety increases the chances of attracting more birds. Black oil sunflower seeds appeal to cardinals, chickadees, finches, and nuthatches. Nyjer seed attracts goldfinches, siskins, and redpolls. Orioles prefer fresh fruit and grape jelly, while hummingbirds rely on sugar-water nectar. Spreading seed across different feeder types, such as tube feeders, tray feeders, and ground feeders, ensures birds can find what they need.

Offering Water

Birds need fresh water for drinking and bathing year-round. A shallow birdbath placed at ground level or on a pedestal attracts more species than food alone. Moving water, such as a fountain or dripper, catches birds’ attention and prevents stagnation. In winter, a heated birdbath keeps water from freezing, helping non-migratory birds survive cold temperatures. Regular cleaning prevents algae growth and the spread of disease.

Nesting Sites

Birdhouses, natural tree cavities, and dense shrubs provide nesting areas for different species. Eastern Bluebirds, chickadees, and tree swallows use nest boxes, while robins and doves prefer ledges or dense vegetation. Wrens build nests in brush piles, and woodpeckers excavate cavities in dead trees. Keeping dead trees standing when safe to do so creates natural nesting spots. Providing a mix of open spaces, trees, and shrubs gives birds the cover and materials they need for raising young.

Safe Environment

Keeping outdoor spaces safe increases the number of birds that visit. Avoiding pesticides protects the insects that many birds rely on for food. Keeping cats indoors reduces the risk of predation, as free-roaming cats kill millions of birds each year. Planting native trees, shrubs, and flowers provides food and shelter that non-native plants do not. Reducing reflective window surfaces or adding window decals helps prevent bird collisions. Simple changes in yard maintenance can create a more welcoming and protective space for birds.