Explore Common Backyard Birds in North America

Backyard birdwatching has become a favorite pastime for many across North America. Understanding common backyard birds in North America can make your birdwatching experience more rewarding.

American Robin

What they looks like: It has a red-orange chest, a grayish-brown back, and a white throat. It's a medium-sized songbird.

What they sound like: They have a rich, pretty song you can often hear when the sun comes up. They also make little tut-tut sounds when they're hunting for food.

How they act: You'll usually see them hopping around on lawns, looking for worms. They're active in the daytime and sing a nice song in the morning.

What they eat: They eat earthworms, bugs, berries, and sometimes fruit from feeders.

How to get them to visit: Keep your lawn open, offer berries and fruit in feeders. They really like water, so bird baths are a plus.

Northern Cardinal

What they look like: The guys are bright red, and the girls are reddish-brown. Both have cool crests on their heads.

What they sound Like: They make loud, clear whistles that go up and down. The males sing a lot to protect their turf.

How they act: They like hanging out in bushes and trees. They're pretty territorial and love to sing from high spots.

What they eat: They're into sunflower and safflower seeds, plus fruits. You'll often see them at backyard feeders.

How to get them to visit: Put feeders in shady spots or near bushes. Cardinals dig quiet, somewhat open areas.

American Goldfinch

What they look like: A tiny bunch of yellow color with black wings and a black crown on the head during the period of breeding; females, on the contrary, are olive-yellow.

What they sound Like: Has a soft and musical "po-ta-to-chip" song and twittering calls, especially while in flight.

How they act: They are very lively and extremely acrobatic, often hanging upside down at feeding time. They move about in little flocks.

What they eat: Nyjer (thistle) seeds, sunflower seeds, and some insects.

How to get them to visit: Tube feeders filled with nyjer seeds would be ideal. Plant native seed-bearing plants like coneflowers.

Blue Jay

What they looks like: Bright blue above, white beneath with a black necklace across the chest; the prominent crest is worthy of mention.

What they sound like: Loud jay-jay calls and rough screeches. Can imitate calls of other bird species.

How they act: Intelligent, social, loud, and often congregating in small groups. Food caching in these birds is well known.

What they eat: Nuts, seeds, suet, and sometimes even insects. They can dominate a feeder against other birds.

How to get them to visit: Provide a variety of seeds and nuts; plant trees and shrubs for cover; having several feeders of the same sort often minimizes fights and squabbles.

Mourning Dove

What they looks like: An elegant bird, this species carries a soft wash of grayish-brown all over, a long tail with white edges, and a relatively small head.

What they sound like: Coo-ah, coo, coo, coo—a soft, mourning call.

How they act: They forage on the ground, most often walking about or pecking on some seeds. Their cry is a gentle cooing that sounds very mournful.

What they eat: Seeds of all kinds, preferably millet, sunflower, and cracked corn.

How to get them to visit: Scatter seeds on the ground or use platform feeders. An open area with some cover around the edges will provide safe foraging shelter.

Black-capped Chickadee

What they look like: These little birds have a black cap and throat, white cheeks, and a gray back. They look pretty cute and round.

What they sound like: They make happy chick-a-dee-dee-dee sounds and whistle in a high pitch.

How they act: They're curious and like to do acrobatics, often hanging upside down to eat. You'll usually see them in small groups.

What they eat: They love sunflower seeds, peanuts, suet, berries, and bugs.

How to get them to visit: Put feeders close to bushes or trees. Suet cakes are great for attracting them when it's cold.

Downy Woodpecker

What they look like: The smallest woodpecker in North America, with black and white feathers and a small beak. Guys have a little red spot on the back of their heads.

What they sound like: Makes sharp pik sounds and drums on trees or feeders.

How they act: It jumps around on trees, looking for bugs. Sometimes, it comes to eat from suet feeders.

What they eat: Bugs, baby bugs, suet, and seeds.

How to get them to visit: Put out suet in the winter and bugs all year. Plant trees and leave dead branches, so they can find their own food.

House Sparrow

What they look like: They're mostly brown and gray with streaks on their back and a chubby body. The guys have a black patch on their chest, but the girls are more plain.

What they sound like: They make chirping and trilling sounds. The males sing the same simple songs over and over to attract a mate.

How they act: They're friendly and get used to living near people, so you'll often see them in towns and cities. They eat together in groups.

What they eat: They like seeds, grain, and whatever scraps they can find. They'll eat just about anything.

How to get them to visit: Put seeds out on flat feeders or just on the ground. Make sure there are bushes or small trees where they can hide.

Baltimore Oriole

What they look like: They're bright orange with a black head and wings. Females are more yellow-orange.

What they sound like: They make clear, flute-like whistles, with high and low notes.

How they act: These birds are active and you'll often see them hanging upside down to eat. They like to hang out in open trees and bushes.

What they eat: They enjoy nectar, fruits like oranges, and bugs.

How to get them to visit: Put out nectar feeders or orange slices. Plant trees that flower so they can get nectar naturally.

How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard

Food: Give them sunflower and nyjer seeds, plus mealworms, and nectar. Make sure to change the nectar often so it doesn't go bad.

Water: Clean bird baths or little fountains are great for birds to drink and wash themselves.

Shelter: Local plants, bushes, and nest boxes give them shade and keep them safe.

Smart Bird Feeders: WoBirdy Smart Bird Feeder keep seeds dry and fresh. They also keep track of the birds that visit and stop squirrels from taking the food.

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