In this section, you will find all the birds in our guide, regardless of category!
*Complete stats for all birds are on the way!*
*Complete stats for all birds are on the way!*
Birding Tips:
1. Stay Quiet. Birds don't like loud sounds. You can whisper, though, if a friend is birdwatching with you, or you can mimic bird calls to attract birds.
2. Stay still. You don't have to stand in the same place forever, but if you see motion in a tree, stop and slowly raise your binoculars to your eyes.
3. Bring someone with you. This is for safety, but also for your own enjoyment of birwatching. Bringing friends along can help them learn about birds and create great (and sometimes really funny) memories!
4. Respect the birds' habitat. Trash doesn't blend in with a bird's environment and can be dangerous. How would you feel if someone left trash in your house? Well I sure hope it wouldn't blend in with YOUR surroundings.
2. Stay still. You don't have to stand in the same place forever, but if you see motion in a tree, stop and slowly raise your binoculars to your eyes.
3. Bring someone with you. This is for safety, but also for your own enjoyment of birwatching. Bringing friends along can help them learn about birds and create great (and sometimes really funny) memories!
4. Respect the birds' habitat. Trash doesn't blend in with a bird's environment and can be dangerous. How would you feel if someone left trash in your house? Well I sure hope it wouldn't blend in with YOUR surroundings.
Northern Bobwhite
The Northern Bobwhite is a small quail of Eastern and Central United States. When you think of a quail, you probably think of the plume on a quail's head. A plume is a single feather, and many quails have a dark plume on top of their heads, but not the Bob White. You could say hat a head plume is more of a quail fashion trend than a requirement. The Northern Bobwhite eats mostly little plants and seeds and lives in open fields. Unfortunately, this bird is on the decline, meaning that there are fewer and fewer of this bird are in the wild, because of habitat loss, meaning that humans have disturbed and destroyed some of its habitat. It's known for its call, which sounds like bob-white! Bob-white! You can listen to its call and learn loads more about this bird at the Cornell Lab's description of it: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Bobwhite/id
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
The Sharp Shinned Hawk appears at one time or another throughout almost all of The United States, except for a few areas. It is an incredibly small hawk that flies with incredible agility. It usually flies a bit, and once it sees a small other bird (and yes, cannibalism is common in birds) or rodent, it dives down to catch it. It mostly lives in forests and nests in coniferous trees (A.K.A. Pine Trees.) These birds may hang around your feeders, but it's not to eat seeds - they're after the little birds that come to your feeders, so don't be afraid to shoo them away as they aren't very aggressive towards humans and it's very unlikely they'll fight back, as they are so much smaller than you.
Stats:
Size: Crow-like
Habitat: Forest
Food: Small Birds and Rodents
Sounds: Cawing
Field Marks: Red eyes in adulthood
Stats:
Size: Crow-like
Habitat: Forest
Food: Small Birds and Rodents
Sounds: Cawing
Field Marks: Red eyes in adulthood
Purple Martin
The Purple Martin is a cavity-nesting bird that summers in the eastern and middle areas of the United States. The males are a shiny dark blue and the females are brown. These birds are known for using enormous man-made "martin-boxes"- bird houses that can hold tons of nests. these birds really don't care how close another bird nests to their own nest! These birds, like swifts, fly around and catch insects in their mouths while in flight. To learn more about this bird, check out the Cornelll Lab of Ornithology's description of it right here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Purple_Martin/id
Stats:
Size: Between a sparrow and a Robin
Habitat: Forests near lakes/ponds
Food: Insects
Sounds: Various chirps
Field Marks: Blue feathers in male birds, bill that goes to near the eye in both males and females
NOTE: The picture for this bird shows to male birds - they are the blue ones. The brown one is a female.
Stats:
Size: Between a sparrow and a Robin
Habitat: Forests near lakes/ponds
Food: Insects
Sounds: Various chirps
Field Marks: Blue feathers in male birds, bill that goes to near the eye in both males and females
NOTE: The picture for this bird shows to male birds - they are the blue ones. The brown one is a female.
Indigo Bunting
The Indigo Bunting is a beautiful bird that summers in Eastern USA. The males of this species are a bright and beautiful indigo-blue color, which I think makes up for the dull brown color of the females. Indigo Buntings also migrate overnight, using the stars as a map, as shown by a scientific experiment. (This fact is from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.) These birds also have a beautiful songs.
Stats:
Size: Sparrow
Habitat: Forest
Food: Insects and Seeds
Sounds: A long and very nice song
Field Marks: Females are brown and heavily streaked, but can be difficult to tell apart from female sparrows and finches. Males' bright blue is very distinctive(unique.)
Purple Gallinule
The Purple Gallinule (GOL-in-yule) is an extremely unique water bird living in some of Southern North America, and throughout a good deal of South America. It eats many things, and frequently is seen walking on lily pads. It has long toes which prevent it from sinking as it does this. Its nest floats on the water! If you want to learn more about this bird, check out The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of it: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Purple_Gallinule/id
Habitat: Swamp and Marsh
Food: Invertebrates, flowers, fruits, seeds
Habitat: Swamp and Marsh
Food: Invertebrates, flowers, fruits, seeds
Yellow Warbler
The Yellow Warbler is a small, cheerful-looking bird with a lovely song. They are easy to recognize with their bright yellow plumage, even though females of this species's plumage is a rather dull yellow. The Wilson's Warbler, however, looks very similar to this bird. The Yellow Warbler is easy to hear and to recognized once you see one, but can be quite difficult to spot.This birds migrates through or Summers in almost every part of North America, and they Winter in the Northern area of South America. If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of it here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow_Warbler/id
Habitat: Open Woodland
Food: Insects
Habitat: Open Woodland
Food: Insects
Rufous Hummingbird
The Rufous Hummingbird is a feisty little bird that will chase all other hummingbirds away from a food source that it is eating at. It stays in the Northwestern parts of the United States during the Summer, migrates through the Midwestern area of the United States, arriving in the Southwestern part for Winter and then going back and forth again every year. Occasionally, Rufous Hummingbirds will fly on over to the Eastern United States in search of more Hummingbird Feeders, being that they are one of the most cold-tolerant and hardy species of Hummingbirds. If you want to learn more about the Rufous Hummingbird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of it: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rufous_Hummingbird/id
Habitat: Open woodland and suburbs
Food: Nectar and small insects
Habitat: Open woodland and suburbs
Food: Nectar and small insects
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrows are cheerful, small, brown and white birds. These Birds have a beautiful song, hence their name. Males and females of this species look the same. You can attract Song Sparrows to your yard with a Bird Feeder containing black oil sunflower seeds. To learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of it: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Song_Sparrow/id
Food: Insects and Seeds
Habitat: Forests and suburbs
-Rose
Food: Insects and Seeds
Habitat: Forests and suburbs
-Rose
American Crow
The American Crow is a large, black bird that lives all over America. Although it is noisy and sometimes annoying, the American Crow is extremely intelligent and can even mimic human voices! Crows do not usually come to bird feeders, but live in almost any habitat in almost every part of the United States, so it should be fairly easy for you to find this bird. If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of it: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/id
Habitat: Almost anywhere, particularly cities and forests
Food: Omnivorous; almost anything
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Habitat: Almost anywhere, particularly cities and forests
Food: Omnivorous; almost anything
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Blue Jay
The Blue Jay is a beautiful and noisy bird that lives all throughout the Eastern and Central parts of America. It hoards nuts and seeds for the Winter, carrying them around in it's throat pouch until it finds a good place to store it's food. Blue Jays are very intelligent, being closely related to crows, and mimic hawk calls to scare other birds away from a food source so that it can have all the food to itself. Male and Female Blue Jays look the same. You can find the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of this bird at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue_Jay/id
Habitat: Forests and Suburbs
Food: Omnivorous, can be attracted with a seed feeder
-Rose
Habitat: Forests and Suburbs
Food: Omnivorous, can be attracted with a seed feeder
-Rose
Ring-Billed Gull
The Ring-Billed Gull is a medium sized Gull that migrates through most of America, and can be seen near the Great Lakes and the Ocean. Juvenile Ring Billed Gulls look like adults, but have brown speckles on them! Females and Males of this species look the same. Ring Billed Gulls will eat almost anything, including beach picnics and trash! If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of it: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-billed_Gull/id
Habitat: Cities and beaches
Food: Omnivorous; Almost anything
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Habitat: Cities and beaches
Food: Omnivorous; Almost anything
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Carolina Wren
Carolina Wrens are cute, jaunty little birds that live year-round in the Eastern half of the United States of America. The males and females of this species look the same. These adorable birds have a song that sounds like this: "Tea-kettle tea-kettle tea-kettle!" You can attract these birds to your yard with seeds, but they prefer suet. If you want to learn more about the Carolina Wren, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of this bird: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Carolina_Wren/id
Habitat: Forest, occasionally Backyards and Suburbs
Food: Insects, Seeds, Man-provided Suet
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Habitat: Forest, occasionally Backyards and Suburbs
Food: Insects, Seeds, Man-provided Suet
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Baltimore Oriole
Male baltimore orioles have bright orange bellies, black backs, and white wing bars. Females are yellowish-brown with a grey back. They live in mid-western and eastern United states during the summer and they go to Central America for the winter. Bollocks Oriole (another kind of oriole) and Baltimore Orioles used to be considered the same kind of oriole, and were called the "Northern Oriole." After genetic studies, they were found to be two different species. You can attract orioles to your yard by setting out orange slices and grape jelly. They will sometimes eat at hummingbird feeders if the feeder has perches. To learn more about this beautiful bird, take a look at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the baltimore oriole: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Baltimore_Oriole/id
Habitat: Open woodland, backyards, and parks
Food: Insects, nectar, and fruit
-Jill
Habitat: Open woodland, backyards, and parks
Food: Insects, nectar, and fruit
-Jill
Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrushes are beautiful reddish brown birds. They live in marshes and forests, and at least migrate through most of the United States of America. Females and Males of this species look the same. Hermit Thrushes have a beautiful song, which can be heard at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of this bird: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/hermit_thrush/id
Habitat: Marsh and open Woodland
Food: Insects
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Habitat: Marsh and open Woodland
Food: Insects
-Rose
Downy Woodpecker
Downy woodpeckers are small black and white birds. Males have a red patch on the back of their head. Like their name suggests, downy woodpeckers drill into trees with their bills. They do this to find insects that live inside the wood. They also peck trees to make holes to nest in. Downy woodpeckers live almost everywhere in the United States, and you can attract them to your yard with a suet feeder. For more information, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the downy woodpecker: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/id
Habitat: Forests
Food: Insects
-Jill
Habitat: Forests
Food: Insects
-Jill
Snowy Owl
Snowy owls are large white owls that live in Canada and northern United States. Snowy owls are white if they are males, and white with black spots if they are females. All Snowy Owls have black spots when they are young, but males lose theirs when they grow up. Females, however, keep their spots. Unlike most owls, snowy owls are diurnal, which means they are awake during the day. To learn more, go here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Owl/id
Habitat: Meadows and other wide open areas
Food: Small mammals, especially lemmings
-Jill
Habitat: Meadows and other wide open areas
Food: Small mammals, especially lemmings
-Jill
Mallard
Mallard ducks are the most common duck in America! They are dabbling ducks, which means they put only the front of their body into the water to eat. The female is brown. The male is brown with a green head. At a pond where it is allowed, you can throw black oil sunflower seeds for the ducks to eat. If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the Mallard Duck: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/id
Habitat: Ponds or Lakes
Food: Water plants and water dwelling insects
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Habitat: Ponds or Lakes
Food: Water plants and water dwelling insects
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Black-Capped Chickadee
Black capped chickadees are friendly, cute little birds. They are not very scared of humans, despite their small size. They are called black capped chickadees because it looks like they wear black caps, and their call goes somewhat like chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee-DEE! They will come to your home if you put up a seed or suet feeder. You can put bird seed in your hand, and if you hold still, they may come and from your hand! The male and female of this species look the same. If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the Black Capped Chickadee: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/id
Habitat: Backyard, Forest, Suburbs
Food: Seeds, Small Insects
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Habitat: Backyard, Forest, Suburbs
Food: Seeds, Small Insects
-Rose
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinals are very popular birds. They are the state bird of more states than any other bird in America! Male Cardinals are a bright red, and Female Cardinals are brown. Fledgling Cardinals look like the female, except without the black marking near their beaks. You can attract Cardinals to your yard with Black Oil Sunflower seeds in a feeder or a bird bath. If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the Northern Cardinal: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/id
Habitat: Forest and Suburbs
Food: Insects and Seeds
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Habitat: Forest and Suburbs
Food: Insects and Seeds
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American Robin
American Robins are seen almost everywhere in American backyards during Summer, most often pulling up worms. The male and female are almost exactly alike, but the male has a darker shade of black on his head than the female does. Robins probably come to your home in Springtime to mate and have chicks. They do not use feeders or birdhouses, but love birdbaths! If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the American Robin: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_robin/id
Habitat: Fields, Suburbs, sometimes Woods
Food: Worms, Insects, Berries in Winter
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Habitat: Fields, Suburbs, sometimes Woods
Food: Worms, Insects, Berries in Winter
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Mournign Dove
Mourning doves are fairly common backyard birds about the size of a pigeon. The males and females look the same. Mourning Doves belong to the same family of birds that pigeons do: the dove family. They can be attracted with a scattering of seeds on the ground. The Mourning Dove has a soft cooing call that sounds a bit like an owl. If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the Mourning Dove: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/id
Habitat: Woods, Cities, Fields, Suburbs
Food: Seeds, insects
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Habitat: Woods, Cities, Fields, Suburbs
Food: Seeds, insects
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Bald Eagle
Bald Eagles are Fishing Eagles, which means they eat almost only fish! Forty years ago, they were in danger of extinction, but now they are making their comeback! They are still protected by law, though. Male and female Bald Eagles look the same. You cannot attract Bald Eagles to your yard, but you can watch for them in their natural habitat! If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the Bald Eagle: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bald_eagle/id
Habitat: Near large lakes and rivers
Food: Fish, sometimes small mammals and songbirds - but mostly fish
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Habitat: Near large lakes and rivers
Food: Fish, sometimes small mammals and songbirds - but mostly fish
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Canada Goose
Canada geese are common and noisy, but they are native, which means they were not brought here from another place. Male and female Canada Geese look the same. If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the Canada Goose: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/id
Habitat: Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers
Food: Underwater plants and water dwelling insects
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Habitat: Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers
Food: Underwater plants and water dwelling insects
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Great Blue Heron
These large herons wade in the water with their long legs and wait for the fish to be within reach of their long necks. When one sees a fish, it grabs the fish with its bill and eats it. If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the Great Blue Heron: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/id
Habitat: Streams, Ponds, Marshes, and Lakes
Food: Fish
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Habitat: Streams, Ponds, Marshes, and Lakes
Food: Fish
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Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Ruby Throated Hummingbirds migrate from South America and Southern Florida to the Eastern United States each Summer to mate. Males, like in the picture, have red, sparkling feathers on their faces to attract female Hummingbirds. Females look just like the males, but without the red feathers. All hummingbirds drink nectar from flowers for food and most hummingbirds are attracted to the color red. Most hummingbirds migrate to the west, around California. You can attract hummingbirds by putting out a hummingbird feeder. Use this recipe to make sugar-water to put in a feeder: 4 parts water to 1 part sugar (don't use red food coloring! it can be harmful to hummingbirds!) If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird/id
Habitat: Gardens and Woods
Food: Small insects and nectar
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Habitat: Gardens and Woods
Food: Small insects and nectar
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Screech Owl
There are two kinds of Screech Owls: Eastern and Western. But they are very similar, so they share one entry in our bird guide. They live in forests and eat small mammals, large insects, and tiny songbirds. Some screech owls are an orange-ish color, instead of the brown-ish gray one in the picture. Their name comes from their screech-like call. If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the Western Screech Owl: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Screech-Owl/id or the Easter Screech Owl: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/id
Habitat: Forests and Fields
Food: Small mammals, small song birds, large insects
-Rose
Habitat: Forests and Fields
Food: Small mammals, small song birds, large insects
-Rose
Gray Catbird
The Gray Catbird is a medium sized bird with one of the most memorable calls is the bird world. It sounds like a cross between a cat meowing and a door creaking! In the Summer, Catbirds migrate into most of America from the South. But, if you live in Southern Florida, you may see Catbirds during the Winter! If you want to learn more about this bird, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's description of the Gray Catbird: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/gray_catbird/id
Habitat: Woods
Food: Insects
Habitat: Woods
Food: Insects
Red-Winged Blackbird
The red winged Blackbird is a common sight in marshes across America. The males of this species are black, with a bright red patch of feathers on each wing. The females are brown. Red winged Blackbirds have a memorable call, which can be heard at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's page about this bird: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/id