Brewer’s Blackbird
When John J. Audubon found specimens of this bird in 1843, he thought he had found a new species native to the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers. He named the bird Quiscalus breweri, though the moniker … [Read more...]
Blackbirds
Brown Headed Cowbird
Once upon a time these birds followed the bison herds of the Great Plains like groupies after a rock band. It worked out great for them, as they ate the same grass seeds and grains that the buffalo … [Read more...]
Red-Winged Blackbird
These birds are more abundant than hippies in the 60’s. They can be found breeding in wetlands, uplands, fresh or saltwater marshes, and in agricultural areas. They flourish in fields and farms, … [Read more...]
Bluebirds
Mountain Bluebird
This iconic bird has achieved Elvis Presley status among bird watchers. A sighting brings sighs of ecstasy and squeals of delight. They are seen to represent all that is good and right in the world, … [Read more...]
Western Bluebird
These beautiful birds are found from Canada down to Mexico. They thrive in areas where there are lots of Juniper berries and mistletoe to be found. They eat insects in the warmer months, and are … [Read more...]
Buntings
Bushtits
Bushtit
A small drab-gray bird with a long tail, the bushtit can be found from the highlands of Central America throughout the western United States year-round. It prefers mixed-woodland areas and small … [Read more...]
Cardinals
Chickadees
Mountain Chickadee
This, my little Mountain Chickadee, is very closely related to the Black-capped Chickadee. In fact, they will sometimes cross-breed or hybridize where their territories overlap in Rio Grande Valley of … [Read more...]
Creepers
Brown Creeper
The Brown Creeper has the distinction of being the only tree creeper in North America, but trying to find this bird is a little like trying to find Jimmy Hoffa. While they are widespread, found in … [Read more...]
Crossbills
Red Crossbill
The Red Crossbill goes where the food is, and can be found in coniferous forests from Central America to Newfoundland. The availability of conifer seeds of spruce, hemlock, fir and pine will … [Read more...]
Finches
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinches are scattered throughout temperate North America. They eat the seeds of many annual plants and are common visitors to gardens and feeders, especially in the winter months. They … [Read more...]
House Finch
A baby boom for the House Finch since 1940 has increased the population and reach of the species. Sound familiar? House Finches were originally a small population found on Long Island. Today they … [Read more...]
Pine Siskin
The Pine Siskin is easy to identify by the buff colored bars on his wings, sometimes vivid yellow for the males. He is not so easy to pin down however, and ranges from Guatemala and Mexico in the … [Read more...]
Purple Finch
The Purple Finch has been aptly described as a “sparrow dipped in raspberry juice”. This is true for the males, not so for the females. The two sexes are as different as night and day. Female Purple … [Read more...]
Grosbeaks
Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeaks are common in the American West, and are a familiar sight to many bird enthusiasts. Males are easy to identify with their black heads and cinnamon-colored eye stripe. Females … [Read more...]
Blue Grosbeak
The Blue Grosbeak is the Marlena Dietrich of the grosbeaks. Like Marlena, the Blue Grosbeak is both beautiful to look at and to hear. Males are a distinctive blue with chestnut-colored wing bars and a … [Read more...]
Evening Grosbeak
The Evening Grosbeak moves in large flocks and will throw a party at your backyard feeder. They only show up about once every year, which is a good thing for your supply of bird food. A flock of … [Read more...]
Pine Grosbeak
The Pine Grosbeak is the largest of the “winter finches”. It is also one of the rarer species. An infrequent winter visitor to North America, it lives in the sub-arctic and boreal forests in eastern … [Read more...]
Hummingbirds
Anna’s Hummingbird
In the 1930’s Anna’s Hummingbird was found only on the Pacific Coast from Baja California to the San Francisco Bay. It has since expanded its range and can be found from southern Arizona all the way … [Read more...]
Black-Chinned Hummingbird
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is found from Mexico to southern British Columbia, and can be seen throughout the American West. This is not a very particular bird in feeding or nesting habits. They are … [Read more...]
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Filed Under: Hummingbirds • SW
If you live in the higher elevations in the American West or eastern Mexico, this is the hummingbird you are most likely to see at your feeder. The Broad-tailed Hummingbird breeds during the short … [Read more...]
Jays
Pinyon Jay
The Pinyon Jay is another omnivorous bird who eats lizards and small mammals but prefers nuts and seeds. The Pinyon Jay will arrive at your feeder and hoard more seeds than Liz Taylor does diamonds. … [Read more...]
Steller’s Jay
Easily identified by his black crested “faux-hawk”, and vivid blue body, the Steller’s Jay also has a loud raucous call announcing his arrival in the canopy of the trees. The Steller’s Jay is … [Read more...]
Kinglets
Golden Kinglet
This bird is tiny; barely larger than a hummingbird. Like the hummingbird, it is active and constantly in motion, flicking its wings repeatedly. The Golden-crowned Kinglet breeds in the canopy of the … [Read more...]
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is one of North America’s smallest birds. The male and female are almost identical, and they closely resemble their relative the Golden-crowned Kinglet. This Kinglet has white … [Read more...]
Mockingbirds
Northern Mockingbird
Everybody, have you heard? This versatile songbird is an incredible mimic. The Rich Little of songbirds. The Northern Mockingbird is also an aggressive defender of his territory and nest, and will … [Read more...]
Nuthatches
Pygmy Nuthatch
This active little bird looks and acts as if he’s had just a bit too much coffee. He is constantly in motion; chattering endlessly while climbing head-first down tree trunks and across branches … [Read more...]
Red-breasted Nuthatch
The Red-breasted Nuthatch, formerly known as the Red-bellied or Canadian Nuthatch, is a resident of North America’s boreal forests. This little bird has a characteristic call and can be heard … [Read more...]
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Like others of his kind, the White-breasted Nuthatch creeps upside down, sideways, and all ways around, down and across trees with little regard for the horizon. They are in search of insects and … [Read more...]
Orioles
Scott’s Oriole
If you live around the foothills and deserts of southwest America, you may have spotted this bright yellow and black member of the oriole family. It’s probably best that Scott’s oriole is found mostly … [Read more...]
Pigeons
Mourning Dove
The mourning dove is one of north Americas most widespread birds, found year-round in all of the lower 48 states. Some of us might recall that this is the favorite bird of Sesame Streets’ Bert, who … [Read more...]
Sparrows
Chipping Sparrow
The chipping sparrow has the unfortunate reputation for being the most tone deaf of the sparrow family, earning it the William Hung award. It’s “song” consisting of one long note followed by a short … [Read more...]
House Sparrow
As its name might indicate, the house sparrow is very at home in human-occupied environments and can often be seen in villages, towns and on the farm. Unfortunately they may have worn out their … [Read more...]
Swamp Sparrow
Much like the Wes Craven adapted DC comics character, this “swamp thing” keeps itself well hidden deep within the wet eastern woodlands. With its longer than average legs, the swamp sparrow is able to … [Read more...]
Vesper Sparrow
Vesper - “def: a bell rung in the evenings or at twilight.” As its name would suggest, the song of the vesper sparrow can be heard ringing through the evening hours well after most birds are resting … [Read more...]
White-crowned Sparrow
Like a young Mozart, the white-crowned sparrow is a bit of a musical prodigy. They often have began developing their song by the ripe age of 2, and do so strictly “by ear,” picking up songs from the … [Read more...]
White-throated Sparrow
Primarily found east of the Rocky Mountains, the white-throated sparrow has long been studied by ornithologists and enjoyed by hobbyists. During their migration these birds are frequently found at … [Read more...]
Starlings
European Starling
The Rudy of the wild bird kingdom, the European starling is nothing less than an underdog miracle story. Only 100 European starlings were released into central park in 1890 and 1891. There are now … [Read more...]
Tanagers
Summer Tanager
As the only all red wild bird in North America, the male summer tanager holds the distinction of being one of the easiest to spot and one of the most beautiful to look at. The female is also quite … [Read more...]
Thrushes
American Robin
Year-round residents of nearly the entire United States and frequent visitors to parks, villages and backyards alike, it is no wonder that the most “rockin” of wild birds is also one of the most … [Read more...]
Titmice
Towhees
Dark-eyed Junco
With a total population nearly twice that of all people in the United States, and spanning most all of North America, chances are you have encountered a dark-eyed junco. They are often seen hopping … [Read more...]
Eastern Towhee
A well known “foster parent,” the eastern towhee many times will raise the eggs of the brown headed cowbird who has replaced the towhees eggs with its own. With no ability to tell the eggs apart, you … [Read more...]
Vieros
Warbling Vireo
Named after its unique warbling song with its high pitched end note, the warbling vireo spends most of its days hidden deep within forests throughout the United States and into Canada. Their grey … [Read more...]
Warblers
Yellow Warbler
Proudly holding the distinction of the “yellowiest” of all his yellowish warbler cousins, the yellow warbler is a renaissance man. Widely traveled (found in all of North and parts of South America), a … [Read more...]
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Found from Alaska to Guatemala, the yellow-rumped warbler (also known as a "butter butt") is one of the most popular of its kind throughout North America. If you make the West or North East your home, … [Read more...]
Waxwings
Cedar Waxwing
Named for its red-colored wax-like secondary feather tips, the cedar waxwing can usually be found in parks, gardens, or in areas with fruit-bearing plant life. This bird is proficient at catching … [Read more...]
Phainopepla
While considered a fly-catcher, the oddly named Phainopepla primarily eats berries, especially mistletoe. In addition to these mistletoe berries, which are the main food source for late fall though … [Read more...]
Woodpeckers
Downy Woodpecker
If you live anywhere within the United States besides Hawaii, chances are that you have encountered the Downey at one time or another. They are year-round inhabitants of every continental U.S. region … [Read more...]
Hairy Woodpecker
The Tom Selleck of woodpeckers, the hairy woodpecker sports a brown tufted “moustache” above its beak. While primarily a forest bird, hairy has since learned that feeders are a wonderful source of … [Read more...]
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Filed Under: Woodpeckers • SW
Once appropriately named the “cactus woodpecker,” this species can be found in the South West United States where it is known to make nests and live inside the various types of cacti found in the … [Read more...]
Lewis Woodpecker
Named after Meriwether Lewis, the Lewis woodpecker was viewed and recorded in 1805 during the historic Lewis and Clark expedition. They are often found in and around orchards and cornfields, where … [Read more...]
Northern Flicker
Although technically a woodpecker, the northern flicker can most often be found on the ground participating in its favorite activity, eating ants. But when this food of choice becomes low in supply, … [Read more...]
Red-breasted Sapsucker
While widely avoiding the “name-calling” suffered by his yellow-bellied cousin, this red-breasted variety of sapsucker is also named from the manner in which it gathers its favorite snack. Tree sap is … [Read more...]
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
With the best name since Soupy Sales, the yellow-bellied sapsuckers’ unique moniker has made it a favorite among many. Actually named for the manner in which they bore out small sap wells in trees … [Read more...]
Wrens
Cactus Wren
As their name suggests, cactus wrens are most common in the deserts of the southwest. While perfectly happy in their arid homes, they will occasionally mosey into town to hit the local watering … [Read more...]
House Wren
One of the most popular and best-known song birds in North America, the house wren is a bird about town. Suburban back yards, parks and golf courses are where they can most often be seen. Build them a … [Read more...]
