Top 10 Common Backyard Birds in the U.S.
Birdwatching is a entertaining and rewarding hobby that adults and children can enjoy. It's simple to start since all you need is birdseed and bird feeder. However, not all birds like the same seeds, so if you want to attract wide species of birds to your yard, you need to learn what they prefer to eat and your local bird species.
Here’s a blog outline featuring each bird with recommended foods.
1. American Robin
American Robin is the most common bird you'll likely to see in backyard. Because they live all throughout the U.S. These cheery little birds are easily identified by bright orange breast and gray backs. And if you listen well, you will hear them singing cheerful bright songs. American Robbins like to hunt for worms and insects on the ground, but they like eating berries from brushes and trees in the winter.
Put the following bird food on your bird feeder to attract American Robin in your backyard
-
Berries
-
Raisins
-
Mealworms
-
Apple slices
2. Northern Cardinal
Picture captured by Birdfeederco Smart Bird Feeder
Male Northern Cardinals are easy to spot with their fiery red feathers, spiky head crest, black mask, and thick orange bill. The females are just as lovely in their soft grayish-tan coats with the same classic features. And they both love to sing!
Their cheerful “cheer, cheer, cheer” or “birdie, birdie, birdie” calls can even sound a bit like car alarms, adding their own music to the neighborhood.
Originally from the southern U.S., these bright beauties have been spreading their range northward since the 1800s. They also hang out in the Southwest, from West Texas to Arizona.
To attract cardinals to your yard, try offering them sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, cracked corn, and peanuts—they’ll be thrilled! Smart bird feeder filled with these bird seeds will keep them coming back!
3. Blue Jay
Blue Jays are the bold and boisterous bullies of the bird feeder, showing up in striking blue, black, and white with a dramatic pointed crest. They’re known for their loud calls that sound like hawks—a trick to scare off other birds and secure all the tasty seeds for themselves! Blue Jays aren’t picky eaters; they enjoy seeds, fruit, insects, eggs, and especially acorns. In fact, they’re big fans of peanuts, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn, so if you want them in your yard, those are good choices! Interestingly, their blue feathers don’t actually have blue pigment; it’s all about how their feathers reflect light. While they're common in the East, Blue Jays also spread as far west as Colorado and Montana, sometimes blending with Steller’s Jays along the way.
4. White-breasted Nuthatch
The White-breasted Nuthatch is a quirky little bird with a white face and belly, bluish back, and a dark crown—black on the males, gray on the females. You’ll recognize them by their funny “yank-yank” call and their unique habit of creeping headfirst down tree trunks! These birds stick around all year, even braving cold winters. They’re smart, too; they stash seeds in bark crevices to snack on when food is scarce. If you’re looking to attract them, offer sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet. Another popular nuthatch, the Red-breasted Nuthatch, is also a winter visitor in many backyards, especially in areas with conifers. Both species will add a touch of character to your feeder!
5. American Goldfinch
Male American Goldfinches brighten up spring and summer with their stunning yellow feathers, earning them the nickname “wild canary.” Females American Goldfinches, on the other hand, sport a more subtle, buffy color. Their cheerful yellow hue comes from carotenoid pigments in their diet, and scientists have studied these birds extensively to understand the science of plumage color. Depending on where you are in the U.S., you might spot these beauties in summer, winter, or all year long!
Goldfinches are all about seeds—they love aster-family plants like thistles and sunflowers. If you’d like them to visit your yard, try filling your feeder with nyjer, sunflower hearts, and millet, and you’ll have some goldfinch fans in no time!
6. Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpeckers are the tiniest woodpeckers in North America, with a cute, stubby bill and a striking black-and-white pattern. You’ll find them happily pecking away in deciduous woods and leafy parks in both urban and suburban areas, searching trees, shrubs, and big weeds for insects and tiny critters. They look a lot like their larger cousin, the Hairy Woodpecker, but you can tell them apart by the Downy’s smaller size and shorter bill. Plus, the Hairy Woodpecker’s call is louder and sharper! Other backyard woodpeckers to keep an eye out for are the Red-bellied Woodpecker in the East and the Northern Flicker.
Want Downy Woodpeckers to visit? Try offering suet, peanuts, and sunflower seeds—these little guys will be thrilled to stop by!
7. House Finch
Of all the brown finches with red faces and chests, the House Finch is the one you’re most likely to see at your backyard feeder. Originally native to the West, these finches found their way to the eastern U.S. in 1939 after a few escaped from a pet shop. They’ve since spread everywhere, often seen flocking to bird feeders in cheerful groups. In the 1990s, House Finches caught scientists’ attention when a bacterial eye infection spread through their populations, leading to important studies on wildlife diseases.
House finch are big seed fans, so if you want them in your yard, try filling your bird feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, and millet. They’ll keep coming back for these tasty treats!
8. Mourning Dove
Mourning Doves are graceful, gentle birds seen across the country, often perched along telephone lines or fluttering down to forage. With their small heads, pointed tails, soft brown-gray feathers, and striking blue eye rings, they’re easy to recognize. Their cooing calls are soothing, and if you’re lucky, you’ll hear a soft, whistle-like sound as they take flight. Though they mostly search for seeds on the ground, these doves can be a bit skittish.
Want to invite them to your yard? They love cracked corn, white proso millet, safflower seeds, and shelled sunflower seeds—scatter a little on the ground or offer it in a low feeder, and these beauties might just stop by!
9. Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmice are playful, acrobatic little birds with soft gray feathers and a cute pointed crest. You’ll often see them flitting between branches or even hanging upside down as they search for seeds, insects, and spiders. Unlike many songbirds, titmice stick together as family units, with young ones sometimes hanging around to help raise their younger siblings the following year. These sociable birds are in the same family as chickadees, and after breeding season, they’ll often join chickadee flocks for some extra company. Fun fact: the name “titmouse” comes from an Old English phrase meaning “small bird.”
To attract these adorable birds to your feeder, try offering sunflower seeds, peanuts, suet, and safflower seeds—they’ll love it!
10. Rufous Hummingbird
The Rufous Hummingbird holds the title for the northernmost breeding range of any hummingbird, even reaching as far as southern Alaska! These tiny travelers make impressive migrations—those nesting in Alaska fly one of the longest routes of any bird their size.
Males are easy to recognize with their bright, rusty-orange (rufous) color, which inspired their name. Unfortunately, Rufous Hummingbirds are listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN, with their population decreasing by around 67% between 1966 and 2019. In the western U.S., you might also spot Anna's and Black-chinned Hummingbirds fluttering around.
If you want to attract Rufous Hummingbirds, fill your feeder with nectar (a mix of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar), and avoid food coloring. Native flowers like red tubular blossoms are also hummingbird favorites and will help bring them back year after year!
Birdwatching with Birdfeederco Smart Bird Feeder
Discover the joy of backyard birdwatching like never before with a solar powered smart bird feeder! Our innovative feeders capture a snapshot of every feathered visitor and send an alert straight to your phone, so you never miss a moment.
Watch live from your screen as birds enjoy a snack, and let our AI-powered identification system reveal exactly which species has stopped by. With our solar powered bird feeder artificial intelligence camera, identifying birds is effortless, informative, and so much fun! Plus, every feeder comes with a one-year warranty, giving you peace of mind as you dive into a world of birdwatching right from home.
Leave a comment