Birds enjoy visiting our backyard feeders, especially during breeding season.
Offer various seed varieties to attract more birds. Black oil sunflower seeds and blends containing nyjer and peanuts attract woodpeckers and nuthatches alike.
Milo (sorghum) or wheat will only attract cowbirds that destroy native species eggs and nests, as well as limit using hulled sunflower seeds as these may harbor dangerous bacteria.
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Brown-headed Cowbird
The Brown-headed Cowbird is an obligate brood parasite, meaning it lays eggs in other bird nests to raise its young. According to one study, over 140 host species accepted cowbird eggs and most reared these young at their own expense.
Keep an eye out for this large and glossy black bird in grasslands with scattered low trees or near forests, woodlands, prairies, thickets or fields. In winter and migration periods it often gathers together as mixed species flocks of blackbirds to roost together.
Junco
A common songbird for many of us, the dark-eyed junco (Juncus xanthus) is our winter “snowbird”. Breeding across coniferous forests and on grassy balds in coniferous forests, but migrating further south than other northern migrants.
Juncos can often be seen at feeders during wintertime, feeding on larger seeds such as sunflower hearts and chips, nyjer seed and oil sunflower. Cats should remain inside or on leashes during the bird feeding season to prevent accidental feedings being accidentally spread to them by these birds.
Cardinal
Many are familiar with cardinals attacking their reflection in windows or car mirrors during breeding season when hormone levels rise dramatically.
Cardinals are seed-eaters that savor a wide variety of food sources, particularly sunflower seeds such as black-oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower kernels or chips and safflower. They also enjoy eating berries and select fruits. Their cone-shaped beaks help them crack open seeds and nuts quickly and efficiently.
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmice are small birds that construct cup-shaped nests in natural tree cavities, knot holes or in the larger holes excavated by woodpeckers. Their nests are lined with twigs, leaves, bark strips and hair from live animals such as squirrels.
Your winter feeders might become overrun with small winter birds; these large black eyes, pointed crests and rusty or peach coloring stand out amongst them all. Additionally, they store seeds away during fall and winter for consumption later.
Chickadee
The Black-Capped Chickadee is an iconic feeder bird. When they appear, it’s a sign from above to bring success and bring good fortune in life.
Chickadees are social birds that form long-term pair bonds and remain monogamous all winter, being found in deciduous and coniferous forests, parks, willow thickets and cottonwood groves. Check out Journey North’s Chickadee Dictionary!
Goldfinch
Goldfinches can easily be attracted to backyard feeders thanks to their love of Nyjer Seed (commonly referred to as “thistle”) and sunflower kernels.
Goldfinches, state birds of New Jersey, Iowa and Washington are instantly identifiable with their colorful plumage and are easily spotted among flocks of Pine Siskins or Common Redpolls. Their short conical beaks make for efficient thistle seed consumption as well as harder shelled sunflower and nyjer seeds available at backyard feeders.
Carolina Wren
These busy birds play an essential part in maintaining our eco-system and often form pairs that last a lifetime.
These birds enjoy eating both insects and seeds at feeders, such as mealworms, peanut butter, sunflower seeds and suet.
Carolina Wrens are found throughout much of eastern United States and their populations can fluctuate dramatically, depending on factors like weather conditions. Although cold, icy winters may temporarily reduce their numbers, they quickly rebound once spring comes around.
Northern Flicker
As with other woodpeckers, flickers utilize drumming on trees or objects as a means of communicating among themselves or marking their territory. Flickers also employ this tactic in order to hammer at wood to excavate nest holes.
This migratory bird prefers open woodland environments and may visit your suet feeder during fall/winter to take advantage of all that goodness there. They also like eating berries and seeds from Virginia creeper vines or nuts!
American Crow
American Crows inhabit various semi-open habitats such as farms, fields, river groves, and towns; they tend to avoid hot desert zones.
Scavengers compete for garbage at dumps and raid bird feeders to find food sources; hunting eggs, nestlings and adults of different bird species along the way.
Crow meat is said to taste similar to poultry but with more of a gamey aroma and is an excellent source of calcium and protein.
Blue Jay
Blue Jays are loud and boisterous visitors to feeders, known for bullying other birds and feeding on seeds and nuts. Studies of radio-tagged jays revealed they store thousands of acorns annually as caches in their chests.
Blue jays construct open cup nests in trees. Male and female blue jays both incubate eggs together before both adults feed their young. Blue jays typically remain monogamous partners for life.
