Get to know your backyard birds

Jeanne O'Rourke | June 5, 2020 | Stories

Female Brown-headed Cowbird

Evan Dalton

Lead Instructor, Landbird Conservation

This weekly list consists of bird species—both year-long residents and migratory—you may find in your backyard in the northeast U.S.

Our goal is to help you get to know the birds using your area, both through our staff’s birding expertise as well as what Manomet has learned about these species from our over 50 years of studying them in our banding lab.

Scroll through this page to see weekly species accounts by month.

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BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

Perhaps fitting that this is our first bird, since the Black-capped Chickadee is our state bird and Manomet’s first logo! Despite its diminutive size, the Black-capped Chickadee is a hardy, year-long resident of the Northeast. Totally distinctive in its appearance, the Black-capped Chickadee sports a jet-black cap and bib that contrast sharply with its bright white cheeks. Many people are familiar with the chickadee’s spunky call of “chick-a-dee-dee-dee,” but, beginning on warm sunny days in the late winter, you can also hear their song—a pair of laid back, whistled notes.

TUFTED TITMOUSE

Tufted Titmice (pictured below, left) are the bad boy cousins to chickadees. Slightly larger than chickadees, titmice sport an adjustable mohawk of feathers and a bundle of attitude. Titmice are also non-migratory, but over the last century, ornithologists have noticed a northward range expansion (we’ve noticed it in our banding data as well). Their most common song is a whistled, repeating “peter peter peter.” This time of year, though, titmice can make a whole bunch of interesting calls and songs, often with a burry quality. Listen to some of their calls here and I bet you’ll find one that you’ve heard in your yard. Both chickadees and titmice nest in tree cavities and will visit your seed feeders.

DOWNY WOODPECKER

Probably the most common woodpecker at backyard suet feeders, the Downy Woodpecker (pictured above, right) is also the smallest in the Northeast. Dressed in black and white polka-dots (males have a red spot on the back of their heads), Downy Woodpeckers are only slightly larger than a sparrow. They don’t have a proper song, but their piercing ‘PIK’ call is commonly heard in backyards (and through windows). We can also sometimes see the less common Hairy Woodpecker which is much larger (noticeably larger than commercial suet cakes), has a longer bill, and lacks black spots on its outer tail feathers.

AMERICAN ROBIN

American Robins were once considered the harbingers of spring. In many ways they still are. Although they can be seen year-round, the birds roaming the frozen lands in search of midwinter berries are actually visitors from the north. Most robins that breed in Massachusetts spend winters further south. Some of our banded robins have been encountered on the gulf coast of Texas! The rollicking song of the robin is a welcome addition to the late winter/early summer dawn chorus. Robins often start singing before dawn.

MOURNING DOVE

If you sprinkle cracked corn on the ground near your feeders, you’ll probably get a visit from a Mourning Dove or two. With a long tail, rotund body and pinkish-clay hue, the Mourning Dove is quite beautiful. Males often sport a bluish cap as well. Since they are a favorite prey of local Cooper’s Hawks, this species is quite nervous and often takes off at the first sight of danger. Their wings make a distinctive whistling sound. Mourning Doves have a cooing song that some might confuse for an owl; you won’t typically hear a dove singing in the dark though. This is one of our earliest breeding birds; there could be Mourning Dove nests already this year! When we band Mourning Doves, we measure their tails to help us determine their sex (males have longer tails).

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH

The upside-down bird (aka nuthatch) is a true acrobat of the backyard. They climb trees like woodpeckers, but are much more agile. Instead of relying upon their tails to assist in climbing, nuthatches only use their oversized feet. A typical position is head-down, something that woodpeckers just can’t do! A common visitor to backyard feeders, the White-breasted Nuthatch will typically fly in, grab one seed, and fly off to consume it. The name ‘nuthatch’ comes from their habit of wedging a seed or nut in a crevice and whacking (hatching) away at it with their bills. Even if you don’t see them, their nasal call or laughing song will betray their presence. White-breasted Nuthatches are cavity nesters. As such, many bird banders believe that they smell like trees!

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

The American Goldfinch is a small, but exciting addition to your backyard birds. Although they look rather drab over the winter, these bright, lemon-yellow birds seem to materialize out of nowhere once the males start molting (replacing their feathers) in late winter. The bird in this photograph is still in mid-molt and you can see a mix of older, winter feathers being replaced by the bright breeding plumage. American Goldfinches are almost exclusively seed eaters; are also the only local species that feeds their young seeds instead of invertebrates. Often confused for warblers, these birds are easily distinguished by their thick, conical bill. Although they can be found in the northeast year-round, American Goldfinches are prone to wandering. We often catch small charms (the word for a flock of goldfinches!) in our nets along the coast. We have captured banded goldfinches from as far away as Florida!

BLUE JAY

Gregarious and bombastic, Blue Jays don’t often go unnoticed in the backyard. Although they get a bad reputation for robbing other birds’ nests and making a mess of feeders (which they do sometimes do), the interest they lend to a backyard far outweighs these apparent downsides. As corvids (the same family as crows and ravens), Blue Jays are highly intelligent and social. They are able to imitate raptors, and it is thought that they may do so to scare other birds away from feeders or to alert other birds of the presence of a real hawk. Blue Jays are important dispersal agents of oak trees; their storage of acorns for winter food often leads to new oak trees in faraway places. Through our banding data, we have noticed their early season spring movement up the Atlantic coast is occurring earlier and earlier each year.

NORTHERN CARDINAL

A year-round resident of most backyards, the Northern Cardinal is a welcome visitor to seed feeders, especially in the winter, when their bright red color pops against a wintry backdrop. Although not as gaudy as their male counterparts, female cardinals are equally pretty; a combination of clay and rosy hues. Both males and females sing their syrupy song and pairs of cardinals maintain territories throughout the year. Cardinals use their huge, orange bills (young cardinals have duller, smudgy bills) to crush seeds. They are one of the few backyard birds that can open the tough hulls of safflower seeds. Using this seed will help eliminate unwanted seed-stealers like squirrels, while allowing cardinals to eat undisturbed. Although they will visit feeders, cardinals actually prefer to forage for seeds on the ground. The number of Northern Cardinals banded annually at Manomet has greatly increased since the 1970’s. This is probably due to an increase in breeding habitat, milder winters, and more bird feeders!

HOUSE FINCH

Although it seems a natural part of our backyard birdscape, the House Finch is actually an introduced species East of the Rockies. Prior to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, House Finches (native to the American West) were quite popular as caged pets. In response to the new regulations, House Finch owners and sellers released their caged birds, and by the 1940’s, House Finches had started to colonize the eastern U.S., displacing native species like the Purple Finch in the process. Throughout their range, House Finches are quite comfortable dwelling near humans. They visit seed feeders and often nest in ledges of man-made structures. In the last few years, House Finches have nested under the eaves of Manomet’s teahouse. Male House Finches are primarily brown with a bright, strawberry-red wash over their head and upper breast. Female House Finches are a sandy-brown color above and paler below. Although they have breast streaking, like Song Sparrows (see below), the paler House Finch prefers to perch in the open.

CAROLINA WREN

The merry ‘tea-kettle’ song of the Carolina Wren is a fixture of most suburban backyards in the east. If you are able to catch a glimpse, they are rather dapper; sporting a coat of rusty orange and a bright-white eyebrow. This lively little bird can be hard to spot, as it likes to nest in the shadowy recesses of a wood pile, shed, or other crevice. Male wrens will build multiple nests to impress a female. Carolina Wrens famously build nests everywhere, including in hanging plants and even clothes on the clothesline! The female picks only one of these nests and lines it by herself. As their name suggests, Carolina Wrens are a bird that is expanding northwards. In colder winters with lots of snow cover (when other southerners like cardinals can take advantage of birdseed feeders) many members of this non-migratory species perish. We see these fluctuations in our banding data at Manomet. You can help your neighborhood Carolina Wrens survive harsh winters by feeding suet over the winter.

SONG SPARROW

The Song Sparrow is probably the most common ‘little brown job’ (or LBJ) in your backyard. Small and long-tailed with a dark moustache, streaks on the side, and a central spot on the breast, this sparrow can be found in every state, except Hawaii, so it’s a good one to know! Even if you’ve never knowingly seen a Song Sparrow, their song is probably familiar. A skulker by nature, this species nests in low, grassy thickets or at the edges of ponds. If a predator gets too close to their nest, they will sometimes attempt to lure it away by feigning injury.

This spring 2022 migration season, for the first time in Manomet history, you can adopt one of the mist nets we use to safely capture birds for research! By adopting a mist net in your name or a loved one’s, you will support critical bird and ecology research and help educate the next generation of conservationists.

May

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CANADA GOOSE

A familiar sight in many urban and suburban bodies of water, the Canada (not “Canadian”) Goose is a species most people recognize. Over the fall and winter, flocks in the hundreds, sometimes thousands, can be observed feeding in agricultural fields. In late winter and early spring, they can be seen flying over in classic “V” formations. Although they are extremely common breeders in the Northeast, that is a relatively new development brought on by human intervention. In the early 1900’s the government banned the use of live decoys for hunting. As a result, hunters released their captive birds, which rapidly colonized the area. This explains why many of our Canada Geese lack the desire to migrate!

MALLARD

Ubiquitous and distinctive, the Mallard can be found on every continent, aside from Antarctica. Virtually any body of water near human habitation in the Northeast has a pair of Mallards. Though they are common, they are quite beautiful. In bright sunlight the male’s iridescent green head almost glows and the female is a perfect example of effective camouflage for the marshy vegetation they prefer to nest within. Mallards are another species that was once uncommon in the area, but were aided by humans in further colonization. In the case of the Mallards, they were released by sportsmen and game wardens for the purpose of hunting. In many places Mallards are able to out-compete other species of duck, particularly along the coast, where their colonization has contributed to dramatic declines in American Black Duck populations.

GREAT BLUE HERON

The Great Blue Heron is a common denizen of any body of water with a healthy fish population. Their powdery blue-gray color and massive size make for quite an impression. This species is often confused for a crane, but cranes are rare in the northeast and fly with their necks held out straight (herons hold theirs kinked underneath). Great Blue Herons often nest in small colonies, building large platforms high up in a stand of trees by a water source. Years of guano will eventually kill their nesting trees, making the nests stand out even more. This time of year, Great Blue Herons can be observed flying overhead on their daily trips between their nesting colonies and feeding areas. Herons like to capitalize on the spring arrival of herring to local streams and ponds. If you go for a walk near a fish ladder, you might stumble upon a heron looking for an easy meal!

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

A familiar denizen of early spring, the Red-winged Blackbird is one of our most-recognizable songbirds. The male’s jet-black body sticks out in late winter, when they start displaying in marshy areas that seem otherwise devoid of life. When singing their familiar “Konk-kla-reeeee” song, males will push their bright red and yellow wrists forward in a stunning display. The female Red-winged Blackbird makes up for her mate’s showiness in subtlety. While males fiercely vie for territory throughout the summer, she blends in to the marshy vegetation as she weaves a nest of grasses and reeds. In late winter, large flocks of blackbirds gather in agricultural fields and will visit backyard feeders. The majority of Red-winged Blackbirds captured at Manomet have wandered into our baited traps in the spring. We’re hoping we get more captures in the nets as our wetland restoration process continues.

COMMON GRACKLE

Arriving to backyard feeders around the same time as Red-winged Blackbirds, the larger Common Grackle (pictured below, left) often gets a bad reputation amongst backyard feeder watchers. While it is true that a flock of grackles can clean out a bird feeder in little time, we should take that opportunity to observe one of our more-impressive songbirds before they disappear into the nearest wooded swamp or bog to breed. Upon closer inspection, both females and the larger males are a beautiful iridescent black with either purple or bronze tints. Their pale-yellow eye (young grackles’ eyes are white, not yellow) sticks out amongst an inky backdrop. Male grackles have an incredibly long tail. They hold it in a V shape when flying around their territories. Many bird banders are keen to avoid getting bitten by grackles; Common Grackles are able to crack open acorns with their sharp and powerful bill!

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD

Common near agricultural operations and open lawns, Brown-headed Cowbirds are the only obligate nest parasite in the northeast. That means that the females must lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. This behavior probably evolved when flocks of cowbirds would follow roaming herds of bison across the prairies of North America, leaving no time for a female to build a nest and raise young. As bison were eliminated and prairies succumbed to human development, Brown-headed Cowbirds adapted to and thrived amongst modern agricultural operations and suburbia. Unfortunately, increased numbers of cowbirds means more instances of nest parasitism. A female cowbird will only lay one egg in each nest she finds. Some females can lay over 30 eggs in a season! Most host species will not recognize the cowbird egg and will raise the precocious young as if it is their own. Since cowbird eggs hatch earlier and the young grow faster, they often receive preferential treatment to the detriment of the true young of the host. Although they can be harmful to other bird species, the Brown-headed Cowbird is a fascinating bird that reminds us of how human actions can have major impacts on how an ecosystem operates.

This week’s trio should be familiar to almost everyone in North America, even non-bird watchers. Although these three are invasive species, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t interesting (they are birds after all!) or that we won’t benefit from familiarizing ourselves with them.

ROCK PIGEON

In North American field guides, the humble pigeon has gone by many names: Feral Pigeon, Rock Dove or Rock Pigeon are all the same. The first Rock Pigeons were probably brought to North America as early as the 1600’s. Pigeons have been associated with human civilization for millennia; domestic pigeons are shown in ancient Egyptian art! Although the birds found in North America are descendants of escaped domestic birds (thus the feral moniker earlier), wild forms of Rock Pigeons can still be found. On their recent travels to the Middle East, Manomet’s landbird team has actually witnessed Rock Pigeons nesting on desert cliffs in the Golan Heights. Chances are, those were truly wild Rock Pigeons! Pigeon encounters are fairly uncommon at Manomet HQ and we have never caught a Rock Pigeon in our nets. A few years back, we did have a banded pigeon hang out at our feeders for a couple of weeks.

EUROPEAN STARLING

The European Starling was brought to New York’s Central Park in the late 1800’s as part of an initiative to introduce every bird species in Shakespeare’s works to the New York area. From there, they spread rapidly across the country, facilitated by their propensity for wandering in large flocks. Now the European Starling is one of the most numerous birds in North America. Such a significant change in the bird community is rarely without consequences. In the case of starlings, they are cavity nesters and aggressively displace native species from tree holes and nesting boxes. This bad habit resulted in a huge decline in bluebird numbers, until people started using smaller openings for nesting boxes. As a species, European Starlings are fascinating. Starlings have been revered for their mimicry ability for centuries; Mozart was once forced to purchase a starling that had picked up one of his compositions before he published it! Starlings are also beautiful; their iridescent, triangular feathers have white tips through the winter, but as these tips wear off, their appearance changes from spotted to sleek. This process (called wear molt) is uncommon in the bird world, but also seen in our next species…

HOUSE SPARROW

House Sparrows are not actually related to the birds we call sparrows in North America. In fact, Old World sparrows (like the House Sparrow) are grouped with weaver finches and the sparrows in North America are technically Old World buntings, and our buntings are related to cardinals… Confused?! That’s OK, all this goes to say that House Sparrows have no close relatives in North America. House (or English) Sparrows were introduced to America around the same time as starlings. Their explosion was facilitated by our rampant agricultural operations at the time. House Sparrows are also cavity nesters and their aggressive tendencies have a significant impact on other cavity nesting birds like bluebirds and swallows. Male House Sparrows have pale fringes on their throat feathers in the fall, but over the winter these fringes wear off, exposing their distinctive black bib. Outside the breeding season, House Sparrows form dense flocks in hedges and thickets. Interestingly, when vagrant Dickcissel (a prairie-nesting species) show up on the east coast, they are often found in flocks of House Sparrows!

CHIMNEY SWIFT

Though it may feed like a swallow, the Chimney Swift belongs to a family called Apodiformes (literally meaning “without feet”) along with hummingbirds. This classic cigar-with-wings is a common sight in towns and cities, where it nests and roosts in chimneys and smokestacks. Prior to civilization, swifts nested in large, hollow trees and caves. Swifts are almost always in flight, they even sleep on the wing! Chimney Swift populations have been in steep decline over the last few decades. This is probably due to several factors, including a reduction in nesting and roosting sites and significant reductions in their insect food.

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

A relative of swifts, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird that regularly visits backyards in the northeast. Audubon thought that hummingbirds migrated on the backs of swans, but they are actually capable of crossing the Gulf of Mexico each spring on their way north from Central America. We actually catch Ruby-crowned Hummingbirds in the nets at Manomet and have noticed their spring arrival has been happening earlier as a response to earlier leaf-out. The first hummingbirds that arrive are typically adult males and are reliant upon spring flowers (and feeders) to survive.

GRAY CATBIRD

The Gray Catbird is not a species everyone is familiar with, but they probably should be. Catbirds are quite common nesting birds in northeast backyards. They prefer dense shrubs or briar patches, where they will build a nest of sticks, vines, and bark. Learning their meowing call and jumbled song will help you find them near you. The Gray Catbird is the most-commonly encountered bird in the nets at Manomet; they make up over a fourth of our 250,000+ birds banded!

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