Hi, friends! You know those memes that joke about how quickly bird-watching becomes a hobby when you get older? Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s a joke because it happens! There is a point in every adult’s life when birds become fascinating creatures!
A few months ago I put up a couple of bird feeders outside our kitchen window. I had no idea how much joy I was about to get from those dang bird feeders! I can sit all morning and watch those little cuties. It’s wild.
For a summer project, I thought it would be fun for the kids and me to learn about the different birds that frequented our feeder. That’s the kind of stuff you remember forever, ya know?
Every time I see a forsythia bush I think of my mom because she would drill it into our heads every spring as kids.
I’ve put together this post about 12 of the most common backyard birds in my area, which is southern Indiana/Midwest-ish. I’ve included a picture of each bird along with a few fun facts.
- Northern Cardinal
- Eastern Bluebird
- House Sparrow
- Goldfinch
- Red-Winged Blackbird
- Mourning Doves
- Carolina Chickadee
- Tufted Titmouse
- Blue Jay
- Robin
- White-Throated Sparrow
- House Finch
Explore Your Backyard
Your Backyard Birds
Northern Cardinal
- Males are bright red. Females are light brown.
- Red feathers are due to diet.
- Mate for life.
- Average lifespan is 3 years.
- Official state bird of 7 states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Eastern Bluebird
- Males are dep blue above and rudy red on the throat and chest.
- Females are gray above with blue wings and an orange chest.
- Average lifespan is 6-10 years
- Prefer to find old nests made by other species and reuse them rather than building a new nest.
House Sparrow
- Males have round heads, gray crowns, white cheeks, black bibs, and chestnut necks.
- Females are plain buff-brown overall with dingy gray-brown underparts.
- Most widely distributed wild bird in the world
Goldfinch
- Bright yellow with black forehead, black wings, and white markings.
- Females are duller in color than males.
- Migrate south for winter. Cannot handle temps below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Weave nests tight enough to hold water.
- Yellow feathers are due to diet.
Red-Winged Blackbird
- Males are glossy black with red/yellow on their shoulders.
- Females are brown and heavily streaked with white (almost checker patterned).
- Highly polygamous.
Mourning Doves
- Gray, brown, tan (ish) with black spots on their wings.
- Pink legs.
- Mate for life.
- Drink by sucking.
Carolina Chickadee
- Black head, white cheeks, and gray back, wings, and tail.
- Mates for life.
- Cavity nester. Will excavate their own nest site in rotten or decayed wood, use an old woodpecker hole, or a nesting box.
Tufted Titmouse
- Soft silvery gray on top with white below. A bit of peach coloring down the flanks and a black patch just above the bill.
- Uses natural holes in trees, abandoned cavities excavated by woodpeckers, and artificial nesting boxes.
- Use its feet to hold a seed while cracking it open.
- Average lifespan 2 years.
Blue Jay
- Bright blue on top with a mix of white and gray on throat, chest, and belly.
- Love to eat acorns.
- Average lifespan 5-7 years.
- No states claim the blue jay as their state bird.
Robin
- Gray or brown with a red tummy.
- Males are more brightly colored than females.
- Very territorial. Will fight to the death to defend their area.
- Loyal to a food source. The robin you see in your garden is most likely the same one each time.
- State bird for 3 states: Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
White-Throated Sparrow
- Bright white throat.
- Some have brought tan stripes on their head and others have white stripes – they tend to mate with a bird of opposites stripes.
House Finch
- Adult males are red on the face and upper chest.
- Females are gray and brown.
- In some areas considered an invasive species.
- Love water. On hot days can consume more than their own body weight in fluids.
- Strict vegetarians.
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