This page is for the birds!

Below are some of the birds that Nama has seen at her birdfeeders.

CHIPPING SPARROW
Spizella passerina
Size: 5-5½"

Brown streaked with black on top. Underparts and sides are gray. Note the chestnut crown, white eyebrow and black line through the eye.

Voice: a one note trill.

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH
Sitta carolinensis
Size: 5-6"

Blue-gray above, white underparts and face, black crown.

Voice: a nasal "yank-yank"

This bird is usually seen creeping headfirst down tree trunks. 



HOUSE FINCH
Carpodacus mexicanus
Size: 5-5½"

Males are brown with dark streaks, bright red on forehead, eyebrow and rump. Females lack red.

Voice: clear, canarylike warble

The eastern population of this bird is descended from caged birds that were set free on Long Island in the 1940s. 

TUFTED TITMOUSE
Parus bicolor
Size: 4½-5½"

Gray above with white or pale gray underparts, reddish sides. Conspicuous dark gray crest.

After breeding season, Tufted Titmice often join groups of other small birds (chiefly chickadees, nuthatches and downy woodpeckers) often visiting winter feeders en masse.


Northern Cardinals

CARDINAL

The cardinal is probably the most recognizable bird because of its brilliant red color and crested head. Cardinals mate for life and remain together throughout the entire year. 

The conical shape of the cardinal's beak marks this bird as a seed eater. The Northern Cardinal's diet consists of fruits, seeds and insects. 

At the feeding station, they prefer unhulled black-oil sunflower seeds over all other foods. They will also eat safflower, cracked corn, white proso millet, bread, nutmeats and peanut butter mixes.


Black Capped Chickadee

CHICKADEE

The chickadee is a part of the Titmouse family. They are usually seen in pairs or small groups. Chickadees dine primarily on insects, seeds and berries. 

Chickadees love black oil sunflower seed.  They will typically take one seed, fly away and perch nearby to eat it. Chickadees will visit, one at a time, while other chickadees wait nearby for their turn. They love suet! They also enjoy gray striped sunflower seeds, peanut kernels, hulled sunflower seeds, and  peanut butter mixes.

picture of dark eyed junco

 Junco

GROUND FEEDING JUNCO

Dark-eyed juncos are the primary visitor to backyards in the east and are identified as dark slate gray on the head with a distinctive white underbelly.

Juncos are primarily ground feeders, and enjoy the millet found in mixed bird seed, sunflower hearts and cracked corn spread on the ground and can be attracted to suet if it is offered low to the ground.


Woodpecker 


DOWNY WOODPECKER
Picoides pubescens
Size: 6-6½"

Black and white above, white below. White cheeks intersected
by black eye line. Mustache from bill to back of neck. Male has
red patch on nape. This small woodpecker can be attracted by the use of suet feeders.

Voice: a dull "pik"
Also a loud, descending rattle. Drums with its bill against bark producing a fast series of percussive noises. 

MOURNING DOVE
Zenaida macroura

Size: 11-13"

This is a slim bird with a small head and long, tapered tail. Brown or brownish gray above, paler below. White tips on tail. The Mourning Dove is one of the most common birds
in the United States. 

Voice: a mournful "whoo-oo, hoo, hoo, hoo"

The view beyond the birdfeeders...

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