Ground Feeders

Robin bird on a white background

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Tilts its head to hunt worms by sight, not sound.

Bird with brown and white plumage on a white background

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arborea

Misnamed — it feeds on the ground and winters here on purpose.

Small bird with a red cap on a white background

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

Trims its nest with animal hair, sourced from whoever holds still.

Gray and white bird on a white background

Dark-eyed Junco

Junco hyemalis

Shows up with the first cold snap. Reliable as the forecast.

Bird with brown and white plumage on a white background

Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus

Fakes a broken wing to lead you away from its nest. Commits to the act.

Dove on a white background

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

The whistle you hear when it takes off is its wings, not its voice.

Bird with white, brown, and black plumage on a white background

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis

Nests farther north than almost any songbird, then calls this a holiday.

Song sparrow on a white background

Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

Each male writes his own variations on the family tune.

White-throated sparrow on a white background

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Whistles "Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada." We didn't write it.

← All backyard birds