Spotting a beautiful bird can be as easy as looking out into the backyard. By placing a birdfeeder or two out on the patio, a person is able to sit back and enjoy a variety of feathered visitors. Bird watching can be even more fun if a person can identify the types of birds that frequent the feeder. The following article has a sampling of birds that make their homes on the east or west coast.

East Coast Birds

American Goldfinch

A male American goldfinch is easily recognizable by its bright yellow feathers and black markings. Alternatively, a female American goldfinch has muted yellow feathers as well as with black markings. These lively birds eat seeds from sunflowers and are common visitors to many backyard birdfeeders containing thistle seed. They are greatly admired for their trilling songs.

• Facts on the American Goldfinch
• Profile of the American Goldfinch 

Blue Jay

The feather design of a blue jay is striking in its combination of blue, white, and black. Its blue tail features several horizontal lines of black. A blue jay possesses a unique, high-pitched call that is hard to ignore. They live on seeds and various insects. Blue jays are known for their aggressive nature.

• A Look at a Blue Jay
• Habits of Blue Jays

Dark-Eyed Junco

Sunflower and canary seed are two items to feed a dark-eyed junco who visits a backyard feeder. A male dark-eyed junco has dark grey feathers on its head and white on its underside. Alternatively, a female dark-eyed junco's plumage tends to be more brown. These birds belong to the sparrow family and are commonly seen gathering at backyard feeders with many other juncos.

• Information on the Dark-Eyed Junco (PDF)
• All about Dark-Eyed Juncos (PDF)

Eastern Bluebird

This colorful bird has a dusting of blue feathers on its head and back. The underside of an eastern bluebird is light brown and white. These birds eat small worms as well as seeds. They have a lovely song that resembles a whistle. The eastern bluebird belongs to the thrush family of birds.

• Information on the Eastern Bluebird (PDF)
• Facts and Details on Eastern Bluebirds

Great Horned Owl

This large owl is active at night in its pursuit of mice, moles, lizards, insects, fish, and other small animals. Its feathers are a combination of brown, black, white, and grey. A great horned owl is immediately recognizable by the two tufts of feathers atop its head. The coloring of a great horned owl helps it to blend in with the trees at night. This camouflage assists the owl in sneaking up on its prey. Great horned owls live in the hollows of trees as well as in the abandoned nests of other large birds.  

• Great Horned Owls
• Features of a Great Horned Owl

Mourning Dove

A mourning dove is often seen eating the seeds on the ground underneath backyard birdfeeders. These birds make a cooing sound that is similar to the hoot of an owl. Its plumage is made up of various shades of grey. They also have black spots on their wings. Bird watchers may notice a dark ring around the eyes of a mourning dove.

• Characteristics of a Mourning Dove
• Mourning Dove Facts

Northern Cardinal

A male northern cardinal is known for its bright red plumage and tuft of feathers atop its head. The male also has black markings on its face. Alternatively, a female cardinal is light brown in color with an orange beak. Northern cardinals are a familiar sight at backyard bird feeders feasting on sunflower seeds. Due to its color, a male northern cardinal is easily seen by predators including hawks and owls.

• Life of the Northern Cardinal
• A Male Northern Cardinal

Northern Flicker

A northern flicker is a large woodpecker known for its distinctive, high-pitched call. Its wings are a brownish color with black spots. The northern flicker also has a flash of red feathers on its face. Northern flickers tap into the wood of a tree in search of ants and other insects living inside. Putting suet into a feeder is a great way to attract these beautiful woodpeckers to a yard.

• Discovering the Northern Flicker (PDF)
• Facts about Northern Flickers

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

A red-bellied woodpecker is easy to hear as well as spot amidst a gathering of trees. Its black wings featuring white stripes as well as the pink feathers on its belly contrast with the dull trunk of a tree. A red-bellied woodpecker also has red feathers covering its head. These attractive birds eat the beetles they find within trees.

• A Look at the Red-Bellied Woodpecker
• Red-Bellied Woodpeckers

Red-Tailed Hawk

A red-tailed hawk possesses the quality of excellent eyesight for catching prey. It has brown feathers on its back and a white chest with splashes of brown. A red-tailed hawk has its own territory that it diligently protects. They can often be seen soaring over fields in search of mice, birds, or perhaps a small rabbit.

• Basic Facts on the Red-Tailed Hawk
• Learning about the Red-Tailed Hawk (PDF)

 

West Coast Birds

American Crow

The American Crow eats both plants and animals. For example, an American crow may eat seeds one day and consume carrion the next. Crows have black feathers and are recognizable by the cawing sounds they make. These social birds are intelligent and possess excellent eyesight as well as hearing.

• American Crow Facts
• Information about the American Crow

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's hummingbirds share many qualities with other types of hummingbirds such as an attraction to red flowers as well as sugary nectar. They can fly backwards and hover in the air next to a flower. The Anna's hummingbird eats a lot of insects. The throat and head of a male are red while their bellies are gray in color. A female Anna's hummingbird is more gray in color without any red markings. 

• Anna's Hummingbirds
• Profile of the Anna's Hummingbird

California Quail

The California quail lives on the ground and has a covering of gray feathers. An adult male has white markings on its face with a black crest sits atop its head. A female California quail has feathers that are a dark shade of brown and also has a crest. Seeds and small insects are the main diet of a California quail.

• Features of the California Quail
• Read about the California Quail

Chickadee

This tiny bird has a diet that includes berries and insects. They have a twitter-like song and are often seen at backyard bird feeders. A chickadee has a black and white head with a tan body. The feathers on its wings are a combination of black and white. This bird is sometimes referred to as a "black capped chickadee."

• Interesting Facts about the Chickadee
• Black Capped Chickadee

Cliff Swallow

This bird's name refers to its favorite location for nest building. It also builds nests in canyons, under bridges, and in barns. Cliff swallows eat insects and seeds. The feathers of this bird are blue and it has a white belly. An observer may notice that the cliff swallows tail feathers are square at the ends.

• A Look at a Cliff Swallow
• Facts on Cliff Swallows (PDF)

Forster's Tern

A Forster's tern has a black head, silver wing feathers, and a white belly. Also, Forster's terns have an orange bill with a black tip. They make their home near the water. Forster's terns are experts at hunting for tiny fish.

• Information on the Habitat of the Forster's Tern and More (PDF)
• All about the Forster's Tern

House Sparrow

The male house sparrow has plumage made up of brown, gray, and black feathers. The female's feathers are gray and brown. This bird visits backyard feeders and eats various types of insects. They live in all types of environments including cities and rural areas.

• A Look at the House Sparrow
• Background of a House Sparrow

Lesser Goldfinch

A male lesser goldfinch is immediately recognizable by the brilliant yellow feathers on its belly and its black wing feathers. A female's feathers are similar, but muted in color. Lesser goldfinches are often seen eating seed from backyard, tube-shaped feeders. They hang upside down and perform other acrobatic moves in order to obtain seed from a feeder.

• Habitat of the Lesser Goldfinch
• Learn about the Lesser Goldfinch

Song Sparrow

The feathers of a song sparrow are white with streaks of brown running throughout. The tiny, compact nests of these birds are often found in bushes. Male song sparrows use their chirping and singing to warn other birds to stay out of their territory. Song sparrows choose nesting areas that are near a source of water such as a stream.

• Song Sparrow Facts
• What a song Sparrow looks like

Wilson's Warbler

The plumage of a male Wilson's warbler features a bright yellow belly, black wings, and a black cap of feathers on its head. Wilson's warblers eat small insects as well as berries. They are adept at searching for small insects in bushes and through layers of fallen leaves. This tiny bird has a melodious, trilling song. 

• Qualities of the Wilson's Warbler (PDF)
• Learn about the Wilson's Warbler Habitat and Other Interesting Facts