Most Common Backyard Birds

By Melissa Mayntz
Updated on 06/15/22
Reviewed by
Kathleen Miller
Kathleen Miller
Reviewed by Kathleen Miller
Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and horticulturist with over 30 years of experience in organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
American Robin

The Spruce / Candace Madonna 

Every region of the country has some common birds that always seem to be around the feeders, but very few species are found throughout the entire continental United States. These eight common backyard birds are not only popular everywhere in the country, but they are regular visitors in every season. How many have visited your yard?

  • 01 of 08

    Mourning Dove

    pair of mourning doves

    Carlos Camarena / Getty Images 

    Common Name: Mourning Dove
    Scientific Name: Zenaida macroura

    The mourning dove is a gentle, medium-sized bird with an overall buff coloration highlighted by black spots and dark wingtips. The back and wings of the bird are often gray-tinged, and an iridescent patch may show on the neck. Their soothing voice is easily recognizable, as is the slow whirring sound their wings make in flight.
    Mourning doves feed on seeds and readily come to ground and platform feeders, though they tend to be shy. Family groups travel together and feed easily with other backyard birds, including other doves. They especially like millet, milo, and sunflower seeds.

  • 02 of 08

    Downy Woodpecker

    Downy woodpecker

    Vicki Jauron / Getty Images

    Common Name: Downy Woodpecker
    Scientific Name: Picoides pubescens

    The downy woodpecker is the smallest North American woodpecker. The bold red patch the male's nape is easily recognizable, and both male and female birds have the white back, striped face, and spotted wings. The small, stubby bill is characteristic of downy woodpeckers, unlike the longer bills of the similar hairy woodpeckers.
    Downy woodpeckers regularly visit yards with appropriate wooded habitat and mature trees. They can be attracted by suet feeders and may nest in yards with brush and scrub landscaping.

  • 03 of 08

    American Robin

    American Robin

    The Spruce / jskbirds

    Common Name: American Robin
    Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius 

    The bold red breast, gray back and wings, and striped throat of the American robin are easily recognizable in yards, parks, and forests around the country. Western populations are generally lighter, and juvenile birds are heavily spotted for camouflage. These birds run and hop across lawns and feed on worms, insects, and berries.
    American robins are easily attracted to yards where insects and berries can be found. They are also attracted to bird baths and water features for drinking and bathing. At feeders, they may also sample mealworms as well as crumbled or shredded suet.

  • 04 of 08

    American Crow

    American Crow

    Gail Shotlander / Getty Images

    Common Name: American Crow
    Scientific Name: Corvus brachyrhynchos

    The American crow is an all-black bird with brown eyes that may gather in tremendous flocks, particularly in the winter. An iridescent blue or purple sheen may be seen on the wings. Though more common in rural and open areas, crows are becoming more populous in urban and suburban settings as well. Larger than blackbirds, crows are smaller than ravens.
    American crows are highly adaptive and will readily visit yards for scraps, seed, and suet from bird feeders. These intelligent birds can be entertaining to watch as they creatively attack feeders for the choicest bits.

    Continue to 5 of 8 below.
  • 05 of 08

    European Starling

    European Starling

    The Spruce / jskbirds

    Common Name: European Starling
    Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgaris

    European starlings are gregarious birds with a very short tail, long, pointed yellow bill, and black plumage with a bold purple and iridescent green sheen. Plumage is heavily spotted in late fall and early winter, but spots gradually wear off. In non-breeding plumage, the bill will also be dark. First introduced to North American in 1890, starlings are now one of the most populous birds on the continent and can form huge flocks in open areas.
    Many backyard birders consider starlings to be bully birds because of their large numbers and voracious appetites for seed. They will easily visit platform and ground feeders, and may often be seen pecking along the ground for spilled seed, grains, and insects.

  • 06 of 08

    House Sparrow

    female house sparrow

    The Spruce / Candace Madonna 

    Common Name: House Sparrow
    Scientific Name: Passer domesticus

    The house sparrow is a common backyard visitor with a black or gray cap, dark throat, pale abdomen, and brown and black streaked back and wings. Female birds also have streaks but are paler and buffer overall, with a paler bill and prominent buffy eyebrow. Introduced to North American in New York in the 1850s, house sparrows are now abundant across the continent.
    These small birds are frequent visitors to hopper and platform feeders. They prefer seeds but will also eat insects and fruit. House sparrows are also attracted to bird baths, and will also take dust baths in dry areas. Because these birds can be invasive, however, many birders prefer to take steps to discourage house sparrows instead of attracting them.

  • 07 of 08

    House Finch

    pair of house finches

    Jeff Goulden / Getty Images

    Common Name: House Finch
    Scientific Name: Carpodacus mexicanus

    The house finch is a bold bird with a tan body, heavily streaked abdomen, and red eyebrow, forehead, and throat. A red strawberry patch is also visible on the rump. Male birds may also be yellow or orange on rare occasions, but female house finches are buff and tan without the brighter colors.
    House finches easily visit feeders and will eat seeds and scraps. They are also attracted to bird baths and will readily nest in available birdhouses.

  • 08 of 08

    American Goldfinch

    American Goldfinch

    Steve Satushek / Getty Images

    Common Name: American Goldfinch
    Scientific Name: Carduelis tristis

    American goldfinches are one of the most popular and desirable backyard bird species because of their beautiful bright yellow coloration. Males have a black cap and dark wings with distinctive wing bars, while females lack the black cap are have duller, olive-yellow plumage on their backs.
    The favorite food of goldfinches is Nyjer seed, which they will take from the tube, mesh, or sock feeders. They will also eat sunflower seed and drink from bird baths. They even have a fondness for seed-bearing flowers and will perch on flowers to pluck out the seeds, as well as seed fluff to use in their nests in late summer.

FAQ
  • How do you attract wild birds to your backyard?

    Attract wild birds to your backyard by putting up a bird feeder and filling it with wild bird seed, and hanging a bird house so they can shelter in it or build a nest. Birds love to take baths, so a bird bath is also a good idea.

  • Do certain colors of flowers bring birds into your yard?

    Hummingbirds love the colors red, pink, yellow, and orange. Bluejays and bluebirds adore the color blue. Orioles and warblers like the color orange, while goldfinches are attracted to yellow. If you have plants that produce flowers in these colors, you are apt to see these types of wild birds.

  • What should you do if you find a wild baby bird on the ground?

    If the baby bird, aka nestling, has fallen out of its nest, if you can find the nest, carefully pick up the nestling and return it to the nest. If you don't see the nest, then leave the baby where it is.