Robins and blue jays are two of the most well-known species to eat mealworms, but there are a wide range of others that may be attracted to your yard. Mealworms are the best option to attract certain birds, since others will not feed at bird feeders and subsist on insects.
Robins, jays, woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, mockingbirds, bluebirds, thrashers, cardinals, and some wrens and warblers are among the birds that are drawn to mealworms.
Dried or Live Mealworms – Which Is Best?
Mealworms are beetle larvae, and they make a protein-rich supper that is just perfect for the meal. Birds will equally enjoy both live and dry mealworms, but they will prefer live worms moving about. The dried versions, on the other hand, are a excellent option for convenience and cost.
Live mealworms cost more and must be kept in the fridge, so they won’t last as long as dry mealworms. They’re cheaper and last longer than fresh ones.
How To Serve Mealworms
If you hand out mealworms, some birds will devour them, but platform feeders or the ground are acceptable. Nonetheless, use a dish with sides if you’re feeding live mealworms.
You may wet-wet mealworms a little before feeding them to the birds, or they may not begin eating them right away.
What Birds Eat Mealworms In Winter
Since food is scarcer during the winter, mealworms are a excellent option for birds. Some birds that eat mealworms do not travel during the winter, and as the weather gets colder, they appreciate them.
Robins, jays, woodpeckers, chickadees, titmouses, and nuthatches are among the birds that eat mealworms in winter.
31 Birds That Eat Mealworms:
1. American Robin
On lawns, American Robins do a lot of eating earthworms. Their breasts are red or orange, and their heads and backs are black. You are more likely to see them in your backyard from spring since they tend to roost in trees during the winter.
- Turdus migratorius
- Length: 7.9-11.0 in (20-28 cm)
- Weight: 2.7-3.0 oz (77-85 g)
- Wingspan: 12.2-15.8 in (31-40 cm)
In the lower 48 states and Western Canada’s and Alaska’s coasts, American Robins may be found. During the winter, those that breed in Canada and inland Alaska migrate south.
From woodlands, forests, and mountains to fields, parks, and lawns, American Robins may be found in a variety of habitats. Earthworms, insects, snails, and fruit are among the foods they consume.
American Robin Song:
American Robin Call:
Sunflower seeds, suet, peanut hearts, fruit, and mealworms are all good options for attracting American Robins to your yard. Food should be scattered on the ground if possible. Moreover, native berries producers such as juniper, sumac, hawthorn, and dogwood should be planted.
2. Blue Jay
The blue upright crest, blue and black backs, and white underbelly of the Blue Jays are distinctive large songbirds.
- Cyanocitta cristata
- Length: 9.8-11.8 in (25-30 cm)
- Weight: 2.5-3.5 oz (70-100 g)
- Wingspan: 13.4-16.9 in (34-43 cm)
All year, the Blue Jays are present in the eastern United States and Southern Canada. Several birds migrate west for the winter, but it’s not common.
When acorns are available, they are noisy birds that travel in family groups. They feed on acorns and may be found in woods, particularly near oaks. Backyards near feeders are also home to these creatures. Insects, nuts, and seeds, as well as grain, are eaten by them. They might also steal nestlings or eggs from nests.
Blue Jay Call:
The huge birds prefer to come in and plunder a peanut or sunflower seed, then fly away. To make it easy to leave, they prefer platform or tray feeders.
Peanut shells, sunflower seeds, and suet will entice Blue Jays to your yard. On open tray feeders or hopper feeders on a pole, they favor these. A birdbath will be available for them to enjoy.
3. Downy Woodpecker
Backyard feeders are home to Downy Woodpeckers, a little bird. Other birds, such as chickadees and nuthatches, are commonly mixed in with them.
Their heads have a red patch in the back, and they have black and white coloring. They’re smaller than the Hairy Woodpecker and resemble him.
- Dryobates pubescens
- Length: 5.5-6.7 in (14-17 cm)
- Weight: 0.7-1.0 oz (21-28 g)
- Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 in (25-30 cm)
Except for the far north of Canada, Downy Woodpeckers do not migrate and may be found in most areas.
Downy woodpeckers feed on insects and beetle larvae, as well as berries, acorns, and grains, and can be found in woodlots, along streams, city parks, and backyards.
Downy Woodpecker Call:
Their favorite treat of suet will attract Downy Woodpeckers to your yard, but they will also eat black oil sunflower seeds, millet, and peanuts on platform feeders.
4. Red-bellied Woodpecker
Although having red caps, Red-bellied Woodpeckers are significantly smaller than Red-headed Woodpeckers and may be confused with them. The red cap is missing from Female Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and the back of their heads are crimson.
They also have the characteristic woodpecker black and white markings over their backs, as well as a very faint red belly that can be difficult to see.
- Melanerpes carolinus
- Length: 9.4 in (24 cm)
- Weight: 2.0-3.2 oz (56-91 g)
- Wingspan: 13.0-16.5 in (33-42 cm)
Eastern states have red-bellied woodpeckers, who do not migrate.
Insects, spiders, seeds from grasses, fruit, and nuts are all eaten by red-bellied woodpeckers. Nestlings are occasionally eaten by them. They may use the same nest year after year, and they nest in dead trees. On a bed of wood chips, they deposited four to five white eggs.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker’s tongue is barbed at the tip and covered in sticky spit, protruding 2 inches out from the beak. This aids in the capture of prey hidden in deep nooks and crannies.
Red-bellied Woodpecker Call:
If you reside in wooded areas, you may often see Red-bellied Woodpeckers at birdfeeders. Before you see them, you’ll hear them make a distinctive loud rolling call.
5. Black-capped Chickadee
The Black-capped Chickadee is a tiny bird with a large spherical head. These birds will happily feed on backyard feedingers, and they’ll investigate everything.
They have a gray back, wings, and tail with black hats and beaks. They have white cheeks.
- Poecile atricapillus
- Length: 4.7-5.9 in (12-15 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-14 g)
- Wingspan: 6.3-8.3 in (16-21 cm)
The northern half of the United States and Canada is home to black-capped chickadees, which do not migrate.
Forests, open woods, and parks are all good places to look for them. Seeds, berries, insects, spiders, and suet are all eaten by Black-capped Chickadees.
Black-capped Chickadee Call/Song:
Suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts or peanut butter are all good options for attracting black-capped Chickadees to your yard. They are frequently one of the first birds to discover new feeders, and they will even feed from your hand. Nest boxes, particularly if they’re filled with wood shavings, will also be used.
6. Tufted Titmouse
With a lovely gray crest and huge eyes, Tufted Titmouses is gray on the back and white underneath. Chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers are common flockmates.
- Baeolophus bicolor
- Length: 5.5-6.3 in (14-16 cm)
- Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz (18-26 g)
- Wingspan: 7.9-10.2 in (20-26 cm)
Eastern and southeastern US states are home to Tufted Titmouses all year.
Tufted Titmouses may be found in woodland, parks, and backyard feeders, and they will aggressively push in front of smaller birds to get to the food first.
In the summer, Tufted Titmouses eat caterpillars, beetles, ants, wasps, and spiders. They also eat snails and other insects. They’ll also devour shelled seeds, as well as seeds, nuts, and berries.
Tufted Titmouse Song:
Sunflower seeds, suet, and peanuts on tube feeders or suet cages attract Tufted Titmice to your backyard feeders. Platform feeders will be devoured as well. Attracting a breeding couple with a nest box may also be an option.
7. White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatches are a small gray-blue bird with a black hat. They are energetic birds with a white face and belly. On the lower belly and under the tail, they will frequently have a chestnut color.
- Sitta carolinensis
- Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz (18-30 g)
- Wingspan: 7.9-10.6 in (20-27 cm)
White-breasted Nuthatches live all year in the US and southern Canada.
In deciduous woods, woodland borders, parks, and yards around bird feeders, white-breasted Nuthatches can be found. The major foods for them are insects, particularly beetles and larvae, caterpillars, ants, and spiders.
White-breasted Nutcracker Call:
Sunflower seeds and peanuts on tube feeders or suet feeders will attract White-breasted Nuthatches to your yard.
8. Carolina Wren
The dark brown on top of the Carolina Wrens contrasts with the light brown underbelly. They have a loud “teakettle” song and a white eyebrow stripe and an upright tail.
- Thryothorus ludovicianus
- Length: 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.6-0.8 oz (18-22 g)
- Wingspan: 11.4 in (29 cm)
Residents of eastern and southern US states may see Carolina Wrens throughout the year.
They’ll visit backyard feeders and can be found in woods or heavily vegetated places.
Carolina Wren Song:
Suet feeders, hulled sunflower seeds, and peanut hearts in huge tube feeders or on platform feeders will attract Carolina Wrens to your yard.
9. Northern Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbirds have small heads and long tails, and are a medium-sized songbird. They have two white wingbars visible in flight and are a gray-brown color with a slightly paler underside than their back.
- Mimus polyglottos
- Length: 8.3-10.2 in (21-26 cm)
- Weight: 1.6-2.0 oz (45-58 g)
- Wingspan: 12.2-13.8 in (31-35 cm)
Northern Mockingbirds may be found across the lower 48 states and southern Canada and do not migrate.
They’re usually seen as lone wolves or couples who aggressively protect their home. Mockingbirds may sing all day and all night, and they may learn up to 200 tunes in their lifetime by mimicking other birds’ tunes.
Northern Mockingbird Call/Song:
Plant fruiting trees or bushes, such as hawthorns, mulberries, and blackberry brambles, to attract more Northern Mockingbirds to your yard. They don’t typically pay visits to feeders, but will visit open lawns.
10. Yellow-rumped Warbler
The face, sides, and rump of yellow-rumped warblers are gray, and the wings are white.
Winter birds are lighter brown with a brilliant yellow rump and sides that turn brilliant yellow and gray in the spring, while females are somewhat brown.
- Setophaga coronata
- Length: 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.4-0.5 oz (12-13 g)
- Wingspan: 7.5-9.1 in (19-23 cm)
The majority of Yellow-rumped Warblers breed in Canada and the Appalachian highlands, especially in the Rocky Mountains.
Before overwintering in southern and southwestern US states, as well as the Pacific Coast and into Mexico and Central America, they may be seen in the Midwest during migration.
Yellow-rumped Warblers may be found in coniferous woodlands throughout the breeding season. They can be found in open places with fruiting shrubs throughout the winter. They eat mostly insects throughout the summer and fruit, particularly bayberry and wax myrtle, throughout the winter.
Yellow-rumped Warbler Song:
Sunflower seeds, suet, raisins, and peanut butter can all attract yellow-rumped warblers to your yard.
11. Carolina Chickadee
Little birds with huge heads, black caps, and necks, white cheeks, and bellies, as well as soft gray backs, wings, and tails. Carolina Chickadees are tiny birds with big heads.
When their ranges overlap, they look a lot like the Black-capped Chickadee and interbreed.
- Poecile carolinensis
- Length: 3.9-4.7 in (10-12 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (8-12 g)
- Wingspan: 5.9-7.9 in (15-20 cm)
In the eastern and southeastern US states, Carolina Chickadees may be found in forested areas, parks, and yards throughout the year.
Carolina Chickadee Song:
Black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet feeders, and peanuts are all great attractants for Carolina Chickadees to your back yard feeders. Tube feeders, suet cages, and platform feeders are among the types of feeders that they will eat. Nest boxes and nest tubes are other options.
12. Eastern Bluebird
Little thrushes with huge, rounded heads, wide eyes, and fat bellies make up the Eastern Bluebirds.
The back of the males is deep blue, while the underside is reddish. The wings and tail are blue, and the breast is less vibrant orange-brown. Females are grayer on top with some blue.
- Sialia sialis
- Length: 6.3-8.3 in (16-21 cm)
- Weight: 1.0-1.1 oz (28-32 g)
- Wingspan: 9.8-12.6 in (25-32 cm)
Those that breed in the northern United States and southern Canada migrate south throughout the year, but they live in southeastern US states.
Eastern bluebirds may be found perched on wires and posts or low branches, searching for insects, in meadows.
Eastern Bluebird Song:
If your yard is open and spacious, attract Eastern Bluebirds by giving mealworms and nest boxes.
13. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
The males of Ruby-crowned Kinglets are olive-green birds with a magnificent crimson crown that is usually flat and difficult to perceive.
- Corthylio calendula
- Length: 3.5-4.3 in (9-11 cm)
- Weight: 0.2-0.3 oz (5-10 g)
- Wingspan: 6.3-7.1 in (16-18 cm)
Before going to the southern and southwestern US states and Mexico for the winter, Ruby-crowned Kinglets breed in Canada and the mountainous west.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are swift-moving, quiet birds that flit about in the foliage of lower branches and shrubs and trees hunting for spiders and insects. They may be difficult to locate.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Song:
Suet or platform feeders holding hulled sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, and mealworms attract Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
14. Hairy Woodpecker
With a black and white pattern, a big white patch on their backs, and a little size, hairy woodpeckers are medium-sized woodpeckers. Males have a crimson patch at the back of their heads when they are aroused.
They have larger bodies and longer beaks than Downy Woodpeckers, but they look similar. It is difficult to identify them apart if they are not in close proximity, since they are frequently found in the same areas.
- Dryobates villosus
- Length: 7.1-10.2 in (18-26 cm)
- Weight: 1.4-3.4 oz (40-95 g)
- Wingspan: 13.0-16.1 in (33-41 cm)
Except for the far north of Canada, Hairy Woodpeckers do not migrate and may be found in all US states.
Hairy Woodpeckers may be found in a variety of habitats, such as woodlots, parks, and cemeteries, but are most common in woodlands on trunks or main branches of large trees. Insects comprise the majority of the Hairy Woodpecker’s diet.
Hairy Woodpecker Call/drumming:
Suet feeders attract hairy woodpeckers to your yard.
15. Pileated Woodpecker
The enormous red triangular crest of the Pileated Woodpecker is particularly spectacular, making it North America’s biggest woodpecker.
The white underside of the wings can be seen when they are flying, and they are black with a white stripe. A crimson stripe runs down the cheek of males.
- Dryocopus pileatus
- Length: 15.8-19.3 in (40-49 cm)
- Weight: 8.8-12.3 oz (250-350 g)
- Wingspan: 26.0-29.5 in (66-75 cm)
They may be found in eastern US states, as well as Canada and the Northwestern United States.
Carpenter ants from dead trees and fallen logs are the most common foods of Pileated Woodpeckers, but beetle larvae, termites, and other insects are eaten as well as fruit and nuts like blackberries, sumac berries, dogwood, and elderberry. They produce a loud, shrill neighing cry as well as robust, booming beats.
Pileated Woodpecker Call:
Suet feeders with tail props are a good way to attract Pileated Woodpeckers to your yard.
16. Red-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray birds with black and white stripes on the head and a rusty underside, red-breasted Nuthatches are blue-gray birds.
- Sitta canadensis
- Length: 4.3 in (11 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (8-13 g)
- Wingspan: 7.1-7.9 in (18-20 cm)
In winter, when cone crops are poor, red-breasted nuthatches move south from their northern and western homes, Alaska and Canada.
Red-breasted Nuthatches eat cones and visit feeders in your backyard, and they can be found in coniferous woods foraging.
Red-breasted Nuthatch Call:
Black oil sunflower seeds, suet feeders, peanuts, and mealworms are allEffective at attracting Red-breasted Nuthatches to your yard.
17. California Scrub-Jay
California Scrub-Jays have a bright blue breast band and long tails with a white underside and rich blue and gray backs. They’re bigger than a robin but not as big as a crow. They have vivid colors and resemble the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay in appearance.
- Aphelocoma californica
- Length: 11.0-11.8 in (28-30 cm)
- Weight: 2.5-3.5 oz (70-100 g)
- Wingspan: 15.3 in (39 cm)
From British Columbia to Baja California, California Scrub-Jays live throughout the year on the Pacific Coast.
Scrub, oak woodlands, and suburban gardens and parks are all good places to look for California Scrub-Jay. Throughout the spring and summer, they eat insects and fruit, then seeds and nuts, notably acorns, in the autumn and winter.
The call of California Scrub-Jay is high-pitched and repeating. They also whistle a love song gently.
The nest of the California Scrub-Jay, which is made of twigs and a soft lining, is normally built in oak trees. It may take up to ten days to finish. They lay 1-5 eggs, which take around 17-19 days to hatch.
Sunflower seeds and peanuts in your feeders will attract California Scrub-Jays to your backyard.
Fun fact: According to the University of California, Davis, California Scrub-Jay will scream over the carcass of a dead jay and entice others to do likewise, lasting up to half an hour.
18. Steller’s Jay
Steller’s Jays are large black-crested birds with huge heads that stick out. Their bodies are blue, with the exception of their heads and chests, which are black.
- Cyanocitta stelleri
- Length: 11.8-13.4 in (30-34 cm)
- Weight: 3.5-4.9 oz (100-140 g)
- Wingspan: 17.3 in (44 cm)
Western US, western Canada, Mexico, and Central America are home to Steller’s Jays.
Steller’s Jays may be seen around picnickers, campgrounds, and household feeders in evergreen woodlands in the highlands.
Steller’s Jays are a bother around garbage and your unprotected picnic, eating most things they can forage for, such as insects, seeds, nuts, berries, eggs, and nestlings!
Steller’s Jay makes peeps and harsh guttural noises in addition to quick two-toned cries. Other noises, such as other bird species and sprinklers and alarms, can also be mimicked by Steller’s Jays.
Steller’s Jay sounds: They emit peeps, harsh guttural noises, and make ‘kaw’ noises in addition to quick two-toned noises. Other bird species, as well as sprinklers and alarms, may be imitated by Steller’s Jays.
Stellar’s Jays’ nests are made of leaves and plant material held together with mud, lined with soft pine needles, and placed at the top of conifer trees.
Attract Steller’s Jays Peanuts and suet are good additions to your garden.
Fun fact: The mud serves as a nest for Stellar’s Jays.
19. Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay
The Blue-Jays of the Southwest are Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jays, and they have lovely blue and gray coloring. On the back, they’re light blue and dark gray, while on the bottom they’re light gray. They have long, blue tails.
They have just a small necklace and lack the crests of Blue Jays and Stellar’s Jays, making them duller in color than California Scrub-Jays.
- Aphelocoma woodhouseii
- Length: 11.0-11.8 in (28-30 cm)
- Weight: 2.5-3.5 oz (70-100 g)
The Scrub-Jays of Woodhouse are found in the southwest United States and Mexico. Pinyon-juniper and scrubby areas are where you’ll find them.
Most of Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay’s diet in the summer consists of insects and fruit, while in the winter it consists of nuts and seeds.
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay sounds:
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay nests are made of twigs and lined with moss and grass, and they’re fairly simple platforms.
Sunflower seeds and peanuts are great for attracting Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jays to your yard.
Fun Fact: The Scrub-Jays, who steal food from other birds’ granary trees, mostly Acorn Woodpeckers’, are particularly fond of stealing acorns.
20. Clark’s Nutcracker
Clark’s Nutcrackers have a gray color that is similar to that of Canada Jays. They lack the crest and have shorter tails than jays. Clark’s Nutcrackers have white patches on their wings and tails and are light gray in color.
- Nucifraga columbiana
- Length: 10.6-11.8 in (27-30 cm)
- Weight: 3.7-5.7 oz (106-161 g)
In the pine woods of the arduous west, Clark’s Nutcrackers may be seen all year. They don’t travel, although they do go considerable distances in the summer when pine crops are scarce.
Pine seeds obtained straight from the tree, or those stashed away earlier, are the mainstay of Clark’s Nutcrackers. If they get the opportunity, they will devour insects, spiders, and tiny mammals.
Clark’s Nutcracker sounds:
Clark’s Nutcracker nests are made of sticks and twigs, lined with wood pulp, and then covered with soft dry grass and moss. They are built in conifer trees.
They lay two to six eggs, which take about two and a half weeks to hatch and another three weeks to fledge.
Black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet will attract Clark’s Nutcrackers to your yard.
Fun Fact: When cone crops are poor, Clark’s Nutcrackers have been known to travel up to 2000 miles in the Northeast United States!
21. Pinyon Jay
Pinyon Jays have blacker backs and lighter bellies, with a blue coloration overall. Unlike other Jays, such as Stellar’s Jays, they have white throats, shorter tails, and no crests. Infants may appear more grayish-blue in comparison to both sexes.
- Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
- Length: 10.2-11.4 in (26-29 cm)
- Weight: 3.2-4.2 oz (90-120 g)
- Wingspan: 18.1 in (46 cm)
In pinyon-pine woodlands in the western United States, Pinyon Jays are permanent.
Pinyon Jays consume juniper berries, acorns, and other creatures like lizards, young birds, and flies in addition to seeds from pinyon-pine. These are big, noisy groups of opportunity feeders who will seize most things and forage.
Pinyon Jay sounds: They emit three ‘kaw’-like sounds in rapid succession, rising, falling, and occasionally trembling.
Pinyon Jay nests are lined with feathers and animal hair and are made of sticks and grass in pine trees.
Fun fact: To avoid becoming coated in sticky pine pitch, Pinyon Jays lack feathers over their Nostrils.
22. Canada Jay
The back is a dark gray, while the belly is a light gray. With a black band circling the neck, they have white heads and necks.
Grey Jays are a common name for these birds. Juveniles are darker gray all over than females, but they look similar to males.
- Length: 9.8-11.4 in (25-29 cm)
- Weight: 2.0-3.0 oz (58-84 g)
Canada, Alaska, and the high peaks of the northwest United States are all home to Canada Jays. Canada Jays from different locations have varying coloration. Those living in the Rockies are lighter than those in Canada.
In boreal woodlands, where spruce trees abound, you may spot Canada Jays. They are opportunity feeders that eat a wide range of items, including flies, berries, and dead animals. They are not as loud as other Jays. They’ll get quite close, especially if food dropped by hikers attracts them.
Canada Jays are dangerous birds that will kill newborn birds for food and even pursue smaller species like chickadees and warblers. They appear to be baby birds, but they have a deadly side.
Canada Jay sounds: They sing a quiet lullaby, although they frequently emit louder cries and clatters. Other species may also be imitated by Canadians.
When there is still snow around, Canada Jay nests are built early in conifers. The nest, which is constructed on the south side of the tree to keep it warm, is made out of dead twigs and lined with feathers.
Most types of bird food, such as seeds and suet, will attract Canada Jays to your yard, and they will readily feed from tube or platform feeders.
Canada Jays have a unique saliva that they utilize to make food into a tacky glob and afterwards conceal it in gum beneath a desk.
23. Mountain Chickadee
Mountain Chickadees have black-and-white heads and are smaller birds with a gray body, which is darker on the back and lighter on the belly.
- Poecile gambeli
- Length: 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.4 oz (11 g)
Mountain Chickadees do not migrate but may descend the mountain in winter if food is scarce in the highlands west of the United States.
Mountain Chickadees may be found in pine and coniferous forests, particularly. They’ll visit backyard feeders and eat insects, spiders, and nuts while seeds. Mountain Chickadees often store food and create a foodstore.
Mountain Chickadee nests are often found in woodpecker and nuthatch nesting holes. When she leaves, the female lines the hole with fur and even covers her eggs. They lay nine eggs, which take two weeks to hatch and three weeks for the juvenile to emerge from the nest.
Most types of feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms, nyjer, suet, and peanut butter are attractive to Mountain Chickadees if you put up nest boxes.
Fun fact: Because to the protection their old woodpecker nests provide and the fact that the female covers the eggs when she leaves, Mountain Chickadee eggs are incubated 50% longer than other chickadee species.
24. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Little birds with black heads and throats and white cheeks, the Chestnut-backed Chickadees are tiny. They have gray wings and bellies with a rich chestnut on their backs and sides. Their sides are gray in color, not brown.
- Poecile rufescens
- Length: 3.9-4.7 in (10-12 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (7-12 g)
- Wingspan: 7.5 in (19 cm)
The flocks of Chestnut-backed Chickadees can be found in wet evergreen woods along the Pacific Coast, and they are regular feeder birds.
Chestnut-backed Chickadees may be found in conifer woodlands most of the year. Insects, including caterpillars, spiders, wasps, and aphids, are the main source of food for them. They get the rest from seeds, berries, and fruit.
Chestnut-backed Chickadees build nests by using old woodpecker nests or by digging holes in rotten wood. Moss and bark are used to line the nest, which is then topped with softer materials like fur and grass. They lay eleven eggs, which take roughly two weeks to hatch and over three weeks for the chicks to leave the nest.
Black-oil sunflower seeds, nyjer, peanuts, and mealworms in tube feeders, platform feeders, and suet cages are all options for attracting Chestnut-backed Chickadees to your yard. Nest boxes will also be used.
25. Boreal Chickadee
With a dark brown head, small black bib, cinnamon sides, and white below and on the cheeks, Boreal Chickadees are tiny grayish-brown songbirds.
- Poecile hudsonicus
- Length: 4.9-5.5 in (12.5-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (7-12.4 g)
In northern US states, Boreal Chickadees may be found in Canada and Alaska.
Boreal Chickadees may be found in both coniferous and deciduous/mixed woods, however they are most often seen near water. They will readily feed at feeders and eat seeds and insects from the upper levels of the canopy.
Boreal Chickadee nests are most commonly found on dead trees, and the female excavates the hole. The cavity is lined with moss and bark, followed by softer materials such as hair and feathers. They lay nine eggs, which take roughly two weeks to hatch.
On most types of feeders, offer Black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, peanuts, and mealworms to attract Boreal Chickadees to your yard. In addition, build a nesting box for a mating pair.
The seeds and insects will be stored for the long, cold winter by Borof Chickadees.
26. Bewick’s Wren
Brown-backed birds with long gray upright tails and darker barring, Bewick’s Wrens are brown-back birds. Their bellies are grey, and their eye is striped white.
- Thryomanes bewickii
- Length: 5.1 in (13 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (8-12 g)
All year, Bewick’s Wrens may be found in the southern and western United States, with some winter movements.
Bewick’s Wrens may be seen hopping from branch to branch, flicking their long tails, in scrub, thickets, and open woodland.
Bees, bugs, caterpillars, and beetles are among the insects and larvae they eat.
Their song begins with a few high notes followed by lower-pitched buzzy notes, as described by Bewick’s Wren.
Nest sites include rock ledges, woodpecker nests from the past, nest boxes, and cracks in buildings. They’re cup-shaped and have a softer lining made of sticks and grasses. Hatching takes two weeks, with a further two weeks of fledging after that. Thye lay three to eight eggs.
Suck on suet, mealworms, and hulled sunflower seeds to attract Bewick Wrens into your yard.
Fun fact: Bewick Wrens have been declining in the eastern United States, and the House Wren is most likely to blame.
27. Cactus Wren
The speckled undersides, large bold eyebrow stripe, and huge size of Cactus Wrens make them easier to identify. On the back, they have a lot of streaking and are brown.
Unlike most wrens, Cactus Wrens do not have an upright tail. Instead, to highlight the white tips, they fan their tails out.
- Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
- Length: 7.1-8.7 in (18-22 cm)
- Weight: 1.1-1.7 oz (32-47 g)
From California to Texas and Mexico, cactus wrens may be found in arid regions.
Cactus Wrens may be seen singing or eating the cactus fruit at the top of a cactus, which is a rarity among wrens. In addition, when they turn over leaves and other debris on the ground, they may be seen hunting for insects and spiders.
Cactus Wrens have a distinctive two-tone song that grows in volume as it progresses.
In desert vegetation, Cactus Wren nests are circular with a tiny tunnel entrance. The chicks fledge in around three weeks after laying two to seven eggs, which hatch in roughly two and a half weeks.
Fun fact: Cactus Wrens get all the moisture they need from insects and fruit, so they don’t have to drink water in the desert.
28. Bushtit
Bushtits are tiny gray birds with long tails and stubby bills. They are almost spherical in shape. The face and underbelly have slight brown tinges.
- Length: 2.8-3.1 in (7-8 cm)
- Weight: 0.1-0.2 oz (4-6 g)
The western United States is home to Bushtits all year.
Open woodlands and scrubs, as well as parks and gardens, may be home to them. Caterpillars, beetle larvae, wasp larvae, and ants are among the insects and spiders they eat.
Bushtits produce stunning hanging nests that take a month to construct and are built entirely out of plant matter and spider webbing.
Plant native shrubs and trees to entice more bushtits to your property, then offer black oil sunflower seeds, suet, or mealworms from platform feeders as a food source.
29. Pine Warbler
Little fat yellow birds with olive backs, white belly, and gray wingbars, Pine Warblers are tiny plump yellow birds. The belly of females can be whiter, and they may appear browner.
- Setophaga pinus
- Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-15 g)
- Wingspan: 7.5-9.1 in (19-23 cm)
Before going to the south, Pine Warblers breed in the northern United States. In the southeastern United States, some can be found all year.
Pine Warblers, as their name implies, may be found in pine woodlands, generally at high altitudes. Caterpillars, beetles, spiders, and other invertebrates and larvae are among the insects and larvae they consume when the weather gets colder.
Pine Warblers, as their name suggests, are predominantly found in pine woodlands, often high up in the treetops. Caterpillars, beetles, spiders, and other invertebrates and larvae are eaten, and when the weather gets colder, they eat fruit and seeds.
Pine trees are the home of Pine Warbler nests, as you would expect. Twigs, bark, pine needles, and grass are used to create them, with spiders silk and feathers and animal hair used to bind them together. They lay five eggs, which take two weeks to hatch and another ten days for the young to leave the nest.
Tube feeders and platform feeders with millet, cracked corn, sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, and suet attract Pine Warblers to your yard. Bayberry, grape, sumac, and Virginia creeper are among the fruits and vines native to the area.
Fun Fact: You’re more likely to see Pine Warblers at backyard feeders because they are one of the few warblers that primarily eat seeds.
30. Northern Cardinal
The vivid red male Northern Cardinal stands out against a white winter backdrop, with black around their eyes. Red crests and beaks are also seen on these birds.
The brown color of the females, sharp brown crest, red highlights, and red beaks make them a little more showy.
- Cardinalis cardinalis
- Length: 8.3-9.1 in (21-23 cm)
- Weight: 1.5-1.7 oz (42-48 g)
- Wingspan: 9.8-12.2 in (25-31 cm)
The Eastern US and certain southern states as far west as Arizona are home to Northern Cardinals.
Northern Cardinals may be found foraging for seeds, fruit, and insects in dense vegetation. When the breeding season begins, Northern Cardinals will frequently assault their own image because they are fiercely protecting their territories.
Northern Cardinal Song:
Feeders with sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, millet, and milo will entice Northern Cardinals to your yard. Large tube feeders, hoppers, platform feeders, and food strewn on the ground will all be used to feed them.
31. Brown Thrasher
Large songbirds with long proportions, brown thrashers are common. They resemble a robin in size. Their backs are brown, and their chests and bellies are streaked with white. Their eyes are bright yellow and their cheeks are gray.
- Length: 9.1-11.8 in (23-30 cm)
- Weight: 2.1-3.1 oz (61-89 g)
- Wingspan: 11.4-12.6 in (29-32 cm)
In the United States and Canada, brown thrashers live. Birds in the southeast of their range stay throughout the year, but those in the north migrate south for the winter.
Because they spend the majority of their time in thickets and shrubbery, Brown Thrashers are difficult to see for their size. Yet, when rummaging about among the leaf litter and soil for insects, they may be heard.
Berries, beetles, and flying insects are also eaten by Brown Thrashers from the air. If there is thick vegetation and berry bushes in your yard, they may crawl over to collect fallen seed from beneath feeders.
These most gifted songbirds sing over 1000 distinct song types, making them one of the largest songbirds in North America.