Thistle seed is the name for the seeds of an Ethiopian annual herb that produces a yellow daisy-like bloom and attracts birds, also known as nyjer seed or niger seeds. This isn’t the thistle plant you’re used to seeing in the United States.
Finches, sparrows, doves, goldfinches, chickadees, titmouses, juncos, and redpolls are among the birds that like nyjer (thistle) seeds.
Nyjer seeds, which are smaller than sunflower seeds and have a hard shell, are black. They’re an excellent choice for birds because they’re high in oil, around 30% or higher.
To avoid them from growing and becoming an invasive weed, nyjer (thistle) seeds are used as bird food, but they are sterilized before packaging. Nevertheless, if they fall to the ground, they might sprout and create a bit of a mess beneath a feeder. They will not grow robustly though.
How To Feed Thistle Seeds To Birds
Nyjer (thistle) seeds are tiny and are often called finch feeders, so you’ll need a unique bird feeder for them. They might be metal feeders that small-billed birds can reach. Regular clear-sided tube feeders are also available.
Hummingbirds, whose bills are suited for nectar or insects rather than seeds, are among the birds that don’t like nyjer (thistle). Orioles, tangers, wrens, and bluebirds are other birds that do not eat seeds.
To avoid seeds drying out or going bad after six weeks, ensure you only half-fill thistle feeders at first.
If your feeders are not being visited by birds, try upgrading to a higher-quality seed, clean the feeder before adding new seed, and disperse a few seeds on the ground. Also, to encourage solitary feeders, move the feeder away from other feeders. Birds may take several weeks to discover and utilize the feeder, so be patient.
If you are having problems, then buy a squirrel-proof feeder, use a squirrel baffle, and clean up any fallen seed immediately. Squirrels and rats may be drawn to nyjer feeders.
24 Birds That Like Thistle Seeds (Nyjer):
1. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
The medium-sized, stocky birds Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches are. The black forehead and neck, gray crown, and brown body with pink belly highlights distinguish adults from juveniles.
Their bill is yellow in the winter and turns black during breeding season. Brown juveniles lack the pink highlights that characterize adults.
- Leucosticte tephrocotis
- Length: 5.5-8.3 in (14-21 cm)
- Weight: 0.8-2.1 oz (22-60 g)
- Wingspan: 13.0 in (33 cm)
Before moving to the western United States in winter, the grey-crowned Rosy-Finch breed lives in Alaska and western Canada.
In the summer, alpine snowfields, barren tundra, and rocky islands are all home to Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. When there are bird feeders, they descend into open plains, valleys, and towns in the winter.
During the summer, gray-crowned Rosy-Finch feed on frozen worms and insects in snowfields, glaciers, and meadows. They eat mustard and sunflower seeds, as well as weeds, throughout the winter.
Gray-crowned Rosy-finch Call:
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch nests are frequently discovered in nooks between boulders and cliffs, beneath a rock, or even in mine shafts and holes in abandoned structures.
Their nests are lined with fine grass, animal hair, and feathers and are made of grass, roots, moss, and sedge. The young are ready to leave the nest after another two weeks, and the female normally lays around four eggs that hatch two weeks later.
Feeding black oil sunflower seeds to Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches will bring them to your yard. On the ground or platform feeders, you can scatter the seeds.
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches, who breed on the slopes of Denali, which is recognized as North America’s highest peak, are projected to take home the prize for “Highest Altitude Breeding Bird in North America.”
2. Black Rosy-Finch
Because of their grayish-white crown against a black head, Black Rosy-Finch are medium-sized birds that are easily recognized. Their belly is pink with brownish-black streaks, and the rest of their body is brownish-black. The pink streaks on the wings and belly stand out against the dark black all-over of breeding adults. In color, juveniles are browner.
- Leucosticte atrata
- Length: 5.5-6.3 in (14-16 cm)
- Weight: 0.8-1.1 oz (22-32 g)
- Wingspan: 13.0 in (33 cm)
All year, Black-Rosy-Finches reside in the high mountains of western US.
In alpine tundra and meadows, you may spot Black Rosy-Finch. Throughout the winter, they prefer stony mountatgs and snowfields but may go to lower altitudes and open land. Mountain peaks, rock heaps, and cliffs are their breeding grounds.
Black Rosy-Finch consume seeds, leaves, and young plants in the summer as well as insects and worms. They primarily eat seeds in the winter.
Black Rosy-Finch Call/Song:
Black Rosy-Finch nests are found in craggy clefts and niches between boulders, which are difficult to reach. Grass, moss, animal hair, and feathers are used by the female to construct the nest. In two weeks, she will lay four eggs and they will hatch. After another three weeks, the young abandon the nest.
Black Rosy-Finches have a special storage compartment at the bottom of their beak for extra food for their young.
3. Brown-capped Rosy-Finch
During the breeding season, brown-capped Rosy-Finches have a reddish-pink belly and brighter wings. The rest of their body is brown, and their caps are brown with pink highlights. Brown is the most common color of juveniles and non-breeding adults.
- Leucosticte australis
- Length: 5.5-6.3 in (14-16 cm)
- Weight: 0.8-1.2 oz (23-33 g)
- Wingspan: 13.0 in (33 cm)
The mountains of Colorado and New Mexico are home to Brown-capped Rosy-Finches, who feed on seeds, insects, and spiders and do not migrate.
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch Call:
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch nests may be found at high elevations, such as cliff crevices and caverns. Females make a nest out of moss, grass, and weeds lined with hair and feathers that they line with moss. They may lay up to five eggs and keep them for two weeks while
incubating.
Sunflower seeds or Nyjer seeds will attract Brown-capped Rosy-Finches to your feeding stations.
Fun Fact: Rocky Mountain National Park is a fantastic place to see Brown-capped Rosy-Finches since it is considered their breeding habitat and natural environment by about 2,000 of them.
4. Asian Rosy-Finch
The rest of the head is dark brown or gray, with a black face and throat in Asian Rosy-Finches. The bill is yellow, the chest is pinkish-dark brown, and their wings are pinkish-brown.
Females have a lighter complexion than males on the face and neck, and they don’t have the pink color on their bodies.
- Leucosticte arctoa
- Length: 6-7 in (15-16 cm)
- Wingspan: 12.5-14 in (32-35 cm)
Asia is home to the Asian Rosy-Finch. They do, however, venture into North America on occasion.
Asian Rosy-Finches may be found in high altitudes and meadows, particularly those with stony slopes, rocky rocks, or cliffs. They may be found on exposed rocky beaches in coastal regions.
Seeds obtained on the ground are favourite foods of Asian Rosy-Finches. Berries, fresh buds, and young plants are also favorites of theirs. During the summer, insects are on the menu.
Asian-Rosy Finch Call:
Since the Asian Rosy-Finch is a rare species, nests are seldom seen. They don’t have a lot of information available.
Fun Fact: The Asian Rosy-Finch was first recorded in the United States in December 2011, and it was only after that that it was included to the American Birding Association’s list of birds.
4. Mourning Dove
With slender bodies and long tails, Mourning Doves are elegant little-headed birds. The wings have black dots and are a light brown color. Males have a bit more weight than females do.
- Zenaida macroura
- Length: 9.1-13.4 in (23-34 cm)
- Weight: 3.0 -6.0 oz (96-170 g)
- Wingspan: 17.7 in (45 cm)
Throughout the whole lower 48 states throughout the year, Mourning Doves are common, although they may migrate once breeding from northern Canada and northern Wisconsin.
In grasslands, fields, and backyards, Mourning Doves may be seen perched on telephone lines foraging for seeds. Open areas or woodland borders are also good places to look for them.
Mourning Dove call:
Millet on the ground or platform feeders will attract Mourning Doves to your yard. Black sunflower seeds, nyjer, broken maize, and peanut hearts will be among the foods they consume.
6. Song Sparrow
Song sparrows are a mostly brown-streaked species that uses their virtually constant song to attract mates in the spring and summer. They aren’t as stunning as other backyard birds, but these bird species is worth mentioning.
- Melospiza melodia
- Length: 4.7-6.7 in (12-17 cm)
- Weight: 0.4-1.9 oz (12-53 g)
- Wingspan: 7.1-9.4 in (18-24 cm)
In the northern United States, Song Sparrow lives all year. Canadian breeding colonies move to the southern United States for the winter.
Song Sparrows may be seen perched on a low shrub, singing, in open, shrubby, and wet areas. Backyard feeders are a common habitat for them.
Beetles, caterpillars, midges, spiders, and earthworms are among the insects and plants Song Sparrows eat. Buckwheat, sunflower seeds, raspberries, wild cherries, blackberries, wheat, and rice are also foods that they will consume.
Song Sparrow sounds: Rather than a beautiful melody, they produce a succession of disconnected humming, trills, and tones. When they are in groups, they also emit harsh alarm and chat sounds.
Song Sparrow nests are lined with soft grass and hair, and are made of grass and other plant material woven together. They deposit six eggs, which take around two weeks to develop and just under two weeks for the chicks to flee the nest.
Fun fact: Song Sparrows mingle their music playlist, thus they don’t play the same song twice and consequently aren’t boring prospective females, according to a research.
7. House Finch
The rest of the House Finch males’ bodies are brown-streaked, with a red head and breast. Brown streaks run through females of the species.
- Haemorhous mexicanus
- Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz (16-27 g)
- Wingspan: 7.9-9.8 in (20-25 cm)
House Finches were first introduced to the eastern United States and have done extremely well, even pushing out the Purple Finch.
House Finches may be found in large groups in parks, farms, forest borders, and backyard fooders. Seeds, fruit, and buds are all sources of food for them.
House Finch Song:
House Finch Call:
House Finches build nests in thickets, shrubs, natural hollows, and even buildings. Grass, leaves, twigs, and feathers are used by the female to create them. At a time, two to six eggs may be laid, and it may take up to two weeks for them to hatch.
Attract House Finches Black oil sunflower seeds, millet, and milo or nyjer seeds are fed to backyard feeders in tube feeders or platform feeders.
Fun Fact: As caged birds, House Finches were introduced to Long Island. They flourished and spread to the eastern United States after being released into the wild.
8. American Goldfinch
The goldfinch is a common sight in the United States. In the spring, the males have a yellow and black appearance. During the winter, both sexes are browner.
- Spinus tristis
- Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
- Weight: 0.4-0.7 oz (11-20 g)
- Wingspan: 7.5-8.7 in (19-22 cm)
Most of North America is home to American Goldfinches, who are permanent residents. Nonetheless, during the winter, those that breed in Canada and the Midwest go to southern states.
Foraging for sunflower, thistle, and aster plants in weedy fields and aroundgrown areas may attract you to American Goldfinch. Suburbs, parks, and gardens are all common places for them.
American Goldfinch Song:
Saplings or shrubs are frequently used to build American Goldfinch nests. The female lays four to six eggs on grass, bark strips, and feathers. The eggs take ten to twelve days to hatch, and the male cares for the female while she incubates them.
Attract American Goldfinches Planting thistles and milkweed will bring a little beauty to your yard. Sunflower seed and nyjer seed are the favorites of these birds, who visit most bird feeders.
Fun Fact: Brown-headed Cowbirds are famous for entering an American Goldfinch nest and depositing eggs, but their seed-based diet is unfavourable for them, and they perish as a result.
9. Black-capped Chickadee
With a huge spherical head and a tiny body, the Black-capped Chickadee is a delightful bird. These birds will readily jump from a bird feeder into your yard and inspect everything!
They’re gray on the 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)
In the northern part of the United States and Canada, black-capped Chickadees do not travel.
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:
Attract Black-capped Chickadees Suet, sunflower seeds, and/or peanuts or peanut butter can all be used to attract birds to your yard. They’ll even take snacks from your palm and are frequently the first to discover new sources of food. Nestboxes, especially if they’re filled with wood shavings, will also be used.
10. Tufted Titmouse
With a pretty gray crest and huge eyes, Tufted Titmouses is gray on the back and white underneath. Chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers are commonly found with them.
- 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)
All year, Tufted Titmouses reside in the eastern and southeastern United States.
Tufted Titmouses may be found in woodlands, parks, and backyard feeders, where they may be aggressive towards smaller birds in an attempt to get to the food first.
Caterpillars, beetles, ants, and wasps, as well as spiders and snails, are among the insects that Tufted Titmouses eat in the summer. They’ll also horde shelled seeds and devour seeds, nuts, and berries.
Tufted Titmouse Song:
Attract Tufted Titmice Sunflower seeds, suet, and peanuts on tube feeders or suet cages are all good choices for backyard feeders. Platform feeders will be utilized to feed them. If you want to attract a breeding couple, you can also put up a nest box.
11. Dark-eyed Junco
The colors of dark-eyed juncos change depending on their location. In the east, they’re slate-colored, whereas in the west, they’re black, white, and brown.
- Junco hyemalis
- Length: 5.5-6.3 in (14-16 cm)
- Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz (18-30 g)
- Wingspan: 7.1-9.8 in (18-25 cm)
In the northeastern and western United States, as well as the Appalachian Mountains, dark-eyed Juncos stay throughout the year. Winter migrations of Canadian and Alaskan breeders to the United States are common.
They may be found all over the continent, especially in open and partially wooded regions. They are most often seen on the ground.
Dark-eyed Junco Song:
Attract Dark-eyed Juncos Black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, millet, and peanuts are examples of seeds that can be fed to backyard birds. It’s best to have them in groups or strewn about.
12. Carolina Chickadee
Little birds with huge heads, black caps, necks, white cheeks, and bellies; soft gray backs, wings, and tails. Carolina Chickadees are tiny birds with big heads.
Where their ranges overlap, they are visually similar to 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 eastern and southeastern US states, Carolina Chickadees may be found in forested places, parks, and yards all year.
Carolina Chickadee Song:
Attract Carolina Chickadees Black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet feeders, and peanuts are all options for backyard feeders. Tube feeders, suet cages, and platform feeders are among the types of feeders they’ll eat. Nest boxes or nest tubes are also popular nesting sites for them.
13. Chipping Sparrow
With a grayish belly and brown and black-streaked back, chipping sparrows are slender birds with a rusty crown and black eye line. The hues are muted in the winter.
- Spizella passerina
- Length: 4.7-5.9 in (12-15 cm)
- Weight: 0.4-0.6 oz (11-16 g)
- Wingspan: 8.3 in (21 cm)
Before flying to Mexico and Florida for winter, Chipping Sparrows spend their summers breeding in the United States and Canada. In the southern states, some remains throughout the year.
Chipping Sparrows may be seen in small groups on open terrain and will descend to eat many types of seed in your yard.
Chipping Sparrow Song:
Attract Chipping Sparrows With seeds or broken corn on open feeders like hoppers and platforms, you may bring the birds to your yard.
14. Lesser Goldfinch
Little bright yellow and black birds with long pointed wings and short notched tails, Lesser Goldfinches are a tiny songbird. The backs of females are olive, and the underbelly is duller yellow.
- Spinus psaltria
- Length: 3.5-4.3 in (9-11 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (8-11.5 g)
- Wingspan: 5.9-7.9 in (15-20 cm)
Throughout the year, Lesser Goldfinches may be found throughout the southwest United States and on the West Coast, however they migrate for winter in the interior.
In open environments, such as thickets, weedy fields, forest clearings, parks, and gardens, Lesser Goldfinches may be seen in large flocks. They hunt for seeds, notably sunflower seeds, as well as fruits from elderberry, coffeeberry, and cottonwood buds.
Lesser Goldfinch call/Song:
Attract Lesser Goldfinches Sunflower seeds and nyjer are available in tube feeders and platform feeders, which can be used to your yard.
15. Pine Siskin
The wing and tail of Pine Siskins are yellow with brown streaks. With a small pointed beak, they have a forked tail and pointed wings.
- Spinus Pinus
- Length: 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.4-0.6 oz (12-18 g)
- Wingspan: 7.1-8.7 in (18-22 cm)
Throughout the pine woodlands of the western United States, as well as along the Canadian Border, Pine Siskins stay throughout the year. Before heading south for winter, some breed in Canada.
They may be found almost everywhere in North America, depending on the pine cone crops. Pine Siskins eat primarily conifers seeds, but they will also eat grass and weed buds and seeds. Their name suggests that they prefer pine cones.
Pine Siskin Song:
Pine Siskin nests are situated ten to fifty feet above the ground, away from the tree trunk, and may be anywhere from ten to fifty feet high. They have three to five eggs and are typically constructed of twigs, barks, and moss. The eggs take around thirteen days to hatch.
Attract Pine Siskins Black oil sunflower seeds and suet are available in your backyards, as well as thistle and nyjer feeders.
Fun Fact: The Pine Siskin’s cry gave the name to the birds. As a result, it’s essentially a “pine chirper.”
16. Purple Finch
Purple Finches have a lighter belly and reddish-purple heads and breasts with more brown on the back and wings. Brown-streaked females cover their bodies. They are redder than House Finches, with a bright crimson hue on the top of their back.
- Haemorhous purpureus
- Length: 4.7-6.3 in (12-16 cm)
- Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz (18-32 g)
- Wingspan: 8.7-10.2 in (22-26 cm)
Purple Finches overwinter in eastern states and breed in Canada, though they may be found year-round along the North-East and Pacific coast.
Purple Finches overwinter in the east but can be found all year in the north-east and Pacific coast. They breed in Canada and migrate to eastern states for winter.
Purple Finches feed on seed, buds, nectar, and berries in evergreen woods.
Purple Finch Song:
Purple Finches build nests in high locations in trees. Twigs, barks, weeds, and moss are used to make them. The female incubates three to five eggs for thirteen days.
Black oil sunflower seeds attract purple finches to your property.
Fun Fact: New Hampshire’s official bird is the Purple Finch.
17. American Tree Sparrow
Long-tailed brown-streaked birds with a rusty cap, gray faces, and a rusty eye line, American Tree sparrows are long-tailed.
- Spizelloides arborea
- Length: 5.5 in (14 cm)
- Weight: 0.5-1.0 oz (13-28 g)
- Wingspan: 9.4 in (24 cm)
In the United States, winter is spent by American Tree Sparrows, while summer is spent in Canada.
Except for the Pacific and Gulf Coasts, they breed in Canada’s far north and migrate to most US states for the winter.
In weedy fields and beneath bird feeders, you may observe American Tree Sparrows foraging in small flocks.
American Tree Sparrows sounds: Before migration, males sing a pleasant late-winter song. They whistle a lovely tune with a rising and falling whistles sequence.
American Tree Sparrow nests are usually made of twigs, grass, and moss and are located on or near the ground. They lay five eggs, which take roughly two weeks to develop and roughly a week for the chicks to fledge.
Attract American Tree Sparrows Black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer, broken corn, and millet are all good options for platform feeders. They also feed tube feeder seeds that have been dropped to the ground.
Fun fact: Foraging and nesting on the ground, American Tree Sparrows spend little time in trees. Their name comes from the fact that they resemble European Tree Sparrows, as European settlers thought.
18. Fox Sparrow
The Fox Sparrow is appropriately named after its fox-red coloration, despite the fact that other species are gray or dark brown. Its reddish streaks are particularly evident on its chest. When compared to other sparrows, it’s a chunkier bird.
Fox Sparrows come in a variety of colors and appearances. Eastern regions are home to Red Fox Sparrows, while the Pacific Coast is home to darker “sooty” Fox Sparrows. Slate-colored Fox Sparrows may be found in the western United States, whereas Thick-billed Fox Sparrows can be found throughout California.
- Passerella iliaca
- Length: 5.9-7.5 in (15-19 cm)
- Weight: 0.9-1.6 oz (26-44 g)
- Wingspan: 10.5-11.4 in (26.7-29 cm)
In the north and west of Canada, as well as Alaska and the western United States, Fox Sparrows migrate and breed.
They spend their winter in the Pacific coast and southern states. These may be seen throughout migration in central and northeastern US states, and some stay all year on Canada’s Pacific coast.
Fox Sparrows may be seen in forests, undergrowth, and brush. They migrate to similar areas throughout the winter, even in well-vegetated suburbs and parks. In the air, you may see them flapping their wings and kicking up leaf debris in order to find food.
Fox Sparrows eat a lot of insects and seeds. If they’re near the beach, they may eat berries, grasses, crabs, and marine animals as well.
Fox Sparrow sounds: Males produce a series of pleasant whistles and electric notes.
Fox Sparrow nests are disguised among thick, low bushes. They may also construct them no higher than eight feet from the ground in low trees. Grass, weeds, and moss are used to make the nest, which is lined with dry grass. Twigs are utilized to toughen up the nest walls of those above ground.
They lay two to five eggs, which take around two weeks to hatch. Within eleven days of hatching, the nestling can leave.
Attract Fox Sparrows Little seeds and berries, as well as low native bushes, may be planted to your yard.
Fun fact: A female Fox Sparrow may have a nest ready in less than a minute. They may build a nest and complete it before nightfall!
19. Common Redpoll
The foreheads of Common Redpolls are red, and their bodies are brown with white streaks. Males have pink breasts, whereas females do not. Finch bills and a short, notched tail make up for their small size.
- Acanthis flammea
- Length: 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.4-0.7 oz (11-20 g)
- Wingspan: 7.5-8.7 in (19-22 cm)
In Canada and the rest of Canada, as well as the northern United States, Redpolls breed in artic during the summer and spend the winter there.
They’ll tunnel into the snow in the winter to conserve heat throughout the night. They may store up to 2 grams of seeds in a stretchy park of their esophagus and may eat up to 42% of their body mass every day.
Common Redpolls can be found feeding on catkins in trees or weedy fields, but they will also come to feeders for tiny seeds like nyjer seeds or thistle.
Common Redpoll Song:
Common Redpoll nests are found in tight, low vegetation or behind rocky outcrops. They’re usually made of moss, feathers, plant fiber, and animal hair to keep the nests and eggs warm. The female incubates four to seven eggs for around eleven days after they are laid. The young continue to reside in the nest for two weeks after they hatch, and their mothers look after them.
Attract Common Redpolls Feeding them nyjer seeds and whole sunflower seeds will help them get to your backyard.
Fun Fact: Redpolls may survive temperatures of -65 degrees Fahrenheit by remaining unfrozen. To stay warm, they add around 30% more feathers.
20. Cassin’s Finch
Males of Cassin’s Finch have a crimson head, rosy pink body, and crimson-breasted with a white belly and brown back and wings. Brown streaks cover the whole body of both sexes and juveniles.
- Haemorhous cassinii
- Length: 6.3 in (16 cm)
- Weight: 0.8-1.2 oz (24-34 g)
- Wingspan: 9.8-10.6 in (25-27 cm)
All year, Cassin’s Finches may be found in the western US and southwestern Canada mountain forests. During the winter, some migrate northward.
Cassin’s Finches may be seen foraging for seeds in pine woodlands in flocks. They also consume certain insects, such as moths, as well as quaking aspen buds, berries, and other fruits.
Cassin’s Finch:
Cassin’s Finches build nests on pine and other similar trees in abundance. Twigs, barks, reeds, and rootlets are used to construct the cup-shaped nests. The female sits on the nest for approximately two weeks, incubating four to six eggs.
Attract Cassin’s Finches Sunflower seed feeders, particularly in the winter, and fruiting bushes like cotoneaster, mulberries, firethorn, grapes, and apples are ideal for bringing sunlight to your backyards.
Fun Fact: You might be fooled by the male Cassin’s Finch. It retains its female-like feather coloring and sings during its first breeding season, giving you the impression that females also sing.
21. Hoary Redpoll
Little and robust, Hoary Redpolls are a common sight. Adults have a crimson patch on their foreheads and are generally white. The chest of adult males is pinkish, but not that of adult females.
In comparison to males, females have more streaks on their bellies. Adolescent wolves look totally different, with no crimson patch on their foreheads and a lot of streaking on their bodies.
- Acanthis hornemanni
- Length: 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.4-0.7 oz (11-20 g)
- Wingspan: 8.5-9.25 in (22-23 cm)
In the winter, Hoary Redpolls travel a few kilometers south from their breeding habitat in the Arctic.
Throughout the summer, you may see Hoary Redpolls in forested tundra and open subarctic evergreen woods. They move closer to towns and villages in open woodland, scrub, and weedy fields during the winter. Alder and birch seeds, as well as insects, are their primary foods.
Hoary Redpoll Song:
Hoary Redpoll nests are discovered inside tree hollows, rocky crevices, and dense shrubs. The nest is lined with soft grass feathers and animal hair and is constructed of twigs, grass, and rootlets. They lay five eggs, which take around ten days to hatch. In about two weeks, the nestlings have fled.
Fun Fact: Hoary Redpoll can pull out some of its body feathers if the temperature in their surroundings becomes too high. They’ll grow back, don’t be afraid.
22. Mountain Chickadee
Mountain Chickadees have black-and-white heads and a gray body with a darker back and light gray underbelly.
- Poecile gambeli
- Length: 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.4 oz (11 g)
Mountain Chickadees spend the entire year in the highlands west of the US, and in winter, they may descend to lower altitudes.
Mountain Chickadees may be found in pine and conifer-covered forests. They visit backyard feeders and eat insects, spiders, nuts, and seeds. Mountain Chickadees frequently store food and create a food store.
Mountain Chickadees’ nests are often found in woodpecker and nuthatch nesting holes. When she leaves, the female lines the cavity with fur and even covers her eggs. They deposited nine eggs, which take two weeks to develop and another three weeks for the young to escape the nest.
Attract Mountain Chickadees They’ll eat black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms, nyjer, suet, and peanut butter out of most types of feeders if you provide them nesting boxes in your yard.
Fun fact: Because of 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.
23. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Little birds with black caps and throats and white cheeks, chestnut-backed Chickadees are tiny birds. They have gray wings and bellies and are covered in a rich chestnut on their backs and sides. Their sides in California are gray, 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 flocked of Chestnut-backed Chickadees are frequent visitors to suburban feeders, living in damp evergreen woodlands along the Pacific Coast.
Chestnut-backed Chickadees prefer coniferous forests to other environments. Insects, including caterpillars, spiders, wasps, and aphids, are the main foods for them. The rest of their diet includes seeds, berries, and fruit.
Chestnut-backed Chickadee nests are often made of old woodpecker nests or holes in rotting wood. Moss and bark are used to line the nest, and softer materials such as fur and grass are added after that. They lay eleven eggs, which take around two weeks to hatch and nearly three weeks for the young to leave the nest.
Black-oil sunflower seeds, suet, nyjer, peanuts, or mealworms in tube feeders, platform feeders, or suet cages will attract Chestnut-backed Chickadees to your yard. Nest boxes will also be utilized.
24. Boreal Chickadee
With a black bib, brown cap, cinnamon sides, and white under 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 Canada and Alaska, as well as northern US states, Boreal Chickadees may be found.
Boreal Chickadees are most often found in coniferous woodlands, but may also be found in deciduous or mixed woodlands. They will readily visit feeders and feed on seeds and insects from the upper canopy levels.
The female makes the hole in Boreal Chickadee nests, which are often found in dead trees. The cavity is lined with moss and bark, followed by softer materials like hair and feathers. They lay nine eggs, which take around two weeks to hatch.
Attract Boreal Chickadees On most types of feeders, layer your yard with Black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, peanuts, and mealworms. In addition, install a nesting box with the hope of attracting a mating pair.
Fun Fact: During the long and harsh winter, boreal chickadees will store seeds and insects.