A few familiar birds to look for around lawns, trees, and feeders. Small details in their colors and habits can help you tell them apart.
An American robin is easy to recognize by its orange breast. You may see one moving across a lawn, stopping to look for earthworms. Parks and yards are good places to notice this familiar bird.
Robins eat fruit as well as insects and worms. During winter, they may gather in trees near a supply of fruit instead of spending as much time on the lawn.
A male northern cardinal has bright red feathers and a pointed crest. Females are mostly brown with red accents, so they can be less obvious at first. Both are worth a closer look when they appear near shrubs.
Cardinals do not migrate, making them familiar visitors through the seasons. Sunflower seeds can attract them to a feeder, while thick vegetation gives them places to hide and nest.
The black-capped chickadee is a small bird with a black cap, a black bib, and white cheeks. Its rounded head makes it easy to pick out as it moves through the trees.
Chickadees often visit feeders and travel in flocks. Listening can help you find them before you see them. When a flock passes through, take a moment to watch the branches for other birds traveling nearby.
A male American goldfinch is bright yellow and black in spring. Females and winter birds have quieter colors, so a goldfinch may look different depending on when you see it.
Look for these small birds near feeders or plants with seeds. Their wing markings and short, cone-shaped bills are useful clues. Sunflower and nyjer seeds are two foods that commonly bring them to backyard feeders.