American robins are often seen on lawns across North America. Robins are popular birds for their warm orange breast, cheery song, and early appearance at the end of winter. American robins are at home in wilder areas and are often seen in towns and cities.
Photo courtesy of Caz Zyvatkauskas
The Song sparrow is one of the most familiar North American sparrows. The Song sparrow is a rich, russet-and-gray bird with bold streaks down its white chest. Sparrows can be found in open, shrubby, or wet areas. Sparrows can often be found perching on low shrubs, singing a stuttering, clattering song.
Photo courtesy of Caz Zyvatkauskas
American crows are familiar over much of the continent. Crows are large, intelligent, all-black birds with hoarse, cawing voices. They are common sights in treetops, fields, and roadsides, and in habitats ranging from open woods and empty beaches to town centers. They usually feed on the ground and eat almost anything.
Photo courtesy of Caz Zyvatkauskas
Dark-eyed juncos are neat, even flashy little sparrows that flit about forest floors of the western mountains and Canada, then flood the rest of North America for winter. They’re easy to recognize by their crisp markings and the bright white tail feathers they habitually flash in flight. Dark-eyed juncos are among the most abundant forest birds of North America.
Northern flickers are large, brown woodpeckers with black-scalloped plumage. On walks, don’t be surprised if you scare one up from the ground. It’s not where you’d expect to find a woodpecker, but flickers eat mainly ants and beetles. When they fly, you’ll see a flash of color in the wings – yellow if you’re in the East, red if you’re in the West – and a bright white flash on the rump.
Photo courtesy of Caz Zyvatkauskas
Black-capped chickadees have an oversized round head, tiny body, and curiosity about everything, including humans. This chickadee has a black cap and bib, white cheeks, gray back wings and tail, and distinctive whitish underside with puffy sides. This bird is quick to discover bird feeders.
Photo courtesy of Caz Zyvatkauskas
The Spotted towhee is a large, striking sparrow. They have a gleaming black body (females are grayish brown) and are spotted and striped with brilliant white. Their warm rufous flanks match the dry leaves they spend their time hopping around in. Look for this handsome bird in the spring, when males climb into the shrub tops to sing their buzzy songs.
Photo courtesy of Caz Zyvatkauskas