Last Updated on January 24, 2024 by Greg Gillson
I’ve put this resource together for you to answer your question: What birds are in my backyard in Vermont?
This article lists and discusses the identification of the most common birds in your backyard. The birds chosen in this article are compiled from actual data from the citizen science program eBird. Thus, it is more accurate than some other similar articles you may find on the web. I provide pictures of each bird species mentioned. I tell how to attract them to your backyard.
These are the most common backyard birds in Vermont:
- Black-capped Chickadee
- American Crow
- Blue Jay
- American Robin
- American Goldfinch
- Song Sparrow
- Northern Cardinal
- Mourning Dove
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Downy Woodpecker
- Tufted Titmouse
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Common Grackle
- Eastern Phoebe
- European Starling
- Gray Catbird
- American tree Sparrow
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Cedar Waxwing
- Chipping Sparrow
- House Wren
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Eastern Kingbird
- Eastern Wood-Pewee
- Barn Swallow
Vermont Birds and Birding in Vermont State
eBird lists over 390 types of birds as occurring in the state of Vermont.
The most common bird in Vermont: the most frequently seen bird in the state is Black-capped Chickadee. It is reported on 54% of bird watching lists.
If you are serious about knowing the birds native to Vermont, then check out eBird for Vermont. It has recent sightings and photos, illustrated checklists with weekly abundance bar charts for state, counties, and individual hotspots of the best birding locations.
If you want to know about other people interested in birds in your area, join a local bird group. The American Birding Association maintains a list of bird watching clubs for each state.
Vermont Bird Identification
This section is the species accounts. These are designed to help you to recognize birds you see in your backyard. I have used eBird to select the birds that are most common. “Common” means the birds seen most often throughout the year, not necessarily the most numerous.
Each species account starts with a photograph. In the identification section I am using size and shape and bill type before considering the color or patterns on the birds. I find these more reliable when trying to identify an unknown bird. Pay attention to body and tail shape and especially bill shape of birds you see, not just plumage color.
In the section on bird feeders and foods I tell how to attract each species. Not all types of backyard birds will come to feeders. But all backyard birds can be attracted with water. So don’t forget to add a birdbath to your bird feeding station.
Do you live in southern Vermont? Northern Vermont?
To appear in this article, most birds are widely distributed throughout the state and are often year-round residents. However, for those birds that are more localized in place or time, I list the general region and seasonality. Please see the section following these species accounts for the lists of common species by season.
Even if a species is found in a general area, they occur only in the habitat they prefer. So, the exact habitat of your neighborhood is important for the presence of absence of certain kinds of birds.
1. Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
This is a common backyard bird in the northern half of the United States.
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| Black-capped Chickadee. Greg Gillson |
Range in Vermont: Black-capped Chickadees are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: Chickadees are small birds, the same general size as an American Goldfinch.
Shape: Round body, big round head, long tail with rounded tip.
Bill: Short, straight, stout.
Color: Gray above, buffy below. Black cap and bib with white lower face. White edges on wing feathers.
Habitat, range & behavior: Deciduous and mixed forests.
They range from the northern half of the United States, southern half of Canada, and most of Alaska.
Small flocks flit actively from tree to tree acrobatically gleaning insects from twig tips. In winter chickadees make up the core of mixed-species flocks also containing nuthatches, kinglets, creepers, woodpeckers and others.
Food and feeder preference: Seeds, insects, berries. They eat at tube, hopper and tray feeders. They love black oil sunflower seeds and suet.
You may like my in-depth article on attracting Black-capped Chickadees.
2. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
This larger all-black bird is common in cities and country. Its cawing call is familiar to most people.
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| American Crow. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: American Crows are summer residents throughout Vermont, year-round residents in southern Vermont.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: About 17-1/2 inches long from bill tip to tail tip, though there is much size variation throughout its range. Larger than blackbirds and grackles. Smaller than ravens.
Shape: Thick neck, large head, rather short square-ended tail. Longer legs. In flight has rounded wing tips with each primary feather separated from others forming “fingers.”
Bill: As long as head, thick, black.
Color: Glossy black throughout.
Habitat, range & behavior: They prefer open areas with trees, fields, farms, cities.
They are common across most of the United States lower-48, except in the desert southwest. They move into southern Canada in summer.
They gather in evening communal roosts in large flocks that may number into the thousands and then move out at dawn into the surrounding area.
Food and feeder preference: Omnivorous, American Crows feed on large insects, grain, small mammals, carrion. You probably don’t want these large entirely black birds in your backyard feeders. So don’t feed table scraps to birds.
3. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
A common and well-known bird in the eastern half of the United States.
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| Blue Jay. skeeze from Pixabay |
Range in Vermont: Blue Jays are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: About that of American Robin.
Shape: Fluffy, large crested head, ample tail. Large strong legs.
Bill: Black, long and stout.
Color: Blue above, white below. Black neck collar. White patches in wing.
Habitat, range & behavior: Woodlands and towns in the eastern half of the United States. In summer into southern Canada.
Bold and brash. May bully smaller birds. Jays gulp lots of seeds or other food at once, storing it in their crop. Then they fly off and bury food items in a hidden cache.
Food and feeder preference: Omnivorous. They can quickly empty your feeder! Because they are also aggressive toward other feeder birds, some people put mesh cages around smaller bird feeders. Small birds can go through, squirrels and larger “pest” birds are prevented entry. Some people feed jays peanuts, perhaps away from the seed feeders.
4. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
This familiar bird is a resident in the northern half of the United States and a winter visitor in the southern half.
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| American Robin. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: American Robins are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: 10 inches long from bill tip to tail tip. About the same size as a Blue Jay or one of the Scrub-Jays. Larger than Red-winged Blackbird. Smaller than a Mourning Dove.
Shape: Very plump with a fairly long tail.
Bill: Straight and fairly slender, curved at the tip.
Color: Gray-brown upperparts, rusty orange breast.
Habitat, range & behavior: Open woodlands, farmlands, urban parks and lawns.
Migratory, breeds north across Alaska and Canada. Resident in most of the United States (lower 48). Winters in the United States, Mexico, to central America.
Hops on your lawn turning head this way and that looking for food. Their caroling song is one of the early signs of spring in the north.
Food and feeder preference: American Robins eat earthworms and other invertebrates in the lawn. May eat fruit from a tray feeder or the ground. Eat small berries from trees and bushes.
5. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
A beautiful tiny finch familiar to many in it’s bright yellow summer plumage. Colloquially called a “wild canary.”
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| American Goldfinch. Greg Gillson |
Range in Vermont: American Goldfinches are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: Very small at about 5 inches from bill tip to tail tip. Similar in size to a chickadee. Larger than hummingbirds. Smaller than juncos and House Finches.
Shape: Tiny, somewhat plump with larger head and short tail.
Bill: Short, conical, pink.
Color: Males in summer are bright lemon yellow with black forehead and black wings and tail with white bars. White under tail coverts. Females dull olive, wings and tail browner. Winter birds are pale grayish-yellow with tan and brown wings and tail.
Habitat, range & behavior: This species is found in weedy fields and similar clearings with thistles and similar plants.
It is found coast-to-coast throughout the year across most of the middle lower-48 states. In summer moves north to the Canada border. In the winter found south to the Mexico border.
The flight is highly undulating, rising and falling as they flap in short bursts.
Besides a long, sweet lilting song, they call in flight a lilting 4-part: “potato chip!”
Food and feeder preference: Feeds on weed seeds, thistle seed. May eat black oil sunflower seeds from tube feeder. Love Nyjer seed in a feeder called a “thistle sock.”
You may like my in-depth article on attracting American Goldfinches.
6. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
A common bird, but variable, and similar to many other streaked brown sparrows.
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| Song Sparrow. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: Song Sparrows are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: A smaller bird, similar in size to House Finch and juncos. Larger than chickadees and goldfinches. Smaller than White-crowned Sparrows or Spotted/Eastern towhees.
Shape: Plump with round head, long rounded tail.
Bill: Short, conical.
Color: Highly variable in darkness and color saturation across its range (dark rusty to pale gray). Generally gray-brown above with dark brown streaking on back. Complicated head pattern. Streaking on sides and breast converge into dense central breast spot.
Habitat, range & behavior: Thickets, especially near water. Backyard shrubbery.
Resident in western United States, western Canada, coastal southern Alaska, northeastern US. In summer also moves into mid-Canada and northern half of US. In the winter found in most of the US lower-48. Also a population in central Mexico.
Forages on ground, never far from low cover to which they fly if startled.
Food and feeder preference: Song Sparrows feed on seeds and insects near the ground. Will visit hopper and tray feeders for mixed bird seed.
7. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
This is one of the most common and popular backyard birds in the eastern half of the United States.
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| Northern Cardinal. GeorgeB2 from Pixaby |
Range in Vermont: Northern Cardinals are year-round residents throughout most of Vermont, absent in northeastern Vermont.
Identification:
Size: Cardinals are a bit smaller than American Robins, about the same size as Red-winged Blackbirds.
Shape: Plump body with fairly long full tail. Wispy crest.
Bill: Short, heavy, conical, pink.
Color: That bright red color is matched by few other birds. Black face. The female is more gray, but with hints of red in wings and tail, and has a crest, too.
Habitat, range & behavior: Cardinals are year-round residents in shrubby woodland edges from the eastern United States to Texas and Arizona south into Mexico.
That large conical bill is made for chewing seeds. Watch them crack open sunflower seeds, spit out the hulls, and pluck the kernel with their tongues!
Food and feeder preference: Black oil sunflower seeds. Many types of seeds, berries, nuts in larger hopper or tray feeders.
You may like my in-depth article on attracting Northern Cardinals.
8. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Mourning Doves are the most widespread and most frequent backyard bird in the Lower 48 states of the United States.
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| Mourning Dove. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: Mourning Doves are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: About 12 inches long from bill tip to tail tip. About same size as Northern Flicker. Larger than American Robin. Slightly smaller than domestic city pigeon.
Shape: Very plump with a small round head. Tail is long and pointed. Legs are short.
Bill: Small and rather slender.
Color: Pale brown-pink body, darker wings and tail. White edges on side of tail.
Habitat, range & behavior: Semi-open areas such as urban areas, farmlands, woods. Often seen perched on wires, fences.
It is a resident across the lower-48 states and Mexico, with some movement out of northern areas in winter.
Their mournful cooing is a familiar spring birdsong.
Food and feeder preference: Mourning Doves eat seeds almost exclusively. Attract with black oil sunflower seeds on a large sturdy tray feeder or on the ground.
9. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
A favorite feeder bird for many for its active antics and fearlessness. Though a small bird it is the largest nuthatch in North America.
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| White-breasted Nuthatch. Greg Gillson |
Range in Vermont: White-breasted Nuthatches are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: About chickadee-sized in length. Smaller than a junco or House Finch.
Shape: Appears large-headed, neckless, very short tailed. Short legs.
Bill: Nearly as long as head, straight, thin.
Color: Blue-gray above, white below. Black cap, wing tips, tail. Rusty feathers under tail.
Habitat, range & behavior: Common in oak and oak-pine woodlands, wooded towns.
Found across the United States, southern Canada, mountains of central Mexico. Absent from treeless grasslands, deserts in the west.
Crawls over tree branches and head-first down tree trunks searching for insects.
Food and feeder preference: Insects, seeds, acorns and other nuts. Love black oil sunflower seeds feeding on hopper and tray feeders. Suet blocks.
10. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
These noisy flocking birds are most often found in marshes. But in winter they are found in backyards.
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| Male Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson. |
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| Female Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: Red-winged Blackbirds are summer residents throughout Vermont.
Identification: This is a key species for comparing with an unknown bird.
Size: About 8-3/4 inches long from bill tip to tail tip. About the size of a Northern Cardinal. Smaller than an American Robin.
Shape: Pot-bellied with a longer bill and flat forehead. Tail average.
Bill: Long and sharp pointed.
Color: Males are black with red and yellow shoulder patch. Females are streaked brown and rusty (sparrow-like but pointed bill and flat forehead).
Habitat, range, and behavior: Cattail marshes and wetlands are their summer habitat. In winter they feed in grain fields.
They breed across most of the North American continent. In winter they withdraw from most of Alaska and Canada.
They are found in colonies in summer and large flocks in winter.
Food and feeder preference: They eat insects in summer. In winter they eat grain and seeds. They visit feeders, more often in large winter flocks, and eat most seeds and suet.
11. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
This tiny woodpecker is found across the United States.
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| Downy Woodpecker. Greg Gillson |
Range in Vermont: Downy Woodpeckers are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: Bigger than a junco or House Finch. Smaller than a Red-winged Blackbird. About the same size as a White-crowned Sparrow, but with a much shorter tail.
Shape: Stocky with large head and short stiff tail.
Bill: Short, chisel shaped.
Color: Black-and-white striped head. Black wings with white spots. Solid white back. White under parts. Black tail with white outer tail feathers with black bars or spots. Male with small red spot at back of head.
Habitat, range & behavior: Found in small deciduous trees, willows, and even weed stocks such as teasel, especially near water.
Ranges coast-to-coast across all but northernmost parts of Canada and Alaska south to the southern US. Absent in the desert southwest.
Interestingly, I learned today that the males may more often be found in smaller plants and twigs, while females are more likely on tree trunks.
Food and feeder preference: Insects, fruits, and seeds. Gleans arthropods from the bark of trees. Attract with suet feeder. Will also eat black oil sunflower seeds.
12. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
Related to chickadees, they lack the black bib, but have a crest instead.
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| Tufted Titmouse. anne773 from Pixabay |
Range in Vermont: Tufted Titmice are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: A small bird, but a large titmouse, this species is larger than chickadees, about the size of a junco or House Finch.
Shape: Rounded body, long full tail, big head, long legs.
Bill: Short and stout, compressed (taller than wide), black.
Color: Dark blue-gray above, pale below. Black feathers around eye accentuates its size.
Habitat, range & behavior: Lives in deciduous forests with heavy canopy, parks.
Found in eastern and southeastern United States is expanding its range north and west.
Food and feeder preference: Insects and seeds. At your hopper or tray feeder they like black oil sunflower seeds and suet.
13. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Colloquially called “snow birds,” they often arrive in backyards in winter from nearby mountain forests or more northern climes.
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| Dark-eyed Junco. skeeze from Pixabay |
Range in Vermont: Dark-eyed Juncos are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: Small birds about the size of a House Finch.
Shape: Round body, short neck, round head, fairly long square-ended tail.
Bill: Short, pointed, conical, pink.
Color: Eastern birds are a darker all-gray with white belly. Western birds have jet black hood over head, brown back, and pink sides.
Habitat, range & behavior: Breed in coniferous forests. Winters widely. Avoids heavy brush, preferring widely spaced bushes.
Breeds across most of Canada, Alaska, and the western half of the United States. Winters from southern Canada and all of the lower 48-states to extreme northern Mexico.
Spend much of their time hopping and feeding on the ground.
Food and feeder preference: Eats mostly seeds, also insects in summer. Readily feed at backyard feeders on mixed seeds on hopper or tray feeders and ground.
You may like my in-depth article on attracting Dark-eyed Juncos.
14. Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)
Hairy Woodpeckers appear in plumage almost exactly as Downy Woodpeckers. Hairy Woodpeckers are slightly larger with a heavier and longer bill.
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| Hairy Woodpecker. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: Hairy Woodpeckers are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: Slightly larger than Downy Woodpecker. Same size as Red-bellied or Acorn Woodpeckers. Much smaller than flickers.
Shape: Stout body. Large head. Short pointed tail. Short legs, large feet. Short rounded wings.
Bill: Slightly shorter than head. Stout. Chisel-shaped.
Color: Wings and upper parts generally black. White back. Black and white lines on face. Under parts white. Male with red spot on nape.
Habitat, range & behavior: They are found on large trees in open or dense forests.
These birds are widespread across North America except for treeless deserts and grasslands.
These birds are almost always found on trunks or heavy branches of large trees, often conifers. This is different from Downy Woodpeckers which are frequently on small branches, weed stalks, willows.
Food and feeder preference: Eat primarily insects. However, they will come to feeders in winter for suet, peanuts, and sunflower seeds from hopper or platform feeders.
15. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
Sometimes considered a pest to crops, grackles are longer and lankier than very similar blackbirds.
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| Common Grackle. GeorgiaLens from Pixabay |
Range in Vermont: Common Grackles are summer residents throughout Vermont, year-round residents in southern Vermont.
Identification:
Size: Larger than Red-winged Blackbirds, they are near the length of Mourning Doves.
Shape: Long, with long full keel-shaped tail, long legs, flat crown.
Bill: Longer than head, pointed, but stouter than other blackbirds.
Color: Glossy black with hint of bronze or green on head (depending upon population). Yellow eye.
Habitat, range & behavior: They are found in agricultural areas, woodland edges, city parks and lawns.
Resident in the southeastern United States. In summer they migrate northward and west to the central United States and Canada.
They monopolize feeders and are bullies toward other birds.
Food and feeder preference: Grain, corn, acorns, small aquatic fish and amphibians. To discourage them, use tube feeders, rather than hopper or tray feeders. Don’t over-feed, keep spilled seed picked up.
16. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
This plain bird is common in backyards in the East.
Range in Vermont: Eastern Phoebes are summer residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: About the size of bluebirds. Larger than House Sparrows.
Shape: Rather stout, with long wings, medium-length tail. Pointed but flat bill. Upright posture.
Bill: Black, pointed, wide and flat.
Color: Brownish-gray above, slightly yellow-olive on sides. White under tail coverts. No eye ring or wing bars help distinguish them from some other flycatchers.
Habitat, range & behavior: Found in woodlands, suburbs, farms. Frequently nest in rafters, under eaves, porches.
They are summer residents east of the Rocky Mountains from Canada southward. Year-round residents through the interior of the Southeast, to Texas. Winter visitor to Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic.
Phoebes pump their tail down. They also frequently spread their tails.
Food and feeder preference: They eat flying insects that they catch on the wing. Not a feeder visitor.
17. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Introduced to North America in the late 1800’s, they crossed the continent, often to the detriment of native cavity-nesting birds. The prime example of an invasive species.
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| European Starling. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: European Starlings are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: About the size of a Red-winged Blackbird. Smaller than an American Robin. Larger than a White-crowned Sparrow or Spotted/Eastern towhee.
Shape: Stocky with large head, short square-ended tail. Longer legs.
Bill: As long as head. Sharp pointed. Yellow in spring, otherwise dark.
Color: They are grayish brown much of the year, with glossy iridescence and white spotting during the spring.
Habitat, range & behavior: Lowland birds that need trees large enough for nest cavities but plenty of open area for feeding. They are most abundant in urban and suburban areas where they find food and artificial nest cavities.
Resident from coast-to-coast from southern Canada to northern Mexico. In summer north across Canada and Alaska. Native range is Europe to Pakistan, north Africa.
Often viewed as a pest, starlings often bully other backyard birds, taking over bird feeders, and stealing nest cavities from smaller native birds.
In winter they can form into flocks of tens of thousands.
Food and feeder preference: European Starlings eat primarily insects when available, often feeding on the ground. Discourage them from your backyard hopper and tray feeders by never feeding birds table scraps (including bread or meat). They have weak feet and do not perch well on tube feeders. A cage mesh around smaller hopper feeders may keep them out.
18. Gray Catbird (Dumatella carolinensis)
This bird is rather common where it occurs, but a bit secretive.
Range in Vermont: Gray Catbirds are summer residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: About the length of a Red-winged Blackbird or Northern Cardinal.
Shape: Long tailed, round head.
Bill: Medium-length, pointed.
Color: Gray with a black tail and black cap. Rusty under tail coverts.
Habitat, range & behavior: Dense woodland edges, scrub, abandoned orchards.
Breeds in eastern and central US and adjoining southern Canada. Winters in extreme south US Gulf states, southward in eastern Mexico to Panama.
They spend much time hopping on the ground or in low bushes. They defend a winter territory, unlike most birds.
Food and feeder preference: Insects and berries. You may attract this species with jelly and fruit feeders, suet, and water.
19. American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)
These birds nest at the edge of the tundra. Don’t expect the first ones in fall until late October, at least.
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| American Tree Sparrow. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: American Tree Sparrows are winter visitors throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: These are smaller sparrows, the size of juncos.
Shape: Small roundish body, rounded head, long tail.
Bill: Small conical. Bicolored–dark upper and yellow under mandibles.
Color: Pale gray breast and face. Rusty back, wings, crown, line back from eye. Two white wing bars. Dark central breast spot.
Habitat, range & behavior: In winter they like open weedy fields with small trees.
Breed in Alaska and northern Canada. Winter in northern half of the United States.
These birds spend much more time on the ground than in trees.
Food and feeder preference: They visit feeders for small seeds, but spend more time on the ground under the feeders.
20. Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
These small birds are common in conifer groves and mountain forests.
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| Red-breasted Nuthatch. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: Red-breasted Nuthatches are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: Smaller than Black-capped Chickadees and American Goldfinches, larger than kinglets.
Shape: Compact body with large head on short neck. Stubby tail.
Bill: Fairly long and sharp-pointed.
Color: Dark blue-gray back and upper parts. Black crown and line through eye, showing long white eyebrow. White face and rusty underparts. Females paler.
Habitat, range & behavior: Conifer trees in forests and residential areas.
Found from Alaska and across Canada, mountains of Northeast and much of the West. Winter visitor south throughout most of the United States.
Crawls actively on bark on tree trunks and around smaller branches, often head-first down the tree.
Food and feeder preference: Eat insects and invertebrates. Cache nuts and seeds in fall to eat later in the winter. At feeders eat sunflower seeds, peanuts, other nuts from hopper and tube feeders, and suet.
21. Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)
This is one of the most common songbirds in eastern woodlands.
Range in Vermont: Red-eyed Vireos are summer residents throughout Vermont.
Size: Small, about the size of an American Goldfinch. Smaller than a House Finch.
Shape: Long and slim, but with rather short tail. Big-looking head.
Bill: Longer, stout. Pointed but small hook on end, as all vireos.
Color: They are olive-green above, white or with a hint of yellow below. Gray crown, bordered by black line, white eyebrow, and another thin black line through red eye.
Habitat, range & behavior: Tall deciduous trees, such as cottonwoods.
Breed across Canada, the Rocky Mountains and most of the East. Absent from much of the West and Southwest.
As with many vireos, they sing persistently through the summer and through the heat of the day, not just primarily during spring and at dawn as many other songbirds.
Food and feeder preference: They eat insects and will not come to feeders.
22. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Waxy red tips to the wing feathers give these birds their unique name. Maybe it’s the fancy crest. Maybe it’s the bandit mask. Maybe it’s the yellow band at the tip of its tail. But these are one of my favorite birds.
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| Cedar Waxwing. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: Cedar Waxwings are year-round residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: Smaller than European Starling. Larger than House Sparrow.
Shape: Similar to European Starling. Rather stocky. Short squared tail, but long under tail coverts. Large head. Pointed wings. Wispy crest.
Bill: Rather short, small, wide.
Color: Warm brown above with wispy crest. Black mask. Yellowish belly. White under tail coverts. Gray wings. Gray tail with yellow tip.
Habitat, range, & behavior: Deciduous woods, wooded streams and lakeshores, residential shade trees, fruit orchards.
Resident across the northern US. Summer resident in Canada. Winter visitor throughout all of US and Mexico.
Keep in tight flocks. Feed in trees and large bushes for berries. Fly catch over ponds and streams.
Food and feeder preference: Berries and flying insects. Usually don’t come to feeders unless fruit like cherries offered, but will visit bird baths.
23. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Chipping Sparrows are a widespread species adapted to human disturbance. They are rather tame. They are frequently found in cemeteries with large trees.
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| Chipping Sparrow. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: Chipping Sparrows are summer residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: These are small sparrows, bigger than goldfinches or chickadees, but smaller than House Finches or Song Sparrows.
Shape: Plump and fairly long-tailed.
Bill: Short and conical.
Color: Striped brown and dark brown above. Grayish under parts. Black line through eye. Crown streaked in winter but in summer becomes solid chestnut. Two white wing bars.
Habitat, range & behavior: Grassy open conifer woodlands with some shrubs, parks, orchards.
Breeds from Alaska, across Canada and south into highlands of Middle America. In winter retreats from northern areas to southern United States and northern Mexico.
In summer solitary or in pairs. In winter they forage in flocks of up to 50 birds.
Food and feeder preference: Weed seeds, supplemented with insects in summer. They may eat black oil sunflower seeds in your feeder, but more likely will feed on mixed seeds on the ground under the feeder.
24. House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
These birds will readily use nest boxes to raise their young.
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| House Wren. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: House Wrens are summer residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: About the size of Black-capped Chickadee but with shorter tail.
Shape: Round body. Large head. Thin short tail.
Bill: Fairly long, thin, slightly down curved. Sharply pointed.
Color: Rather dull brownish-gray throughout. Paler throat and breast. Tail barred with black and pale bars along with the brown.
Habitat, range & behavior: Brushy areas, woodland edges, hedge rows, tree stumps in logged areas.
Breed across Canada and the northern and mid-latitudes of the United States. Winter to the southern United States and through Mexico. Found year round at southern edge of breeding range: California, North Carolina to northern Alabama, southern Arizona south through mountains of Mexico.
Stay hidden in brushy areas. Hop among tree roots, logged stumps.
Food and feeder preference: May feed at suet feeder.
25. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
This is the only hummingbird that breeds in the eastern half of the United States and Canada.
Range in Vermont: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are summer residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: A tiny bird, much smaller than any other in the eastern US, except perhaps some other rare hummingbird.
Shape: The small body is chunky, with a big head, and short tail.
Bill: Very long and tubular, slightly down curved.
Color: Metallic green above, white below with scattered green or gray feathers. Male with glimmering ruby red throat that is black unless it refracts sunlight at just the right angle.
Habitat, range & behavior: They find flowers at forest edges and flower gardens.
They summer in the eastern US and southern Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains. Some winter in from the coast of the Carolinas to Florida and along the Gulf Coast.
Darting flight on a blur of wings that buzz when they flap so fast! They feed by poking their long bill into flowers.
Food and feeder preference: They drink flower nectar from tubular flowers using their long brush-tipped tongue. They also feed on spiders and small flying insects. They are readily attracted to hummingbird feeders filled with sugar water.
26. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
These birds often build nests in trees that overhang streams.
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| Eastern Kingbird. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: Eastern Kingbirds are sumer residents throughout Vermont.
Size: About the size of a Red-winged Blackbird. Smaller than a robin.
Shape: Fairly sleek. Perches upright with big puffy head, full tail.
Bill: Fairly long, wide at base,
Color: Black head. Black tail with white band at tip. Dark gray upper parts. White under parts.
Habitat, range & behavior: Farms, clearings in woodlands.
Found across Canada and in the United States east from the Rocky Mountains.
These birds perch on fence lines, tips of small trees. Sally out and snatch flying insects and return to perch.
Food and feeder preference: They eat insects and do not come to feeders.
27. Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)
Eastern Wood-Pewees and Western Wood-Pewees appear very similar. Their ranges nearly split the continent in half, east and west. Their song separates them; it is a clear whistled pee-a-wee in the Eastern Wood-Pewee, and a burry pee-yeear in the Western Wood-Pewee.
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| Eastern Wood-Pewee. Tony Castro CC 4.0 |
Range in Vermont: Eastern Wood-Pewees are summer residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: Bigger than a House Finch; smaller than a bluebird.
Shape: Upright posture. Large head. Thick chest. Long tail. Long wings.
Bill: Medium length, wide at base. Black above; yellow-orange below.
Color: Grayish-olive above, slight yellow tinge below (looks white in strong light). Pale wing bars. No eye ring.
Habitat, range & behavior: Woodlands. Large shade trees in town.
Summer resident in the East, from southern Canada southward.
These flycatchers tend to perch on a dead twig high in the canopy. They sing throughout the day, attracting attention to this otherwise quite drab and nondescript bird.
Food and feeder preference: These birds feed on flying insects and do not come to feeders.
28. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
These swallows are widely distributed throughout the world, primarily breeding in the northern hemisphere, and wintering in the mid-latitudes and southern hemisphere.
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| Barn Swallow. Greg Gillson. |
Range in Vermont: Barn Swallows are summer residents throughout Vermont.
Identification:
Size: About the size of a House Finch but with a much longer tail.
Shape: Stocky, short necked but with long body and tail. Tail is forked, with very long outer tail feathers. Wings pointed.
Bill: Short, wide.
Color: Glossy dark purplish-blue above. Pinkish-orange below.
Habitat, range & behavior: Barn Swallows live in open country, frequently near humans. Farmlands. Nest in barns, under small bridges.
In North America breed from Mexico to northern Canada and Alaska, wintering from southern Mexico throughout most of South America.
Frequently seen swooping low over the ground hunting flying insects. Perch on wires, fences. Voice is twitters and chirps with grating sounds.
Food and feeder preference: Eat flying insects on the wing and are not attracted to backyard feeders.
Common Birds in Vermont
To determine how common each species is I used the data from actual bird sightings from the citizen science program eBird. Birds are listed by frequency. That is, how often the species is recorded on checklists submitted to eBird (a percentage).
When choosing the birds to include in this article I leaned strongly to birds that are present throughout the year in good numbers. Thus, many of the common birds are
year-round residents. This means that they live in the same location all year. They raise their young in your neighborhood. They don’t migrate. Or if the species does migrate, the ones living in your area don’t. If this is the case, some migrants may move into your area during certain times of year, adding to the same species that are in your yard full time.
Some migrant birds visit your yard during the “summer.” Often, they arrive in spring and remain until late fall. They nest and raise their young in your neighborhood. These are the summer residents.
Other migrant birds visit your backyard during the “winter.” Some of these winter visitors may arrive in July and remain into April. Others may only be found in the cold of December or January. They key here is that they nest and raise their young somewhere else. They only visit your yard in the non-breeding season.
Migration is an amazing spectacle. There will be birds that fly through your region in spring or fall (or both). They may visit your backyard only a few days or weeks a year. They aren’t regular enough, or stay long enough, to be included in this article. But the number of briefly visiting migrant birds could double the number of species presented here. You may see them over time. Consult checklists in eBird for your county to see what is possible.
I have generally excluded common waterfowl, birds of prey, shorebirds, seabirds, and others that aren’t usually found in residential areas. But they may certainly fly over or be seen regularly if your home is on a shoreline, for instance.
Most common backyard birds in Vermont throughout the year
The following list is the backyard birds that are, on average, most common throughout the entire year. The list is ordered by most common based on the frequency of how often each species is recorded on checklists submitted to eBird.
- Black-capped Chickadee (54% frequency)
- American Crow (44%)
- Blue Jay (44%)
- American Robin (37%)
- American Goldfinch (35%)
- Song Sparrow (32%)
- Northern Cardinal (29%)
- Mourning Dove (28%)
- White-breasted Nuthatch (27%)
- Red-winged Blackbird (25%)
- Downy Woodpecker (25%)
- Tufted Titmouse (22%)
- Dark-eyed Junco (22%)
- Hairy Woodpecker (19%)
- Common Grackle (15%)
- Eastern Phoebe (15%)
- European Starling (15%)
- Gray Catbird (14%)
Most common backyard birds in Vermont in winter
- Black-capped Chickadee (60% frequency)
- Blue Jay (42%)
- American Crow (39%)
- White-breasted Nuthatch (34%)
- Dark-eyed Junco (33%)
- Northern Cardinal (28%)
- Tufted Titmouse (28%)
- American Goldfinch (27%)
- Mourning Dove (25%)
- Hairy Woodpecker (25%)
- American Tree Sparrow (16%)
- European Starling (15%)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch (14%)
Most common backyard birds in Vermont in summer
- American Robin (57% frequency)
- Song Sparrow (48%)
- Red-eyed Vireo (45%)
- American Goldfinch (43%)
- Black-capped Chickadee (41%)
- Red-winged Blackbird (38%)
- American Crow (38%)
- Blue Jay (38%)
- Gray Catbird (32%)
- Mourning Dove (32%)
- Cedar Waxwing (28%)
- Northern Cardinal (26%)
- Common Grackle (24%)
- Eastern Phoebe (23%)
- Chipping Sparrow (21%)
- House Wren (19%)
- White-breasted Nuthatch (18%)
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird (18%)
- Eastern Kingbird (18%)
- Downy Woodpecker (18%)
- Eastern Wood-Pewee (15%)
- Tufted Titmouse (15%)
- Hairy Woodpecker (14%)
- European Starling (14%)
- Barn Swallow (14%)
American Robins, Song Sparrows, Red-eyed Vireos, American Goldfinches, Red-winged Blackbirds, Gray Catbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Common Grackles, Eastern Phoebes, Chipping Sparrows, House Wrens, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Eastern Kingbirds, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Barn Swallows are more common in summer than in winter in Vermont.
Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Tufted Titmice, Hairy Woodpeckers, American Tree Sparrows are more common in winter than in summer in Vermont.
Common Backyard Birds of Montpelier, Vermont
- Black-capped Chickadee (56% frequency)
- American Crow (48%)
- American Robin (41%)
- Northern Cardinal (39%)
- Blue Jay (38%)
- American Goldfinch (38%)
- Song Sparrow (33%)
- Red-winged Blackbird (28%)
- White-breasted Nuthatch (28%)
- Downy Woodpecker (27%)
- Tufted Titmouse (26%)
- Mourning Dove (24%)
- Hairy Woodpecker (17%)
- Common Grackle (16%)
Northern Cardinals are more common in Montpelier than the state average for Vermont. Other backyard birds are pretty much the same as the state as a whole.
Common Backyard Birds of Burlington, Vermont
- Black-capped Chickadee (56% frequency)
- American Crow (48%)
- American Robin (41%)
- Northern Cardinal (39%)
- Blue Jay (38%)
- American Goldfinch (38%)
- Song Sparrow (33%)
- Red-winged Blackbird (28%)
- White-breasted Nuthatch (28%)
- Downy Woodpecker (27%)
- Tufted Titmouse (26%)
- Mourning Dove (24%)
- Hairy Woodpecker (17%)
- Common Grackle (16%)
Northern Cardinals are a bit more common in Burlington than the state average. Otherwise, backyard birds are pretty similar to the state as a whole.
Common Backyard Birds of Bennington, Vermont
- Black-capped Chickadee (64% frequency)
- Blue Jay (56%)
- American Crow (49%)
- Northern Cardinal (43%)
- American Robin (40%)
- American Goldfinch (39%)
- Tufted Titmouse (39%)
- Mourning Dove (38%)
- Song Sparrow (35%)
- Downy Woodpecker (33%)
- White-breasted Nuthatch (32%)
- Dark-eyed Junco (31%)
- Red-winged Blackbird (30%)
- Red-bellied Woodpecker (20%) Learn about this species on eBird
- Hairy Woodpecker (20%)
- House Finch (20%) Learn about this species on eBird
- Common Grackle (19%)
- Gray Catbird (19%)
- Eastern Phoebe (18%)
- White-throated Sparrow (18%) Learn about this species on eBird
- European Starling (18%)
Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, Mourning Doves are more common in Bennington than average for the state of Vermont as a whole. Likewise, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, House Finches, and White-throated Sparrows are common backyard birds here that are much less common throughout the state.
Wrapping Up
Vermont is a beautiful state with lots of opportunity for bird watching beyond your backyard. Here are some common birds you may find across the state in different habitats.
Forests:
- Black-capped Chickadee: Inquisitive and acrobatic, these small songbirds flit through coniferous and deciduous forests.
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird: These tiny marvels zip through forests, attracted to nectar-rich flowers.
- Wood Thrush: Their beautiful songs fill the forest with melody, favoring dense undergrowth.
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: Look for their distinctive drilling patterns on tree trunks as they search for sap and insects.
- Great Horned Owl: These large, nocturnal owls hunt small mammals in forest edges and clearings.
Wetlands:
- Mallard: Versatile ducks abundant in ponds, lakes, and rivers.
- Common Loon: Their haunting calls echo across lakes and ponds, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Great Blue Heron: Standing tall and elegant, these herons stalk the shallows, spearing fish with their sharp beaks.
- Belted Kingfisher: These vibrant blue and white birds perch on branches, diving into water to catch fish.
- Swamp Sparrow: Their streaked brown plumage blends well with reeds and marshes, where they build their nests.
Fields and Meadows:
- Eastern Meadowlark: This state bird’s bright yellow breast and melodious song grace open fields and meadows.
- Bobolink: These colorful black and white songbirds fill the air with their bubbly songs during the breeding season.
- Savannah Sparrow: Their streaked brown plumage camouflages them well in grassy areas, where they nest on the ground.
- Killdeer: Their loud, piercing calls often announce their presence in fields and open areas.
- Northern Harrier: Soaring hawks with keen eyesight, hunting small mammals in open fields and meadows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the state bird of Vermont?
The state bird of Vermont is the Hermit Thrush. It was officially designated in 1941.
This small, brown bird with a spotted breast and reddish tail is known for its beautiful, flute-like song, earning it the nickname “American nightingale.” They prefer dense forest interiors with openings like ponds or meadows and migrate south during the winter.
What are the little gray birds in Vermont?
There are quite a few options for little grey birds in Vermont, depending on the size, specific shade of grey, and the type of habitat you saw them in. Here are some possibilities:
Forest dwellers:
- Black-capped Chickadee: Small, acrobatic, and energetic birds with a black cap, white cheeks, and a grey back.
- Golden-crowned Kinglet: Tiny insectivores with a bright yellow crown patch (males only), olive upperparts, and pale grey underparts.
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Similar to the Golden-crowned Kinglet, but with a concealed red crown patch (males only).
- Slate-colored Junco: Small sparrows with a dark grey back and head, white underparts, and a diagnostic white belly patch.
- Winter Wren: Tiny, energetic birds with a brown back, buffy underparts, and a cocked tail.
Open areas:
- Horned Lark: Ground-dwelling sparrows with a streaked brown back, pale underparts, and distinctive “horns” (feathers) on their heads.
- Savannah Sparrow: Small, streaked brown sparrows with white underparts and a yellow line above the eye.
- Song Sparrow: Larger than the Savannah Sparrow, with a brown streaked back, white underparts, a dark throat patch, and a thick bill.
Does the American Goldfinch live in Vermont?
Yes, the American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) does indeed live in Vermont. It is a year-round resident of the state, meaning you can spot them throughout the year.
These cheerful little birds are common throughout Vermont, especially in areas that provide prime habitat, such as pastures, meadows, and gardens. They are attracted to thistle seeds, sunflower seeds, and other small seeds, making them frequent visitors to bird feeders.
Here are some interesting facts about American Goldfinches in Vermont:
- They are the most common feeder bird in the state.
- They breed in Vermont from May to August.
- They migrate south in the fall, but some individuals may stay throughout the winter if food is available.
- They are social birds and often form large flocks, especially in the winter.
- They are known for their beautiful singing, which is especially vibrant during the breeding season.
If you’re looking to see an American Goldfinch in Vermont, keep an eye out near bird feeders, gardens, and open fields. You can also listen for their cheerful song, which sounds like a high-pitched trill or warble.
Related Articles:
34 of the most common birds in the United States (with photos)
Thanks for this amazing resource!
You are so welcome Mary!