The striking black-and-white head of White-crowned Sparrows is shared only with White-throated Sparrows. That makes these birds rather easy to identify as they scratch on the ground under your bird feeder.
White-crowned Sparrows visit backyards in winter throughout much of the contiguous United States. They are also common spring and fall migrants.
How do you attract White-crowned Sparrows to your feeder? Follow these suggestions to attract White-crowned Sparrows to your yard.
White-crowned Sparrow. Greg Gillson.
Why attract White-crowned Sparrows to your bird feeder?
White-crowned Sparrows are beautifully patterned. Their crowns are patterned with black and white stripes from the bill to hind-crown.
But they don't all look exactly alike!
Did you know? Males and females look alike. However, for the first year of their life the head stripes of both genders are reddish-brown and tan, rather than black and white.
Not only that, Eastern birds and those of the Inter-Mountain West have black feathers between bill and eye. Those populations in the far West and Alaska have white feathers between eye and bill.
White-crowned Sparrows sing in late winter and also in spring as they migrate north. Surprise! Various populations have different song dialects! Especially in the West is it possible to hear differences in the songs of migratory birds.
White-crowned Sparrows are fairly hardy winter birds. They winter south of the cold New England and northern Midwest States. But they are found in winter in other parts of the US, snow or not.
White-crowned Sparrows tend to be quite gentle and unaggressive. They give way to the bossy House Sparrows. They will, however, push around smaller sparrows such as Dark-eyed Juncos and Chipping Sparrows.
For these reasons and more, people who feed birds love to see White-crowned Sparrows when they first show up in September and October.
First-year White-crowned Sparrow.
What foods will attract White-crowned Sparrows to your feeder?
You can attract White-crowned Sparrows to your bird feeder by offering small seeds, such as millet and sunflower seeds.
These sparrows eat grains and weed seeds that other feeder birds, such as finches and chickadees, throw out of the feeder. For instance, White-crowned Sparrows will eat wheat and corn, often found in cheap bird seed.
If you want to invite the widest variety of seed eating birds to your feeder, though, a more expensive blend of mixed bird seed will have less waste. The best mixed bird seed that I have found is Wagner's Songbird Supreme (Amazon affiliate link). It is 50% sunflower seeds and doesn't have any cheap filler seed that many birds won't eat.
What kind of feeders do White-crowned Sparrows like?
Ground feeding sparrows, such as White-crowned Sparrows often feed under your seed feeders. They like to kick and scratch on the ground to search for fallen seed.
They can't help this kicking habit. When they get up on a feeder, they can end up kicking out lots of good seed on the ground!
A low ground platform feeder (Amazon affiliate link) is ideal for these birds and other sparrows such as towhees and juncos, and also cardinals and jays.
White-crowned Sparrows will also eat from hopper feeders that have a wide shelf they can stand on. Here's an example of a hanging hopper bird feeder on Amazon suitable for White-crowned Sparrows (affiliate link).
I created this video to accompany this article. My Youtube channel features birds, bird watching, and bird identification. Check it out. You may enjoy it!
Where to place your bird feeder for White-crowned Sparrows
White-crowned Sparrows would like a low platform feeder. They will also eat from the ground. But they want some nearby safety.
Place the feeder near a brush pile or hedge. A tangle of blackberries will provide cover.
They also like small twiggy trees rising above such a tangle. These sparrows often perch up high to see the danger. Then they dive into more protective cover.
If safety is close, they may also eat at larger window bird feeders.
How else can you attract White-crowned Sparrows to your yard?
Even without a bird feeder, White-crowned Sparrows may spend the winter in your yard if it provides enough protection.
Plant thick shrubs and bushes to provide cover. Choose native plants like willows and dogwoods. White-crowned Sparrows may eat small berries from landscaping bushes.
If you can provide a large brush pile, these sparrows will use it to hide in.
White-crowned Sparrows will use bird baths or other water features. They are especially attracted to moving or splashing water such as a fountain.
Need binoculars?
I want to tell you about these Best Value Birding Binoculars
Greg Gillson's Personal Endorsement: I've been watching birds for over 50 years. I've owned a dozen pair of binoculars. For the last 3 years (since June 2020) I've been enjoying the lowest priced binocular suitable for bird watching. It has image quality equal or better than binoculars costing over $450. Yet you can often purchase them online for less than $150. Don't spend less, but why spend more?
Problems with White-crowned Sparrows: If you have attracted too many to your feeder
White-crowned Sparrows do occur in flocks, sometimes quite large flocks, often with other species of sparrows.
You may have attracted too many sparrows overall, of several species. If you want to discourage all sparrows, while keeping other species, try these suggestions.
Switch to using a tube feeder without a tray. Fill this bird feeder with black oil sunflower seeds. This feeder and food will attract finches, chickadees, and similar birds. Sparrows will still come, but perhaps make up a smaller percentage of the birds.
You may also purchase a thistle sock or finch feeder and fill it with Niger seed. Only finches will feed from this food: Pine Siskins and goldfinches, primarily.
If you want to reduce the number of birds feeding on the ground under the feeder, do two things. Feed a smaller amount of food so that the feeder goes empty by noon. Birds will clean up any spilled seed on the ground after that, and then be gone. You'll have to experiment to find the exact amount of seed to add.
Clean the ground under the feeder of scattered whole seeds and even husks that sparrows may search through, looking for food.
If you decide to have another feeder that sparrows don't use, buy a tube feeder.
I really love the way my iBorn tube feeder (Amazon affiliate link) looks, with its copper top. A screwdriver takes off the lower perch and opens it up for cleaning. This feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds attracts all types of finches, chickadees, and nuthatches. The smaller perches and lack of tray mean that you'll have fewer House Sparrows, Starlings, Doves, and Jays at this feeder.
White-crowned Sparrow FAQ
Ask questions in the comments below about attracting and feeding White-crowned Sparrows and I'll add the answer here!
American Goldfinches are the bird equivalent of a bright yellow sunflower! Showy and desirable.
These are one of the favorite feeder birds throughout the United States. They arrive in the northern states in spring and remain through the fall. Southward, they are year-round visitors to bird feeders, but molt into a dull plumage for winter.
How do you attract American Goldfinches to your feeder? Follow these suggestions to attract American Goldfinches to your yard.
American Goldfinch in breeding plumage. Greg Gillson
Why attract American Goldfinches to your bird feeder?
Tiny and colorful, American Goldfinches provide a welcome splash of color at your bird feeder.
Goldfinches don't take over a bird feeder, as some other larger birds. They squabble a bit but don't chase away other birds. They are used to feeding in flocks and do so at your feeder throughout the year.
They are easy to attract to your feeders. They only eat certain seeds. You can attract them without attracting other birds, if you wish.
They have bright, cheerful, twittering calls and songs.
For all these reasons and more, people who feed birds love to have American Goldfinches as regular visitors.
American Goldfinch in winter plumage
What foods will attract American Goldfinches to your feeder?
American Goldfinches are granivores. They only eat small seeds.
American Goldfinches love to eat black oil sunflower seeds (Amazon affiliate link). They prefer to eat these from the shell. So there's no need to buy more expensive hulled sunflowers or sunflower chips.
The other seed that American Goldfinches love is Niger seed, trademarked as Nyjer (Amazon affiliate link), and both pronounced the same way. These small seeds are eaten almost exclusively by birds in the goldfinch family (also including siskins and redpolls).
You can also feed mixed bird seed and attract goldfinches. But they'll only eat the sunflower seeds. They may toss out the other seeds and grains.
The best mixed bird seed that I have found is Wagner's Songbird Supreme (Amazon affiliate link). It is 50% sunflower seeds and doesn't have any cheap filler seed that birds won't eat. This seed attracts the largest variety of birds to your feeder.
Juvenile plumage of American Goldfinch in fall.
What kind of feeders do American Goldfinches like?
American Goldfinches prefer to eat from tube feeders. These feeders with their smaller perches discourage larger birds. You may see these advertised as finch feeders.
I really love the way my iBorn tube feeder (Amazon affiliate link) looks, with it's copper top. A screwdriver takes off the lower perch and opens it up for cleaning. This feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds attracts all types of finches, chickadees, and nuthatches. The smaller perches and lack of tray mean that you'll have fewer House Sparrows, Starlings, Doves, and Jays at this feeder.
If you are feeding Niger seed, then you need to purchase either a thistle sock or thistle feeder. Here is a page from Amazon with a bunch of types of thistle feeders to choose from. These are affiliate links. That means that I earn a small commission from items you buy there. And it doesn't cost you anything more. That helps support this website. I appreciate it very much! (And, in case you're wondering, I am required by law to tell you this information.)
I created this YouTube video to accompany this article. My YouTube channel discusses birds, bird watching, and bird identification. Check it out if this interests you.
Where to place your bird feeder for American Goldfinches
American Goldfinches aren't too picky about where you place their bird feeder. They like small bushy trees separated by open spaces.
Perhaps the best location would be to place your tube feeder hanging from a branch about 5 feet high. This keeps them up above any cats that might stop by. Then they can fly up higher in the tree if they feel threatened.
You'll want to see and enjoy your bright yellow goldfinches. So you'll want to make sure you have a clear view of the feeder out your window from your favorite easy chair!
If you don't have a tree placed strategically in view from your window, then set up a sturdy shepherd's hook designed to hold bird feeders. Check your home and garden center for a solid metal shepherd's hook about 90 inches tall. This allows tines to pound into the ground and a tube feeder to hang down from it, and still be 4 feet above the ground.
Female American Goldfinch
How else can you attract American Goldfinches to your yard?
American Goldfinches are also attracted to bird baths and fountains. Any water feature you can add to your yard will probably interest them.
American Goldfinches love to eat the tiny seeds found in dandelions and thistles. They will come to your garden for sunflowers and other flowers in the daisy, aster group.
The goldfinches also line their nests with thistledown and similar plant material. They build cup nests in willows and wild rose and other low bushy trees.
Need binoculars?
I want to tell you about these Best Value Birding Binoculars
Greg Gillson's Personal Endorsement: I've been watching birds for over 50 years. I've owned a dozen pair of binoculars. For the last 3 years (since June 2020) I've been enjoying the lowest priced binocular suitable for bird watching. It has image quality equal or better than binoculars costing over $450. Yet you can often purchase them online for less than $150. Don't spend less, but why spend more?
Problems with American Goldfinches: If you have attracted too many to your feeder
Sometimes, in winter, hordes of finches catch a communicable finch disease. This can be spread at feeders.
Then, local wildlife officials may request people to stop feeding birds for a time. This announcement often appears on the daily local news channels.
This doesn't often happen with goldfinches. But if it does, stop all feeding of mixed seeds, sunflower seeds, and Niger seed. Take down your feeders and clean them with bleach.
Likewise, if you see dead or lethargic birds around your feeder, do the same. Keep the feeders down for 2 or 3 weeks.
Alternatively, you may have a small bird-eating hawk take up residence near your feeders. They may pick off 3 or more small birds per day. This may be another reason you may want to stop feeding for a couple of weeks. Then the hawk will move on.
As mentioned, goldfinches only eat seeds. One common food that attracts birds, but not goldfinches, is suet.
For my home feeders, I always purchase St Albans Bay Suet blocks (Amazon affiliate link). It comes in several flavors, including peanut and berry. They fit in required special suet cages, which are a type of bird feeder.
I bought a Nature's Way Upside-down suet feeder (Amazon affiliate link) a couple years ago and have been very happy with it. Chickadees, nuthatches, bushtits, and woodpeckers eat from it easily. But starlings, blackbirds, and jays can't hang upside down to get at the suet.
Would you like to learn more about American Goldfinches? I created this video as a humorous look at these wonderful birds. My YouTube channel discusses birds and bird watching. Check it out. Thanks!
American Goldfinch FAQ
Ask questions in the comments below about attracting and feeding American Goldfinches and I'll add the answer here!
You likely arrived at this article because you are worried about attracting rats and mice to your feeder. Or, worse, you have already attracted these rodents and want to know if there is anything you can do before you give up on feeding birds.
You can feed birds without attracting rats and mice!
To keep mice and rats from your bird feeders: choose a tube style bird feeder; offer birds Niger, safflower and millet seeds; clean up spilled food under the bird feeder; allow bird feeders to go empty each day; don't over-feed birds; store bird seed properly in sealed containers; use rodent deterrents such as hot pepper bird seeds and sonic repellents.
One of the best ways to enjoy bird watching is to feed the birds in your backyard or balcony. Feeding birds can help them survive in harsh conditions, especially in winter when food is scarce. It can also help you attract more birds and observe them closely. However, feeding birds can also have some drawbacks, such as attracting rodents that can damage your property or spread diseases.
So how do you feed birds without attracting rats and mice? Here are some tips that can help you:
Evening Grosbeak. Greg Gillson.
Choose the right type of bird feeder to avoid attracting rats and mice
There are many types of bird feeders available in the market, but some are more rodent-proof than others.
Tube feeders with metal ports and perches can prevent rodents from accessing the seeds.
I really enjoy myiBorn tube feeder(Amazon affiliate link) with 6 feeding ports and its brushed copper parts.
Platform feeders or trays that are placed on the ground or low surfaces can be easily accessed by rodents and should be avoided.
Hanging feeders that are suspended from a pole or a branch can also deter rodents, as long as they are not too close to the ground or other structures that rodents can climb on.
Choose the right type of bird food to avoid attracting rodents
Some types of bird food are more attractive to rodents than others. For example, sunflower seeds, peanuts and corn are high in fat and protein and can lure rodents from far away.
On the other hand, nyjer seeds, safflower seeds and millet are less appealing to rodents and more preferred by certain birds, such as finches, cardinals and sparrows.
Avoid suet, as mice and rats will be attracted to this animal fat.
Clean up the spilled food under your bird feeder
One of the main reasons why rodents are attracted to bird feeders is because of the spilled food that falls on the ground or accumulates under the feeder. This can provide an easy and abundant source of food for rodents, especially at night when they are most active.
To prevent this, you should clean up the spilled food regularly and dispose of it properly. You can use a broom or a vacuum cleaner to sweep up the seeds or use a tray or a mat under the feeder to catch the fallen seeds. You can also use a seed catcher that attaches to the feeder and prevents the seeds from spilling out.
Allow bird feeders to go empty each day
Many people buy very large bird feeders so they don't have to constantly refill them. If you are worried about attracting rats and mice, then stop this practice!
Each morning fill only what the birds will eat by mid-afternoon. as dusk falls, birds will be cleaning up any spilled seed on the ground.
It's a bit more work. But it assures that there won't be any food on the ground to attract rodents at night.
Birds often throw out seeds from the feeder that they don't like. So buy bird seed without any corn, milo, or cheap grain filler that many birds won't eat. I recommend Wagner's Songbird Supreme (Amazon affiliate link). It is 50% sunflower seed, plus peanuts, safflower, and white proso millet. Birds love it and eat it all.
Store bird foods properly
Another way to avoid attracting rodents is to store your bird food properly when not in use. You should keep your bird food in a sealed container that is made of metal or plastic and has a tight-fitting lid.
You should also store your bird food in a cool and dry place that is away from direct sunlight and moisture.
Avoid storing your bird food in cardboard boxes or paper bags that can be easily chewed by rodents or in places that are accessible to rodents, such as garages, basements or attics.
Use rodent deterrents or repellents to keep rats and mice away from your bird feeders
If none of the above tips work, you can also try using some deterrents or repellents that can discourage rodents from visiting your bird feeder.
You can use hot pepper products that are mixed with bird seeds or sprayed on the feeder. Hot pepper products contain capsaicin, which is the substance that makes peppers spicy and irritating to mammals, but not to birds.
Rodents (rats, mice, squirrels) will avoid eating or touching anything that has hot pepper on it, while birds will not be affected by it.
Here is a page of bird food products from Amazon (affiliate link) that are supposed to deter squirrels, mice, rats, and chipmunks. Like people, though, some animals get used to the spicy foods!
You can also use ultrasonic devices that emit high-frequency sounds that are annoying to rodents but not audible to humans or birds. These devices can be placed near your bird feeder or around your property to create a rodent-free zone.
Stop feeding birds for two weeks
As a final try before giving up completely, stop feeding temporarily.
Clean up the area where your bird feeders were. Don't let any bird seed remain to attract pests.
Then, after a few weeks, try again.
Go slow. Add single tube feeder. Put only a small amount of bird seed in it. If seed remains toward evening, remove the feeder and store it sealed where no rodents can get to it. Put it back out the next morning.
Keep the ground under the feeder clean of any spilled seed.
I hope these tips will help you feed your birds without attracting rats and mice. Remember that feeding birds is not only beneficial for them but also for you. Feeding birds can bring you happiness, peace and wonder as you watch them flock to your feeder and fill your backyard with color and song.
Don't worry too much about rodents ruining your bird watching experience. As long as you follow these simple steps, you can enjoy feeding your birds and keep rodents away.
This article and accompanying videos discuss the most common birds at bird feeders in South Dakota throughout the year. Other feeder birds may be more common seasonally, but these should be present most of the year.
I start with a quick list of South Dakota feeder birds and then provide more information if you are so interested.
Feeding birds in South Dakota can bring much joy!
Here are 10 birds that you are most likely to see at your bird feeder in South Dakota:
Red-winged Blackbird
Mourning Dove
Common Grackle
Black-capped Chickadee
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
European Starling
Blue Jay
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
The most common bird at feeders in South Dakota is probably the Red-winged Blackbird. At least, it is the most common bird in South Dakota that comes to feeders. Read more about it below.
Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson
Two videos showing feeder birds of South Dakota
I have created two videos on feeder birds in South Dakota.
The first video is a brief overview of the Top 10 Birds that come to feeders in South Dakota.
The second video is more in-depth, covering the same species in more detail.
Here's the first brief video:
Just a quick couple of sentences and some photos. This video will give you the names of birds that are visiting your feeder.
Top 10 Feeder Birds of South Dakota [Brief]
Here's the longer, in-depth video:
It includes videos and photos along with information on range, habitat, behavior, identification, and what they like to eat at feeders. This longer video gives an in-depth look at the birds visiting your feeder in South Dakota. The text for this video is reproduced below.
10 Most Common Feeder Birds of South Dakota [In-Depth]
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson
Red-winged Blackbirds are common birds across North America.
In summer they are found from Alaska, across Canada, south into Mexico. In winter they abandon much of Canada and the northern Great Plains and Midwest.
They nest in marshes in summer, where there are cattails and similar plants. In winter they spread out into fields, cattle lots, and residential neighborhoods. These birds are colonial nesters in cattail marshes.
In fall and winter, they form very large flocks composed of many young-of-the-year, starlings, grackles, cowbirds, and other blackbirds. Such flocks can number in the hundreds of thousands, especially in the East.
These birds are about the size of American Robins, perhaps a bit smaller. They are stocky with a fairly long tail. They have rather flat foreheads that accentuate the long bill. The bill is fairly stout at the base, long, pointed, and straight on the upper and lower edges.
Males are glossy black with yellow-edged red shoulders that can be hidden in the scapular feathers when the wings are at rest.
Females are a bit smaller than males. They are pale with heavy brown streaks on the under parts. Some populations show buff on the face. They may confuse beginners into thinking they are some kind of streaky sparrow. The flat crown and very straight and sharply pointed bill point to their identification as blackbirds.
At your feeder they will eat black oil sunflower seeds and suet.
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch. Greg Gillson
The American Goldfinches are favorite backyard birds across North America. Many people call them “wild canaries.”
These active birds are year-round residents coast-to-coast across northern and mid-latitudes of the United States.
In summer birds move into southern Canada. In winter birds are found throughout the United States.
They are found in weedy pastures and brushy clearings. In town, they favor parks and residential areas with lawns and scattered trees. They often feed on thistles or dandelion seeds on the ground. But they also fly over open spaces between trees with a bounding roller-coaster flight and a lilting “potato chip” call.
These are small birds, smaller than House Finches. They are rather plump birds with small round heads and short tails. The bill is small but it is conical for eating seeds. It is colored pink.
Summer males are striking with their brilliant yellow and black plumage. The body is yellow and they have a black crown. The wings and tail feathers are black and white.
Females are duller olive-green without the black crown. They have thin white wing bars.
Juvenile birds in fall show striking tan wing bars on the black wing.
In winter both genders are pale gray and tan with brown wings and tail. They may only show a hint of yellow on the head and throat.
At your feeder, American Goldfinches love black oil sunflower seeds and Niger seed. They are especially common at feeders in summer and fall.
Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove. Greg Gillson
The mournful summer song of Mourning Doves is familiar to most, even if they don't know what bird makes the sound.
They are found across the United States as year-round residents. Birds summer in the northern Great Plains and south central Canada, but withdraw in winter.
These birds are found in towns and farms, and open country with scattered trees, often along rivers.
In spring they sing from power lines in residential areas. They may puff out their chests while cooing from the peak of your roof.
These birds are much larger than European Starlings, but also much smaller than American Crows. These birds have large powerful breasts, a tiny round head on thin neck, and long pointed tail. Their wings are somewhat pointed in flight. The bill is small as typical for all pigeons. Genders are identical.
These birds are warm tan or brown colored. The breast has a pinkish hue. The wings are gray. They have a few large black spots on the wing coverts. They have a black spot on the side of the neck below the cheek that sometimes shows some iridescent green feathers. The tail has white edges, best seen in flight.
At your bird feeder Mourning Doves eat all types of seeds. They are also attracted to water for drinking and bathing.
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker. Greg Gillson
Downy Woodpeckers are tiny and common visitors to backyards across the United States.
These woodpeckers inhabit nearly all of North America south of the tundra and away from the driest deserts.
Often found near water, they like small deciduous trees, willows, and brush. Common in backyards.
Like other woodpeckers, these birds hitch up small trees. However, they often cling to the small outer branches. They even hang on twigs and small bushes such as wild rose and teasel.
They are bigger than House Finches, smaller than Red-winged Blackbirds, but shaped differently than either. These birds have stocky bodies and big heads. They have short, stiff, pointed tails. The legs are short. The feet are large with strong claws. The bills of these woodpeckers are chisel shaped but especially short and petite.
The overall pattern of these birds is black-and-white stripes. The wings are black with numerous white spots and bars. The back is white. The underparts are white or tinged with buff. The face is white; the crown and nape is black, the ear covert black, and there is a black malar stripe. The tail is black with white outer tail feathers. Males have a red spot on the nape that females lack.
Downy Woodpeckers eat suet at your feeder.
House Sparrow
House Sparrow. Greg Gillson
House Sparrows were first introduced into the United States in 1851 and quickly became common coast-to-coast.
These birds are year-round residents from Canada south through Mexico. They originally were birds of Europe and Asia, but have colonized basically every human-occupied city in the world.
Towns and cities are the primary habitats of these birds. Wherever there are permanent human settlements, these birds are there. They choose to nest in houses, buildings, and other human-made structures, but also in nest boxes provided for other birds. They also thrive in farms and ranches, especially stables and grain storehouses.
These are social birds, often found in large flocks. They tend to squabble and have a complex hierarchy. Males are dominant in fall and winter, but females dominate in spring and summer. They also tend to be aggressive toward other birds at the feeder.
These sparrows are not related to New World Sparrows. Thus they are differently shaped. They have a short body and full breast, large head, and short tail. The bill is triangular: short pointed but thick at the base. The bill of female and fall males is dull yellowish. The bill of spring males is black.
In fresh fall plumage males are dingy brown above, with dark stripes on the back, dusty brown on wings and tail, with a gray rump. They have one large white upper wing bar. They have a bit of black on the chin. As their pale feather tips wear off during winter and spring, the black bib on the male reveals itself. The crown becomes grayer, the face whiter, and chestnut patches on the nape and shoulder become more obvious.
Females remain in a dull plumage all year. The under parts are dingy gray. Upper parts dull brown with dark lines on the back. They also show a small white upper wing bar. The face shows a brown crown and stripe behind the eye, offset by a wide buffy eyebrow.
At the feeder House Sparrows eat a wide variety of seeds, but they like cracked corn and red milo (ingredients found in cheaper bird seed) that many native sparrows and finches do not like. They also have rather weak feet. So to reduce the number of House Sparrows at your feeder, switch to black oil sunflower seeds in a tube feeder.
European Starling
European Starling. Greg Gillson
Starlings are often mistaken for blackbirds, but they are in a different bird family and don't share a lot of similarities, other than a general black coloration.
These birds are year-round residents from southeast Alaska across southern Canada and all of the lower 48 states into northern Mexico. In addition, birds move northward into northern Canada in summer.
They are found in urban, suburban, fields, and orchards. In autumn and winter they gather into huge flocks, often with blackbirds. They are frequently aggressive at feeders, driving off other birds.
These birds have the body size of an American Robin, but a much shorter tail. They are about 8-1/2 inches long from bill tip to tail tip. They have plump bodies, rather large heads, and short tails. Wings are short and pointed in flight, almost triangular. Their bills are long and pointed.
Dark brown worn birds in late summer get fresh new feathers in fall. Then their iridescent black feathers are tipped with white chevrons. These gradually wear off during the winter and spring. By summer they are mostly black, without many spangles.
Breeding birds have yellow bills, the bills are brown in the non-breeding season. Both genders are colored the same.
Because of their aggressive nature, most people do not like starlings at their bird feeders. Starlings have weak feet, so have trouble eating from tube feeders and special upside-down suet feeders.
Blue Jay
Blue Jay. skeeze Pixabay
Blue Jays are one of the most well-known birds in the United States.
Birds are found year-round east of the Rocky Mountains from southern Canada to Texas and eastward. There is a noticeable migration of some of their population in most of their range. Birds move northward into the Great Plains of Canada for the summer.
Though they are found in woodlands of all type, they are especially attracted to oak trees. They are common in residential areas, too.
Brash and conspicuous, Blue Jays have a complex social structure. The more the crest is raised, the more excited or agitated the bird is.
Jays are fairly large backyard birds. They are just a bit larger than American Robins. These are stout birds with large rounded or wedge-shaped tails. They have large legs and feet. They have a bushy crest. The bill is fairly long, strong.
Genders are similar in plumage. They are blue above, including the crest. They are gray below with a black necklace across the throat. The wings are barred with black, with white wing bars and trailing edges. The blue tail is barred with black and has white tail corners.
At your feeder, Blue Jays love whole peanuts and sunflower seeds.
Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee. Greg Gillson
The cute Black-capped Chickadees must be one of the favorite birds at feeders across much of North America.
They are year-round residents in Alaska and across Canada south across the northern half of the United States.
These birds are found in deciduous and mixed woods, orchards, and backyards. They feed in small flocks acrobatically on the end of twigs, searching for invertebrates and small seeds.
In winter they make up the core of roaming mix feeding flocks. These flocks include chickadees, kinglets, nuthatches, and often include Brown Creepers, Downy Woodpeckers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and wrens.
These are small birds, smaller than House Finches. They are about the same length as American Goldfinches. The bodies of chickadees are round and plump. They have big heads and long tails that flit about. They have long legs and big feet. The bills are short and stout. This allows them to eat both seeds and invertebrate foods.
These birds are gray above and buffy below. They have striking black caps and bibs, offset by their white face. You may also notice the white secondary wing edges of the folded wing. Genders are identical in appearance.
At your feeder, Black-capped Chickadees love black oil sunflower seeds. They take these one-at-a-time to a nearby branch. They hold the seed with their feet and pound the shell open with their bill to get the kernel inside. In fall they often take the whole seed away and store it for the winter, in what is called a cache.
Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker. Greg Gillson.
Northern Flickers are one of the most confusing backyard birds. When these brownish birds take flight, they reveal a bright flash of red or yellow in the wings and a large white rump. When people see them hopping in the lawn and poking in the dirt with their long curved bills, they can't conceive that these birds are woodpeckers!
They are summer residents from Alaska and across Canada south into the mountains of Mexico. They are year-round residents from southern Canada south. In winter, large numbers from northern Canada and Alaska move south as far as the southwestern deserts of the United States.
These birds are found in open woodlands and residential areas with trees. They are as likely to be found on lawns as tree trunks. The reason these woodpeckers are found hopping on lawns is that their primary food is ants found on the ground. Thus, they are often seen pecking at the ground.
These are large birds, much larger than American Robins but smaller than American Crows. They are the length of Mourning Doves, but shaped much differently. They have a large body with a big head on a short neck. The tail is short and wedge shaped. The bill is longer than the head, rather thin and down curved compared to other woodpeckers.
They are brown above with black bars on the back and wing coverts. The under parts are rather pinkish with round spots on the underparts. They have a big black crescent across the chest. The rump is white, seen best when they are flying directly away. They have brightly colored bases to the wing feathers that are hidden until they take flight. From below or underneath, the tail is brightly colored with wide black tips to the tail feathers.
Eastern birds have yellow bases to the wing and tail feathers. They have a brown face and gray crown. Males have a black whisker mark and red nape mark which females lack.
Western birds have salmon-red wing and tail bases. They have a gray face and brown crown. Males have a red whisker mark that is lacking in females.
Northern Flickers visit suet feeders. They will also nest in specially built flicker houses.
Common Grackle
Common Grackle. GeorgiaLens. Pixabay.
Common Grackles are large, lanky blackbirds.
These birds are summer residents east of the Rocky Mountains from across Canada southward to the Gulf Coast. They are year-round residents in the eastern and southeastern United States.
They use a wide variety of habitats including open woodlands, fields, and marshes. They are numerous in feedlots and residential areas.
In winter they often form huge flocks with other blackbirds and starlings. They are noisy.
They are larger than Red-winged Blackbirds, nearing the size of Mourning Doves. These are long birds, with long keel-shaped tails. The legs are long. The crown is flat. The bill is longer than the head, pointed, but rather stout at the base.
The black plumage of the males shows iridescent purple or bronze in good light. Females are a bit duller. They eyes are yellow. Juveniles are dull brown with dark eyes.
Common Grackles sometimes take over bird feeders driving off other species and are disliked because of this.
Recommended Products for feeding birds in South Dakota
Amazon Affiliate Links
If you are looking for feeders and bird food, here are products I use or recommend. If you purchase from these links, I earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.
This hopper feeder is just the right size and durable. The best high quality mixed bird seed for this bird feeder that I highly recommend is Wagner's Songbird Supreme. This combination attracts the widest variety of feeder birds.
For common backyard birds and birds at your feeder, this is a good little book.
I'm using these Celestron Nature DX ED 8x40s almost exclusively now. I am impressed that such a low-priced binocular has such good image quality. Perfect for beginners! Yes, there are better binoculars at $500, $1000, $2000. But why? They're not that much better.
Love them or hate them, there's no denying the charismatic personality of Blue Jays!
If you live east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States or southern Canada, you likely have Blue Jays in your area.
How do you attract blue Jays to your bird feeder? Follow these suggestions to attract Blue Jays to your yard.
Blue Jay. Edbo23 from Pixabay.
Why attract Blue Jays to your bird feeder?
Many people love Blue Jays with their beautiful blue plumage and perky crests. Did you know that Blue Jays display their mood with their crests?
Another reason people love Blue Jays is that they are larger and easy to watch.
And that is interesting because Blue Jays are intelligent and have complex social skills with other members of their close-knit family.
Blue Jays have a wide variety of calls. They can imitate other birds and sometimes even human voices or other noises.
For all these reasons, many people love to see Blue Jays at their feeder.
Blue Jay. Skeeze from Pixabay.
What foods will attract Blue Jays to your feeder?
Blue Jays love peanuts. They love peanut halves, peanut pieces and, especially, whole peanuts! Make sure you feed jays only unsalted peanuts.
They also love tree nuts of all kinds. They are attracted to acorns and beechnuts. They take these nuts and hide them in the ground in fall. Then in winter they go back and dig them up to eat. If it's a mild winter and they don't need them all for food, or if they forget where they hid them, they will sprout into new nut trees.
Blue Jays will eat sunflower seeds.
The best mixed bird seed that I have found is Wagner's Songbird Supreme (Amazon affiliate link). It is 50% sunflower seeds and doesn't have any cheap filler seed that birds won't eat. This seed attracts the largest variety of birds to your feeder. Blue Jays will eat the sunflower seeds and most likely leave the smaller seeds for other birds.
And Blue Jays love suet, especially in winter.
For my home feeders, I always purchase St Albans Bay Suet blocks (Amazon affiliate link). It comes in several flavors, including peanut and berry. They fit in required special suet cages, which are a type of bird feeder.
Jays will also eat fruit and berries. You might try feeding them apple slices and raisins.
Blue Jay. Jack Bulmer from Pixabay.
What kind of feeders do Blue Jays like?
Blue Jays are among the larger birds that visit bird feeders. They like larger feeders with ample shelf space to perch and eat comfortably.
They prefer to eat from larger hopper feeders and platform feeders that accommodate the larger size of jays. This also allows them to come and go easily.
The following video is from my new YouTube channel. At Your Feeder: Blue Jay is a brief introduction to this bird. My channel features birds, bird watching, and bird identification. Check it out if you think that would appeal to you!
Where to place your bird feeder for Blue Jays
Blue Jays are usually brash and bold. However, sometimes they can be cautious about approaching feeders too close to people or your windows.
For this reason, it is good to place your feeder out away from your home, maybe 15 feet or so.
Blue Jays also make a tempting target for any housecats in the yard. So raise the feeder up 4 feet or higher to keep them safer.
Blue Jay. Alain Audet from Pixabay.
How else can you attract Blue Jays to your yard?
Blue Jays will appreciate larger trees and dense bushes to provide cover and perhaps food.
Oak and beech trees are their favorite. But they will also appreciate walnut trees.
Apple trees, cherry trees, and similar fruit trees will provide a place of safety and food.
Plant elderberry, huckleberry, and blueberry bushes or create thickets where Blue Jays may build their nest.
Blue Jays love bird baths and fountains. If you can provide such a water feature for them, they will visit even without a bird feeder.
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Problems with Blue Jay: If you have attracted too many to your feeder
Not everyone loves Blue Jays.
Jays do tend to be aggressive. They may chase away or attack smaller birds. In spring, Blue Jays search out other bird's nests to eat eggs or nestlings.
Blue Jays can be noisy and make loud and harsh calls. Some people do not like their calls--especially in early summer when birds start singing and calling early in the morning.
Jays have a gullet. This is an enlargement of the throat. This allows them to gulp down large quantities of food and hold it temporarily. Then they fly off, regurgitate the whole food, and bury it in a cache. They will dig up this cache in winter and eat it when other foods are scarce.
They can hold up to 5 acorns in their gullet. Imagine how many sunflower seeds they can carry away! Back and forth they go in fall, emptying your feeders. A whole family group may come in and empty your feeder in a few minutes!
A tube feeder that has small perches or is made of mesh, with no perches, may slow down Blue Jays at your feeder.
I really love the way my iBorn tube feeder (Amazon affiliate link) looks, with it's copper top. A screwdriver takes off the lower perch and opens it up for cleaning. This feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds attracts all types of finches, chickadees, and nuthatches. The smaller perches and lack of tray mean that you'll have fewer House Sparrows, Starlings, Doves, and Jays at this feeder.
Blue Jays cannot hang to feed. Thus, to keep jays away from your suet in winter, place the blocks in an upside-down suet feeder.
I bought a Nature's Way Upside-down suet feeder (Amazon affiliate link) a couple years ago and have been very happy with it. Chickadees, nuthatches, bushtits, and woodpeckers eat from it easily. But starlings, blackbirds, and jays can't hang upside down to get at the suet.
Blue Jay FAQ
Ask questions in the comments below about attracting and feeding Blue Jays and I'll add the answer here!
This article and accompanying videos discuss the most common birds at bird feeders in New York throughout the year. Other feeder birds may be more common seasonally, but these should be present most of the year.
I start with a quick list of New York feeder birds and then provide more information if you are so interested.
Feeding birds in New York can bring much joy!
Here are 10 birds that you are most likely to see at your bird feeder in New York:
Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
Black-capped Chickadee
Mourning Dove
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
European Starling
Downy Woodpecker
Red-winged Blackbird
House Sparrow
The most common feeder bird in New York is the Blue Jay. Read more about it, below.
Blue Jay. skeeze Pixabay
Two videos showing feeder birds of New York
I have created two videos on feeder birds in New York.
The first video is a brief overview of the Top 10 Birds that come to feeders in New York.
The second video is more in-depth, covering the same species in more detail.
Here's the first brief video:
Just a quick couple of sentences and some photos. This video will give you the names of birds that are visiting your feeder in New York.
Top 10 Feeder Birds of New York [Brief]
Here's the longer, in-depth video:
It includes several videos and photos along with information on range, habitat, behavior, identification, and what they like to eat at feeders. This longer video gives an in-depth look at the birds visiting your feeder in New York. The text for this video is reproduced below.
10 Most Common Feeder Birds of New York [In-Depth]
Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee. Greg Gillson
The cute Black-capped Chickadees must be one of the favorite birds at feeders across much of North America.
They are year-round residents in Alaska and across Canada south across the northern half of the United States.
These birds are found in deciduous and mixed woods, orchards, and backyards. They feed in small flocks acrobatically on the end of twigs, searching for invertebrates and small seeds.
In winter they make up the core of roaming mix feeding flocks. These flocks include chickadees, kinglets, nuthatches, and often include Brown Creepers, Downy Woodpeckers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and wrens.
These are small birds, smaller than House Finches. They are about the same length as American Goldfinches. The bodies of chickadees are round and plump. They have big heads and long tails that flit about. They have long legs and big feet. The bills are short and stout. This allows them to eat both seeds and invertebrate foods.
These birds are gray above and buffy below. They have striking black caps and bibs, offset by their white face. You may also notice the white secondary wing edges of the folded wing. Genders are identical in appearance.
At your feeder, Black-capped Chickadees love black oil sunflower seeds. They take these one-at-a-time to a nearby branch. They hold the seed with their feet and pound the shell open with their bill to get the kernel inside. In fall they often take the whole seed away and store it for the winter, in what is called a cache.
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal. Greg Gillson
Northern Cardinals are one of the most popular birds in the United States. Even people who haven't seen one in life have seen their image on logos and advertisements.
These birds are year-round residents from the northeastern United States south to Florida, west to the Midwest, southern Great Plains to Arizona.
They are found in woodlands, hedgerows, and dense backyard shrubs.
Both males and females sing, a series of repeated whistles.
These birds are less bulky than European Starlings, but just as long. The have a very long tail and big head with tall crest.
The bill is very thick at the base, short, with curved edges. It is usually obviously orange.
Males are bright red throughout, with hints of blue on the wings, tail, and back. They have a black throat patch that reaches to the eye and over the bill.
Females are dull brown or buffy yellow in coloration with red highlights on the edges of the wings and tail. Their crest isn't quite as pronounced as the males. They still show the black around the bill.
Northern Cardinals eat larger seeds at your feeder, including black oil sunflower seeds and safflower seeds.
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird. Greg Gillson
Red-winged Blackbirds are common birds across North America.
In summer they are found from Alaska, across Canada, south into Mexico. In winter they abandon much of Canada and the northern Great Plains and Midwest.
They nest in marshes in summer, where there are cattails and similar plants. In winter they spread out into fields, cattle lots, and residential neighborhoods. These birds are colonial nesters in cattail marshes.
In fall and winter, they form very large flocks composed of many young-of-the-year, starlings, grackles, cowbirds, and other blackbirds. Such flocks can number in the hundreds of thousands, especially in the East.
These birds are about the size of American Robins, perhaps a bit smaller. They are stocky with a fairly long tail. They have rather flat foreheads that accentuate the long bill. The bill is fairly stout at the base, long, pointed, and straight on the upper and lower edges.
Males are glossy black with yellow-edged red shoulders that can be hidden in the scapular feathers when the wings are at rest.
Females are a bit smaller than males. They are pale with heavy brown streaks on the under parts. Some populations show buff on the face. They may confuse beginners into thinking they are some kind of streaky sparrow. The flat crown and very straight and sharply pointed bill point to their identification as blackbirds.
At your feeder they will eat black oil sunflower seeds and suet.
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch. Greg Gillson
The American Goldfinches are favorite backyard birds across North America. Many people call them “wild canaries.”
These active birds are year-round residents coast-to-coast across northern and mid-latitudes of the United States.
In summer birds move into southern Canada. In winter birds are found throughout the United States.
They are found in weedy pastures and brushy clearings. In town, they favor parks and residential areas with lawns and scattered trees. They often feed on thistles or dandelion seeds on the ground. But they also fly over open spaces between trees with a bounding roller-coaster flight and a lilting “potato chip” call.
These are small birds, smaller than House Finches. They are rather plump birds with small round heads and short tails. The bill is small but it is conical for eating seeds. It is colored pink.
Summer males are striking with their brilliant yellow and black plumage. The body is yellow and they have a black crown. The wings and tail feathers are black and white.
Females are duller olive-green without the black crown. They have thin white wing bars.
Juvenile birds in fall show striking tan wing bars on the black wing.
In winter both genders are pale gray and tan with brown wings and tail. They may only show a hint of yellow on the head and throat.
At your feeder, American Goldfinches love black oil sunflower seeds and Niger seed. They are especially common at feeders in summer and fall.
Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove. Greg Gillson
The mournful summer song of Mourning Doves is familiar to most, even if they don't know what bird makes the sound.
They are found across the United States as year-round residents. Birds summer in the northern Great Plains and south central Canada, but withdraw in winter.
These birds are found in towns and farms, and open country with scattered trees, often along rivers.
In spring they sing from power lines in residential areas. They may puff out their chests while cooing from the peak of your roof.
These birds are much larger than European Starlings, but also much smaller than American Crows. These birds have large powerful breasts, a tiny round head on thin neck, and long pointed tail. Their wings are somewhat pointed in flight. The bill is small as typical for all pigeons. Genders are identical.
These birds are warm tan or brown colored. The breast has a pinkish hue. The wings are gray. They have a few large black spots on the wing coverts. They have a black spot on the side of the neck below the cheek that sometimes shows some iridescent green feathers. The tail has white edges, best seen in flight.
At your bird feeder Mourning Doves eat all types of seeds. They are also attracted to water for drinking and bathing.
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker. Greg Gillson
Downy Woodpeckers are tiny and common visitors to backyards across the United States.
These woodpeckers inhabit nearly all of North America south of the tundra and away from the driest deserts.
Often found near water, they like small deciduous trees, willows, and brush. Common in backyards.
Like other woodpeckers, these birds hitch up small trees. However, they often cling to the small outer branches. They even hang on twigs and small bushes such as wild rose and teasel.
They are bigger than House Finches, smaller than Red-winged Blackbirds, but shaped differently than either. These birds have stocky bodies and big heads. They have short, stiff, pointed tails. The legs are short. The feet are large with strong claws. The bills of these woodpeckers are chisel shaped but especially short and petite.
The overall pattern of these birds is black-and-white stripes. The wings are black with numerous white spots and bars. The back is white. The underparts are white or tinged with buff. The face is white; the crown and nape is black, the ear covert black, and there is a black malar stripe. The tail is black with white outer tail feathers. Males have a red spot on the nape that females lack.
Downy Woodpeckers eat suet at your feeder.
Blue Jay
Blue Jay. skeeze Pixabay
Blue Jays are one of the most well-known birds in the United States.
Birds are found year-round east of the Rocky Mountains from southern Canada to Texas and eastward. There is a noticeable migration of some of their population in most of their range. Birds move northward into the Great Plains of Canada for the summer.
Though they are found in woodlands of all type, they are especially attracted to oak trees. They are common in residential areas, too.
Brash and conspicuous, Blue Jays have a complex social structure. The more the crest is raised, the more excited or agitated the bird is.
Jays are fairly large backyard birds. They are just a bit larger than American Robins. These are stout birds with large rounded or wedge-shaped tails. They have large legs and feet. They have a bushy crest. The bill is fairly long, strong.
Genders are similar in plumage. They are blue above, including the crest. They are gray below with a black necklace across the throat. The wings are barred with black, with white wing bars and trailing edges. The blue tail is barred with black and has white tail corners.
At your feeder, Blue Jays love whole peanuts and sunflower seeds.
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow. Greg Gillson
Song Sparrows are widespread across North America.
These birds summer from southern Alaska and across Canada to the Ohio River Valley and in the West to southern California and Arizona. In winter most birds leave Canada and the northern Great Plains, except for a population in western Canada. The winter birds push south to Florida and Texas into northern Mexico.
These birds are found in a wide variety of brushy habitats. They are found in open woodlands, marshes, and backyards landscaped with large bushes and brambles.
They spend a lot of time hopping on the ground looking for food. They eat insects and invertebrates in summer, but mostly seeds in winter.
They are a bit smaller than House Sparrows. They have a round body, round head, and longer tail with a rounded tip. The bill is triangular, short and thick at the base.
Across their range these birds show much variation. Desert birds are paler. Northwestern birds are dark and reddish. Alaskan birds are much larger. In general, they are gray, streaked with brown, with breast streaks forming a center spot on the breast. The pattern of the head is complex but rather diagnostic. The white throat is bordered by a flaring lateral throat stripe. Genders are identical.
Song Sparrows will visit platform feeders, but more likely stay under dense bushes, venturing out on the ground below the feeder.
European Starling
European Starling. Greg Gillson
Starlings are often mistaken for blackbirds, but they are in a different bird family and don't share a lot of similarities, other than a general black coloration.
These birds are year-round residents from southeast Alaska across southern Canada and all of the lower 48 states into northern Mexico. In addition, birds move northward into northern Canada in summer.
They are found in urban, suburban, fields, and orchards. In autumn and winter they gather into huge flocks, often with blackbirds. They are frequently aggressive at feeders, driving off other birds.
These birds have the body size of an American Robin, but a much shorter tail. They are about 8-1/2 inches long from bill tip to tail tip. They have plump bodies, rather large heads, and short tails. Wings are short and pointed in flight, almost triangular. Their bills are long and pointed.
Dark brown worn birds in late summer get fresh new feathers in fall. Then their iridescent black feathers are tipped with white chevrons. These gradually wear off during the winter and spring. By summer they are mostly black, without many spangles.
Breeding birds have yellow bills, the bills are brown in the non-breeding season. Both genders are colored the same.
Because of their aggressive nature, most people do not like starlings at their bird feeders. Starlings have weak feet, so have trouble eating from tube feeders and special upside-down suet feeders.
House Sparrow
House Sparrow. Greg Gillson
House Sparrows were first introduced into the United States in 1851 and quickly became common coast-to-coast.
These birds are year-round residents from Canada south through Mexico. They originally were birds of Europe and Asia, but have colonized basically every human-occupied city in the world.
Towns and cities are the primary habitats of these birds. Wherever there are permanent human settlements, these birds are there. They choose to nest in houses, buildings, and other human-made structures, but also in nest boxes provided for other birds. They also thrive in farms and ranches, especially stables and grain storehouses.
These are social birds, often found in large flocks. They tend to squabble and have a complex hierarchy. Males are dominant in fall and winter, but females dominate in spring and summer. They also tend to be aggressive toward other birds at the feeder.
These sparrows are not related to New World Sparrows. Thus they are differently shaped. They have a short body and full breast, large head, and short tail. The bill is triangular: short pointed but thick at the base. The bill of female and fall males is dull yellowish. The bill of spring males is black.
In fresh fall plumage males are dingy brown above, with dark stripes on the back, dusty brown on wings and tail, with a gray rump. They have one large white upper wing bar. They have a bit of black on the chin. As their pale feather tips wear off during winter and spring, the black bib on the male reveals itself. The crown becomes grayer, the face whiter, and chestnut patches on the nape and shoulder become more obvious.
Females remain in a dull plumage all year. The under parts are dingy gray. Upper parts dull brown with dark lines on the back. They also show a small white upper wing bar. The face shows a brown crown and stripe behind the eye, offset by a wide buffy eyebrow.
At the feeder House Sparrows eat a wide variety of seeds, but they like cracked corn and red milo (ingredients found in cheaper bird seed) that many native sparrows and finches do not like. They also have rather weak feet. So to reduce the number of House Sparrows at your feeder, switch to black oil sunflower seeds in a tube feeder.
Recommended Products for feeding birds in New York
Amazon Affiliate Links
If you are looking for feeders and bird food, here are products I use or recommend. If you purchase from these links, I earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.
This hopper feeder is just the right size and durable. The best high quality mixed bird seed for this bird feeder that I highly recommend is Wagner's Songbird Supreme. This combination attracts the widest variety of feeder birds.
For common backyard birds and birds at your feeder, this is a good little book.
I'm using these Celestron Nature DX ED 8x40s almost exclusively now. I am impressed that such a low-priced binocular has such good image quality. Perfect for beginners! Yes, there are better binoculars at $500, $1000, $2000. But why? They're not that much better.
