Bird Species Dictionary

Medium-sized hummingbird. Males have rose-pink head and throat. Year-round resident on West Coast.

Tiny jewel-like bird. Males have brilliant ruby-red throat patch. Only hummingbird in eastern North America.

A stocky, medium-sized bird with a distinctive large head, shaggy crest, and long, straight bill perfectly adapted for fishing. Known for its rattling call and dramatic diving behavior when hunting for fish from perches above water. One of the few North American bird species where females are more colorful than males.

Distinctive owl with heart-shaped white face. Often nests in barns and abandoned buildings.

Large, powerful owl with prominent ear tufts. Most widely distributed owl in the Americas.

A large waterbird with an unmistakable enormous bill and throat pouch used for catching fish. Brown Pelicans are expert divers that plunge headfirst from heights of 20-60 feet to capture prey, making them one of the most spectacular fishing birds to observe along coastlines.

A large fish-eating raptor with distinctive white head marked by dark eye stripes and brownish upperparts contrasting with white underparts. Known for their spectacular fishing dives and massive stick nests built on platforms, dead trees, or man-made structures near water. Ospreys are often called 'fish hawks' and are one of the most widespread birds in the world.

North America's smallest and most colorful falcon, known for its distinctive hovering hunting behavior and bold facial markings. Males display striking blue-gray wings contrasting with rusty backs, while females show more uniform rusty coloration. These agile hunters are often seen perched on telephone wires or hovering over open fields while scanning for prey.

Swift, powerful falcon known as the world's fastest bird. Dark blue-gray above with barred underparts.

Large raptor with distinctive white head and tail in adults. Immatures are dark brown.

Large, stocky hawk with broad wings and short, wide tail. Adults have distinctive rusty-red tail.

Very large, gray bird with red forehead patch. Known for elaborate dancing displays and distinctive rattling call.

Large plover known for its broken-wing display to distract predators from nest. Vocal and conspicuous.

A medium-sized songbird famous for its extraordinary ability to mimic the songs of other birds, often incorporating 50+ different species into its repertoire along with mechanical sounds. Northern Mockingbirds are bold, territorial birds that will aggressively defend their territory year-round, often chasing away much larger birds and even cats. They are known for singing throughout the night, particularly unmated males during breeding season.

A striking medium-sized songbird known for its brilliant orange and black plumage and melodious whistling song. Males are unmistakable with their vibrant coloration, while females display more subtle yellow-orange tones. These birds are famous for weaving intricate hanging basket nests and have a particular fondness for oranges and grape jelly at feeders.

The Scarlet Tanager is a medium-sized songbird known for its stunning sexual dimorphism and preference for mature deciduous forests. Males undergo a dramatic seasonal plumage change, transforming from brilliant red breeding plumage to yellow-green winter colors. Despite their vibrant coloration, these birds can be surprisingly difficult to spot as they forage high in the forest canopy.

A striking songbird with a massive, pale bill perfect for cracking seeds. Males display a brilliant red triangle on their white breast, while females show streaky brown plumage with distinctive white eyebrows. Known for their sweet, robin-like song and tendency to visit backyard feeders during migration.

A small, energetic songbird with plain brown plumage and an upright, perky tail posture. House Wrens are known for their loud, bubbling songs and aggressive territorial behavior, often evicting other cavity-nesting birds from nest boxes. Despite their modest appearance, they are bold and active birds that frequently scold intruders with harsh chatter.

A medium-sized sparrow with distinctive head stripes and a bright white throat patch that stands out against its gray breast. Known for its clear, whistled song often described as 'Old Sam Peabody-Peabody-Peabody' and its habit of scratching through leaf litter with both feet. This species exhibits two distinct color morphs - white-striped and tan-striped - that occur in both males and females.

Often called the most beautiful bird in North America, the Painted Bunting is a small, secretive songbird with stunning plumage. Males display brilliant red underparts, deep blue heads, and bright green backs, while females are a subtle lime-green overall. Despite their vivid colors, they can be difficult to spot as they prefer to stay hidden in dense brush and thickets.

A medium-sized songbird known for its striking sexual dimorphism and territorial behavior. Males are jet black with distinctive red and yellow shoulder patches (epaulets) that they flash during displays, while females are heavily streaked brown birds that are often mistaken for sparrows. They are highly social during non-breeding seasons, forming massive flocks in agricultural areas.

A common sparrow-sized bird known for its distinctive slate-gray hood and back contrasting with bright white outer tail feathers that flash conspicuously during flight. Often called 'snowbirds' due to their habit of appearing at feeders during winter months, these social birds hop on the ground with a characteristic double-scratch feeding motion.

A small, acrobatic finch known for its undulating flight pattern and cheerful 'po-ta-to-chip' call. Males undergo dramatic seasonal plumage changes, transforming from bright canary yellow in summer to dull olive-brown in winter. These social birds often feed in flocks and are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, especially those filled with nyjer seed.

A small thrush with a compact body and short, straight bill, known for its brilliant blue plumage and gentle demeanor. Males display vivid blue upperparts with rusty-orange throat and breast, while females show more subdued blue-gray tones with warm orange-buff on the breast. These cavity-nesting birds are often seen perching on fence posts and low branches, dropping down to catch insects on the ground.

A compact, acrobatic songbird known for its ability to walk headfirst down tree trunks while foraging for insects and seeds. Distinguished by its unique upside-down feeding behavior and nasal 'yank-yank' call that echoes through woodlands. Often seen wedging seeds into bark crevices and hammering them open with their sharp bills.

Tiny, acrobatic songbird with distinctive black cap and bib. Frequent visitor to feeders.

Large, crested songbird with striking blue, white, and black plumage. Intelligent and vocal.

Brilliant red songbird with prominent crest. Non-migratory year-round resident.

Familiar thrush with brick-red breast, gray upperparts. Often seen hopping on lawns searching for earthworms.

Spectacularly colorful duck that nests in tree cavities. Male is one of North America's most colorful waterfowl.

Large, familiar goose with distinctive black head and neck with white "chinstrap".

Most abundant and widespread duck in North America. Males have iridescent green head.

A sleek, social songbird with silky plumage and distinctive waxy red wing tips that give the species its name. Cedar Waxwings are highly gregarious, often seen in flocks feeding on berries and fruits, and are known for their gentle nature and acrobatic feeding behavior. They have a distinctive high-pitched, thin whistle call and are late nesters, timing their breeding with peak fruit availability.

Smallest North American woodpecker. Common backyard visitor to suet feeders.

Crow-sized woodpecker with striking red crest. Largest woodpecker in most of North America.

A large, brownish woodpecker with distinctive spotted underparts and a prominent white rump patch visible in flight. Unlike typical woodpeckers, Northern Flickers often forage on the ground for ants and beetles, using their slightly curved bills to probe soil and bark crevices.