This guide covers 60 bird species that regularly visit backyard feeders in the State of Washington. Use clear illustrations to identify males, females, and juveniles, and learn to recognize each species by its songs and calls. Beyond identification, each account includes key aspects of the species’ natural history. With visual, audio, and ecological insights working together, this guide helps you identify birds more confidently and get more out of your backyard bird feeding and birding experience.
- Click on the links below to jump to a species account, or scroll down and navigate this guide.
- Identifying and Understanding Backyard Feeder Birds in Washington
- 60 Birds that Regularly visit Backyard Feeders in the State of Washington
- SPARROWS, FINCHES, GROSBEAKS, & ALLIES
- Cassin's Finch
- House Finch
- Purple Finch
- Red Crossbill
- White-winged Crossbill
- Chipping Sparrow
- White-crowned Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Fox Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- American Tree Sparrow
- Golden-crowned Sparrow
- Spotted Towhee
- Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Lazuli Bunting
- Snow Bunting
- Black-headed Grosbeak
- Evening Grosbeak
- Pine Grosbeak
- Lesser Goldfinch
- American Goldfinch
- Pine Siskin
- House Sparrow
- DOVES AND PIGEONS
- STARLINGS
- JAYS & CROWS
- THRUSHES & BLUEBIRDS
- WOODPECKERS
- CHICKADEES, TITMICE & ALLIES
- NUTHATCHES & CREEPER
- WRENS
- WARBLERS
- KINGLETS
- BLACKBIRDS, GRACKLES, & ORIOLES
- Identification pictures of species that come to backyard bird feeders in the State of Washington
- What type of bird feeder should I get to attract birds in the State of Washington?
- How do I attract birds to my bird feeder in my state?
- What type of food do I need to attract birds in the State of Washington?
- Why Birds Visit—or Avoid—Your Feeders
Identifying and Understanding Backyard Feeder Birds in Washington
Identifying the birds that visit your feeders can provide hours of enjoyment. This guide highlights key field marks to help you recognize males, females, juveniles, and harder-to-identify species, with illustrations pointing out what to look for.
This guide doesn’t just stop at identification through images. Each species’ account dives into their natural history, giving interesting facts and insights. Learn about their preferred foods and feeders, behavior, habitats, and natural history. It’s a win-win! Learn about the birds that visit your yard, while providing them with food.
Washington backyard birders will find the guide useful as an identification and reference tool. This information can also be used to engage the local community in bird conservation efforts. Knowing which species visit your yard is not only rewarding—it can also support conservation. By reporting sightings to citizen science databases, backyard birders contribute valuable data for research.
Identification also helps you refine your feeding strategy. By noting which birds visit (and which don’t), you can choose the right foods and feeder types to attract your target species.
60 Birds that Regularly visit Backyard Feeders in the State of Washington
Most birds that visit backyard feeders in Washington are widespread species. However, they represent only a small subset of the region’s overall bird diversity.
These feeder birds are primarily seed- and grain-eaters, along with species that have flexible, generalist diets that include insects and fruit. Equally important is their adaptability: these birds have learned to live near humans and take advantage of artificial food sources, unlike many species that do not visit feeders.
The breakdown is as follows:
| Group Name | Species Count | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Sparrows, Finches, Grosbeaks, and Allies | 24 | 40.00% |
| Jays & Crows | 7 | 11.67% |
| Doves and Pigeons | 4 | 6.67% |
| Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles | 4 | 6.67% |
| Bluebird and Robins | 4 | 6.67% |
| Woodpeckers | 4 | 6.67% |
| Chickadees, Titmice & Allies | 4 | 6.67% |
| Nuthatches & Creeper | 4 | 6.67% |
| Warblers | 2 | 3.33% |
| Starlings | 1 | 1.67% |
| Wrens | 1 | 1.67% |
| Kinglets | 1 | 1.67% |
SPARROWS, FINCHES, GROSBEAKS, & ALLIES
In the State of Washington, sparrows, finches, and their allies constitute the largest group of backyard feeder birds. Most are ground-feeder birds that feed on platforms, hoppers, and tube feeders.
Birds in this group have heavy, conical, seed-crushing bills. Backyard feeders generally offer seeds and grains that sparrows, finches, grosbeaks, and buntings like. Some birds in this group take more insects and other invertebrates during the breeding season and switch to a large seed and grain diet during the rest of the year.
Cassin’s Finch
Identification: The male cassin’s finch (Haemorhous cassinii) has a red-brown head, rosy throat and breast, and a bright raspberry red cap. Note the dark streaks on the upperparts and no marking on the underparts. The female is gray-brown, heavily streaked below with a patterned head.
Food: They are primarily seed-eaters, so providing a variety of seeds, such as as black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, nyjer, and millet are likely to attract them to your backyard.
Feeder: It favors platform feeders but can use large and small tube feeders.
Presence: The Cassin’s Finch is a resident and altitudinal migrant in Washington. Moving downslope during winter, this finch primarily visits montane and foothills backyard bird feeders from November through April.
Behavior: It is not aggressive at feeders.
Backyard: Cassin’s Finches prefer backyards that have a mix of open spaces, shrubs, and trees, as well as a source of water.
Nest: As with other finches, the nest of the Cassin’s Finch is cup-shaped and made of twigs, grasses, and rootlets, lined with soft materials such as hair or feathers..
Breeding season: Cassin’s Finches typically breed in the late spring and summer, from May to July.
Breeding period: The Cassin’s Finch lays 3-6 greenish eggs with dusky specks. It takes approximately 26 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Cassin’s finches live at least 7 years.
House Finch
Identification: The male house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) has red on the head and breast, contrasting with the gray-brown of the rest of the body. A few males have yellow instead of red. Females are gray-brown streaked with black on the back, breast, and belly.
Food: Attract house finches with black oil sunflower seed, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, and nyjer.
Feeder: It favors large tube feeder, small and large hopper, and platform feeders.
Presence: The House Finch is a common year-round resident in Washington. Highly adaptable and common in urban areas, this familiar finch regularly visits backyard bird feeders throughout all twelve months.
Behavior: House finches are surprisingly submissive to even smaller birds. They generally interact well with other birds at feeders.
Backyard: Favors human-created habitats and are common in suburban settings.
Nest: House finches build an open cup surrounded by twigs in trees, cactus, and rock ledges. It also nests in light fixtures, house decorations, hanging planters, and building ledges.
Breeding season: The house finch breeds from late March through early August.
Breeding period: The house finch lays 2-6 bluish-white eggs dotted with brown. It takes about 29 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 16 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: House finches live at least 11 years and 7 months.
Purple Finch
Identification: The male purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus) is raspberry red, more saturated on the head and breast. The female is brown, heavily streaked with black below, and has a patterned head.
Food: Attract purple finches with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, nyjer, and millet.
Feeder: It favors large and small tube feeders. It also uses hoppers and platform feeders.
Presence: The Purple Finch is a common year-round resident in western Washington. This woodland-dwelling finch frequently visits suburban backyard bird feeders for sunflower seeds, showing peak numbers from October through May.
Behavior: It is not aggressive at feeders. The purple finch is a semi-nomadic bird that may visit your feeder in one year but not the next.
Backyard: Purple finch favors edges of woodlands, particularly coniferous ones. Feeders near woodlands are more likely to attract purple finches.
Nest: It builds a cup-shaped nest on branches of coniferous trees or trees in deciduous forests. The height from the ground varies from 5 to 50 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: Purple finches breed from April through August.
Breeding period: The purple finch lays 2-7 grayish eggs with dusky specks. It takes approximately 26 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Purple finches live at least 12 years and 8 months.
Red Crossbill
Identification: The male Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) is red to pink-red while the female is yellow-greenish. Both sexes have dark wings, no wing bars and crossed bill tips. Usually in flocks. Hangs on pine cones.
Food: Attract red crossbills with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, suet, and fruit.
Feeder: This crossbill readily takes to platform feeders, large and small hopper feeders and the ground.
Presence: The Red Crossbill is a nomadic, opportunistic year-round resident in Washington. Wandering unpredictably to track conifer cone crops, it occasionally descends to forested backyard bird feeders during the winter months.
Behavior: Moves about in flocks that can take over your feeders. They can be aggressive to other birds.
Backyard: Red crossbill are found in Boreal forest and semi open woodlands. It is more likely to visit backyards near its favorite habitat.
Nest: Red crossbills build a cup-shaped nest in dense foliage in open woodlands. Nests are placed high (30-70 ft) above the ground.
Breeding season: It breeds throughout the year depending on seasonal availability of food.
Breeding period: Female lays 2-6 whitish with reddish spots/blotches eggs. It takes about 30 days from egg-laying (incubation period 14-16 days, nestling period 14-15 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Red crossbills live at least 6 years.
White-winged Crossbill
Identification: The male White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) is pink-red while the female is yellow-greenish. Both sexes have contrasting black wings with bold white bars. Usually in flocks. Hangs upside down on pine cones.
Food: Attract White-winged Crossbills with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, suet, and fruit.
Feeder: This crossbill readily takes to platform feeders, large and small hopper feeders and the ground.
Presence: The White-winged Crossbill is a rare, irruptive winter visitor in Washington. Driven south by northern boreal cone shortages, it sporadically visits conifer-adjacent backyard bird feeders between November and February.
Behavior: White-winged crossbills move about in flocks and can take over your feeder. They can be aggressive to other birds.
Backyard: This bird occurs in Boreal forest and semi open woodlands. It is more likely to visit backyards near its favorite habitat.
Nest: White-winged crossbills build a cup-shaped nest of twigs, grasses, and bark lined inside with roots, moss, hair and other soft materials.
Breeding season: It breeds throughout the year depending on seasonal availability of food.
Breeding period: The female lays 2-6 whitish with reddish spots eggs. It takes about 30 days from egg-laying (incubation period 14-16 days, nestling period 14-15 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: The white-winged crossbill lives at least 8 years (based on other crossbills of similar size.
Chipping Sparrow
Identification: The chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina) in breeding plumage is grayish below with a rusty cap and black eyeline. Birds in non-breeding plumage have a dusky-brown cap and darker brown plumage. Juveniles are gray-brown with black streaks below.
Food: Attract chipping sparrows with hulled sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, millet, and milo.
Feeder: They favor large and small hoppers and platform feeders. They are also ground feeders eating spilled seeds below elevated feeders.
Behavior: Chipping sparrows are submissive to most other birds at feeders, even birds smaller in size.
Backyard: It favors semi-open habitats often in suburban areas. Shrubs and small trees at the edges of your yard are used by chipping sparrows for hiding.
Presence: The Chipping Sparrow is a common breeding summer resident in Washington. Arriving in April and departing by September, this slender sparrow actively visits ground-level backyard bird feeders throughout warmer months.
Nest: It builds a cup-shaped nest in dense foliage or the tip of a branch, usually within 15 feet above the ground, but sometimes higher.
Breeding season: Chipping sparrows breed in late March through late August.
Breeding period: Chipping sparrows lay 2-7 bluish eggs lightly streaked and spotted with dark gray. It takes about 24 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 d, nestling period 11 d) until fledging.
Lifespan: Chipping sparrows live at least 10 years and 11 months.
White-crowned Sparrow
Identification: The white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) has black and white stripes on the crown (adults). The head and breast areas are gray. It is a large and relatively long-tailed sparrow. Immature birds have tan and brown head stripes. The bill color varies from yellow-orange to pink.
Food: Attract white-crowned sparrows with black oil and hulled sunflower seeds, cracked corn, millet, and milo.
Feeder: White-crowned sparrows feed mainly on the ground but take platform feeders.
Presence: The White-crowned Sparrow is a common year-round resident and winter visitor in Washington. Coastal populations remain all year, while interior backyard bird feeders see heavy northern migrant traffic from September through April.
Behavior: Like other ground feeders, white-crowned sparrows interact peacefully with other ground feeders. They can be pushed aside from platform feeders by more aggressive birds.
Backyard: The white-crowned favors overgrown fields and brushy areas, particularly during migration. Yards that resemble this habitat type are likely to attract white-crowned sparrows.
Nest: White-crowned sparrows build a cup-shaped nest in shrubs or bushes at various heights (2-5 feet) from the ground. They can also nest on the ground where tall shrubs are not available.
Breeding season: The white-crowned sparrow’s breeding season varies regionally but is generally from May through mid-August.
Breeding period: The white-crowned sparrow lays 3-7 bluish to greenish eggs spotted with brown concentrated on the wide side of the egg. It takes about 22 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 9 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: White-crowned sparrows live at least 13 years and 4 months.
White-throated Sparrow
Identification: The white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) has a patterned head showing a yellow patch in front of the eye. This sparrow has two plumage morphs: white-striped and tan-striped.
Food: Attract white-throated sparrows with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.
Feeder: It feeds mostly on the ground, eating birdseed spilled by elevated feeders. It also uses platform feeders.
Presence: The White-throated Sparrow is an uncommon winter resident in Washington. Arriving from Canadian breeding grounds in October, this distinctive bird visits low-profile backyard bird feeders before departing by late April.
Behavior: Not an aggressive bird easily displaced by more aggressive ones.
Backyard: The white-throated sparrow forages in semi-open areas with some vegetation cover. Favors backyards that offer vegetation cover near the feeders.
Nest: White-throated sparrows build a cup-shaped nest on or near the ground.
Breeding season: The white-throated sparrow breeds in late May through mid-August.
Breeding Period: The white-throated sparrow lays 2-6 pale bluish-green eggs speckled with chestnut-brown. It takes approximately 23 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 11 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: White-throated sparrows live at least 14 years and 11 months.
Fox Sparrow
Identification: The Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) has a characteristic rufous ear patch bordered by gray. The upper back is streaked with rufous. The underparts are whitish with streaks formed by arrow-head-like rows, which concentrate in the breast area, forming a cluster.
Food: Attract fox sparrows with black and hulled sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, millet, and milo.
Feeder: They generally feed on the ground under elevated feeders. They typically use hoppers or platform feeders.
Presence: The Fox Sparrow is a common winter resident and montane breeder in Washington. Moving to lowlands in October, this heavy scratcher routinely visits brushy backyard bird feeders until departing in April.
Behavior: Like other ground feeders, fox sparrows interact peacefully with other ground feeders. They can be pushed aside from platform feeders by more aggressive birds.
Backyard: The Fox Sparrow is a bird that needs cover. They tend to visit feeders close to vegetative cover and are reluctant to visit feeders far away from it.
Nest: It builds a cup-shaped nest on the ground tucked under grasses or shrubs.
Breeding season: Fox sparrows breed in mid-May through late July.
Breeding period: Fox sparrows lay 2-5 bluish-green eggs with brown markings. It takes about 23 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 19 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Fox Sparrows live at least 10 years and 4 months.
Song Sparrow
Identification: The song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) has a patterned back and dark brown or rusty streaks in the underparts. Notice the brown spot in the breast and the unstreaked pale center of the belly. Males and females look alike.
Food: Attract song sparrows with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.
Feeder: It typically feeds on the ground eating the seed spilled from the hanging feeders. It can use platform feeders as well.
Presence: The Song Sparrow is a common year-round resident in Washington. This highly vocal, territorial species remains common across all seasons and reliably visits suburban backyard bird feeders during all twelve months.
Behavior: As with other ground feeders, song sparrows are not aggressive to other birds while feeding on the ground.
Backyard: Song sparrows use a wide variety of semi-open habitats. They visit just about any backyard type in their preferred habitat.
Nest: Song sparrows build a cup-shaped nest, usually in tall grass or shrubs on the ground. They also nest on branches above the ground and in flower beds in urban areas.
Breeding season: Song sparrows breed from mid-April to late July.
Breeding period: Song sparrows lay 2-5 greenish spotted with brown eggs. It takes approximately 24 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 11 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Song sparrows live at least 11 years and four months.
American Tree Sparrow
Identification: The American tree sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) has a rusty back streaked with black. It has a rusty cap bordered by gray. The eyeline is rusty. The bill is bicolored. The underparts are pale brown with rusty sides of the breast.
Food: Attract American tree sparrows with hulled sunflower seeds, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.
Feeder: It usually feeds on the ground but can use large hoppers and platform feeders.
Presence: The American Tree Sparrow is a rare winter resident in Washington. Arriving from arctic breeding grounds in November, this hardy sparrow visits open-country backyard bird feeders before departing by March.
Behavior: The American tree sparrow is not aggressive to other birds on the ground or at feeders. It may be submissive to other, even smaller birds.
Backyard: The American tree sparrow favors overgrown fields and brushy areas. Yards that resemble this habitat are likely to attract tree sparrows.
Nest: The American tree sparrow builds an open cup that the birds tuck in grass or shrubs on the ground.
Breeding season: American tree sparrows have a rather narrow breeding season starting in late mid-June through early August.
Breeding Period: American tree sparrows lay 4-6 white eggs with brown spots. It takes about 23 days from egg-laying (incubation period 15 days, nestling period 8 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: American tree sparrows live at least 10 years and 9 months.
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Identification: The golden-crowned sparrow ( Zonotrichia atricapilla) has a grayish-brown back streaked with black. The sides of the face and throat are gray. It has a black cap with a distinctive golden-yellow crown stripe. The underparts are gray-brown with faint mottling.
Food: Golden-crowned Sparrows enjoy a variety of seeds, including sunflower seeds, millet, peanut hearts, and safflower.
Feeder: Golden-crowned Sparrows prefer feeding on the ground or on a platform, so providing a platform feeder is a good option.
Presence: The Golden-crowned Sparrow is a common winter resident in Washington. This brush-loving sparrow arrives in September and departs by May, heavily utilizing ground-based backyard bird feeders during these months.
Behavior: Like other ground feeders, golden-crowned sparrows interact peacefully with other ground feeders. They can be pushed aside from platform feeders by more aggressive birds.
Backyard: The golden-crowned favors overgrown fields and brushy areas, particularly during migration. Yards that resemble this habitat type are likely to attract them.
Nest: Golden-crowned sparrows build their nests on or near the ground, usually in dense shrubs or in grassy areas with some cover. It builds a bulky cup made of grasses, leaves, bark, moss, which is lined with fine grasses and hair.
Breeding season: The golden-crowned sparrow’s breeding season varies regionally but is generally from June through early-August.
Breeding period: Golden-crowned sparrows lay 3-5 bluish to greenish eggs spotted with brown concentrated on the wide side of the egg. It takes about 22 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 10 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Golden-crowned sparrows live at least 10 years and 6 months.
Spotted Towhee
Identification: The male spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus) has a black hood, breast and back spotted with bold white spots. It has chestnut sides and white belly. The female is a slightly dull version of the male. Both sexes have red eyes.
Food: Attract spotted towhees with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.
Feeder: This towhee is largely a ground feeder that takes seeds spilled below elevated feeders. It uses platform feeders and, less often, hopper feeders.
Presence: The Spotted Towhee is a common year-round resident in Washington. This bold, ground-scratching species is common statewide and can be expected at brushy backyard bird feeders throughout the entire year.
Behavior: The Spotted Towhee is a common year-round resident in Washington brushlands. This striking, rufous-sided bird is expected at backyard ground-feeding stations across the state throughout the entire year, January to December.
Backyard: This bird occurs in dense low vegetation and is reluctant to venture away from it. It is more likely to visit backyard feeders located adjacent to this habitat type.
Nest: Spotted towhees nest in accumulations of leaf litter on the ground. Less often in vine tangles above the ground.
Breeding season: It lays 2-6 white to greenish eggs speckled with reddish spots eggs. It takes approximately 24 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 11 days) until fledging.
Breeding Period: It lays 2-6 white to greenish eggs speckled with reddish spots eggs. It takes approximately 24 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 11 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Spotted towhees live at least 11 years.
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Identification: The gray-crowned rosy-finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) mostly chestnut-brown with pink highlights on wings, tail, and belly. There is multiple populations that vary in head and cheek colors. It is the most common and widespread rosy-finch, that breeds at high elevations and migrates to lower elevations in winter.
Food: Attract gray-crowned rosy-finches with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.
Feeder: This rosy-finch is largely a ground feeder that takes seeds spilled below elevated feeders. It uses platform feeders and, less often, hopper feeders.
Presence: The Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch is a local winter resident and alpine breeding resident in Washington. Driven downslope by heavy snow, it occasionally visits high-elevation backyard bird feeders from November through March.
Behavior: They feed mostly on the ground along with other ground feeders, which are generally not aggressive to each other.
Backyard: Gray-crowned rosy-finches favor shrubs in open and semi-open habitat. Backyard that mimics these conditions are more likely to attract rosy-finches.
Nest: The Gray-crowned rosy-finch builds its nest in rock crevices or cavities in cliffs, in high alpine environments. The nest has a shape of a cup and it is constructed with grasses, twigs, and moss, lined with finer materials.
Breeding season: June through July (its breeding phenology is poorly known).
Breeding period: It lays 2-6 mostly white or with some brown specks eggs speckled with reddish spots eggs. The incubation period is approximately 14 days.
Lifespan: Gray-crowned rosy-finches live at least 6 years and 7 months.
Dark-eyed Junco
Identification: The male dark-eyed junco (Melospiza melodia) is slate gray and white. Females are a dull grayish-brown version of the male. Both sexes have pink bills and white outer tail feathers.
Food: Attract juncos with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.
Feeder: It feeds mostly on the ground, eating birdseed spilled by elevated feeders. It readily uses platform and hopper feeders.
Presence: The Dark-eyed Junco is a common year-round resident and winter visitor in Washington. Local populations swell with northern migrants from October through April, crowding backyard bird feeders during snowy weather.
Behavior: Not an aggressive bird that visits backyards often in flocks. Easily displaced by more aggressive birds.
Backyard: The dark-eyed junco forages in semi-open areas with some vegetation cover. Favors backyards that offer vegetation cover near the feeders.
Nest: The Dark-eyed junco builds a cup-shaped on sloping ground or similar structures, such as among the large roots of upturned trees.
Breeding season: The dark-eyed junco breeds from mid-April through late August.
Breeding period: Dark-eyed juncos lay 3-6 pale greenish spotted with brown eggs. It takes approximately 25 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 12 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Dark-eyed juncos live at least 11 years and four months.
Lazuli Bunting
Identification: The breeding male Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) has a bright blue head/back, cinnamon breast, white belly, two white wing bars. Nonbreeding male: Duller blue with buffy fringes. Female: Warm brown above, buffy breast, faint wing bars. Juveniles: Resemble female.
Food: The Lazuli Bunting (White proso millet, sunflower hearts, nyjer (thistle), small seeds.
Feeder: Tube feeders, hopper feeders, platform feeders. Prefers small-perch feeders.
Presence: The Lazuli Bunting is a common breeding summer resident in Washington. Arriving in May and departing by September, this vibrant species visits seed-rich backyard bird feeders during the warm summer months.
Behavior: Shy; often remains near cover. Males sing from high perches. May form mixed flocks with other buntings or finches.
Backyard: Prefers brushy hillsides, riparian thickets, and weed patches. Visits yards with open water and tall grasses.
Nest: Open cup of grass and bark; usually in a low shrub or briar. Height: 2-4 feet above ground.
Breeding Season: The Lazuli Bunting breeds in April through August.
Breeding Period: Clutch: 3-4 eggs | Appearance: Pale bluish-white, usually unmarked | Incubation: 12 days | Nestling: 10-12 days | Total to Fledging: ~24 days.
Lifespan: At least 9 years.
Snow Bunting
Length 5.9″, Weight 1.3 oz
Identification: Breeding male: Pure white with black back, central tail, and wingtips. Breeding female: Streaky brown-gray back, dusky head, white underparts. Nonbreeding: Both sexes show rusty patches on head, breast, and shoulders; bill yellow. Juveniles: Gray body, streaked dark gray above, dark wings and tail.
Food: The Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) favors white proso millet, cracked corn, sunflower hearts, nyjer, small mixed seeds.
Feeder: Low platform feeders, tray feeders. Also feeds on ground.
Presence: The Snow Bunting is a regular winter visitor in Washington. Arriving from high arctic tundra in November, this ground-dwelling species sporadically visits open, ground-level backyard bird feeders for cracked corn until March.
Behavior: Highly social in flocks; bickering common. Males dominant over females; first-winter birds often dominant over same-sex adults.
Backyard: Snow buntings prefers wide, open spaces like fields or shorelines. Avoids dense trees, shrubs, and fences. Favors rural yards over suburban neighborhoods.
Nest: Thick cup of grass and moss, lined with fur and feathers. Built deep in rock crevices or cavities. Height: On ground.
Breeding Season: Late June through early August.
Breeding Period: Clutch: 2-7 eggs | Appearance: creamy white with variable brown spots and scrawls | Incubation: 10-14 days | Nestling: 9-12 days | Total to Fledging: ~22-30 days.
Lifespan: At least 8 years and nine months.
Black-headed Grosbeak
Identification: The breeding male Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) has a black head, orange-cinnamon breast and nape, black-and-white wings and tail. Nonbreeding: Similar but mottled buff. Female: Brown, streaky, warm orange-buff breast, prominent white eyebrow. Juveniles: Resemble female; males often buffier with less ventral streaking. All have yellow wing linings.
Food: Black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, sunflower chips, safflower, peanuts, suet, fruit, nectar.
Feeder: Large hopper, platform, large tray, and nectar feeders. Also feeds on ground.
Presence: The Black-headed Grosbeak is a common breeding summer resident in Washington. Arriving in late April and departing by September, this hefty songbird eagerly visits sunflower-filled backyard bird feeders all summer.
Behavior: Highly aggressive; females defend territories fiercely. Dominant over finches; displaced by house sparrows.
Backyard: Favors large deciduous trees, dense understory, and fruiting shrubs. Requires water source; tolerates human disturbance.
Nest: Thin, cuplike structure; outer branches of small trees or dense bushes. Height: 4-25 feet above ground.
Breeding Season: The Black-headed Grosbeak breeds in April through July.
Breeding Period: Clutch: 2-5 eggs | Appearance: Pale greenish-blue, spotted reddish-brown | Incubation: 12-14 days | Nestling: 11-12 days | Total to Fledging: ~25 days.
Lifespan: At least 11 years and 11 months.
Evening Grosbeak
Identification: The male evening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) has a yellow forehead and dark head that fades to bright yellow underparts. The wings are mostly black with bright white secondaries. Females are overall gray with some white on the wings. Both sexes have thick pale bills and notched tails.
Food: Attract evening grosbeaks with its favorite food, oil sunflower seeds, and hulled sunflower seeds.
Feeder: It appears comfortable feeding on platform and hopper feeders.
Presence: The Evening Grosbeak is an irruptive, nomadic year-round resident in Washington. This large finch moves unpredictably, descending on backyard bird feeders in massive, ravenous flocks primarily from October through May.
Behavior: This large grosbeak often travels in flocks and may temporarily overtake feeders driving other birds away.
Backyard: Favors forested and semi-open woodland and backyards with plenty of trees.
Nest: The evening grosbeak builds a relatively large nest made of twigs. It has a central cup lined with fine material.
Breeding season: They breed in late mid-May through early August.
Breeding Period: The evening grosbeak lays 2-5 bluish eggs with brown spots. It takes about 27 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: The evening grosbeak lives at least 16 years and 3 months.
Wash
Pine Grosbeak
Identification: Males pine grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleator) are raspberry red and gray, with dark wings and white wing bars. Females and immature birds are mostly gray with yellow-brown heads and rumps.
Food: Attract pine grosbeaks with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, suet, and fruit.
Feeder: This grosbeak readily takes to platform feeders and the like, including large and small hopper ones.
Presence: The Pine Grosbeak is a uncommon year-round resident and altitudinal migrant in Washington. Moving downslope into valleys during winter, it occasionally visits suburban backyard bird feeders for sunflower seeds from November through March.
Behavior: Pine grosbeak are unusually tame near people. They are not aggressive and may be displaced by even smaller but more aggressive birds.
Backyard: This bird occurs in Boreal forest and semi open woodlands. It is more likely to visit backyards near its favorite habitat.
Nest: Pine grosbeaks build a bulky nest made of coarse twigs on the base. The center has a cup lined with soft materials such as rootlets, hair or feathers.
Breeding season: The pine grosbeak has a short breeding season that goes from mid-May through mid to late July.
Breeding period: It lays 3-4 bluish eggs speckled with brown spots. It takes approximately 30 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 17 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: The pine grosbeak lives at least 9 years and 9 months.
Lesser Goldfinch
Identification: The back color of an adult male lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) can be olive-green with dark wings and a black cap in most of its range. Birds of Texas and South America have solid black upperparts and top of the head. Females have olive upperparts and yellowish underparts.
Food: Attract lesser goldfinches to your yards with nyjer seeds, hulled sunflower, and black-oil sunflower seeds.
Feeder: It favors large and small tube feeders, large hopper and platform feeders.
Presence: The Lesser Goldfinch is a common year-round resident in southern and eastern Washington. This small finch is a frequent visitor to thistle and nyjer backyard bird feeders during all twelve months.
Behavior: Non-aggressive and easy-going at feeders. Submissive to most other feeder birds. Often clings to feeders horizontally.
Backyard: Shrubs, tall weeds, and seed-producing weeds attract lesser goldfinches.
Nest: Lesser goldfinches build a neat cup-shaped nest on twigs, dense shrubs, and dense foliage in overhanging branches of trees 4 to 15 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: The lesser goldfinch breeds Goldfinches breed in April through mid-August in the northern part of its range and mid-May through October in the southern part.
Breeding Period: The lesser goldfinch lays 3-6 bluish and unmarked eggs. It takes about 26 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 13 day) until fledging.
Lifespan: Lesser goldfinches live at least 7 years.
American Goldfinch
Identification: The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is in its winter plumage consisting of an unmarked brown with blackish wings and two broad pale wing bars. Breeding males replace the brown with bright yellow and a black cap.
Food: Attract American goldfinches to your yards with hulled sunflower and nyjer seeds.
Feeder: It favors large and small tube feeders, large hopper and platform feeders, and the ground.
Presence: The American Goldfinch is a common year-round resident and summer breeder in Washington. While some migrate, remaining birds actively gather at backyard bird feeders, peaking from April through October.
Behavior: Non-aggressive and easy-going at feeders. Submissive to most other feeder birds. Often clings to feeders horizontally.
Backyard: Shrubs, tall weeds, and seed-producing weeds attract American goldfinches.
Nest: American goldfinches build a neat cup-shaped nest on twigs, dense shrubs, and dense foliage in overhanging branches of trees 4 to 15 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: Goldfinches breed in early June through late September.
Breeding period: The American goldfinch lays 2-7 pale bluish-white eggs with brownish dots on the wide side of the egg. It takes about 27 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 d, nestling period 14 d) until fledging.
Lifespan: American goldfinches live at least 7 years.
Pine Siskin
Identification: The pine siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small finch, all brown and streaked with black. It has a pointed bill and a notched tail. Males show a variable amount of yellow on the wing.
Food: Attract pine siskins with small seeds such as thistle or nyjer, millet, and hulled sunflower seeds. They can also take peanut hearts and suet.
Feeder: Pine siskins tend to cling to vertical stems and also do so on bird feeders. They favor large tube, large hopper, and platform feeders.
Presence: The Pine Siskin is a highly erratic, irruptive year-round resident in Washington. Moving unpredictably based on conifer seed crops, it visits thistle-filled backyard bird feeders in large numbers from October through April.
Behavior: A nomadic bird, pine siskins can visit feeders one year and disappear the next. Non-aggressive and displaced by larger birds. Thistle feeders exclude most other birds.
Backyard: It is attracted to yards with shrubs and plenty of weeds with small seeds.
Nest: Pine siskins build a cup-shaped nest concealed in dense foliage on overhanging branches. Several pairs may nest in close proximity.
Breeding season: This siskin breeds between March through August.
Breeding period: Pine siskins lay 3-5 greenish with light brown specks eggs. It takes approximately 28 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 15 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: They live at least nine years and 2 months.
House Sparrow
Identification: Males house sparrows (Passer domesticus) have rich-brown and patterned back, chestnut napes, and a black bib that varies with age. The forehead and underparts are gray. Females are brown with a patterned back. Immatures look like females.
Food: House sparrows like black oil sunflower seed, hulled sunflower seed, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.
Feeder: They favor large tube, large hopper, and platform feeders. They also feed on the ground.
Presence: The House Sparrow is a common introduced year-round resident in Washington. Found heavily in urban and agricultural areas, this ubiquitous bird visits backyard bird feeders consistently throughout every month of the year.
Behavior: It can be aggressive to other birds at feeders. Dominant over same-sized and smaller birds.
Backyard: Favors open habitats, farmland, and urban areas. Visits all types of backyards.
Nest: House sparrows build large, bulky, and messy-looking nests with a side entrance. It uses cavities, light fixtures, tangled vines, and just about any structure to place a nest.
Breeding season: House sparrows breed in early March through late September.
Breeding Period: House sparrows lay 1-8 variable whitish, bluish, or greenish eggs spotted with gray. It takes about 26 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 13 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: House sparrows live at least 15 years and nine months.
DOVES AND PIGEONS
In the State of Washington, doves are represented by four species. Doves and pigeons are entirely vegetarian at all times of the year. They have a weak straight bill adapted to pick seeds and grains and swallow them whole. They are unable to crush seeds as finches and sparrows do. Some may take small berries.
Mourning Dove
Identification: The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is all brown with dark spots on the wing. Juveniles have pale edging on feathers.
Food: Attract mourning doves with hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, oats, and milo.
Feeder: It feeds mostly on the ground, below elevated feeders. The mourning dove also uses platform and large hopper feeders.
Presence: The Mourning Dove is a common year-round resident and summer breeder in Washington. This ubiquitous bird feeds primarily on the ground, visiting platform backyard bird feeders during all twelve months.
Behavior: The mourning dove is non-aggressive at feeders but stands its ground against other birds. Submissive to blue jays, blackbirds, and crows.
Backyard: It favors relatively open yards where it usually feeds on spilled seeds on the ground below hanging feeders.
Nest: Mourning doves build a precarious platform of twigs placed in a fork, branch, or dense foliage, usually 10 to 15 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: Mourning doves breed in mid-February through early October.
Breeding period: The female lays 2 white eggs. It takes about 27 days from egg-laying (incubation period 14 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Mourning doves live at least 30 years and four months.
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Identification: The Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is buffy-brown with a black incomplete collar on the neck. It has a relatively long tail with a pale terminal band. Both sexes look alike.
Food: Attract Eurasian collared-doves with hulled sunflower seeds, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, oats, and milo.
Feeder: It usually feeds on the ground but can use large hopper and platform feeders.
Presence: The Eurasian Collared-Dove is a common, introduced year-round resident in Washington. This large dove expanded rapidly statewide and can be expected at backyard bird feeders during every month of the year.
Behavior: This dove is not aggressive to other birds at feeders. It may be submissive to other, even smaller birds.
Backyard: Favors semi-open woodlands, farmland, and urban areas. Visits open yards, usually in pairs feeding on spilled seeds on the ground, below hanging feeders.
Nest: The Eurasian collared-dove builds a simple platform of twigs, usually at about 10 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: They breed in late March through mid-September.
Breeding Period: The Eurasian collared-dove lays 1-2 white unmarked eggs. It takes about 30 days from egg-laying (incubation period 16 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Eurasian collared doves live at least 13 years and 8 months.
Band-tailed Pigeon
Identification: Adult male: Purplish-gray head and breast, iridescent green nape patch below white neck crescent, yellow bill with black tip. Female: Similar but duller, grayish-brown tones. Juvenile: Lacks white neck crescent and iridescent patch, plumage brownish-gray.
Food: The Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) favors shelled corn, cracked corn, black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, peanuts, acorns, berries, mineral salts.
Feeder: Large platform, ground tray, large hopper feeders. Also feeds heavily on the ground.
Presence: The Band-tailed Pigeon is a common breeding summer resident in western Washington. Arriving in March and departing by October, this large pigeon visits platform backyard bird feeders during the warmer months.
Behavior: Highly social, gregarious; forms large flocks. Generally non-aggressive but may crowd out smaller birds through sheer numbers.
Backyard: Prefers suburban areas near coniferous or oak forests. Favors tall trees for perching and fruiting shrubs for foraging.
Nest: Fragile platform of twigs; placed in fork of horizontal branch, usually in conifers. Height: 6-120 feet above ground.
Breeding Season: The Band-tailed Pigeon breeds during the months of January through October.
Breeding Period: Clutch: 1-2 eggs | Appearance: Plain white, slightly glossy | Incubation: 18-20 days | Nestling: 20-28 days | Total to Fledging: ~45 days.
Lifespan: At least 22 years.
Rock or Feral Pigeon
Identification: The rock or feral pigeon (columba livia) is fairly large with wild and feral populations globally. It has a variety of plumages including black, white, gray-blue, orange-brown and many combinations. Feral varieties are common in cities and farmland.
Food: Rock pigeons are attracted to just about any type of food. Large grains are perhaps preferred over small ones.
Feeder: It usually feeds on the ground but can use large hopper and platform feeders.
Presence: The Rock or Feral Pigeon is a common, introduced year-round resident in Washington. Primarily restricted to urban and agricultural areas, it visits large backyard bird feeders throughout all twelve months.
Behavior: While not aggressive, its sheer size makes them a dominant bird at feeders.
Backyard: Favors semi-open woodlands, farmland, and urban areas. Visits open yards, usually in flocks feeding on spilled seeds on the ground, below hanging feeders.
Nest: The rock or feral pigeon builds a simple platform of twigs on any horizontal surface. They often nest in barns, buildings, and bridges.
Breeding season: They breed any time of the year but prefer the Spring and Summer.
Breeding Period: The rock or feral pigeon lays 2 white unmarked eggs. It takes about 31 days from egg-laying (incubation period 16 days, nestling period 15 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Rock or feral pigeons live at least 10 years.
STARLINGS
The European starling is an introduced bird now common and well-established in North America. Their general appearance in flight resembles that of cedar waxwings and purple martins. Starlings are often not welcome at bird feeders as they often come in flocks and bully other birds.
European Starling
Identification: European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) look dark. A close look reveals iridescent purple and green shades with creamy spots. Both the bill and wings are pointed. A juvenile bird is a plain gray color.
Food: European starlings like all types of bird food, including fruit and suet. Some backyard birders deter starlings from their feeders.
Feeder: It favors platform and large hopper feeders, but it is comfortable feeding on the ground.
Presence: The European Starling is a common, introduced year-round resident in Washington. Highly gregarious and aggressive, this species frequently dominates suet and grain backyard bird feeders during every month of the year.
Behavior: Starlings are one of the most dominant and aggressive birds at backyard feeders. This is why backyard birders dislike them.
Backyard: Starlings favor all types of mainly human-created habitats, including urban and suburban ones.
Nest: The European starling builds a bulky and messy nest with a central cup. Nesting takes place in cavities, enclosures, or unused woodpecker cavities.
Breeding season: The European starling breeds in mid-April through early July.
Breeding period: Pairs lay 3-6 bluish or pale blue unmarked eggs. It takes about 33 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 21 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: European starlings live at least 15 years and 3 months.
JAYS & CROWS
Jays and crows belong to the avian family Corvidae (Corvids), which are among the most familiar birds in the State of Washington. Jays and crows are diet generalists, including just about anything edible item in their diets. They can eat seeds, fruits, insects, and even small mammals. They are bird nest robbers, and some feed on carrion. Corvids are opportunistic and visit all types of backyard feeders that offer any type of food.
Steller’s Jay
Identification: The steller’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) has dark-gray head, back, and breast. The posterior half is blue with black barring on the wings and tail. It has a conspicuous black crest.
Food: Steller’s jays are food generalists and eat just about anything put on bird feeders. They like cracked corn, peanuts, peanuts hearts, and milo, and black oil sunflower seed.
Feeder: Feeder: Steller’s jays favor large hopper feeders, platform feeders, large tube feeders, and the ground.
Presence: The Steller’s Jay is a common year-round resident in forested regions of Washington. This bold corvid readily ventures into suburban areas, visiting backyard bird feeders for peanuts throughout the entire year.
Behavior: Aggressive and dominant at feeders. Submissive only to starlings, common grackles, some woodpeckers, and crows.
Backyard: Favors all yard conditions in areas dominated by coniferous and coniferous deciduous habitats.
Nest: Steller’s jays build fairly large nests with a central cup, which is lined with fine material usually within 10-25 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: Steller’s jays breed in late March through late July.
Breeding period: Steller’s jays lay 2-6 bluish spotted with brown spots. It takes about 32 days from egg-laying (incubation period 16 days, nestling period 16 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Steller’s jays live at least 16 years.
Blue Jay
Identification: The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is blue and black above, with white markings. Below can be whitish to pale gray. It has a conspicuous crest and a black necklace.
Food: Attract blue jays with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, suet, cracked corn, suet, peanuts, peanut hearts, fruit, millet, milo, and mealworms.
Feeder: Blue jays favor large tube feeders, suet cages, large hopper feeders, platform feeders, and the ground.
Presence: The Blue Jay is a rare winter visitor in eastern Washington. Displaced from eastern forests, individual birds occasionally arrive in October and visit backyard bird feeders for nuts before departing by April.
Backyard: Favors all yard conditions, including urban yards with sufficient trees.
Nest: Blue jays build a cup-shaped nest in various conditions 10-25 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: Blue jays breed in late March through late August.
Breeding period: Blue jays lay 2-7 bluish to brownish eggs with brown spots. It takes about 27 days from egg-laying (incubation period 18 days, nestling period 20 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Blue jays live at least 26 years and 11 months.
California Scrub-Jay
Identification: The California scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica) has the head, neck, wings, and tail blue. The throat and breast are creamy white. The belly is brown. It has a distinctively long tail.
Food: The California scrub-jay is food generalists and eat just about anything put on bird feeders. They like cracked corn, peanuts, peanuts hearts, and milo, and black oil sunflower seed.
Feeder: California scrub-jays favor platform and large hopper feeders. They readily take to the ground.
Presence: The California Scrub-Jay is a common year-round resident in western Washington. Expanding northward, this intelligent bird is a constant presence at backyard bird feeders, hoarding peanuts during all twelve months.
Behavior: Aggressive and dominant at feeders. Submissive only to crowns, grackles, and some woodpeckers.
Backyard: Favors all yard conditions in areas dominated by scrub and deciduous habitats.
Nest: They build a fairly large nest with a central cup, which is lined with fine material usually within 7-8 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: California scrub-jays breed from mid-March through mid-July.
Breeding period: California scrub-jays lay 2-5 greenish spotted with brown eggs. It takes about 36 days from egg-laying (incubation period 18 days, nestling period 18 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: California scrub-jays live at least 16 years.
Canada Jay
Identification: Canada jays (Perisoreus canadensis) are mostly gray with a white head, throat, and breast and a dark nape. Juveniles are sooty-gray with a white mustache stripe, but this varies regionally.
Food: Attract Canada jays with just about any type of food. Black oil and hulled sunflower seeds, peanuts, suet, cracked corn and other seeds are sure to attract this bird.
Feeder: Canada jays are ground feeders but are flexible and take up to platform, hopper, and even tube feeders.
Presence: The Canada Jay is a common year-round resident in montane forests of Washington. This fearless bird rarely descends to lowlands but routinely visits high-elevation campsite and backyard bird feeders all year.
Behavior: They generally move about in pairs and family groups. They can be aggressive to other birds and take over the feeders while in your yard.
Backyard: Canada jays semi-open areas and are flexible to just about any type of backyard types.
Nest: Canada jays build a bulky nest made of coarse twigs with a central cup lined with rootlets, animal fur, and feathers.
Breeding season: Canada jays breed from early March through late May.
Breeding period: It lays 2-5 greenish eggs speckled with reddish-brown spots. It takes approximately 41 days from egg-laying (incubation period 18 days, nestling period 23 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Canada jays live at least 17 years and 2 months.
Black-billed Magpie
Identification: The black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia) is unmistakable black and white with a black bill and long tail. In flight it shows flashes of black and white. It is a tame and familiar bird.
Food: Black-billed magpies are food generalists and can be attracted with hulled sunflower seeds, peanuts, milo, suet, black oil sunflower seed or fruit.
Feeder: Black-billed magpies favor platform and hopper feeders but do well feeding on the ground.
Presence: The Black-billed Magpie is a common year-round resident east of the Cascades in Washington. This striking, opportunistic corvid routinely visits large, open backyard bird feeders throughout every month of the year.
Behavior: Aggressive at feeders. Submissive only to larger birds such as crows and ravens.
Backyard: Favors all yard conditions, including yards in low-density urban areas with vegetative coverage.
Nest: Black-billed magpies build large and bulky nests with a central cup that may have a rim of mud. The nest is placed in trees at heights of 10-25 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: The black-billed magpie breeds in late March through mid-june.
Breeding Period: It lays 2-8 brownish eggs with brown spots. It takes about 45 days from egg-laying (incubation period 18 days, nestling period 27 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: According to mark and recapture records black-billed magpies live at least 9 years, but are likely to live much longer. Blue jays live up to 26 years and magpies are likely to have a similar lifespan.
Clark’s Nutcracker
Identification: Male and female Clark’s Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana): Ashy gray body, black wings with white patches, black central tail feathers with white outer feathers, long pointed bill. Plumage consistent year-round. Juveniles: Similar to adults but paler gray; wing feathers tipped with brown.
Food: Pinon nuts, pine nuts, black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, suet, meat scraps.
Feeder: Platform, large hopper, suet feeders. Also feeds on ground.
Presence: The Clark’s Nutcracker is a local year-round resident in high-elevation pine forests of Washington. Driven downslope by food shortages, it occasionally visits montane backyard bird feeders from November through March.
Behavior: Clark’s Nutcrakers are bold and aggressive; dominates smaller birds. Highly intelligent, caches thousands of seeds annually.
Backyard: Favors high-altitude coniferous forests. Visits yards with large pines and reliable water near mountainous terrain.
Nest: Deep platform of twigs, bark, and moss; usually in outer branches of conifers. Height: 8-60 feet above ground.
Breeding Season: The Clark’s Nutcracker breeds in the months of January through July.
Breeding Period: Clutch: 2-4 eggs | Appearance: Pale green, spotted reddish-brown | Incubation: 16-18 days | Nestling: 18-21 days | Total to Fledging: ~39 days.
Lifespan: At least 17 years and 5 months.
American Crow
Identification: The American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is all black. It is large and social, moving about in flocks of various sizes. Juvenile birds have dull black plumages without the glossy appearance of the adult.
Food: Attract American crows with oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, nyjer, cracked corn, peanut hearts, fruit, millet, oats, and milo.
Feeder: The American crow favors platform feeders and the Ground.
Presence: The American Crow is an abundant year-round resident in Washington. Highly social and intelligent, this versatile corvid routinely visits large platform backyard bird feeders for scraps and nuts during all twelve months.
Behavior: Aggressive and dominant over most other feeder birds. Takes over feeders when present.
Backyard: Favors open country, agricultural fields, and similar open habitats. Present in some urban areas but not in others.
Nest: It builds a simple platform or accumulation of twigs in trees or tall shrubs 10 to 70 above the ground.
Breeding season: American crows breed in mid-March through late July.
Breeding period: The American crow lays 3-9 greenish-olive eggs blotched with brown concentrated on the wide side of the egg. It takes about 47 days from egg-laying (incubation period 17 days, nestling period 30 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: American crows live at least 17 years and five months.
THRUSHES & BLUEBIRDS
Robins, Bluebirds and thrushes belong to the avian family Turdidae and some visit backyard bird feeders in the State of Washington. Robins and bluebirds feed mostly on insects and little fruit during the breeding season. During the non-breeding season, their diet includes a greater proportion of fruit. They generally visit bird feeders that offer mealworms and suet.
American Robin
Identification: The American robin (Turdus migratorius) is gray above with a blackish head and yellow-orange bill. Reddish-brown below. Colors are more saturated during the breeding season.
Food: Attract American robins with hulled sunflower seeds, suet, peanut hearts, fruit, and mealworms.
Feeder: It favors platform feeders and the ground.
Presence: The American Robin is an abundant year-round resident and nomadic winter visitor in Washington. While searching for berries in winter, it frequently visits suet and fruit-baited backyard bird feeders all year.
Behavior: Non-aggressive at feeders. Usually feeds on the ground and jumps to platform feeders.
Backyard: Favors relatively open habitats and yards with feeders in open spaces.
Nest: It builds a well-shaped cup on forks or horizontal branches 5-25 feet above the ground. They can also nest on the ground, light fixtures, house ledges, and bridges.
Breeding season: American robins breed in April through mid-August.
Breeding period: The American Robin lays 3-5 distinctively blue eggs with no markings. It takes about 26 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: American robins live at least 13 years and 11 months.
Hermit Thrush
Identification: The Adult Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) has brown upperparts, distinct reddish tail, white underparts with dark spotting on breast; white eye ring. Sexes similar; plumage stable year-round. Juvenile: Resembles adult but with buffy spots on back and wings.
Food: Suet, peanut hearts, hulled sunflower seeds, raisins, dried currants, grapes, mealworms.
Feeder: Platform feeders. Also feeds on ground.
Presence: The Hermit Thrush is a common breeding resident and winter visitor in Washington. Moving to lowland valleys in October, this quiet thrush occasionally visits suet-filled backyard bird feeders until departing in April.
Behavior: Hermit Thrushes are quiet and solitary; generally non-aggressive, easily displaced by robins, jays, or woodpeckers.
Backyard: The Hermit Thrush prefers wooded yards with dense undergrowth, leaf litter for foraging, and berry-producing shrubs or conifers for cover.
Nest: Compact cup of moss, leaves, and mud; lined with fine fibers. Typically on ground or low in conifers. Height: 0-10 feet.
Breeding season: April through August.
Breeding period: Clutch: 3-6 eggs | Appearance: Pale blue, occasionally flecked brown | Incubation: 11-13 days | Nestling: 10-15 days | Total to Fledging: ~25 days.
Lifespan: At least 10 years and 10 months.
Varied Thrush
Identification: The varied thrush (Ixoreus naevius) is boldly patterned with orange, gray, and black. The upper half of the head is black with a bold orange eyebrow. Colors are less saturated in young birds.
Food: Attract varied thrushes with hulled sunflower seeds, suet, and mealworms. They also like fruit.
Feeder: It favors the ground, but also uses platform feeders.
Presence: Varied Thrush is a common year-round resident and altitudinal winter migrant in Washington. Driven from dense conifer forests by snow, it heavily visits ground backyard bird feeders from November through March.
Behavior: Non-aggressive to other birds on the ground. On a platform, it may interact aggressively with other birds.
Backyard: Favors relatively open habitats and yards with feeders in open spaces.
Nest: The varied thrush builds a cup-shaped nest, usually on a tree branch close to the trunk. The external part of the cup is made of twigs, grasses, and moss while the inside is lined with finer materials such as rootlets, hair, and feathers.
Breeding season: Broadly speaking the varied thrush breeds from early April through late July, it has regional variations.
Breeding period: The varied thrush lays 2-6 bluish eggs with brown markings. It takes about 26 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: The known record using mark and recapture indicates that they live at least 4 years. However, they are likely to live longer than that.
Western Bluebird
Identification: Male: Deep blue head and throat, chestnut breast and upper back (variable), blue wings and tail. Female: Bluish-gray throat and head, duller blue wings/tail, pale rufous breast. Juvenile: Grayish-brown with white spotting on back and belly, blue on wings and tail.
Food: The Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) favors mealworms, suet, sunflower hearts, soaked raisins, hulled sunflower seeds.
Feeder: Platform, hopper, open-sided bluebird feeders. Also feeds on ground.
Presence: The Western Bluebird is a common year-round resident and summer breeder in Washington. While mostly insectivorous, small wintering flocks frequently visit mealworm and suet backyard bird feeders from October through March.
Behavior: Generally peaceful. Subordinate to larger birds at feeders.
Backyard: Western bluebirds prefer low grass for foraging, scattered trees, and nearby nesting boxes or natural cavities.
Nest: Loose cup of grass and weed stems in tree cavities or nest boxes. Height: 2–50 feet above ground.
Breeding Season: Mid April-early August.
Breeding Period: Clutch: 2-8 eggs | Appearance: Pale blue to bluish-white, unmarked | Incubation: 12-17 days | Nestling: 18-25 days | Total to Fledging: ~40 days.
Lifespan: At least 8 years and 8 months.
WOODPECKERS
Although several species of woodpeckers occur in the State of Washington, only a handful have adapted to life near humans. Woodpeckers feed on insects, other arthropods, fruit, nectar, and seeds. Some associate themselves with specific habitat types and have specialized foraging strategies that seem to hold them back from approaching bird feeders. Only the more widespread and common woodpeckers seem to visit backyard bird feeders.
Downy Woodpecker
Identification: The downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is a tiny black and white woodpecker. Males have a red spot on the nape, which is missing in the female. Note the relatively short bill.
Food: Attract downy woodpeckers with suet, black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, peanuts, peanut hearts, and mealworms.
Feeder: Downy woodpeckers favor suet cages, large and small hopper, and platform feeders.
Presence: The Downy Woodpecker is a common year-round resident in Washington. This small, familiar woodpecker is a constant presence in deciduous trees and reliably visits backyard bird feeders for suet all twelve months.
Behavior: Generally non-aggressive but dominant over smaller birds and submissive to larger ones.
Backyard: Downy woodpeckers favors semi-open woodlands and wooded urban areas. They are more likely to visit backyard feeders located in or near these habitat types.
Nest: Downy woodpeckers nest in cavities they excavate in dead branches at variable heights from the ground.
Breeding season: Downy woodpeckers breed in early March through early July.
Breeding period: Downy woodpeckers lay 3-8 white round eggs. It takes about 31 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 19 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Downy woodpeckers live at least 11 years and 11 months.
Hairy Woodpecker
Identification: The hairy woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) has a black and white head, back, wings, and white underparts. Adult males have a red nape patch, which is missing in females. It is larger and longer-billed than the downy woodpecker.
Food: Attract hairy woodpeckers with suet, peanut, and black oil sunflower.
Feeder: It favors suet cages, large hopper, and platform feeders.
Presence: The Hairy Woodpecker is a common year-round resident in Washington. Preferring mature timber, this larger woodpecker regularly ventures into wooded suburban yards to visit suet backyard bird feeders throughout the year.
Behavior: Hairy woodpeckers are not aggressive at feeders. It is submissive to grackles, American robins, blue jays, and red-bellied woodpeckers. It is dominant over smaller birds.
Backyard: Like other woodpeckers, it favors wooded areas. It is more likely to visit feeders located in its favorite habitat.
Nest: Hairy woodpeckers excavate their cavities in dead wood. Nest cavities are approximately 10 in deep and typically have a slightly oblong entrance hole of about 2 in high and 1.5 in wide.
Breeding season: Hairy woodpeckers breed in mid-March through late July.
Breeding period: This woodpecker lays 3-6 white round eggs. It takes about 41 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 29 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Hairy woodpeckers live at least 15 years and 11 months.
Northern Flicker
Identification: The northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) is one of the largest woodpeckers in the State of Washington. It is warm brown with black barring on the back and wings and large black spots on the belly. It has a conspicuous black crescent on the chest. Males have a black malar stripe, which is missing in the female.
Food: Attract Northern flickers with black oil sunflower seed, hulled sunflower seeds, and suet.
Feeder: Northern flickers favors suet cages, large hopper, and platform feeders.
Presence: The Northern Flicker is a common year-round resident in Washington. This large, ground-feeding woodpecker is a frequent visitor to suet and peanut backyard bird feeders during every month of the year.
Behavior: Northern flickers are not particularly aggressive to other birds at feeders but are dominant over smaller-sized birds.
Backyard: Favors semi-open habitats with plenty of open ground, including suburban areas.
Nest: The northern flicker nest in cavities it excavates in rotten wood.
Breeding season: The northern flicker breeds from May through early August.
Breeding period: The northern flicker lays 5-8 pure white and unmarked eggs. It takes about 37 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 25 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Northern flickers live at least 9 years and 2 months.
Pileated Woodpecker
Identification: The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is mostly black with white stripes on the head and neck. Males and females have red crests, but only the male shows a red malar stripe. In flight, the extended wings show white patches and white underneath.
Food: Attract pileated woodpeckers with black oil and hulled sunflower seed, suet, and mealworms.
Feeder: Suet cages are the preferred feeder type for pileated woodpeckers.
Presence: The Pileated Woodpecker is an uncommon year-round resident in forested regions of Washington. This massive woodpecker occasionally visits large, sturdy backyard bird feeders for suet throughout all twelve months of the year.
Behavior: Pileated woodpeckers’ size is enough to dominate the feeder when they visit one. They may be submissive only to crows or ravens.
Backyard: Favors wooded areas, including suburban areas that have enough trees.
Nest: Pileated woodpeckers can excavate a nesting cavity in 3-6 weeks. After excavating and using a cavity, it rarely reuses the same cavity after use for breeding.
Breeding season: Pileated woodpeckers breed in early March through mid-July.
Breeding period: The pileated woodpecker lays 3-5 white round eggs. It takes about 45 days from egg-laying (incubation period 17 days, nestling period 28 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Pileated woodpeckers live at least 12 years and 11 months.
CHICKADEES, TITMICE & ALLIES
Titmice and chickadees belong to the avian family Paridae. They feed mostly on insects, but when they are scarce, they switch to seeds, buds, and fruit. As the cold winter, months approach chickadee and bushtits store food for later consumption. They are often observed taking food from feeders into the woods to consume or cache it in the bark of trees and holes for later consumption.
Black-capped Chickadee
Identification: The black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is bluish gray above and grayish-brown below with a pale center of the belly. It has a distinctive black cap and throat separated by broad white sides of the head.
Food: Attract black-capped chickadees with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, nyjer, suet, peanuts, peanut hearts, and mealworms.
Feeder: It favors Large and small tube feeders, suet cages, large hoppers, and platform feeders.
Presence: The Black-capped Chickadee is an abundant year-round resident in Washington. This energetic, beloved bird is a constant daily visitor to sunflower-filled backyard bird feeders during all twelve months.
Behavior: Non-aggressive at feeders. It usually takes one seed at a time and leaves to eat it or store it before it returns to the feeder for more. Submissive to most birds visiting feeders.
Backyard: Chickadees are birds of woodlands. Readily visit the feeder placed within its natural habitat.
Nest: It nests in cavities pairs excavate in rotten soft wood. I also use existing cavities, such as those excavated by woodpeckers.
Breeding season: Black-capped chickadees breed in late March through mid-September.
Breeding period: Black-capped chickadees lay 3-10 eggs, white with brown spots concentrated on the wide side of the egg. It takes about 27 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: The black-capped chickadee lives at least 10 years and 8 months.
Mountain Chickadee
Identification: The mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli) is very similar to the better known black-capped chickadee except for the white stripe above the eye.
Food: Attract mountain chickadees with hulled sunflower seeds, black oil sunflower seed, nyjer, suet, peanuts, peanut hearts, and mealworms.
Feeder: It favors Large and small tube feeders, suet cages, large hoppers, and platform feeders.
Presence: The Mountain Chickadee is a common year-round resident east of the Cascades in Washington. This conifer specialist replaces the Black-capped in higher elevations, visiting backyard bird feeders heavily throughout the entire year.
Behavior: Non-aggressive at feeders. It usually takes one seed at a time and leaves to eat it or store it before it returns to the feeder for more. Submissive to most birds visiting backyard feeders.
Backyard: Chickadees are birds of woodlands. They readily visit feeders placed within its natural habitat.
Nest: It nests in cavities that pairs excavate in rotten or soft wood. I also use existing cavities such as those excavated by woodpeckers.
Breeding season: Mountain chickadees breed in mid-April through mid-August.
Breeding period: Mountain chickadees lay 5-9 eggs, white eggs. It takes about 33 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 20 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: The Mountain chickadee lives at least 10 years.
Chestnut-backed chickadee
Identification: The chestnut-backed chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) has a similar coloration as the black-capped chickadee but has the back and sides rich chestnut.
Food: Attract chestnut-backed chickadees with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, nyjer, and suet,
Feeder: It favors large and small tube feeders, hopper, and platform feeders.
Presence: The Chestnut-backed chickadee is a common year-round resident in wet coastal forests of Washington. This striking chickadee readily visits suburban backyard bird feeders for seeds and suet during all twelve months.
Behavior: Non-aggressive at feeders. It usually takes one seed at a time and leaves to eat it or store it before it returns for more. Submissive to most birds visiting feeders.
Backyard: Chickadees are birds of woodlands. Readily visit the feeder placed near its natural habitat.
Nest: It nests in cavities the two members of the pair excavate in rotten or soft wood. It also uses existing cavities such as those excavated by woodpeckers.
Breeding season: Chestnut-backed chickadees breed in early March through late June.
Breeding period: They lay 3-10 eggs, white with brown spots concentrated on the wide side of the egg. It takes about 34 days from egg-laying (incubation period 15 days, nestling period 19 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Chestnut-backed chickadees live at least 9 years and 6 months.
Bushtit
Identification: The bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) small bird of various tones of gray and a long tail. It has a tiny stubby black bill. Some populations have a brown top of the head.
Food: Bushtits are uncommon visitors to feeders. Since they feed on insects, mealworms and suet can be used to lure them to your feeders. They also like hulled sunflower seeds and peanuts.
Feeder: Bushtits favor hopper and platform feeders that can hold a cup with mealworms. Large and small tube feeders with hulled sunflower seeds and a suet cage can also be used.
Presence: The Bushtit is a common year-round resident in western and southern Washington. Moving in large, hyperactive winter flocks, this tiny bird crowds suet and suet-cage backyard bird feeders all twelve months.
Behavior: Non-aggressive at feeders. Submissive to most birds visiting feeders.
Backyard: Bushtits favor tall shrubs, scrub bushes and small trees that resemble their natural habitats.
Nest: Bushtits build a bag-like nest made with spider web mixed with tiny twigs and pieces of dead leaves. The nest is an elaborate work that takes weeks to complete.
Breeding season: Bushtits are cooperative breeders and have a long breeding season starting in early March through mid-August.
Breeding period: Bushtits lay 4-10 white eggs. It takes about 30 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 18 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Bushtits lives at least 9 years.
NUTHATCHES & CREEPER
Nuthatches are frequent visitors to backyard bird feeders in the State of Washington. They are small birds with relatively long bills that belong to the avian family Sittidae. They use a peculiar tree-climbing method using only their strong legs and feet. Unlike woodpeckers, nuthatches do not use their tail as props and climb trees in all directions, including vertically head down.
They feed on small insects and seeds and regularly associate with specific habitat types. Nuthatches are more likely to visit bird feeders located in backyards near their preferred habitat.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Identification: The Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) has blue-gray upperparts and brown-orange underparts. It has a distinctive black-and-white head pattern. It typically creeps along tree trunks and branches. The similar Pygmy Nuthatch has a brown head.
Food: Attract red-breasted nuthatches with black oil and hulled sunflower seeds, suet, and mealworms.
Feeder: They typically feed on large and small tube feeders, suet cages, and hopper and platform feeders.
Presence: The Red-breasted Nuthatch is a common year-round resident in conifer forests of Washington. This acrobatic bird routinely visits suburban backyard bird feeders for sunflower seeds and suet during all twelve months.
Behavior: Red-breasted nuthatches are feisty birds; they are not aggressive to others but stand their ground against similar-sized birds at feeders.
Backyard: The red-breasted nuthatch is a forest bird. It is more likely to visit feeders surrounded by woodlands or various types.
Nest: The red-breasted nuthatch excavate their nesting cavities in rotten wood or use existing woodpeckers or natural cavities.
Breeding season: They breed in late April through early August.
Breeding period: A female red-breasted nuthatch lays 2-8 pinkish-white eggs spotted with brown. It takes about 32 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 20 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Red-breasted nuthatches live at least 7 years and 6 months.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Identification: The white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) has white sides of the head, throat, and belly. It has a black narrow cap and a bluish-gray back. The lower belly is chestnut.
Food: Attract white-breasted nuthatch with peanut hearts, hulled sunflower seeds, and suet. It also takes millet.
Feeder: It clings, often head-down, to large tube, large hopper, and platform feeders.
Presence: The White-breasted Nuthatch is a common year-round resident in oak woodlands of Washington. This agile, upside-down climber is a dependable visitor to peanut and suet backyard bird feeders throughout the entire year.
Behavior: This small nuthatch can be feisty and aggressive toward other birds but loses to cardinals, woodpeckers, grackles, and blue jays.
Backyard: The white-breasted nuthatch is a bird of deciduous and semi-open woodlands. It tends to visit backyard feeders located in or near these habitat types.
Nest: Nesting pairs excavate cavities in decayed wood. They also use existing cavities excavated by woodpeckers.
Breeding season: The white-breasted nuthatch breeds in June through September.
Breeding period: The white-breasted nuthatch lays 5-9 creamy white speckled with light brown eggs. It takes approximately 39 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 26 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: The white-breasted nuthatch lives at least nine years and nine months.
Pygmy Nuthatch
Identification: Adults: Slate-gray upperparts, off-white underparts, distinct brown cap ending at a dark eye-line. Small white spot on nape. Sexes similar. Juveniles: Similar to adults but cap is grayer and plumage overall paler.
Food: The Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) favors suet, black oil sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, mealworms.
Feeder: Suet cages, small tube feeders, hopper feeders, platform feeders. Prefers cling-style feeding.
Presence: The Pygmy Nuthatch is a common year-round resident east of the Cascades in Washington. Bound strictly to ponderosa pines, this social nuthatch visits montane backyard bird feeders during all twelve months.
Behavior: Highly social, generally submissive at feeders. Acrobatic; hops down trunks headfirst.
Backyard: Favors ponderosa pine forests. Visits yards with mature pines, snags for roosting, and water features.
Nest: The Pygmy Nuthatch nest in cavities; uses natural holes or old woodpecker nests. Height: 10-60 feet above ground.
Breeding Season: Pygmy nuthatches breed in the months of March through July.
Breeding Period: Clutch: 5-9 eggs | Appearance: White, finely speckled reddish-brown | Incubation: 16-20 days | Nestling: 17-22 days | Total to Fledging: ~38 days.
Lifespan: At least 8 years and 2 months.
Brown Creeper
Identification: The brown creeper (Certhia americana) has patterned upper parts with shades of brown, gray, and black. The underparts are white. It has a curved thin bill. The extended wing shows a broad pale band. Males and females look alike.
Food: Attract brown creepers, particularly in the winter, when they visit bird feeders with suet, peanut butter, and hulled sunflower seed.
Feeder: It clings vertically to suet cages and other structures where food is offered.
Presence: The Brown Creeper is a common year-round resident in mature forests of Washington. This camouflaged bark-creeper occasionally spirals down into wooded yards to visit suet or bark-smeared backyard bird feeders all year.
Behavior: Brown creepers are small, cryptic, and inconspicuous. They are more likely to visit bird feeders during the wintertime when food is scarce. Generally dominated by most other feeder visitors.
Backyard: Brown creepers favor wooded areas with large and old trees. It is more likely to visit feeders where this habitat type occurs.
Nest: Brown creepers nest inside split bark or other condition that creates a concealed area. They build a nest with a central cup.
Breeding season: Brown creepers breed in late April through early August.
Breeding period: The brown creeper lays 5-6 white eggs spotted with brownish. It takes about 32 days from egg-laying (incubation period 15 days, nestling period 17 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Brown creepers live at least 5 years and 5 months.
WRENS
Wrens, in general, are not known as regular bird feeder visitors. However, only a few members of the avian family Troglodytidae (wrens) visits backyard feeders.
Wrens feed on insects and other small invertebrates they find in dense foliage close to the ground. They also supplement their diet with berries and seeds. Wrens are great songsters and are often heard more than they are seen.
Bewick’s Wren
Identification: The Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) is brown on the back, wings, and cap. The tai and wings have black barring. It has a pale throat and breast that grades to grayish. Note the bold white eyebrow and slightly decurved bill. It is a great songster.
Food: Attract Bewick’s Wrens with mealworms, suet, hulled sunflower seeds, and peanuts.
Feeder: It favors large or small hopper feeders, tube feeders, suet cages, and the ground.
Presence: The Bewick’s Wren is a common year-round resident in western and southern Washington. This highly active, loud wren frequents brushy undergrowth and regularly visits suet-filled backyard bird feeders during all twelve months.
Behavior: It is often shy at feeders and does not stay out of dense vegetation for long periods of time. Submissive to most other birds.
Backyard: Bewick’s wrens favor dense vegetation, tangled understory, or brush piles that they use to approach bird feeders and return for cover.
Nest: The Bewick’s Wren builds a bulky oven-shaped nest with a side entrance. The nest is placed in broken-off stumps and limbs 3-6 feet above the ground. It also nests in hanging planters and hanging decorations on porches.
Breeding season: Bewick’s wrens breed in late Mid-April through Mid-August.
Breeding period: Bewick’s Wrens lay 3-7 creamy-white eggs with brown to reddish-brown spots. It takes about 30 days from egg-laying (incubation period 15 days, nestling period 15 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Bewick’s wrens live at least 8 years.
WARBLERS
Warblers generally do not visit bird feeders. Most warblers in North America feed on insects and other small invertebrates, but some include fruit, nectar, and small seeds during the winter or non-breeding season. Only a handful of warblers visit backyard bird feeders in North America.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Identification: The yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) in winter plumage is grayish-brown with blackish streaks. The throat is whitish. The rump and sides of the breast and belly are yellow. It has two distinctive white wing bars.
Food: Attract yellow-rumped warbler with hulled sunflower seeds, suet, peanuts, peanut hearts, nectar, fruit, and mealworms.
Feeder: It favors large and small tube feeders, suet cages, large and small hopper feeders, fruit and nectar feeders.
Presence: The Yellow-rumped Warbler is a common winter visitor and montane breeding resident in Washington. Flocks move to lowlands in October, heavily visiting suet and mealworm backyard bird feeders before departing in April.
Behavior: A non-aggressive visitor to feeders. It is submissive to most other birds at feeders.
Backyard: Yellow-rumped warblers favor semi-open woodland and yards where it moves about in flocks.
Nest: It builds an open cup on horizontal branches in coniferous forests 4-50 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: The yellow-rumped warbler breeds in mid-May through late August.
Breeding period: Yellow-rumped warblers lay 1-6 whitish eggs speckled with reddish-brown. It takes about 25 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 12 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Yellow-rumped warblers live at least 10 years.
Orange-crowned Warbler
Identification: The orange-crowned warbler (Leiothrypis celata) is a relatively nondescript bird. Four populations with slightly different plumages ranging from yellowish to yellowish-gray are involved. The image shows the most common plumages.
Food: Attract orange-crowned warblers with hulled sunflower seeds, suet, peanut hearts, nectar, fruit, and mealworms..
Feeder: It favors large and small tube feeders, suet cages, large and small hopper feeders, fruit and nectar feeders.
Presence: The Orange-crowned Warbler is a common breeding summer resident in Washington. Arriving in late March and departing by October, this subtle warbler occasionally visits suet or nectar backyard bird feeders during summer.
Behavior: A non-aggressive visitor to feeders. It is submissive to most other birds at feeders.
Backyard: The orange-crowned warbler is a bird that favors semi-open woodlands.
Nest: It builds a cup-shaped nest on or near the ground.
Breeding season: The orange-crowned warbler breeds from April through mid-July.
Breeding period: It takes about 25 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 12 days) until fledging..
Lifespan: The orange-crowned warbler lives at least 8.5 years.
KINGLETS
Kinglets are tiny, relatively drab, hyperactive birds. They flit nervously, flick their wings while foraging, and often hover at the tips of branches to glean insects. They breed in northern latitudes and are winter visitors in most of the lower 48 states, including the State of Washington.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Identification: The ruby-crowned kinglet (Corthylio calendula) is tiny and hyperactive. It is plain yellow-olive and has an eye-ring. The ruby color in the crown is present in males only, and it is usually concealed except for occasions when the bird gets excited. Except for the ruby crown, males and females look alike.
Food: Attract ruby-crowned kinglets with suet, hulled sunflower seeds, peanuts, and mealworms.
Feeder: It favors suet cages, large hopper, and platform feeders.
Presence: The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a common winter resident and local breeding resident in Washington. Lowland numbers peak from September through April, when this tiny, twitchy bird frequently visits suet backyard bird feeders.
Behavior: Ruby-crowned kinglets are infrequent visitors to backyard bird feeders. Their tiny size makes them vulnerable to larger and more aggressive birds at feeders.
Backyard: The ruby-crowned kinglet favors wooded areas. It is more likely to visit feeders located in its favorite habitat.
Nest: Ruby-crowned kinglets build large nests with a central cup. The exterior of the nest is lined with moss and lichen. The interior is lined with fine fibers and hair.
Breeding season: Ruby-crowned kinglets breed in mid-May through early August.
Breeding period: The ruby-crowned kinglet lays 5-12 whitish eggs spotted with brown concentrated on the wide side of the egg. It takes about 30 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 17 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Ruby-crowned kinglets live at least 8 years and 8 months.
BLACKBIRDS, GRACKLES, & ORIOLES
Blackbirds are diet generalists that eat seeds, grains, nectar, fruit, insects, and small invertebrates (including nestlings of other birds). Any food offered in backyard birdfeeders is likely to attract blackbirds. Some blackbird species move in flocks and can show up at feeders in large numbers displacing other smaller and less aggressive feeder visitors.
Red-winged Blackbird
Identification: Adult breeding males red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) are black with bright red shoulder patches. Non-breeding males have rusty or whitish feather edges in the winter. Females and juveniles are brown with black streaks.
Food: Attract red-winged blackbird with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, cracked corn, peanuts hearts, millet, oats, and milo.
Feeder: It favors platform feeders. It uses visits large tube and large hopper feeders. It also feeds on the ground.
Presence: The Red-winged Blackbird is a common year-round resident and abundant breeding migrant in Washington. Flocks descend heavily on grain, millet, and sunflower backyard bird feeders, peaking from February through October.
Behavior: It is aggressive to other birds taking over the feeders when present in large numbers. Submissive to blue jays, starlings, and red-bellied woodpeckers.
Backyard: Favors backyards near lakes, marshes, and farmland. It is a frequent visitor to feeders in semi-urban areas.
Nest: It builds a cup-shaped nest in vertical shoots of marshes often mixed with saplings, generally 3 to 6 feet from the water.
Breeding season: The red-winged blackbird breeds in early April through early August.
Breeding period: Red-winged blackbirds lay 2-4 bluish-green eggs with dark markings. It takes about 25 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 13 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Red-winged blackbirds live at least 15 years and nine months.
Brewer’s Blackbird
Identification: Male: Iridescent black with purplish-blue head and greenish body sheen; bright yellow eyes. Nonbreeding: Similar. Female: Plain brownish-gray overall, dark eyes, faint pale eyebrow. Juvenile: Resembles female but buffer with scaly appearance.
Food: The Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) favors cracked corn, millet, milo, sunflower seeds, suet.
Feeder: Platform feeders, tray feeders, large hoppers. Frequently feeds on ground.
Presence: The Brewer’s Blackbird is an abundant year-round resident and colonial breeder in Washington. Highly social, this glossy blackbird frequently gathers in urban yards to visit open-platform backyard bird feeders all twelve months.
Behavior: Highly social; forages in flocks. Bold and aggressive; often displaces smaller songbirds but subordinate to larger birds.
Backyard: Open lawns, short-grass areas, and surfaces near scattered trees or shrubs. Prefers proximity to water or agricultural edges.
Nest: Bulky cup of twigs, grass, and mud lined with fine hair. Located in shrubs, trees, or on ground.
Breeding season: Brewer’s Blackbirds breed in the months of April through June.
Breeding period: Clutch: 3–7 eggs | Appearance: Light gray to greenish, blotched with dark brown | Incubation: 12–14 days | Nestling: 13–14 days | Total to Fledging: ~27 days.
Lifespan: At least 12 years and 6 months.
Brown-headed Cowbird
Identification: Males brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) are glossy black with chestnut-brown heads. Females are gray-brown overall, with faint dark streaks on the breast and belly.
Food: Attract brown-headed cowbirds with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, cracked corn, millet, oats, and milo.
Feeder: Brown-headed cowbirds favor large hopper and platform feeders and the ground.
Presence: The Brown-headed Cowbird is a common breeding summer resident in Washington. Arriving in April and departing by September, this brood parasite routinely visits mixed-seed ground and platform backyard bird feeders during summer.
Behavior: Aggressive to other birds, dominant over smaller birds. Attends feeders usually in flocks.
Backyard: Favors backyards that are open and near open woods and farmlands.
Nest: Brown-headed cowbirds do not build nests but lay their eggs (parasitize) in the nest of other birds.
Breeding season: Brown-headed cowbirds breed in early April through the end of August.
Breeding period: A female cowbird lays 1-7 grayish eggs with brown spots. Birds that take over the parental duties for the cowbirds take about 23 days from egg-laying (incubation period 11 days, nestling period 12 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Brown-headed cowbirds live at least nine years.
Bullock’s Oriole
Identification: Adult male: Bright orange with black cap, throat, and eye-line; large white wing patch. Adult female: Grayish-olive above, yellowish breast/tail. Nonbreeding: Duller. Juveniles: Resemble female; yellow-orange wash on head.
Food: Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii) favors nectar, oranges, grape jelly, suet, mealworms, fruit.
Feeder: Nectar feeders, fruit spikes, jelly cups, suet cages.
Presence: The Bullock’s Oriole is a common breeding summer resident in Washington. Arriving in early May and departing by late August, this brilliant bird strictly visits nectar and grape-jelly backyard bird feeders.
Behavior: Frequently interacts with hummingbirds at feeders. Active and acrobatic; weaves through foliage. Protective of nectar sources.
Backyard: Prefers open woodlands and riparian areas with tall trees (cottonwoods, sycamores). Visits yards with flowering trees and fruit.
Nest: Hanging woven pouch; suspended from the ends of slender branches. Height: 6-40 feet above ground.
Breeding Season: The Bullock’s Oriole breeds during the months of May through July.
Breeding Period: Clutch: 3-6 eggs | Appearance: Pale bluish-white, scrawled with black/purple | Incubation: 11 days | Nestling: 14 days | Total to Fledging: ~25 days.
Lifespan: At least 8 years and 11 months.
Identification pictures of species that come to backyard bird feeders in the State of Washington
Identifying backyard birds gives many hours of enjoyment to thousands of people in the State of Washington. This guide will help you recognize male, female, and juvenile plumages, as well as the little brown ones. The illustrations point to birds’ markings to pay attention to.
Each species account includes aspects of the bird’s natural history, enhancing the backyard bird feeding experience.
Recognizing the species of birds visiting your backyard is not only rewarding but can also help them. Backyard birders can contribute to these birds’ study and conservation by submitting their sightings to databases for scientific research.
Knowing which birds come to your bird feeder can help you improve your feeding strategy! If you pay attention to the birds that visit your feeders and those that don’t, you can choose the right food and feeder type to attract and keep the desired birds coming back for more. So, it’s a win-win situation: you get to enjoy watching birds at home, and they get to enjoy a tasty meal.
What type of bird feeder should I get to attract birds in the State of Washington?
The type of bird feeder to get in the State of Washington is a platform feeder or hopper feeder, particularly if one is starting to feed backyard birds.
I analyzed the type of feeder most used by backyard feeder birds. The results apply to the State of Washington and other states as these birds have wide ranges in North America.
According to the data analyzed, most (92.5%) birds use platform feeders, followed by large hopper feeders (64.8%). Many birds (32%) are comfortable feeding on the ground.
The analysis consisted of tallying bird species by bird feeder type used. The data comes from reports from folks that feed backyard birds in the region reported to the FeederWatch Project of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
The table below shows the bird feeder types most frequently used by backyard birds in the State of Washington.
| Feeder Type | Number of Species that use it | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | 50 | 92.5 |
| Large Hopper | 35 | 64.8 |
| Ground | 32 | 59.2 |
| Large Tube | 20 | 37.0 |
| Suet Cage | 20 | 37.0 |
| Small Tube | 15 | 27.7 |
| Small Hopper | 9 | 16.6 |
How do I attract birds to my bird feeder in my state?
Attracting birds to your bird feeders is as simple as putting up a feeder with food or simply spraying birdseed on the ground. Once one or two birds find the food source, other birds see them coming and going from your yard to the feeder and follow them.
It is very important to be consistent. Once you put birdseed out for the birds, they will make visiting your backyard a part of their daily routine. If food is unavailable for several days, they will drop your backyard as a reliable source of food and visit it only sporadically.
The time it takes for the birds to discover your feeders depends on the vegetation in your yard and around it. Bushes and trees attract birds, and more birds around are more likely to notice your feeders.
The bird feeder should be located in a place visible to the birds. As indicated above, I recommend spraying food on the ground and putting food on a platform feeder. If you have grass in your yard and food is unlikely to be seen by the birds, you can simply use a piece of plywood to place birdseed.
Once you have a few birds visiting your yard, you can implement a hopper or tube feeder. You can gradually move the bird feeder to a location in your yard where you can enjoy them from your home, for instance, outside the kitchen window.
What type of food do I need to attract birds in the State of Washington?
My preferred food for beginners is birdseed mixes available in stores. Bird seed mixes include several seeds and grains that appeal to a wider variety of birds.
Once you get birds coming to your feeders, you can begin to offer the type of food that is more likely to attract the birds you want to see in your feeders.
Why Birds Visit—or Avoid—Your Feeders
In the State of Washington, bird activity at feeders can vary widely from day to day and across seasons. Understanding what attracts birds—or drives them away—can help you interpret these changes and manage your feeders more effectively.
Reasons Birds Visit Feeders
- Bad weather: Birds are more likely to visit feeders when the weather is poor.
- Winter season: While birds can visit year-round, there is a noticeable increase in activity during the winter months.
Reasons Birds Stop Visiting Feeders
- Presence of predators: This is often the most common reason birds suddenly disappear; species like the Cooper’s Hawk or Sharp-shinned Hawk may be hunting in the area.
- Abundance of natural food: Birds generally prefer natural food sources over bird feeders and will choose them if they are readily available.
- Seasonal diet changes: Birds shift their diet during the breeding season to focus on insects, spiders, and caterpillars. These protein-rich foods are essential for the rapid growth and development of their nestlings.
- Seasonality and mild weather: Changes in the seasons or periods where the weather is not particularly harsh can lead to a decrease in feeder visits.
- Stopover Visits: Birds often use backyard feeders as quick “refueling stations” to gain the necessary fat and protein to continue their flight. You may notice species that do not live in your area year-round appearing for just a few days or weeks during the spring and fall before moving on.
- Food quality: Birds may avoid feeders if the seed is no longer fresh.
- Feeder hygiene: If feeders are not cleaned regularly, birds may stop coming to them.
Final thoughts:
The identification guide to the 60 bird species that visit backyard feeders in the State of Washington is based on the concept of citizen science. The species included in this article were obtained from citizen reports from bird enthusiasts participating in the FeederWatch Project of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
This guide helps you distinguish male, female, and juvenile plumages with clear illustrations. Familiarize yourself with these birds to become a bird expert and enhance your backyard birding experience.
References and Sources:
Information and bird-specific data used in this guide comes from various sources. The photographic material used as model and reference for a hybrid AI production of the illustrations comes from multiple sites and photos taken by the author. Sources include:
- eBird. (https://ebird.org/)
- Project Feederwatch (https://feederwatch.org/)
- Sibley, David, 2000, The Sibley Guide to Birds.
- Species Longevity Data: United States Geological Survey (https://www.usgs.gov/)
- Allaboutbirds.
- Voices: Personal recordings and xeno-canto.org
Author:
I’m a new birdwatcher and I just wanted to tell you how well put together and informative your guide was. I plan to continue using it in the future.
Hello Johnathan,
Thank you so much! This is encouraging!
Regards,
Al.
Hello Al,
I also am new to feeding our furry friends! I purchased a window feeder for my senior, indoor cat. He loves seeing all of the birds visit the feeder. I call it Sammy Kitty tv. I wasn’t sure what kind of food to purchase. Your guide is very informative and organized in an easy to consume manner. I think we have chickadees, finches and one blue jay. Thank you for taking the time to create this!
Hello Laurie, I am glad you and your cat enjoy the blog and feeder.
Best,
Al.
Thank you for this wonderful guide. The pictures and description are so useful. There seems to be a lot of chickadees, sparrows, towhees, the occasional jay and a couple of squirrels that visit regularly. I was lucky. The previous owners had already set up several feeders in the yard.
Hello April, having the birds used to the feeders helps a lot. So glad you enjoy the guide!
Cheers,
Al
What a great guide! Really useful images, sounds and descriptions. Makes differences on the similar finches and sparrows super easy to understand while backyard birding. I am curious about two species you didn’t include- Anna’s hummingbird and California scrub jays. I could see scrub jays being out of the top 50 but not hummers they are like mosquitoes here and I mean that in the most loving way. I even carry a ring sized feeder on my pack when I hike just to enjoy the buzz when they come by for a shot of nectar. Here on the western side scrub jays are pretty common among groups of stellar’s jays. They have lovely light blue and grey plumage more like a blue jay and are less vocal and pugnacious than the stellar’s making a beautiful contrast seeing the two species together in a group. Anyways Al great guide thank you I will bookmark this so I can spread the birding bug far and wide cheers
Hello Caleb,
Very good questions. I definitely need to include the California Scrub Jay. I have been adding species to each state as folks like yourself suggest birds that I missed. Give me a couple of weeks and I will add the California Scrub Jay to the guide for Washington State.
Regarding the Anna’s hummingbird, I have a post that covers hummingbirds. Perhaps I need to put together state specific guides for western states.
Thank you so much for the input.
Regards,
Al Begazo.