Welcome to your regional guide to the core 29 bird species that regularly visit backyard feeders across the Far North Region of the United States and the Provinces of Canada. The Far North Region includes the state of Alaska and the Canadian Provinces of Yukon and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Because Region’s climate, landscapes, and terrain vary significantly, we have also developed comprehensive, state and province-specific guides.
How to use this guide
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Use the Table of Contents below to Navigate the Far North Region Guide ↓
- Far North Region
- Bird groups that visit backyard feeders in the Far North Region
- SPARROWS, FINCHES, & ALLIES
- STARLINGS
- JAYS & CROWS
- THRUSH & ROBIN
- WOODPECKERS
- CHICKADEES
- NUTHATCHES
- WAXWINGS
- What type of bird feeder should I get to attract birds in the Central Region?
- How do I attract birds to my bird feeder in the Far North Region?
- What type of food do I need to attract birds in states and provinces in the Far North Region?
Designed for quick reference, this guide features the 29 bird species most frequently reported by regional participants in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch. Each profile delivers essential insights into the bird’s identification, voice, preferred food and feeders, habitat preferences, seasonal presence, feeder behavior, breeding biology, and lifespan.
Explore Your Local State & Province Bird Guides
Our state/province-specific guides feature in some cases, additional species than those featured in this regional guide.
Far North Region
- Alaska Backyard Feeder Birds: ID & Sound Guide
- Yukon Province Backyard Feeder Birds: ID & Sound Guide
- Northwest Territory and Nunavut Backyard Feeder Birds: ID & Sound Guide
Bird groups that visit backyard feeders in the Far North Region
Most of the birds visiting backyard bird feeders in the Far North Region are widespread and occur in more than one region. Some occur in most of the United States and Canada.
Feeder birds in the Far North Region are primarily sparrows, finches, and their allies. This group also includes siskins, goldfinches, grosbeaks, and juncos. Other groups are represented by fewer species. For instance, jays and crows of the family Corvidae include five species, while Chickadees include 3 species. The remaining groups include only one or two species.
| Group Name | Species Count | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Sparrows, Finches, Grosbeaks, and Allies | 14 | 48.28% |
| Jays & Crows | 5 | 17.24% |
| Chickadees | 3 | 10.34% |
| Bluebird and Robins | 2 | 6.90% |
| Woodpeckers | 2 | 6.90% |
| Starlings | 1 | 3.45% |
| Nuthatches & Creeper | 1 | 3.45% |
| Waxwings | 1 | 3.45% |
SPARROWS, FINCHES, & ALLIES
In the Far North Region of North America, 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, 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.
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 a breeding visitor in the southern portion of the Far North Region. Arriving in May and departing by September, it visits feeders during these spring and summer months.
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.
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 breeding visitor across the western and southern portion of the Far North Region. It arrives in May, departs in September, visiting backyard feeders during these summer 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.
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 widespread breeding visitor throughout most of the Far North Region. Arriving in May and departing by September, it reliably visits backyard bird feeders during these summer months.
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.
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 breeding visitor across most of the Far North Region. This large sparrow arrives in April and departs by September, visiting regional bird feeders throughout the summer.
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.
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: Feeder: It usually feeds on the ground but can use large hoppers and platform feeders.
Presence: The American Tree Sparrow is a breeding visitor across most of the Far North Region. Arriving in May and departing by October, it frequents backyard bird feeders during these specific months.
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 2 white 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.
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 partial resident and breeding visitor in the southern portion of the Far North Region. Present from April to October, it occasionally visits backyard feeders during those 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.
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 year-round resident in most of the Far North Region. This hardy finch is expected at backyard bird feeders throughout all months of the calendar year.
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 simi open woodlands. It is more likely to visit backyards near its favorite habitat.
Nest: Pine grosbeaks buil a bulky nest made of coarse twig 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.
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 grosbeak readily takes to platform feeders, large and small hopper feeders and the ground.
Presence: The White-winged Crossbill is an nomadic year-round resident across most of the Far North Region. It is highly expected at regional bird feeders during any month of the year.
Behavior: Red 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.
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 an irruptive year-round resident primarily restricted to the southern portion of the Far North Region. It can unexpectedly visit backyard bird feeders during any month of the year.
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 .
Dark-eyed Junco
Identification: There are two types of dark-eyed juncos (Melospiza melodia) in the Far North, the brown black-hooded type and slate-colored type. Both sexes in the two types 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 breeding visitor throughout most of the Far North Region. Arriving in April and departing by October, it commonly visits backyard bird feeders during these months.
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.
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 winter visitor in the southern portion of the Far North Region, arriving by October and departing by May. It visits backyard feeders during these colder months.
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.
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 year-round resident in the southern portion of the Far North Region. This nomadic finch visits backyard bird feeders unpredictably during all twelve months of the year.
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.
Common Redpoll
Identification: Male and female common repolls (Acanthis flammea) are light gray streaked with black. They have a small red cap, as well as a black face and chin. Males can show pink wash on their breasts. It has a very small yellow bill, a plumb body, and a notched tail.
Food: Attract common redpolls with hulled sunflower seeds, nyjer, and black oil sunflower seeds.
Feeder: It usually feeds at small and large hopper feeders, tube feeders, and ground.
Presence: The Common Redpoll is a year-round resident across most of the Far North Region. It frequently visits backyard bird feeders in high numbers, especially during the cold winter and spring months.
Behavior: This small siskin-like bird is not aggressive to other birds at feeders. It may be submissive to most birds at feeders.
Backyard: Favors semi-open and deciduous woodlands. Visits feeders located near its favorite habitat. Some years may become erratic and appear in unexpected places.
Nest: The common redpoll builds a neat cup lined inside with bird feathers, hair, and other fine material.
Breeding season: They breed in late May through late August.
Breeding Period: The common redpoll lays 2-6 bluish eggs spotted with brown. It takes about 24 days from egg-laying (incubation period 11 days, nestling period 13 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Common Redpolls live at least 8 years.
STARLINGS
The European starling is an introduced bird now common and well-established in North America. Starlings are diet generalist and highly adaptable, visiting and returning to feeders that offer any type of food. They 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 an introduced year-round resident in the southern portion of the Far North Region. It aggressively visits urban backyard bird feeders during all months of the calendar 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 to many. They are frequent visitor to bird feeders in Far North Region.
Corvids are diet generalists, including just about anything edible 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 and feeder types.
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 year-round resident restricted to the southern portion of the Far North Region. It reliably visits backyard bird feeders for seeds and suet 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.
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 Canda 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 year-round resident across most of the Far North Region. This bold, ubiquitous corvid can be expected at backyard bird feeders during every month of the 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 year-round resident in the southern portion of the Far North Region. It regularly visits backyard feeders for scraps and large seeds during all months 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 record 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.
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 a breeding visitor arriving in the southern portion of the Far North Region in April and departing by October, visiting backyard bird feeders during these specific 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 shrubs10 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.
Common Raven
Identification: The common raven (Corvus corax) is all black and nearly unmistakable. It is larger and has a longer and thicker bill than the similar American crow. Usually in pair rather than in flocks.
Food: Common ravens will take just about any type of food offered to smaller birds.
Feeder: The common raven favors platform feeders and the ground.
Presence: The Common Raven is a year-round resident throughout most of the Far North Region. This large, intelligent corvid can be expected at backyard bird feeders during any month of the year.
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 suburban areas but not in others.
Nest: It builds a simple platform or accumulation of twigs in trees or tall shrubs10 to 70 above the ground.
Breeding season: Common ravens breed in mid-February through mid-July.
Breeding period: The common raven lays 3-6 olive-green or bluish eggs blotched with brown concentrated on the wide side of the egg. It takes about 58-60 days from egg-laying (incubation period 23 days, nestling period 35 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Common ravens live at least 22 years and seven months.
THRUSH & ROBIN
Thrushes and Robins belong to the avian family Turdidae. In the Far North Region, bird feeder visitors in this family include the varied thrush and the American robin.
Thrushes and robins feed mostly on insects and small amounts of 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 a breeding visitor across most of the Far North Region. Arriving in April and departing by October, it occasionally visits backyard bird feeders during these warmer months.
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.
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: The Varied Thrush is a breeding visitor in the southern portion of the Far North Region. Arriving in April and departing by September, it visits backyard bird feeders during these months.
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.
WOODPECKERS
Two widespread woodpeckers are regular visitors to backyard bird feeders in the Far North Region. Woodpeckers feed on insects, other arthropods, fruit, nectar, and seeds. The two woodpecker species in this list are the most widespread species in North America.
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 year-round resident in the southern portion of the Far North Region. This small woodpecker is expected at suet feeders during all months of the year.
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 year-round resident in the southern portion of the Far North Region. It regularly visits backyard bird feeders for suet and seeds throughout the entire 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 31 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.
CHICKADEES
Chickadees belong to the avian family Paridae. They feed mostly on insects, but when insects are scarce, they switch to seeds, buds, and fruit. As the cold winter, months approach, chickadees 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 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 Carolina 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 a year-round resident in the southern portion of the Far North Region. It is a constant visitor at backyard bird feeders during all months of the 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 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 Carolina chickadee lives at least 10 years and 8 months.
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 year-round resident in the coastal southern portion of the Far North Region. It actively visits backyard bird feeders during all months of the calendar 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 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.
Boreal Chickadee
Identification: The boreal chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) has a brown cap rather than the black or blackish brown cap of other chickadees. It also has rufous flanks and white edging on the tail feathers.
Food: Attract boreal 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 Boreal Chickadee is a year-round resident throughout most of the Far North Region. This hardy bird is a regular visitor at backyard bird feeders during every month of the 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: Boreal chickadees nest in cavities that pairs excavate in rotten or soft wood. I also use existing cavities such as those excavated by woodpeckers.
Breeding season: Boreal chickadees breed in mid-May through mid-August.
Breeding period: Boreal chickadees lay 5-9 white eggs. It takes about 35 days from egg-laying (incubation period 16 days, nestling period 19 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Boreal chickadees live at least 6-10 years.
NUTHATCHES
The Far North Region has one nuthatch species regularly reported at backyard bird feeders. Nuthatches are small birds with relatively long bills that belong to the avian family Sittidae. Nuthatches 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.
Nuthatches feed on small insects and seeds and regularly associate with specific habitat types. They 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 year-round resident in the southern portion of the Far North Region. It reliably visits backyard bird feeders for suet and seeds 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.
WAXWINGS
Waxwings are elegant birds with silky plumage and prominent crests. They are highly nomadic, roaming widely in search of berry-laden trees during the non-breeding season. Their diet plays a crucial role in seed dispersal. A distinctive feature of waxwings is the presence of wax-like tips on their secondary flight feathers.
Bohemian Waxwing
Identification: The bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) has a uniquely smooth plumage with shades of buffy and warm-brown. Adult birds have red waxy tips on their wing feathers. It differs from the similar cedar waxwing in having rusty feathers under the tail and white marks on the wings.
Food: Attract bohemian waxwings to your yard by planting native bushes and trees that bear small berries. Also, offer berries and other fruit.
Feeder: Waxwings are entirely frugivores and will use shallow bowls holding berries. They also take impaled fruit.
Presence: The Bohemian Waxwing is a nomadic year-round resident in most of the Far North Region. It irruptively visits backyard bird feeders, primarily seeking fruit, during the winter and spring months.
Behavior: Bohemian waxwings are surprisingly submissive to other birds despite attending feeders in flocks.
Backyard: Bohemian waxwings are nomadic birds (during the winter) that will go just about anywhere a tree is bearing fruit.
Nest: The female bohemian waxwing builds a bulky cup made of twigs, grasses, horsehair, cattail down, and strings.
Breeding season: The bohemian waxwing breeds in mid-May through mid-August.
Breeding period: The bohemian waxwings lay 2-6 bluish with dark spots eggs. It takes about 30 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 17 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Bohemian waxwings live at least 5 years, 10 months.
What type of bird feeder should I get to attract birds in the Central Region?
The type of bird feeder to get in Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut 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 Central Region 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 Far North Region of North America.
| 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 the Far North Region?
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 states and provinces in the Far North Region?
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.
Photo Credits:
The photographic material used in this guide was made available on various websites. Many thanks to Andrew Morffew, Mark Mochell, Elizabeth Milson, Duzan Brinkhuizen, Matt Weller, Troy Anderson, Dennis Church, Wendy Miller, Rick From Alabama, Carlos Sanchez, John Benson, Mick Thompson, Steve Guttman, Victor Espinoza, Kelly Colgan-Azar, Andy Reago, Chrissy McLaren, Garry C., Michael Janke, Cuatro77, Linda Fortuna, Vicky DeLoach, Paul Hurtado, Tom Murray, Tom Wilberding, Patricia Pierce, Kenneth Cole-Schneider, Doug Greenberg, Brian Garrett, David White, Victoria Pickering, Becky Matsubara, Dan Mooney, and Julio Mulero.
Voices:
Most recordings were made by Paul Marvin (Xeno-canto https://xeno-canto.org/contributor/RFTXRYBVBX)
References and Sources:
- 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/)
- Wikipedia. (https://www.wikipedia.org/)
Final thoughts:
The Guide to backyard feeder birds of the Far North Region of North America is largely based on the concept of citizen science. Most of the information in this article comes from citizen reports.
This identification guide covers common birds that visit backyard feeders in the Far North Region of the United States and Canada. The area of coverage includes the states and provinces of Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.