This guide covers 63 bird species that regularly visit backyard feeders in the State of California. 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 California
- 63 Birds that Regularly visit Backyard Feeders in the State of California
- SPARROWS, FINCHES, GROSBEAKS, & ALLIES
- Cassin's Finch
- House Finch
- Purple Finch
- Red Crossbill
- Chipping Sparrow
- White-crowned Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Fox Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Golden-crowned Sparrow
- Spotted Towhee
- California Towhee
- Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Lazuli Bunting
- Black-headed Grosbeak
- Blue Grosbeak
- Evening Grosbeak
- Lesser Goldfinch
- American Goldfinch
- Pine Siskin
- House Sparrow
- DOVES AND PIGEONS
- QUAILS
- THRASHERS & MOCKINGBIRDS
- 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 California
- What type of bird feeder should I get to attract birds in the State of California?
- 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 California?
- Why Birds Visit—or Avoid—Your Feeders
Identifying and Understanding Backyard Feeder Birds in California
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.
California 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.
63 Birds that Regularly visit Backyard Feeders in the State of California
Most birds that visit backyard feeders in California 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 | 22 | 33.87% |
| Doves and Pigeons | 6 | 9.68% |
| Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles | 5 | 8.06% |
| Jays & Crows | 5 | 8.06% |
| Woodpeckers | 5 | 8.06% |
| Chickadees, Titmice & Allies | 5 | 8.06% |
| Bluebird and Robins | 4 | 6.45% |
| Nuthatches & Creeper | 4 | 6.45% |
| Warblers | 2 | 3.23% |
| Thrashers and Mockingbirds | 1 | 1.61% |
| Starlings | 1 | 1.61% |
| Wrens | 1 | 1.61% |
| Quails | 1 | 1.61% |
| Kinglets | 1 | 1.61% |
SPARROWS, FINCHES, GROSBEAKS, & ALLIES
In the State of California, 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 winter visitor in California. It moves downslope into valleys from late fall through early spring, visiting montane and foothills backyard bird feeders from October to 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 California. This highly adaptable, ubiquitous finch is a constant presence and can be expected at urban and suburban bird feeders throughout the entire year.
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 year-round resident in most of California. It appears to be absent from the central part of the state. Where present, it can be expected at feeder any time of the year.
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 an erratic, nomadic resident in California. This specialized conifer seeker wanders widely depending on cone crops, appearing unpredictably at high-elevation 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 .
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 breeding summer resident and winter visitor in California. It arrives at northern breeding grounds in April, migrating south by September, visiting lower-elevation bird feeders during these transitions.
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 widespread winter resident and localized coastal resident in California. Migrants arrive en masse in September and depart by April, actively visiting ground-level bird feeders all winter long.
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 a rare, regular winter visitor in California. This eastern traveler typically arrives in October and departs by April, occasionally joining mixed sparrow flocks at backyard bird feeders.
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 breeding resident in California. Widespread wintering birds arrive in October and depart by April, heavily utilizing backyard ground feeders for seed.
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 throughout most of California. This vocal, streaked sparrow maintains stable local territories and reliably visits low-profile backyard bird feeders across 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.
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 California. Arriving from northern breeding grounds in September, this flocking sparrow remains a dominant, eager visitor at backyard bird feeders until departing in April.
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 widespread year-round resident in California. This large, cautious sparrow frequents brushy edges and routinely visits backyard ground-feeding stations for seeds and suet throughout the entire year.
Behavior: The Spotted Towhee is a common year-round resident in California 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.
California Towhee
Identification: The California Towhee (Melozone crissalis) is a rather nondescript grayish-brown bird. It has a long tail, a streaked throat, and conical bill. The undertail area is rufous-brown.
Food: Attract California towhees with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.
Feeder: The California towhee is largely a ground feeder that takes seeds spilled below elevated feeders. It uses platform feeders and, less often, hopper feeders.
Presence: The California Towhee is a highly sedentary year-round resident in California. This dull-brown, familiar backyard fixture rarely wanders from its territory, visiting under-feeder areas daily from January through December.
Behavior: California towhees feed mostly on the ground along with other ground feeders, which are generally not aggressive to each other.
Backyard: This bird occurs in scrub vegetation and is generally reluctant to venture away from it. It is more likely to visit backyard feeders located adjacent to its preferred habitat.
Nest: The California Towhee nest on branches of trees, thick forks of scrub vegetation generally within 6 feet from the ground on average.
Breeding season: The California Towhee breeds from late February through early August.
Breeding period: It lays 2-4 bluish eggs speckled with reddish brown spots. It takes approximately 25 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 12 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: California towhees live at least 12 years and 10 months.
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 high-altitude alpine resident and erratic winter visitor in California. It descends to lower mountain communities during severe winter freezes, visiting high-elevation feeders from November to 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 widespread winter visitor in California. Local montane breeders are joined by northern migrants from October to April, heavily visiting ground-feeding stations.
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 colorful breeding summer resident in California. Arriving in April and departing by September, this brilliant blue bird visits backyard white proso millet and nyjer feeders.
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.
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 California. Arriving from Mexico in April and departing by September, this heavy-billed bird eagerly visits backyard sunflower seed and suet feeders.
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.
Blue Grosbeak
Identification: Adult male: deep cobalt blue, enormous silver bill, two rufous wingbars. Adult female: warm brown, rufous wingbars, unstreaked underparts. No seasonal plumage changes. Juveniles: resemble adult females; subadult males brownish with variable blue patches.
Food: The Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) favors Sunflower seeds, white proso millet, cracked corn, safflower, canary seed, peanut pieces.
Feeder: Large tube, large hopper, tray, and platform feeders. Frequently forages on the ground.
Presence: The Blue Grosbeak is an uncommon breeding summer resident in California. Present in brushy fields from April to September, it occasionally visits backyard platform seed feeders before migrating south for winter.
Behavior: Shy and easily alarmed; males exhibit territorial aggression and mate guarding. Often forages in social flocks outside nesting season.
Backyard: Favors brushy pastures, overgrown fields, hedgerows, and shrubby yard edges with dense thickets or vine tangles for cover.
Nest: Compact cup of twigs, bark, and rootlets; often incorporates snakeskin or paper. Located in shrubs, trees, or vines. Height: 1-10 feet above ground.
Breeding season: Blue Grosbeaks breed during the months of April through August.
Breeding period: Clutch: 3-5 eggs | Appearance: Pale blue to bluish-white, usually unmarked | Incubation: 12-13 days | Nestling: 9-13 days | Total to Fledging: ~20-25 days.
Lifespan: At least 10 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 erratic, irruptive winter visitor and localized montane resident in California. This large-billed finch descends unpredictably into valleys, visiting backyard sunflower seed feeders from October to April.
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.
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 widespread year-round resident in California. This small, social finch is a constant presence in open woodlands and suburban gardens, visiting backyard nyjer feeders 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 in California. This brightly colored finch moves locally depending on seed availability, reliably visiting backyard nyjer and sunflower feeders across 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 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 an irruptive winter resident and localized montane breeding resident in California. This heavily streaked finch floods lowland backyard thistle and sunflower feeders unpredictably from October to 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 an introduced, abundant year-round resident in California. Closely associated with human development, this highly gregarious bird visits backyard platform and hopper feeders throughout the entire 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 California, doves are represented by six 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 an abundant year-round resident in California. This familiar, slender dove maintains stable local populations and can be expected at open tray or ground bird feeders throughout the entire year.
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.
Common Ground-Dove
Identification: The male common ground-dove (Columbina passerina) is mostly buffy-brown with an orange bill tipped with black. The female is a dull version of the male. Both sexes have a scaly pattern on the neck and breast and black spots on the wings.
Food: Attract common ground-doves with hulled sunflower seeds, cracked corn, millet, oats, and milo.
Feeder: Common ground doves feed mostly on the ground but can use hopper and platform feeders.
Presence: The Common Ground-Dove is a scarce year-round resident in southern California. This tiny, warm-brown dove inhabits arid brushlands and reliably visits ground-feeding stations for small seeds from January through December.
Behavior: Rather shy dove that feeds mostly on the ground on seed spilled from hanging feeders. It is submissive to other, even smaller birds.
Backyard: Favors open and semi-open habitats. Visit yards with ample space often in suburban areas.
Nest: It builds a flimsy platform of accumulated twigs on a fork, crosses of branches, or palmetto fronts 3 to 12 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: The common ground-dove breeds most of the year, from early February through mid-December.
Breeding Period: Common ground-doves lay 1-3 pure white eggs. It takes about 28 days from egg-laying (incubation period 14 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Common ground-doves live at least 7 years and 2 months.
White-winged Dove
Identification: The white-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica) is uniform gray-brown with white bars along the edges of the folded wing. Note the blue bare skin around the eye and light gray terminal band in the tail.
Food: Attract white-winged doves with hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, cracked corn, millet, oats, and milo.
Feeder: It feeds mostly on the ground but can use platform feeders.
Presence: The White-winged Dove is a breeding summer resident and winter visitor in California. Arriving primarily in April, most depart by September, visiting southern desert backyard bird feeders during these warm-weather months.
Behavior: Non-aggressive but stands its ground against smaller non-aggressive birds. Submissive to blue jays, blackbirds, and crows.
Backyard: Favors backyard with plenty of perches. It mostly takes the seeds spilled on the ground from hanging feeders.
Nest: It builds a precarious platform of twigs placed in a fork or dense foliage 4-30 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: White-winged doves breed in late March through mid-September.
Breeding Period: White-winged doves lay 2 white eggs. It takes about 35 days from egg-laying (incubation period 18 days, nestling period 17 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: White-winged doves live at least 21 years and nine 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 an introduced, widespread year-round resident in California. This large, pale dove is highly adaptable, common in suburban environments, and visits backyard bird feeders across all twelve months.
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 nomadic year-round resident in California. This montane forest pigeon wanders widely in search of acorns and berries, visiting wooded backyard bird feeders unpredictably throughout the year.
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 an abundant year-round resident in California. This urban fixture is highly gregarious and can be expected at large platform bird feeders in cities and towns year-round.
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.
QUAILS
Gambel’s Quail is a staple bird of the Sonoran desert where they are often seen running and hiding in dense undergrowth. They form stable family groups and larger winter coveys often appearing in suburban yards to forage under bird feeders in the early morning and late afternoon. Their diet is predominantly plant-based, especially legumes.
Gambel’s Quail
Identification: The Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambelii) is mostly gray with conspicuous teardrop plumes protruding from the forehead. Only the male has a black face and throat, and a chestnut cap. Seen in small flocks on the ground.
Food: Attract Gambel’s quails with cracked corn, millet, milo, black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, and safflower.
Feeder: The Gambel’s quail is a ground feeder. They take seeds spilled below elevated feeders. It readily uses platform feeders.
Presence: The Gambel’s Quail is a common year-round resident in California. Confined to arid southeastern deserts, this distinctive quail visits ground-feeding areas near brushy cover daily from January through December.
Behavior: While not aggressive to other birds, Gambel’s quails are not bullied by other birds.
Backyard: This bird is a ground dweller that usually stays near vegetation that it utilizes as cover.
Nest: The Gambel’s quail builds a nest in secluded places under thick vegetation cover.
Breeding season: Gambel’s quails breed from April through August.
Breeding period: It lays 10-12 white eggs with irregular brown blotches. The incubation period is 23 to 25 days. After hatching, the chicks leave the nest a day later to follow their parents.
Lifespan: Gambel’s quails live at least 6 years and 11 months.
THRASHERS & MOCKINGBIRDS
Mockingbirds and thrashers belong to the family Mimidae (Mimids). These birds delight California backyard birders with not only their presence but also their songs. All are great songsters, and some are vocal mimics that incorporate parts of other local birds’ songs into their repertoire.
Mimids feed on insects and fruit. They use their bill to toss leaves and sticks or rake through leaf litter in search of food. They do something similar at bird feeders spilling over birdseed as they search for their favorite seed.
Northern Mockingbird
Identification: The northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is gray above and whitish gray below. In flight, it flashes white patches on the wings and white streaks on the long tail. Note its pale eyes.
Food: Attract northern mockingbirds with hulled sunflower seeds, suet, peanut hearts, fruit, and mealworms.
Feeder: It favors platform feeders and the ground.
Presence: The Northern Mockingbird is a widespread year-round resident in California. This vocal mimic is highly territorial in suburban gardens, visiting suet or fruit bird feeders occasionally during any month of the year.
Behavior: Non-aggressive at feeders and submissive to most other birds.
Backyard: Northern mockingbirds do well in all vegetation types, including yards in urban areas with little vegetation.
Nest: The northern mockingbird builds an open cup-shaped nest in dense shrubs, usually 2-10 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: Northern mockingbirds breed in late February through mid-September.
Breeding period: Northern mockingbirds lay 2-6 bluish or greenish eggs blotched with brown. It takes about 25 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period: 12 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: The northern mockingbird lives at least 11 years and 7 months.
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 an introduced, abundant year-round resident in California. Traveling in large, aggressive flocks, this iridescent species frequently visits suet and grain bird feeders throughout the entire 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 California. 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 California. Inhabiting coniferous montane forests, this bold, crested jay regularly visits backyard bird feeders for whole peanuts and suet year-round.
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.
Pinyon Jay
Identification: Adult male: Uniformly dusty blue, darker on head, white-streaked throat; plumage lacks crest. Adult female: Similar but slightly duller, often with more gray on underparts. Juveniles: Dull gray or grayish-blue; resemble adults but lack intense blue coloration.
Food: The Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) favors pinon nuts, black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, suet, peanuts, cracked corn.
Feeder: Large hopper, platform, large tray feeders. Also feeds on ground.
Presence: The Pinyon Jay is a nomadic year-round resident in California. Restricted to eastern pinyon-juniper woodlands, this highly social jay visits specialized backyard feeding stations erratically during any month of the year.
Behavior: Highly social, travels in large flocks; aggressive at feeders, often dominating smaller species through sheer numbers.
Backyard: Favors pinyon-juniper woodlands, scrub oaks, and sagebrush. Visits yards with mature trees and reliable water sources.
Nest: Deep cup of twigs and grass; usually in pinyon pine or juniper. Height: 3-20 feet above ground.
Breeding Season: The Pinyon Jay breeds in the months of March through June (highly dependent on pine nut crop).
Breeding Period: Clutch: 3-5 eggs | Appearance: Bluish-white or greenish-white, finely speckled brown | Incubation: 16-17 days | Nestling: 21 days | Total to Fledging: ~38 days.
Lifespan: At least 16 years.
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 ubiquitous year-round resident in California. This bold, intelligent corvid is a familiar oak-woodland and suburban fixture, visiting backyard bird feeders daily for peanuts and sunflower seeds.
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.
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 localized year-round resident in California. Confined to East-Side valleys, this striking, long-tailed corvid visits large platform bird feeders for suet and scraps throughout the entire 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.
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 California. This highly social and intelligent bird adapts well to suburban environments, visiting open backyard feeding stations regularly 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 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 California. 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 a widespread year-round resident and winter visitor in California. While nesting montane populations shift, wintering flocks descend to suburban yards, visiting fruit or mealworm feeders from October to April.
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 montane breeding resident and widespread winter resident in California. Lower-elevation backyard visitors arrive in October and depart by April, occasionally visiting suet or berry feeders in winter.
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: The Varied Thrush is a secretive winter resident in California. Arriving from northern forests in October and departing by April, this dark-banded thrush visits shaded ground-feeding areas primarily during wet winter 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.
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 in California. This colorful insectivore shifts to lowlands in winter, reliably visiting specialized backyard mealworm feeders from January through December.
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 California, 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 California. This small, familiar woodpecker favors deciduous streamsides and suburban trees, visiting backyard suet and sunflower feeders throughout the entire 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.
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Identification: The Nuttall’s woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii) is a small black and white woodpecker. Its back is barred but the sides of the breast and belly are spotted. The head is patterned with black and white and only adult male has a red nape.
Food: Attract nuttall’s woodpeckers with suet, black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, peanuts, peanut hearts, and mealworms.
Feeder: They favor suet cages, large and small hopper, and platform feeders.
Presence: The Nuttall’s Woodpecker is a near-endemic year-round resident in California. Confined to oak woodlands, this zebra-backed species is a regular visitor to backyard suet and peanut feeders across all twelve months.
Behavior: Generally non-aggressive but dominant over smaller birds and submissive to larger ones.
Backyard: Nuttall’s 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: Nuttall’s woodpeckers nest in cavities they excavate in dead branches at variable heights from the ground.
Breeding season: They breed from early April through mid-July.
Breeding period: Nuttall’s woodpeckers lay 3-6 pure white and round eggs.
Lifespan: Nuttall’s woodpeckers live at least 9 years.
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 widespread year-round resident in California. Primarily occupying mature timber and montane forests, this sturdy woodpecker visits wooded backyard suet stations reliably during any month of 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 California. 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 and winter visitor in California. While some nest locally, northern migrants surge into backyard yards from October to April, heavily visiting suet feeders.
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 a majestic year-round resident in California. Restricted to mature conifer and mixed forests, this crow-sized woodpecker occasionally visits large, sturdy backyard suet feeders throughout the entire 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.
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 montane year-round resident in California. This acrobatic, white-eyebrowed species descends slightly during harsh winters, visiting high-elevation backyard seed and suet feeders from January through December.
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 California. Restricted to moist coastal coniferous forests, this striking chickadee regularly visits backyard seed, suet, and peanut feeders across 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.
Oak Titmouse
Identification: The oak titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) is a small nondescript bird. Its plumage is mostly gray with shades of brown. It has a conspicuous crest. Both sexes are similar.
Food: The oak titmouse is a frequent visitors to backyard bird feeders. They normally feed on insects, but readily take hulled sunflowers seeds, cracked peanuts, millet, mealworms and suet.
Feeder: It favors hopper and platform feeders, tube feeders and quickly learn to use suet cages.
Presence: The Oak Titmouse is a ubiquitous year-round resident in California. This plain, crested bird is deeply tied to oak ecosystems, visiting suburban backyard seed and suet feeders daily from January through December.
Behavior: Non-aggressive at feeders. Submissive to most birds visiting feeders.
Backyard: The oak titmouse is a bird that favor dense foliage. It is more likely to visit feeders located near dense foliage.
Nest: It builds a cup-shaped nest inside natural cavities or those excavated by woodpecker.
Breeding season: The oak titmouse breeds from mid-March through mid-July.
Breeding period: A female oak titmouse lays 3-8 white, often speckled with brown eggs. It takes about 34 days from egg-laying (incubation period 15 days, nestling period 19 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: The oak titmouse lives at least 9 years.
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 an abundant year-round resident in California. Traveling in highly social, chattering flocks, these tiny gray birds visit backyard suet feeders en masse during any month of the year.
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.
Verdin
Identification: The adult Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) is all gray with a chestnut shoulder patch, bright yellow face and a pointed bill. Juvenile birds are all gray-brown.
Food: Attract verdins with nectar, fruit, jelly, and suet.
Feeder: This hyperactive bird can take nectar from hummingbird feeders, eat fruit in a bowl or impaled. They can also use suet cages.
Presence: The Verdin is a permanent year-round resident in California. Restricted to the arid southeastern desert scrub, this tiny, yellow-headed bird occasionally visits backyard suet or hummingbird nectar feeders all year long.
Behavior: Verdins are restless birds that often hang upside down to investigate hard-to-reach tips of branches and leaves. At feeders it is not aggressive to each other.
Backyard: Verdins are arboreal and are more likely to visit feeders in yards with plenty of trees and bushes.
Nest: Verdins build a spherical and bulky nest with an entrance near the bottom of the nest.
Breeding season: Verdins breed from mid March through July.
Breeding period: It lays 3-6 greenish eggs with brown spots. The incubation period lasts 14-18 days.
Lifespan: Verdins live at least 6 years.
NUTHATCHES & CREEPER
Nuthatches are frequent visitors to backyard bird feeders in the State of California. 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 resident and irruptive winter visitor in California. Conifer-dependent, this short-tailed bird visits backyard suet and upside-down peanut feeders reliably, with increased lowland numbers from October to April.
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 California. Favoring oak and pine-oak woodlands, this acrobatic bird visits backyard seed and suet feeders daily 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 highly social year-round resident in California. Bound strictly to yellow pine forests, these tiny nuthatches visit montane backyard suet and seed feeders year-round in noisy groups.
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 widespread year-round resident in California. Nesting in montane forests, it creeps spirally up tree trunks, occasionally visiting bark-mounted backyard suet feeders during any month of the 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 California. This energetic, long-tailed insectivore frequents brushy suburban gardens, visiting backyard suet or mealworm feeders reliably from January through December.
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 montane breeding resident and abundant winter resident in California. Widespread wintering flocks arrive in September and depart by April, heavily visiting backyard suet and fruit feeders.
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 breeding summer resident and winter visitor in California. Present primarily from March to September, low-elevation wintering individuals occasionally visit backyard suet and nectar feeders year-round.
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 California.
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 an abundant winter resident in California. Nesting in high mountains, it floods lowland valleys from September to April, frequently visiting backyard suet and water features all winter.
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 an abundant year-round resident in California. Forming massive, noisy flocks near marshy areas, this bold species regularly raids large open backyard platform feeders throughout the entire year.
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 a widespread year-round resident in California. Highly colonial and habituated to human presence, this glossy bird visits suburban lawns and backyard seed feeders across 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 breeding summer resident and winter visitor in California. Present in high numbers from April to August, wintering flocks visit backyard agricultural and seed feeders more localized.
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 breeding summer resident in California. Arriving from tropical wintering grounds in March and departing by September, this brilliant orange bird visits backyard nectar and fruit 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.
Scott‘s Oriole
Identification: Adult male: Striking lemon-yellow body with jet-black head, back, and wings. Yellow wing bars. Adult female: Olive-green above, duller yellow below. Juveniles: Resemble female; males develop black throat after first year.
Food: Scott’s Oriole (Icterus parisorum) favors nectar, oranges, suet, mealworms, grapes.
Feeder: Nectar feeders, fruit spikes, jelly cups.
Presence: The Scott’s Oriole is a breeding summer resident in California. Bound to high-desert yucca corridors, it arrives in April and departs by August, visiting specialized southern desert backyard nectar feeders.
Behavior: Often displaced from feeders by larger, aggressive birds. Solitary or in pairs. Forages primarily in yuccas and agaves.
Backyard: Prefers arid slopes with yucca, juniper, and pinyon pine. Visits desert yards with native flowering succulents.
Nest: Woven pouch; often tucked under dead yucca leaves or in pinyon pines. Height: 4-20 feet above ground.
Breeding Season: The Scott’s Oriole breeds during the months of May through August.
Breeding Period: Clutch: 2-4 eggs | Appearance: Pale blue, speckled with black and gray | Incubation: 12-14 days | Nestling: 14 days | Total to Fledging: ~28 days.
Lifespan: At least 6 years and 5 months.
Identification pictures of species that come to backyard bird feeders in the State of California
Identifying backyard birds gives many hours of enjoyment to thousands of people in the State of California. 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 California?
The type of bird feeder to get in the State of California 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 California 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 California.
| 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 California?
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 California, 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 63 bird species that visit backyard feeders in the State of California 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:
Love the way you have picked out the very birds that come to bird feeders in Cali.
I am a long time backyard bird feeder and seeing Oak Titmouse, Golden-crowned Sparrow, California Scrub-jay on your list tells me that you know your trade!
I like your blog and your expertise.
Jason.
Very well done !
Sitting in front of the FREE LIBRARY OF PHILA: 1901 Ben Franklin Parkway….I noticed a sparrow sized bird w/ a greenish breast and it’s tail was not long as noted on this site above and I have been searching the internet for similar birds in our area…here in Phila. Does Philadelphia have a migrating bird w/ parakeet markings?
Hello Sydney, I ma pretty sure that Philadelphia gets too cold to support established populations of parakeets. However, your sighting may be an escapee that was feeding on the ground. A photo of the birds would be helpful.
Cheers,
Al
Dear Alfredo,
I took my daily ranch walk near Ukiah, California, and came across a bird I wasn’t sure of until I found it in your compilation of birds that come to backyard bird feeders in California–a pine siskin. About 80% of the birds you list are the same ones we see at our feeders throughout the year. And then, not only are the pictures great, but the song renditions are a great boon as well. These features coupled with excellent descriptions, etc. make this a superb source for anyone interested in birds and their survival.
If that alone were the end of it, you would have made my day, but then I explored the rest of your website and marvelled at all the work you have put into it. You are the bird ghuru por excelencia and have created a wonderful resource for others–a great benefit!
Thank you for it!!
Robert
Dear Robert,
Thank you for such a generous and encouraging note! Knowing that the guide helped you confidently identify that Pine Siskin on your ranch walk completely makes my day. I am thrilled the song renditions and pictures served as a great boon for you.
Regards,
Al.