This guide covers 62 bird species that regularly visit backyard feeders in the State of Texas. 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.
- Use the links below to jump to a species account, or scroll down and navigate this guide.
- Understanding Seasonal Fluctuations of bird visitation at Your Bird Feeder
- 62 Birds that Regularly visit Backyard Feeders in the State of Texas
- SPARROWS, FINCHES, & ALLIES
- DOVES AND PIGEONS
- BLACKBIRDS & THEIR ALLIES
- MOCKINGBIRDS, THRASHERS, & CATBIRDS
- STARLINGS
- JAYS & CROWS
- BLUEDBIRDS & ROBINS
- WOODPECKERS
- TITMOUSE & CHICKADEE
- NUTHATCHES
- WRENS
- WAXWINGS
- KINGLETS
- WARBLERS
- What type of bird feeder should I get in Texas?
- How do I attract birds to my bird feeder in Texas?
- What type of food do I need to attract birds in Texas?
- Why Birds Visit—or Avoid—Your Feeders
This guide doesn’t just stop at identification. Each bird entry 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! Watch a wider variety of birds grace your yard, while providing them with food.
Backyard birders will find the guide to backyard feeder birds of the State of Texas useful as an identification and reference tool. This information can also be used to engage the local community in bird conservation efforts. Knowing the diversity and types of birds that visit feeders can inspire people to participate in citizen science projects.
Understanding Seasonal Fluctuations of bird visitation at Your Bird Feeder
Bird visitation at feeders varies seasonally due to several factors. In spring and summer, birds may rely less on feeders because natural food sources are plentiful.
During the breeding season, birds need protein-rich food like insects to feed their young, reducing their dependency on feeders that primarily offer seeds and grains.
Migration patterns also influence feeder visitation, with year-round resident birds consistently present, while migratory birds come and go with the seasons.
Weather plays a crucial role, as harsh winter conditions increase birds’ reliance on feeders, whereas heavy rain or strong winds can deter them from visiting due to the challenges in flying and feeding.
Additionally, the state of the feeders themselves affects bird visitation. Empty or poorly maintained feeders with old seeds can drive birds to seek food elsewhere.
62 Birds that Regularly visit Backyard Feeders in the State of Texas
Most birds that visit backyard feeders in Texas 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 | 19 | 30.65% |
| Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles | 7 | 11.29% |
| Woodpeckers | 6 | 9.68% |
| Doves and Pigeons | 5 | 8.06% |
| Chickadees, Titmice & Allies | 5 | 8.06% |
| Thrashers and Mockingbirds | 3 | 4.84% |
| Jays & Crows | 3 | 4.84% |
| Bluebird and Robins | 3 | 4.84% |
| Nuthatches & Creeper | 3 | 4.84% |
| Wrens | 3 | 4.84% |
| Warblers | 2 | 3.23% |
| Starlings | 1 | 1.61% |
| Waxwings | 1 | 1.61% |
| Kinglets | 1 | 1.61% |
SPARROWS, FINCHES, & ALLIES
In the State of Texas, sparrows, finches, and their allies constitute the largest group of backyard feeder birds. Most are ground-feeder birds that also feed on platforms, hoppers, and tube feeders.
Birds in this group have heavy, conical, seed-crushing bills. Backyard feeders generally offer seeds and grain that sparrows, finches, cardinals, 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.
Northern Cardinal
Identification: The male northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is all red with a conspicuous crest and long tail. The female is warm-brown with red on the wings and tail. Juveniles resemble a female.
Food: Food: Attract cardinals with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.
Feeder: It favors large tube, large hopper, and platform feeders. It also feeds on the ground. The northern cardinal is one of the most frequent visitors of backyard bird feeders.
Behavior: Northern cardinals can be aggressive to smaller birds but are displaced by blue jays, woodpeckers, grackles, and larger birds.
Backyard: Favors dense cover and tall shrubs and trees, but will visit just about any type of yard with enough vegetation in or near it.
Presence: In the State of Texas, northern cardinals are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders year-round.
Nest: Northern cardinals build a cup-shaped nest in a fork of small branches, shrubs, or vine tangle, 1-15 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: The northern cardinal breeds from March through mid-September.
Breeding period: Northern cardinals lay 2-5 grayish to greenish eggs speckled with light brown. It takes approximately 22 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 10 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Northern cardinals live at least 15 years and nine months.
Pyrrhuloxia
Identification: Adult male: Gray overall with red face, crest, breast, and tail highlights. Yellow, parrot-like beak. Adult female: Mostly gray-buff; red restricted to crest and wings. Juveniles: Resemble female; beak is dark.
Food: Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) favors sunflower seeds, safflower, millet, cracked corn, suet.
Feeder: Platform feeders, hopper feeders, large tube feeders. Also forages on ground.
Presence: The Pyrrhuloxia is a year-round resident in the State of Texas. It can be expected at bird feeders during every month of the year.
Behavior: Less aggressive than Northern Cardinals. Social in winter; forms small flocks. Wary of humans; retreats to cover quickly.
Backyard: Favors desert scrub, mesquite thickets, and arid ranches. Visits xeriscaped yards with dense, thorny shrubbery.
Nest: The Pyrrhuloxia builds a compact cup of twigs and grass; placed in thorny shrubs or mesquite. Height: 4-15 feet above ground. Breeding season: March through August.
Breeding period: Clutch: 2-4 eggs | Appearance: White to greenish-white, speckled gray and brown | Incubation: 14 days | Nestling: 12 days | Total to Fledging: ~24 days.
Lifespan: At least 8 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 feed, small and large hopper, and platform feeders.
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.
Presence: In most of the state of Texas, house finches are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders throughout the year. They are absent from the eastern third of the state.
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.
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 year-round resident in part, and a nonbreeding visitor (Fall and Winter) in other parts of the State of Texas. Visits at feeders reflect their presence in the State.
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.
Field Sparrow
Identification: The field sparrow (Spizella pusilla) is a small sparrow with a relatively long tail. Adult birds can be gray or brown overall but always have pink bills and white eyering. Juveniles have a dark red bill that turns lighter with age.
Food: Attract field sparrows with hulled sunflower seed, cracked peanuts, and cracked corn. They seem to like millet particularly.
Feeder: Field sparrows regularly feed on the ground but use large hoppers and platform feeders.
Presence: The Field Sparrow is a fairly common winter resident and uncommon breeder in Texas. Arriving mostly in October and departing by April, it visits ground-level bird feeders during these cooler months.
Behavior: Field sparrows, like other small sparrows, are non-aggressive to other birds. Larger, more aggressive ones more often displace them.
Backyard: The field sparrow favors overgrown fields and brushy areas. Yards that resemble this habitat are likely to attract field sparrows.
Nest: Field sparrows build a cup-shaped nest on the ground, usually in a clamp of grass or under shrubs.
Breeding season: The field sparrow breeds in May through mid-August.
Breeding period: The field sparrow lays 2-5 white eggs with brown to purple spots. It takes about 23 days from egg-laying (incubation period 15 days, nestling period 8 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Field sparrows live at least 10 years and 11 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: In the State of Texas, the white-throated sparrow in a nonbreeding visitor and can be expected at feeders during the Fall and Winter months.
Behavior: Not an aggressive bird easily displaced by more aggressive ones.
Backyard: The white-throated sparrow forages in semi-open areas with some vegetation cover. Favors backyards that offer vegetation cover near the feeders.
Nest: White-throated sparrows build a cup-shaped nest on or near the ground.
Breeding season: The white-throated sparrow breeds in late May through mid-August.
Breeding Period: The white-throated sparrow lays 2-6 pale bluish-green eggs speckled with chestnut-brown. It takes approximately 23 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 11 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: White-throated sparrows live at least 14 years and 11 months.
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: Song sparrows are non-breeding visitors in the State of Texas. They are expected at feeders during the Fall and Winter 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.
Harris’s Sparrow
Identification: Harris’s Sparrows (Zonotrichia atricapilla) have the head gray (breeding) or warm brown (non-breeding) with a distinctive black cap, and black bib extending from the chin to the upper breast. The underparts are mostly white. The back is warm brown streaked with black.
Food: Attract Harris’s sparrows with black oil and hulled sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and millet.
Feeder: Harris’s sparrows feed mainly on the ground but take platform feeders.
Presence: Harris’s Sparrows are nonbreeding visitors to the State of Texas and can be expected at feeders during the Fall and Winter months.
Behavior: Like other ground feeders, Harris’s sparrows interact peacefully with other ground feeders. They can be pushed aside from platform feeders by more aggressive birds.
Backyard: Harris’s sparrows favor overgrown fields and brushy areas, particularly during migration and wintering grounds. Yards that resemble this habitat type are likely to attract them.
Nest: It builds a cup-shaped and well-insulated nest with an outer layer of dry vegetation lined inside with a layer of fine grasses and feathers. The nest is placed on the ground in a shallow depression in dense grasses and sedges.
Breeding season: The white-crowned sparrow’s breeding season varies regionally but is generally from May through mid-August.
Breeding period: Harris’s sparrows lay 3-5 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 11 years and 8 months.
White-crowned Sparrow
Identification: The white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) has black and white stripes on the crown (adults). The head and breast areas are gray. It is a large and relatively long-tailed sparrow. Immature birds have tan and brown head stripes. The bill color varies from yellow-orange to pink.
Food: Attract white-crowned sparrows with black oil and hulled sunflower seeds, cracked corn, millet, and milo.
Feeder: White-crowned sparrows feed mainly on the ground but take platform feeders.
Presence: The White-crowned Sparrow is a common winter resident in Texas. This large sparrow arrives in late October and departs in April, visiting backyard feeders for millet and sunflower seeds during these cooler months.
Behavior: Like other ground feeders, white-crowned sparrows interact peacefully with other ground feeders. They can be pushed aside from platform feeders by more aggressive birds.
Backyard: The white-crowned favors overgrown fields and brushy areas, particularly during migration. Yards that resemble this habitat type are likely to attract white-crowned sparrows.
Nest: White-crowned sparrows build a cup-shaped nest in shrubs or bushes at various heights (2-5 feet) from the ground. They can also nest on the ground where tall shrubs are not available.
Breeding season: The white-crowned sparrow’s breeding season varies regionally but is generally from May through mid-August.
Breeding period: The white-crowned sparrow lays 3-7 bluish to greenish eggs spotted with brown concentrated on the wide side of the egg. It takes about 22 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 9 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: White-crowned sparrows live at least 13 years and 4 months.
Fox Sparrow
Identification: The Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) has a characteristic rufous ear patch bordered by gray. The upper back is streaked with rufous. The underparts are whitish with streaks formed by arrow-head-like rows, which concentrate in the breast area, forming a cluster.
Food: Attract fox sparrows with black and hulled sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, millet, and milo.
Feeder: They generally feed on the ground under elevated feeders. They typically use hoppers or platform feeders.
Presence: The Fox Sparrow is an uncommon winter resident in Texas. This heavy-bodied sparrow arrives in late November and departs in March, occasionally visiting backyard bird feeders for scratch grains during the winter months.
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 32 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.
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: Spotted towhees have resident populations in Texas. While they can be unpredictable, you can expect to see spotted towhees in your backyard feeders during the fall and winter months, when natural food sources become scarcer.
Behavior: Spotted towhees feed mostly on the ground along with other ground feeders, which are generally not aggressive to each other.
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.
Indigo Bunting
Identification: The male indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea) in breeding plumage is entirely blue. Females are brown with faint dark streaks on the breast and belly.
Food: Attract indigo buntings with hulled sunflower seed, millet, and nyjer.
Feeder: It favors large and small tube, large hopper, and platform feeders.
Presence: The Indigo Bunting is a common summer resident in Texas. This vibrant songbird arrives in early April and departs in October, frequently visiting backyard bird feeders for millet during spring and summer months.
Behavior: Nonaggressive and easy-going at feeders. Submissive to other even smaller birds.
Backyard: Favors backyards with dense vegetation around the feeders that they use to approach the feeder and return to cover.
Nest: Indigo buntings build a cup-shaped nest in thick vegetation, usually 3 to 5 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: The indigo bunting breeds in late May through late September.
Breeding Period: Indigo buntings lay 3-4 white unmarked eggs with some or no brownish spots. It takes about 24 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Indigo buntings live at least 13 years and 3 months.
Painted Bunting
Identification: The colorful male painted bunting (Passerina ciris) has a bright blue head, bright red underparts, and lime green back. Females and immature males are plain green above and yellowish and unstreaked below.
Food: Attract painted buntings with hulled sunflower seed, millet, nyjer.
Feeder: It favors large and small tube, large hopper, and platform feeders.
Presence: The Painted Bunting is a common summer resident in Texas. This spectacularly colorful finch arrives in early April and departs in October, eagerly visiting backyard bird feeders for white millet during these warm months.
Behavior: They are shy and non-aggressive, submissive to other, even smaller birds.
Backyard: Favors backyards with dense vegetation around the feeders that they use to approach the feeder and return to cover.
Nest: It builds a well-shaped open cup in dense foliage 3 to 6 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: Painted buntings breed in late April through mid-August.
Breeding Period: Painted buntings lay 3-4 pale bluish eggs speckled with brown. It takes about 19 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Painted buntings live at least 11 years.
Dark-eyed Junco
Identification: The dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) involves three sub-species with different plumages (portrayed in the image). All plumage variations have dark eyes, a pink bill, and white outer tail feathers. Females are a dull version of the males.
Food: Attract juncos with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.
Feeder: Juncos feeds mostly on the ground, eating birdseed spilled by elevated feeders. The readily uses platform and hopper feeders.
Presence: In the State of Texas, the dark-eyed junco in a nonbreeding visitor and can be expected at feeders during the Fall and Winter months.
Behavior: Not an aggressive bird that visits backyards often in flocks. Easily displaced by more aggressive ones.
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.
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: 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 a fairly common summer resident in Texas. This large-billed songbird arrives in early April and departs in October, occasionally visiting backyard bird feeders for seeds during summer months.
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: 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.
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.
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.
Presence: In the State of Texas, the white-throated sparrow in a nonbreeding visitor and can be expected at feeders during the Fall and Winter months.
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.
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: Lesser goldfinches are year-round residents in roughly the southern half of the State of Texas where they can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
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 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.
Pine Siskin
Identification: The pine siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small finch all brown 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.
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.
Presence: In the State of Texas, the pine siskin is a nonbreeding visitor and can be expected at feeders during the Fall and Winter months.
Nest: Pine siskins build a cup-shaped nest concealed in dense foliage on overhanging branches. Several pairs may nest in close proximity.
Breeding season: This siskin breeds between March through August.
Breeding period: Pine siskins lay 3-5 greenish with light brown specks eggs. It takes approximately 28 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 15 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: They live at least nine years and 2 months.
House Sparrow
Identification: Males house sparrows (Passer domesticus) have rich-brown and patterned back, chestnut napes, and a black bib that varies with age. The forehead and underparts are gray. Females are brown with a patterned back. Immatures look like females.
Food: House sparrows like black oil sunflower seed, hulled sunflower seed, cracked corn, peanut hearts, millet, and milo.
Feeder: They favor large tube, large hopper, and platform feeders. They also feed on the ground.
Presence: The house sparrow is a year-round resident in the State of Texas and can be expected at backyard bird feeders throughout the year.
Behavior: It can be aggressive to other birds at feeders. Dominant over same-sized and smaller birds.
Backyard: Favors open habitats, farmland, and urban areas. Visits all types of backyards.
Nest: House sparrows build large, bulky, and messy-looking nests with a side entrance. It uses cavities, light fixtures, tangled vines, and just about any structure to place a nest.
Breeding season: House sparrows breed in early March through late September.
Breeding Period: House sparrows lay 1-8 variable whitish, bluish, or greenish eggs spotted with gray. It takes about 26 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 13 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: House sparrows live at least 15 years and nine months.
DOVES AND PIGEONS
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. In Texas, doves are represented by four species.
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.
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.
Presence: In the state of Texas, mourning doves are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
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.
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 year-round resident in the State of Texas. It can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
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.
Inca Dove
Identification: The Inca dove (Columbina inca) has a gray-brown scaly plumage with a long tail. It has white outer tail feathers.
Food: Attract inca 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 inca dove also uses platform feeders.
Behavior: The inca dove is non-aggressive at feeders. It is submissive to more aggressive birds.
Backyard It favors relatively open yards where it usually feeds on seeds on the ground.
Presence: In the state of Texas, Inca doves are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
Nest: Inca 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: Inca doves breed throughout the year but less frequently between December through March.
Breeding Period: The female lays 2 white eggs. It takes about 28 days from egg-laying (incubation period 14 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Inca doves live at least 11 years.
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 permanent year-round resident in Texas. This diminutive, quiet dove remains within the state in all seasons, visiting ground-level bird feeders across all twelve months of the year.
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 26 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.
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 has expanded to the State of Texas and can be expected at feeders year-round.
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.
BLACKBIRDS & THEIR ALLIES
Blackbirds are diet generalists that eat seeds, grains, nectar, fruit, insects, and small invertebrates. Any food offered in birdfeeders is likely to attract blackbirds, often in flocks.
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.
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.
Presence: In the state of Texas, brow-headed cowbirds are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
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.
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 large tube and large hopper feeders. It also feeds on the ground.
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.
Presence: In the state of Texas, red-winged blackbirds are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
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.
Orchard Oriole
Identification: Adult male: chestnut underparts and shoulder, black hood and back. Adult female: greenish-yellow, olive-toned back, two white wing bars. Immature male: similar to female. No seasonal plumage changes.
Food: The Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) favors nectar, orange halves, grape jelly, sugar water, suet, mealworms.
Feeder: Nectar feeders, fruit feeders, platform feeders. Feeds in flowering trees and shrubs.
Presence: The Orchard Oriole is a common summer resident in Texas. This slender songbird arrives in early April and departs by September, visiting backyard nectar and fruit feeders during these warm months.
Behavior: Social; often nests in loose colonies. Subordinate to larger Baltimore Orioles and woodpeckers at feeders.
Backyard: Prefers open woods, orchards, and yards with mature shade trees, flowering shrubs, and water sources.
Nest: Hanging pouch of woven grasses and fibers; suspended from thin outer branches. Height: 5-70 feet above ground.
Breeding season: The Orchard Oriole nests in late April through early July.
Breeding period: Clutch: 4-6 eggs | Appearance: Bluish-white, blotched and scrawled with brown/purple | Incubation: 12-14 days | Nestling: 11-14 days | Total to Fledging: ~23-28 days.
Lifespan: At least 11 years.
Bullock’s Oriole
Identification: Adult male: Bright orange with black cap, throat, and eye-line; large white wing patch. Adult female: Grayish-olive above, yellowish breast/tail. Nonbreeding: Duller. Juveniles: Resemble female; yellow-orange wash on head.
Food: Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii) favors nectar, oranges, grape jelly, suet, mealworms, fruit.
Feeder: Nectar feeders, fruit spikes, jelly cups, suet cages.
Presence: The Bullock’s Oriole is a common summer resident in Texas. This striking bird arrives in early May and departs in August, readily visiting nectar and fruit feeders throughout its stay.
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 summer resident in Texas. Found in arid habitats, it arrives in late April and departs by August, visiting nectar feeders during its brief breeding tenure.
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.
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: 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 fairly common winter resident in Texas. This social bird arrives in November and departs in April, visiting open backyard feeder areas for cracked corn during winter 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: The Brewer’s Blackbird nests 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.
Common Grackle
Identification: Common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) look black from a distance. They have a shiny greenish head with shades of purple on the rest of the body. Its plumage is variable. Note the pale eye in adults.
Food: Attract common grackles with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, suet, cracked corn, peanuts, peanut hearts, fruit, millet, oats, and milo.
Feeder: It favors large hopper and platform feeders and feeds on the ground.
Presence: Common grackles are year-round residents in the State of Texas and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
Behavior: One of the most aggressive and dominant birds at bird feeders. Takes over feeders when present.
Backyard: Favors open and semi-open habitats. Visit all types of yards often in flocks.
Nest: Common grackles build a bulky nest with an open cup in trees and shrubs, usually 20 feet or less above the ground. It can also nest in barns, rock crevices, and even stored farm equipment.
Breeding season: Common grackles breed in early March through early July.
Breeding period: Common grackles lay 1-7 brownish to pale bluish-gray eggs spotted with brown. It takes about 28 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 15 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Common grackles live at least 23 years and 1 month.
MOCKINGBIRDS, THRASHERS, & CATBIRDS
Mockingbirds and thrashers belong to the family Mimidae (Mimids). These birds delight Texas 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.
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.
Presence: In the state of Texas, the Northern Mockingbird is a year-round resident and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
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.
Curve-billed Thrasher
Identification: The curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre) is mostly gray with a spotted breast and belly. It has a curved bill, long tail, and yellow eyes.
Food: Attract curve-billed thrashers with hulled sunflower seeds, suet cage, cracked corn, and peanut hearts.
Feeder: It favors platform feeders and also feeds on the ground.
Presence: The curve-billed thrasher is a year-round resident in the western half of Texas and visits feeders throughout the year.
Behavior: Rather shy but it stands its ground at feeders.
Backyard: Favors dense vegetation and thickets it uses to approach feeders and hide.
Nest: It builds a relatively large cup-shaped nest in dense vegetation 2-7 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: Curve-billed thrashers breed in March through July.
Breeding period: Curve-billed thrashers lay 3-5 pale bluish or greenish eggs with reddish-brown speckles. It takes about 27 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Brown thrashers live at least 11 years.
Brown Thrasher
Identification: The brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) has a long tail, reddish-brown back, and pale wing bars. The underparts are heavily streaked with black. The eyes are pale yellow.
Food: Attract brown thrashers with hulled sunflower seeds, suet cage, cracked corn, and peanut hearts.
Feeder: It favors platform feeders and also feeds on the ground.
Presence: The Brown Thrasher is a year-round resident and nonbreeding visitor within the eastern half of Texas. It visits platform and ground feeders for seeds and suet.
Behavior: Rather shy and non-aggressive at feeders. Submissive to most other birds.
Backyard: Favors dense vegetation and thickets it uses to approach feeders and hide.
Nest: It builds a relatively large cup-shaped nest in dense vegetation 2-7 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: Brown thrashers breed in mid-April through late August.
Breeding period: Brown thrashers lay 2-6 pale bluish or greenish eggs with reddish-brown speckles. It takes about 25 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Brown thrashers live at least 10 years and 11 months.
STARLINGS
The European starling is an introduced bird now common and well established in North America. Starlings are often not welcome at bird feeders as they 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.
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.
Presence: In the state of Texas, European starlings are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
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, commonly known as Corvids, which are among the most familiar birds to many people. The blue jay, for instance, is a frequent visitor to bird feeders in Texas.
Corvids are diet generalists, consuming a wide variety of foods. Their diet includes seeds, fruits, insects, small mammals, and carrion. Corvids are opportunistic feeders and will visit any type of backyard feeder that offers food, making them common sights at feeders throughout Texas.
Blue Jay
Identification: The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is blue and black above, with white markings. Below can be whitish to pale gray. It has a conspicuous crest and black necklace.
Food: Attract blue jays with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, suet, cracked corn, suet, peanuts, peanut hearts, fruit, millet, milo, and mealworms.
Feeder: Blue jays favor large tube feeders, suet cage, large hopper feeders, platform feeders, and the ground.
Behavior: Aggressive and dominant at feeders. Submissive only to starlings, common grackles, red-bellied woodpecker, and crows.
Backyard: Favors all yard conditions, including urban yards with sufficient trees.
Presence: In the state of Texas, blue jays are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
Nest: Blue jays build a cup-shaped nest in various conditions 10-25 feet above the ground.
Breeding season: Blue jays breed in late March through late August.
Breeding period: Blue jays lay 2-7 bluish to brownish eggs with brown spots. It takes about 27 days from egg-laying (incubation period 18 days, nestling period 20 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Blue jays live at least 26 years and 11 months.
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay
Identification: The Woodhouse’s 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 Woodhouse’s 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: Woodhouse’s scrub-jays favor platform and large hopper feeders. They readily take to the ground.
Presence: Woodhouse’s scrub-jays are year-round residents in Central and Western Texas.
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: Woodhouse’s scrub-jays breed from mid-March through mid-July.
Breeding period: Woodhouse’s 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: Woodhouse’s scrub-jays live at least 16 years.
American Crow
Identification: The American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is all black. It is large and social, moving about in flocks of various sizes. Juveniles have a dull black plumage without the glossy appearance of the adults.
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.
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.
Presence: In the State of Texas, Amerian crows are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
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.
BLUEDBIRDS & ROBINS
Bluebirds and robins belong to the avian family Turdidae. During the breeding season, robins and bluebirds primarily feed on insects, with some fruit included in their diet. In the nonbreeding season, their diet shifts to include a greater proportion of fruit. These birds typically visit Texas 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.
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.
Presence: In the State of Texas, American robins are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
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 summer resident and transient in Texas. Arriving in April and departing by October, it occasionally visits feeders for fruit or suet during its migratory stopovers.
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.
Eastern Bluebird
Identification: Adult male eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) are deep blue above with a red-brick breast and belly. Females have a bluish-gray back, blue on the wings and tail, and rich brown breasts. Juveniles are a darker gray with white spotting in the breasts.
Food: Attract eastern bluebirds with mealworms, suet, peanut hearts, and fruit.
Feeder: It favors platform feeders and the ground.
Behavior: Non-aggressive and easy-going at feeders. Submissive to other even smaller birds.
Backyard: Favors open fields, open woodlands, and park-like habitats. Favor feeders in open spaces.
Presence: The eastern bluebird is a year-round residents in roughly the eastern half of Texas. Birds on the western half are nonbreeding visitors.
Nest: It builds a cup-shaped nest within natural or woodpecker-excavated cavities at any height from the ground. It readily takes nesting boxes.
Breeding season: The eastern bluebird breeds from mid-February through late September.
Breeding period: Eastern bluebirds lay 2-7 pale blue or rarely white or pink eggs. It takes about 35 days from egg-laying (incubation period 16 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Eastern bluebirds live at least 10 years and 6 months.
WOODPECKERS
Woodpeckers are fascinating birds known for their distinctive pecking behavior and striking plumage. Some species are frequent visitors to bird feeders, particularly those offering suet, nuts, and seeds. With their unique feeding habits, woodpeckers can provide hours of entertainment for backyard bird enthusiasts in Texas.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Identification: The red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) has black-and-white barring on the back and wings and pale brownish head and underparts. Males have bright read cap and nape, while females have red only in the nape. It shows a red wash on the belly.
Food: Attract red-bellied woodpecker with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled Sunflower seeds, suet, cracked corn, peanuts, peanut hearts, nectar, fruit, and mealworms.
Feeder: It favors suet cages, large hopper, platform, and nectar feeders.
Behavior: It is among the most aggressive and dominant over most other birds at feeders. Submissive only to common grackles and crows.
Backyard: Favors relatively open yards but is not picky about yard conditions.
Presence: The red-bellied woodpecker occurs in the eastern half of Texas where it is a year-round residents expected at feeders throughout the year.
Nest: It excavates its cavities in dead trees, uses pre-existing cavities, and takes nesting boxes.
Breeding season: Red-bellied woodpeckers breed in mid-April through mid-September.
Breeding period: The red-bellied woodpecker lays 2-6 white eggs. It takes about 32 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 25 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Red-bellied woodpeckers live at least 12 years and 3 months.
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Identification: Male and female golden-fronted woodpeckers (Melanerpes aurifrons) have orange-yellow on the nape and forehead. Males have a bright red crown, while juveniles have a dusky crown. It also shows a yellow wash on the belly.
Food: Attract golden-fronted woodpecker with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled Sunflower seeds, safflower, suet, cracked corn, peanuts, peanut hearts, nectar, fruit, and mealworms.
Feeder: It favors suet cages, large hopper, platform, and nectar feeders.
Behavior: It is aggressive and often dominant over most other birds at feeders. Submissive only to common grackles and crows.
Backyard: Favors relatively open yards but is not picky about yard conditions.
Presence: In Central Texas, golden-fronted woodpeckers are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
Nest: It excavates its own cavities in dead trees.
Breeding season: Golden-fronted woodpeckers breed from mid-March through July.
Breeding period: The golden-fronted woodpecker lays 3-6 white round eggs. It takes about 44 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 31 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Golden-fronted woodpeckers live at least 6 years.
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.
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.
Presence: In the State of downy woodpeckers occur in roughly the eastern half of Texas where it can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
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.
Ladder-backed woodpecker
Identification: The ladder-backed woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris) has a back barred with black and white but the sides of the breast and belly are spotted. The head is patterned. Adult males have a red crown and nape, which is missing in the female.
Food: Attract ladder-backed 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 ladder-backed woodpecker is a year-round resident in the State of Texas and visits backyard bird feeders any time of the year.
Behavior: Generally non-aggressive but dominant over smaller birds and submissive to larger ones.
Backyard: Ladder-backed woodpeckers favor semi-open woodlands and wooded urban areas. They are more likely to visit backyard feeders located in or near these habitat types.
Nest: Ladder-backed woodpeckers nest in cavities they excavate in dead branches at variable heights from the ground.
Breeding season: They breed from mid April through late-July.
Breeding period: Ladder-backed woodpeckers lay 2-7 pure white and round eggs.
Lifespan: The ladder-backed woodpecker lives at least 5 years.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Identification: The adult male Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) has a black and white barred back, red crown and throat, yellowish belly. Female: similar to male, but with white throat. Juveniles: brownish-gray overall, lacks distinctive head pattern of adults but shows white wing patch.
Food: Suet, peanut butter, sugar water (nectar), grape jelly, fruit slices.
Feeder: The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker favors suet cages, bark-mimicking feeders, nectar feeders. Prefers vertical surfaces on tree trunks.
Presence: The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a common winter resident in Texas. This migratory woodpecker arrives in October and departs by April, occasionally visiting backyard suet and bark feeders during these cooler months.
Behavior: Subordinate to larger woodpeckers; often solitary. May defend sap wells from hummingbirds and other small birds.
Backyard: Deciduous and mixed forests. Attracted to yards with birch, maple, or fruit trees and water sources.
Nest: Cavity excavated in live trees, often infected with tinder fungus. Height: 6–60 feet above ground.
Breeding season: Mid-May through mid-July.
Breeding period: Clutch: 4–6 eggs | Appearance: White, smooth, slightly glossy | Incubation: 12–13 days | Nestling: 25–29 days | Total to Fledging: ~40 days.
Lifespan: At least 7 years and 9 months.
Northern Flicker
Identification: The northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) is one of the largest woodpeckers in the Missouri. 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: Northern flickers are year-round residents in the State of Texas and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
Behavior: Northern flickers are not particularly aggressive to other birds at feeders but are dominant over smaller-sized birds.
Backyard: Favors semi-open habitats with plenty of open ground, including suburban areas.
Nest: The northern flicker nest in cavities it excavates in rotten wood.
Breeding season: The northern flicker breeds from May through early August.
Breeding period: The northern flicker lays 5-8 pure white and unmarked eggs. It takes about 37 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 25 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Northern flickers live at least 9 years and 2 months.
TITMOUSE & CHICKADEE
Titmice and chickadees belong to the avian family Paridae. They feed mostly on insects, but when these are scarce, they switch to seeds, buds, and fruit.
As the cold winter, months approach, the tufted titmouse and Carolina chickadee store food for later consumption. They are often observed taking food from feeders into the woods to consume or cash it in the bark of trees and holes for later consumption.
Tufted Titmouse
Identification: The tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) is gray above with pale breast, belly, and orange-brown flanks. It has a conspicuous gray crest and black forehead.
Food: Attract tufted titmouse with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, nyjer, suet, peanuts, peanut hearts, and mealworms.
Feeder: It favors large and small tube feeders, suet cage, large hopper, small hopper, and platform feeders.
Behavior: Nonaggressive and submissive to most larger birds.
Backyard: The tufted titmouse is a bird of woodlands. It visits feeders placed in its habitat and hardly ever ventures out to bird feeders in open habitats.
Presence: The tufted titmouse occurs only in the eastern half of Texas where it is expected at feeders throughout the year.
Nest: The tufted titmouse nests in natural tree cavities and cavities excavated by woodpeckers. They also use nest boxes.
Breeding season: Tufted titmice breed in early April through mid-July.
Breeding period: The tufted titmouse lays 3-9 white to creamy white eggs spotted with rich reddish-brown. It takes about 29 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 16 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Tufted titmice live at least 12 years and five months.
Black-crested Titmouse
Identification: The black-crested titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus) is all gray with orange sides. It has a distinctive black crest. Black-crested and tufted titmice interbreed in part of their ranges, producing birds with intermediate plumages.
Food: Attract the black-crested titmouse with hulled sunflowers seeds, cracked peanuts, millet, mealworms and suet.
Feeder: It favors hopper and platform feeders, tube feeders and quickly learns to use suet cages.
Behavior: Non-aggressive. Submissive to most birds visiting feeders.
Backyard: The black-crested titmouse is a bird of brushy oak woodlands. It is more likely to visit feeders located in backyards that feature similar habitats.
Presence: The black-crested titmouse is a year-round resident. It is restricted to central and west Texas where it can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
Nest: It builds a cup-shaped nest inside natural cavities or those excavated by woodpeckers.
Breeding season: The juniper titmouse breeds from mid-March through mid-July.
Breeding period: A female black-crested titmouse lays 4-7 white, speckled with brown eggs. It takes about 34 days from egg-laying (incubation period 15 days, nestling period 19 days) until fledging.
Lifespan:The juniper titmouse lives at least 8 years.
Carolina Chickadee
Identification: The Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) is bluish gray above and grayish-brown below with a pale center of the belly. It has a distinctive black cap and throat separated by broad white sides of the head.
Food: Attract Carolina chickadees with black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, safflower, nyjer, suet, peanuts, peanut hearts, and mealworms.
Feeder: It favors Large and small tube feeders, suet cages, large hoppers, and platform feeders.
Behavior: Non-aggressive at feeders. It usually takes one seed at a time and leaves to eat it or store it before it returns to the feeder for more. Submissive to most birds visiting feeders.
Backyard: Chickadees are birds of woodlands. Readily visit the feeder placed within its natural habitat.
Presence: In the State of Texas, Carolina chickadees are year-round residents and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
Nest: It nests in cavities pairs excavate in rotten soft wood. I also use existing cavities such as those excavated by woodpeckers.
Breeding season: Carolina chickadees breed in late March through mid-September.
Breeding period: Carolina chickadees lay 3-10 eggs, white with brown spots concentrated on the wide side of the egg. It takes about 27 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: The Carolina chickadee lives at least 10 years and 8 months.
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: Bushtits are year-round residents in restricted areas in central, western and extreme northern Texas. In these regions, it can be expected at feeders throughout 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 20 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: Verdins are year-round residents in most of the State of Texas and can be expected at backyard bird feeders any time of the year.
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 button 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
Nuthatches perform a peculiar tree-climbing technique using only their strong legs and feet. Unlike woodpeckers, nuthatches do not use their tails as props and climb trees in all directions, including vertically head-down as they look for small invertebrates hiding in tiny cracks in the bark. Nuthatches feed primarily on insects during the warmer months and switch to seeds during the colder months, a time when they are more likely to visit backyard bird feeders in Texas.
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 is a year-round resident in the State of Texas and can be expected at backyard bird feeders throughout the 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.
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.
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 an irruptive, rare winter visitor in Texas. It typically arrives in November and departs by April, occasionally visiting backyard suet and sunflower seed feeders during these cooler months.
Behavior: Red-breasted nuthatches are feisty birds; they are not aggressive to others but stand their ground against similar-sized birds at feeders.
Backyard: The red-breasted nuthatch is a forest bird. It is more likely to visit feeders surrounded by woodlands or various types.
Nest: The red-breasted nuthatch excavate their nesting cavities in rotten wood or use existing woodpeckers or natural cavities.
Breeding season: They breed in late April through early August.
Breeding period: A female red-breasted nuthatch lays 2-8 pinkish-white eggs spotted with brown. It takes about 32 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 20 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Red-breasted nuthatches live at least 7 years and 6 months.
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 an uncommon winter resident in Texas. This cryptic bark-climber arrives in October and departs by April, occasionally visiting backyard suet and peanut butter feeders during these colder months.
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 anywhere. However, in Texas, Carolina and bewick’s wrens visit 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 some berries and seeds. Both these wrens are great songster.
Carolina Wren
Identification: The Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) is Reddish-brown on the back wings and tail, with dusky markings. It has buffy-brown underparts. Note the bold white eyebrow and slightly decurved bill.
Food: Attract Carolina wrens with hulled sunflower seeds, suet, peanuts, and mealworms.
Feeder: It favors large tube feeder, small tube feeder, suet cage, large hopper, platform, and the ground.
Behavior: It is often shy at feeders and does not stay out of dense vegetation for long. Submissive to most other birds.
Backyard: Carolina wrens favor dense vegetation, tangled understory, or brush piles that they use to approach bird feeders and return for cover.
Presence: In the State of the Texas, the Carolina wren occurs only on the eastern half of the State where it can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
Nest: The Carolina 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 often nests in hanging planters and hanging decorations on porches.
Breeding season: Carolina wrens breed in late March through early October.
Breeding period: Carolina wrens lay 3-7 creamy-white eggs with brown spots. It takes about 27 days from egg-laying (incubation period 13 days, nestling period 14 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Carolina wrens live at least 7 years and 8 months.
Bewick’s Wren
Identification: The Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) is warm-brown on the back, wings, and cap. The tail and wings have black barring. It has a pale throat and gray breast and belly. Note the bold white eyebrow and slightly decurved bill.
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: Bewick’s wrens are year-round residents in Texas and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
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 may nest in planters hanging from porches and other man-made structures.
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.
Cactus Wren
Identification: The cactus wren (Campylorhynchus bruneicapillus) is heavily spotted and streaked. It has a densely spotted breast and a bold and pale eyebrow.
Food :Attract cactus wrens with mealworms, suet, hulled sunflower seeds, and peanut hearts.
Feeder: It favors large or small hopper feeders, platform feeders, and the ground.
Presence: Cactus wrens are year-round residents in the State of Texas and can be expected at feeders throughout the year.
Behavior: Cactus wrens are territorial and can be aggressive to other birds at the feeders.
Backyard: Cactus wrens favor scrub and cactus often with tangled understory that it uses to approach feeders.
Nest: The cactus wren builds a bulky oven-shaped nest with a side entrance. The nest is typically placed in cactus.
Breeding season: Cactus wrens breed in Mid-March through Mid-August.
Breeding period: Cactus wrens lay 2-7 yellowish eggs with brown spots. It takes about 36 days from egg-laying (incubation period 16 days), nestling period 20 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Cactus wrens live at least 9 years.
WAXWINGS
The Cedar Waxwing is a non-breeding visitor to most of the lower 48 states. During the fall, waxwings gather in flocks to eat berries and become nomadic. The Cedar Waxwing feeds almost exclusively on fruit. They visit backyards that offer fruit.
Cedar Waxwing
Identification: The cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) has a uniquely smooth plumage with shades of buffy and grayish-brown. Adult birds have red waxy tips on their wing feathers. Juveniles are gray-brown.
Food: Attract cedar waxwings to your yard by planting native bushes that bear small berries. Also, offer berries and other fruit.
Feeder: Waxwings are entirely frugivores and will use shallow bowls holding berries. They also take impaled fruit.
Presence: In the State of Texas, the cedar waxwing is a nonbreeding visitor and can be expected at feeders during the Fall and Winter months.
Behavior: Cedar waxwings are surprisingly submissive to other birds despite attending feeders in flocks.
Backyard: Cedar waxwings are nomadic birds that will go just about anywhere where a tree is bearing fruit.
Nest: The female cedar waxwing builds a bulky cup made of twigs, grasses, horsehair, cattail down, and strings.
Breeding season: The cedar waxwing breeds in June through September.
Breeding period: The cedar waxwings lay 2-6 blue or dark-blue eggs. It takes about 28 days from egg-laying (incubation period 12 days, nestling period 16 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Cedar waxwings live at least 7 years, 1 month.
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 Texas.
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.
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.
Presence: In the State of Texas, the ruby-crowned kinglet is a nonbreeding visitor and can be expected at feeders during the Fall and Winter months.
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.
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.
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 cage, large and small hopper feeders, fruit, and nectar 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 small flocks.
Presence: In the State of Texas, the yellow-rumped warbler is a nonbreeding visitor and can be expected at feeders during the Fall and Winter months.
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 13 days) until fledging.
Lifespan: Yellow-rumped warblers live at least 10 years.
Orange-crowed 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: Orange-crowned warblers are non-breeding visitors in the State of Texas. They can be expected at backyard bird feeders during the Fall and winter months.
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.
What type of bird feeder should I get in Texas?
The type of bird feeder to get in Texas is a platform 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 Texas 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 use of feeder types by birds 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.
| 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 Texas?
Attracting birds to your bird feeders in Texas is as simple as putting up a feeder with food or 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.
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. In the past, I have recommended starting spraying food on the ground or putting food on a platform feeder, or simply a piece of plywood to start attracting birds.
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 Texas?
My preferred food for beginners is birdseed mixes available in grocery 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 Texas, 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 62 bird species that visit backyard feeders in the State of Texas 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:
What type of backyard birdfeeder can I get that will attract finches, Cardinals, warblers, wrens but not doves or is the proof.
Hello Lorie,
I would recommend a hopper/house feeder with a narrow tray that small birds can use but are difficult to use by doves. Tube feeders also favor small birds and are not dove friendly. Doves will try to find their way to the food anyway, but end up eating the birdseed on the ground spilled from the feeders by other birds.
Suet feeders are good for wrens.
Good luck< Al.
Very informative, thank you
Very helpful in identifying the birds I see on my feeder regularly. Your site is beautifully put together and easy to use.
Hello Nancy,
Thank you! I am thrilled to hear that the guide has been helpful for identifying your regular feeder visitors and that you found the site easy to use. Creating a clean, user-friendly resource for bird lovers is exactly what I aim for, and your kind words mean a lot.
I am adding orioles, buntings, and grosbeaks to the Texas guide to make it more complete!
Regards,
Al.