Bird Feeders Etc. offers a challenge to you and your family. Can you attract and observe the National Bird-Feeding Society’s list of top ten most wanted backyard birds? Many of these birds are migratory so you will have to look for them in the spring and summer. Others you may only see during the breeding or winter season. No matter what time of year, these top 10 backyard birds will visit your bird stations if provided the proper environment of food, housing, water and safety. Remember Bird Feeders Etc. has everything you need to attract these 10 birds to your urban, suburban and rural environments.
Northern Cardinals
The Northern Cardinal’s bright red male is easy to spot, especially when perched on an evergreen tree or on your bird feeder in the middle of winter. Northern Cardinals are usually the first birds to your feeder in the morning and the last ones to leave at night. This knowledge, the right bird feed, and a hopper bird feeder such as the Sky Café Feeder or a window bird feeder like the Observer Window Feeder will arm you for crossing this popular bird off your list.
Mourning Doves
The Mourning Dove is typically a ground feeder, so once you hear the mourning cry of the dove look low to find this sweet bird. The best type of bird feeder to attract the mourning dove is a platform bird feeder, such as the Nature’s Way Platform Feeder. With the perfect platform feeder in your yard, and the right amount of food and water, you can enjoy watching these birds year round.
Dark Eyed Juncos
Dark Eyed Juncos flit about the forest floors in abundant numbers throughout North America. You’ll be sure to find these crisply marked birds at your feeders or on the ground surrounding your feeder. Dark Eyed Juncos prefer stability while they eat, so you will experience the most luck with a ground tray feeder, such as the Buster Tray Feeder. You’ll recognize them easily by their crisp markings and bright white tail feathers that present when they take off into flight.
Downy Woodpeckers
The Downy Woodpecker is a very popular little woodpecker found in backyards across North America. It’s similar in size to its songbird compatriots such as the chickadees and nuthatches, but also unique in its feeding habits. To attract the Downy Woodpecker out of your trees and to your feeder, utilize seed balls and suet bird feeders, such as the Copper Top Cage Feeder. You’re sure to see this little acrobat feed as he hangs upside down from your suet feeder all year round.
American Goldfinches
American Goldfinches tend to travel in flocks, meaning you need a feeder that can hold a whole lot of birds! They are most attracted to Nyjer seeds and will readily come to your yard if you supply dinner with a Nyjer bird feeder, like the Bottoms Up Feeder. In order to accommodate the whole flock consider having numerous feeders spaced throughout your yard. These little guys appear like they won’t eat much but don’t be surprised if you have to refill your bird feeders weekly.
Blue Jays
Often getting a bad rap for their aggressive behavior, the blue jay is sure to add a brilliant splash of color to your backyard. A large bird, measuring up to 12” long, is one of the most intelligent feathered friends that we know. The blue jays size and intelligence gets him into trouble with other birds at your feeder. Be sure to offer him whole peanuts in a hanging bird feeder or platform bird feeder, like the Woodlink Hanging Platform Feeder, in a location away from your other bird feeders, so all our feathered friends can eat in peace.
American Crows
The hoarse, cawing sounds of these big black birds is recognizable all over North America. You’ll find these intelligent birds in the treetops, in fields, along roadsides and in various other habitats such as open woods, empty beaches and town centers. American Crows are rarely found alone and are not picky with their type of food including road-kill into their diet. Crows do not typically feed from bird feeders, so procuring some feeding worms and other proteins and scattering them about your backyard can attract the very popular American Crow.
Black-Capped Chickadees
Chickadees are always on the lookout for high energy foods such as insects, seed and berries. You’ll usually find these little guys in groups coming to and from your bird feeder at regular intervals if you leave out suet or even a little bit of peanut butter on your feeder. Try a Single Suet Feeder to attract these birds to your backyard. Chickadees are extremely curious about their environment so don’t be surprised if even you get studied by this little capped cutie.
House Finches
The House Finch has a long twittering song, heard in yards all over North America. Like their cousin the gold finch, these birds are small and nimble, enjoying Nyjer bird feeders for their accessibility and the small size of the feed. House Finches have a distinctive red head and travel in flocks, meaning you need to be prepared for a whole bunch of feathered feeders at once. As one of the most common backyard birds, you should have no problem spotting this little guy at your backyard birdfeeder.
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmice like to eat one seed at a time, carrying to a nearby branch to break it open and eat it before returning to your feeder. For this reason, they are extremely hard to photograph. Titmice prefer black-oil sunflower seeds from tube feeders such as the New Generation Seed Feeders. Unfortunately, so do squirrels, so carefully consider what kind of tube feeder you want to hang to obtain this popular backyard bird.
Shop Bird Feeders and Bird Feeding Accessories
Have fun attracting and watching for these top 10 most wanted backyard birds. Bird Feeders Etc. makes it easy to attract any bird you wish with our Shop by Bird feature. Here you will find all the information you need as well as the bird feeders, bird houses, and bird feed for sale to make your yard an amazing bird oasis.