Backyard Birds of Ohio: a Comprehensive Guide to Feathered Neighbors (2024)

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As an Ohio backyard birder, you’re surrounded by a kaleidoscope of feathered neighbors!

Keep an eye out for the brilliant red Northern Cardinal, our state bird, and the sassy Blue Jay with its distinctive crest.

Listen for the cheery song of the American Robin or spot the vibrant yellow American Goldfinch acrobatically visiting your feeders.

The mournful coo of the Mourning Dove is a quintessential backyard soundtrack.

With some observation skills and habitat enhancements, you’ll be amazed by the diversity of backyard birds of Ohio gracing your outdoor space.

Intrigued? Dive deeper to discover more about identifying, attracting, and nurturing these avian guests.

Common Backyard Birds in Ohio

Ohio’s backyards are home to a vibrant array of feathered friends, including the Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Robin, American Goldfinch, and Mourning Dove. These familiar birds can be identified by their distinct colors, vocalizations, and behaviors, providing ample opportunities for observation and enjoyment right in your own outdoor spaces.

Northern Cardinal

Known as Ohio’s state bird, the northern cardinal graces backyards with its striking red plumage. Listen for its loud, clear whistling song as it forages for seeds and insects near shrubs or feeders. These cardinals nest in dense vegetation, with males fiercely guarding their territories. Attract cardinals by providing sunflower seeds and leaving brush piles over winter.

Blue Jay

You’ll often spot the blue jay, a bold and crested bird, in your Ohio backyard. With its 1) distinctive blue coloring, black necklace, and loud Nyeah! call, 2) this resident species is a lively presence, 3) hopping across lawns and feeders in search of acorns, nuts, and insects. A common backyard bird, the rambunctious blue jay enlivens the local birding scene.

American Robin

You’ll spot the American Robin’s brick red breast and distinctive white eye-arcs in your backyard, foraging for worms on lawns. Listen for its cheery song as it flocks in trees during migration. Robins nest in shrubs, building cup-shaped mud nests. Their varied diet includes insects, fruits, and berries from native plants.

American Goldfinch

You’ll often spot the lively American Goldfinch flitting about, its vibrant yellow plumage and melodic po-ta-to-chip call adding charm to your backyard.

These seed-lovers migrate in flocks, wintering across Ohio.

Provide thistle or nyjer seed to attract their acrobatic antics during the breeding season when males become especially brilliant.

With some native plants and a water source, you can create an inviting habitat for these cheerful visitors.

Mourning Dove

You’ll often spot the graceful Mourning Dove in your backyard, foraging for seeds on the ground or visiting your feeder. Listen for its mournful coo-OO-oo-oo-oo call. These petite doves nest in trees and shrubs, and while they’re visitors in winter, some stay year-round. Attract them with open ground, birdbaths, and dense thickets for nesting and cover.

Identifying Ohio’s Backyard Birds

To identify Ohio’s backyard birds effectively, pay close attention to their key physical features, such as size, shape, coloration, and distinctive markings. Additionally, listen carefully to their vocalizations and songs, as these auditory cues can often be more reliable than visual identifications, especially in dense foliage or poor lighting conditions.

Key Physical Features

Identifying backyard birds involves closely observing their physical features. Look for:

1. Plumage patterns and colors
2. Distinctive markings like crests or wing bars
3. Beak shape and size
4. Overall body size and shape

With practice, you’ll quickly recognize common Ohio species like the red-capped Northern Cardinal or masked Blue Jay at your feeders or nesting in nearby trees.

Vocalizations and Songs

While observing physical traits aids identification, listening to bird vocalizations offers another key. You’ll hear cardinals’ cheery chip notes, blue jays’ squawky cries, and robins’ rich caroling. Notice goldfinches’ potato-chip calls and mourning doves’ haunting cooOOO-oo-oo-oo coos. Birdsongs communicate territory, attract mates, and more—tuning in provides insight into their fascinating lives.

Behavior and Habitat Preferences

Once you recognize their songs, observing these birds’ behavior and habitat preferences will deepen your understanding. Watch how:

• Cardinals aggressively defend nesting territories, favoring shrubs and low branches
• Blue Jays cache acorns, mobbing predators with raucous calls
• Robins rhythmically probe lawns for worms, flocking in trees when fruiting
• Goldfinches acrobatically cling to thistles and feeders, primarily eating seeds
• Mourning Doves coo from exposed perches, scratching for seeds on the ground

Their varying diets, nesting habits, and responses to weather reveal each species’ uniqueness in your backyard.

Attracting Birds to Your Ohio Backyard

To attract birds to your Ohio backyard, provide a variety of food sources such as seed, suet, and mealworms by installing different types of feeders. Offering water for drinking and bathing in birdbaths or shallow dishes, as well as planting native shrubs and trees that provide shelter and nesting sites, will create an inviting habitat.

Providing Food Sources

You can attract a variety of backyard birds by providing their preferred food sources. Different species have distinct seed preferences, so offering a diverse seed mix guarantees you cater to various visitors.

Seed Type	Bird Species
Sunflower	Cardinals, Finches, Chickadees
Nyjer	Goldfinches, Pine Siskins
Safflower	Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Doves

Properly storing seeds prevents spoilage and preserves their nutritional value, ensuring your feathered friends’ ideal health.

Installing Bird Feeders

Set up bird feeders at eye level near windows for easy viewing, but far enough away to prevent strikes. Use a mix of feeders offering black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer, and suet—which birds crave. Clean feeders weekly, adopting squirrel-proof designs or baffles if needed. Position feeders near cover so birds feel secure when dining.

Offering Water for Drinking and Bathing

After setting up bird feeders, provide water sources for your feathered visitors. Birds require fresh water for drinking and bathing to maintain healthy plumage. Install a shallow birdbath, or create a backyard pond. Clean water allows birds to drink, bathe, and preen feathers, promoting overall well-being in your backyard sanctuary.

Creating Shelter With Native Plants

You’ll attract more feathered friends by planting native plants that provide food and shelter. Select native shrubs, trees, and wildflowers to create a bird-friendly landscape. Design dense thickets, leave some areas overgrown for winter shelter, and add nesting boxes for cavity-nesting birds. A diversified habitat with native vegetation will make your backyard an avian oasis.

Nesting Habits of Ohio Backyard Birds

You’ll find Ohio’s backyard birds building nests in a variety of locations, carefully selecting materials like twigs, grass, leaves, and even human-made debris to construct safe havens for their eggs and nestlings. From early spring into summer, observe parent birds incubating eggs, feeding their young hatchlings, and teaching fledglings essential survival skills before migrating or settling in for the winter.

Nest Locations and Materials

You’ll find nests skillfully crafted in various locations around your backyard:

1. Tree cavities and branches for robins and cardinals
2. Sheltered shrubs for goldfinches and mourning doves
3. Nest boxes and ledges for wrens and robins

These intricate structures, woven from twigs, grass, mud, and downy linings, offer cozy nurseries. Observe but avoid disturbing nests as parents fiercely defend their offspring.

Breeding Seasons

Breeding seasons bring a flurry of activity to your Ohio backyard. From late winter through summer, you’ll witness mating rituals as birds establish territories and build nests. Their harmonious songs advertise for mates. Pay close attention during egg incubation—males often defend nests from predators and brood parasites.

Species	Breeding Season
Northern Cardinal	March – September
Blue Jay	March – July
American Robin	April – July
American Goldfinch	Late June – September
Mourning Dove	March – October

Parental Care and Fledgling Behavior

After the breeding season, you’ll witness devoted parental care. Parents tirelessly feed nestlings, removing fecal sacs to maintain nest sanitation. As fledglings leave the nest, parents continue guiding them, teaching foraging tactics. Observe sibling rivalry for prime feeding positions – nature’s way of ensuring the fittest survive. Eventually, fledglings gain independence, joining flocks until the following spring’s courtship rituals.

Migratory Birds in Ohio Backyards

As spring and fall migration seasons bring a flurry of activity to Ohio’s skies, keep an eye out for unique migratory species passing through your backyard. Providing food, water, and shelter can create an inviting stopover habitat, allowing you to observe these remarkable travelers on their journeys.

Spring and Fall Migration Patterns

Springtime brings a flurry of migratory activity, with your backyard becoming a stopover site. Witness their awe-inspiring journey as they:

• Fuel up on berries and insects
• Establish temporary territories for nesting
• Interact through vibrant courtship displays
• Navigate using celestial cues
• Depart for northern breeding grounds

Enjoy this biannual spectacle by providing stopover habitats and learning their unique songs.

Identifying Migratory Species

Ohio’s backyard plays host to various migratory species during spring and fall migrations. As these travelers wing their way through, you’ll spot warblers, vireos, and thrushes stopping for a respite. With some practice identifying field marks, you can distinguish these seasonal guests from resident birds.

Species	Spring Migration	Fall Migration
Warblers	Late April – May	August – October
Vireos	Early May	September
Thrushes	April – May	September

Providing Stopover Habitat

You can provide stopover habitat for migratory birds by offering a variety of native plants for food and shelter. Adjust your landscaping seasonally, leaving seed heads and berries through fall. Supplementing with feeders also helps during migration. Avoid habitat fragmentation, and practice ethical birdwatching by keeping your distance and minimizing disturbances.

Backyard Bird Feeding Basics

To attract a variety of backyard birds in Ohio, you’ll need to provide a range of seed types in different feeders.

Black oil sunflower seeds are a favorite for many species.

While nyjer or thistle seeds appeal specifically to finches like the American Goldfinch.

Suet feeders offering nutrient-rich beef fat will attract woodpeckers, nuthatches, and other insect-eating birds.

Mealworms are an excellent high-protein treat for many feathered visitors.

Types of Bird Seed and Feeders

You’ll want to offer a variety of bird seed in different feeders. A tube feeder for smaller songbirds, hopper feeder for larger birds, and suet feeders for insect-loving species. Black oil sunflower seeds attract the most varieties, while nyjer attracts finches. Consider squirrel-proof feeders and frequent cleaning to keep birds healthy.

Suet and Mealworms

While seed feeders attract many birds, suet and mealworms provide essential fats and protein. Place suet cakes in specialized wire mesh feeders, perfect for winter nutrition. Live mealworms are an irresistible, high-protein treat that woodpeckers, bluebirds, and even robins love. Vary your offerings seasonally – suet fuels birds during cold months, while mealworms boost nestling growth come spring.

Maintaining Clean Feeders

After providing suet and mealworms for your feathered friends, it’s vital to maintain clean feeders. Unclean feeders can:

1. Harbor bacteria
2. Spread disease
3. Contaminate food

Regularly cleaning and disinfecting feeders guarantees a safe and hygienic environment. This disease prevention measure not only safeguards the birds, but also encourages their continued visits to your backyard sanctuary.

Squirrel-proof Feeder Options

You’ll want to invest in squirrel-proof feeders to keep those pesky varmints at bay. Hanging feeders with weight-sensitive perches are a great option, as squirrels’ weight causes the feeder to close access. Platform and hopper feeders with squirrel-proof screens also work well, as do tube feeders with weight-sensitive closing mechanisms.

Backyard Bird Photography Tips

To capture breathtaking images of Ohio’s backyard birds, invest in a digital camera with a powerful optical zoom lens and a high shutter speed for freezing motion. Position your bird feeders strategically near natural perches or backgrounds, enabling you to photograph birds in pleasing surroundings while exercising patience and keeping movements minimal to avoid startling your feathered subjects.

Choosing the Right Camera Gear

For stunning backyard bird photos, you’ll need the right gear.

Invest in a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a versatile lens, like a 70-300mm telephoto zoom.

Make sure your lens offers image stabilization for crisp shots.

Consider a tripod for stability and a remote shutter release to avoid camera shake.

Understand your camera’s settings—aperture, shutter speed, and ISO—to capture birds in various lighting conditions.

Photo editing software can enhance your images further.

Positioning Feeders for Good Shots

Position feeders strategically where birds feel safe and comfortable approaching. Near dense vegetation provides cover and perches. Face feeders toward your desired viewing angle, considering light exposure and potential obstructions. Group feeders offering different seed types to attract diverse species and satisfy varied preferences. Avoid window reflections to prevent collisions. Landscaping with native plants enhances the natural setting.

Patience and Stealth

Patience and quiet observation are essential for backyard bird photography. Learn their behavior patterns and schedules. Approach feeders slowly and quietly to avoid startling birds. Consider setting up a blind or camouflaged hideaway. Respect birdwatching etiquette and photography ethics by keeping a respectful distance from nesting sites and avoiding disturbances. With persistence, you’ll capture stunning shots of Ohio’s feathered friends.

Editing and Sharing Your Photos

After capturing great backyard bird photos, the fun continues with editing and sharing! You’ll want to:

1. Use photo editing software to crop, adjust exposure, and enhance colors
2. Share your best shots on social media like Instagram or Facebook
3. Join online forums for feedback and connecting with other bird photographers
4. Enter photo contests to showcase your feathered friends

Sharing your bird photography allows you to inspire others while improving your skills.

Citizen Science Projects for Ohio Backyard Birders

As an Ohio backyard birder, you can contribute to important citizen science projects that collect valuable data on bird populations. Projects like Project FeederWatch, the Great Backyard Bird Count, eBird, and NestWatch provide opportunities to report your observations, helping researchers monitor species abundance, distribution, and nesting behaviors.

Project FeederWatch

Joining Project FeederWatch allows you to contribute significant data on backyard bird populations while enjoying your feathered visitors.

Simply record the birds at your feeders and submit counts online.

This citizen science project reveals trends in feeder bird abundance, helping guide conservation efforts.

Strategically placing feeders near windows minimizes collisions.

While native plantings create an inviting habitat, boosting your yard’s biodiversity.

Great Backyard Bird Count

You should participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, a citizen science project where you:

1. Count birds for at least 15 minutes
2. Record the highest number of each species seen together
3. Submit your observations online

Contributing data helps researchers understand bird population trends and distributions. It’s easy, fun, and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment knowing you’re aiding bird conservation efforts.

EBird

You can contribute to the citizen science initiative, eBird, by recording your backyard bird sightings. eBird collects real-time data on bird distributions and abundance, aiding research and conservation efforts. Simply download the app, create an account, and start logging your observations – species, numbers, location, and dates. Your contributions help monitor bird populations and inform conservation strategies.

Nest Watch

NestWatch invites you to observe and monitor the nesting activity in your backyard. Note details like nest building materials, incubation periods, and fledgling development. Record data on nest predators and help scientists understand their impact. Install nest boxes and participate in this citizen science project to contribute valuable insights into avian breeding behavior.

Backyard Habitat Gardening for Birds

To create a thriving backyard habitat for birds, cultivate native plants that provide food sources like seeds, berries, and nectar, as well as shelter and nesting sites. Reducing pesticide use helps sustain insect populations that many bird species rely on for food, while leaving dead wood, leaf litter, and maintaining water sources further enhances the environment for feathered visitors.

Native Plants for Food and Shelter

You’ll attract more birds by planting native plants that provide food and shelter. Choose species that offer nuts, berries, seeds, and nectar from blooms. Include evergreens and dense shrubs for nesting sites and protective cover. Design your bird-friendly garden with varied heights, open areas for ground feeders, and water sources. Creating this diverse habitat guarantees your backyard meets birds’ needs.

Reducing Pesticide Use

You’ve already taken great steps by planting native plants that provide food and shelter for birds. Now, take it a step further by reducing pesticide use through:

1. Organic gardening practices
2. Non-toxic pest control alternatives
3. Integrated pest management strategies

This bird-friendly landscaping approach protects pollinators and creates a safe haven for your feathered friends. By creating a toxin-free backyard oasis, you’re fostering a thriving ecosystem that benefits all.

Providing Water Sources

Install various water sources like bird baths, misters, or shallow pans. Position them near cover for protection yet visibility. Change water frequently to avoid disease. Vary depths: shallow for drinking, deeper for bathing. Heated baths provide liquid water year-round. With proper maintenance, water features create a thriving hub for feathered friends.

Leaving Dead Wood and Leaf Litter

In addition to native plants, leave dead wood and leaf litter in your backyard. This provides essential habitat diversity, supporting insect populations that many birds rely on. By maintaining this natural debris, you’ll enhance ecosystem resilience and promote habitat connectivity, helping birds adapt to climate change impacts. Your backyard oasis becomes a thriving sanctuary for Ohio’s feathered friends.

Backyard Bird Conservation in Ohio

While enjoying the presence of backyard birds in Ohio, it’s important to be aware of the threats they face and actively participate in efforts to protect them. Audubon’s Backyard Bird Count initiative, safeguarding migratory bird habitats, and advocating for bird-friendly policies are essential steps in ensuring the conservation of these feathered neighbors.

Threats to Backyard Birds

You’ve made your backyard a haven, but threats like climate change, habitat loss, window collisions, pesticide use, and light pollution endanger our feathered friends. Mitigate these risks by reducing your carbon footprint, providing native plants, making windows bird-safe, avoiding pesticides, and keeping outdoor lights off at night. Modest efforts can have a substantial impact on conservation efforts.

Audubon’s Backyard Bird Count

You can contribute to bird conservation efforts by participating in Audubon’s Backyard Bird Count. This citizen science project involves observing and counting birds in your backyard, providing valuable data on population trends and migration patterns. Engaging in activities like habitat gardening and responsible bird photography also supports Ohio’s feathered friends.

Protecting Migratory Birds

You can help protect endangered migratory birds by supporting habitat conservation and restoration efforts. Many migrant species face threats from habitat loss, climate change, and other human activities along their journeys. Support organizations that establish bird sanctuaries, promote sustainable practices, and raise awareness about the plight of these winged travelers.

Advocating for Bird-friendly Policies

Beyond your own backyard, you can advocate for bird-friendly policies in your community. Support urban landscaping with native plants and minimized pesticide use. Push for more green spaces and connected habitats amidst development. Raise awareness about threats like climate change and window collisions. By championing bird conservation efforts, you protect these treasured backyard visitors for future generations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)