Backyard Birds of Washington: Identify Feathered Friends in Your Yard (2024)

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Ah, the backyard birds of Washington! You’re in for a real treat, my feathered friend.

From the vibrant red-headed House Finch to the melodious White-crowned Sparrow, your yard is a front-row seat to nature’s aerial acrobats.

Keep those binoculars handy as you spot the iridescent Anna’s Hummingbird zipping from flower to feeder.

And don’t be startled by the raucous Red-winged Blackbird – he’s just the maestro of your backyard symphony.

With a keen eye and patient observation, you’ll soon become acquainted with these winged wonders gracing your Washington abode.

But this is just a teaser – their stories await if you linger awhile.

Common Backyard Birds

You’re in for a treat when observing Washington’s common backyard birds! These feathered friends bring life and character to your outdoor space.

The House Finch, with its red head and breast, is a year-round resident happily munching on seeds and fruit.

The American Goldfinch, our state bird, weaves an intricate nest and feasts on thistle seeds from April through October.

Keep an eye out for the long-distance traveler, the White-crowned Sparrow, making 300-mile flights seasonally.

Don’t be surprised by the Rufous Hummingbird‘s aggressive antics defending feeders from April to July.

Insect-eaters like the Spotted Towhee and Dark-eyed Junco help keep your yard pest-free year-round.

Sparrows and Finches

You’re likely to encounter sparrows and finches among the most common backyard birds in Washington. These small, active songbirds sport distinctive plumages and frequent backyard feeders, delighting observers with their lively antics and melodious calls.

House Finch

The year-round resident House Finch earned its Hollywood moniker for its prolific appearances in suburban areas. These submissive seed-eaters frequent large tube feeders, flashing their rosy red heads and breasts. Despite their inquisitive nature, House Finches are long-distance travelers, soaring over 500 miles to find new homes with an 11-year lifespan.

Purple Finch

You might also spot the colorful purple finch from April to October. Like the house finch, it loves:

1. Seeds
2. Small tube feeders
3. Nyjer (thistle) seed

Though boldly marked with a raspberry red head and breast contrasting with heavily streaked underparts, the purple finch is non-aggressive at feeders.

American Goldfinch

You’ll spot the bright yellow and black American Goldfinch from April through October. Washington’s state bird, they tightly weave their nests and feed on seeds from thistles and sunflowers. Observe their courtship displays and listen for their distinctive call.

Migration	April-October
Diet	Seeds, Insects
Habitat	Fields, Meadows

Protect Goldfinch habitats by avoiding pesticide use and planting native plants.

White-crowned Sparrow

As April rolls around, you’ll spot the white-crowned sparrow, a long-distance flyer covering 300-mile flights twice yearly. Known for its distinctive black-and-white striped crown, this subspecies graces Washington’s yards from April to October. Their cheerful Weary Willie song complements feathered friends like the common raven and dark-eyed junco.

Golden-crowned Sparrow

You might also spot the Golden-crowned Sparrow, a winter visitor from September to April. Listen for its distinctive Oh-dear-me song as these long-distance travelers forage on the ground for seeds and insects. These streaky brown birds with a bright golden crown are commonly seen in backyards along the Olympic Peninsula.

Doves and Pigeons

You’ll likely spot the familiar Mourning Dove in your backyard, a slender brown bird with black spots on its wings and a distinctive cooing call. Keep an eye out as well for the chunky Eurasian Collared-Dove, buffy-brown with a distinctive black collar on its neck and a long tail that sets it apart from other doves.

Mourning Dove

You’re familiar with the mournful coo of the Mourning Dove – these plump, grayish-brown birds are year-round backyard visitors. They’ll happily visit ground, platform, and large hopper feeders for seeds and grains. Amiable birds, they don’t display territoriality, though males can get feisty during mating season. With a potential 30-year lifespan, you may host generations of these peaceful neighbors.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

You may spot the Eurasian Collared-Dove, a buffy-brown bird with a black incomplete collar on its neck. These seed and grain eaters visit ground, large hopper, and platform feeders year-round. Non-aggressive by nature, they coexist peacefully with other backyard visitors like the Rufous Hummingbird and Glaucous-winged Gull. Their gentle cooing adds a soothing melody to your outdoor haven.

Blackbirds and Allies

You’re likely to spot the striking Red-winged Blackbird.

With its glossy black body and bright red shoulder patches, it is easily identifiable as it perches on backyard feeders or forages on the ground.

Another common blackbird visitor is the Brown-headed Cowbird.

Males appear completely glossy black, and females are a plain gray-brown.

Both are often seen scavenging seeds and grains from feeders and the surrounding area.

Red-winged Blackbird

You’ll spot the striking red-winged blackbird with its glossy black body and bright red shoulder patches. These aggressive songbirds frequent platform feeders year-round, enthusiastically devouring seeds and grains alongside Anna’s hummingbirds and Bullock’s orioles. Their raucous calls add a lively soundtrack to backyard birdwatching.

Brown-headed Cowbird

You might spot Brown-headed Cowbirds, nest interlopers known for brood parasitism. These glossy black males and gray-brown females love seeds like millet and milo from large hopper feeders. Though small winter migrants, they’re territorial bullies—watch for aggressive behavior around your yard this spring and summer.

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

You’re in for a treat when the Northern Mockingbird visits your yard!

These gray-and-white songbirds are known for their incredible mimicry, replicating songs of other birds and even mechanical sounds.

Their cousins, the Thrashers, sport long tails that they frequently flick up and down as they forage on the ground for insects and berries.

While Mockingbirds are expanding their range, watch for their distinctive wing-flashing courtship displays.

Meanwhile, Thrashers prefer dense thickets for nesting.

Both birds add audible and visual excitement to any backyard!

Starlings and Crows

The European Starling is an iridescent blackbird with a short tail and long, slender beak. It is commonly seen foraging for insects, seeds, and fruit on the ground or at bird feeders. Though an introduced species, it has become a ubiquitous sight in urban and suburban yards across Washington.

The American Crow is a large, entirely black bird with a heavy bill and fan-shaped tail. It is an intelligent and adaptable species that frequents parks, parking lots, and backyards in search of scraps, small animals, eggs, and seeds.

European Starling

You’ll recognize a European Starling by its glossy black feathers with iridescent green and purple shades. These aggressively intelligent birds mimic sounds and nest in tree cavities or buildings. They thrive in urban and suburban areas, swarming feeders and imitating calls with incredible vocal prowess. Embrace their amusing antics and resourceful nature.

American Crow

The American crow is a ubiquitous backyard visitor. You’ll recognize their glossy black plumage, sturdy build, and distinctive cawing call. Crows are opportunistic omnivores:

• They eat insects, seeds, fruits, and even small animals
• Their intelligence allows for tool use and problem-solving
• Crows thrive in urban and suburban environments
• They form tight family groups with complex social structures

Embrace these clever, adaptable birds as backyard companions.

Woodpeckers and Nuthatches

You may be fortunate enough to spot the downy woodpecker, the smallest woodpecker species likely to visit your backyard feeders.

Or its close relative, the slightly larger hairy woodpecker, distinguishable by its lack of black markings on the white outer tail feathers.

Another regular sight could be the red-breasted nuthatch, a compact bird known for its agile headfirst descent down tree trunks and its nasal, almost penguin-like calls.

Downy Woodpecker

The downy woodpecker may just be the smallest woodpecker you’ll spot at your backyard feeders, year-round. Watch closely as it hitches its way up tree trunks and branches with that distinctive jerky movement, searching for insects in bark crevices. With its black-and-white striped back and rusty undertail, it’s an adorable frequent visitor.

Hairy Woodpecker

Keep an eye out for the larger, streakier Hairy Woodpecker hitching up tree trunks. Its sturdy beak drums loudly as it forages for insects under bark. Closely related to the Downy but distinguished by its bigger body and thicker bill, you might mistake it for a Pileated or Sapsucker at first glance.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

If you’re lucky, you might spot a Red-breasted Nuthatch scurrying headfirst down tree trunks. These tiny acrobats nest in cavities, favoring old woodpecker holes. They relish insects, seeds, and suet, often stashing food for winter. Listen for their nasal yank-yank calls echoing through the woods—a sign of their busy foraging habits.

Chickadees and Bushtits

You’ll frequently spot the boisterous Black-capped Chickadee and its smaller, chubbier cousin the Chestnut-backed Chickadee flitting about backyard feeders and parks in Washington. With their oversized heads, short beaks, and distinctive black caps and bibs, these lively chickadees often intermingle with the gregarious Bushtits – tiny brown birds that construct intricate hanging nests and travel in noisy colonies.

Black-capped Chickadee

The black-capped chickadee is a delightful year-round backyard visitor. You’ll recognize its:

• Distinctive black cap and bib with white cheeks
• Cheerful chick-a-dee-dee-dee song and chick-a-dee call
• Preference for nesting in cavities and using fur and moss

These acrobatic insect-eaters enliven your yard, acting as nature’s pest control.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

You may encounter the chestnut-backed chickadee, a petite songbird with a warm brown back and buffy-colored sides. Like the black-capped chickadee, it’s a fan of suet and seed feeders. However, this species prefers coniferous forests to deciduous woodlands. Here’s a glimpse into its world:

Trait	Description
Diet	Insects, seeds, berries
Nesting	Excavates cavity in snag/stump
Vocalization	Chick-a-dee-dee-dee call
Conservation	Vulnerable to habitat loss
Migration	Non-migratory, sedentary

Embracing their lively nature enriches any backyard haven.

Bushtit

Compared to the perky chickadees, you’ll find the tiny bushtits flitting about more discreetly, gleaning insects from trees and bushes. Keep an eye out for their distinctive:

• Sock-like hanging nests in shrubs or trees
• Constant chattering and high-pitched tseet calls
• Flocks foraging together acrobatically
• Gray bodies with long tails and small bills
• Habitats near oak woodlands and chaparral

Hummingbirds and Orioles

Hummingbirds are a delightful sight in Washington backyards.

The feisty Rufous Hummingbird arrives by Valentine’s Day and remains until July 4th.

The resident Anna’s Hummingbird stays year-round, amazingly maintaining a body temperature around 107°F.

Another splendid visitor is the striking Bullock’s Oriole.

It arrives in April to feed on nectar and fruit.

The males display a dazzling black hood contrasted by bright orange underparts during their bowing courtship displays.

Anna’s Hummingbird

You’ll often see the iridescent green-and-pink Anna’s Hummingbird hovering near nectar-rich flowers. With the highest body temperature of any bird, these tiny marvels enter torpor to conserve energy at night.

Torpor	Body Temp	Diet
Deep sleep	107°F	Nectar
Slows metabolism	Highest for birds	Insects
Night time	Requires frequent feeding	Small invertebrates

Their buzzing flight and jewel-like feathers delight backyard birdwatchers year-round.

Rufous Hummingbird

You’ll spot the feisty Rufous Hummingbird in your yard from Valentine’s Day to July 4th. Known for their aggressive antics, these feathered bullets zealously defend nectar sources and nesting sites against rivals. Marvel at the iridescent orange-red throat feathers, flitting wings, and daring dives of this migratory marvel from Mexico and Central America.

Bullock’s Oriole

From April to September, you might spot the striking Bullock’s Oriole, a nectar and fruit eater known for its bowing courtship display. Males sport a bright orange chest and black head, while females are more demure in olive-yellow hues. Aggressive at feeders, these beauties are worth their weight in entertainment value. Keep your eyes peeled for their acrobatic antics!

Uncommon Backyard Visitors

While not as common as the regulars, you may occasionally spot the striking black-and-white Pileated Woodpecker in your backyard.

It is recognizable by its striking red crest and the rectangular holes it drills into trees in search of carpenter ants.

Another uncommon but vibrant visitor is the Yellow-rumped Warbler.

It is easily identified by the bright yellow patches on its rump and crown during its spring and fall migrations.

Pileated Woodpecker

You may spot the pileated woodpecker, a striking bird known for its distinct rectangular holes in trees. These cavities are expertly carved to access carpenter ants, its primary food source. Look for these telltale signs or listen for its loud, resonant calls echoing through the forest.

• Distinctive red crest on head
• Black body with white stripes
• Largest woodpecker in North America
• Expert at excavating dead, decaying trees

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Yellow-rumped Warbler

From May to September, you might spot the Yellow-rumped Warbler, a versatile forager d믭 butter-butt for its bright yellow rump. These warblers thrive on insects and berries, flitting among shrubs and tree branches. During migration, they travel between wintering grounds in Mexico and breeding habitats across western North America.

Western Bluebird

You might spot the Western Bluebird in your backyard from February to August as their range expands. These striking azure beauties nest in various habitats, from cavities in trees to nestboxes. With suburban expansion, providing nesting sites is vital for their conservation. Follow their migration patterns and appreciate their vibrant presence during the breeding season.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)