Small Birds of Illinois: Pictures & Facts on 25 Backyard Species (2024)

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Hello fellow bird lover! Have you ever noticed how Illinois seems extra alive with song each spring? It’s because dozens of small bird species migrate through or settle down here to nest. If you’re wondering which tiny tweeter belongs to whom, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ll identify 25 types – including year-rounders and seasonal visitors – and I’ll share the sights, sounds, and habitats that make spotting them a breeze.

Types of Small Birds in Illinois

You’ll see hundreds of tiny creatures, from vibrant finches to masked chickadees, when you fill the feeders and ready your binoculars for birding in Illinois. The musical trills of finches fill the air as males sing to attract mates. Lively chickadees call to one another, flitting between branches.

Northern cardinals add splashes of red, whistling as they fly. You may spot the reddish-brown Carolina wren with its distinctive white eyebrow. Downy woodpeckers chisel away at tree trunks. Bluebirds whistle sweetly, their sky-blue plumage brightening your yard.

Providing food and nesting sites helps support these species facing threats like habitat loss and climate change. With attentive watching and listening, you’ll discover a fascinating world of birds right outside your window.

Common Year-round Resident Birds

Let’s begin exploring the most common year-round resident birds you’ll find in your Illinois backyard. The hardy White-breasted Nuthatch, with its blue-gray back and white face, shares your feeders with the raucous Blue Jay and its brilliant blue plumage.

You’ll also recognize the rosy-red breast of the House Finch and the distinctive black cap of the chickadee. Keep filling your feeders through the winter to attract the bright yellow American Goldfinch showing off its black wings.

White-breasted Nuthatch

That blue-gray backed, orange-rumped, white-faced nuthatch frequents your feeders year-round, pecking away at sunflower seeds with its pointy beak. It uses its long bill to probe bark crevices for hidden insects. Watch as it hitches down tree trunks headfirst, foraging for food.

This agile acrobat nests in tree cavities, laying up to 7 eggs. Its nasal yank-yank call echoes through the woods as it defends its territory. Though small, nuthatches exhibit brave curiosity, brightening your backyard with their busy antics.

Blue Jay

You’d often see the striking blue jay’s azure plumage contrasting with the snowy landscape as it loudly forages for acorns and seeds in the winter. With its distinctive blue back, wings, and crest, this vocal corvid’s white face is masked in black.

It favors oak forests but visits backyards, swooping between trees with stiff, shallow wingbeats. Aggressive and bold, it defends territory with raucous jay! jay! calls. Though omnivorous, acorns and corn are preferred foods.

The blue jay brightens cold days with its vivid plumage and boisterous behavior.

House Finch

You gaze at the rosy-red breast and gray face of a House Finch nibbling on sunflower seeds at your feeder. This social songbird is a joy to observe with its cheery chirps and busy activity.

1. Note the male’s red head and breast feathers.
2. Females are more brownish-gray.
3. Both have a short notched tail.
4. Watch these birds gather in flocks at feeders.

Tracking the movements and physical attributes of House Finches reveals fascinating details about their behaviors and adaptations. Their frequent visits provide opportunities to analyze their diet, nesting habits, population trends, and relations with similar birds like the American Goldfinch.

Simply fill your feeders and grab some binoculars to immerse yourself in the delightful world of the House Finch.

Black-capped Chickadee

You can’t miss these charismatic little birds with their black caps and cheerful chickadee-dee-dee songs in Illinois backyards. Friendly and acrobatic, these tiny gray and white birds clamber headfirst down tree trunks as they forage for insects and seeds.

They nest in tree cavities made by woodpeckers. Stay vigilant for chickadees darting among branches with chickadee-dee-dee whistles amid mixed flocks with nuthatches and titmice. Non-migratory, they overwinter as year-round backyard fixtures. With persistence, you’ll soon greet these tiny black-capped birds by name.

American Goldfinch

Don’t you know that the American Goldfinch sports a distinctive black cap that contrasts brightly with its yellow plumage? This acrobatic songbird enlivens backyards with its undulating flight and sweet twittering calls.

• Perches on slender branches, clinging upside down to pluck seeds
• Flashes yellow wings in bounding flight; floats on breezes
• Sings a lively series of musical notes, sometimes in flight
• Nests in summer with a downy-lined cup built in trees or shrubs

Graceful and cheery, the American Goldfinch brings a spark of sunshine wherever it goes.

Birds of Spring, Summer, and Early Fall

Greetings, fellow bird enthusiast! As spring arrives and summer days stretch long, keep your binoculars ready for some of Illinois’ most spectacular migrants. From the brilliant yellow chin of the Northern Parula to the energetic songs of the House Wren, you’ll delight in spotting the bright hues and lively activity of birds like the Purple Martin, Eastern Wood-Peewee, and the secretive Gray Catbird.

Northern Parula

The vivid yellow-green back and blue-gray face of the Northern Parula showcase this lovely warbler while flitting energetically among spring blossoms and foliage. Look for the distinctive yellow chin as the Parula busily and secretively forages for insects among the treetops, often associating with Northern Cardinals and American Robins.

Come fall, the Northern Parula will join mixed flocks with Blue Jays, Song Sparrows, and Mourning Doves on migration south to return the next spring.

Purple Martin

You’ll spot those dark blue fellows with the white wingbars and black masks as they swoop around your backyard. These social birds nest in colonies in man-made houses or gourds. Males have glossy, deep violet plumage while females are grayer.

They migrate in flocks to South America for winter. They feed on insects like dragonflies caught in flight. They make distinctive chortling gurgles and whistles. Don’t confuse them with European starlings or common grackles.

Eastern Wood-Peewee

Cause its dull gray plumage and distinctive white wingbars will catch your eye, you should glance up in the woods this summer to spot an Eastern wood-peewee singing its soft, wistful song.

• Woodlands with open understory
• Eats flying insects
• Population stable
• Nests on horizontal branches
• Range covers the eastern half of the US

The Eastern wood-pewee’s melancholy descending call echoes through deciduous forests in summer.

House Wren

You often hear the house wren’s short tail and brown face chirping loudly in woodlands during spring and summer. A welcome sight, these energetic birds flit through bushes and trees, seeking insects. Focus your binoculars on their chestnut wings and listen for their buzzy, hurried song.

House wrens nest in natural cavities or birdhouses, so put up a small box to attract them. Enjoy their constant motion and boisterous voice as they add life to your backyard habitat before migrating south in the fall.

Gray Catbird

The boisterous gray catbird, Robin-sized with a black cap, frequents summer woodlands, riverbanks, and swamps, eating fruit and nectar. Gray catbirds mimic other birds with a wide repertoire of songs. Their orb nests hide in thickets.

In fall, they migrate south, joining flocks with other grays like the palm warbler. Gray catbirds return each spring to breed in the same territory. Enjoy their melodic mimicry and gray colors before migration south.

Fall and Winter Birds

Let’s start watching for fall and winter birds. You’ll soon spot the predatory Northern Shrike perched on power lines or tree branches, scanning for prey like small rodents and birds. Also, look for the sociable European Starling flocking in suburbs, the Northern Cardinal‘s bright red plumage lighting up feeders, the nomadic White-winged Crossbill feeding on conifer seeds, and the streaky American Tree Sparrow on snowy ground searching for spilled seeds.

Northern Shrike

So hold onto your fillings as that masked bandit of the cold, the Northern Shrike, swoops in to winterize your backyard! This predatory songbird stakes its claim with piercing whistles, betraying its hunting habits for small birds and rodents.

Marvel at courtship displays of undulating flight and song, as pairs establish winter territories. Offer suet and chopped meat to sate this butcher bird’s appetite. Appreciate the stark beauty of this gray ghost before it retreats northward come spring.

White-winged Crossbill

Crossbill, those transgender wings of snowy surrender fluttering against the shimmering darkness of winter’s cloak could very well birth a thousand lullabies if you’d just open your weary heart and lend an ear! The crossbill’s snow-white wings beat a fluttering rhythm against the dark days of winter.

Seek solace in its soft warbles and trills, a song to soothe the lonely heart. In pine stands, it finds home, prying seeds with its crossed bill.

American Tree Sparrow

You’ll catch a glimpse of the American tree sparrow’s chestnut cap and gray belly as it darts between snow-covered bushes, foraging for seeds while migrating through Illinois’ winter landscape. This sparrow blends into the winter colors, flitting busily between shrubs for cover.

Look for the black spot on its chest when identifying this species. American tree sparrows migrate south from the Arctic each fall, feeding in loose flocks with juncos and pine siskins. Their cheery melody sings through the cold days until spring migration pulls them northward again.

Northern Cardinal

Catch the striking red plumage and black mask of Northern Cardinals brightening your yard this winter! These cheery birds add color to dreary winter days.

1. Look for the bright red plumage of males and the softer red-brown of females.
2. Listen for their loud, whistled songs with many variations.
3. Watch them eat seeds at feeders and look for nests in shrubs.

Seeing cardinals helps us recognize the beauty that remains even through the cold of winter.

European Starling

Tis the season to catch a glimpse of that peacock-hued invader, the European starling, flocking across dull winter skies. Muscled and short-tailed, these chunky birds form huge, wheeling flocks with an almost liquid movement.

In winter, they become social butterflies, joining noisy roosts on city buildings or in woods. Listen for their habit of mimicking other birds and noises while warbling cheerily. Starlings charm with adaptability yet trouble native species. Let us welcome their beauty, not their behavior.

Supporting Cast (Other Backyard Birds)

Don’t overlook the supporting players. A flitting Song Sparrow, sporting a white mustache, might invite your glance as it perches briefly on a branch. An American Crow glides overhead, while a Common Grackle’s iridescent plumage glistens in the sun.

A drab House Sparrow pecks at seed fallen below a feeder, as a Mourning Dove coos softly nearby.

Song Sparrow

Spot that dash of white on the chest and hear its lovely song, it’s a Song Sparrow visiting the feeder. Look for this familiar backyard bird with streaky brown plumage hopping on the ground. Its sweet whistling song brightens up spring mornings. Song Sparrows thrive in both urban parks and rural habitats, foraging for seeds and insects.

Their numbers swell in migration, then dwindle when snow blankets the ground. With favorite sunflower seeds or suet, entice these delightful songsters to serenade.

American Crow

You’ll find American Crows all over Illinois. Their completely black plumage and loud caws make them hard to miss.

1. Intelligence – they use tools and solve problems.
2. Communication – over 250 distinct calls.
3. Mimicry – they can copy sounds, even human speech.
4. Flocking – large winter roosts with thousands.
5. Adaptability – they thrive in urban areas.

Crows are a familiar sight in backyards and parks. Their raucous caws liven up the landscape wherever they go.

Common Grackle

You’d marvel at the metallic sheen of that common grackle’s feathers as it struts across your backyard. This iridescent marvel, with its deep hues of purple and blue, captivates bird enthusiasts and novices alike.

Grackles are social creatures, often forming large flocks during winter months, creating a sense of community in your own surroundings. Their vocalizations resonate through the crisp air, adding a dynamic soundtrack to your winter birding experience.

These adaptable birds find refuge in urban landscapes, gracing your feeders and bringing a sense of belonging to your birdwatching endeavor.

Common Grackle Quick Facts
Habitat	Urban, Suburban
Diet	Seeds, Insects
Nesting	Trees, Shrubs
Vocalizations	Guttural Calls
Behavior	Gregarious, Bold

In the presence of bird feeders, the common grackle exhibits bold behavior, approaching them with a sense of familiarity. Their diet comprises a mix of seeds and insects, a strategy for survival in varying seasons.

Nesting in trees and shrubs, these resourceful birds foster new life in the heart of your community.

As winter envelops the landscape, the common grackle remains a steadfast presence, offering you a glimpse into the world of small birds in Illinois, a world that enhances your connection to nature’s embrace.

House Sparrow

Discovering the remarkable avian diversity of your locale becomes an enchanting journey as the House Sparrow adds its rich brown hues and distinctive gray face to the vibrant tapestry of your backyard habitat.

Thriving in urban landscapes, the House Sparrow showcases remarkable adaptability. Its nesting habits include utilizing crevices and nooks in buildings. This omnivorous bird indulges in the Illinois bird buffet, favoring seeds and scraps.

Its lively chirps resonate, forging a sense of belonging amidst nature’s symphony.

Mourning Dove

Spotting amidst the foliage, the grayish tones of the Mourning Dove often surprise with their delicate beauty and their soulful coo-ah calls filling the air. Year-round residents in Illinois, these doves exhibit intriguing behavior. Their gentle demeanor is echoed in their nesting habits, crafting flimsy nests in trees or shrubs.

Their melancholic coo-ah call resonates, as they prefer seeds for sustenance and find solace in the state’s abundant birding hotspots.

Notable Migrant Birds

Embark on a journey through the vibrant tapestry of Illinois’ avian migrants. Witness the mesmerizing hues of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and the melodious whistling of the Baltimore Oriole. As you venture further, encounter the trilling Chipping Sparrow, the slate-gray allure of the Dark-eyed Junco, the sociable Pine Siskin adorned with streaks of sunshine, and the resplendent Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a sunflower seed aficionado.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Exploring the vibrant array of migratory species during their seasonal visits, one encounters the resplendent Ruby-throated Hummingbird, adorned with a brilliant red throat and graceful emerald plumage, as it journeys to its winter abode in Mexico.

This diminutive jewel of the avian world showcases fascinating behavior, such as its aerial acrobatics and rapid wing flutters, all driven by an insatiable quest for nectar-rich blooms. These migration patterns, synchronized with blossoming flowers, exemplify nature’s delicate harmony.

Nesting habits reflect a meticulous approach, often selecting well-camouflaged locations. As conservation efforts become paramount, fostering native flora not only entices these delightful creatures but also fosters a sense of stewardship, allowing us to play a role in their incredible journey.

Baltimore Oriole

As you venture into the vibrant woodlands and riverbanks, a melodious whistling song draws your attention – the Baltimore Oriole, with its striking orange and black plumage, gracing the scene as it indulges in sweet fruit and nectar.

This migratory wonder, akin to the American Robin and American Goldfinch, follows its annual migration patterns, adding a splash of vivid color to the foliage.

Creating intricate hanging nests, often resembling nature’s artistry, these Orioles exhibit their exceptional craftsmanship.

Their habitat preferences lean towards wooded areas, where the interplay of light and shadow complements their vibrant plumage.

To witness these enchanting birds and forge a connection with nature’s rhythms, consider providing the Orioles with the offerings of grape jelly and orange halves – an invitation to belong in their world.

Chipping Sparrow

Picture yourself in a sunlit garden, where the air resonates with a sweet, trilling melody. Amidst the vibrant tapestry of nature’s hues, a rust-crowned Chipping Sparrow alights, captivating your senses with its enchanting song—a lively reminder of the fleeting beauty gracing this seasonal shift.

As part of the small birds of Illinois, this migratory gem embarks on a remarkable journey each year.

1. Migration Marvel: Chipping Sparrows embark on an impressive migration, covering vast distances from their breeding grounds in North America to their wintering territories in Mexico and Central America. This journey highlights their remarkable navigation skills.

2. Vocal Serenades: The Chipping Sparrow’s vocalizations are a symphony of trills and chips. Their song is a melodic blend of high-pitched trills and sharp notes, filling the air with their signature sound, a testimony to their unique presence.

3. Nesting Artistry: Witness the artistry of their nesting habits. These sparrows construct delicate cup-shaped nests using grass, twigs, and other plant materials, often lining them with finer materials. Their nests are typically well-hidden, tucked amidst shrubs and trees, ensuring their safety.

4. Finicky Feeders: Chipping Sparrows have discerning palates. Their feeding preferences lean towards seeds, especially small ones like millet and sunflower seeds. Providing these offerings in bird feeders can attract these charming birds to your outdoor haven.

As a cherished member of the avian community, the Chipping Sparrow contributes to the diverse tapestry of Illinois’ birdlife. Its presence underscores the intricate connections that bind nature’s rhythms, inviting you to bask in the beauty of the transient moments that each season brings.

Dark-eyed Junco

Nestled beneath winter’s embrace, the slate-gray wanderer, with its belly as white as snow, graces your backyard. Its loud musical trilling paints a stark contrast to the quiet landscape. Amidst the cold, the Dark-eyed Junco seeks refuge, a tiny visitor from the North.

It finds solace in foraging for seeds on the ground, a habitual preference, while its gentle yet robust trill echoes, forging a bond of understanding and warmth between you and the wild.

Junco’s Trill	Winter’s Hush
A lively tune	An enchanting
forging a link	serenity, as
to the wild’s heart	snow blankets all.

The Illinois landscape witnesses their migrations, as these minuscule travelers paint their passage across the canvas of seasons. From the Great River Trail to your very own backyard, the Dark-eyed Junco’s journey is a testament to the ceaseless rhythm of life.

In the embrace of your carefully tended feeders, their journey finds respite, uniting the instinctual call of nature with the sanctuary of human touch.

Pine Siskin

Amidst the natural chorus of colors and calls, the Pine Siskin flits playfully, its wings adorned with streaks of yellow, adding a touch of vibrant warmth to the landscape. As a winter visitor in Illinois, the Pine Siskin is a social and chatty companion at your feeders.

Its diet preference for sunflower seeds draws it close, where you can admire its intricate yellow-edged plumage. Keep your binoculars ready to catch its joyful, high-pitched twittering as it navigates its temporary haven.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Embracing a vibrant plumage, the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak frequents feeders for sunflower seeds, adding a splash of color to your birdwatching encounters. Its striking red plumage distinguishes it, resembling a cardinal but with a contrasting black bib.

During migration, these Grosbeaks showcase their melodious trills, enriching parks and national forests. Their breeding habits lead them to deciduous woods, where their enchanting song often mingles with the cheerful calls of scarlet tanagers.

Specialized Birds

Embark on a captivating exploration of specialized avian inhabitants in the Illinois landscape. Encounter the vibrant presence of the Red-bellied Woodpecker with its fiery head and resonant calls. Delight in the secretive allure of the Carolina Wren, adorned in reddish-brown plumage, while its distinctive tea-kettle song graces the air.

Amidst these wonders, discover the Eastern Bluebird, a symbol of vitality in its vivid blue and rusty chest, found amidst meadows, parks, and your very own backyard, drawn by the allure of mealworms and luscious berries.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Discovering the vibrant Red-bellied Woodpecker adds a burst of energy to your birdwatching experience, as these lively creatures, with their striking red heads and energetic calls, are drawn to sunflower seeds and suet.

Observing their behavior reveals a penchant for clinging to tree trunks, probing crevices for insects with impressive precision. Come nesting season, their adaptable nature leads them to various wooded habitats.

Their unmistakable rolling calls echo through the Illinois landscape, cementing a sense of connection with the wild.

Carolina Wren

Navigating the varied habitats of the region, you’ll encounter the Carolina Wren, with its reddish-brown hues and distinctive white throat and eye line, alluringly drawn to suet-laden feeders during the winter months, while gracing the surroundings with its unmistakable tea-kettle song.

Seeking the shelter of dense shrubs and undergrowth, this wren displays a curious and sociable behavior, often foraging alongside other woodland companions like the tufted titmouse and house wren. Amidst the chill, its melodic calls provide a comforting thread of connection, echoing a sense of belonging in the natural tapestry of Illinois.

Eastern Bluebird

Explore the vivid allure of the Eastern Bluebird as its vibrant blue plumage and rusty chest paint a living masterpiece against meadow landscapes and backyard settings alike. This iconic bird, a symbol of happiness and renewal, exhibits fascinating nesting behavior.

Conservation efforts have bolstered its populations, showcasing the value of habitat preservation. Listen to its melodious warbles during the breeding season, a soothing reminder of nature’s intricate beauty.

Illinois Bird Buffet

Indulge in the diverse avian culinary offerings across the landscape, encompassing Black Oil Sunflower seeds, Nyjer Thistle, Striped Safflower, Cracked Corn, Suet, and even Grape Jelly, to entice and nourish a vibrant array of feathered guests.

Feeding Preferences: Tailor your garden setup to attract a delightful mix of visitors. American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds prefer the soft soil beneath feeders for insects, while House Sparrows and House Finches indulge in sunflower seeds.

Seasonal Attraction: Witness the ebb and flow of bird species throughout the year. White-breasted Nuthatches favor suet in winter, while House Finches, with their rosy-red breasts, are a constant presence year-round.

Dietary Variety: Offer a smorgasbord to cater to every beak. The picky White-breasted Nuthatch loves suet, while House Sparrows opt for millet in a ground feeder.

Feeder Placement: Strategically place feeders near bushes and trees to provide safety and perching spots.

Embrace the camaraderie of these feathered companions and create a haven of sustenance, observing their feeding preferences and seasonal habits, while fostering a sense of belonging in the tapestry of nature’s intricate design.

Notable Birding Hotspots in Illinois

Discover the remarkable avian treasures found across the diverse landscapes of the state as you venture through Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western, and Central Illinois.

In the Northern region, the River Trail of Illinois (Carl Bud Schmitt Trail) beckons with its mix of wetlands and woodlands.

Heading East to the Northerly Island Trail, witness the bustling activity of House Finches and Northern Cardinals against the urban backdrop.

The Ottawa Riverwalk in the South reveals the secretive charm of Black-capped Chickadees and their woodland companions.

As you explore the Western Great River Trail, the resonant songs of House Sparrows intertwine with the rustling leaves.

The Central Kishwaukee-Kiwanis Trail provides a haven for Northern Cardinals and Black-capped Chickadees amid the tranquil landscapes.

Amidst these hotspots, employ birding techniques and wildlife photography to capture the awe-inspiring migration patterns and contribute to habitat preservation.

Mark your calendar for thrilling birding events and embrace the sense of belonging that comes from understanding these feathered wonders.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)