ustrated Guide to

SP

Bird Identification

Plant Lists

Feeders, Houses

K-

**
*L

& Bath

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in

2012

http://archive.org/details/illustratedguidOOOsuns

An Illustrated Guide to

Attracting
Birds
By

the Editors of Sunset

Books and Sunset Magazine

Painted bunting (see page 52)

Sunset Publishing Corporation m Menlo Park, California

Black-capped chickadee

s*f?

Barn swallow

Book Editor
Susan Warton

"Drink your

Research & Text

Daniel P. Murphy
Kit

chides a rufous-sided towhee.

meadow"Gerald-deeeen" peals a wood

lark.

thrush.

Philip Edinger

And

Atkinson

garden that attracts birds,

similar songs and calls fill
with natural music. Birds also

and

these

Suzanne Normand Mathison

the air

bring beauty, color, astonishing

Design
Joe di Chiarro

Bill

ma

ety;

or off the patio.

Sunset has published previous

Oetinger

books on

Maps

birds.

We brought out our

Introduction to Western Birds as long

Eureka Cartography

ago as 1953. Attracting

Birds to

Your

Garden, a respected resource in the

Cover: Tiny black-capped chickadee

brightens wintry landscape from its
perch among sheltering pine boughs,
near delicious barberries. Design by

Susan Bryant. Photography by Mary

Clay/Tom Stack

&

birding community,

was published

in 1974.

Now we introduce this entirely

new

title

celebrating the joys of back-

yard bird-watching. In the

Associates.

ter,

Editor, Sunset Books: Elizabeth L.

Hogan

Denny

Cliff Richer,

and fascinating drathe world outside the window

to

first

chap-

you'll discover the distinctive

and learn how

The next chapter

characteristics of birds
to identify them.

with the

text,

Mallory; Richard

The Bird House; National

Geographic Society; Ted Chandik;
Peter La Tourrette, Bay Area Bird
Photographers; Karen Sullivan,
Hummingbird Gardens Nursery;

flight patterns,

Illustrations

Lois Lovejoy

their expert assistance

photographs, maps, and artwork:

Richard W. Stallcup; Peter J. MetroClarke,

"tsit-tsit-tsit."

In a

Coordinating Editor

individuals and organizations for

pulos; G.

a flock of foraging

bushtits chatters

We are grateful to the following

."
.

"Dzrrt" calls the eastern

and George Harrison

Scott

teeeeee.

Third printing June 1991

Audubon

Sequoia

Soci-

Lynn Tennefoss, Santa Clara

ley

Audubon

life

Federation; National

Val-

Society; National Wild-

Society; LI.S. Fish

&

Department of the

Audubon

Wildlife Service,

Interior;

Ray

Audubon
Golden Gate Audubon Soci-

Peterson; Richardson Bay

Society;
ety;

Bushnell Division of Bausch

&

Lomb; Astronomies /Christophers

Ltd.; Leica USA Inc.; Wild Bird Co.;
Wild Bird Supplies; Audubon Workshop; Bird 'n

Hand

Inc.;

kees, Inc.; Duncraft;

Droll Yan-

Hvde

Bird

Feeder Co.; Menlo Park Hardware

Co.; The Nature Company; Smith &

Hawken; The Dick

E.

Bird

News.

features an easy-to-use field guide to

Copyright

1990, Sunset Publishing

Corporation, Menlo Park,

edition.

World

CA

94025. First

rights reserved.

No

part of

may be reproduced by
any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording, nor may it be stored in
this publication

80 birds that frequently visit North

American gardens; each entry is accompanied by a range map and full-

Creating a bird-welcoming habithe focus of the third chapter,

a retrieval system, transmitted, or other-

wise copied for public or private use

without prior written permission from
the publisher. Library of Congress Cata-

where you'll find seasoned advice

and recommendations for plants that
will attract birds. The final chapters

States.

how to provide your feathered guests with supplemental food,

explain
water,

and

shelter. You'll learn ev-

erything from
Baltimore oriole

Elving for carefully editing the

manuscript.

color photograph.

tat is

log Card Number: 90-60913. ISBN 0-37603089-5. Lithographed in the United

Special thanks go to Phyllis

cake to

how

how

to

to build

make

your

a suet

own

purple martin apartment.

Enriching the book from cover
to cover are colorful

and

photographs

illustrations of birds, as well as

maps

of species ranges

climate zones.

and garden

WJiite-breasted nuthatch

House

finch

Contents
4

Look! An Indigo Bunting

The joys ofbird-watchmg

63

& Chirps

13

Tiv titers, Trills

17

Choosing Binocidars

67

71

Blossoms

72

A Garden Guest List

76

Conserving Your Crops

A guide to SO frequently seen backyard birds

79

A Hummingbird

87

Pests

95

Christmas Bird Counts

Discovering Birds
Family background, anatomy, behavior

21

Special Features

& habitats

Birdscaping Your Yard

Safe Route

&

Seeds

Splashy Attraction

Garden

& Predators

How to plant a welcoming liabitatfor birds

85

A Wild Banquet
Seeds, suet

97

& other favorite bird pods

Feeders,

Houses

Handsome structures

109

pr birds

Appendix
Resources

HI

to build

& Baths

Indigo bunting

& bird checklist

Index

Mourning dove

Yellow warbler

LOOK!
An
Indigo

Bunting
Look up

see

more than

hundred pine
windblown

siskins swirl into a treetop, like

leaves.

Gaze skyward

at a

slowly, the only sign of

hawk circling

life

on

a hot after-

noon. Peer through rose thorns

at a nestful of blue
green catbird's eggs. Watch robins mine a rainsoaked lawn for worms, cedar waxwings splash in
the birdbath, a flicker flashing red brushstrokes as
it

wings

into the forest.

Glimpses such as these are what make a backyard bird-watcher's heart beat faster and turn
casual observers into avian enthusiasts. Birds put on
a show that's unsurpassed for sweet operatics and

aerial ballet. Ifs free, open-air,

and convenient; you

can observe birds fluttering or perched virtually

everywhere, from crowded cities to wild forests,
from suburbia to seacoasts. At least some species
stay nearby at all times of year, even during snowy
winters

when

the rest of nature lies dormant.

migrant species

may

same garden where they enjoyed

previous year

arriving close

to

stop off

at

the

good meal the

the same day and

will rain).

Academy

tional

drop

Na-

of Science has reported a dramatic

in the population of songbirds

whose winter

the rain forests of Central and South

America has been increasingly destroyed.
habitat

Ornithologists are not alone in their concern

about the destiny and daily life of birds. According

to the United States Department of the Interior,
approximately a third of the U.S. population feeds
or watches birds at least occasionally.

among them

or about

If

you're

to join their ranks

be classified as a bird-watcher or a

you can

birder.

A relatively casual interest is what usually distinguishes bird-watchers from birders, as the two

terms are

commonly

a local chapter of the

used.

A bird-watcher may join

Audubon

Society to take field

attend programs, or participate in a Christmas

count (see page 95) a great way to get started. On

the other hand, many bird-watchers travel no farther than their own backyard feeders and birdbaths.

A somewhat more zealous breed, birders are

month. And folk wisdom credits birds with predicting storms (if they flock together at a feeder) or
rainfall (the faster they fly, supposedly the sooner
it

ecological disturbances. In recent years, the

trips,

To practiced observers, bird behavior can pinpoint the time of year and even foretell a change in
the weather. Bird banding has shown that individuals of certain

A barometer these days of more than atmospheric changes, birds also alert ornithologists to

also

known

as field ornithologists. Their detailed

knowledge of birds can be quite amazing, down to

an ability to whistle bird songs or to identify which
wild plants are favored by which species. Birders
often focus on special interests: studying nest-

why warblers winter in

the south and how to

them when a dozen or so stop overnight in
the crowns of your trees.

building, habitats, or migration patterns, for in-

ies as

photographing birds or using an artist's

palette to capture the precise coloration of an olivesided flycatcher. Some birders devote themselves to

identify

stance, or

conservation

efforts,

and some

globe to add birds to their

travel all over the

"life lists"

records of

all

the species they've ever identified.

Birder or bird-watcher, anyone

Chapter 2, "A Garden Guest List," can be left

open near a window for quick reference as a field
guide
birds

who

appreciates

to

garden

common

birds. You'll find descriptions of 80

to

North American gardens and

and

yards, along with an identifying photograph

map for each

birds to any degree inevitably becomes a conserva-

range

goes with the territory. One of the

satisfactions of backyard bird-watching is that, by
cultivating a habitat to attract birds, you can con-

basic elements of hospitality that will

tionist, too. It

tribute in a small but valuable

way

to

reclaiming

the natural world for wildlife. To start, this

mean nothing more than

may

allowing a few brambles

to grow in a garden corner. But when many such

birdscaped areas combine, the resulting patchwork
can begin to offset some of the habitat losses caused
bv the rigors of civilization. At the same time, the
garden bird-watcher gains chances to discover the

joy of birds

reason enough.

This book

designed to serve as a primer for

anyone who wants to attract birds to a garden or
yard in North America. Even if you don't have a
garden, this book can introduce you to the pleasures of bird-watching away from home. Its opening
chapter, "Discovering Birds," explores such mysteris

species.

Plenty of wild bird food,

shelter,

and water are

draw

birds to

your property. In "Birdscaping Your Yard," Chapter

3, you'll find landscaping ideas and plant choices
including
for creating a habitat with bird appeal
such details as how to set up a reasonably catproof
birdbath and how to grow a hummingbird's cafe-

teria of

blooms.

all you need to know about feeding seed,

and other favorite foods to birds, turn to Chap4, "A Wild Banquet." Supplementing nature's

For

suet,
ter

food will be especially comforting to your feathered

friends if you live where winters are long, cold, and
spare of vegetation.
If

you want

to

add

to the

avian ambiance by

constructing a rustic bird house or burbling garden

pool, our last chapter, "Feeders,

shows how with step-by-step

Houses

directions

&

Baths,"

and plans

for 16 do-it-yourself projects.

we leave you with a resource list for

more about birds on your own, as well as a
checklist to help you record observations of your
avian visitors. And now, outside the window, a yelFinally,

learning

low-bellied sapsucker

hammers

Cedar ivaxwings devour

berries, and tree sparrow
perches on Pennisetum.

dogwood

for attention ....

A canopy of autumn leaves

protectively reflects the vibrant
colors of an evening grosbeak (see
page

61). Tlie bird's bill

has evolved

for cracking large seeds.

Discovering
Birds
have benefited people from
and musicians with beauty

irds
earliest times. Inspiring artists, poets,

and song,

birds

have also contributed

of flight as impetus to mankind's

But

for

many

people, the

simply watching them.

More

their extraordinary

own

quest

to

most appealing thing about birds

daily lives

is

than any other form of wildlife, birds

provide a companionship as commonplace as clouds

They share our

example

become airborne.

soaring above

in

the sky.

the highway, roosting

on

a roof, warbling in a treetop, or splashing in a birdbath. Whether

they

show up singly, in pairs, or in flocks,

and in tune with nature.

birds help us to feel

more

alive, free,

This first chapter

is

designed

quainted with birds and their

birds are

most

to

help you become better ac-

ways you

likely to visit residential

you'll enjoy

learn

what kinds of

how

to

from

The more you learn about your avian visitors

plumage to their elaborate nesting rituals the more

identify them.
their varied

11

neighborhoods, and

your backyard bird-watching.

A Diverse Family Tree

More widespread than humans,
ally every niche of the globe
life at all.

birds inhabit virtu-

capable of supporting

Approximately 8,600 bird species

highly evolved birds are

Passeriformes; you'll find

members of the order

them listed last.

live in

DNA and protein

ests to deserts,

analysis, in recent years, has

given ornithologists a more finely tuned approach

as the geographical areas they frequent.

bird classification

areas from the Arctic to the Antarctic, from rain for-

from mountains to open seas. Birds

have evolved into organisms as marvelously varied

to bird classification.

As

a result, the entire field of

understanding
between birds may lead to the division of some currently recognized species into two
or more new ones, and some existing species may
be grouped together as single species.
is

in flux. Greater

of relationships

Classifying birds
In biological classification, or taxonomy,

all

grouped

encom-

in the class Aves. This category

birds are

passes about 170 bird families around the world, 78

them represented in North America. Within these

78 families, more than 800 species have been observed north of Mexico. About a fifth of these originated in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, or Mexico
and are considered vagrants; the rest are indigenous
to North America.
of

Backyard bird families

Bird families most likely to appear in a North

American

garden include hawks, game

hummingbirds, woodpeckers, fly-

residential

birds, pigeons,

catchers, swallows, jays, chickadees, nuthatches,

wrens, thrushes, vireos, warblers, grosbeaks, sparrows, blackbirds, orioles, tanagers, and finches.

Many birds will be attracted by particular

Traditional classification involves a hierarchy of

groupings, each with a Latin name. The broadest

plants or feeders; others will

subclassification of the class Aves

sects or

is order,

followed

by family; an order may include one or many families of genetically related birds. Genus is a more specialized grouping, and the generic name always
appears, capitalized, as the

first

word

name. Species is a descriptive term that

lows, narrowing the classification further. Some
too.

Here

is

how

fol-

and subspecies,

the black-headed grosbeak

is

classified:

Order Passer iformes, meaning "perching bird."

This order includes 73 families of birds.
Family

Emberizidae,

meaning "members

meaning "painted with

cosmetics."

Species

in-

order used in field guides. For more specific descriptions, see

"A Garden Guest

List,"

pages 20-61.

Game
level.

birds (family Phasianidae) feed at ground

Note the chickenlike bills, feet, wings, and

bodies of family members, which include grouse,

and pheasant. When surprised, game birds

erupt from the ground and fly to nearby cover.
quail,

Pigeons and doves (family Columbidae), vegetarian ground-feeders, have heavy, rounded bodies,
small heads, and thin bills.

Hummingbirds (family

Subfamily Cardinalinae meaning "important"

and "wearing red."
Pheucticus,

on the

of the

finch family."

Genus

is

to feed

in a bird's

scientific

classifications involve subfamilies

Here

come

even on the smaller birds in your garden.

a quick guide to some of them, listed in the

colorful,
tar

from

have thin
flowers.

Trochilidae), tiny and

bills that

Most

evolved for sucking nec-

are migratory. (See

page

Woodpeckers (family Picidae) depend on

79.)

trees as

a source of insects. In spring, listen for rhythmic

melanocephalus,

meaning "black-

headed."

The sequence

of classification also reflects rela-

drumming. Flickers typically feed at ground level

on ants. Family traits include a sturdy bill, a stiff
tail, and toes designed for clinging vertically to
branches or trunks.

tive level of evolution, as well as relationships be-

tween

birds. Loons, grebes, and pelicans, for example, as some of North America's most primitive
birds, appear first in most field guides. The most

Discovering Birds

Flycatchers (family Tyrannidae) snatch insects in

the air, darting from a perch and then returning to
the same branch or one nearby. Some have surpris-

ingly heavy bills for insectiv-ores. These birds are

Warblers, grosbeaks, buntings, sparrows,

and tanagers (family Ember izidae) are genetically related within a huge
family of diverse subgroups. Small, colorful, and ex-

mostly migratory, and few species are present in

blackbirds, orioles,

winter.

Jays, crows,
all

and magpies (family Corvidae)

are

cousins, but various species of jay are the family

members most

often seen in gardens across North

America. Mid-sized, raucous birds, they'll eat almost anything and tend to dominate garden feeders.

tremely active insectivores, warblers flock in large

mixes (perhaps

and

fall

wooded

in trees

or,

in winter, at a suet feeder.

tree

trunks while feeding on insects. Small, gray-backed,

of the

species) during spring

they

may

pass through

tings (including cardinals) are small to mid-sized,

bills for

blackbirds, orioles,

cracking seeds. Vividly colored

and

tanagers, larger than other

family members, are attracted to seed feeders, especially in winter.

Nuthatches (family Sittidae) hop down

and dark-capped, they share many

more

when

gardens. Grosbeaks, sparrows, and bun-

with heavy

Titmice and chickadees (family Paridae) are

small, grayish insectivores that may be seen feeding

six or

migrations,

wood-

Finches (family Fringillidae), small to mediumsized seed-eaters with heavy bills, are usually
brown, yellow, or red.

pecker's feeding habits.

Wrens

(family Troglodytidae) sing varied, often

and brown, with

beautiful songs. Small, chunky,

stubby, upturned

tails,

these insectivores favor

shrubs and low ground cover.

Thrushes, kinglets, and bluebirds (family

Muscicapidae) are erect-standing birds that vary

from small to robin-size. They eat insects and fruit.

Notice the family resemblance

shared by five different birds
in the shape of wings, tails,
and sharply pointed bills.

Vireos (family Vireonidae), green or gray, are

small and relatively slow-flying. These highly migratory insectivores usually visit only wooded gar-

dens

that

can supply their dietary or nesting needs.

Western

Meadowlark

Discovering Birds

Anatomy Through Evolution

Over millions
adapted

of years of evolution, birds

have

to diverse conditions all over the globe. For

the ostrich

and other large, flightless birds of flat reon strong legs was the most signifi-

gions, running

At the opposite extreme, the tiny

it three forward-pointing
toes and one pointing backward, enabling it to
perch safely to rest after astonishingly long flights.
cant survival

skill.

songbird's evolution gave

While the ostrich represents a primitive level of

is considered by ornithologists to be the most anatomically advanced.

bird evolution, the songbird

American
bill

hooked
and crushing

kestrel has strong,

for tearing flesh

Descendants of dinosaurs

bones of small animal prey.

The

earliest "birds" resembled feathered dinosaurs.

Dating from approximately 150 million years ago,

Hairy woodpecker's
sturdy
chisel to

bill

hammer

straight,

functions as
into tree

and

capture insects.

(meaning "ancient
wing") reveal creatures with clawed wings, toothed
bills, bony tails, and heavy bones. It seems unlikely
that they did much flying; probably they hopped on
the ground or glided from tree to tree.
fossils of the archyaeopteryx

Birds more closely resembling modern forms

such as loons and pelicans did not appear until 60
million years ago, as shown by fossil records. By one

million years ago,

come

all

of today's bird families had

into existence.

Specialized anatomies

Ruby-throated hummingbird uses long,

slender bill to feed on
nectar and insects deep

All birds today share certain anatomical characteris-

All are warm-blooded, feathered creatures with

wings (though not all can fly). All have hornlike
bills and scaled legs and feet. Their lightweight, hollow bones make it easier to stay airborne, and a
clavicle
or wishbone anchors their massive
breast muscles for flight.
tics.

inside tubular flowers.

Red-eyed vireo's slender bill is

adapted for capturing, holding,
and crushing insects.

Surviving for so long in the earth's great environmental diversity, however, birds have also had to
evolve many specialized anatomical characteristics.
Variations in body parts and color help birds exist in

widely differing landscapes.

Bills of every size and shape have evolved
through the ages, to assure successful feeding in diverse habitats.

Most ducks,

spatulate bills that can

Song sparrow has heavy, triangular bill for grasping and

crushing seeds.

10

Discovering Birds

sift

for

example, have broad,

and animal

aquatic plant

food from

muddy

room

hearty portion of fish in their

for a

water. Pelicans

have enough
bills.

Woodpeckers have specialized bills, bones, and

muscles that absorb the impact of hammering into
trees for

wood -boring

insects.

They've also evolved

an extremely long tongue

tor capturing insects

deep

*\

inside drilled holes or crevices.

Bird-watching in your garden, you

tice the

broad

finches,

and sparrows, designed

By

bills for

also no-

seedeaters such as grosbeaks,

bills of

to crack seed hulls.

contrast, vireos, wrens, warblers,

have thinner

may

Owl's talons can capture and

kill prey as well as hold it
while it is being eaten.
j^.

and

flycatchers

snatching insects.

Feet and wings are specialized, too. While a duck's

webbed feet are adapted for swimming, a woodpecker's large feet and broad tail keep the bird stable
while clinging

to trees as

it

drills for food.

brown

feeding birds, such as the

Ground-

thrasher, often

have feet proportionately larger than those of chickadees or warblers, which glean insects from leafy
vegetation.

The long, pointed wings of American kestrels,

and swallows have evolved for lengthy flying.
The comparativelv short wings of wrens, on the
other hand, are adapted for quick shuttles from one
clump of brush or shrubbery to another. An owl's
swifts,

specialized feather structure allows

it

to fly silently

through the night in search of small prey, such as

deer mice, that have keen hearing.

Woodpeckers can cling

to

vertical branches, using

two forward and two

backward toes and sharp
claws.

Birds have evolved a variety of flight techniques,

Small songbirds flap their wings in energetic upand-down strokes. Tiny hummingbirds hover as they
too.

Hawks

beat their wings 70 times a second.

soar

and most species glide at

more slowly and over more dis-

gracefully on air currents,

least occasionally

tance in the case of bigger birds.

The penguin uses

its

wings as

flippers after div-

swimming motion is the

movements of other birds. Though

ing into icy arctic water; the

same

as the flying

this large bird

does not

fly today,

it's

believed that

it

once did.

to scratch the

ground

for food.

Adaptive colors

are often the

notice in birds. In

some

first

specialization

we

males and females

in others, the male is bright

species,

appear identical in color;

and the female relatively
Coloration can serve

need. The male

Quail's stout forward toes are

needed

dull.

more than one survival

plumage is used for

finch's vivid

courting females as well as for territorial defense.

means

It

communicating
is
with other finches. The red-winged blackbird displays its red epaulettes both to attract a female and
to ward off males competing for its nesting territory.
Ground-feeding birds are protected by feathers that
seem to blend into the surrounding landscape.
also believed to be a

of

Sparrows have three

forward toes and a
backward one for grasping branches, allowing
feeding and roosting in
trees and shrubs.

Discovering Birds

11

Bird Behavior
Claiming and defending a territory is the first
many male birds. This territory, which
may include your entire garden or a portion of it,
needs to provide food, water, and a secure nest site.
Attracting a mate with song and display is the next

Whether fluffing feathers against the cold or flapping wings in graceful flight, birds are a joy to
watch. Birds make a garden seem more vibrantly
alive.

challenge for

A tiny Wilson's warbler flies into view, flits

about snatching

insects,

then disappears in an in-

A fox sparrow darts

from shrubby cover near the lawn, scratches the
grass for hidden seeds, then flutters back to its hidstant into a neighbor's yard.

ing place, only to repeat the

and over

for half

Besides distinguishing a

it,

Hummingbirds perform
form of great

aerial

brown creeper from

you can

stay alert for

migratory visitors or changing plumage.

may

take the

Though
drumming and exagdowny woodpecker serve

U, or

formations.

quite different, the rhythmic

gerated posturing of the

the

same purpose. For most

the mockingbird, hold

ries

birds, these breeding

But some birds, like

and defend feeding territo-

year-round, which explains their aggressive be-

havior and unseasonal singing.

As spring

Breeding rituals
displays to intricate nest making,

breeding behavior in spring has been specialized through evolution to ensure each species' re-

birds'

productive success.

you may see birds carrying

continues,

perhaps a bit of grass or yarn, or

some small twigs or even sticks. Each bird has its
own distinctive style of construction, from the
nesting materials

From courtship

J,

sweeping

elaborate,

rituals take place in the spring.

winter wren, bird behavior marks the changing seafamiliar with

mate, and young from in-

its territory,

truders.

courtship displays on the wing; these

pleasure of bird-watching.

Once

protecting

same movements over

an hour.

Observing bird behavior will help you identify

just which species have come to visit, feed, bathe,
and perhaps build a nest on your property. Keeping
a record of the specific behaviors adds greatly to the

sons.

order of business. Finally, the bird faces the task of

robin's cuplike

mud and

grass

home

to the bushtifs

nest resembling a delicate sock of spider web,

li-

chen, and grass. Thus, the nest

clue

itself is

good

to the bird's identity.

Survival skills
After breeding, the focus of bird behavior shifts to

simply staying
for food.

alive. First

Many birds

and foremost

is

the search

have developed specialized

skills to meet this task. The towhee scrapes the

ground with both feet to unearth insects. The kingfisher dives head first for fish. The nuthatch travels

head
bugs.

down a tree trunk as it forages for tiny

And for many species, extraordinary feats of

first

migratory flight are necessary to find enough food

for survival (see

page

Between meals

14).

and

flights

all

birds occa-

sionally bathe, preen, or dust themselves. Fluffing

huddling in a row, and tucking their heads

under their wings are ways for birds to stay warm
in freezing weather or at night.
feathers,

Other intriguing kinds of behavior defend birds

Head bobbing is thought to help
birds keep a sharp lookout from many angles.
"Mobbing" is a group effort by numerous birds to
harass a predator, such as a hawk, until it leaves (see
against predators.

Claiming territory, courting a mate, building a nest, and

hatching eggs fill the busy springtime agenda for many
birds, such as this yellow ivarbler.

12

Discovering Birds

facing page).

Twitters, Trills

& Chirps
/ust as fragrant flowers in a garden delight our
sense of smell, so do melodious birds bring
pleasure to our ears. Symbol of springtime and
inspiration for poets
is

and composers, bird song

also an identification tag for the various species.

Actually, birds chirp (or "call") at least as

More than

as they sing series of notes.

concert, singing

and

much

a free outdoor

ways

calling are their basic

to attract

females

and

truders (usually males of the

croaching on their

same

to

discourage

species)

in-

from en-

territory.

Males, and sometimes females, are apt to keep

singing throughout the nesting cycle. In

warmer areas,

may

begin as early as February and continue

until July. Songs diminish as fledglings leave the
nest. Though some species, like the mockingbird,
sing in certain regions throughout the year, even they
are more vocal during the breeding season.
this

Song is certainly the most beautiful of bird

sounds, but the brief, sharp calls made throughout
the year hold considerable interest for birders. These
chirps and squeaks are believed to serve less aggresperhaps warning of a
sive purposes than songs
predator or announcing to other birds that food is

available.

The nasal

chatter of red-breasted nuthatch-

es as they flutter through a

flock together during

its

wooded

lot

keeps the

joining together to

mob

The raucous

harassed predator

bird sounds are consistent throughout an

white-crowned
sparrow, there can be so much variation that the
trained ear can detect two distinct local dialects within one small city. Some birds
the phoebe and the
chickadee, for instance
have been named for the distinctive sounds they make. Others, like the European
nightingale or the American black-headed and rose-

flies

range and leaves the

a resting Cooper's
clatter will

hawk

or

continue until the

well beyond the flock's feeding

mob members

in peace.

breasted grosbeaks, are renowned for the melody of

The mourning dove is distinguished by

mournful sound, something like the owl's.

their song.

low,

its

Mimicking other birds is a specialty of jays, mockand starlings; on rare occasions, even warblers and finches imitate other species. Just why they
do this is unknown, but mimicry probably enhances
a basic song, making it more attractive to females.
ingbirds,

Birders use song to help identify birds, and tape

recordings of bird songs and calls are available
through birders' mail order catalogs and periodicals.
Or you might consider making your own tapes. A

good
are

constant foraging.

These feeding and gathering calls for many

small birds
are most likely to be heard in the morning and late afternoon. But at any time of day you may
hear the excited calls of a mixed flock of woodpeckers, jays, chickadees, nuthatches, warblers, and finches
screech owl.

cities,

entire species; in others, such as the

As the breeding season gets under way in spring,

males sing

Some

of

communicating.

many

the range of bird sounds you are

been expanded by birds released
from captivity, both deliberately and accidentally.
Populations of canary-winged parakeets, rose-ringed
parakeets, and monk parrots add their various shrieks,
screeches, and squawks to the banter of more melodious urban bird residents.

In

likely to hear has

cassette recorder

all

you need

to

and

directional

make your own

microphone

recordings to

capture the avian operatics in your garden.

By mimicking, you can sometimes

curious birds.

Make

ing p, followed by
pshhh-pshhh.

If

sh.

a "pishing"

Repeat

a chickadee

it

is

attract a few
sound by enunciat-

softly in a series: pshhh-

perched nearby,

it

may

come out to investigate. Be sure not to disrupt nesting

or territorial birds this way or with taped songs.
Songs and calls of individual species are described in "A Garden Guest List," pages 20-61.

Discovering Birds

13

Migratory Marathons
most amazing seasonal phenomena
backyard birder can witness, vast migrations
of birds cross North America each spring and fall.
Only a few migrants are likely to be attracted to a
garden, but you'll learn to recognize certain species
coming to spend the summer or others that winter
with you.
In one of the

Flight paths

that a

you keep records over a period of years, you'll

see that a number of migrant birds do use your yard

Birds migrate through aerial corridors called

ways. Following coastlines, river systems, or

tain ranges, the

are

known

primary routes

in

North America

as the Pacific, Central, Mississippi,

perhaps a week, during spring or fall.

With time and attention, you'll be able to predict
their arrival and departure within a week or two.

Amazing feats
Some birds'

flights

defy

belief.

The

arctic tern, for

example, traverses as many as 22,000 miles in its annual migration. From breeding grounds in arctic

and subarctic North America,

flies

Asia,

and Europe,

it

as far south as coastal Antarctica.

Many common backyard birds undertake

marathon migrations, too. The barn swallow flies
from North American gardens to wintering
grounds in Brazil and Argentina. Delicate though
they might seem, many hummingbirds also head
south for the winter, flying to Mexico, Central
America, and South America. The tiny rubythroated

hummingbird

is

known

to fly

nonstop

across the Gulf of Mexico.

There are various theories explaining

flocks of migrating birds find their

no higher than 50

to 100 feet

how

across such

appears that different species use

guide them to distant breeding or wintering grounds. Night-fliers
may orient themselves by the stars or the earth's
magnetic field. Birds that fly by day may use the
sun, the magnetic field, or such landmarks as rivers,
long distances:

it

mountain ranges, or
But birds

fly not

seacoasts.

only from north to south and

and west and mounThey follow the course of a season's

flower crop or the abundance of insect hatches. Furthermore, bird banding shows that individual birds
may return to the same backyard year after year
throughout their life spans. Birds sometimes migrate to areas far beyond the major flyways. No matter where you live in North America, migratory
birds may drop by your garden occasionally.
back, but also between east
tains

and

plains.

Looking for greener pastures

Birds fly south for the winter,

above the tops of

trees. In migration they fly higher, but most species
seldom exceed 1,000 feet above ground. However,
records do exist for birds seen at 20,000 to 25,000
feet high, a few even higher. Waterfowl, hawks, vultures, swifts, and swallows seem to be among North
America's highest-flying birds. But even these fly at
fly

way

different environmental clues to

to avoid cold,

How high? When they're not migrating, most birds

and

Atlantic fly ways.

If

for a day, or

fly-

moun-

as

it

snowy

weather.

becomes unavailable

search

tells

us that

was long believed,

Most migrate for food

it

in winter. Also, recent re-

many of our migrant backyard

birds are actually tropical species that simply go

back home

in winter. During their spring and summer breeding season, they're drawn to North America by the abundance and variety of food and nest-

ing sites to be found here.

How fast? Most birds fly between 20 and 50 miles

As the face of our landscape has changed, so

have migratory patterns. Whereas bird habitats
might once have been isolated grasslands, forests, or
deserts, the world has been vastly altered by farm-

per hour, but in an emergency they can exceed these

speeds. The dunlin, a shorebird, has been clocked in

habitats have been destroyed, at the expense of

their top altitudes as the exception, not the rule.

excess of 100 miles per hour. Peregrine falcons have

been recorded at 175 miles per hour.

Though most birds

are much slower, they can

cover amazing distances in short periods of
time. The nocturnally migrating blackpoll warbler
still

travels from 30 to 200 or more miles

depending on weather conditions.

14

Discovering Birds

in

one night,

ing,

highway construction, and urbanization. Some

many

species, and others created or opened up.

Mockingbirds traveled northward with urbanization, which provided rooftops and low gardens
similar to their original West Coast habitat on desert
margins. Brewer's blackbirds and house finches expanded their ranges eastward as farms turned formerly inhospitable land into rich habitats.

The presence

warmed

also

of cities across North

certain local climates just

America has
enough to al-

low small numbers of migratory species to cling

life in winter where thev otherwise could not.

to

ample,

may

now

be replaced by

nest in the garden

to

does not depend on a

survival during six to eight

a species that

tropical habitat for

months

Wood
may vanish,

include only three next year.

thrushes that

of the year.

Disappearing rain forests

The destruction of tropical rain forests in Central
and South America, and elsewhere, has had a disastrous effect on birds. As rain forest habitats disappear, manv of the birds supported by them some
are threatened
of which migrate to North America

with extinction.

We already know
population

is

that the migratory' songbird

declining.

Normal population fluctuaused by yarious species,

tions, yearly shifts in areas

and the yastness

of

most migrants' ranges make

difficult for ornithologists to exactly assess the

of this decline.

Still,

nate

reduce

or elimi-

certain species that presently yisit our yards.

Last year's warbler flock of seyen species, for ex-

Gradually increasing numbers of migratory birds

now remain far north of their 19th-century winter
ranges as their needs are met by special plantings
and supplemental feedings in gardens across the
continent. No species has abandoned migration enbut individual birds have learned to use cergarden plants, bird feeders, and baths to survive through the winter.
tirely,

tain

Northern orioles were among the pioneers of

it

scope

the clearing of tropical rain for-

ests is expected to continue to

Staying through winter

this

new

pattern.

Many

thrushes, warblers, spar-

rows, blackbirds, and finches have also taken ad-

vantage of northern gardens. As more people provide supplemental food, water, and good habitat
conditions, the trend

seems

likely to increase.

the pewter sky over Klamath Basin on the California-Oregon border, a

national wildlife refuge where millions of migrating waterfowl stop each year.

Snow geese storm

Discovering Birds

15

Crown

Lateral

Supercilium (eyebrow)

Identifying Birds

Upper mandible

Auricular (ear)

tail

stripe

Lore

stripe

Nape

Upper

stripe

Eye ring

Eye

Lower mandible

Back

Wing

RumP

crown

Median crown

Chin

bars

Throat

coverts

Malar

stripe

Tail

Breast

Under tail

coverts

Lower

Flank

belly

Tarsus
Hallax

Anatomy

of a White-throated

Learning to identify birds precisely and accurately

is basic to binding, at home or afield. Along with the
experience you accumulate, the basic tools of identification are binoculars (see facing page), a
field

Sparrow

Markings

are often noteworthy, such as

wing

bars,

eye rings, any pattern on the head or neck, or streaking on the back or breast.

good

guide (see page 109), and a notebook

for re-

cording what you observe.

& notebook

Field guide

A field guide illustrates and describes birds in a

particular geographic area, such as the western

Looking for cities

Birders identify species by exact characteristics, such
as

wing markings, and also relative ones, such as

As shown in the drawing above, a bird's tiny

size.

body,

when magnified through binoculars,

numerous

clues to

its

displays

identity

on the back, underside,

and elsewhereare often the
Colors

head, breast,

marks you

While the colors of some species (the

painted bunting, for example) are vibrantly obvious,

will notice.

subtle tones are characteristic of

many birds,

such as the eastern phoebe and the pine siskin.

Even within a species, color may vary by sex, age,
diet, season,

and geographical

Study and check off birds in your guide or on

page 110 of this book as you identify them in your
garden. If you think you're seeing mostly sparrows

and
tail,

first field

more

United States or North America. Most field guides

are organized in taxonomic categories. The second
half contains information about backyard birds.

finches, for example,

text or

range

maps show

more about

add

Discovering Birds

your propyou get from

A birding notebook usually starts as a

note whether what you see

16

to learn

visit

richly to the satisfaction

identify a bird but can

Shape of the bill, head, legs, wings, and tail helps

you distinguish between species. The downy and
hairy woodpeckers look quite similar, but the hairy's
bill is heavy and about the length of its head, while
the downy's is only about half that size and thinner.

up

it.

your garden.

size,

it

that could

Keeping a record of birds that

smaller, or larger.

paperclip

When you see a

be mistaken
Also read to learn the migratory patterns of
birds that appear only briefly and seasonally.
for

it

usually measured in comparison with a familiar bird, such as a sparrow, robin, or crow. Just

about the same

later.

and other birds

that the guide's

locality;

familiar bird, such as a robin, look

location.

is

is

your

the pages for quick reference

erty can

Size

mark those
in

If you can't
narrow down the possibilities
to two or three similar species, note their names and
any comments that may help you with a more precise identification the next time you see the bird.

simple

list

of birds seen during a day.

Include the date of each observation, as well as

day and the weather conditions. Within a

the time of

few

years, the

sonal changes

notebook will

start to reflect

and population fluctuations.

both sea-

Choosing Binoculars
birding
visual and
Since
away
small and quick

since birds are

is

to fly

why

ifs

obvious

binoculars are important to anyone in-

first American tree

sparrow of winter or the first pine warbler of spring.
Choosing a pair is easy if you know what to look for.

terested in sighting the

Binoculars are

commonly

description, such as 7 x 35.

how many

sold

The

by

first

numerical

number

tells

Focus systems on binoculars vary. For birding,

choose a fast-focus system with center focusing wheel
that goes from infinity to near focus in one revolution
or so. Extra-close focus is a real advantage for spotting perching birds. Smooth and even focusing is an
important feature to test for when shopping. On waterproof binoculars, focusing may be stiff at first, but
it will ease up with use.
Binoculars are

times the binoculars magnify the image;

made with either a roof prism or a

the second gives the diameter in millimeters of the

porro prism. The roof-prism type has a straight bar-

The bigger
these lenses, the more light they gather and the better
you can see in shadow, at dawn, or at dusk.

rel

objective lenses (farthest

from the

eyes).

For birding, get something in the 7x to lOx magnification range (go to the higher

hold the binoculars steady, a

amazingly with

practice). If

at twilight or after

dark,

power

skill that will

you expect

buy

if

you can
improve

to bird -watch

a pair with large objec-

As a rule of thumb, divide the binoculars'

second number by the first one (for example, 35 divided by 7). If the dividend is 5 or greater, the binoculars will provide adequate light for birding. You'll
tive lenses.

and

is

lighter in

therefore

weight

more compact.

Ifs also

but more expensive.

prism type, which has the

bulkier but generally costs

classic center dog-leg, is

less.

On

either type, look

which improve

for multicoated lenses,

about 15%

The porro-

light trans-

mission noticeably.

Choose binoculars that give a clear, crisp, single

image without warps or blurring. Look through the
lenses toward a light source and check for a prism
don't buy any that
effect around the image edge

give such a distortion.

If

you wear

glasses,

you can buy a pair

of bin-

also find that

oculars with roll-down or retractable rubber eye cups

best for

which

wide field, or wide angle, lenses work

finding and following fast-moving birds.

Roof-prism binoculars

at least partially

improve viewing.

Porro-prism binoculars
Eyepiece

Eyepiece

Prism

Prism

Objective lens

Eight path

Eight path

Objective lens

Discovering Birds

17
.

Home, Sweet Habitat

Food, water, protective cover, and a safe place to
raise

young

are the essentials of

provides for birds as well as for

life

all

that a habitat

other living

creatures.

Birds have adapted themselves to habitats

nearly as diverse as the globe

itself,

from

arctic

tundra to tropical rain forests and from cityscapes

to open prairies. Even the birds that visit our backyards only a fraction of the world bird popula-

tion are accustomed

plantings re-create

and woodland

its

to a variety of habitats.

wild habitat of shrubs, thick-

streams.

The sweet-sweet

themselves to their ever-shrinking original habitats;

this

has resulted in the extinction of some species,

woodpecker, and in decreased

like the ivory-billed

The male northern cardinal brings bright red

color to suburban gardens on the East Coast, where
ets,

During the past century and a half, the habitats

North American birds have changed radically.
Civilization reshaped the land as it spread across
the continent. Eastern forests were cut down,
mountains leveled, prairies plowed, marshes and
ponds drained, and arid regions made green by
irrigation. Some birds responded by restricting
of

that

population for most species.

Other species have adapted more resourcefully,

increasing their ranges to cultivated fields, islands
of trees, or the varied garden habitats provided

opens the long song of the yellow warbler might be

towns, suburbs, and even

heard near open deciduous woodlands and

scrubby areas near water, while the Anna's hummingbird shows up abundantly along the Pacific
slope in open areas varying from desert to chapar-

cardinal,

ral to foresfs

edge.

and house finch are three of the many

widened their ranges in this way.

Amazingly, even high-rise "canyons" and highway "rivers" approximate certain habitat conditions

some

species.

business districts

salt or

Open

ocean, coastlines,

gether form aquatic habitats. Forests, grasslands,

deserts,

"cliff" faces of

downtown

have long been home to the rock

More

recently, the pere-

grine falcon has adapted to the city as a habitat

freshwater wetlands, rivers, and lakes to-

meadows, chaparrals,

The

dove, a European species.

Bird habitats are defined, in part, by environmental

conditions and plant types.

by

The mockingbird,

species that have

for

The changing environment

cities.

and tundras are

niche.

Power poles and fences, dams and reservoirs,

and urban growth have all had a plus-and-minus
and
effect. But pollution
of air, water, and land

ter-

restrial habitats.

wild blackbertowhees, and a thrasher. Nearby, bushtits sample seeds of

white yarrow, a goldfinch dines on a teasel, while in the
distance a meadowlark spreads its wings and barn swallows swoop toward the barn.

Along a rural roadside

ries ripen in late

\ i

18

Discovering Birds

in the West, juicy

summer

to the delight of robins,

the increasing loss of habitat to civilization have

threatened bird

life

worldwide.

a woodpecker decides to scavenge for supper by

hammering on the walls of your garage, check for
(If

wood-boring

insects.)

House sparrows seem

Living on the edge

terra cotta roof tiles. Tar

Edges, also called "ecotones," are focal points of

productivity for both birds and bird-watchers. In
these borderline areas of

more

habitats

come

mixed

together

vegetation,

two or

example, a forest
joins the willows

for

opens into a meadow, or a field

and cattails on a pond's bank. A gardener can imitate such edge conditions (see pages 64-83).

With the right mix of trees, shrubs, vines,

ground cover, and lawn, the needs of many different species can be met. A flock of warblers may
feed on insects from trees before flying south for
winter. A month later, cedar waxwings and robins
may descend on berries newly ripened on vines.
As nuthatches glean insects from tree branches,
finches find seeds on the ground, fleeing to cover
in thorny shrubs when a cat prowls through the
garden. Spring brings a hummingbird, scouting for
places to build

web

its

all-but-invisible lichen

and cob-

nest.

Trees, rock walls, hedgerows,

and fence posts

are typical places where birds find niches for nests.

and even houses also provide nest

and sometimes insect and plant food as well.

sometimes used by killdeer for nesting. Chimney

swifts and barn swallows like the perpendicular
aspect of walls and chimneys. Small ledges are
sometimes enough for a black phoebe or robin.

The comforts of home

When developing a habitat

for birds at home, it's

wise to have it fit the general natural ecology of
your area. A cactus garden is unlikely to attract
birds in a moist, nondesert climate. On the other
hand, a grove of native conifers may be a prime

stopover choice for weary migrants.

Watch and listen for birds in parks and gardens near your home, noting the trees, shrubs,
vines, and ground covers where they prefer to congregate. Adding the ideas and specific suggestions
on pages 64-83 in this book, you can arrive at a
rich habitat plan for your own property. You may
even wish to expand your plan by involving the
whole neighborhood, a school, or a local park.

Barns, sheds,
sites,

to favor nesting under

and gravel rooftops are

to

Grow mostly plants that are native to your area

be of greatest service to birds. If enough yards

are planted for wildlife, they will begin to

compen-

sate for lost natural habitats.

Discovering Birds

19

K\l!$

'

A Garden
Guest List
irds bring

daily

life

and drama

to

and

raise

to

each season. Watching these beautiful feath-

they
youngdraws us

ered guests in our yards

nests,

unique delight

as

fly, eat, bathe, fight, court,

closer to nature

build

and may develop

into a fascinating hobby.

In the next 40 pages, you'll find a brief description

and an identifying photograph for each of 80 species of North American birds.

For our "guest list," we selected those birds that most commonly
appear in backyards and gardens across the continent. Each entry
also includes a

map showing

the bird's typical range

in winter, the

spring-summer breeding season, or all year. Each listing indicates

how to attract the bird by either supplemental feed or plantings.
To get to

know

each bird even better

as well as to read about

many more species than we have space to describe here consult a

good field guide for North America or for your specific region.
Several are listed on page 109.
The order
their English

in

which birds are presented

common names and

in this chapter, as well as

Latin scientific names,

is

consis-

most recent edition of the Check-List of North American Birds, prepared by the American Ornithologists' Union. This
sequence places species in their presumed ancestral relationships
tent with the

from

the

"lowest" or most primitive

recently evolved.

Lodged out of harm's way in a pine

tree, a nest of mud and grass holds
eggs which the female robin broods
for about 2 weeks (see page 45).

21

to

the "highest" or

most

American Kestrel (Sparrow Hawk)

1

tl
iUf

'

ittUMJHH

V4-

AMk^P^iM
MmS^

Wire

V
"j
^^VS

Identification: This robin-sized

Habitat: Open

bird of prey with long, pointed

adaptable kestrel

wings

mon

is

falcon in

a reddish
all

"*

LA*"-

\3K

in

A\

has

over-

its

white

in cities,

and along highways.

Natural food:

Insects, lizards,

snakes, rodents (particularly mice),

and an occasional songbird.

males are distinguished by slate

Young American kestrels look like males but are

Nest: Natural

pecker holes are preferred nesting

more heavily barred.

houses. Their 4 or 5 oval eggs are

When

shrill,

alarmed, kestrels will

sites,

may

but kestrels

nest in bird-

white or light cinnamon-colored, covered with small

ringing

wood-

tree cavities or

brown

dots; they re-

killy, killy, killy,

quire 29 to 31 days of incubation,

killy.

mostly by the female. The young

Behavior:

on
power lines or poles watching for
prey, or hover over grassy fields.

Once prey
folds
Winter
Breeding
All year

common

is

face;

call

It

tail,

in suburbs,

The

grasslands.

blue wings and crown.

rfj*^

lJK
r

North America.

brown back and

black barring, and two vertical

Voice:
-

and most com-

the smallest

black stripes on each side of

^^hSR

Li

^th

"

*>'

ra
jnt:

'

Faico sparverius

its

its

Kestrels often

sighted, the

is

wings and

victim in

its

leave the nest about a

sit

little

falcon

dives, grasping

and carrying it
consume whole

to attract: Kestrels

in a birdhouse (8

after

may

nest

by 8 by 14 inches

high with a 3-inch entrance hole)

ground on
an open area.

raised 10 to 30 feet above

a pole or

or in large pieces.

Ring-necked Pheasant

How

talons

to a nearby perch to

month

hatching.

tall

tree in

Phasianus colchicus

Identification:

native of Asia,

was

the ring-necked pheasant

duced successfully

in

intro-

North America

more than 100 years ago and has

done very well here. The 30- to 36inch-long male
spectacular of

is

all

among
birds,

its

Prairies,

brushy

fields,

and cropland.

Natural food: Grains from

weed seeds, and berries from
fields; also insects in spring,

most

the

with

Habitat:

fields,

old

such as

grasshoppers, caterpillars, and

exbeetles.

travagant, multicolored, iridescent

plumage,

brilliant red face,

head, and long, tapering

male
buff

is

distinctly less

plumage and

Voice:
les in

When

alarm.

The

fe-

showy, with

a shorter

tail.

male cackcourting male crows

flushed, the

like a rooster,

Nest: These

green

tail.

then whirrs

its

wings.

Behavior: A male pheasant

de-

fends a breeding territory of a couple

of acres against other males in order
to

22

Garden Guest

Winter
Breeding
All year

List

win

the right to

mate with the

three or four hens living there. To es-

cape danger, a pheasant will usually

run rather than fly.

birds build a grassy

ground in a natural hollow surrounded by protective vegetation. Their 10 to 12 brownish buff

nest on the

eggs are incubated by the female for

23 to 25 days, and the chicks are able
to leave the nest

within a day.

How

to attract: Pheasants may

be attracted to seed offered at or near

ground level. They like weedy garden edges near agricultural fields.

Northern Bobwhite
Identification: This plump
fowl

is

little

the classic "quail" of the East.

10-inch, chickenlike bird with a

short

red

tail,

the bobwhite

brown

in color.

is

Habitat: Farmland, open meadows,

weedy pastures, and open woodland.

a mottled

Natural food: Cropland

The male has a

white throat and a white eye

the female is all buff.

Colinus virginianus

weed seeds most

stripe;

green shoots,

grain and

of the year, but also

insects,

and

>

berries in

spring and summer.

Voice: The species

is

named

for the

bright bob, bob-white whistle that the

male often

calls

the spring.

Its

from a fence post

quiet ka-loi-kee call

in

Nest:

pair of bobwhites will

build their nest on the ground in a

depression under an arch of dead

grasses. Their f 4 to 16 creamy white

is

uttered to assemble a family or

eggs are incubated by both parents

covey.

for

Behavior: After

the breeding sea-

23 or 24 days. The chicks follow

their parents

away from

the nest

son, several families join together to

within a day of hatching. Bobwhites

form coveys that forage by day and

produce

sleep together at night in a tight

How

toward the center. When

threatened, the covey flushes, each

circle, tails

it

is

broods a

year.

to attract: Bobwhites ap-

pear regularly in backyards and gar-

bird flying out of the circle in the direction

at least 2

facing.

dens where a birdseed mixture is

spread on the ground. Weedy areas
near thick cover may also attract

Winter
Breeding
All year

them.

Gambel's Quail

Callipepla

gambelU

Identification: Short and rotund,

Natural food:

the chickenlike gray Gambel's quail

leaves, shoots,

is

distinguished by a teardrop-shaped

desert plants;

plume on

fruit.

the forecrown.

The 11-inch

fowl has chestnut sides streaked with

white; the male has a black face
throat, a chestnut cap,

and

and

a black

patch in the middle of his buff belly,

while the female

is

gray and brown.

Primarily seeds,

and buds of green

also some insects and

Nest: The Gambel's

pair builds

its

nest of dry grasses on or near the

ground under desert shrubs. The 10

to 12 dull white to pale buff eggs,

marked with brown,

are incubated

24 days. The

Voice: Calls of the Gambel's quail

vary from a loud chi-ca-go-go to
grunts and chuckles used to locate

by the female

the flock.

male, with the female bringing

for 21 to

chicks are almost immediately led

from the

nest, single

file,

by the

up

the rear.

Behavior:

Like other quail species,

the Gambel's lives in coveys that

may

How

to attract: These desert

total

birds frequent backyards and gar-

roosts in low shrubs at night, often

dens offering water holes or birdbaths at ground level near abundant

cover. They like birdseed, as long as

40 or more birds outside the

breeding season. The covey usually

near a water hole or creek that

visit in early

morning and

it

can

late after-

cover

is

close by.

Winter
Breeding

noon.

Habitat: Dry

All year

or desert bottomland

where scrub and sagebrush grow.

Garden Guest

List

23

KllldeCY

Charadrius vociferus
Identification: The best-known

Habitat: Often

member

close to

deer

is

of the plover family, the kill-

a 10-inch bird with a

brown

back and white belly interrupted by

two distinct black bands (across the
upper breast and neck), a white collar, and a white spot above red-

rimmed

eyes. In flight,

rump and

reddish

its

white wing bars show.

Male and female look

alike.

Voice: The killdeer

named

familiar

kill-

is

human

far

from water and

habitation

road-

sides, driveways, airports, cemeteries,

parking

lots,

and

cultivated fields.

Natural food: Mostly

(about 98 percent of

its

insects

diet),

such as

grasshoppers, beetles, ants, caterpillars,

grubs,

and

spiders; also

seeds gleaned from old

Nest: The

killdeer builds

for its

simply lays

its

weed

fields.

4 blotched

no

nest.

brown

It

oval

dee, kill-dee, kill-dee call

heard across open landscapes most

of the year.

eggs in a depression on open

ground, usually surrounded by

gravel or assorted debris. Incubation

Behavior: To
young from

protect

nest or

predators, an adult

kill-

(Pigeon)

by both adults

they are dry.

common.

calling a loud trrrrrrrrrr

On

the

ground, the birds typically run short

distances, then stand still, then run

24 to 26 days;

How

Two broods

to attract: Beaches and spanesting

developed through domestication. Yet most rock doves resemble their wild ancestors gray
color forms

overall with darker heads, iridescent

at-

Habitat: Buildings and other manmade structures in North American

cities

and suburbs.

Natural food: Grains and green

sprouts on farms, bread crumbs and

garbage in

cities.

purple necks, and white rumps.

Nest: Shallow and

Male and female look

nests of grasses, straw,

may

sites.

livia

Identification: Better known as a

barn or city "pigeon," the 14-inch
rock dove is found in a variety of

Voice:

a year are

cious gravel areas near water

tract killdeer as

Columba

for

the chicks leave the nest as soon as

wing while

again.

Rock Dove

is

deer will convincingly feign a broken

to lure intruders away.
Winter
Breeding
All year

its

rock dove's

alike.

flimsy platform

and other deby rock doves atop

ledges and building beams and un-

bris are built

call is a soft

coo-a-roo, coo-ru-coooo, coo-a-coo.

courting male will utter similar coos

while dancing before his mate.

der bridges. Both adults share the incubation of their 2 white eggs for 17

The young are in the nest

more than a month before they

to 19 days.

Behavior: The name "rock dove"

for

comes from

can

the attraction of the wild

and ledges in
native Europe and Asia. They

birds to rocks,
their

cliffs,

have adapted well in

cities to

the

ledges of buildings, bridges, and

Winter
Breeding
All year

24

Garden Guest

List

monuments, and in the countryside

to the lofts and beams of barns.

fly.

Several broods a year are

typical.

Hoiv

to attract: "Pigeons" are ofunwanted but eager seed eaters

at urban feeding stations and water
areas. They're messy, and they inten

timidate smaller birds.

Moiirniftg Dove

Zenaida macrowa

Identification: A classic wad

dove, the mourning dove is a slender

Ha bitat: Suburban

12-inch bird (including

ica, especially

its

long,

pointed tail) that is overall grav

brown with scattered black spots and

wash on

Male
and female look alike. In flight, the
tail shows white edges and the
wings produce a whistle.
a pinkish

its

breast.

Voice: Its melancholy cwoo-ah, ravo,

rivoo, cwoo call gives the mourning
dove its common name. By counting
males' coos in the spring, biologists
can take a census of breeding pairs.

Behavior: This

been called a "morning" dove it is

most active between the hours of 7

and 9 a.m. The young are fed "pigeon milk," a granular fluid produced in the adult crop and pumped
directly into the nestlings' mouths by
both male and female.

Screech

Owl

(Eastern

Identification: At 9 inches, the

screech owl is one of the smallest
owls with ear tufts in North America. The eastern screech owl may be
either red or gray; the western

screech owl (pictured at right)

ally

gray with a darker

bill.

is

usu-

Both

near water.

Natural food: Almost

and seeds

grain

grasses, eaten at

Nest:

entirely

weeds and
ground level.

of

flimsy nest of sticks built in

a tree supports 2 white eggs, incu-

bated by both parents for 13 or 14

The young leave the nest 2

weeks after hatching. A mourning
days.

dove pair may produce 2

each summer.

How

bird could have

gardens, farms,

and parks throughout North Amer-

to attract:

Mourning doves

are easily attracted by offering

cracked corn and smaller grains in

tray feeders

on or near the ground.

Water also entices them, as do coniferous trees where they may nest.
Winter
Breeding
All year

& Western)
songbirds, small

game

small birds of prey

otus ash, otus kennwottu

birds,

and

including other

screech owls. Hunting begins soon

after dark.

Nest: These

cavity nesters will

appropriate woodpecker holes and

large birdhouses as places in

sexes look alike.

broods

to 5

which

Voice: Despite their name, screech

owls do not screech. The eastern

pure white eggs.

The female incubates the eggs while
the male brings food to her during

emits a tremulous, eerie cry in the

the 21 to 30 days required for the

to lay their 4 or 5

night.

The western gives a rhythmic

Behavior:

In winter, screech

owls

roost during daylight in tree cavities

or birdhouses
at

dusk

eggs to hatch. Youngsters leave the

nest a

series of whistles.

and can

sitting in the

often be seen

entrance holes,

month

later.

How
roost
(8

to attract: Screech owls will

and /or nest in large birdhouses

by 8 by 14 inches high with

a 3-

inch entrance hole) located 10 to 30

above the ground in mature

such as large oaks. Dead trees
provide nest sites, too. Screech owls
will drink and bathe in garden
feet

half asleep.

trees,

Habitat:

Forests,

farm woodlots,

and shade trees in urban and suburban backyards and parks.

Natural food:
insects,

ponds

at night.

Western

Mice, shrews, large

Eastern

small reptiles, amphibians,

Garden Guest

List

25

Great Horned

Owl

Bubo virgManus
Identification:
ear

tufts,

owl

is

large

owl with

brown plumage and a white throat.

Male and female look the same.
Voice: The great horned's 4 to 6
deep hoots ivhoo-whoo-whoo-whoowhoo can be heard throughout the
year but are most common in fall
and winter.

predator by

many

the great horned

sensitive hearing

growth

Winter
Breeding

second-

and rural areas, as well as small towns throughout North America.

forests, deserts,

All year

Natural food: A
skunks,

Chimney Swift

throats.

Voice: The chimney swift emits a

se-

ries of loud, high-pitched chipperings

as

it

flutters

Behavior:

overhead.

chimney swift

is al-

most always observed flying above

and suburbs on summer eve-

cities

nings. In winter, the entire population migrates to the

Amazon

begins in February (earlier in the

South, later in northern areas).

may

use the large nest of a

hawk, eagle, crow, or heron or a large
pair

stump, or rock ledge as

The 2 dull white eggs

their nest site.

require about 30 days of incubation,

mostly by the female. The youngsters

do not leave the nest for

months after hatching.

at least

How

to attract: These owls will

live in

any backyard with mature

habitat that supports a variety of

other wildlife, especially a grove of

Their presence

noticeable at night,

when

is

most

they hoot.

ing

available.

Insects caught dur-

flight.

Nest: As

its

name

suggests, the

chimney swift nests in chimneys

and in air shafts, attics, silos, and old
wells. The nest of twigs is attached to
the wall with the bird's

own

(like the nest of the related

saliva

Asian

soup fame). The 4

or 5 pure white oval eggs are incu-

bated by both parents, sometimes

at

same time, for 18 to 21 days.

Young fly when they are a month
the

old, but they

may

return to the nest

River

trees

nowadays the open air

above cities, towns, villages, and
farms anywhere chimneys are
caves, but

Winter
Breeding
All year

Natural food:

How

Habitat: Formerly hollow

List

native species nests earlier

than the great horned owl, which

to roost.

basin.

Garden Guest

Nest: No

swift of bird's-nest

Rarely seen perched or

at its nest, the

(in-

Chaetura pelagica
Identification: Its bow-shaped
wings are the signature of the 5-inch
chimney swift, the only swift east of
the Mississippi River. Both male and
female are dark gray with lighter

26

birds

and other birds of prey

tall conifers.

variety of prey

weasels, domestic cats,

rats,

terfowl),

tree cavity,

owl has extremely

and swoops down

forests,

chipmunks,

game

cluding other species of owl).

the ultimate

wildlife biologists,

on its prey on silent wings, attacking

with powerful talons.

Habitat: Deep

rabbits,

(such as pheasants, grouse, and wa-

a striking bird with mottled

Behavior: Considered

large snakes, squirrels,

woodchucks,

the 22-inch great horned

and

to attract: Any urban or

suburban chimney within the chimney swiffs range is a potential nesting

site.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird A rchiloch

Identification: Of the 15 species
hummingbirds breeding in the
United States and Canada, only the

of

rubv-throated nests east of the Great

Plains.

Male and female

alike are 3-

to 3'/2-inch flying jewels with irides-

and

cent metallic green bodies

needle-sharp

male sports
throat; the

bills.

The

long,

fork-tailed

a fiery red iridescent

female

low and has

is

gray white be-

blunted

tail.

Voice: Both sexes utter high-pitched,

squeakv chippering calls and make
buzzing noises with their wings.
Males buzz during pendulumpatterned courtship

flights.

Behavior:

hummingbirds,

Like

all

time on the wing, buzzing here and

there in search of flowers containing

When

down

thev do shut

colub ris

is

Habitat: Gardens surrounded bv

woodland, orchards, or shade

Natural food: Mostly

tar;

also tiny insects

Nest: The

tiny

and

trees.

flower necspiders.

cup-shaped nest

is

attached with spider silk to a small

twig or branch 6 to 50

feet

above

ground level. Lined with plant

down, the nest usually contains 2
white eggs the size of navy beans.
The female incubates the eggs for 14
to 16 days, and the young leave the
nest at about 3 weeks of age.

How

to attract:

Any garden

east

of the Great Plains that contains

rubv-throats spend a great deal of

nectar.

their motors, they often perch incon-

brightly colored, nectar-producing

flowers (such as coral bells, fuchsia,

or honeysuckle

also see page 79)

surrounded by trees should
attract ruby-throats. They also drink
sugar water (see page 92).

and

is

Winter
Breeding
All year

spicuously on tree branches.

Black-chinned Hummingbird
Identification: A black chin
above a bluish purple throat distinguishes the male of the blackchinned hummingbird species. Both
sexes of this 3 '/2-inch bird are metallic

green above; the female

below.

The

male's

tail is

is

white

notched.

ArcMochus aiexandri

blossoms; also insects captured by

darting out from a tree perch.

Nest:

Typically, the black-chin

builds

its

small,

shrub.

The nesting material

or buff plant

Voice: The male black-chinned

hummingbird sings a soft, highpitched chew.

hummers,

it

When

also

chasing other

makes

loud chip-

der

silk.

down

is

white

overed with spi-

The 2 pure white eggs are

incubated by the female for about 16

The young leave the nest about

weeks after hatching, but they are

days.

Like the ruby-throated

hummingbird,

its

close relative, the

How

to attract: Western gardens

black-chinned male courts females

with native plants producing small,

with a dramatic pendulum

bright-colored, nectar-filled flowers

sometimes tracing a figure

flight,
8.

Habitat: Semiarid canyons and

woodlands near streams, lowlands,
and parks

to

still fed by the female. Two or 3

broods a year are common.

pering sound.

Behavior:

cup-shaped nest 4

8 feet above the ground in a tree or

should

attract

black-chinned

hum-

mingbirds. Surrounding woodlands

draw them,

as does sugar water.

of the West.

Natural food: The

HI
pollen

tar of arid tree flowers

and nec-

Winter
Breeding
All year

and garden

Garden Guest

List

27

Anna's Hummingbird

caiypte anna
Identification: Among the most
spectacular of North American hummingbirds, the 4-inch male Anna's

Natural food:

has a jewel-like metallic green body

punctuated with a brilliant rose cap

sapsucker

and

throat.

The female

lacks the

some

bright top but usually has

rose-

tree

Nest: Somewhat

mer breeding season,

build a

new

to incubate
Winter
Breeding
All year

the female

nest, lay eggs,

while

still

sum-

may

and begin

feeding young-

from the previous brood.

sters

Habitat: Chaparral, mixed wood-

and

and the nectar of

large for a

hum-

Anna's cup of

nest, the

down

plant

the United States. During the

drillings,

blossoms and garden flowers.

colored feathers in the throat.

Behavior: The Anna's is the only

hummingbird that often winters in

hum-

mingbirds), bleeding tree sap from

mingbird

Voice: The male Anna's sings a series of thin, squeaky notes from a
tree perch or while in a courtship
flight. Both sexes chirp while feeding
from blossoms.

Insects (a greater

portion than for most other

covered with spider

on

silk

branch as
high as 30 feet above the ground.
The 2 white eggs are incubated by
the female for 16 days before hatching. Youngsters fly away in about 3
lichens

is

built

weeks.

How

to attract: Sugar-water

feeders in a flower garden featuring

such nectar-filled blooms as bee

balm, coral bells, and honeysuckle,
surrounded by natural habitat,
should
79 and

attract the

Anna's (see pages

92).

and gardens of the PaCoast and the Southwest.

land, parks,
cific

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

seiasphorus piatycercus

Identification: Similar

in appear-

ance to the ruby-throated of the East,

the 4 '/2-inch male broad-tailed hum-

mingbird has a rose red throat, white

belly, and metallic green body. The
female is green above with a speckled throat

and

and reddish brown flanks

Natural food: The

sects

nectar and infound on and around high-

country vegetation.

Nest: The

broad-tailed

bird builds

its

the

ground on

a horizontal

a tree or shrub. Tree

belly.

humming-

nest 3 to 20 feet above

branch of

down forms

outer walls of the cup, which

Voice: The call of the broad-tail is a

chip, but a more characteristic

sharp
noise

is

the loud, musical, cricketlike

buzzing sound made by the male's

wings while in flight.

Behavior: Like

all

other

humming-

an incredible
flier, zipping up and down, back and
forth, or hanging motionless in midair while its wings beat in a blur.

birds, the broad-tail

Winter
Breeding
All year

Habitat:
per,

is

Forests of pinon

Rocky Mountain region

Garden Guest

List

at elevations

the

deco-

rated with shreds of bark, fine

leaves,

and

lichen.

The 2 white eggs

are incubated by the female for 16

days. The young are on the wing at

about 3 weeks of age.

How

to attract: The broad-tail

from red geraniums, penstemons, lupines, petunias, and other

sips nectar

bright flowers (especially native).

drinks sugar water and

summer
juni-

canyons, and gardens in the

of 4,000 to 11,000 feet.

28

and

is

to

hummingbird

It

attracted in

is

feeders in

gardens (see pages 79 and

92).

Belted Kingfisher
Identification:

Ceryle alcyon

most of North

In

America, the 13-inch belted kingfisher

is

member

the only

of the

Natural food: Almost

small
fisher

kingfisher tribe to be seen. Both male

and female have large heads with

ragged crests and large, sharp bills.
Both have a slate blue back and band
across a white breast. Females also

have a robin-red breast band below.

crabs,

Nest:

Belted kingfishers usually

end of a 3- to 6-foot-long
burrow excavated in a bank near wanest at the

Incubation of the 6 or 7 pure

ter.

white eggs

way

entirely

though the belted kingmay also prey on crayfish,

frogs, snakes, and insects.

fish,

is

shared by both parents

for

23 or 24 days. The young leave

scribe the loud call of a belted king-

the

burrow 3

fisher.

hatch.

Voice: Rattling

is

Behavior: When

the best

to de-

How

fishing, belted

kingfishers watch for prey from

perches or hover above water until

they spot a
water, bill

splash.

perch

fish,

first,

4 weeks after they

to

then dive into the

creating a mighty

to attract: People who live

on or near water can place a perch at
the water's edge from which the
birds can fish. (Watch out they may
rob your goldfish pond.)

catch is flown to a nearbv

be swallowed whole, head

to

first.

Habitat: Along

the shores of lakes,

ponds, and streams where

and

it

can

fish

nest.

Red-headed Woodpecker
Identification:

totally

red head

main distinguishing feature of

both the male and female red-headed
woodpecker. This bird is very showy
in flight as its black and white back,
wings, and tail ripple through the
is

the

woodland.
Voice:
bird

is

Its

of trees, shrubs,

in the late

and

and the fruits

Though

vines.

the red-headed doesn't drill trees for

food as
do,

it

much

as other woodpeckers

does forage on the ground for

wasps,

beetles.

distinctive queeah, queeah,

is

often heard before this

Nest: Both

sexes share excavation of

their 8- to 24-inch-deep nesting cav-

seen.

European

Half animal matter,

the other half tree nuts

insects, ants, spiders, grubs,

Behavior: The

ity,

introduction of the

North America
19th century created un-

starling in

natural competition for nesting cavities.

Natural food:

and

queeah call

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

usually 8 to 80 feet above the

ground

in a live or

pole, or fence post.

dead tree, utility

The 5 pure white

eggs are incubated by both parents

for

about 14 days.

That and loss of habitat have

made

the species scarce in the north-

eastern United States.

Habitat: Mature woodlands

States.

to attract: If you have a

backyard or garden with mature
trees nearby, offer suet

of

both coniferous and deciduous forests, wooded farmland, and city

parks and gardens in the eastern
United

How

and birdseed

woodpecker. It
may nest in a birdhouse (6 by 6 by
14 inches high with a 2-inch hole)
to attract this colorful

Winter
Breeding
All year

erected 12 to 20 feet above the

ground. Dead trees provide nest

sites, too.

Garden Guest

List

29
,

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Meianerpes cawiinus

Identification: The zebra-backed,

9-inch male red-bellied woodpecker
has a bright red crown and nape, a
white rump, and white patches on
the outer wings. The female is similar, but only her nape is red. Redbellied woodpeckers do have a reddish wash on the lower belly, but it is

Habitat:

difficult to see.

Nest: Male and female work

Voice: The distinct yuk

call of the

sects, beetles, crickets,

and

cached

and

for

easily recognized.

It

also

in-

flies;

may be

acorns and other nuts that

winter use. Citrus

fruits

juice are favorites, too.

ground

to dig

above the

in a tree, utility pole, or

building.
is

trees.

Natural food: Wood-boring

a nesting cavity 5 to 70 feet

red-bellied woodpecker, once

learned,

Forests, orchards, gardens,

and backyards with mature

The 4 or

pure white eggs

are incubated by both parents for 14

calls a series of chuf-chuf-chuf-chuf

The young are on the wing

days.

in

notes.
3!/2

Behavior: Originally

a southeast-

ern species, the red-bellied remains

east of the Mississippi but has ex-

tended

its

range into

New

England

and the upper Midwest, thanks

in

part to the availability of feeding

Winter
Breeding
All year

multicolored

bellied sapsucker has a bright red

forehead, black

white wing
back.

Its

bar,

and white head, long

and black barred

some

yellowish belly has

speckling.

The male has

a red throat,

the female a white throat. In

some

regions, the yellow-bellied (like

its

close relatives in the West, the red-

above the ground. Dead

trees pro-

sites, too.

Habitat: Coniferous or deciduous

forests, or wooded groves around
homes and gardens.

Natural food: The sap

and

as well as other

Nest:

woodland

is

excavated by both

male and female

nasal

mew and the alarm

common

in a live or

doesn't

actually suck sap, but the holes

make

its

it

up with

to these holes, har-

vesting insects that are also attracted

to the sap.

for 11 or 12 days.

at

night)

The youngsters

leave in about a month.

to att ract. Yellow-bellied

:

They also relish

hummingbird
page 92). They like to

sapsuckers love

suet.

the sugar water in

brushlike tongue. The sapsucker

keeps returning

the average, 4 eggs are incubated

it

the sap run,

enabling the bird to lap

dead

5 to 30 feet above the ground.

How

Behavior: This sapsucker

drills in trees

tree,

insects.

nesting cavity 10 to 12

inches deep

by both parents (the male

of trees

the insects attracted to the sap,

On

calls of this species.

List

a 2!/2-inch hole) placed 12 to 20 feet

head.

Voice:

Garden Guest

this woodpecker. It may use a birdhouse (6 by 6 by 14 inches high with

naped and red-breasted sapsuckers)

is distinguished bv more red on the

cry churr-churr-churr are

to attract: Suet, sunflower

and cracked corn will attract

Sphympicus mrius

woodpecker, the 8-inch yellow-

30

seeds,

vide nest

Identification:

All yeai

How

stations.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Winter
Breeding

weeks.

feeders (see
drill

holes in deciduous fruit trees.

Downy Woodpecker
Identification: The male downy is
a little black and white woodpecker
with a single red spot on the back of
its head. The female lacks the red
spot. This 6-inch bird has a short
bill,

and

its

plumage has

"downy"

appearance.

Voice:

high-pitched

location call of this

and

a contented

jrik

whinny

little

is

the

woodpecker,

describes

its call

while feeding.

Behavior: During winter, both

sexes begin drumming on trees to

Hcoides pubescens
Natural food: Wood-boring
fruits,

Clinging to a tree, a downy pecks

with jerking movements to scale

away

tablish nesting territories.

Courting

takes place in late winter,

when

the

loose bark in search of food.

Nest: The female does most

work to excavate the nest, an

young

How

to attract: Of

downy

mon

couple's chattering.

those with fruit trees

Habitat: Open woodland of mixed

growth, orchards, swamps, riverbanks, and wooded backyards.

Hairy Woodpecker
Identification: Except

for its

larger size, the 9-inch hairy

wood-

pecker is a near copy of the black

and white downy (above). Its bill is
also proportionately larger and more
chiseled than that of the downy. The
hairy

is

feathers

named
around

peckers, the

visitor to

continent.

is

on

likely to

most com-

especially
across the

fond of suet but will

provide nest

trees

and

Winter
Breeding
All year

sites.

pkoides viiiosus
this

woodpecker can actually hear

feel

the insects with

pecks into a

its bill

when

or

it

tree.

Nest: Hairy woodpeckers build a

new nesting cavity each year, 10 to
deep and 5

to

30

feet

above

its bill.

louder and more metallic.

Behavior: Hairy woodpeckers

much shyer than downies. Once
settle

wood-

the

all

the

backyards

It is

Dead

corn.

cayed

is

is

the ground, often in a tree with a de-

Voice: The hairy's whinny is deeper

and faster than the downy's, and its
peek call

in about

also eat cracked sunflower seeds

12 inches

for the bristlelike

wing

are on the

3 weeks.

around tree branches,

wings raised in tempo with the
pair dances

of the
8- to

10-inch-deep tree cavity 3 to 50 feet

above the ground. The 4 or 5 white
eggs are incubated by both parents
(the male at night) for 12 days, and
the

es-

in-

and cocoons; also

weed seeds, and crop grains.

sects, insect eggs,

breeding

The 4 white eggs

are

night) for

1 1

or

2 days.

at

Young birds

are out of the cavity in about a

month.
are

they

territory, the pair

remain there

center.

incubated by both sexes (the male

for the rest

How

to attract: Suet

is

the major

food for attracting hairy woodpeckers to

backyards and gardens, but

they will also eat sunflower seeds,

of their lives.

Habitat: Coniferous and deciduous

forests, swamps, and orchards, in-

corn,

and scraps

Dead

trees provide nest sites.

of

meat and

fruit.

cluding backyards that have mature

Winter
Breeding
All year

trees.

Natural food: The

larvae of

wood-

boring insects (more than 75 percent

of the hairy's diet).

It is

believed that

Garden Guest

List

31

Northern Flicker

coiaptes

aumtus

Identification: The 12-inch flicker

is a large woodpecker with a brown
striped back and a spotted, buff-colored belly. Both sexes have black bibs
and white rumps, but only the males
have mustaches either black (in the

East) or red (in the West). Regional

Habitat: Open deciduous and

co-

niferous forests, orchards, roadsides,

and backyard lawns.

Natural food: Ants and

other

ground-inhabiting insects, procured

by means of the
tongue; also

flicker's long, sticky

and weed

fruit, berries,

forms also vary in the color of their

wing

feather shafts

yellow in the
differences

East or red in the West

Nest:

which show up best

2 to 60 feet above the ground; both

in flight. Eastern

flickers of both sexes have a red

chevron on the nape, lacking in west-

ern birds.

Voice: Flickers are loud birds, and

rhythmic call ka-ka-ka-ka often can be heard at a great distance.

their

Behavior: Northern flickers are

unique among the woodpeckers in
that they feed
Winter
Breeding

seeds.

than in

on the ground rather

Flickers nest in tree cavities

sexes help excavate the nest to a

depth of 10 to 36 inches. Their 6 to 8

white eggs are incubated for 11 or 12
days, mostly by the male. The young
are out of the nest less than a month
after hatching.

How

to attract: Northern

flickers

and apples.
a 7 by 7 by 18-

like suet, also raisins

They might nest

in

inch-high birdhouse with a 2'/2-inch

trees.

hole, erected 6 to 20 feet

above the

ground. Dead trees provide nest

All year

sites, too.

Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans
Identification: The 7-inch black
phoebe looks amazingly like the
dark-eyed junco (see page 56), but its
erect posture and flicking tail distinguish it from the junco. Both male
and female are black overall, except
for a

white lower

coverts,

and outer

belly, undertail
tail feathers.

A bird

of the shadows,

phoebe watches for insect

prey from a shaded perch, attacking
from above on mothlike wings. The
the black

clicking of

Habitat:

its bill

indicates a strike.

In the Southwest along

shaded streams, on farms, and in
parks and gardens, always near

Winter
Breeding
All year

32

Garden Guest

List

water.

flies,

ants,

Insects

wasps,

moths, and caterpillars.

Nest: The black phoebe

nest of

mud

builds

its

over doors and win-

dows, under bridges, and on cliffs,

often under an overhang, sometimes
near heavy human traffic, and al-

ways near

Voice: The black phoebe's song is a

high-pitched, plaintive ti-wee, sounded twice; the alarm note is a loud,
sharp tsip.

Behavior:

Natural food:

water.

lining of wool,

hair, feathers, or plant fibers

the 4 white eggs,

cushions

which are incu-

bated by the female for 15 to 17 days.

Three weeks

later the

young can

fly.

How

to attract: Residents of the

Southwest who have seen black
phoebes nearby might place shelves
above the doors or windows of their

homes

where the
The moisture of a
pool or damp lawn attracts them, too.
or other structures

birds could nest.

Eastern Phoebe
Identification:

Sayomis phoebe

A member of

the

flycatcher family, the 6- :-inch eastern

Nest: Phoebes
on

rafters of a

darker head, and whitish below. The bird always sits upright,

or

on bridge

flipping

and

phoebe

is

dark olive above, with a

slightly

its tail.

Voice: The eastern phoebe

name with

calls its

repeated oyer and oyer again.

its

The 4

:-inch

nest of weeds, grasses, plant fibers,

mud

is

covered with moss and

bv the feThe young

the ayerage, are incubated

male

for 15 or 16 days.

leave 2 to 3

of the earliest birds

to migrate north to

barn or outbuilding,

girders.

lined with hair. Five white eggs, on

a distinct tee-bee, fee-bee,

Behavior: One

build a large nest on

a shelflike projection oyer a window,

a year are

weeks

later.

Two broods

common. Brown-headed

cowbirds frequently remove phoebe

nesting

grounds in the spring, the eastern

phoebe also lingers there longer in

eggs and replace them in the nest

the

HoiV

fall.

Habitat: Near man-made

struc-

cliffs,

and

in

suburban

to attract: Build a shelf

over the

window

areas.

phoebes, and the birds are likely

nest there.

Natural food: Almost

sects,

usually caught in

entirely in-

purple martin

is

inches, the

the largest of the

throats.

Voice: With wings outstretched, the

calls a harsh keerp. Its
song is a gurgling, liquid sound ending with a series of guttural notes.
purple martin

Behavior: Colonies
tins return

of purple mar-

every spring on or about

same date

where
they hatched. An advance guard of
several males is joined a few days
later by the main flock.
the

to the place

Habitat: Open

too.

Pwgne sums

birds are duller above, with gray bel-

and mottled

them,

to

or small lake will

Winter
Breeding
All vear

American swallows. The male is

glossy blue black overall and has a
forked tail. Females and immature
lies

attract

A pond

flight.

Purple Martin
Identification: At 8

or door of a cabin

or cottage in an area inhabited by

tures close to water in rayines,

around

with their own.

Natural food:

Insects, including

mosquitos and dragonflies.

Nest:

Since Indians hollowed out

gourds for purple martins, the birds
have been nesting in man-made
houses. Today many thousands of
multiple-room martin houses are
erected on lawns and in gardens
across the continent.

Only

in the

West do the birds occasionally still

nest in natural cavities. Each pair
produces 4 or 5 white eggs, which
the female incubates for 15 or 16

days; the

young are ready

to fly in

about a month.

How

to attract: Purple martins

may be

enticed to

move

into a

mul-

tiple-room martin house erected 15

areas near water

on farms, in cities, and in suburbs

where they can swoop down from
their houses to feed on insects.

to 20 feet above ground on a pole in

an open area near water. Dead trees

provide nest

Winter
Breeding

sites, too.

All year

33B Purple Martin

Garden Guest

List

33

Tree

Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor
Identification: The

first

swallow

move north in the spring,

handsome 5- to 6-inch tree swal-

species to
the

low

is

steely blue green

above and

white below. Male and female are

similar,

but females are

much

browner than males. Young

tree

swallows are brown gray above and

white below with a shaded breast

Natural food: Mostly

insects taken

in flight

while the bird courses over

water or

fields;

some weed seeds and

fruit as well.

Nest:

Tree swallows are cavity

nesters

and

will use birdhouses,

mailboxes, woodpecker holes, and

fence posts as nesting

sites.

The nest

an accumulation of grasses
lined with feathers. The 4 to 6 pure
white eggs are incubated for 13 to 16
days by the female. Young leave the
nest in about 3 weeks, or whenever
itself is

band.

Voice: The liquid twittering song of

the tree swallow

is

a pleasant chatter.

In flight, the bird will call

Behavior: Unlike some

silip.

conditions are favorable.

other swal-

lows, tree swallows are not colonial

How

birds and usually nest in isolated

will readily nest in birdhouses (5

pairs.
tion,

They do

however,

5 by 6 inches high, with a IVi-inch

when

diameter hole); place them 10

their

numbers

feet

Habitat: Wooded swamps

AH

Violet-green

year

fields

to

humans.

Swallow

-J>*^^

>

11

Tachycineta thalassina

1
If*

bird that seems to en-

it

flutters in

swallow chatters

search of insects.

Pacific coast
in the

and

at

the

higher elevations

mountains, north to Alaska.

Natural food:
wing, often

holes,

at great heights.

on the

cliffs,

or bird-

houses, using dried grasses and

The 4 or 5 oval

white eggs are incubated by the female for 13 or 14 days. The young fly
10 days after hatching but

may

re-

turn to the nest to roost.

How

to attract: If you live in the

West near water, you may be able to
attract violet-green swallows by erecting a birdhouse (5 by 5 by 6 inches
high with a

'/2-inch

diameter hole)

10 to 15 feet above the ground on a

post.

Insects taken

areas where
They build

their nests in natural cavities, old

feathers as lining.

Habitat: Open woodland along

List

wooded

woodpecker

Behavior: A

Garden Guest

in

tail

as

and wrens

over the

meeting
and also surrounding

flanks, nearly

joy flying high, this

34

tree swallows,

its

Voice: Violet-green swallows twitter

The male
will sing tsip-tseet-tsip while courting.

All year

sometimes nest near

bluebirds, nuthatches, woodpeckers,

white on

a great deal while in flight.

Winter
Breeding

frequently nest

in single pairs, violet-greens will

there are lots of holes.

the eye.

Nest: Though they

gray Similar to the tree swallow, this

5V2-inch western species has more

to 15

high on posts near water.

or open

near water, but often close

Identification: The male violetgreen swallow has a brilliant green

back and purple rump, white belly,
and notched tail. The female is
browner above, and young birds are

by

flock during migra-

can be impressive.

Winter
Breeding

to attract: Tree swallows

Barn Swallow

mnmdo

Identification: The classic swallow of Europe, the barn swallow is

the most common and best-known
member of its family in North America. Both male and female are metallic blue black above and cinnamon
below, with darker reddish
throat.

most

deeply forked

brown
the

tail is

Young barn
paler below and have

distinct feature.

swallows are
shorter

mstka
Natural food:
wing over

on the
meadows,

Insects taken

cultivated fields,

barnyards, and ponds.

Nest: These
plaster their

beams

colonial birds often

mud

nests to rafters or

of barns, bridges, or boat-

houses. After lining the nest with

soft feathers, they lay 4 or 5

brown-

spotted white eggs. Both parents in-

cubate the eggs, sometimes alternating every 15 minutes, for 15 days.

tails.

Voice: The barn swallow constantly

using a variety of harsh

chatters,

notes strung together.

Behavior: Barn swallows

are su-

perb fliers, constantly making aerial

adjustments as they search for insects

The female sits on the eggs at night

while the male remains nearby. The
young fly in about 3 weeks.

How

to attract: Aside from

building a barn, there

can do

to

isn't

much you

encourage barn swallows

and court mates. Barn swallows

to nest nearby.

bathe and drink while skimming

people; people don't adopt them.

ponds and

They do love ponds and need

Habitat:

lakes.

to

adopt

mud

Barns, natural caves, out-

and other

tures on farms

and

Steller's

Jay

struc-

in suburbs.

Cyanotitta

Identification: The blue-crested

jay of the West, the Steller's

is

a 12-

inch bird with dark blue wings and

black markings on the head, up-

per back, and breast, and inconspicu-

ous white streaks on the

and female look alike.
Voice: This

is

face.

Male

stelleri

Natural food: Acorns and pine

seeds that may be hoarded for winconsumption; also

ter

caches of other

loud bird, squawk-

insects, carrion,

and camp leftovers. The Steller's

sometimes raids the stores of acorns
from woodpeckers and steals the

Nest:

jays.

Steller's jays

build their bulky

ing waah, waah, waah and shook, shook,

nests in trees, usually conifers, 8 to

but during courtship, the male

whispers his song to his mate. The

40

shook;

Steller's

mimics the voices

of the red-

shouldered and red-tailed hawks.

Behavior: Often shy

ests,

in

deep

for-

the Steller's can be bold at

campsites and picnic grounds.

Though

it

Winter
Breeding
All year

for their nests.

buildings, bridges,

tail,

They seem

may

dozen or more,

travel in flocks of a
it

is

feet

above the ground. The foun-

dation of dry leaves, moss, and trash,

mixed with mud, is lined with rootand pine needles. The 4 pale
greenish eggs, spotted with brown,
are incubated primarily by the female for 17 or 18 days. Parents are
lets

quiet

when near

protest loudly

if

their nest, but they

discovered.

less gregarious

than other jays (but more so than the

How

scrub

the moist shade of conifers; birdseed

jay).

Habitat: Western

and

to attract:

Steller's jays like

suet are favorite foods.

coniferous forests

Winter
Breeding
All year

and mixed oak/pine woodlands.

Garden Guest

List

35

BlUC JCiy

Cyanocitta cristata
Identification: The only blue-

Natural food: Acorns and

crested jay of the East, this striking

tree seeds

11-inch bird

bright blue above

is

and

fruits, insects, fish,

salamanders,

-.

sometimes small

with white on wings and tail and

light gray below. Both sexes look

.^flflLJ

Nest: Blue

tance.

jay,

bell-like too-lee, too-lee call

Its

The male's whisper song is

for his mate. Blue jays mimic the redshouldered and red-tailed hawks.
is softer.

"'^S^ ^.
f-3

Behavior: The
sive

and

crafty.

blue jay

is

aggres-

During courtship,

until she selects

SCVUU JCiy

urbs and

to

50

jays build
feet

female gather

with

rootlets;

and

sticks, twigs, bark,

leaves for the nest

and then

line

it

both incubate their 4 or

dark brown spots, for 17 or 18 days.

The youngsters can fly in about 3
weeks.

How
Forests, farms, parks,

the backyards

Winter
Breeding
All year

bulky nests,
above the ground,
that are well hidden in thickets, frequently near houses. Both male and

from 5

one of them as

a mate.

Habitat:

in

5 eggs, olive or buff-colored with

several males will chase a single fe-

male

and eggs

birds,

nests.

alike.

Voice: The blue jay's demanding

jay, jay can be heard at some dis-

other

nuts; also grains,

and gardens

and

to at tract: Just offer sun-

flower seeds and other birdseeds

along with water and suet.

of sub-

the eastern United

cities of

States.

Aphelocoma coerulescens
1

Identification:

crestless blue

jay that lives in both Florida

and the

West, the 11-inch scrub jay has a blue

head, wings, and

^^^H

tail,

a white throat

outlined in blue, and a white belly

spend much of
the ground.

Nest:

>
1

^^

jay utters a

sheek, sheek, sheek.

The male

whispers a song

to his mate.

harsh

also

Behavior: Scrub
and any
find

jays

hoard food

bright, shiny objects they

for instance, or

pieces of glass or jewelry. Florida

woodland, deciduous

forests, chaparral,

canyons, and

stream bottomland.

Natural food:
I

Winter
Breeding
All year

36

Garden Guest

List

Acorns, pine nuts,

other tree seeds, grains,

fruits, in-

and snails, and the eggs and

young of small birds. Scrub jays
sects,

in

bushes and

a well-constructed

and

rootlets.

3 or 4 greenish eggs are

marked

with brown spots; the female incu-

them

for 16 days.

the nest at 2 to 3

come

the West, oak

The

How

In Florida, scrub oak; in

is

platform of twigs, moss, and dry

human

Habitat:

The nest

grass lined with hair

scrub jays are often fearless around

beings, even at their nests.

and the West,

above the ground,

trees.

bates

silverware,

In both Florida

on

the scrub jay nests fairly low, 3 to 30

feet

Voice: The scrub

their time foraging

weeks

Young leave
of age.

to attract: Scrub jays will

for suet, birdseed, bread,

kitchen scraps, dog

unshelled peanuts.

and

cat food,

and

American CrOZV

Corvus brachyrhunchos

Identification: The 18-inch

American crow is entirely black.
Even its bill and feet are black. Its
tail is

squared.

young

of other birds, as well as fruit,

grains,

and garbage.

Nest:

Solitary nesters, a pair of

American crows
Voice: The hoarse caw, caw, caw of
the American crow is a familiar
sound on farms across the continent.
Young crows in the nest are noisy,
with a more nasal call.

the

most intelligent of all birds, the

American crow can learn quickly
and is able to communicate complicated information to

its

tree,

10

above the ground. The nest

lined with shredded bark fibers,

is

moss, feathers,

The

grayish green eggs

brown

or

fur, hair, roots,

pair's 4 to 6 bluish or

marked with

spots are incubated by both

when

parents for 18 days. Young fly

they are about a

month

old.

fellow crows.

Habitat: Forests, farmlands,

wooded lots, and suburban areas
with mature

near the trunk or crotch of a

to 70 feet

leaves.

Behavior: Considered among

will usually build

their large, basketlike nest of sticks

How

to attract: Most people

would not

try to attract

crows will come

crows

for suet

and

but

bird-

trees.

seed.

Natural food: Nearly anything

carrion on highways, fish, earth-

worms,

insects,

Winter
Breeding
All year

and the eggs and

Black-capped Chickadee
Identification: A gray and black
ball of fluff weighing just a third of
an ounce thafs the black-capped
chickadee. Gray above and whitish

below, this 5-inch bird

is

and

male look
Voice:

a long

Male and

eggs and larvae

of tree-inhabiting insects; also fruit

and

seeds.

Nest: Both

sexes excavate the 5- to

8-inch nesting cavity in rotting

wood,

4 to 10 feet above the ground. During the 12 to 13 days that the female

fe-

incubates their 6 to 8 eggs (white

with reddish brown spots), the male

alike.

more

tion of the

tail.

Natural food: The

distin-

guished by a distinct black cap, black

bib, white cheek marks, buff-colored
flanks,

Parus atrkapnius

definitive identifica-

black-capped chickadee

might be the chick-a-dee-dee-dee

call,

or the male's springtime phee-bee

feeds her. Both parents feed the

young during

How

song.

the 2-week nesting

period.

to attract: Black-capped

chickadees love sunflower seeds.

Behavior: This

active, curious,

and

quick-moving bird can change directions in midair in 3/100th of a second.

It is

also

among

the tamest of

backyard species and can be

trained to eat from the hand.
all

They may nest

in a birdhouse (4 by 4
by 10 inches high with a 1 '4-inch

entrance hole) placed 6 to 15 feet

above the ground, or will also nest

dead trees. They like coniferous
shrubs and trees.

in

Habitat: Deciduous and coniferous

forests as well as rural woodland
and suburban backyards
northern United

IS

Winter
Breeding
All year

in the

States.

Garden Guest

List

37

Carolina Chickadee

varus cawiinensis
Identification: Similar

gleaned from the woodlands of the

to the

black-capped chickadee but smaller,

the 4 '/2-inch Carolina has a shorter

black bib, less white on

and

a shorter

tail.

its

Nest:

wings,

Both sexes look

Voice: The Carolina's

faster

is

phee-bee song

is

chick-a- dee- dee-

four notes instead

ers,

woodland and

coniferous forests of the Southeast,

from the

coastal lowlands to alti-

tudes of 4,000

Natural food: Insects and

the

male brings her food.

How

to attract: Offer sunflower

and

and peanut

butter mix,

birdhouse (4 by 4 by 10
inches high with a 1 '/4-inch entrance
hole) placed 5 feet above the ground.
erect a

their
fruits

larvae, as well as

gray crest, buff-colored flanks, and

beady black eyes. In the West, it is
replaced by the plain titmouse. Male
and female look alike.

seeds and

fruit

found

Voice: The tufted titmouse's familiar

any
woodland. Its day-day-day alarm
note sounds harsher and more demanding.

Nest: Like chickadees, the tufted titmouse nests inside a tree cavity, of-

tended

its

species has exrange into the Northeast

and upper Midwest and

the

company

hatches as

it

is

of chickadees

the East.

List

sharp, black

in the

bill,

woods.

the tufted

titmouse opens moth cocoons for the

larva inside.

by
The 5 or 6 speckled

ten taking over one hollowed out

a woodpecker.

and creamy eggs are incubated for 13

or 14 days by the female; the male
out of the cavity to feed

days

her.

the nest 17 or 18

after hatching.

nut-

forages noisily through

How

to attract: Titmice are fond

and they relish

on cold days. Occasionally
they'll use a birdhouse (4 by 4 by 10
inches high with a 1 Vi-inch entrance
hole) placed 6 to 15 feet above the
ground. They may be attracted to
oak trees.
of sunflower seeds,
suet

Habitat: Backyards and gardens;

also forests,

its

The young leave

usually in

and

With

calls her

woodland.

M'.ll

variety of insects,

and

Behavior: This

Winter
Breeding

Natural food: A
their eggs,

a mouselike bird with a

is

pet-tow, pet-tow, pet-tow brightens

Garden Guest

brown, are incu-

bated by the female for 13 days while

Par us bicolor

titmouse

is

Evergreens are appreciated for cover.

Identification: The 6-inch tufted

38

in soft or rotted

feet.

eggs and larvae; also seeds and

Ml

or

excavated

and plant down. The 6 white

seeds, suet,

range.
rural

some 5

wood over a 2- week period. They

may also use an abandoned wood-

eggs, spotted with

Habitat: The

is

pecker hole or birdhouse. The nest

Behavior: The Carolina chickadee

keeps to woodland areas and is attached to its southeastern home

Tufted Titmouse

ground

lined with moss, animal hair, feath-

its

of two.

Winter
Breeding
All year

5- to 6-inch hole

by the nesting pair

and higher-pitched

than that of the black-capped;

6 feet above the

alike.

dee call

Southeast.

swamps, and orchards

of

Blislltlt

Psaltriparus mtnimui

Identification:
bird with a

very short

member

American titmouse

oi the

tail,

for

and
is

North

family. Both sexes

look alike except for their eyes

brown

Natural food:

gray

tinv, dull

cap, long

the 3 :-inch bushtit

bill,

the smallest

brown

males (and voung

dark

birds),

cream-colored for females.

and

Behavior:

Bushtits are even

active than chickadees

and

seeds.

shaped basket nest over a 13- to 51day period. Located b to 35 feet

above the ground in a bush or tree,
leaves,

is

lined with mosses, lichens,

and spider

spend nights

silk.

Both parents
while incu-

in the nest

bating the 5 to 7 white eggs for 12 or

13 davs. The young

song.

and

Nest: Male and female work together to weave a 6- to 8-inch gourd-

the nest

Voice: Bushtits are constantly vocal

to keep flocks together, uttering tsittsit-tsit as thev feed. They have no

Insects, insect eggs,

larvae; also fruits

flv at

about 2

weeks

of age.

How

to attract: Bushtits

more

titmice.

may

Except during the breeding season,

come

thev are found in flocks numbering

but are most apt to appear near

few as a half dozen or as mam as

through the thickets
with other small birds.

ponds and thick evergreen shrubs

sunnv areas.

as

50, foraging

Habitat:

to

sunflower seeds and

suet,

in

Winter
Breeding
AU year

oak woodland, chaparral, canvons, and

Forest thickets,

streamsides in the West.

Red-breasted Nuthatch
Identification: The stubby
red-breasted nuthatch

is

little

a 4V2-inch

short

tail.

Like other nuthatches,

hops down the

tree

Voice: The song of

head

call is a

Habitat: Northern
ests,

coniferous for-

but in winter also backyards

and

Natural food: The

seeds of pines,

it

and spruce, mixed with a diet

insects, insect eggs, and larvae.
firs,

first.

this species is a

trumpetlike zcea-wea-wea-icea.

alarm

sitta canadensis

and gardens across the continent.

acrobat with a gray back, rusty

breast, black cap, white eye line,

more disturbed

Nest: The

Its

builds

its

red-breasted nuthatch

tank-

vated tree cavity

woodpecker

sometimes a

hole.

The nest

is

lined

Behavior: A species of the northern woods country, the red-breasted

nuthatch mav move south in great
numbers during winters, when its

with mosses, grasses, and feathers

natural foods are scarce. At the en-

its

nesting cavity in a dead

or rotted tree, the red-breasted nut-

hatch dabs pine resin or pitch to discourage predators from entering.

Sometimes the red-breasted nuthatch

of

nest 4 inches into an exca-

tank-tank-tank.

trance to

to

protect the 5 or 6 reddish-spotted

white eggs. The female incubates the

eggs for 12 days; the young

weeks

How
and

fly

about

after hatching.

to attract: Sunflower seeds

suet are favorite foods. Conifers

will attract red-breasted nuthatches,

too (they rarely use birdhouses).

Winter
Breeding

gets stuck, too.

All year

Garden Guest

List

39

White-breasted Nuthatch

suta cawiinmsis

Natural food: Nuts and

Identification: The whitebreasted nuthatch

IT

is

fall

gray bird with a black cap, white

and belly, and stubby tail. It

moves down tree trunks head first.
breast

Voice: The white-breasted's song

series of rapid whistles

'||

whit-whi-whi.
f

>

is

bird

was

first

called "nut-hack."

whit-whi-

alarm note

Its

seeds in

and winter; also insects in spring

and summer. The white-breasted
wedges tree nuts and seeds into crevices in the tree bark to hammer them
open with its bill; as a result, the

a 6-inch blue

is

a loud,

Nest:

white-breasted nuthatch

harsh yank, yank, yank, slower and

pair nests in a tree cavity (often in a

more nasal than

woodpecker

hole) 15 to 50 feet above

the ground.

The female

the red-breasted's.

Behavior: White-breasted nuthatches often forage in the woods in

the company of chickadees, titmice,
and brown creepers. These "upsidedown birds" can see food in bark
crevices that birds coming up the
Habitat: Mixed woodland,
chards,

and

and mature

trees in

marked with light brown

and incubates them for 12

heavily
spots,

days. Youngsters can fly in 2 weeks.

How

might miss.

tree trunk

lines the nest

with bark shreds, twigs, grass, fur,

and hair. Then she lays 8 white eggs,

to attract: One of the most

of all backyard and garden

common
or-

suburbs

cities.

species in the East

flower seeds

Winter
Breeding

and Midwest, the

white-breasted nuthatch relishes sun-

and

suet.

All year

Brown

Creeper

Certhia americana
Identification: Nearly

invisible

brown
streaked brown above and

against tree bark, the 5-inch

creeper

is

white below.

curved

which

bill
it

It

and

has a sharp, slightly

a long, stiff

tail

upon

leans against tree trunks.

Natural food: Almost

entirely in-

sweeps from

tree trunks.

sects that

it

Nest: Not really a cavity nester, the

brown creeper hides its nest behind
a loose slab of bark 5 to 15 feet

above

The nest is made of

twigs, and bark shreds and

the ground.

Voice: The brown creeper's single

leaves,

high-pitched seee

lined with finer bark shreds, grass,

In spring, the

pitched

is

hardly noticeable.

male sings a high-

see- see- see- sisi- see.

Behavior: Starting at the base of a

tree, the brown creeper searches for
food by working its way up in a spiaround the tree trunk unreaches the top. Then it flies

All vear

40

Garden Guest

List

to attract:

Though brown

til it

really interested in the tiny insects

to the

base of a nearby tree

new

spiral

upward.

Habitat: Coniferous and deciduous

forests, mixed woodland and
swamps, and wooded backyards
Winter
Breeding

How

creepers

and begins

H
I

and moss. Both sexes incubate the 5

or 6 peppered white eggs for 14 or 15
days. The young spend that much
more time in the nest after hatching.

raling path

down

throughout the continent.

is

seem

to like suet,

They also come

and big dead trees.

that the suet attracts.

to conifers

they are

Carolina

Wren

Identification: The

Thryothoms ludovicianus

largest

wren

in the East, the 5V;-inch Carolina

brown above

rich

is

a buff belly, with a

white throat, tawny sides, and a conspicuous white eye line.

Natural food:
fruits,

Behavior: Though
song

hiding

itself in

the

conspicuous
is retiring,

deep tangles and

brush of southeastern woodlands.

Pioneers of this species have tried,
with limited success, to expand its
range northward into New England
and the upper Midwest.

Habitat: Brushy

thickets

hedges and the tangles of

gardens in the

and
suburban

Identification:

brown

little

wrens, the 4V2-inch house wren.

The most common wren in the East,
the house wren is dark brown above
and light brown below, without any
all

streaks or eye lines in either sex.

Voice: The bubbling, chattering, resong of the male house wren

falls at

the end.

scolding note of the species

ries of zzzzzzssszzz

is

The
a se-

sounds.

Behavior: Arriving on
grounds

in the spring a

dummy

or two

and

nests of sticks in sev-

eral viable nesting sites.

When

the

female arrives, she selects one of the

male's nests, or builds her

new

location,

and

lines

it

own

in a

in prepara-

tion for the eggs.

Habitat: Backyards, farmland, and

open

male incubates the 5 or 6 spotted

male feeds her. The young are on the
wing 2 weeks after hatching.

How
are

to attract: Carolina wrens

common

backyards

visitors to

mixed with
cornmeal, sunflower seeds, and other
that offer suet cakes

seeds.

birdbath also attracts them,

and they seek

thickets

where they

Winter
Breeding

can hide.

All year

Natural food: Nothing

from

caterpillars to

but insects,

grasshoppers to

spiders.

Nest: Famous

for

where they nest

boots, car radiators, mailboxes, laun-

dry on clotheslines

house wrens

plant fibers, feathers,

and rubbish.

In

the wild, they choose a hole in a tree

or other natural crevice.

The 6

or 7

cinnamon-speckled white eggs are

incubated for about 13 days; young
leave the nest at 12 to 18 days of age.

the breeding

week

before the female, the male sings

builds

bulky nest of leaves, twigs, and weed

stalks. The nest is lined with feathers,
grass, moss, and hair. While the fe-

build stick nests lined with grass,

petitive

and then

wood-

pecker hole, stone wall, or hole in an

outbuilding in which to build its

Troglodytes aedon

that describes the plainest of

rises

other wrens, the Carolina

a cavity nester, selecting a

East.

HoUSe Wren
bird

berries.

pink eggs for 14 days, the attentive

its

bold, the Carolina

is

and

Nest: Like
is

Voice: The Carolina's hearty teakettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle is one of the

definitive sounds of the South. Its
alarm note is a buzzing noise that
sounds like a thumb being rubbed
against the teeth of a comb.

Primarily insects,

but also snails, small frogs, lizards,

How

to attract: Among the most

backyard nesters in North

common

America, house wrens may be lured

with wren houses (4 by 4 by 6 inches
high with a IVi-inch entrance hole) 6
to 10 feet above the ground. Try several in the

same

half-acre.

Wrens

also

Winter
Breeding
All year

use brush, woodpiles, berry tangles,

and wild

areas.

forests.

Garden Guest

List

41

Golden-crowned Kinglet
^w w

Reguius satmpa

Identification: A tiny flit of a

golden-crowned
kinglet is olive green above and
lighter below, with two white wing
bars and a conspicuous crown of yellow and orange (male) or all yellow

bird, the 3 '/2-inch

^m

^w^H

^gfitikf

:i

iCf * 4

tf

^y

(female). Otherwise, sexes are alike.

Voice: Unless your hearing is acute,

you may miss the call of the goldencrowned kinglet. The male's song is a
high-pitched, descending zee-zee-zeezee; the alarm note is a simple tsee.

Behavior: Ever
the

little

kinglet

Insects plucked
from the needles and cones of

spruces while the bird hovers in

midair.

Nest: The golden-crowned kinglet

attaches a hanging oblong mass of
mosses and lichens

is

it

its

wings,

constantly on the
to

feet

with fine bark,

feathers.

two

male alone

forests,

mainly

white eye

layers in the nest

and

are

fe-

for 14 or 15 days.

kinglets

Though golden-

do not

eat bird-

chickadees and brown

do, including

They come

wooded

for suet offered

area.

ring.

Both sexes of

Natural food: Mostly

a

this 4-

inch species are alike, except for the

male's ruby red

hidden under

usually

crown spot

olive green feathers.

crowned
its

greatly out of proportion

is

The loud and husky

low and then rise high,

tiny size.

notes start

tee, tee, tue, tue, tue,

The

jee-didit

insects

caught by hovering in front of pine

and spruce cones and needles; also

some

fruit

and

seeds.

Nest: The deep cup

ruby-crowned

is

nest of the

well hidden under-

neath a horizontal spruce branch, 2

to 100 feet above the ground. It is

Voice: The song of the ruby-

ti-daddy, ti-daddy.

alarm note also seems

loud for the size of this bird.

lined with mosses,

The female

fur,

and

feathers.

completely concealed
in the nest while she incubates the 7
is

to 9 pale buff eggs dotted reddish

brown

for about 12 days. Young fly

from the nest in another 12 days.

Behavior: Ruby-crowneds always

seem nervous, flitting their wings
and hovering as they move through

How

pine and spruce thickets, often in

dens during migration; suet appeals

the

company

of warblers during

Winter
Breeding

migration.

All year

Habitat: Coniferous

forests for

breeding, but backyards during migration

winter.

List

cream-col-

Reguius calendula

Identification: The little rubycrowned kinglet is an olive green

birdlet with white wing bars and

Garden Guest

it

soft

seed, they associate with birds that

Winter
Breeding
All year

tiny,

to attract:

crowned

in a

42

The 8 or 9

and

believed to be incubated by the

creepers.

to

rootlets,

6 to 60

lines

ored eggs blotched with brown are

How

spruces, but also backyards and gardens during migrations.

Ruby-CrOZimed Kinglet

some

above the ground, then

twig

feeds.

Habitat: Coniferous

to the twigs of a

horizontal spruce limb,

laid in

flicking

move, hopping from twig

and hovering as

Natural food:

and western lowlands

in

to attract: Birdbaths or
other water sources attract ruby-

crowned
to

them,

kinglets to yards

too.

and

gar-

Eastern Bluebird
Identification: The

siaiia siaiis

7-inch eastern

Nest: Unlike

other thrushes, blue-

bluebird male has a deep blue back,

birds nest in natural tree cavities, of-

rusty red throat and breast, and

ten in

white under

much

its tail.

The female

duller. Juvenile

bluebirds have

Voice: The male bluebirds melodious chur-a-lee song is a welcome sign

The shorter

Behavior: Though
fall

nest 2 to 3

year are

How

weeks

young leave

the

Two broods

later.

common.

to attract:

Though

eastern

bluebirds will eat cornmeal mixed

eastern blue-

with suet and peanut butter, a better

birds are solitary nesters, they are

gregarious in the

for 13 to 15 days;

chur-lee call is

uttered by both sexes.

when

of grass holds 4 or 5 pale bluish

white eggs, incubated by the female

spotted breasts.

of spring.

woodpecker holes, or in birdThe carelessly arranged nest

houses.

is

and

way

winter,

they join forces to migrate and

feed in flocks.

them is to put up birdby 5 by 8 inches high with

to attract

houses

(5

Vi-inch entrance hole) 5 to 10 feet

above the ground

Habitat: Open country on

in

an open

field.

farms,

along roadside fences, in open wood-

land and swamps.

Natural food:

Insects

and

seeds.

Winter
Breeding
All year

Eastern bluebirds flutter from fence

posts

and wires

to the

ground when

they spot food.

Western Bluebird
Identification:

Its

Siaiia

blue back and

throat, brick red breast,

7-

inch western bluebird male. Often

the breast color extends across the

shoulders and upper back. The

male

is

Habitat: Open farmland

areas,

along roadside fences, and open

and gray

undertail coverts distinguish the

mexicana

woodland

in

mountain

regions.

Natural food: Mostly

berries

and other

fruits.

insects; also

The western

fe-

duller overall. Juveniles have

spotted breasts.

bluebird can be seen darting out

from

a tree, fence post, or utility wire

perch to catch insects on the wing.

Voice: The male's warbling chu-ais harsher and shorter than the
song of the eastern bluebird. The pew
call is given by both sexes.
wee

Nest: Accompanied by

grass nest inside a tree cavity, often

in

Behavior: Western

bluebirds fly to

the male, the

female western bluebird builds a

an old woodpecker

hole, or in a

birdhouse. She lays 4 to 6 pale blue

lower elevations in winter. They often

eggs and incubates them for 14 days.

compete with

How

sparrows

for

and house
nesting sites, though
starlings

they are compatible with

pygmy

nut-

hatches, northern flickers, tree swal-

and house wrens nesting in the

same tree. In winter, they flock in
numbers rarely over 30, often includlows,

ing a few yellow-rumped warblers.

to attract: Fruit may attract

western bluebirds to feeders, but

they are more apt to be interested in

birdhouses (5 by 5 by 8 inches deep
with a 1 '/2-inch entrance hole) erected

5 to 10 feet above the ground in

open

fields.

peal as nest

Old

fruit

orchards ap-

Winter
Breeding
All year

sites, too.

Garden Guest

List

43

Mountain Bluebird

Sialia currucoides

Identification: Truly

a "blue-

bird," the 7-inch sky blue

bluebird male

is

blue

all

blue-

bird hovers over grasslands or darts

out from rocks in pursuit of insects;

over

light

underneath, deeper above. The female is mostly gray, with blue only

on the wings. Young birds are dark

gray with spotted breasts.

also eats berries

Nest: Like

and other

fruits.

other bluebirds, the

Voice: The male's high pitched war-

mountain bluebird builds a grass

nest in a natural cavity, often in an
old woodpecker hole, but both sexes

bling whistle, tru-lee, resembles that

of this species contribute to the

American robin. During migration and while living in winter

chore.

flocks, the birds utter a veer note.

them

Behavior: This bluebird lives at

elevations up to 12,000 feet during

How

the breeding season. Nesting sites are

feeders, but they will nest in bird-

of the

among other species. At

one pair has been known to
nest in a cliff swallow nest within a
cliff swallow colony.

The female
for 14 days.

to attract: Mountain blue-

birds are not likely to

houses

least

open
rangeland, mountain meadows, and
open wooded parkland.

lays 5 or 6 very

pale blue eggs and then incubates

often located

Habitat: At high

Wood Thrush

Natural food: The mountain

mountain

(5

'/2-inch

entrance hole) 5 to 10 feet

meadow. Dead
sites;

to bird

by 5 by 8 inches high with

above the ground

nest

come

in

an open

trees also

provide

they like old orchards,

too.

altitudes in

Hylocichla mustelina
Identification:

A plump

thrush

with a rusty red back, the 8-inch

wood

thrush

the head.

Its

is

brighter red about

white breast

is

marked

with large round or oval black dots.

Male and female look alike.

other

fruits.

ground

The wood thrush

Nest: The compact, cuplike

anchored about 10

ground

is

feeder.

feet

nest

is

above the

in the crotch of a horizontal

Constructed of grass, bark,

moss, paper, and mud, it is molded
tree limb.

Voice: The male

memorable

wood

thrush's

flutelike song, gerald-

magical sound of the

spring woods. Both sexes call the
alarm note, a rapid pit, pit, pit.

deeeen, is a

Behavior:

Young

How
may

and

When

fly in

about 2 weeks.

to attract:

Wood

eat fruit at feeders or

thrushes

from

of

humans; the species is nesting

more frequently in garden shrubbery

berry-producing plants during the

warm months. Large shrubs or small

than in the past.

garden trees surrounded by dark

in cool,

wet

or near the

forests, or in

and backyards

Winter
Breeding

fer similar conditions.

All year

Natural food:

that of-

Insects, snails,

and

earthworms, as well as berries and

List

thrush's body.

she goes away, the male guards the

is

damp forests, the wood thrush

apparently becoming more tolerant

wood

incubates them for 13 days.

nest.

eastern parks

Garden Guest

the female

lays 3 or 4 bluish green eggs

deep,

ground

fit

Originally a bird of

Habitat: Mostly on

44

to

She

woodland may
ing

sites.

attract

them as

nest-

American Robin

Turdus migmtorius

Identification: A true thrush, the

10-inch American robin has a slate
grav back and brick red breast. It
also has a white eye ring, streaked

white throat, and yellow

male's head

is

bill.

The

darker gray than

back; the female

is

land. In the West, robins

altitudes

up

may

nest at

to 12,000 feet.

Natural food: Largely earthworms (located by sight, not sound);

also insects, berries,

and other

fruits.

its

paler overall. Ju-

Nest: The American

robin builds

veniles have spotted breasts.

nest in a fork or on a horizontal

Voice: The male American robin

branch of a
ledge, door

welcome

carols a
lee,

cheer-o-lee, cheer-o-

cheer-o-lee song. Its tut. tut, tut

alarm

is

demanding.

tree or shrub, or
light,

its

on a

or downspout. The

deep cup nest of mud and grass is

molded by the female's body. The 4
"robin's-egg blue" eggs are incubated

Behavior: Males

return to their

northern breeding grounds before

and defendwarmer

the females, establishing

ing territories vigorously. In

regions,

American robins

stay all

year.

by the female
the

young

weeks.

Two broods

common, but

How

and

for 12 to 14 days,

leave the nest in about 2

annually are

rarely at the

same

to attract: During

site.

late

spring snowstorms, American robins

Habitat: Suburban and

city lawns
and gardens, parks, and open wood-

GfUV

LsCltulYCl

Identification:

slim relative of

is

gray except for a cap and long

and rusty undertail covMale and female look the same.

of black

tail

erts.

Voice:

Its

catbird

its

mew

gave the gray

name. The song of the
catlike

male is a lively series of unrelated

and often disjointed musical notes
and phrases. In the evening, the male
may sing a quiet whisper song. The
chuck alarm call is a scolding sound.

Behavior: The gray

pressive appearance

Winter
Breeding
All year

Natural food:
or near the

Insects collected

ground (more than

on

half

the gray catbird's diet); also berries

and other

fruits.

Nest: Well concealed

in a

dense

thicket, thick shrubbery, or briars 3

above the ground, the nest

bulky mass of
twigs, vines, leaves, and paper built
by both male and female. Deep and
cuplike, the nest is lined with rootlets. The female lays 4 deep greenish
to 10 feet

of the gray catbird is a

blue eggs and incubates them for 12

catbird's

is

unim-

more than
many and

compensated for by its

varied calls and songs. Besides

own

eat fruit, suet, or peanut butter

mix placed on or near the ground.

They relish berries and fruits borne
on shrubs and trees.

Dumetella cawlinensis

the mockingbird, the 9-inch gray cat-

bird

may

their

distinctive calls (described

above), catbirds also imitate the

songs of other birds and tree frog

sounds, as well as some

or 13 days.

The young

fly at

about 2

weeks.

How

to attract: Catbirds

may

eat

from shrubs,
They enjoy bathing

fruit at feeders, also

trees, and vines.

and drinking at birdbaths.

man-made

Winter
Breeding
All year

noises.

Habitat:

Thickets, woodland,
undergrowth, hedges, and garden

shrubbery.

Garden Guest

List

45

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus

poiygiottos

Identification: White wing

patches and white outer tail feathers,
conspicuous

marks

field

in flight, are distinctive

an otherwise dull gray

Both sexes of the 10-inch north-

bird.

of

ern mockingbird look alike.

Voice:

Named

toire of

songs and noises

its

own and

one-third
the

two-thirds mimicry

imitating both avian

is

adept

at

and man-made

sounds. Even ringing alarm clocks

and

factory whistles are copied.

own alarm

note

is

Its

a harsh tchack.

particularly on warm nights,

seems,

when people

sleep with their

Habitat: The hedges and

All year

of

Brown Thrasher

thicket.

by placing material, but the female has the final say. Both build.
The 4 light blue green eggs, heavily
blotched with brown, are incubated
by the female for 12 or 13 days.
sites

days

after hatching.

to attract: Offer suet mixed

with cornmeal and grow native

mfum

Toxostoma

1-inch

brown thrasher

streaks across backyards.

Natural food:

On

manders, snakes,

and other

closer

twigs, grasses,

see

say what, say what.

it;

Its

alarm note

is

Behavior: The male

his concert

shrub, head held high

Winter
Breeding
All year

usually gives

from the top of a

tree or

and long

tail

down.

Habitat: Thickets and hedges

suburban and
farmland.

city

of

backyards and

vines. Both par-

dish spots) for 12 or 13 days. Young

leave the nest in about 2 weeks.

hello, hello;

loud smak.

and

white eggs (marked with fine red-

some mechanical,
it,

berries

ents incubate their 4 pale bluish

most mimicked. Usually each phrase

repeated: see

and

thrashers hide their bulkv nests of

Voice: Like other members of the

mockingbird tribe, the brown
thrasher has a repertoire of sounds

is

lizards,

fruits.

Nest: Anywhere from ground level

to 14 feet above in thickets, brown

dent. Both sexes look alike.

musical,

by

it

thrashes in dead leaves; also sala-

are

young birds, the iris is light blue)

and down-curved bill are also evi-

some

Insects seized

the bird's long, curved bill as

inspection, a bright yellow eye (in

List

concealed 3

thickets

conspicuous as the long-tailed bird

Garden Guest

is

suburban and city backyards,

farmland, and brushy woodland.

of the

nest

above the ground in a

The male suggests nesting

to 10 feet

cies of plants offer nest sites.

Identification: The fox red back

and heavily streaked whitish breast

46

and

fruit.

berry-producing plants. Thorny spe-

are trying to

windows open.

Winter
Breeding

other

How

birds are famous for singing at

it

angel-like form; also berries

Youngsters vacate the nest 10 to 12

Behavior: Male northern mockingnight

matter

(more than half the diet), mostly insects flushed by raising its wings in

Nest: The bulky

for its creative reper-

northern mockingbird

Natural food: Animal

How
and

to attract: Put out seeds

mixed with cornmeal.

suet

Low shrubs, brush piles, and berryproducing plants appeal, too.

Cedar WaXZVing
Identification:

An

elegant 7-inch

brown and

bird of silky

Bombycilla cedrorum

tan with in-

ner wing tips resembling dabs of red

sealing wax, the cedar

also

on its tail, a yellow

and a black mask. The two

has a vellow
bellv,

waxwing

tip

sexes look alike.

Voice: The wheezing call of the

waxwing is high pitched and

cedar

often difficult to hear.

Behavior:

If

are

known

for fluttering out

trees to capture insects

and

from
for gorg-

ing themselves on berries.

Nest: These late nesters build their

loosely woven nest of grass, twigs,
and sometimes yarn on a horizontal
branch 4 to 50 feet above the ground.
Both sexes work on the nest for 5 to 7
days, finishing it with a lining of
and plant
down. The 4 or 5 pale gray eggs with
dark brown blotches are incubated
by the female for 12 or 13 days.
Young leave 2 to 2Vz weeks after
rootlets, fine grasses,

you see one

bird,

you

almost always see a small flock of

cedar waxwings. These gregarious
birds remain together throughout the

hatching.

vear, nesting in loose colonies.

Habitat: Open groves, orchards,

and urban and suburban backyards,
and wild areas where native

berries

How

to attract: Water attracts cedar waxwings for drinking and bathing. You can also grow native berry-

producing plants

to lure

them.

grow.

Natural food:

Insects

and

Winter
Breeding

berries,

All vear

including the berries of cedar trees

and mountain

ash.

Cedar waxwings

European Starling

stumus

vulgaris

Identification: Introduced 100

years ago in New York City, the 8inch European starling has spread
through most of North America. Iridescent black, green, and purple

Natural food: Insects, garbage,

grain, weed seeds, snails, earth-

with a bright yellow

damage

and summer,
greenish

it

bill in

spring

turns speckled with a

bill in fall

and female look

and

winter.

Male

alike.

Voice: A drawn-out whistle is its

best-known sound, but the starling
utters a variety of squeaks, squawks,
and chatters; it will imitate the calls

from nesting

cavities; the

tions of eastern bluebirds,

ers,

and

great-crested

is

considered beneficial, but they can

Nest:

fruit trees.

Starlings nest 10 to 25 feet

above the ground in woodpecker

holes, birdhouses, or any nook or
cranny. Their

messy

collection of

nesting materials ranges from grasses

and twigs

to feathers

and

trash.

The

4 or 5 pale bluish green eggs are in-

cubated by both parents for about 12

days. Young leave in about 3 weeks,

of other birds as well.

Behavior: The European

has displaced many native

worms, berries, and other fruit. Their

consumption of insect pests on farms

starling

are on their

own

few days

later.

birds

popula-

woodpeck-

and ash-

How
erally

to attract: Starlings are genunpopular but will come to

feeders.

throated flycatchers have decreased

as a result.

Habitat: Most

Winter

often cities

urbs, but also farmland,

and parks, often

Hi Breeding

and sub-

wooded

All year

lots,

in large flocks.

Garden Guest

List

47

Red-eyed Vireo

Vireo olivaceus
Identification: This rather nondescript 6-inch-long bird is olive

green

above and white below, with a gray

cap. Above the red eye is a white
stripe topped with a black line. Both
sexes look the same.

Voice: The male red-eyed vireo's

song seems to go on and on forever
with the same See me. Here I am.
Don't you see me? Here I am. Its scolding note

is

Nest: Like

the birds themselves, the

cup-shaped nest is well hidden,

hanging from a fork of a horizontal
branch 5 to 10 feet above the ground.
Using grasses, rootlets, bark strips,

and paper, the female builds the nest

in about 5 days, after which she lays
4 white, slightly spotted eggs and
then incubates them for 12 to 14
days. In another 10 to 12 days, the

young leave the

nest.

a harsh, nasal nyeah.

Behavior:

How
Difficult to locate in

dense foliage, the red-eyed vireo

throws its voice like a ventriloquist.

Habitat: Open deciduous

to attract: Offer moving

water in a wooded backyard habitat
planted with native deciduous trees.

forests of

the eastern United States with thick

understories of saplings.

Natural food:

Insects gleaned in

the foliage of deciduous trees, includWinter

Breeding

ing

and

some harmful

to the trees.

Moths

caterpillars are favorite foods.

All year

Yellow Warbler

Dendroica petechia
Identification: The male yellow
warbler

is

a 5-inch-long, bright yel-

low bird with an olive yellow back

and red breast streaks. The female
is

Natural food: Exclusively insects,

including many destructive ones,
and

their larvae.

Nest:

similar but duller, lacking the

streaking.

Either by itself or in a loose

colony, the yellow warbler builds

its

ground

in

nest 3 to 8 feet above the

Voice: The cheerful song of the male

the upright fork of a shrub or briar.

yellow warbler

The female completes

is

a series of sweet,

ending with I'm

or alarm note is a

sweet, sweet notes

sweet.

The

simple

call

so

chip.

Behavior: The yellow warbler

common

is

victim of the brown-headed

How

its own; but the yellow

warbler simply builds more nest on
top to cover the cowbird eggs. As

cially

many

as six stories of nest have been

found covering cowbird eggs.

Winter
Breeding
All year

48

Garden Guest

List

and then incubates them for 11 or 12

days. Young fly at 9 to 12 days.

cowbird, which tosses out the warbler's eggs and replaces them in the
nest with

Habitat: Hedges, roadside

thickets,

stream banks, and garden shrubbery.

the nest in

about 4 days with plant down, hair,

and grasses. She lays 4 or 5 bluish
white eggs with brown markings

to attract: Running water

will attract yellow warblers, espe-

near willows. They nest in

multiflora roses

shrubbery

and other thick

West, where there

(in the

deciduous forest, they demature streamside

woods).
is little

pend

greatly on

Pine Warbler
Identification: The
pine warbler

is

and yellow on

Dendroica pinus
male
above

5 :-inch

olive green

the throat

with dark streaks on

and breast

spots on the corners of the

large for a warbler

male

is

and

weed
and spider webs is
built 30 to 50 feet above the ground
on top of a horizontal pine limb. The
warbler's nest of pine needles,

Its bill is

The

its size.

the pine

It

tail,

yellow line above each eve.

fruits.

Nest: Completely hidden,

has
prominent white wing bars, white
sides.

its

with seeds, berries, and other wild

stems, bark strips,

fe-

4 speckled white eggs are incubated

similar to the male, but

by the female and perhaps bv the

male for about 14 davs.

duller below.

Voice: The male pine warbler's song

a musical trill on one note. The
alarm call is a lisping drip.

HoiC

to attract: Groves of pine

is

attract these birds. Also, as a

popular

feeding station visitor in the South-

Behavior: Pine warblers

are

among

the few warbler species that remain

in the

United States throughout the

year.

east during the winter, the pine war-

bler will eat bird cakes

made

of suet,

cornmeal, and peanut butter. Water

attracts

it

for

drinking and bathing.

Habitat: Open pine woodland.

Natural food:

Insects associated

Winter
Breeding
All year

with pine woodland, supplemented

Scarlet Tanager
Identification: The
liant

Pimnga

7-inch, bril-

red scarlet tanager male has

glossy black wings and

tail

and no

Females and immature birds

and males in winter have dull
green backs, yellow bellies, and
crest.

blackish wings and

Voice: Sounding

tails.

like

an American

robin with a sore throat, the male

scarlet tanager sings a series of 4 or 5

hoarse, caroling notes, queer-it, queeer,

queer-it, queer. Its call is chip-churr.

Behavior: Male

oiivacea

gers forage both in the trees in

which

thev sing and nest and on the

ground beneath.

Nest:

Well out on a limb, 8 to 75

above the ground, the female
scarlet tanager builds a flat nest cup
of twigs and rootlets lined with fine
grasses. She then lays 3 to 5 pale blue
or green eggs spotted with brown.
She alone incubates the eggs, for 13
or 14 days, but both parents feed the
young during the 2 weeks they refeet

main

in the nest.

scarlet tanagers ar-

rive at their breeding territory several

How

to attract:

Tall

deciduous

days before the females. They sing

from the tallest trees to attract fe-

trees help attract these birds. Scarlet

males and defend their

with peanut butter and suet. They

will also bathe and drink water from

turf.

Habitat:

In summer, thick groves of

deciduous and coniferous trees,
parks, and suburban backyards.

Natural food:
other

fruits,

and

Insects, berries

tanagers will eat cornmeal mixed

backyard ponds.
Winter
Breeding
All year

and

seeds. Scarlet tana-

Garden Guest

List

49

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana
Identification: With a beautiful
red head and face, a yellow body,
and black wings marked with 2
prominent white or yellowish bars,
the 7-inch western tanager male is a
striking bird. Males in winter, and
females

are dull olive green

all year,

Habitat: Coniferous and pine-oak

forests.

Natural food: Mostly

and other

berries

Nest: The western

the

bars.

branch in a pine,

Behavior: These
high West spend

quiet birds of the

much

of their time

in the tops of trees, often

same perches
time. Though

on the

for long periods of

the birds blend into

making them difficult

you can locate singing males

tanager's nest

is

usually saddled 20 to 30 feet above

above and yellow below, with wing

Voice: The hoarse, robinlike song of

the male is sung in 2 or 3 liquid
phrases. Its call or alarm is pit-trick.

insects with

fruits.

ground

The

tree.

in the fork of a horizontal

fir,

oak, or aspen

cup

loosely built

flat,

niferous twigs

with hair and

and

of co-

rootlets is lined

The 3

rootlets.

to 5

spotted bluish green eggs are incu-

bated by the female for 13 days. Both

parents feed the young.

How
and
ers.

to attract: Offer citrus

its juice,

also

fruit

hummingbird

feed-

During migration, these birds

their habitat,
to see,

by searching

Winter
Breeding
All year

Northern Cardinal

in the direction of their

with a patch of black

at the

its conical red bill and a

prominent crest that it can raise or
lower for effect. The attractive female is the same shape, but in yellow

base of

tan

plumage accented with red

crest, tail, and bill.

Voice: The male's

ivhat-cheer,

cheer, birdie, birdie, birdie

but more
call is a

softly.

harsh

song

whatis

a wel-

Their forceful alarm

chip.

Behavior: Northern
their heavy,

sharp

cardinals use

bills to

Habitat: Thickets,

Garden Guest

List

bery.

Natural food: Seeds

in winter; a

variety of beetles, cicadas,

during

insects

warm

when

and other

months; and the

fruits of trees, shrubs,

and vines

available.

Nest: The northern

cardinal hides

its

deep thicket, generally no higher

than 10 feet above the ground. The
female lines the nest with fine

and hair, sometimes assisted

by the male. The 3 or 4 bluish or
greenish white eggs blotched with
grasses

brown spots are incubated by the female, and occasionally by the male,
for 12 or 13 days. The young fly
about 12 days after hatching.

How
forest edges,

suburban hedges, and garden shrub-

pines.

crack

seeds.

50

tall

in a

come sound at any time of the year.

The female may call the same notes,

reedin]

nest in

bulky nest of twigs, vines, and leaves

wings,

Ul yeai

may

Cardinalis cardinalis

liant red

they

songs.

Identification: The spectacular

8-inch northern cardinal male is bril-

Winter

feed in western flowering eucalyptus;

to attract: Northern cardi-

nals are fond of sunflower seeds,

cracked corn, and safflower seeds.

will also bathe and drink from

They

garden ponds.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Identification: A heavy, conical
and the male's rosy red bib give

bill

the 8-inch rose-breasted grosbeak

name. The male

is

its

strikingly pat-

terned in black and white with a

heart-shaped red bib and a creamcolored

is

His flashy

bill.

flight pattern

highlighted by pink underwing

linings.

The female

is

dramatically

with brown and white stripes

and a white line above the eye.
duller,

Voice: The male's song resembles

American robin, only

that of the

richer

and more melodious. The

alarm note

is

beautifully appear to be devoted

and

visit

and gardens
surrounded by mature woods.

as well as backyards

Natural food:
seeds,

and

Tree blossoms,

insects in

deciduous

treetops.

Nest: The usual

nesting

rose-breasted grosbeak

site of

is

10 to 15

above the ground in the fork of a

deciduous tree or shrub. The flimsy
nest of sticks isn't dense enough to
mask the 4 pale green, brownblotched eggs when viewed from the
ground. Both parents incubate for 12
feet

to 14 days, often singing as they

loud chink.

Behavior: Rose-breasted grosbeaks

are quiet birds of summer that sing
mates,

Pheucticus ludovicianus

feeders throughout

on the nest. Young

days of age.

How

fly at

sit

to attract: Plant shrubs and

trees that

produce flowers and ber-

ries or other fruit. Offer

the breeding season.

about

sunflower
Winter
Breeding
All year

seeds and a birdbath.

Habitat: Mature deciduous woodland, swamp borders, and orchards,

Black-headed Grosbeak
Identification: The 7-inch blackheaded grosbeak male has a conical
bill. Patterned in rich orange and
black, it has a black head and black
and white wings. The female is a
warm brown with black and white
head

stripes.

Pheucticus melanocephalus

Natural food: Seeds and buds

pines and other

and

trees,

wild

berries; also the insects

the trees

where

Nest: Placed 4

of

fruits,

found

in

the birds live.

to 12 feet

high in the

fork of a small tree, the bulky nest of

and grass stems is

by the female black-headed
grosbeak. The 3 or 4 pale green eggs,
dotted with brown, are incubated 12
twigs, rootlets,

Voice: The song of the black-headed

grosbeak is a rich version of the
American robin's, with more trilling
notes and more abrupt phrases.

Behavior: Male black-headed

beaks arrive

grounds

When

at their

week

gros-

before females.

the females arrive, males be-

from

The

of the nest about

12 days after hatching.

breeding

hovering flight (otherwise, most singis

or 13 days by both parents.

young birds are out

gin their courtship, singing during

ing

built

high perch).

How

to attract: Besides relishing

sunflower and other seeds, black-

headed grosbeaks are fond of a variand deciduous trees

and shrubs.
ety of coniferous

Habitat: Second growth deciduous

and coniferous forests, willow and
cottonwood thickets, orchards, and
western backyards and gardens
where mature woodland prevails.

Garden Guest

List

51

IndigO Bunting

Passerina cyanea
Identification: In some light conditions, the plumage of the 5'/2-inch
male indigo bunting looks black, but
its usual appearance is deep indigo
blue. The female looks so different in
her plain brown plumage that she
doesn't even appear to be of the
same species.
Voice: The male's song of summer
a lazily unfolding
sweet; zee, zee;

alarm note

is

rhythm

is

sweet,

The

seer, seer; sip, sip.

on the

arrives

breeding grounds in spring and defends

its

and
where undergrowth

Borders, edges,

brushy clearings

come

for thistle (niger),

and they

summer breeding season,

Weedy
wooded gardens and anlove birdbaths.

nual and perennial seeds also attract

them.

lush.

Passerina ciris

Among

most

the

porting vegetation 3 to 6 feet above

a green back.
is

The female

rump

of this

a very plain green

Behavior: Despite

its

gaudy ap-

pearance, the male painted bunting

blends amazingly well in the lush

vegetation in

defends

its

which

territory

it

Habitat: Brushy

lives.

The bird

with surprising

aggression for a bird

its size.

fields,

to sup-

the ground in a small tree or shrub.

The 3 or 4 pale white eggs spotted
with reddish brown are incubated by
the female alone for 11 or 12 days.

Voice: From a high, visible perch,

the male painted bunting sings its
bright and pleasant warbling song.
The alarm note of the species is a
single sharp chip.

All year

cup

attaches her shallow nest

painted bunting male has a violet

above and lemon below.

Winter
Breeding

Nest: The female painted bunting

beautifully colored of birds, the

5!4-inch species

roadside

hedges, fencerows, and thickets in

southern backyards and gardens.

Natural food: Seeds and

foraged for on the ground.

List

to attract: These avid seed

eaters will

edges of

Habitat:

and

Garden Guest

leave.

during the

blue head, red underparts and

How

young

after

Identification:

52

she alone incubates the 3 or 4 pale

bluish white eggs for 12 or 13 days.

summer

singing.

Painted Bunting

shrub or small
above the
ground, is the usual site where the
female indigo bunting carefully
weaves her nest of grasses, bark
strips, and weeds. She lines the nest
with fine grasses and rootlets, and
of a

cracked sunflower seed, or millet

their

and

feet

with

most other birds have stopped

is

Nest: The crotch

tree, some 2 to 12

territory vigorously

singing late into the

Winter
Breeding
All year

Insects, berries,

seeds.

In another 10 days the

a simple sick.

Behavior: The male

Natural food:

insects,

When young

leave the nest at 2

weeks of age, the female continues

feed them while gathering nesting

to

material for her next brood.

How

to attract: Though

many

painted buntings leave the country

during the winter months, many oth-

remain and are faithful visitors to

gardens in the Southeast where they
find seeds to eat and pools for bathers

ing and drinking.

RllfoHSSided Toivhee

Pipilo

erythrophthalmm

Identification: Slightly smaller

and more slender than an American

Habitat:

robin, the 8-inch rufous-sided tow-

land,

hee male is mostly black with a

white belly and reddish flanks.

wings and outer tail

feathers flashes in flight. The female
is brown where the male is black. In
most regions, both sexes have red

White on

Thickets, hedgerows,

fencerows, chaparral, brushy

and the shrubbery

yards and gardens.

Natural food:

wood-

of back-

Insects, spiders,

its

and other organisms found

under the dead leaves of a thicket;
also berries and other fruits found
snails,

on or near the ground.

eyes.

Voice: The familiar spring song of

the male rufous-sided towhee is
drink your teeeee. The alarm call of the
che-wink. (In the West, the

species

is

song

a long, ringing cheeee, the

is

alarm

call

a whining, descending

neyyyea.)

Nest: The female rufous-sided towhee spends about 5 days building her
bulky leaf and twig nest, on or near
the ground. After lining it with fine
grasses and hair, she will lay 3 to 5

cream-colored eggs with reddish

spots and incubate them for 12 or 13
days.

Behavior:

If

der a shrub,

it

you hear something

thrashing around in dead leaves uncould be a rufous-

sided towhee searching for food.

American

Tree

The young remain

How

to attract: Towhees will eat

They are also attracted to ponds,

tangles, and thickets near woods.

Sparrow

spizeiia arborea

Habitat:

brick red cap

States

is

likely to

within

its

range,

be a chipwinter

54). In

it is

more

likely to

be the 6-inch American tree sparrow.

Marked with a black dot in the center of its breast (unlike the

chipping

sparrow) and a bill that is dark

above and light below, both male

and female look

alike.

Voice: Males tune up their cheerful,

trilling song in spring before heading
to their breeding grounds in the far
North. Otherwise, a simple teesip
note is uttered by the species.

Behavior: Misnamed "tree" sparrow because it looks like the tree

sparrow of Europe, the American
tree sparrow actually spends most of
its time on the ground.

Winter
Breeding
All year

birdseed and suet from a tray feeder.

Identification: If its summer, the

little sparrow on the ground with a
ping sparrow (page

in the nest

for 10 to 12 days.

In winter, this species mi-

grates south to the eastern United

and southern Canada, where

it

brushy fields, in fencerows,

and around backyard feeders.
lives in

Natural food:

In winter, the seeds

of weeds, grasses,

and

crops; in

sum-

mer, also insects and berries.

Nest: The female builds a nest

grass and moss on or near the

of

ground, then lays 3 to 5 pale greenish white eggs with brown speckles.

She incubates them for 12 or 13 days,

and the young leave the nest about
10 days after hatching, before they
can fly.

How

to attract: Offer birdseed

mixtures with red and white millet.

The American

tree

sparrow

likes

weedy garden edges and seeds

Winter
Breeding
BH All year

of

GB

annuals and perennials.

Garden Guest

List

53

Chipping SparrOW

Spizella passerina

Identification: The 5-inch sparrow with brick red cap, warm brown
back, and light underside that feeds
on the ground in your garden is
most likely a chipping sparrow.
Check for a white line above a black
runs through the eye. Juveniles have streaky brown caps and
line that

striped underparts (in winter

all

birds resemble immature birds with-

out breast streaking). The two sexes

look

alike.

Voice: Its song is an insectlike

alarm call is a simple tsip.

trill.

Natural food: Mostly grass and

weed seeds, but also many insects
during summer months.
Nest: The female builds her nest of
fine grasses and weed stalks 3 to 10
above the ground, usually in a
it with fine
grasses and hair, sometimes human
hair. The 4 bluish green eggs with
dark blotches are incubated by the
female for 11 to 14 days while her
mate feeds her on the nest. The
young fly at about 1 V2 weeks of age.
feet

small conifer; she lines

Its

How

Behavior: This common ground

sparrow is tame and quiet, at home

white millet and cracked corn, also

even

at the

back door.

Habitat: On
around towns,

Weedy garden edges

tractive, as are

the ground in and

villages, farms,

water.

to attract: Offer red and

and

are

at-

small seeds of annuals

perennials.

and

pine plantations.
Winter
Breeding
All year

Song SparrOW

Melospiza melodia
Identification: Most widespread
of all North American sparrows,
the 6-inch song sparrow has a brown
back and a heavily streaked breast
with a large central breast spot.
Male and female look alike. The 30
or so recognized subspecies vary in
coloration.

Natural food:

Insect matter for-

aged from the ground; also a variety

of seeds, berries, and other fruits.

Nest: The well-hidden ground

of the song

sparrow

is

built

nest

by the

female in 5 to 10 days, using grasses,

weed

stems,

and leaves and a lining

and hair. The

of fine grasses, rootlets,

Voice: The song sparrow's song on

first warm day of spring is a
most welcome sound. It begins with
the

two ringing

notes, sweet, sweet,

and

then launches into a jumble of various tones. The song sparrow's call or
alarm note is a loud chimp.

3 to 5 greenish white eggs, heavily

dotted reddish brown, are incubated

by the female

for 12 or 13 days. The

youngsters are out of the nest, often

before they can fly in about 10 days.

How

to attract: Offer birdseed at

ground

Winter
Breeding
All year

Garden Guest

List

and

tractive are thickets,

vary in other behavior and in voice.

ducing plants).

Habitat: On

or near the ground

where there is an abundance of natural cover, on farms and in cities and

suburbs.

54

feeders,

Behavior: Tail dipping is common

among song sparrows, but subspecies

water. Also at-

brush

piles,

and

tangles (especially moist berry-pro-

Sparrow

WJiite-throated
Identification: As

row has

its

name

indi-

white-throated spar-

cates, the 6-inch

a white throat, but

it

also

has a white-and-hlack-striped crown,

a yellow patch in front of its eve, a

brown back, and a gray

Male and female look the
same. Immature birds have tan-andstreaked

breast.

brown-striped crowns.

Voice: The white-throated sparrow's

familiar song
body, peabody

old

sam

peabody, pea-

can be heard from

winter into spring. The

the species

is

late

note of

call

zonotrichia aibkoius

eastern backyards

and gardens dur-

ing migrations.

Natural food: Weed

seeds and the

and shrubs, for which
it forages on the ground in thickets;
insects and other animal matter
fruits of trees

when

available.

Nest: White-throated sparrows nest

on or close to the ground under
brush piles or fallen trees. The female builds a grass nest and lines it
with pine needles and bark fibers for
the 3 to 5 cream-colored eggs, heavily

a forceful chink.

dotted with brown. She incubates the

Behavior:

scratcher, the gregari-

ous white-throated sparrow is usually found or heard in thickets as it

scratches up snow or dead leaves in
search of food.

eggs for 12 to 14 days. Young leave

the nest at about 10 days

few days

to fly a

How

and learn

later.

to attract: In the East, offer

red and white millet and cracked

Habitat: Undergrowth and edges

of fields and forests in the East, and

Winter
reeding
All year

corn on or near the ground to attract

white-throated sparrows during migrations.

White-crowned Sparrow

zonotrkMa leucophrys

Identification: The rather large

(6'/2-inch) white-crowned sparrow

breeding grounds (some subspecies

has a high, puffy white-and-black-

ranges and along the West Coast).

striped crown, pale throat, gray

This bird

breast,

and brown streaked back.

pink or yellow

bill is

Its

another identi-

fying mark. Both sexes look alike;

young birds have tan-and-brownstriped crowns.

nest in United States

Voice: The

two notes

first

of the

Its call

or alarm

Behavior:

is

smart

In winter,

when

most often seen, these birds

flocks of 6 to 15 in the East

many

trill.

Nest:

nest of the white-crowned sparrow

and

as

as 200 in the West.

fields,

Natural food:
on

is

the female of fine twigs,

and

feathers

and then lined

with hair and feathers. The female

incubates the 4 or 5 eggs, pale green-

numerous reddish spots, for

The young are out of

2 days.

the nest in another 10 days.

How

to attract: During migrawhite-crowned sparrows will

stop for birdseed on or near the

forest

and backyards.

Seeds, sprouts,

and

other plant material, as well as insects,

grasses,

tions,

edges, clearings, brushy burns, chap-

weedy

by

about
they are

dense

live in

Habitat: Alpine meadows,

arral,

Set into a matting of

vegetation on or near the ground, the

ish with

seet.

found scratching vigor-

ously for food under leaves or snow.

built

white-crowned's song are sad

whistles, followed by a jumbled

is

mountain

ground. They relish weed seeds

any habitat.

in
Winter
Breeding
All year

>\

their principal subarctic

A Garden

Guest List

55

Dark-eyed JuttCO

Junco hyemalis
Identification: Sometimes

called

the "snowbird," the 6-inch dark-eyed

junco

is slate

gray with a white belly

and white outer

tail feathers.

The

western form has a black head and

brown back and wings. Male and
female are similar, but immature

Natural food:
sprouts; in

Seeds, buds*

summer,

insects

and

found

in

coniferous forests.

Nest: Under an overhang of tree

roots or a road embankment, the
dark-eyed junco conceals

its

nest of

and mosses lined

plant materials and hair.

grasses, rootlets,

birds are lighter in

color.

with finer

Voice: The dark-eyed junco's musical spring trill is monotonous. Its

winter call, tic, is heard often.

Behavior: Dark-eyed
for
eas.

juncos forage

seeds on the ground in open ar-

for

the female nest builder; she incu-

bates her 4 or 5 pale gray eggs,

marked with heavy reddish dots, for

12 or 13 days. Young leave the nest at
about 2 weeks of age.

They're gregarious in winter,

usually living in loose-knit flocks.

Habitat: Thickets and edges

of co-

niferous woodland, mixed forests,

and, in winter, backyards and gar-

dens across the continent.

How

to attract: Offer red and

white

millet,

cracked corn, and other

small grains on or near the ground.

Conifers are attractive, as are

weedy

edges and seeds of annuals and perennials.

Winter
Breeding
All year

Red-winged Blackbird

The male helps carry materials

AgeMus phoenkeus
Identification: This 9-inch black,
bird with a red and yellow chevron
on each wing is one of the most
widespread and best-known birds on
the continent. Females are quite different in their sparrowlike

striped plumage.

Young

brown-

birds re-

Natural food:

Three-quarters

vegetable matter (cultivated grains,

weed

seeds, and fruits), the rest animal matter (insects, spiders, mollusks, and snails).

Nest:

In loose colonies, female red-

wings build nests amidst

semble females.

cattails,

and
The nests

reeds, grasses, cultivated crops,

Voice: The kong-ga-ree song of the

male redwing heralds spring from
still-frozen marshes across the North.
The birds' chink call or alarm note
sounds quite demanding.

Behavior: Male redwings

their

arrive at

breeding grounds before the

females, set

up

territories,

and de-

fend them vigorously against other

males. If there is a surplus of females, males

Winter
Breeding
All year

56

Garden Guest

List

may be polygamous.

Habitat: Fresh and saltwater

marshes; swamps; wet meadows,
pastures,

and roadside

ditches.

shrubs, usually near water.

are constructed of grasses, sedge

and rushes bound to living

and lined with fine
grasses. The 3 or 4 pale blue eggs,
scrawled in brown and purple, are
incubated by the female for 10 to 12
days. The young climb out of the
nest in about 10 days and then learn
leaves,

vegetation

to

fly.

How

to attract: Cracked corn ofany kind of bird feeder, but

fered in

preferably a tray, will attract red-

winged blackbirds, even while they

are nesting nearby.

Meadoivlark (Eastern

shown

is

10-inch birds with short

tails,

falling

Nest: The

songs can one

between the two
meadowlarks. The westerns song is
their

3 to 5 spotted white eggs are incu-

melodious, with a flutelike babbling

bated by the female for 13 to 15 days;

and gurgling; the eastern's is a more

homogeneous, plaintive whistling.
The westerns call is a sharp chuck,

both sexes bring food

who

of both spefrom fence posts or utility

mowed
grass

territories;

young,

to attract: Backyards with

prairielike conditions

Behavior: The males

to the

leave the nest in about 2 weeks.

How

the easterns a buzzing dzrrl.

may be polygamous.

nests of both species are

ground depressions in
grassy fields. The female alone
builds the nest in about a weeks
time, using dried grass and topping
the structure with a domed roof. The

easily differentiate

they

The

located in

equally colorful.

wires within their nesting

grain.

ping.

from the throat onto the yelMale and female are

cies sing

and

birds forage by walking, not hop-

breast.

Voice: Only by

mead-

Insects (three-

quarters of their diet)

long

distinguished by a dramatic black

low

Natural food:

and buff brown backs, both are

bills,

fields,

ows, and prairies.

Chunky

at right).

Sturnella magna, Sturnella neglecta

Habitat: Open grassy

Identification: Though separate

species, the two meadowlarks are
virtually identical in appearance (a
western

& Western)

lawns and

may

large,

un-

fields of short

attract

meadowlarks
sites and grain.

searching for nesting

Females

are very secretive.

Western

Common

Grackle

Identification:

Quiscalus quiscula

12-inch-long

Natural food:

Insects,

earthworms,

glossy black bird with a purple,

salamanders, mice, the eggs and

bronze, and greenish cast, the com-

young of smaller birds, and the nuts

and seeds of trees, shrubs, and crops.

mon
tail,

grackle has a long, keel-shaped

a long

female

is

bill,

and yellow

less glossy

eyes.

The

than the male.

Nest: Most
30 pairs,

Voice: The male's song

chu-seek that

sounds

swinging on

its

when

a rasping

like a rusty gate

hinges;

the bird ruffles

display for a female.

is

it

its

is

uttered

feathers in

Its call is

a shrill

chuck.

Behavior: During winter and migration,

common

grackles gather

with European starlings, red-winged

and brown-headed cowhuge flocks that roost toand sometimes disturb

blackbirds,

birds in

gether

people living nearby.

Habitat:

Cities,

suburbs, farmland,

pine plantations, and marshes.

Eastern

much
trees,

often in colonies of 20 to

common

grackles nest as

as 60 feet above the

ground

in

usually coniferous. The female

builds a bulky nest of grasses, debris,

and sometimes mud, then

lines

with grasses, feathers, and debris;

the task takes her about 1 1 days to
complete. The 5 pale greenish white
it

eggs, scrawled with

brown and

purple, are incubated by the female

for 11 or 12 days.

Young can

fly at

about 2 weeks.

How

to attract: Though unpopuwith some people, common

grackles will come for birdseed (parlar

ticularly cracked corn)

spring and

and

suet in
Winter
Breeding
All year

fall.

Garden Guest

List

57

Brown-headed Cowbird

Moiothrus ater

Identification: The 7-inch male

brown-headed cowbird has a chocolate

brown head,

and

a conical

body,

a glossy black

bill.

The female looks

completely different, with mouse

gray plumage and a lighter throat.

Immature birds are paler than females and have heavily streaked
underparts.

and

insects, grains,

Nest: Cowbirds build no

as 20 grayish white eggs

many

marked

with brown dots in the nests of other

birds. She removes an egg from each
"host" bird's nest and replaces

a series of

is

the nestling cowbird

the expense of

The

may be pushed

note

Behavior:

nests. In-

stead, the female distributes as

high-pitched, watery, bubbly notes.

call

of

berries.

it

with her own. The host then raises

Voice: The male's song

is

chuck.

its

sometimes

own

at

young, which

out, smothered, or

starved by competition from the

cow-

In spring, a female

bird attracts an entourage of 3 to 5

larger cowbird chick.

can procure

fore she selects the host nests into

How

which she

show up with

will lay her eggs (see

its

own

forest edges,

swamps, open

and suburban

fields,

foster parit

food.

to attract: Cowbirds often

other blackbirds and

will eat cracked corn

Habitat: Farmland,

The

ents rear the alien youngster until

male suitors, all displaying for her

and attempting to mate with her be-

"Nest," at right).
Winter
Breeding
All year

Natural food: A combination

and

millet.

backyards.

Northern Oriole

icterus gaibuia

Identification: The brilliant orange and black male of the eastern

Natural food:
trees

where they

race of the northern oriole (the Balti-

fruit,

including cherries and citrus.

more

oriole)

has a

jet

black head. But

the western male has a black crown,

orange cheeks, and an orange line
above the eye. Females have olive

brown backs and

are burnt orange

(eastern) or gray (western) below.

These birds are 7Vi

to SVi inches long.

Voice: The song

a series of dis-

is

jointed, flutelike whistles.

The

call is

58

Garden Guest

List

in the

orioles build

hang-

ing basketlike nests 6 to 60 feet above

ground

and
The female spends 4 to 8
days weaving a deep pouch attached
by its rim to drooping branches; the
nest is lined with hair, wool, and fine
grasses. The 4 pale greenish eggs,
the

apple

in elms, willows,

trees.

scrawled with brown, are incubated

by the female

Behavior: Male northern

another 2 weeks, the young are on

the wing.

orioles

for 12 to 14 days. In

days before the females to begin

singing and defending their territo-

How

ries against other orioles.

grapefruit halves.

Habitat: Orchards and shade

Winter
Breeding

found

also the tree

a two-part, chattering hue-lee.

arrive at their nesting sites a few

All year

Nest: Northern

Insects
live;

trees.

to attract: Northern orioles

from orange or
They also drink
sugar water from hummingbird feeders and splash and drink at birdbaths. They nest in tall poplars, willows, and cottonwoods.
will sip the juices

PllVple Finch

Carpodacus purpureas

Identification: Raspberry

is

closer

than purple to the true color of the 6-

Most of the
coloration is concentrated around the
head, upper parts, and breast; the
belly and undertail coverts are white.
Females and young birds resemble
large, heavily striped brown sparinch male purple finch.

rows. Both sexes have deeplv

notched

Natural food: The

seeds of trees

and shrubs in winter; also some

sects from the coniferous forests
which it lives.

Nest:

in-

in

Invariably, the female purple

finch builds her nest 5 to 60 feet

above the ground on the horizontal

limb of a conifer. The neatly built

cup

of twigs, grasses,

and weed

tails.

and
The female alone incubates the

stems

Voice: The fast and lively warble of

the male purple finch usually repeats
each note in the series. The call or
alarm note is a quick pik.

Behavior: Purple

finches spend the

winter in large flocks, wandering

ther south in years

when food

far-

is

scarce in their coniferous forest

breeding grounds.

Habitat: Coniferous
plantations,

forests,

hair.

is

lined with fine grasses

3 to 5 greenish spotted eggs for 13

The young leave

days.

in

about 2

weeks.

How

to attract: Sunflower seeds,

in the shell
ite

and cracked, are a

favor-

food. Purple finches are lured by

moving water, also berries, fruits, and

buds of deciduous trees. Conifers attract them for nesting.

Winter
Breeding
All year

pine

and suburban backyards

where evergreens are prominent.

H.OUS6 rlftch

Carpodacus mexicanus

Identification: More heavily

Natural food: Seeds

striped than the purple finch, the

shrubs, and crops.

6-inch male house finch has a

brownish cap but otherwise is
orange red on the head, bib, and
rump. Females and immature birds
are heavily streaked with brown and
have less of a facial pattern than

also fond of
been known

their

purple finch counterparts. The

tails of

both sexes are brown and

Voice: The

lively

warbling song of

The

call or

alarm

is

a sweet

cjueet.

damage

Nest: The female house

cup
above the ground
fully builds a

in or-

finch care-

of twigs 5 to 7 feet
in a natural cavity,

mailbox, building, birdhouse, or

The 4 or

5 sparsely dotted, pale

the female for 13 days while she

fed by the male,

food to

restricted to the

Southwest, the adaptable house finch

is thriving in the East after being re-

Long Island

leased on

Habitat:

in the 1920s.

her.

who

is

regurgitates

Young leave the nest

in

2 to 3 weeks.

How

Behavior: Once

to attract: House finches

are frequent patrons of feeders that

offer

sunflower and

thistle

seeds

or

birdseed mix. They consume a variety of seeds

plants, also

and berries from garden

unopened buds of fruit

Winter
Breeding
All year

great variety of habi-

from desert to open

farmland to towns.
tats,

cause

bluish green eggs are incubated by

both the male and female house

finch is uttered in phrases of three
notes.

to

chards.

vine.

squared.

of trees,

The house finch is

cultivated fruits and has

trees.

forests,

Garden Guest

List

59

Pine Siskin

Carduelis pinus
Identification: The small, brown,

nectar of tree blossoms found in

heavily streaked 5-inch pine siskin

their coniferous forest habitat.

has bright yellow in the wings and at

the base of the tail. Male and female

Nest: Often

nesting in loose colo-

female pine siskins conceal their

nests of twigs, mosses, and lichens 6
nies,

look

alike.

Voice: The pine siskin's song

somewhat insectlike, buzzing
that rises in pitch. Its call or

note

is

to 35 feet

alarm

is tsee-ee.

Behavior: A

shortage of tree seeds

in the northern forests will

siskins

southward

send the

to search for food.

Highly gregarious, they travel in

more than 100 birds, some-

The female incubates alone

ests; also

Winter
Breeding
All year

while the male feeds her on the nest.

The young fly in about 2 weeks.

leaves.

Habitat: Northern

coniferous for-

near backyard feeders.

Natural food: Seeds from

spruces,

firs,

and other

to attract: Put out

and watch

for flocks of

thistle

50 to 200.

Water, the catkins of alders,

trees

shrubs; also insects, tree

How

seeds and cracked sunflower seeds

pines,

and
sap, and

feathers are

used to line the nests. The female

lays one pale greenish blue egg a day
for 3 or 4 days, beginning incubation
with the first egg to reduce the risk
of freezing. The young hatch on consecutive days after 13 days of incubation.

times swirling into treetops like

and

rootlets, hair, fur,

flocks of

blown

above the ground on hori-

zontal branches of conifers. Mosses,

trill

the

and

the

conelike fruit of birches also appeal

to pine siskins.

American Goldfinch

carduelis tnstis
Identification: In summer, the
inch American goldfinch male is

5-

tables,

wing bars and a black cap, wings,

and tail. The female is olive yellow
with brownish black wings and tail
and white wing bars. In winter, both

and

summer

female,

but browner.

Voice: The sweet song of the male

American goldfinch is canarylike, rising and falling. The per-chick-a-ree
flight call is uttered with each undulation. The call is see-me.

Behavior: Gregarious most

60

Garden Guest

List

year,

available.

in late

summer

to co-

incide with maturing thistles, the fe-

male goldfinch builds a tight, dense

cup of vegetable fibers lined with
thistledown and cattail down, choosing a site 4 to 14 feet above the
ground in an upright fork of a tree.
The male feeds the female through
the 12- to 14-day incubation of their

4 to 6 pale bluish white eggs. Both

tated, partially digested

the 2

birds in winter.

How
farmland,

and sub-

and

seeds during

weeks the youngsters are

nest.

fencerows, groves, villages,

throughout the

when

Nest: Nesting

summer, dozens and even hundreds of

urban backyards.

trees

parents feed their offspring regurgi-

loose flocks of several pairs in

fields,

and

insects

of the

year, these "wild canaries" live in

Habitat: Open

of thistles,

dandelions, goldenrods, weeds, vege-

bright canary yellow with white

sexes look like the

Winter
Breeding
All year

Natural food: Seeds

in the

to attract: Offering water

thistle

and/or sunflower seeds

likely to attract goldfinches

out the year.

is

through-

Evening Grosbeak
Identification: The chunky, 8-inch
evening grosbeak male has a large,
conical

bill,

brown with

their

Natural food:

pale in color. Yellow

Primarily seeds and

buds of both coniferous and deciduous trees, as well as berries and

a darker head, he has a

other fruits; also insects associated

and black and white

wings. The female is silvery cream
with black and cream wings. Both
sexes look flashy in flight due to

short black

Coccotitraustes vespertinus

tail

white secondary

with their habitat.

Nest: The female evening grosbeak

builds a fragile nest of twigs and

mosses, lined with

above the ground

to 60 feet

The 3 or 4

Voice: Noisy birds, the evening

grosbeaks chip and chirp and clee-ip
constantly. The male's song is a lively

blotched with

but disjointed warble.

days.

Behavior:

fer.

in a coni-

clear blue eggs,

brown and

purple, are

incubated by the female for 12 to 14

for

The young remain in the nest

about 2 weeks.

In the wintertime, eve-

ning grosbeaks are gregarious birds

that will fly

some 20

rootlets,

flight feathers.

southward

flocks to search for food

if

How

to attract: Sunflower seeds

in the shell are very

in large

the seeds

mav be consumed

popular and

in great quantity

with trays or

of coniferous trees are scarce in the

at stationarv feeders

North.

sturdy perches. These birds also

Habitat: Northern
ests

like

i Winter

and drink at ponds and to

eat the winged pods of such deciduous trees as maple and box elder.
to bathe

coniferous for-

and mixed woodland.

Breeding

W?

V\

HotlSe SparrOW

sparrows were once thought

Voice: A noisy, chattering bird, the

house sparrow twitters and chips
most of the time but has no real

huge

song.

hind loose boards or shutters on a

building. The 5 heavily spotted white

Really a weaver

a sparrow, this species

duced

into

was

and not

intro-

North America more than

a century ago. Since then

it

are found in

many

other parts of the world as well.

Habitat:
and farms.

to con-

They thrived
when horses were the primary mode
destructive insects.

trol

of transportation, ensuring an abun-

dance of grain and seed from

Nest: As

is

typical of weavers, a

pair of house sparrows builds

ball nest of grass,

trash,
ity

straw.

open on one

its

weeds, and

side, inside a cav-

or birdhouse, on a

rafter,

or be-

eggs are incubated by the female for

12 or 13 days, and the

when

young leave

they are 15 to 17 days old.

has

spread throughout the continent.

House sparrows

Passer domesticus

Identification: In its breeding

plumage, the 6-inch male house
sparrow has a gray top, chestnut
nape, black bib, brown back, and
gray belly. Females and young birds
lack the black bib, and males in winter have less black.

Behavior:

All year

How
row
you

to attract: The house spar-

will

soon find you, especially

offer cracked corn, red

if

and

white millet, and other seeds.

Cities, villages,

Natural food: Mostly

suburbs,
Winter
Breeding
All year

vegetable

matter, despite the fact that

house

Garden Guest

List

61

As natural

to

gardens as flowers and

add music, color, and

graceful motion. Pausing on this
sheltered branch is a Carolina
chickadee (see page 38).

foliage, birds

-.

Your Yard
your garden

,f
it's

is

"squeaky clean,"

usually

not a paradise for birds. The impeccably manicured landscape

constantly raked,
offers

that

little to

mowed, pruned, and sprayed

for pests

The garden
far more likely to

attract birds, even less to hold their interest.

approximates a wild, natural environment

is

catch a bird's attention.

in

But don't assume that cutting back on maintenance must result

an untidy -looking garden. All you have to do is let nature take

the lead.

Choose plants

suit birds' needs.

Then

that will attract birds,

plants

let the

and arrange them

grow and mingle with

as

to

little

mind the ultimate sizes of

plants when you lay out your garden, and you will be able to respect
restrictive

pruning as

possible.

Keep

garden develops.

their natural grozvth habits as the

Any bird's

needs are simple,

ter (including nesting habitat),

garden can provide

it all.

No

if

in

not always easily met: food, shel-

and

water.

thoughtfully planned

single landscape will satisfy all needs

for all the species of birds that

may

be able to give birds a sense of

visit

it

but you

welcome and

to

certainly will

encourage greater

numbers and varieties of them to stop by. In this chapter, you'll read
about the basics of "birdscaping" a backyard habitat and learn which
plants are good choices for attracting birds to your own garden.

63

Creating a Habitat for Birds

How

can you turn your garden into a bird sanctu-

ary or habitat? The answer depends on your

garden's location

you hope

and the needs

of local birds that

support themselves in almost every imaginable habitat, natural

to attract. Bird species

and

trees.

smorgasbord of insects and other

flies,

portant dietary protein to

birds

consume

man-made. Still, to attract as great a number

and diversity as possible, plan to provide what
birds of your locality need.

all

Consider both residents and temporary visitors, and start by understanding the four essential
resources that a habitat provides food, water,

as mice.

some

species.

Some

insects year-round, while virtually

garden birds forage for them during the demanding breeding season when there are nestlings
to feed. Hawks and owls eat small animals, such

Don't forget water.

All birds need water, just as

shelter,

they need food. Water for drinking

to

cessity,

and a place to raise young. If you also plan

compensate for any scarcity in your area, you'll

in-

from earthworms and caterpillars to

aphids, and microscopic mites provides im-

or

vertebrates

shallow water for bathing.

a daily ne-

is

but almost equally important

is

the availa-

you provide a

greatly boost your yard's attractiveness to birds. In

bility of

where winters are

extremely cold and barren, food and shelter are

within quick reach of cover, you will have a pow-

the desert, water

critically

is

often scarce;

needed.

water source designed for birds and situated

erful

come such

it

ning a

for a

doesn't freeze in winter. Guidelines for planbird's

pool or birdbath are given on page 72.

fleshy fruits as cherries, holly berries,

and cane fruits like blackberry and raspberry.

Nuts acorns, for example are favored by some

sure

wide assortment of
Keep the water clean, and make

garden attraction

feathered friends.

Food. What birds eat from a garden habitat is a

broad spectrum of foods. Directly from plants

If

species, while a vast array of birds seek out seeds

of grasses, annuals, perennials,

and some shrubs

and cover. Birds rely on plants to provide

from the elements as well as cover from
predators. Shelter may mean relief from midday
sun or a place to roost for the night or it may
mean refuge from soaking rain, biting wind, or
freezing cold. Almost anything leafy will serve for
shade or an overnight stay, but it takes a heavier
canopy of foliage to shield against harsher eleShelter

shelter

ments.

Where winter lows drop to zero or below,

and shrubs are a

needle-leafed evergreen trees

must

for birds that stay in the area.

Even in milder
groups of dense, broadshrubs, and vines for shelter

climates, birds appreciate

leafed evergreen trees,

from rain and wind.

WW*W4l
64

Birdscaping Your Yard

Birds seek different kinds of cover depending

on which predators they're evading. Potential hawk
prey often find enough protection on a convenient
tree limb. Thick shrubbery provides a good hideaway from a feline hunter, as long as ifs open
enough for a quick entry by the bird yet dense
enough to foil or slow down the cat. (Be sure to
plant shrubs far enough away that they don't become the cat's cover for a sneak attack on the bird-

bath or feeder.)

Thorns

offer

ground

in grasses or under foliage. Some nest in

shrubbery at varying heights. Others prefer "highrise" accommodations, seeking out structural sites
that range from cavities in tree trunks to convenient nooks and ledges on buildings.

Some birds live and breed comfortably in

ban and suburban environments, while others

ur-

nest

remote areas, visiting a residential garden only

for food or water
or during migration. At nesting

in

some birds occupy a large territory, each pair

keeping away others of its kind (though not necestime,

any foliaged hideaway

Even better
grouping that approxi-

an asset

to

for birds, since they deter predators.

than a single shrub

is

sarily other species).

mates a natural thicket or tangle.

Nesting

sites. Birds

of housing as

use as

many

different styles

do humans. Some nest on the

77ws East Coast garden offers many inducements for birds in early autumn.
From left, cedar zvaxzvings dine on dogwood berries; more berries grow on evergreen holly, and tree sparrow perches on
seed-laden Pennisetum. Fading gloriosa

daisy attracts pine siskin as purple

finches dip in birdbath. Evening gros-

beaks snack at sunflower seed feeder

hung from red oak tree, and downy

woodpecker clings to suet feeder. Viburnum below tree and Euonymus alata in
background yield more food; blue spruce
branches offer refuge

if

needed.

Birdscaping Your Yard

65

Creating a Habitat for Birds

Limit lawns to small areas, placing mass

A richly varied birdscape

plantings of graduated trees and shrubs around

life, but also the key

widely appealing birdscape. The
landscaping trend toward design simplicity based
on repeated use of just a few different plants will
produce a habitat of limited practical value to
birds. Instead, aim for a smorgasbord effect.

Variety

is

not only the spice of

to planting a

accustomed

In nature, birds are

gling of diverse plants.

The

to the

if space permits, it helps

dense evergreen trees for
winter shelter. Ideally, these should grow at the
northern edge of the garden so as not to block
winter sun. But if trees won't suit your birdscaping
plans, consider a hedge of hemlock (Tsuga) to serve

In cold-winter regions,

min-

to include a stand of

greatest mixture of

where

bird species occurs in nature

different as-

sortments of plants meet in what savvy bird gar-

deners

call

"edges" or "ecotones." In a garden

means an arrangement of plants

birdscape, this
similar to

what occurs where a woodland makes

lawn perimeters. Shrubs that directly border the

lawn should branch low to the ground. If your
garden presently includes vast expanses of lawn,
consider breaking up the turf by planting islands
or groups of trees with shrubs at their bases.

meadow or grassland. Primary forest

gradually give way to shorter forest-edge,

the

transition to
trees

understory

trees,

which

in turn

merge with lower

shrubbery that rambles into a grassy clearing.

This "edge," whether natural or created, includes habitats for a

number

of different birds

those that prefer high tree canopies, those that

seek middle and lower

low

in grasses or

at all levels,

levels,

and those

that feed

on the ground. Some birds

flutter

singing at one height, nesting at an-

and feeding elsewhere.

other,

In contrast to a naturalistic "edge" effect, a

broad, carefully manicured lawn

is

usually the

garden feature for birds. There are a

few exceptions, such as the robins that hop across
after a rain shower in search of earthworms; but to
most birds, the expanse of closely cropped lawn
represents vulnerability to predators without
nearby cover to which they can quickly fly. In naleast attractive

ture, a grassy field at least offers a seasonal

lost to a

For a

well-groomed lawn.

more abundantly welcoming birdscape,

the following points guide your garden plan-

let

ning.

Then you can

fill

out your plan by selecting

specific plants.

Plant

some

or

trees

all

of the birdscape's border with

and shrubs are already

established).

Let large shade trees provide the canopy, while

Have shrubbery
form a bridge into open
space. In a small garden, it works just as well to
borrow from adjacent gardens by letting neighborshorter trees create an understory

emerge from the

trees to

ing trees serve as the canopy.

66

a "wild area"

if

you can spare a garden

corner just for the use of birds. Let grasses

grow

high to produce seeds, as well as a congenial

dining area for ground-feeding birds. Let a thorny,
dense shrub (such as Rosa multiflora) grow into a
tangled thicket for nesting and refuge. Also good
tangling are various brambles (Rubus) or let

at

vines scramble through and over massed

shrubbery.

If

a tree dies or

drops a limb,

wood decay naturally; birds

and may use it for nesting.

will savor

let

its

the

insects

Include a garden oasis, however small, where

water will be available to birds for drinking and

bathing (see page 72 for pointers and pages
106-108 for pools and birdbaths to build yourself).
Birds also benefit from dust baths, which help
them cleanse their feathers of parasites, so leave a
few patches of bare earth in protected places.

Planning, then planting

Whether you are starting from scratch or remodeling an existing yard, your project will be easier to
carry out if you sketch your property on graph
paper that will give you a scaled-down model of
exact dimensions.

varied trees and shrubs (or begin the garden

where

Allow

sheltering purpose.

ban-

quet of seeds, as well as shaggy concealment

bonuses

same

Birdscaping Your Yard

Draw in the outline of your house, as well as

outdoor structures such as patio, walks, and fencMark

locations of existing plants you want to

Note the property's physical character, such
as sloping or shady areas or changes in soil quality.
All these factors are likely to influence your plant
ing.

keep.

selection.

As you choose
start

on page

plants,

68, plus the

use the descriptions that

more

specific

list

for

vour region given on pages 81-83,

for guidance.

A Safe Route

good local nursery, arboretum, or botanic

garden to view plants and to see which species
and varieties are especially good for your area.
Visit a

Plants that are native to your locality are gen-

both easiest to care for and attractive to resiA garden that goes through seasonal
changes is also likely to appeal more both to you
erally

dent birds.

and

to birds.

flowers, fruit,

It

through the year in

while also giving birds a

offers variety

and

foliage,

A protective trail was planted between the neigh-

spectrum of foods and habitat conditions.

your climate is cold in winter, be sure to
clude plants that can provide food and shelter
If

birds

who

winter in the area.

mer and autumn

ripe,

Some

are greedily

but others are passed over

tastier choices. Later, in

fruits of

consumed

bor's

to

the kitchen

sum-

as soon as

initially in favor of

such plants as Berberis (barberrv), Cotoneaster, Crataegus (hawthorn), Ilex (holly), Juniperus (juniper),
Lonicera (honeysuckle), Mahonia,

Myrka

and Sorbus (mountain ash)

when it is most needed.

nourishment

willow tree (upper

in-

winter and early spring,

offer

JLhe garden shown in the

plan below hosts more than two dozen kinds of
birds by virtue of its thoughtful landscaping.

window

left)

and the feeders outside

(lower right). Ground-feeding

birds travel low along the route in dense shrubbery;

pine siskins, chickadees, and kinglets approach the

feeders via the sides

and tops of trees. Bushtits and

work the plants themselves,

various warblers, simply

ignoring the feeders.

(bayberry),

willow

Insects interest them, too

Though gardeners may

many birds know them

see insects as adversaries,

as food.

Some

birds, called

on insect life,
busily exploring every nook and cranny for beetles,
worms, flies, mosquitoes, and more even the eggs
of insects. When nestlings need food, the interest
insectivores, dine almost exclusively

Recirculating stream

pond

in protein-rich insects rises sharply.

You can't depend on birds to eliminate all

harmful insects from your garden but birds may
keep them at a tolerable level for the health and
appearance of your plants. Occasionally you may
need to combat an exploded population of a dam-

Feeders

aging insect (mites or scale, for example). Under

such circumstances, always choose the least toxic
spray option, follow directions to the letter, and
spray only infested plants (also see page 91).

Some

trees

and shrubs routinely

'----

<-

-. ''

attract insects

that will lure birds. Among trees are Acer (maple),

Alnus (alder), Be tula (birch), Cornus (dogwood),
Crataegus (hawthorn), Quercus (oak), and Rhamnus

(buckthorn). Insect-populated shrubs include

Arctostaphylos (manzanita), Cornus (dogwood),
Lonicera (honeysuckle),

and Rhamnus (buckthorn).

Eliminating pesticides from your garden will

increase

its

wholesome appeal

Landscape architect: Steve Lindjord.

to birds.

Birdscaping Your Yard

67

Trees
snowy

Many

winter.

scattered

birds relish seeds

when cones

ripen in spring and

turns red or yellow. These are light-

weight, forest-edge plants.

summer. Tall, spirelike firs prefer a cool,

moist atmosphere and clean air, are most
successful in northern states and southward in mountainous areas.

BETULA
BIRCH
Value

ACER

by: Bushtits, chickadees, finches

(including pine siskins), nuthatches, sapsuckers, towhees, woodpeckers.

MAPLE
Value

to birds: Buds, seeds, shelter.

Used

by: Finches, grosbeaks, orioles,

robins, vireos, warblers, waxwings.
Deciduous. Nearly
tering foliage,

ing in late

and

have dense, shel-

all
all

summer

bear seeds (ripen-

or early

fall)

pery casings. There are maples

all

climates, a range of sizes

Virtually

all

exhibit

in pafor

nearly

and shapes.

foliage color in

fall

to birds: Buds, seeds, insects.

Used

Most have

yellow, orange, or red tones.

extensive, shallow root systems that

Deciduous. Birds are lured by seed

branches. During growing season, plenti-

more

ful insects attract

birds.

Denizens of

northern latitudes and high altitudes,

some

birches also adapt well to

more

temperate lowland gardens. All prefer

regular moisture

and have somewhat

competitive roots near the surface. Fresh

green foliage turns bright yellow in

fall.

need

CARPINUS

regular moisture; because of root competition,

cat-

kins that hang from bare winter

the best plantings near maples will

HORNBEAM

be vigorous shrubs, ground covers, or

Value

lawn.

Used

ALNUS

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

by: Cardinals, goldfinches, gros-

beaks.

Deciduous. In autumn, hanging clusters

ALDER

of nutlike fruits provide food. Pyramidal

Value

to birds: Seeds, pollen, shelter.

Used

by: Finches, mourning doves,

nuthatches, warblers, woodpeckers.
Deciduous. In winter, pendant seed

Cortius florida (floivering dogzvood)

kins attract a

number

growing season,

(nest sites as well as protective

and for seeds, fruit, and insects. Here are some bird favorites.
Check pages 81-83 for what grows
cover)

best in your region.

page

mine

trunks. Fast-

than wide. Like birches, they grow

Value

by: Bluebirds, cardinals, grosbeaks, mockingbirds, orioles, pigeons,

peckers.

rusty brown.

AMELANCHIER
SHADBLOW

to birds: Fruit.

by: Crows, grosbeaks, tanagers,

thrushes, vireos, waxwings,

wood-

fall,

hackberries also

shade and grace of elms without the disease problem that makes elms
offer the

risky.

Used

waxwings, wood-

Deciduous. Providing small clusters of

berrylike fruits in

SERVICEBERRY,

FIR

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

Used

robins, thrushes,

Value

foli-

fall.

CELTIS

in groves. Fall foliage color is yellow to

79.

Dense, dark

yellow to red in

HACKBERRY

best with regular moisture, are attractive

on

ABIES

brilliant

cat-

Hummingbird

favorites are listed separately

age turns

of birds. In the

growing alders show kinship to birches

in smooth trunks, foliage crowns usually
taller

round-headed, these medium-sized

trees look neat all year.

insects feed various

songbirds; sapsuckers

Birds rely on trees both for shelter

to

Deep-rooted, they won't crack

pavement or compete with nearby plants.

Most species leaf out late in spring, turning bright yellow in autumn.

peckers.

Value

to birds: Seeds, insects, shelter

Used by:

Chickadees, creepers, doves,

finches, flycatchers,

hawks,

jays, juncos,

kinglets, nuthatches, owls, robins, swal-

lows, thrushes, towhees, vireos, warblers,

waxwings, woodpeckers.

Evergreen. Thick canopies of foliage offer

good

68

shelter, especially

welcome

in

Birdscaping Your Yard

Deciduous. Most serviceberries are

CORNUS

shrubby, but three species

DOGWOOD

canadensis,
ful

and

A. laevis

A. arborea, A.

become grace-

small- to medium-sized trees.

Showy

Value

to birds: Fruit, insects, shelter.

clusters of white or pinkish flowers ap-

Used by:

pear in early spring before leaves emerge.

By summer, small dark blue berries at-

birds, finches, grosbeaks, mockingbirds,

tract

many

birds. In

autumn,

foliage

Bluebirds, cardinals, cat-

robins, tanagers, thrashers, thrushes, vireos,

waxwings, woodpeckers.

Deciduous. Gardeners prize these trees

showy

but provides plenty of

dogwood

Flowering

thrive in partial shade, but berry produc-

especially attractive in gardens

insect

planted

display

floral

fruit.

(C. florida) is the

a medium-sized

with flow-

tree

to

tion

better in full sun

is

Larger trees, C. controversa and C.

grow

tive against taller evergreens.

may be

liage

Value

Used

JUNIPERUS

rtuttal-

to 50 feet or more. All are attrac-

Autumn

JUNIPER

fo-

yellow to red.

Value

Used

HAWTHORN

Evergreen.

birds, robins,

mocking-

berries,

Male and female

flowers are usually borne on separate

waxwings.

shelter.

be sure a plant

plants; to

will bear fruit,

Deciduous. These small to medium-sized

buy when

trees offer colorful flowers, decorative

able are lower-growing forms of species

consumed bv many birds,

autumn foliage. Aphids are

berries are present.

fruits that are

that are trees in the wild.

and

may

colorful

another lure

to birds

during the growing

Most hawthorns

season.

armed with sharp

are dense,

Most

avail-

Dense growth

contain two kinds of foliage:

needlelike or spiny juvenile leaves

scalelike

thorns. Typically,

be green,

mature

and

foliage. Foliage color

winter. All trees are strongly upright

spring; clusters of red fruits (like tiny

fairly

Named

summer

selections with

generally produce no

or autumn.

may

steel blue, gray, or red-tinted in

white flowers appear after leaf-out in

apples) ripen in

and

slow growing. They tolerate a vari-

ety of soils

and drought.

fruits.

ANGUSTIFOLIA

Value

RUSSIAN OLIVE

Used

jays,

waxwings.

summer comes

olivelike, silvery

yellow

a treat for
fruits. Sil-

very gray foliage and graceful appear-

ance mask a tough constitution. Fastgrowing, this small tree thrives in poor,

dry

soil,

summer

heat,

and winter

cold.

and spruces), larches shed their needles

in autumn and grow a fresh crop in
spring. Small, seed-bearing cones re-

semble brown rose blossoms, creating

polka-dot effect as they hang from bare
limbs. In eastern regions, a small

may

attack

immature

appearance

and conelike seed vessels

shelter birds,

provide them with food. Southern magnolia (M. grandiflora)

grows

foliage,

worm

ruining a

for the season.

LIQUIDAMBAR
STYRACIFLUA

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

Cardinals, grosbeaks, jays,

AMERICAN SWEET GUM

feet,

(M. virginiana) features smaller, fragrant

feet.

Both magnolias need regular mois-

ture;

sweet bay will grow in nearly

soils.

Value to birds: Fruit, shelter.

Used by: Bluebirds, cedar waxwings,
robins, thrushes, vireos.

Deciduous. Kin

to apples, these 20- to 30-

to birds: Seeds, shelter.

ering trees before leaf-out. Fruits range

from yellow

to red in color

and from as

small as cranberries to the size of small

apples. Tart in flavor, fruits appeal

strongly to a variety of birds.

fruit regularly;

re-

tain fruits late into the year, a special

benefit to

hungry

sanguinea (w),

M.

birds: Adams',

M.

baccata, 'Blanche

atro-

Ames',

M. floribunda,
M. purpurea
'Royalty', M.

Tlame',

Katherine' (w), fink Spires',

(including American goldfinches, house

scheideckeri, 'Sissipuk" (w),

finches, pine siskins), juncos, robins.

(w),

many

will bear

those followed by (w)

Used

to

spe-

and named hybrids are sold. Spring

flowers may be white, pink, or red, cov-

cies

spiny evergreen leaves and fruits offer

by: Cardinals, chickadees, finches

Many

foot trees bear smaller fruits.

IDolgo', T)orothea',

Value

waxwings.

haven and delicious food

80

blossoms and smaller leaves of soft, grayish green on a large shrub or tree to 60

Evergreen and deciduous. Dense, shiny,

safe

to

producing fragrant white flowers against

polished, dark green leaves. Sweet bay

The following crabapples

HOLLY
Used by:

Evergreen. Dense canopies of large leaves

to birds: Seeds, shelter.

by: Goldfinches, nuthatches, pine

ILEX

robins,

by: Catbirds, mockingbirds, rob-

thrushes, vireos.

MALUS

Deciduous. Seed-laden cones provide fall

and winter food to varied birds. Unlike

tree's

Value

ins,

CRABAPPLE

related cone-bearing trees (such as firs

Deciduous. After inconspicuous fragrant

birds

Used

to birds: Seeds, shelter.

flycatchers, grosbeaks, mockingbirds,

by: Cardinals, grosbeaks,

flowers of early

Value

LARCH

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

robins,

MAGNOLIA

LARIX

siskins.

Used

and
abundance of food
and protective shelter. In time, numerous
surface roots may become intrusive, so
plan carefully what you grow near
American sweet gum.

swampy

double flowers

ELAEAGNUS
Value

that hang from slender stalks. Mature

specimens reach about 60 feet, only
about half as wide. Grove plantings are

MAGNOLIA

Some birds consume juniper

and many others welcome the

evergreen winter
jays,

reveal seed-bearing fruits: spiny balls

by: Cardinals, grosbeaks, phoe-

bes, robins.

by: Grosbeaks,

To birds,

fall colors.

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

CRATAEGUS
to birds: Fruit, insects, shelter.

of

leaves offer shelter. Bare winter branches

birds appreciate the

erlike bracts in white, pink, or nearly red.

Ui,

Deciduous. Large, maplelike leaves as-

most widely

An

relish the fruits that follow.

population adds appeal. The shrub-tree

showy

develop into small

sume broad range

bracts that surround tiny flowers); birds

C. alternifolia lacks

birds. Several species

medium-sized trees. Most bear male

and female flowers on separate plants; for
female plants to produce berries, you
need a male plant nearbv (not necessarilv of the same species). Provide good
soil and regular moisture; hollies will

for their spring flowers (actually

Temoinei', "Radianf (w),

'Snowdriff

and Vanguard'.

Birdscaping Your Yard

69

.Trees

MORUS

towhees, vireos, warblers, woodpeckers.

MULBERRY
Value

Evergreen. Widely adapted and grown,

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

these cone-bearing, needle-leafed trees

Used by:

Bluebirds, cardinals, finches

(house and purple), grosbeaks, mockingbirds, robins, thrashers.

Deciduous. In

when

mer,

late

(and bird droppings) can

pavement. Surface roots compete

stain

provide all-year bird shelter in

with other plants grown beneath the

foli-

White mulberry (M. alba) and red

mulberry (M. rubra) reach about 50 feet

age.

mature
out

at

many

30 to 40

over 100

at

birds.

feet.

Some

pines

while others top

feet,

Growth

SASSAFRAS
Value to birds: Fruit, shelter.
Used by: Bluebirds, catbirds, robins,

all cli-

mates. Seeds ("pine nuts") in the cones

are sought by

spring and early sum-

blackberrylike fruits ripen,

fallen fruits

SASSAFRAS ALBIDUM

jays, juncos, kinglets, nuthatches, owls,

some

in

is

thrushes, vireos, woodpeckers.

Deciduous. Blue black berries in

several bird species.

assuring

flowers

Needles vary from 2 inches to

more than a foot long, from stiff to almost limp. Select a species that offers

male and female flowers

irregular.

dense

mulberry (M.

to

about 30

feet.

nigra)

Trees adapt to a

Fall foliage is

Used

Used by: Cedar waxwings,

fera)

wax myrtle (M. califorand southern wax myrtle (M. ceri-

form upright, shrubby

30 feet

neat

narrow

if

leaves.

trees to

about

undramatic, with glossy

Inconspicuous male and

female flowers are borne on separate

plants; in fall

carry

waxy

and

winter, female plants

grayish purple berries.

ce-

jays,

thrashers, thrushes, woodpeckers.

orful

strictly for birds' benefit.

plant

lists

See the regional

on page 81

starting

suggestions. Fruits of

plums can be messy

all
if

they

fall

yellow, orange, or red

of spruces are hanging.

Many

species are

tall

selections, with

needle color from dark

green to silvery blue. Most spruces per-

form best

in

northern latitudes or higher

altitudes.

PINUS
PINE
Value

to birds: Seeds, shelter.

Used by:

Cardinals, chickadees,

crossbills, finches, flycatchers,

70

hawks,

and

col-

To
of

growing.

cold, partial

shade

and need summer moisture.

ARBORVITAE
Value to birds: Seeds, shelter.
Used by: Mockingbirds, pine siskins,
thrushes, warblers.

Evergreen. Small cones furnish seeds;

evergreen, scalelike foliage gives winter
shelter.

T.

occidentalis, a 40- to 60-foot tree,

widely available than its shrubby

forms. Best performance is in regions havless

ing moist atmosphere

QUERCUS

and

soil;

severe

cold turns foliage brownish. Western red

cedar

OAK

rigidly upright, cone- or pyramid-shaped but nurseries offer shorter

quite

A number

all fairly fast

tolerate heat

or sun,

is

(T.

plicata)

may

reach 100 feet or

higher.

needle-leafed branches offer year-round

those

species are sold,

and

interest.

foli-

qualify as showy.

Evergreen. Seeds provide food, and

firs,

what count.

birds, fruits are

They

changing

THUJA

ment. In spring, bare branches of deciduous kinds are covered with blossoms of
white or pink. Red to purple (sometimes
yellowish) fruits follow in summer, while

nuthatches, waxwings, woodpeckers.

Unlike upright cones of

berries (generally red),

foliage offer

and

(including siskins), grosbeaks, kinglets,

shelter.

fall

on pave-

gigantic shrubs; spring flowers don't

Chickadees, creepers, finches

showy

for specific

cherries

blue-black cherries on densely foliaged

to birds: Seeds, shelter.

Deciduous. Clusters of small white flowers,

Deciduous and evergreen. Aside from

cherries edible to humans, there are
many other cherries and plums to grow

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

by: Bluebirds, catbirds, cedar wax-

wings, grosbeaks, orioles, robins.

mockingbirds, quails, robins, sparrows,

age. Evergreen species offer purple to

SPRUCE
Used by:

by: Bushtits (West), cardinals,

autumn brings

PICEA
Value

Used

flickers,

Evergreen. Pacific
nica)

Value

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

dar waxwings, finches, grosbeaks,

robins, thrushes, towhees, warblers.

fruit.

orange, red, and copper.

MOUNTAIN ASH

CHERRY, PLUM

to birds: Fruit.

Others bear

separately, re-

SORBUS
Value

Value

fruit crop.

quiring both for the female tree to

PRUNUS

range of soils and climates.

MYRICA

feed

foliage.

grows
wide

WAX MYRTLE

fall

trees are self-

or produce both male and female

fertile

upright and narrow, in others rounded or

high with broadly rounded foliage canopies. Persian

Some

Value

to birds: Acorns, insects, shelter.

Used

TSUGA

by: Bushtits (West), chickadees,

finches, grosbeaks, hawks, jays, nut-

HEMLOCK

hatches, orioles, owls, titmice, towhees,

vireos, warblers,

woodpeckers, wrens.

Deciduous and evergreen. All oaks bear

favored by many birds though
acorn (and tree) sizes and shapes vary
greatly Foliage canopies give good shelter and also harbor insects for additional
acorns

Value

Used

to birds: Seeds, shelter.

by: Chickadees, finches, grosbeaks,

jays, kinglets,

nuthatches, thrushes.

Evergreen. Horizontal to drooping branches bear flattened, needlelike leaves; overall

food. Species include evergreen oaks for

dense and feathery. Small brown

cones hang from the branches, providing

mild-climate gardens and deciduous

eagerly

onos
cies,

cold-winter regions. Native speand those from climates similar to

tor

yours, usually are the best oaks to plant.

Birdscapwig Your Yard

effect is

T.

consumed

caroliniana

may

seeds.

also be maintained as

hedges.

T.

canadensis

and

reach 70 feet but can

handsome clipped

&

Blossoms
Seeds
shrubs, and vines are the
Although
basic plants you use
create a bird habitrees,

to

tat,

number

will also offer food to

can contribute,

if

and perennials
birds. Even weeds

of annuals

you'll tolerate the presence of a few.

Certain annuals, perennials, and

eagerly

consumed seeds

if

and so bountiful seeds well as

you might want grow patch

food source

in

easy to grow)
of

them

that

for harvest.

(as

to

Then you

will

have a quantity of

seed to offer in feeders during winter and early spring

(see

pages 85-95).

weeds provide

their flowers are allowed

Perennials.

many

Showy

flowering perennials include

remain on the plant to set seeds. Many of these

plants also harbor insects, which some birds eat.

birds for nectar

Petals are eaten, too. In the perennials

right,

consider planting these: columbine*, coreopsis, fox-

humming-

glove*, purple coneflower, California poppy, glorio-

to

some

plants (marked

*)

list at

also will attract

birds to their blossoms for nectar.

plants that specifically appeal to

sa daisy,

see page

79.

humming-

For seed production,

and goldenrod. Many

of the ornamental

grasses, such as Pennisetum, also provide a

Annuals. Any of the following common annual flow-

seed crop in

late

welcome

summer and autumn.

ers yields a seed crop that will entice resident seed-

eating birds: ageratum, amaranth, bachelor's button,

calendula, China aster, coreopsis, cosmos, forget-menot, marigold,

Mexican sunflower, nasturtium, sea

lavender, snapdragon, sunflower, sweet alyssum,

and

zinnia. Sunflowers, in fact, are such a favorite

Meadow blooms

with poppies

Weeds. If you have an out-of-the-way patch where

you can let weeds grow at will, you might encourage
the annual wild grasses and grains. Among perennial
weeds especially appreciated by some birds for their
seeds are dock, fennel, and plantain.

golden orange California poppies, white and red Shirley poppies.

Birdscaping Your Yard

71

A Splashy
Attraction
your garden offers a water source that birds
can use for drinking and bathing, you will
greatly increase the number and perhaps
f

variety

of

visiting

and

draw fewer

your garden is waby an automatic controller ("timer"), you can place an emitter in
will

tered

by drip

the birdbath to

resident birds.

bird visitors.

irrigation that

fill it

is

If

activated

each time the watering system

operates. Birds are attracted to clean water, so period-

cleansing of the water basin will keep the birdbath

Design and placement. To entice birds to both drink

and play provide a gradual transition from very shal-

ic

low

deeper water (but ideally no deeper than 3

might be a circular or rectangular
structure where water deepens from edges to center;
or it could have shallow and deep ends. The point is
that a bird won't plunge into water of unknown depth
but, instead, will wade into the water until it finds a
depth to its liking. The steep-sided birdbath may attract drinkers, perched on its edges, but not bathers.

In regions where birdbath water freezes, you'll

need to work out a method for offering water throughout the winter. The old-fashioned method still works:
use hot water from the house to melt birdbath ice. Or
you can outfit your birdbath with a birdbath heater
available from bird feed suppliers (see page 109). The
simplest ones operate 24 hours a day; more expensive
models incorporate a thermostat that shuts off the unit

Be sure the bottom of the bath is not porcelainsmooth. Birds need a slightly rough-textured surface
in order to maintain a good foothold.

when temperature

to

inches). This

sure

way

enticing.

rises to a prescribed level.

to lure birds to a birdbath is to pro-

vide running water. At

simplest, this can be the

its

frequent drip from a leaky faucet; grander schemes

incorporate a fountainlike spray from garden sprinklers or small submersible

den
it

pumps

pools. Drip-irrigation tubing

easy to set

up

designed for gar-

and

emitters

make

additions to your basic birdbath (for

a do-it-yourself project, see

page

108).

A bird

wet from bathing can't move as fast as a

dry bird, so it is important to place a birdbath near
shrubbery where the bird can take cover from predators
but not so close to shrubs that predators can
hide among them. A location about 10 to 20 feet from
protective shrub cover offers a good "safety zone" for

birds.

If

you

re installing a ground-level birdbath,

the space between bath

and shrubs should be flat and

open, giving predators no chance to creep up unnoticed. Avoid sites beneath overhanging tree branches
or close to

wood fences or flat-topped walls that could

be launching pads

for cats.

Upkeep. At the top of the birdbath care list is keeping

the bath frequently refilled.

72

An

Birdscaping Your Yard

erratic

water supply

Northern oriole sips at shallow, rocky garden pool.

Shrubs
Versatile

shrubs can furnish varied

them. Plants are fairly upright, spreading

layering in a birdscape, valuable for

into clumps; red

both food and protective cover, including nesting sites. Check pages
81-83 for the shrubs that do best

reach 10

where you

live;

ites are listed

hummingbird

on page

feet,

and purple chokeberries

black no more than

5.

ATRIPLEX

favor-

SALTBUSH

79.

Value

to birds: Flowers, seeds, shelter.

Used

by: Doves, finches, quail, sparrows, thrashers, towhees.

AMELANCHIER
SERVICEBERRY,
Value

Used

SHADBLOW

to birds: Fruit.

and even flowers

by: Bluebirds, cedar vvaxwings,

grosbeaks, phoebes, robins, tovvhees.

Deciduous.

Summer

Evergreen and deciduous. Dense branch-

and nesting

es provide shelter

crop of dark blue

is

sites;

seeds

Gray
of these desert and

offer sustenance.

the prevailing color

arid-region natives. Evergreen species

range from

Deciduous A.

to 6 feet.

forms

a 10-foot

mound

len-

of blue

berries feeds a great variety of birds.

tiformis

These graceful, medium-sized

gray leaves on sometimes spiny stems.

shrubs are attractive in

or blush flowers bloom

emerging

all

to large

seasons. White

in early spring;

foliage is pink,

All saltbushes are drought-tolerant

fire-retardant, can

and

be used as hedges.

bronze red, or

purple, maturing to green; in autumn,

BERBERIS

leaves change to yellow, orange, or red.

BARBERRY

ARCTOSTAPHYLOS

Value

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

Used by:

MANZANITA

Catbirds, cedar waxwings,

mockingbirds, robins.

Value

to birds: Blossoms,

fruit,

in-

Evergreen and deciduous. Red, blue, or

sects.

Used
jays,

by: Bushtits (West), chickadees,

mockingbirds, quail, sparrows,

thrashers, thrushes, tovvhees, wrens.

Evergreen. Tasty attractions for birds in-

clude blossoms in

late winter, early

spring; fruits (like pea-sized apples) in

later

spring or summer; and insects. Most

manzanitas are Pacific coast natives successful only in that region. Many have

black fruits

may be showy,

ally turn to

them only

after preferred

berry sources have been stripped. The

dense and usually thorny plants do offer

popular shelter and nest sites. Hardiness
varies, as do size and shape; all species
are noted for toughness in a variety of

and soils with ordinary care.

Most have small but showy yellow or

climates

ange flowers,

or-

attractive small leaves; de-

good-looking branches of dark bronze to

wine red; oval leaves of bright green to

ciduous kinds offer bright autumn color

nearly blue gray; and small, clustered

trable

change. Barberries

make good impene-

hedge plantings.

white or pink flowers. Most need welldrained soil, little or no summer water.

Gardeners in Middle Atlantic, northern,

and Pacific coast states use bearberry
A. uva-ursi as low ground cover.

Cotoneaster horizontalis

but birds usu-

CORNUS
DOGWOOD
Value

Used

to birds: Food, shelter.

by: Bluebirds, cardinals, catbirds,

grosbeaks, jays, robins, woodpeckers.

Deciduous. The shrubby dogwoods are

showy in flower than the tree dogwoods (see page 68), but the shrub species still attract birds with the same apless

pealing berrylike fruits ripening from

CALLICARPA
BEAUTYBERRY
Value

to birds: Fruit.

summer

to

hances the

widely

fall.

An

insect population en-

allure. Several species are

sold, all

forming upright clumps;

All have an autumn

show; some have colored stems.
Those with bright red winter stems inall

prefer moist

soil.

foliage

Used

ARONIA
CHOKEBERRY
Value

Used

to birds: Fruit.

by: Bluebirds, catbirds, cedar wax-

wings, thrashers.

Deciduous. White or pinkish small flowers appear with leaves in spring. Fruits
are red (in A. arbutifolia), purple (A. pnmifolia),

or black (A. melanocarpa); birds love

by: Bobwhites, cardinals, catbirds,

mockingbirds, robins, towhees.

Deciduous. Violet

to

purple autumn ber-

ries are

both garden ornament and lure

to birds.

Spring flowers are inconspicu-

ous on upright or arching 6- to 10-foot

plants (depending on species). Stems
may freeze to the ground in severe winters, but this does not stop fruit production: flowers (and then berries) are borne
on new wood produced in spring.

clude Tatarian

dogwood

bloodtwig dogwood

(C. alba),

(C. sanguinea),

redtwig (or red-osier) dogwood

and

(C.

which spreads by underground stems into broad clumps. For

stolonifera),

coral red stems,

dogwood

choose Siberian

(C. alba 'Sibirica'), a shorter

plant to about 7 feet

Tlaviramea'

is

tall.

C. stolonifera

described by

its

common

name, yellowtwig dogwood.

Birdscaping Your Yard

73

Shrubs
COTONEASTER

Evergreen.
holly,

Value

Its

LINDERA BENZOIN

other name, California

describes this plant's fruits and

its

dense shrub
dark green leaves can be kept

SPICE

allure to varied birds. This

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

with glossy,

Used by: Bluebirds, cedar waxwings,

mockingbirds, robins, sparrows,

at

about 10

but will

feet

become

trunked shrub-tree with

thrushes.

little

a multi-

encourage-

Value

BUSH

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

Used

by: Bluebirds, cardinals, catbirds,

flickers, mockingbirds, robins, thrushes.

ment. Large clusters of tiny white flowers

Evergreen and deciduous. Small, applelike red fruits are a great

fall

and winter

in late spring set small berries that ripen

ornament

in

until birds find them.

There are plants

for nearly all climates,

with varied growth habits: arching or

Although
drought-tolerant, toyon will accept summer moisture if soil is well-drained. Grow
to brilliant red in late

in

sun or

Deciduous. Dense, twiggy plants

good

out to

Tiny, greenish yellow spring flowers that

decorate bare branches mature to bright

partial shade.

red '/2-inch berries in early

hugging. Most feature small white flowers

berries

by red, coral, or orange berries in autumn. All grow vigorously, even in rather poor soil.

ILEX

Value

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

by: Bluebirds, cardinals, grosbeaks,

mockingbirds, robins, thrushes, tow-

hees,

waxwings, wrens.

Evergreen and deciduous. Birds are lured

by

brownish

olivelike berries (red or

red),

shelter, and nesting sites often protected

by spiny stems. Inconspicuous but fra-

grant flowers

come

on evergreen

in fall

types; fruit matures in spring.

summer

Deciduous

autumn. Shrubs
grow rapidly into dense, tough plants
tolerate heat, wind, indifferent soils. A
ing in late

all

there are variations

many

the

by: Bluebirds,

flickers,

some

and

theme among

with variegated

and

foliage,

that lose their leaves entirely. Ber-

can be yellow in selected varieand black in several species. Nearly

are slow- to moderate-growers that

form bulky, dense shrubs from knee-high

to 20 feet or so.

Evergreen kinds afford

shelter.

The majority

inconspicuous male and

of
fe-

turn orai.

open

capsules (variously shaped

-d

or yellow, then split

d,

fall foliage.

is

Tallest of

europaea, reaches
cies reach

deciduous
with flamboyant

eds. In

species, this

al

about 7

ARBUTIFOLIA
TOYON
to birds:

Fn

Used

by: Cedar waxwing; flickers,

thrashgrosbeaks, mockingbirds,
ers, thrushes, titmice, towhees.

74

produce small red or purple fruits that

summer or autumn. Plants are
arching or rounded, from 6 to 15 feet
ripen in

high.

Two

(L. nitida), an erect 6-footer,

and semievergreen privet honeysuckle
(L. pileata),

by: Bluebirds, cedar waxwings,

finches, mockingbirds, sparrows, tow(shelter for

many

orous and unfussy, thriving

mates and

winter

diets. All

type of

soil.

in

many

cli-

soils.

MAHONIA
to birds: Fruit, shelter.

by: Cedar waxwings, mocking-

honia),

species thrive with

and

in

little

any

Handsome

haven

hollylike leaflets

to birds in the

dense-

growing species, such as M. aquifolium

(Oregon grape), M. nevmii (Nevin ma-

birds).

Deciduous and evergreen. This classic

edge plant, if not formally sheared, will
offer good shelter and nesting opportunities. (A closely clipped hedge will be too
dense for bird entry.) Unsheared privets
display tiny white blossoms in spring
that later produce blue black, berrylike
fruits to supplement birds' autumn and
care in sun to partial shade

with horizontal branches, to 4

honeysuckle plants are vig-

feet high. All

Evergreen.

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

wrens

exceptions are evergreen box

honeysuckle

offer safe

Used
hees,

HETEROMELES
Value

Value

and nechummingbirds.

tar-bearing flowers for

birds, robins, towhees.

Other spe-

to 10 feet high.

honeysuckles offer a varied bird banquet: succulent fruits, insects,

Used

PRIVET

hatboxes or strawberries)

to rev.

Deciduous and evergreen. Shrubby

Value

LIGUSTRUM

Deciduous and evergreen. In autumn,

like mil

dees, finches, robins, thrashers, towhees.

male flowers on separate plants, requiring

a pollinating male plant for berry production. See Ilex, page 69, for details.

birds, sparrows, thrushes, warblers.

hangii

Value to birds: Food, shelter.

Used by: Cardinals, catbirds, chicka-

Fragrant blossoms are white or pink,

varieties.

ries also

hollies bear

mocking-

this

holly species

welcome winter

to birds: Seeds, shelter.

on

There are hollies with smooth-edged

all

EUONYMUS
Used

HONEYSUCKLE

against spine-edged, shiny green leaves,

that
sil-

To assure

LONICERA

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

Evergreen and deciduous. Winter berries

ties

kinds.

fall.

you need a

male plant nearby.

gladden numerous hungry birds. Although the most familiar hollies for festive decoration have red berries set

to

ver cast suffuses foliage of

Value

Value

leaves, hollies

species flower in spring, the fruits ripen-

plant,

HOLLY
by: Catbirds, cedar waxwings,
mockingbirds, robins, thrashers,
thrushes, towhees.

Used
jays,

on a female

Used

ELAEAGNUS

15

shelter

simply bushy, low-spreading or groundin spring, followed

to

from spring leafautumn's blaze of golden foliage.

feet offer

fall.

grape),

M. pinnata (California holly

and M. fremontii (desert ma-

honia). Yellow spring flowers at branch

tips are followed
fruits in

by usually blueberrylike
early autumn. Like

summer and

the fruits of closely related Bcrbcris (bar-

by birds only afmore favored fruits have been consumed. Numerous stems rise from the
roots, branching to form a more spreadberries), these are eaten
ter

ing plant. All reach about 6 feet high-

can be maintained

at that height.

Birdscnping Your Yard

MALUS SARGENTII

Deciduous. All furnish cherrylike

eagerly

SARGENT CRABAPPLE

consumed bv

fruits

birds in summer. In

addition to tree species (see Primus, page

Value

Used

to birds: Food, shelter.

70), a

by: Cedar waxwings, grosbeaks,

Deciduous. This shrubbv crabapple offers

dark red

fruits that

appear

in

and last (if not eaten) into winter.

Dense foliage and zigzag branching also
offer good sanctuarv. Lavish display of

of strictly shrubby kinds

many native

and popular

mockingbirds, robins.

plentiful

exist

number

North America

to

in regions of their origins.

Spring brings a show of white or pinkish

flowers on bare branches;

red to purple or black

summer

fruits;

offers

autumn

blossoms also

small white flowers in spring produces

clusters of pea-sized fruits that ripen before leaves turn color; variety 'Rosea'

blossoms

of pink. Rather slow

has

growth

eventually reaches about 10 feet high

Among

or red.

nonnative species, good

choices are Japanese bush cherry (P

ja-

cies are currants. Especially

PENSYLVANICA

FIRETHORN
Value

good choices

by: Chickadees, finches, flickers,

mockingbirds, robins, thrashers,

Deciduous. After glossv, aromatic leaves

change color and

fall

autumn, you

off in

waxy berries that

during winter. Compact

rust

and may be forbidden

shrub grows

sandy

to

about 9

even

feet

acid, nutrient-poor soil.

robins, sparrows, thrashers, wrens.

renowned

Abundant autumn

is

ROSA
ROSE

Where

part of their leaves.

and female plants

You need both male

in

order

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

by: Cardinals, cedar waxwings,

doves, grosbeaks, mockingbirds, quail,

of thorny stems

and bear

clusters of

small fruits (called "hips").

Many

native

North American species fit these specifications, as does the Japanese native R.
multiflora.

Other suitable exotic species

include the Scotch rose (R. spinosissima),

of white flowers against small, glossy

Father Hugo's rose (R. hugonis), the sweet

summer

briar (R. eglanteria), the Austrian briar (R.

leaves. In late

or

fall,

branches

blaze with pea-sized fruits of orange or

in

not severe, plants lose only

fruits are

for luring birds. In springtime,

thorny branches are laden with clusters

red. Several species

rieties

winter cold

in certain

areas.)

Bluebirds, cardinals, catbirds,

clearly see the silvery,

entice birds

(Some

are an alternate host to white pine blister

thrashers, thrushes, wrens.

cedar waxwings, finches, mockingbirds,

Evergreen.

thrushes, towhees.

in their regions.

Deciduous. Birds prefer species and

shrub roses any that produce a tangle

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

Used by:

Used

armed

North America

to birds. Species native to

are

Value

PYRACANTHA

to birds: Food, shelter.

if

with thorns, dense growth offers shelter

Nanking cherry (P. tomentosa), which

reaches 9 feet. Dwarf red-leaf plum (P.
cistena) features purple leaves on a 6- to

MYRICA
BAYBERRY

attract

insectivores.

Used

Value

generally red

ponka), growing 4 to 5 feet high, and

10-foot plant.

with a greater spread.

fruits,

hummingbirds and
Shrubs with thorns are
gooseberries, while thornless-stem spe-

some

fall

provides foliage color in vellow, orange,

Summer

Deciduous.

or black, are popular with birds, but

foetida),

and

the species hybrid

Hanson's

and many named va-

range from big, sprawling shrubs

to low, spreading

ground-cover types.

to get the

RHAMNUS

bird-alluring fruits.

BUCKTHORN

PHOTINIA
Value

Used

Value

by: Finches, jays, mockingbirds,

robins, sparrows, thrushes, towhees,

by: Cedar waxwings, finches,

mockingbirds, quail, robins,

wrens, wrentits (West).

flickers,

thrashers.

Evergreen and deciduous. Like their

tives Heteromeles (toyon;

and

rela-

Cotoneaster,

these plants display red berries (black

when ripe
tumn and

ornament auwinter landscapes and attract

birds. Large, dense shrubs, all have colorful new foliage and flattened clusters of
in

P.

glabra) that

white flowers in spring.

Value

Used

to birds: Fruit, insects, shelter.

Used

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

Deciduous and evergreen. Birds consume

the red to black fruits that appear in
autumn and winter and are also attracted
to a resident insect population.

shrubs vary

in height

Spreading

(depending on

from about 12 to 20 feet or more;

buckthorns grow in sun to partial

species)
all

shade, are tolerant of less-than-regular

watering.

PRUNUS

RIBES

CHERRY, PLUM

CURRANT, GOOSEBERRY

to birds: Food, shelter.

by: Cardinals, catbirds, finches,

grosbeaks, jays, robins.

Value

Used

to birds: Flowers,

fruit.

by: Bluebirds, catbirds, finches,

flickers, robins, thrashers, towhees.

Mourning dove nests

in

branches of

rose (Rosa).

Birdscaping Your Yard

75

Conserving Your
Crops
who

Gardeners
make

soon

cultivate fruit crops

a vexing discovery

birds

think

they've been invited to a neighborhood

potluck.
ticular: what's

among

yours

is theirs, too.

Special favorites

fruit-eating birds are the

may be "sampled"

enough

just

to disfigure or

destroy part of the crop. Seed-eating birds can cut into a potential vegetable crop

the

newly planted

that can

be assembled to
knocked down

protect a variety of plant sizes, then

and stored when not needed.

As hungry guests, they're not par-

cane berries (blackberries, raspberries, and their relatives

see Rubus,
page 77), blueberries, cherries, grapes, and mulberapples, pears, plums, and
ries. But even larger fruits
figs

on rectangular modules

by consuming some

of

Scaring devices. The old-fashioned scarecrow is one

sort of device used to ward off birds by taking advantage of their sense of wariness. You can set out such
a human effigy, or you can mount a stuffed replica of
a

hawk

or similar predator in the crop tree.

string

wind: shiny tin can tops, recycled alupackaging or strips of foil, jar lids, pieces of

flutter in the

minum

seeds.

Through the years, frustrated gardeners have tried

numerous humane methods to dissuade birds from
marauding fruits and vegetables. These methods fall
into three categories: protect, scare, and decoy.

Around

you might stretch

from which you have hung objects that will

trees or smaller fruiting plants,

glass, streamers of bright or

shiny fabric, or colored

Noisy pinwheels or whirligigs mounted on

stakes placed throughout a fruit planting are another
scare tactic that has proven effective.
feathers.

The problem with all fright methods is that birds

Netting protection. The only

to save all of a crop
it.

is

to cover

way

quickly become accustomed to each device, realizing

so birds can't get to

that it poses no real harm. For successful protection,

you need to have a variety of methods ready to use
so that you can change them every few days while the

totally effective

it

Flexible nylon or vinyl-coated bird nettings, sold

in rolls or large pieces, are easiest to use.

the material over the fruiting plant, and

its

You drape
small mesh

any attempts by birds to get

to the fruits. Placed over a newly seeded vegetable
garden, netting can remain on the soil until the seeds
germinate. Agricultural supply stores, feed and grain
stores, and even some hardware outlets carry bird

crop ripens.

(generally Vi-inch) foils

nettings.

One drawback is that getting beneath the netting

to harvest the

crop can be a nuisance. Nettings are

on the shorter-growing plants, such as

cane berries and blueberries; covering a full-sized
cherry tree is something of a chore. However, any
gardener handy with a hammer and nails can coneasiest to use

struct cage frames for specific crop plants, then cover

the frames with bird netting or '/2-inch-mesh poultry

netting.

Though

this involves

more work and

cost, a

cage can be designed so you can enter easily to harvest ripe fruits. The most useful designs are based

76

Birdscaping Your Yard

Decoy

The decoy principle operates on the

you grow fruits that birds like best, they
may leave most of your own preferred edible crop
alone. To work at all, the decoy crop must ripen at the
same time yours does, and it must be even more alluring to birds than what you're cultivating for your
fruits.

theory that

own

if

table or canning jars.

Generally, birds appreciate a

in fruits

and blueberries as your

have

much more tart taste

than do humans. Still, with sweet cane berries

little

cultivated crops,

luck luring birds to other fruits

you may

unless,

perhaps, you plant a decoy mulberry (Morns). Decoy

plantings of cane berries and blueberries can, though,
divert birds

from some

of the larger fruits they could

casually damage: apples, pears,

ample.

and plums,

for ex-

Shrubs
Yellow'. For the best

among

Deciduous. Clusters of small red berries

range of choices

these bird-attracting roses, consult

summer

give

sustenance especially ap-

catalogs of mail-order suppliers offering

preciated bv birds in plains, mountain,

old roses.

and northern

regions.

Two North Ameri-

can species are cast-iron Dlants that

RUBUS

choices

and

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

Used

by: Cardinals, catbirds, grosbeaks,

mockingbirds, quail, robins, sparrows,
thrashers, vireos, warblers, wrens.

summers,
your landscape

frigid winters, hot

wind, and poor

BRAMBLE
Value

where

thrive

soil limit

S. argetitca 'silver

buffaloberry)

canadensis (russet buffaloberry). In

S.

both species, inconspicuous male and

fe-

male flowers are on separate plants; for

fruit production, you need a male plant
for pollination.

Deciduous. Brambles include

all

the

popular cane berries blackberry and

raspberry, for example as well as a few
strictly ornamental plants For a bird
sanctuary, plant a berry patch

grow

into a dense,

mound

and

let it

somewhat unruly

of interlaced canes. In this form,

any of the brambles offers a good haven

from predators in addition to luscious
fruits in summer. Whenever your berry
patch becomes too untidy or grows out of

SYMPHORICARPOS
SNOVVBERRY
Value

to birds: Fruit, flowers.

Used

by: Cedar waxwings, grosbeaks,

robins, thrushes, towhees.

Showy

Deciduous.

fruits are useful to a

but consumed only

bird's

winter

when

tastier fare is

diet,

exhausted. Several

making wispy

bounds, vou can cut the canes to the

species are available,

ground and expect the planting

grow with vigorous new canes.

plants that spread by suckers to form

to re-

tractive thickets.

you want a good-looking ornamental plant (but with fruits edible only by
birds), look for Rockv Mountain thimbleberry (R. deliciosus). Arching thornless
If

branches

to 5 feet

high bear showy, single

may

attract

all

at-

Riibus (red raspberry)

Small spring flowers

hummingbirds;

later these

form large berries (white or purplish red,

depending on species) on arching stems.
All grow in sun or partial shade, with
plentiful or

little

water.

Value

white flowers in spring followed by sum-

mer

ELDERBERRY
Value

Used

by: Cardinals, cedar waxwings,

grosbeaks, jays, mockingbirds.

Deciduous. Fast-growing elderberries

liably

re-

produce heavy crops of berries

loved by birds. All species form large,

bulky shrubs that can be severely pruned

or cut to the ground whenever thev be-

come

untidy. Large, flatfish clusters of

tiny white flowers

form small red or

blue-to-black berries that ripen in

sum-

mer. Plants will thrive in continually

moist

soil

but also tolerate considerable

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

Used

by: Bluebirds, chickadees,

flickers,

Deciduous and evergreen. Birds and huare equally fond of blueberries and
huckleberries. If you plan pies, jam, or

mans

bushes (see page 76) for your own consumption. North America boasts numerous species, all of which need acid soil,
regular moisture, and either sun or partial

shade.

V.

corymbosum (highbush blue-

berry), the chief source of blueberries in

the market,

is

particularly adapted to the

Northeast and Northwest. In the South-

North America,

BUFFALOBERRY
Value

Used

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

by: Catbirds, flickers, grosbeaks,

towhees, woodpeckers.

nums bear

berrylike fruits (red, blue, or

V.

parvifolium (deciduous

red huckleberry) produces red

summer

fruits on a spreading or cascading plant.

Another westerner, V. ovatum (evergreen

huckleberry),

is

lustrous foliage

especially prized for

bronze

ing to dark green.

at first,

winter. Evergreen
ter,

in showy
autumn and

depending on species)

black,

V.

tinus flowers in

win-

bears blue fruits in summer. (Insects

in spring

and summer

also

supplement

the diet.)

Most viburnums have handsome,

dense foliage that offers good shelter. The
deciduous kinds often give a brilliant fall
foliage display of yellow, rusty gold, red,

or purple. Fairly small spring flowers are

better-adapted, similar plant. In western

SHEPHERDIA

Deciduous and evergreen. A vast assortment of species and hybrids offers equal
value to birds and gardeners. Most vibur-

clusters that feed birds in

svrup, vou'd better securely protect a few-

east, V. ashei (rabbiteye blueberry) is a

drought.

robins, sparrows, starlings, thrushes,

towhees.

Value

robins, thrashers, thrushes, towhees.

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

flickers,

by: Bluebirds, cardinals, cedar

waxwings, grosbeaks, mockingbirds,

BLUEBERRY, HUCKLEBERRY

SAMBUCUS

to birds: Fruit, insects, shelter,

Used

VACCINIUM

fruits.

VIBURNUM

its

matur-

white or pink, grouped in showy clusters; all will later

bear

fruits except the

"snowball" types, which contain only

sterile flowers.

Plant sizes range from several feet to

shrub-tree proportions.
ticular

about

soil

Most are not

par-

but need regular mois-

ture for best appearance.

Birdscaping Your Yard

77

Vines
land native,

it

grows

in

sun or

shade, reaching 15 to 20

partial

feet.

Evergreen and deciduous. When established, these dense, twining vines give
Fragrant flowers entice

shelter.

CELASTRUS SCANDENS
AMERICAN BITTERSWEET

late

summer and

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

evergreen Hall's honeysuckle

Deciduous. In autumn, conspicuous yellow to orange seed capsules split open to

are yellow with red or purple shadings;

reveal bright red seeds. Plants are either

fruit that follows is black.

male or female; you need a nearby male

plant to get fruits on the female. Light

yellow-orange to red unscented blossoms

distinguish trumpet honeysuckle

green oval leaves to 5 inches turn bright

pervirens).

may need

fall.

Impressively vigorous,

restraint to

feet or

more,

keep from over-

whelming neighboring

Henry honeysuckle

nectar, fruits,

and

On

seeds.

the fac-

tracting

from purple buds; berries are red

Used

by: Bluebirds, mockingbirds,

phoebes, robins, thrashers.

Showy small
summer food to birds in

AMPELOPSIS
BREVIPEDUNCULATA

espe-

is

mild, deciduous in colder

regions.

Value

Used
Deciduous.

sem-

profuse in yellow-flowered variety

cially

BOSTON

at-

hummingbirds.

(L.

periclymenum)

PARTHENOCISSUS

to birds: Fruit.

insects,

ing page, you'll find choices for

Red berries and

bears fragrant creamy flowers opening

CAROLINA SNAILSEED
Value

(L.

Flowers

'Berries Jubilee'. Plants are evergreen

plants.

COCCULUS CAROLINUS
of climbing vines

(L. henryi).

Woodbine

where winter

Vines also offer

japonica

chamois yellow. Similar, but much less

rampant, is evergreen to semideciduous

twining branches reach 20

sites for birds.

(L.

by: Bluebirds, cardinals, catbirds,

cedar waxwings, robins.

yellow in

provides safe hideaways and nesting

follow in

early autumn. Vigorous,

stems, bears white blossoms that age to

Used

The tangled growth

humming-

may

'Halliana') builds a tangled thatch of

Value

Lonicera (honeysuckle)

birds; red or black berries

red fruits offer

VIRGINIA CREEPER

IVY,

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

by: Bluebirds, catbirds, chickadees,

mockingbirds, robins.

flickers,

this vine's native

Southeast. Both male and female plants

Deciduous. To birds, these vines in au-

needed for fruit production. Restrained growth twines to 12 feet, bear-

grapelike

ing broadly oval leaves.

gives dense cover;

are

BLUEBERRY CLIMBER

tumn promise

a crop of small, dark,

fruits.

P.

trkuspidata (Boston ivy)

P.

quinquefolia (Virginia

more open growth.

Their brilliant autumn foliage is legendary. Both vines are immensely vigorous
creeper) has looser,

Value to birds: Fruit, shelter.

Used by: Bluebirds, catbirds, flickers,

EUONYMUS FORTUNEI

thrashers, thrushes.

VEGETUS'

when

BIG-LEAF WINTER CREEPER

shade.

established, will thrive in sun or

Deciduous. Clusters of grapelike berries

hungry birds

attract

early

fall.

summer and
when immature,

in late

Greenish ivory

berries ripen to a striking metallic blue.

Vine

is

rampant climber

20

to

feet,

and drop

in

fall,

but

new

leaves emerge green, changing to red

throughout winter.

Grow

in

sun or shade.

BERCHEMIA SCANDENS
Used

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

by: Bluebirds,

cover,

and dual-purpose

Used
jays,

to birds: Fruit, shelter.

by: Cardinals, finches, flycatchers,

mockingbirds, robins, thrashers,

for birds, the big-leaf winter creeper of-

thrushes, towhees, vireos, warblers,

an autumn crop of red seeds in orange capsules, also dense shelter from
dark green leaves. It will grow as

wrens.

fers

or attach

itself to

sup-

port (with assistance) as shrubby vine.

Deciduous. Grapes are as popular with

birds as with humans.
to

If a vine is allowed
scramble over other shrubs, it will form

the host shrub).

LONICERA

by: Catbirds, mockingbirds, rob-

HONEYSUCKLE
in the

southeastern

autumn
fruits.

twining vine

clusters of small, blue

Handsome oblong

have distinctive parallel veins.

78

varieties. Best

Value

a tentlike bird refuge (at the expense of

states frequent this native

its

GRAPE

to birds: Fruit.

Deciduous. Birds
for

VITIS

mocking-

creeper) encompasses vining, ground-

ins, thrashers.

black

flickers,

birds, thrushes.

mounding shrub

SUPPLEJACK
Value

Used

Evergreen. Euonymus fortunei (winter

needing support. In mild climates, large

leaves turn red

Value

leaves

A wood-

Birdscaping Your Yard

Value

to birds: Flowers,

fruit, insects,

thick vine trained over

an arbor offers shelter and nesting sites.

Grapes give an abundance of fruit clusters. Nearly all parts of North America
have native or adapted kinds that benefit

shelter.

birds. All are far-reaching vines (without

Used

pruning) that climb by means of twining

by: Catbirds, chickadees, finches,

robins, thrushes.

tendrils.

A Hummingbird Garden
from flower
Darting
blur
speed, the

to flower, its

of

wings a

hummingbird

tiny

gathers nectar along with minute insects

and spiders. (Shown above is a female

Anna's hummingbird.)
Its rapid wing beats and almost ceaseless animation require extraordinary energy: a hummingbird
must constantly refuel. In a day, one bird may consume more than half its weight in sugar.
Because hummingbirds feed from dawn to dusk,
a garden full of their favorite flowers will attract and
hold their attention. Along with hummingbird feeders (see pages 92 and 102), offer flowers at different

levels (but not

much

lower than 18 inches): trees

flanked by shrubs, bordered by perennials and annu-

Even on a small patio, you can place a favored vine

and perennials at
base and in containers.

als.

against a fence, then plant annuals

its

most appealing flowers are trumtube-shaped and hold nectar at the

In general, the
pet-, funnel-, or

blossom base.

When you find hummingbirds visiting

flowers that don't conform to those shapes,

sure that abundant nectar

is

you can be

the lure. Brightly colored

flowers are best; red and orange are preferred, though

blue and pink also are popular. The following generally attract

hummingbirds.

PERENNIALS

TREES
Acacia

Erythrina (Coral tree)

Agave

Albizia julibrissin (Silk tree)

Eucalyptus

Alcea rosea (Hollyhock)

Chilopsis linearis (Desert

Liriodendron tulipifera
(Tulip tree)

Aloe

Lobelia laxiflora

Alstroemeria

Lotus berthelotii (Parrofs

Melia azedarach (Chinaberry)

Anigozanthos flavidus

willow)
Citrus

Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal

flower)

beak)

(Kangaroo paw)
Aquilegia (Columbine)
Cuphea ignea (Cigar plant)

SHRUBS

Delphinium

Crevillea

Abutilon (Flowering maple)

Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of

Sharon)

Buddleia (Butterfly bush)

Justicia

Callistemon (Bottlebrush)

(Shrimp plant,

Brazilian

plume

flower)

Lychnis coronaria

Mirabilis jalapa (Four

Echium fastuosum (Pride of

Madeira)
Gladiolus

o'clock)

Monarda (Bee balm)

Penstemon (Beard tongue)

Heuchera (Coral bells)

Phlox

Cestrum (Night jessamine)

Chaenomeles (Flowering
quince)

Kolkivitzia

Lonicera (Honeysuckle)

Ipomopsis aggregate

Phygelius capensis
fuchsia)

Correa (Australian fuchsia)

Melaleuca

Ipomopsis rubra

Salvia (Sage)

Erica (Heath)

Ribes (Flowering currant)

Kniphofia (Red-hot poker)

Feijoa sellowiana

(Pineapple

guava)

(Beauty bush)

Rosmarinus officinalis
(Rosemary)

(Crown

pink)

Mimulus (Monkey flower)

Digitalis (Foxglove)

Abelia

Lychnis chaldedonica
(Maltese cross)

Impatiens

Leonotis leonurus (Lion's

tail)

(Cape

Zauschneria (California
fuchsia)

Weigela

Fuchsia

ANNUALS
VINES

Antirrhinum maius

(Snapdragon)
Campsis radicans (Trumpet
creeper)
Distictis buccinatoria

(Blood-red trumpet vine)

Phlox drummondii (Annual

phlox)

Lonicera (Honeysuckle)

Impatiens

Salvia splendens (Scarlet

Pyrostegia venusta (Flame vine)

Nicotiana (Flowering
tobacco)

Tropaeolum majus

Tecomaria capensis (Cape

honeysuckle)

Petunia

sage)

(Nasturtium)

Birdscaping Your Yard

79

Regional Plant Lists

Birds

abound

in all parts of

North America where

gardeners grow plants. But from one region to another, the bird

population

differs. Similarly, the se-

lection of plants varies according to the particular

recommended
trees

birdscape.)

characteristics of regional climates.

The

trees, shrubs,

Beyond

and vines described on

pages 68-78 represent plants known to attract birds

and also likely to be attractive in the garden. Most
of them have a fairly broad range of adaptability.
To help you choose which of these bird-attracting plants are best suited to your particular area,

we have

divided the United States into

map

climatic regions (see

six

broad

below). Over the next

three pages, you'll find listings of the tree

and

shrub species that perform best in each region. If,

for example, you see that a species of Abies (fir) is

Northeast
Southeast
Plains

&

Prairies

Mountains, Great Basin

Northern

Pacific

High Desert

Coast

Southern Pacific Coast

80

&

Birdscaping Your Yard

your area, read the general deon page 68. (We limit the lists to
and shrubs, as they form the backbone of a

& Low

Desert

for

scription for firs

this selection of plants are others of

strictly regional

more

use that will serve birds within

limited areas. Native plants of

any region

in-

clude bird-enticing species that grow almost solely

within the confines of their native

territory.

Desert-

and mountain-dwellers are especially aware

of

such plants. A well-stocked nursery that deals in

natives can enrich your range of choices. Further
suggestions

may come from

botanic gardens; local

also

may be

regional arboreta

Audubon

able to suggest plants

bird favorites in your locale.

and

Society chapters

known

to

be

Northeast
PRUNUS

TREES

Allred'
P.

ABIES

A. balsamea; A. conccior;
A. homdepis

ACER

(Cherry, Plum):
P. c.

pensylvanka;

QUERCUS

cerasifera
P.

padus;

serotina

P.

(Serviceberrv, Shad-

SORBUS
S.

BETULA

(Birch): B. lenta; B. papyrifera;

CARPINUS

CORNUS

(Hornbeam): C.

caroliniana

TSUGA

Arborvitae):

C. laevigata;

ELAEAGNUS
(Hollv):

/.

decidua;

(Juniper):

/.

MALUS
MORUS

CORNUS

PINUS

(Pine)

(Buckthorn): R.

alnifolia;

R. cathartka; R. frangida

ROSA

(Rose)

(Chokeberry)

RUBUS

(Bramble)

(Barberry)

SAMBUCUS
(Dogwood): C.

ELAEAGNUS:
P.

sargentii (Sargent crabapple)

RHAMNUS
(Serviceberrv, Shad-

alba; C.

mas;

S.

(Elderberry): S. canadensis;

pubens; S. racetnosa

SYMPHORICARPOS:

COTONEASTER

(Mulberry)

(Spruce):

(Honeysuckle): L. bella;
morrowii; L. tatarka

C. racemosa; C. stobnifera

(Crabapple)

PICEA

amurense;

(Privet): L.

obtusifolium

MYRICA pensylvanica (Bayberry)

PYRACANTHA (Firethorn): P. coccinea

chinensis;

virginiana

laevigata;

blow): A. grandifbra; A. stobnifera

ARONIA

BERBERIS

JUNIPERUS

I.

benzoin (Spice bush)

LONICERA

MALUS

SHRUBS
AMELANCHIER

opaca

I.

occidentals;

T.

crus-galli;

angustifolia (Russian olive)

LIGUSTRUM
LINDERA

(Hemlock)

C. o

(Hawthorn): C.
C. phaenopyrum

glabra;

7.

L. maackii; L.

C. (lorida

CRATAEGUS

(Holly):

verticillata

ash): S. alnifolia;

plicata

Ba nifdia;

(Dogwood):

(Sassafras)

semipersistens; E. europaea

L. ibolium; L.

(Mountain

americana;

. alata; E.

bungama

E.

I.

aucuparia; S. decora

THUJA
T.

B. populifolia

EUONYMUS:
ILEX

(Oak)

SASSAFRAS albidum

(Maple)

blow)

].

';

(Fir):

AMELANCHIER

ILEX

P.

Atropurpurea

engeimatmii;

P.

glauca

E.

S albus;

S. chenaultii; S. orbiculatus

commutata; E. multiflora:

VACCINIUM:

V.'

corymbosum;

V.

pallidum

E. umbellata

VIBURNUM

Southeast
TREES
ACER

PRUNUS

(Cherry Plum):

P.

cerasifera Allred',

P.

padus;

P.

P. c.

pensylinnka;

P.

caroliniana;

Atropurpurea';
P.

serotina

(Maple)

QUERCUS

CARPINUS

(Hornbeam): C.

(Oak)

CORNUS

caroliniana

SORBUS
C. alternifolia;

S.

C. laevigata;

crus-galli;

T.

E. alata; E. americana;
bungeana semipersistens; E. europaea;

ILEX (Holly)

(Mountain

ash): S. alnifolia;

LIGUSTRUM

aucuparia; 5. decora

TSUGA
(Hawthorn): C.
C. phaenopyrum

EUONYMUS:

E. kiautschovica

C. fbrida

CRATAEGUS

I.

(Holly):

decidua;

(Hemlock):

T.

aquifolium;

I.

(Juniper):

LINDERA

benzoin (Spice bush)

chinensis;

M.

styraciflua (American

PINUS

(Serviceberrv, Shad-

(Chokeberry)

(Mulberry)
cerifera

L. bella;

(Sargent crabapple):

PHOTINIA:

P.

RHAMNUS

(Barberrv)

CALLICARPA

MALUS

(Beautyberry): C. americana;

ROSA

M.

sargentii

glabra

PYRACANTHA

grandiflora;

(Crabapple)

MYRICA: M.

ARONIA

BERBERIS

virginiana

MALUS
MORUS

AMELANCHIER

blow): A. grandifbra; A. stobnifera

MAGNOLIA: M.

(Honeysuckle):

L. fragrant issima; L. korolkozvii; L. nitida;

L. pileata

/.

gum)

sweet

SHRUBS

cassine;

virginiana

LIQUIDAMBAR

japonkum;

canadensis;

caroliniana

opaca

I.

JUNIPERUS
].

/.

(Privet): L.

L. ovalifolium; L. vulgare

LONICERA
ILEX

. ebbingei; E. multiflora;

pungens

(Sassafras)

C. laevigata

(Dogwood):

E.

E.

SASSAFRAS albidum
CELTIS (Hackberry):

ELAEAGNUS:

(Firethorn)

(Buckthorn): R. frangula

(Rose)

C. bodinieri giraldii; C. japonka

CORNUS

RUBUS
(Dogwood):

C. alba; C.

(Bramble)

amomum;

C. mas; C. racemosa; C. stolonifera

SAMBUCUS
S.

pubens;

(Elderberry): S. canadensis;

S.

racemosa

COTONEASTER

(Pine)

VACCINIUM:

V.

ashei; V.

stamineum

VIBURNUM
For descriptions of trees, see pages 68-70. Shrubs are described on pages 73-77.

Birdscaping Your Yard

81

& Prairies

Plains

QUERCUS

TREES

Q.

ACER

SORBUS

(Maple): A. ginnala; A. negundo

(Oak): Q. macrocarpa;

(Mountain

ash): S. aucuparia;

S. decora

BETULA

THUJA

(Arborvitae):

T.

occidentalis

C. occidentalis;

SHRUBS
AMELANCHIER

angustifolia (Russian

blow): A.

ARONIA

JUNIPERUS

(Juniper):

(Serviceberry Shad-

(Chokeberry): A.

BERBERIS

CORNUS

(Crabapple)
(Mulberry):

(Spruce):

PINUS

(Pine)

P.

M.

alba;

glauca;

P.

M.

(Dogwood):

pungens

P.

P.

EUONYMUS:

amerkana;

S.

P. c.

Atropurpurea';

(Mountain

bicolor;

Q. gambelii;

(Hemlock):

T.

heterophylla

(Serviceberry, Shad-

arbutifolia;

/.

BERBERIS

deppeana;

osteosperma

CORNUS

(Barberry)

(Dogwood): C.

(Crabapple)

COTONEASTER

(Mulberry): M. alba; M. nigra

ELAEAGNUS:
E. umbellata

(Spruce):

P.

engelmannii;

E.

villosa

besseyi;

P.

virginiana demissa

P.

RHAMNUS:

cistena;

P.

P.

amerkana;

tomentosa;

R. cathartica; R. frangula

(Currant, Gooseberry): R. aureum;

R. odoratum

(Rose)

RUBUS

(Bramble)

SAMBUCUS
S.

alba;

C. sanguinea; C. stolonifera

(Larch): L. occidentalis

P.

(Cherry, Plum):

P.

ROSA

(Saltbush): A. canescens;

A. hymenelytra

olive)

J.

sargentii (Sargent crabapple)

PHOTINIA:

RIBES

(Chokeberry): A.
A. melanocarpa

ATRIPLEX

(Honeysuckle):

L. maackii; L. tatarica

ARONIA

angustifolia (Russian

amurense;

ash): S. alnifolia;

blow): A. alnifolia

(Juniper):

LONICERA

MALUS

AMELANCHIER

(Hawthorn): C. crus-galli;
C. lavallei; C. phaenopyrum

(Privet): L.

L. fragrantissima; L. korolkowii;

SHRUBS

C. occidentalis;

E. alata; E. europaea;

LIGUSTRUM

PRUNUS

C. reticulata

(Elderberry): S. canadensis;
pidvns; S. racemosa

SHEPHERDIA
S.

(Buffaloberry): S. argentea;

canadensis

SYMPHORICARPOS:
commutata;

E. midi

S. albus;

S. c'enaidtii; S. orbiculatus

VIBL

MUM

pungens

For descriptions

82

maackii;

(Serviceberry, Shad-

CELTIS (Hackberry):

P.

P.

(Birch): B. pendula

occidentalis;

VIBURNUM

L. vulgare

blow): A. canadensis; A. laevis

MALUS
MORUS

S. albus;

E. kiautschovica

aucuparia

TSUGA

AMELANCHIER

JUNIPERUS

SYMPHORICARPOS:

cerasifera

P.

padus

SORBUS

(Alder): A. glutinosa;

C. laevigata;

(Buffaloberry):

argentea

EUONYMUS:

(Cherry, Plum):

(Oak): Q.
Q. macrocarpa

A. tenuifolia

PICEA

E. umbellata

E. alata; E. europaea

QUERCUS

(Maple): A. campestre;

LARIX

commutata;

(Pine)

Allred';
P.

A. cappadocicum 'Rubrum'; A. ginnala;

A. glabrum; A. negundo; A. tataricum

].

E.

S.

& High Desert

PINUS

A. concolor; A. grandis;

ELAEAGNUS

(Elderberry): S. canadensis;

pubens

serotina

A. lasiocarpa

CRATAEGUS

(Bramble)

SHEPHERDIA

COTONEASTER

PRUNUS

BETULA

besseyi;

(Rose)

RUBUS
S.

C. alba;

C. stolonifera

TREES

ALNUS

P.

tomentosa

R. cathartica; R. frangula

SAMBUCUS

rubra

Mountains, Great Basin

ACER

P.

S. orbiculatus

(Cherry, Plum):

(Fir):

arbutifolia

(Barberry)

ELAEAGNUS:

pensylvanica;

ABIES

japonica;

P.

(Currant, Gooseberry):
R. odoratnm

ROSA

alnifolia

scopulorum;

/.

virginiana

PICEA

P.

L. maackii;

L. tatarica

(Cherry, Plum):

cistena;

RHAMNUS:

olive)

PRUNUS

(Honeysuckle):

(Hawthorn): C. succulenta;

C. 'Toba'

MALUS
MORUS

amurense;

RIBES

ELAEAGNUS

J.

(Privet): L.

nwrrowii;

PRUNUS
P.

C. reticulata

CRATAEGUS

LONICERA
L.

(Birch): B. papyrifera

CELTIS (Hackberry):

LIGUSTRUM

L. obtusifolium

stellata

of trees, see

pages bK-70. Shrubs

.in-

described on pages

Birdscaping Your Yard

'

Northern Pacific Coast

TREES

MYRICA: M.
PICEA

ABIES

(Fir): A. amabilis; A. concolor;

nordmanniana; A. procera

ACER

(Maple)

ALNUS

P.

P.

(Serviceberry, Shad-

ILEX

engelmannii;

P.

Atropurpurea';

cerasifera

MAHONIA:

agrifolia;

Q. chrysolepis; Q. douglasii; Q. garryana;

Q. kdloggii

SORBUS
(Hornbeam):

C. betulus;

S.

(Mountain

ash): S. alnifolia;

aucuparia

(Dogwood): C.

THUJA

(Arborvitae):

TSUGA

(Hemlock):

(Hawthorn): C.
phaenopyrum

pinnata

sargentii (Sargent crabapple)

PHOTINIA:

fraseri;

P.

P.

glabra;

P.

villosa

plicata

PRUNUS (Cherry Plum): cistena

PYRACANTHA (Firethorn)
RHAMNUS: R. alaternus; R. californica;

T.

heterophylla

SHRUBS

RIBES

(Currant, Gooseberry): R. aureum;

R. sanguineum

(Holly):

/.

aquifolium;

I.

latifdia;

AMELANCHIER

opaca

JUNIPERUS
LARLX

blow): A.

ARCTOSTAPHYLOS
BERBERIS

LIQUIDAMBAR

(American

styraciflua

CORNUS

sweet gum)

MALUS
MORUS

(Serviceberry, Shad-

alnifolia

(Manzanita)

M.

alba;

M.

nigra

Southern Pacific Coast

VACCINIUM:

alba;

E. ebbingei; E. multiflora;

(Oak): Q. agrifolia;
Q. chrysolepis*; Q. douglasii; Q. emoryi;

PHOTINIA:

PRUNUS

SHRUBS

(Birch): B. pendula

CELTIS (Hackberry):

R. crocea

C. australis;

ARCTOSTAPHYLOS*

(Manzanita)

RIBES

C. occidentalis; C. sinensis

MAGNOLIA: M.

(Saltbush): A. canescens;
A. hymenelylra; A. lentiformis

styraciflua* (American

grandiflora

ilicifolia*;

cistena

californica;

R. frangula

(Currant, Gooseberry): R, aureum;

MYRICA*: M.

M.

nigra

californica

COTONEASTER
ELAEAGNUS:

SYMPHORICARPOS:

P.

Atropurpurea';

(Bramble)
S. albus;

S. chenaultii; S. obriculatus

HETEROMELES

arbutifolia (Toyon)

cerasifera
P. ilicifolia;

(Privet): L. japonicum;

L. ovalifolium; L.

MAHONIA:
M.

frees, see

. ebbingei; E. multiflora;

pungens

LIGUSTRUM

lyonii

(Rose)

VIBURNUM

ILEX* (Holly)

(Pine)

(Cherry, Plum):

ROSA

RUBUS

E.

(Mulberry): M. alba;

For descriptions of

P.

ATRIPLEX

sweet gum)

P. c.

fraseri; P. glabra

R. sanguineum*

(Juniper)

LIQUIDAMBAR

Allred',

P.

(Cherry Plum):

PYRACANTHA (Firethorn)
RHAMNUS: R. alaternus; R.

(Alder): A. cordata; A. glutinosa;

PRUNUS

V parvifolium

& Low Desert

A. rhombifolia

PINUS

ovatum;

pungens

Q. engelmannii*; Q. wislizenii*

MORUS

V.

VIBURNUM

QUERCUS

TREES

JUNIPERUS

S. albus;

S. chenaidtii; S. orbiculatus

(Dogwood): C.

ELAEAGNUS:
E.

BETULA*

(Bramble)

COTONEASTER

(Crabapple)

ALNUS*

(Rose)

SYMPHORICARPOS:

(Barberry)

C. sanguinea; C. stolonifera

(Mulberry):

ROSA

RUBUS

(Juniper)

(Larch): L. decidna; L. kaempferi;

L. occidentalis

P.

M.

crus-galli;

C. laevigata; C.

I.

aquifolium;

R. crocea

CRATAEGUS
ILEX

controversa;

C. florida; C. nuttallii

MALUS

M.

P.

C. carolmiana

CORNUS

(Honeysuckle):

L. fragrantissima; L. korolkowii;
L. tatarica

(Oak): Q.

(Birch): B. pendula

CARPINUS

LONICERA

P. ilicifolia;

lyonii

QUERCUS

blow): A. canadensis; A. laevis

(Privet): L. japonicum;

L. ovalifolium; L. vulgare

(Cherry Plum):
P. c.

(Toyon): H. arbutifolia

(Holly)

LIGUSTRUM

(Pine)

Allred';

A. oregona; A. rhombifolia

P.

pungens

PRUNUS

AMELANCHIER
BETULA

(Spruce):

PINUS

(Alder): A. cordata; A. glutinosa;

HETEROMELES

californica

nevinii;

M.
M.

(*

= not grown

in desert)

vulgare

aquifolium;

M.

frenwntii;

pinnata*

pages 68-70. Shrubs are described on pages 73-77.

Birdscaping Your Yard

83

w
.

;3f

fH

A Wild
Banquet
upplemental feeding increases

your garden's powers of attraction for the simple reason that nature
usually can't match the concentrated supply of food you can pro-

remember where they had a superb meal many

and they will return to the same spot for more.

vide. Birds often

months

before,

Most
and

people

who keep feeding

stations do so in the

fall,

winter,

early spring. Wltere winters get very cold, such feeders

offer birds the

only food

in the area.

may

During spring and summer,

feeding stations are less popular, probably because birds become

territorial at these times of

year and chase rivals away.

seeds, berries, nuts, or insects available naturally in the

season are more appetizing

Many

species that rely

to birds

And

the

growing

than most supplemental foods.

on seeds during

the fall

and winter

shift to

insects during the breeding season.

Whether a feathered

clientele flocks to

your feeders only season-

banquet for birds can give you great satisfaction. Birds bring beauty, music, and life to the garden, espe-

ally or all year, catering a

welcome attributes during the still, snowy winter months.

And in harsh climates, you can be sure that you're doing the birds a
real service by keeping feeders full and a birdbath free of ice.
cially

Birds of a feather dine together when

they discover a safe supply of food.
These American goldfinches (see page
60) gather around for thistle seed.

85

Favorite Foods
What do our
Some,

(They're also occasionally interested in

feathered friends like best to eat?

like finches

and sparrows, depend mainly on

seeds the year around. Blackbirds dominate a gar-

den seed feeder during much

ject

of the year

seeds during the nesting season,

need

impels them to eat

for protein

but

when

re-

a greater

Insects are also the preferred diet of woodpeckand warblers, but both will be attracted by a
suet feeder as well. Even a piece of fruit occasionally entices these birds.

Although sunflower seeds appear

to delight

seed-eating birds almost anywhere, other seeds

may vary

in appeal from one locality to another. To

what the birds in your neighborhood like
best, experiment with small amounts of different
seeds to see what disappears fastest. The following
list of some backyard bird visitors and their pre-

find out

ferred foods will also help For further information

seeds, turn to pages 88-89; for recipes

ing tips for nectar, suet cakes,

and other

and

feed-

favorite

foods, see pages 92-93.

Remember

that birds also

need

to drink

and

bathe. Place a shallow, ground-level birdbath or 3-

foot-high pedestal-type bath at a safe distance from

any shrubbery where a

feet.

Make

cat

sure the bath

is

cling while pecking at the suet inside.

insects.

ers

on

humming-

and nutmeats.) Present suet in

chunks or cakes; a mesh bag or wire cage attached
to a tree trunk or post gives woodpeckers a place to
bird feeders, fruit,

could crouch

15

within a quick

to

20

flight's

Chickadees and titmice love sunflower

seeds.

Suet and peanut butter mixed with cornmeal (see

pages 92-93), dispensed from suet logs and other

feeders, also have strong appeal
especially in winter, when the birds need extra fat and protein to
withstand the cold. Set out one or more very small
feeders designed to stop competition from large

birds.

Northern cardinals and other large finches

prefer black oil sunflower seeds as well as safflower

seeds, but they will dine

on other seeds

if

their first

choices are not available. These birds, present

all

year in most of their range, may approach ground

feeders as well as raised trays and dispensers.

Dark-eyed juncos
At

visit

gardens mainly in winter.

they are rather shy ground feeders, in the

manner of many small sparrows. Mixed seeds atfirst

tract

them, and as they grow comfortable, they

on your deck or on a raised feeding tray.

may

alight

reach of overhead branches. (Also see page 72; for a

birdbath to construct yourself, see pages 106-108.)

Doves

are generally

ground feeders

that appreciate

sunflower seeds, cracked corn, chicken scratch, and

peanut hearts. To discourage these birds from overtaking smaller birds' feeders, provide their preferred feed

on the ground or on

use feeders with small perches

or

them.
species that

hummingbird
(see recipe,

come

to feeders at all

partaking only

at specialized

feeders that dispense sugar water

page

92).

Though

year.

are attracted primarily to suet as

supplemental food, mainly in

86

Wild Banquet

may

also stop at the

hummingbird

feeder.

House and purple finches devour mixed

seeds,

with a preference for millet and sunflower. They

will appreciatively feed on the ground, at a raised
tray or table, or from a hanging seed dispenser.

Goldfinches and siskins may be drawn to sunflower or thistle (niger) seeds. Use a hanging mesh
bag or tube feeder if offering the fine thistle seed.

present only during

the nesting season in the northern states, in the

Southwest some species may hover at feeders all

Woodpeckers

orful visitors

for the smaller birds.

Try spreading chicken scratch near cover to attract

are highly selective,

at the feeder, still can be atby fruit. Hang sections of apple,

orange, or banana on a nail (see page 93), or offer
grapes and small chunks of other fruit in a halved
and hollowed-out coconut or grapefruit. These col-

a table feeder

Quail and other chickenlike birds can be attracted to feeder trays and ground-feeding areas.

Hummingbird

Orioles, though shy

tracted in winter

fall

and

winter.

Squirrels and chipmunks often raid backyard

bird feeders. You can try diverting their attention to
a feeder banquet all their own. Birdseed suppliers
sell corn-on-the-cob, cracked corn, peanuts, and
peanut hearts that appeal to squirrels; sunflower
seeds are popular with squirrels, too.

& Predators

Pests

When

backyard feeders

numerous and varied

predators often

show up soon

ward. This can lead

cidents.

One day you may find

friend has been killed

start to attract

birds, pests

and

after-

that a small feathered

or you may experience the

ing pests.

upsetting from a civilized perspective,

local)

laws forbid

hawks and

owls,

many state

killing, trapping, or

two common

as the

predators. But

American

you

kestrel or

sharp-shinned hawk, by placing feeders near dense

cover into which birds can flee instantly.
predators continue to threaten despite such

measures,

restrict

feeding to the early morning, so

birds will disperse before the

hawks

are

Guarding against cats

the most effective predacan be a

chal-

ground-feeding birds

real

lenge. For the best protection, attach a small bell to

your cafs collar, warning of its approach. Cyclone

fencing around your yard, if secure at buildings and
gates and flush with the ground, will block neighborhood cats. Remove such inviting means of access
as overhanging tree branches. Low fencing can help
in the immediate vicinity of ground-feeding birds.
Cats will have to jump over it, giving birds just
enough warning to escape.
Clear away dense shrubbery, which can hide
cats, to a

distance of 20 feet from feeders

baths, leaving thorny shrubs,

which keep

and

bird-

cats out.

and conquer
feeders. While no remedy is foolproof, it sometimes
helps to provide squirrels with their own feeding
will often invade

(see

page

98).

too close to a tree or fence

of a

to

jumping

However, a feeder placed

may still be within reach

squirrel.

Backyard birders have devised imaginative ways

foil squirrels. These have proven to be effective:

Hang

the feeder by heavy monofilament fishing

line, difficult for a squirrel to navigate.

a clothesline

between

pulleys, encasing the line with plastic pipe

segments

Suspend the feeder from

approximately 2 inches long. The pieces of pipe will

spin

when

a squirrel lands on them.

Feed birds early in the day, and don't put out too
large a portion. Birds will tend to clean out the

feeder quickly, leaving nothing for squirrels.

Aggressive birds, such as pigeons, jays, starlings,

house sparrows, and blackbirds, have acquired a
bad reputation because of their habit of dominating
feeders. Generally, the best way to turn away unwel-

come

bird species is simply to eliminate the kind of

food that attracts them. Reduce the total amount of

food put out, so that these birds must forage elsewhere for a satisfying diet. Small openings and
perches on a feeder also thwart invasion by large
birds.

To discourage pigeons, eliminate their favorite

foods cracked corn, chicken scratch, grains, and

bread crumbs. Keep the ground under feeders clean.

If

jays

become

a bother, try giving

them

their

own feeding station, a good distance from other feeders, offering

peanuts, nutmeats, and sunflower seeds.

and blackbirds encroach in great

numbers, the only solution may be to stop all supplemental feeding temporarily. When you begin anew,
put out limited portions in small feeders.
If

Pesky squirrels

sold, these collars

of flared metal or plastic block the squirrel's access

up and

about.

tors of

through mail-order catalogs and

harassing

can take benign steps to reduce any predator's or

pesfs advantage.

Outwit hawks, such

also attach baffles underneath raised

where bird-feeding supplies are

part of nature's balance and should not be

strenuously controlled. Federal (as well as

If

You can

feeders. Available

from below
if

the predator-prey relationship, as well as pesky thievery, is

and

relatives.

to distressing in-

frustration of losing quantities of birdseed to bully-

Even

and sunflower seeds;

however, you do run the risk of attracting all their
station, offering peanuts, corn,

starlings

Wild Banquet

87

Birdseed

& Other Supplements

rots quickly

and it attracts
and house sparrows.

gets wet,

To vegetarian birds, seeds are nutritious meals, conveniently packaged. The oil in seeds helps birds

tages.

maintain enough fat on their bodies to sustain

themselves during harsh winter weather while furnishing calories for their constant activity. Seed protein is also needed for birds' muscles, which work

On or off the cob, whole corn kernels

strenuously, especially in flight.

Seed-eating birds, such as grosbeaks, have

heavy

bills that

can crack seed

But some

hulls.

sectivores also eat seeds, especially

when

in-

the insect

Lacking enough strength in the bill

crack a seed, an insectivore such as the chickadee
holds the seed down with one foot, hammering
with the bill to open it.

supply

is

low.

Once you

start

to

become
that if you

feeding birds, will they

dependent on your seed? Some believe

encourage migrating birds to stay through a severely cold winter by feeding them through the fall,
they may perish if you suddenly stop feeding them.
With the excellent survival skills of wild creatures,
most lingering migrant birds would be able to forage from nearby feeders or other food sources if
your supply ran out. Yet a severe snowstorm might
be too much for them. If you don't plan to keep
feeding through the winter, taper off the flow
gradually, rather than cutting

it

It

if it

squirrels, pigeons, blackbirds,

(either fresh or

dried) provide rich nourishment to larger birds.

Birdseed mix. Widely variable in composition, depending on commercial packagers and market fluctuations, seed mixes also vary in bird appeal and
nutritional quality. They tend to include such unappealing but inexpensive grains as milo (grain sor-

ghum),

rice, oats,

or wheat. (Starlings, often a nui-

sance in gardens, do love milo and hulled oats.)

Avoid mixes with a reddish hue, which indicates
too

much

milo;

it

has a pale yellow

White proso

will

be wasted. Choose a mix that

cast, indicative of

millet. Both red

corn and millet.

and white

millet

are available, but birds generally prefer the white

type. Because of

its

hard seed

coat, millet is less

and rotting than other birdseeds,

useful for hopper feeders as well as

prone

to swelling

making it
ground feeding.
Black

oil

sunflower seed.

ery as birdseed, black

oil

fairly recent discov-

sunflower seeds are ex-

tremely popular. Their tiny size and thin hulls are

easier for small birds to handle, and the seed is rich
with oil.

off all at once.

Favorite seeds

Some kinds

of seeds are more popular with birds

than others; the following are the favorites. The

chart on the facing page

most

shows which birds are

attracted to each type of seed.

supplier, feed store, or

Audubon

center, or

by

mail order (see page 109 for sources).

Thistle (niger) seed.

Asia, thistle seed

way does

it

is

An

clean

up under

feeders

may

no mess
wet

to

rot in

import from Africa and

Striped sunflower seed. As a birdseed, this has

been used longer than other types. For birds with
heavy bills, ifs a popular, nutritionally rich food. Offer it unmixed, because sunflower seed-eating
birds will just waste what you put with it.

resemble the familiar weed.

A favorite

a special

mesh sock

or tube feeder to

Safflower seed. Best known as a food

seed offers a special advantage

gray squirrels usually leave it alone.

Shelled peanuts
hearts,

Fresh and dried corn. Cracked corn appeals to

smaller ground-feeding birds, but it has disadvan-

birds. Starlings prefer

Wild Banquet

for cardi-

nals, safflower

rels or blackbirds.

it

birds.

prevent spillage. High in protein and fat, niger

seeds offer the added value of not attracting squir-

88

but

also called "niger" seed; in no

of small finches, the tiny black seeds are often dis-

pensed from

to smaller

seedeaters, hulled sunflower seed leaves

weather. Be sure to use feeders that discourage large

Although mixed birdseed is sold at many

supermarkets and pet stores, it is usually more economical to buy separate kinds in bulk from a gar-

den

Hulled sunflower seed. Attractive

and peanut hearts. Both peanut

removed during the process of making peanut butter, and whole, shelled peanuts will attract

beware

if

peanut hearts to all else, so

your garden.

they're aggressive in

Packed with protein and fat, peanuts in the shell may appeal to insectivores and
seedeaters large enough to handle them. Jays and
woodpeckers like this treat. String a few on a wire

Peanuts

in shell.

hang from

to

your winter

is

severe,

birds from tapping

all

snow and

ice

may

prevent

need. Supplement their backyard food supply by

offering gravel, ash, crushed eggshell,

and

salt.

Certain birds, such as mourning doves and

tiny

finches, require grit

crops.

minerals that birds

Coarse

You can purchase

salt

sand,
crush seeds in their

bits of stone, coarse

to

grit at feed

and pet

stores.

may

meets some

lack in a harsh winter.

birds'

and

sodium needs.

trays or

on covered feeding
on the ground. Mix crushed eggshell with

seed or

suet.

Provide

the natural resources they

or crushed oyster shell

the fireplace) or crushed eggshells

will function as grit, too, while also replenishing

a tree limb.

Wintertime supplements
If

Ash (from

grit,

ash,

salt

A drink of water
Don't forget that seeds, peanuts, eggshells, and salt

up thirst in your feathered guests.

Provide a birdbath, too (see page 72 for guidelines),
are sure to build

making sure it's free of ice in winter. From specialty

stores and mail order catalogs, you can buy heaters
to

keep the water

in birdbaths

from

freezing.

Seed Preferences

Northern bobwhite

Mourning dove
Woodpeckers
Blue jay

Chickadees
Tufted titmouse

Northern cardinal
Rufous-sided towhee

Chipping sparrow

Song sparrow
White-crowned sparrow
Dark-eyed junco
Purple finch

House

finch

Pine siskin

American goldfinch
Evening grosbeak

House sparrow

1.

Thistle (niger) seed

2.

Cracked corn

3.
4.

Mixed seed
White proso

5.

Black

oil

millet

sunflower seed

6.

Hulled sunflower seed

7.

Striped sunflower seed

8.

Saf flower seed

9.

Shelled peanuts

10.

&

hearts

Peanuts in shells

Wild Banquet

89

Tips for Success

Clean any feeder when you suspect the food has
spoiled or could

make birds

sick.

Feed

winter

in

Birds have the greatest need of your supplemental

feeding in winter, especially

if

you

live in a cold-

weather region. Your feeding station will be the

most useful

you follow these guidelines:

if

on the south side of your house,

Set feeders

possible, to catch winter sun.

Any moistened

if

food

dry faster in sunlight, and dining birds will

have to contend with less wind.

will

Set

up

feeders in September or October to attract

birds as they

first

establish their winter feeding ter-

ritories.

If

you

don't plan to feed all winter, cut

seed gradually by about

of several

weeks

on your feeding

!4

per

week over

until the birds are less

down on
a period

dependent

station.

Unless you plan to keep feeding through the

gradually reduce feed and then re-

warm season,

move feeders between March and May before birds

become territorial in spring.
Black-capped chickadees flutter outside a window
before stopping for a snack of sunflower seeds. Feeder
design prevents competition from larger birds.

What could be simpler than feeding birds? Just toss

bread crumbs on the ground, and at least a few
birds are bound to notice. But to really get a successful banquet going, follow these

dom from

words of wis-

seasoned backyard birders.

Set out feed

if

an unseasonable hard freeze oc-

curs after you have stopped feeding. Continue feeding until natural food sources are available again.

Provide water
keep it ice-free.

for visiting birds,

and be sure

to

Provide protection
At feeders, birds are slightly less vigilant and more
vulnerable than usual. You can protect your avian
guests and avoid losing seed because of weather

by taking a number of precautions.

Keep a clean establishment

conditions

To help reduce chances of spreading avian diseases,

maintain clean equipment and fresh food supplies.

Place feeders within 20 feet of cover, but keep

them a safe distance from low shrubs and ground

cover where crouching cats could hide.

Even if new, clean feeders thoroughly with mild

soap and hot water before first setting them out.
Clean seed feeders again whenever they become
wet and seed sticks to their corners.

Clean suet feeders often

enough

to

if

the weather

is

warm

melt the suet or suet cake.

Don't position feeders where they might lure

birds to fly into windows. Unfortunately, a reflection of the

sky sometimes misguides a bird. Tight,

window can help prevent

fine netting in front of a

calamity.

Use feeders with rooftops or other designs that

and garden sprinklers. Place them out of the wind to stop seed from
blowing away and to protect birds from winter's
protect seed from rain, snow,

Change hummingbird nectar at least weekly

week in warm weather.

cool weather, twice a

90

Wild Banquet

in

chill.

Keep

warm

products.

suet out of direct sun, especially in

weather, or

it

may go

spray

rancid.

Use only biodegradable products, and

Do not resume feeding until

late in the day.

past the contamination period specified on the

The food supply

ter

The following hints will help you to avoid problems

that sometimes beset feeding stations.
Plan

how much

for

ford) to dispense per

eat as

much

as

food you wish (and can afday Within reason, birds will

you provide once

a feeding station

Allow bird-feeder and birdhouse wood to

weather naturally without potentially harmful
stains, paints, or preservatives. Keep water fresh

and

clean.

is

established.

Be patient

Feed early in the morning,

when

birds are the

most active and are hungry

for

Use seed mixes that have

and millet content.

a high sunflower, corn,

high-energy food.

become a great source of pleasBut sometimes birds keep you waiting a long
time. If your feeder is new, expect several weeks to

Attracting birds can

ure.

pass before birds find

promptly

Mix peanut

butter with cornmeal or other cereal

break its stickiness, which is believed to cause

choking in birds. Use 1 part peanut butter and 4 to
to

6 parts meal.

Use

feeders for thistle seed, for example,

and

The
to the

and

thistle

seed

suet feed-

it.

They may return more

in subsequent years.

first

most

birds to

common

show up

up

will

probably belong

species for your area. Others

will eventually notice the

Don't give

the right feeders to avoid waste

ers for suet

la-

Unless you've had rain since the spraying, wathe garden well before you start feeding again.

bel.

until

commotion and

you have

join in.

tried offering

sunflower seed, a favorite of many birds,

or scattering scraps of day-old bread or doughnuts
black

oil

on the ground.

suet cakes.

Choose feeders for small birds that will discourage invasion by larger birds and pests.
Avoid overfeeding;

if

you put out more than

birds can eat in a single day, leftovers

squirrels, mice, rats,

much suet as birds

may turn rancid.

Put out only as

few days, or suet

may

and unwanted bird

attract

species.

can finish in a

Don't let feed collect on the ground; rotting seed

can cause disease and also result in weeds sprouting. Place feeders over decking or masonry for
easiest cleanup.
If

ants find the nectar feeder,

lon fishing line.

If

hang

it

by

a thin ny-

the feeder attracts bees, coat

openings with cooking oil, place in the shade, and

keep outside surfaces of the feeder clean.

Beware of toxics
The

safest

and most welcoming backyard habitat

an organically gardened area. To keep
from chemical pollution, do not use in-

for birds is

birds safe

secticides, pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides

while maintaining a feeding

station. If

spray, stop feeding at least a

week

you must

before using toxic

bag, originally used to sell oranges, makes a simple

suet feeder accessible only to small, clinging birds.

Mesh

Wild Banquet

91

& Other Snacks

Cakes

many forms is undoubtedly deli-"

to birds, judging by how quickly it disappears

Birdseed in
cious

its

once your feeder is found. But birds will accept a

variety of nourishment; preparing and even cook-

them is an intriguing adEven when you're offering everyday fare,

ing occasional treats for

venture.
a

few preparatory steps in the kitchen can help pre-

vent problems.

Peanut butter mix

popular with birds the year

need the extra
provide.
In sumpeanut
butter
can
protein
fat and
foods
are
much
more
though
their
natural
mer,
abundant, insectivores still gain strength from a
peanut butter mix during the demanding cycle of
breeding and feeding their young. Don't offer peanut butter in hot weather, however, when it is prone

The recipes that follow are simple and quick

enough for children to prepare. Watch your feeders

to melting.

how well each culinary creation is received.

You may see your feathered clientele expand in

mix

to learn

is

around. In cold winter weather, birds

Birds can choke on peanut butter unless

it

with another food to break up

Mix

its

you

sticky tex-

cooking

cup smooth or crunchy-style peanut

uncooked oatmeal
until well blended. If you wish, add about !4 cup
finely chopped leftover meat (in winter), dried
fruit, or nutmeats. With a rubber spatula, apply
thickly to a log feeder, such as the one on page 102.

oven; cool completely before pouring into feeders.

Suet and suet cakes are another favorite winter

treat that can be an important source of fat for birds

Baking

in cold climates.

numbers and species as birds show up

to

the specialties of your house.

Stop weeds from sprouting from stray birdseed by

to prevent germination. Simply spread
birdseed in a thin (about 14-inch) layer on a cookie
sheet with raised sides. Bake for 8 minutes in a 300
sterilizes the seed,

although

it

doesn't affect

when

nutritional value.

You

need

procedure for
thistle (niger) seed. Thistle, imported from Asia and
Africa, has already been commercially sterilized by
the time you buy it.
don't

to follow this

Hummingbird nectar
ter to these tiny

hummingbird feeders is
memorize if you cawinged wonders. Keep in mind that

the sugar water

is

for

a basic formula that you'll soon

valuable only to attract the birds,

not as nourishment. Try to locate feeders near flowers that offer real nectar (for suggestions

grow, see page

on what

to

79).

ter

then allow to cool completely before using. Af-

hummers

discover and

consume

decrease the sugar proportion to

sugar to 2 cups water)

this formula,

part to 6 (%

too much sugar can

cup

result

The thinner solution will be

and may encourage the birds to seek more

in a liver dysfunction.

safer

natural food as well.

Store extra
several weeks.
it

mix

Do

in the refrigerator for as long as

not use honey in place of sugar

can cause bacterial and fungal infections in

hum-

mingbirds. Also, to prevent infection, thoroughly

clean feeders

92

Vi

it

Do not offer suet in warm

is likely to

weather,

go rancid or melt, sticking

to

feathers.

fat
best from beef kidneys.
meat markets, or just cut off the
beef fat before cooking steaks or roasts at home. You
can also purchase suet cakes from a bird-feeding
supplier (see page 109 for listings). Cut the suet into
chunks about 2 inches square and place in a mesh
bag or other container, such as an inverted wire
soap dish.

Suet

is

hard beef

You can buy

it

at

Rendered suet offers many possibilities (or offer

rendered bacon fat instead). First cut the suet into

small chunks, then melt

combine 1 part granulated sugar

and 4 parts water ( A cup sugar and 1 Vs cups water
makes enough nectar to fill two standard satellite
hummingbird feeders). Boil the mixture for 2 minIn a saucepan,

utes,

ture.

butter with 2Vi cups cornmeal or

sample

at least

once a week.

Wild Banquet

it in a heavy pan over low

heat or in a microwave oven. Pour the rendered suet

into a small mold, such as

small muffin cup

unmold

liner,

an empty tuna can or a

and

refrigerate

it

before offering the cake to birds.

to harden;

Or pour

rendered suet over a pinecone so that it fills every

crevice; refrigerate to harden, then hang as a feeder.

To make suet cakes, mix slightly cooled rendered suet with other favorite bird foods: a table-

spoon or two of peanut butter, cornmeal, oatmeal,

chopped table scraps, dried fruits, or various birdseeds. For grit and calcium, mix in 1 or 2 wellcrushed eggshells. Pour into paper-lined muffin
cups. Refrigerate until hardened; then unmold and
set out in a mesh bag or on a feeding table as cakes
for birds. Watch to see which suet cake recipe appeals most to the birds in your garden.

Corn pudding, actually a rich version of suet cake,

manv birds and disappears quickly in cold

delights

mix together 4 cups water

hea\y pan over low heat,

weather. In a deep bowl,

and 2 cups

sugar. In a

slowly melt 2 cups suet or lard; allow to cool

slightly,

then

stir into

the sugar-water mixture, alter-

nating with 4 cups yellow cornmeal, until a soft

dough forms. Gradually

make a

stir in

4 cups all-purpose

dough. Stuff dough deep into

the crevices of large pinecones, then use string to
hang the cones as feeders. You can also spread
dough onto the log feeder shown on page 102.
flour to

stiff

Bird cakes make a

special occasions.

hit

Mix

with feathered friends

a

cup

for

of all-purpose flour

with a cup of cornmeal, oatmeal, or bread crumbs,

or a combination of the three. Moisten with Yi cup
milk. Enrich with up to a cup of raisins, peanuts, or
both combined. Also blend in Vi cup rendered suet,
fat, or peanut butter. Bake in paper-lined muffin
cups at 350 = for 45 to 60 minutes, or until quite firm
and brown. Cool, cut in sections, and present either

on a feeder

tray or in a

mesh sack hung from

branch.

til

the shell starts to crack. Cool briefly, then break

open by placing the coconut on a hard surface and

striking it with a hammer. Fill the largest piece with
crumbs of day-old bread, cake, or doughnut, or
with fruit or nutmeats. Hang by a string from a tree
limb or nail to a fence post.
Note:

Use only

fresh coconut to feed birds.

Packaged coconut flakes have been known

birds by swelling inside them.

to

harm

Appetizers, such as chunks of doughnut or stale

poppyseed bagel, morsels of dog food, or finelv
chopped scraps of last night's dinner, may attract
birds quickly

but don't offer these as a steady

feeder diet. Birds will appreciate an opened

pomegranate,

too,

but to avoid a mess offer

it

over a

thicketed area.

Sunflower snacks appeal

to

many

birds.

To share

by growing the giant flowers

during the summer. When the flower heads dry in
autumn (see below), birds will fly by to peck at the
their enjoyment, start

seeds. For bountiful flower heads, 8-10 inches

across,

grow 'Mammoth Russian'

variety.

"Exotic" birdseed can be recycled from what you

usually discard in the kitchen

fresh or dried seeds

from pumpkins, other squashes,

cumbers, citrus

fruit,

bell peppers, cu-

papayas, pomegranates, and

and vegetables. Save sesame, caraway,

and poppy seeds along with crumbs from leftover
baked goods. Add recycled seeds to any of the previous recipes. Sprinkle tiny seeds, such as caraway
or poppy, on top of bird cakes before serving.
other fruits

Fresh fruit entices orioles, tanagers, thrushes, and

other shy garden visitors. Just hammer a nail an
inch or two into a post or a thick board that can be
hung on a tree trunk. (Make sure it is placed where
no one will walk into it accidentally.) Impale half an
orange or apple or a section of banana on the nail.
A similar oriole fruit feeder is shown on page 98.
Or place grapes, cherries, or any dried fruits on
feeding trays; you might use a halved and hollowed-out grapefruit or orange as a container.

Coconut delight

is

fun

for children to help pre-

by piercing the dark "eyes" in the top of

a fresh coconut, using an ice pick, then drain the coconut milk. Place the coconut on a rimmed baking
sheet and bake in a 350 oven for 15 minutes or unpare. Start

Delicious to birds and people alike are crunchy seeds

from sunflowers.

A mid

Banquet

93

A Birds' Christmas Tree

the popcorn garlands carefully over the
branches, tying ends with string to keep them

Deck
tree's

from slipping or blowing

off.

Cranberry and grape garlands add bright conpopcorn. String packaged cranberries
on heavy-duty thread, adding
nuggets of fresh apple and dried fruit, if you wish.
trast to the

and

fresh grapes

Oranges and grapefruit,

cut in quarters,

make

delicious ornaments for birds. Tie pieces firmly to

sturdy branches, fruit side up.

Corn-on-the-cob

(either dried or fresh,

can be bound with string

uncooked)

to strong inner branches.

Whole peanuts can be threaded

to

make

a long

garland, or you can hang a few from a short length

of wire. String

Cranberry garlands and suet stars taste like sugarplums

to birds that fly near this snow-laden tree.

If

you

live in a climate of

cially

snowy

large, shelled

Small pinecones become a

nutmeats as well.

special treat

when

rendered suet or stuffed with peanut

butter mix (both explained on page 92). Dangle by
looped string from the tree.

dipped

in

winters, the Christ-

be a time of year when birds espeappreciate your gift of edibles. Even where

mas season

up

will

temperatures aren't freezing, decorating a Christmas tree for birds can be a fun way to celebrate the

Christmas cookies

fun to make, usand seed-cake recipes on

pages 92-93. Harden the "cookies" by refrigerating
for birds are

ing the suet, peanut butter,

in

small molds.

Add

few

raisins for festive appeal.

season.
Ideally, the tree you pick to decorate will be one
you can watch from the breakfast table. Make sure
that the tree is close enough to shrubs or other
dense trees to offer cover if birds need to flee while

snacking.

Delicious decorations

Inviting the guests

Once

the birds of your neighborhood have found

your garden Christmas tree, they'll stay until the
last morsel and berry have been consumed
provided a cat doesn't scare them off. But issuing an
invitation can take a little time.

of bird feed mentioned earlier in this chapter can be

Do this by putting out some preferred birdseed,

such as sunflower seed, close to the decorated tree.
Even a handful of seeds broadcast on the ground or
placed on a platform feeder can attract winter finch-

adapted, with a

es.

Preparing ornaments for a birds' Christmas tree is

fun for both children and adults. Most of the kinds

hang on the

little

imagination, as decorations to

tree.

Strings of popcorn, unbuffered and unsalted, will

look festive on your tree and taste like a holiday
treat to birds. Use dark, heavy-duty thread, and
pop enough corn to allow for breakage during
stringing. To keep each kernel intact, poke a sharp

needle through

94

its

puffy center.

Wild Banquet

Soon the reds, whites, and browns of purple and

house finches, as well as the yellows, whites, and
blacks of evening grosbeaks and perhaps even a
bobwhite, may add their color to your tree.
Be

drink of water. Place

nonmetal pan of ice-free water
near or under the tree if the area is safe from cats
(otherwise, position it about 15 feet away). Read
more about water for birds on page 72.
sure, also, to offer a safe

a birdbath or small

Christmas
Bird Counts
a century ago, adhering to an old

Local backyard feeder reports add important

outdoorsmen celebrated Christmas Day by shooting what-

portions of this data. Gardens and backyard feeders

Nearly
American

tradition,

ever wildlife

came

into sight. In 1900, a

handful of bird-watchers challenged this violent custom and helped to replace it with the peaceful practice of counting birds. Today, volunteers all over the
United States and beyond methodically count birds
for the National Audubon Society during a two-week
period before and after Christmas.
In this

new

holiday tradition,

often attract the

mas count

To join the excitement, contact your local Audu-

bon Society chapter

1,550

separate bird counts are taken by bird-watchers from

Barrow, Alaska, to Freeport, Texas, and from

New-

foundland to the Farallon Islands off San Francisco

Bay. Roughly 42,000 participants count birds from
midnight to midnight of a 24-hour period in each
specific area. Counts are held in every U.S. state and
Canadian province, as well as in Central and South
America as far as Brazil.

or natural history association

your garden may or may not be inside one of the

count circles for your state or province. Or write to
the National Audubon Society, American Birds, 950
Third Avenue,

more than

most unusual species seen on Christ-

lists.

As

yet,

New York, New York

10022.

no bird count of comparable

size

and

organization has been established at any other time

of year, although a breeding count in early
is

taken on a limited

U.S. Fish

scale.

summer

Organizations such as the

& Wildlife Service and Cornell University's

Laboratory of Ornithology do conduct less extensive

counts of birds.

Why spend a day in wet and cold weather counting birds? Besides the

chance of sighting an un-

usual bird, Christmas counters contribute to science

and

our natural environment.

Christmas bird count data to track the
impact of tropical rain forest destruction on avian
populations, for example, or the impact of rapid development on the islands of the Pacific.
to the preservation of

Scientists use

Counts are not usually documented (except for

be exact no one
could see and count every last ruby-crowned kinglet
in a given area, for example. But comparisons of
counts taken in different years or weather conditions
help to document local environmental concerns; they
can influence decisions on park and community
rare species), because they cannot

management

HSi^^^r^^^J

?&JKbm****>^^B**%>

for the benefit of birds. Ornithologists

use the information to track such phenomena as the

eastward expansion of house finches and other species. More generally, information is used to track
avian population trends, range fluctuations, and
winter species distribution.

AT

Km Km -'THF:i1

Purple finch, which actually looks rosy, perches

conveniently for counting.

Wild Banquet

95

Ik'-

Feeders,

Houses

& Baths
o

draw

the flash of

wings and

the dash of bird song to your backyard, you'll need to provide prospective tenants with the three things they

need most: food,

shelter,

and

We've already discussed the principles of landscaping your

backyard habitat; now it's time to get down to nuts and bolts.
water.

you choose, you can purchase a whole spectrum of attractive

bird feeders, birdhouses, and birdbaths. But if you're at all handy with
If

tools,

you

Most

may want

to build

them

yourself.

of the do-it-yourself projects we've selected are easy to put

few standard homeowners' tools saw, measuring

tape, brace and bit, and hammer
though you'll probably find that a
portable circular saw and a power drill will make the work go more
smoothly. A radial-arm saw and a table saw are great for crosscutting,
ripping, and shaping the occasional bevel, but they aren't necessities.
In many cases, you can substitute simple butt joints for trickier
connections. If you're working with acrylic plastic, cut and drill it
with standard woodworking tools, or order it cut to size.
together using a

Decay -resistant redwood, cedar, and cypress are best for wood
feeders and houses, but use whatever scraps you have on hand. Don't
bother to varnish, or even (unless the woodworker in you insists) to
finish-sand: birds like their accommodations on the rough side.

Bird feeders and houses make ideal

do-it-yourself projects, requiring

only a

minimum

of tools, materi-

The redwood hopper

feeder (foreground) is detailed on
als,

and

time.

page 101; for birdhouse designs, see

pages 103-105.

97

& Board

For Sale: Bed, Bath

Most

of this chapter features projects

for do-it-yourselfers,

but on these two

pages we present a cross-section of

commercially available feeders,
houses, and baths.

thumbs
find

If

you're

hobby and pet

The mail-order sources

offer a wide

listed

on page 109 also

and titmice. The weighted-perch

model closes when a squirrel shows
up but stays open when svelte birds

and

designs: the latter look especially at

sun-

flower seeds. The tube-style feeder

a favorite

seeds.

If

way

is

suction cups to panes of glass are fun

watch but usually have limited

seed capacity; most cater better to
small birds than large. Cardinals may
use this type of feeder, though they
favor a flat surface rather than a
to

perch.

to attract gold-

finches, put out a feeder

designed

specifically for their favorite food

a great treat

extra calories are needed. Special

or gridwork suet holders

prevent greedy birds from making off

with more than their share.

A fruit holder will attract visitors

such as tanagers,

orioles,

and

warblers.

Beating the housing shortage.

may come

A whole range of mounting poles,

to offer these tiny

you want

fat) is

such insectivores as woodpeckers

and mockingbirds, especially in
winter when natural food is scarce

mesh

Acrylic feeders that stick with

wood

Suet (solid beef

for

arrive to feed.

Eating out. When it comes to

feeders, you can choose sleek acrylic,

home in the garden.

Many birds relish black oil

or

clinging species, such as chickadees

selection of birding products.

lightweight metal, or classic

and poles above

below the feeder help thwart
industrious raccoons and squirrels
(also see page 87).
pest-resistant baffles

type hanging feeder attracts small

all

supply shops, nurseries, and nature

stores.

birds'

Certain feeders are designed for

you'll

at

more on

preferences, see pages 88-89.

certain birds. For example, a satellite-

or short on time

many choices

niger (thistle) seed. For

It

as a surprise, but birds can

from lack of shelter, particudeveloped suburban

areas where gardens aren't mature
suffer

pivoting arms, and hangers awaits

larly in recently

you in mail-order catalogs. Take steps

to ward off thieves and predators:

enough

to

provide desirable nesting

Oriole fruit feede

1

Thistle

Straight-arm

feeder

bracket

VI
||

Dome-covered feeder
1

L__

Tube-style

/
i

Hummingbird

Squirrel

feeder

(weighted-perch)
feeder

Vl

Seed

tray

feeder

Redwood hopper feeder

Seed

tray

,&$->h Suet basket

uirrel baffle

in
Gazebo feeder

Squirrel-proof pole

Feeder post

Even

sites.

rural farmland

is

The most important consideration

not

always hospitable; as woods are cut,

brush cleared, and tree crops tended,
the

number

of nesting areas

is

reduced.

man-made houses

Fortunately,
a

old standby,

and birds seem

cozy

in a

remedy.

Wood

can provide

wood

is

the

hole,

lead-based paints and

itself isn't critical,

chart on page 104; also refer to the

shallow, slopes gently,

"How

rough

to attract"

advice for

many

"A Garden Guest

of

List,"

pages 21-61 These rules aren't cast in

stone, but your odds are improved if
you come close to following them. For

mounting suggestions, see page

105.

discussed

surface.

as long as

it

very

is

and has a

Beyond

that, there's a

large selection of ceramic, concrete,

plastic,

and even wooden birdbaths

available.

Birds love water that gently drips

or splashes. You can

buy such

Not all birds will use birdhouses

one good reason for knowing which

birdbath accessories as fountain

birds frequent your part of the

heaters to

country Nesting shelves, popular

with swallows, robins, and phoebes,

submersible

tubing, recirculates water

Aluminum purple martin

houses are popular and much easier
to hoist than their homemade wood-

hang from a wall that

is partially protected from both the
elements and the watchful eyes of
predators. These open structures offer
a bonus
they let you observe the

en counterparts.

activities of

some

clear finishes

toxic,

and

Outdoor plumbing? As

on page 72, water in the garden is a

powerful lure for birds. The vessel

birds' liking. For guidelines, see the

to feel

house, the rougher

may be

house dimensions, entrance

and mounting height be to the

that

the species in

the better. Bird experts caution

against paint

is

shy away from those

cute, colorful houses that most attract

birds

seem

to

human benefactors. Besides the

gamut of wood styles and finishes,
you can also find houses made of
their

ceramic, metal, acrylic,

and other

materials.

are designed to

WM

thaw

ice in winter.

The

pump shown below,

teamed up with some

clear plastic

from a

small garden pool to a fountain

waterfall, or

through

a pool

jet

or

filter.

Spaghetti tubing and drip hardware

are other gardeners' options for

backyard waterworks.

your tenants.

~~

BKffl

S^Chickadee house
Robin

Bluebir

jets,

drip spouts, and small portable

s.
W!M'!i!r!

house

flVJ

Drip spout

:*
Bracket-mounted
bath

Screech owl

Wren house

house
Birdbath heater

Purple martin

apartment
cotta

Submersible

pump

pedestal bath

1
.

Ceramic "rock" pool

1"

Catproof Feeder Tray

sweep elbow

3'-long 1" galvanized pipe

Eyebolt
V2"

brass chain

This platform feeder offers a tranquil

room

/2 by

hungry birds and

keeps mischievous cats and scavenging squirrels at bay. The feeder hangs
from a slippery 7-foot-tall pipe system braced by a 4 by 4 post.
dining

for

Build the inner frame of

Then

nail

make

on seven

by 4

Vi

right.

slats to

the feeding platform (rip one

of the slats lengthwise,

to

/2

Food trap

by Is

according to the drawing at

make an

bolts as

accurate

shown. Nail

Vi

for the food trap to the

Finally, miter the

necessary,

if

Add

fit).

by

4 eye-

Vi strips

platform top.

by 4s

for the

outer frame and nail in place.

Dig a hole
set

it

for the 4-foot post

and

2 feet into concrete. Assemble

the pipe support,

and

attach

it

to the

post with pipe clamps. Suspend the

feeder from eyebolts with S-hooks

and

chain.

Camouflage the pipe

stand by planting honeysuckle

base and training

it

up

at

the

the pipe.

Homemade Hanging Feeder

Soggy seeds are the bane of many
bird feeders, but this one has no such
problem. It's fashioned from Vw-inchmesh wire strainers the kind you

use in the kitchen.

If

Va" eyebolt
Vi"

connector

%" dowel
Va"

threaded rod

your strainers have large han-

8 /2" strainer
(plastic and wire mesh)
1

dles, cut

them

off.

Make

a hole for

the center support rod by separating

the wire

mesh

strainer with a

bottom of each
punch or large nail.

in the

Support wires

The load on
strainer

is

the base of each

spread out with 2-inch

washers made from drilled-out lids

from orange juice cans. (You could
substitute another material.) To add
support

for larger birds,

of Vu-inch

aluminum

wrap

pieces

clothesline

around the rod and bend them up to

the strainer's edge. Washers and nuts
hold everything in place.
Drill a hole in the

dowel perch

just

smaller than the threaded rod and

twist to about 6 inches above the top
strainer.

Design: Wally Doepel.

Va" nut

Rubber bumper

WO

Feeders, Houses

&

Baths

Classic

Hopper Feeder
2 /2" brass hinge
1

We

but

shovs- a fairlv large feeder,

you can scale down

sions if you like.
Cut

rails,

all

the dimen-

perches, floor,

and

side

walls to size as shown. Drill 3/s-inch

holes through perch
sets of 1

by 2

both

rails; nail

rails to

the

dowel perches, adding a

IV2" (rip

floor. Insert

from

larger roof section)

bit of water-

proof glue to the holes. Sand off ex-

Weatherstripping

cess dowel.

Cut clear Vs-inch acrylic into 7Viby 13-inch sheets (for best results,
use a paneling blade on a portable
circular saw or table saw). Add cleats
to side walls, nail walls to base, then

by #6 brass
screws, finishing

fasten acrylic in place with screws

and

finishing washers. Attach 16-

washers

inch-long roof pieces, hinging one

side as

Vb" acrylic,

shown.

'/2 "

Secure the barn

vanized

steel

to a length of gal-

pipe or a

wooden

post.
3
/s"

dowel

Galvanized pipe flange

Brass chain

Thistle Feeder

S-hook
Acrylic tubing

is

Hanging wire

the key to this

designed to please finches

feeder,

and other

thistle fanciers.

We

used

V%-

inch-thick acrylic, cut 16 inches long,

plus two plastic caps

one glued

the bottom

in place, the

Plastic

mailing cap
(handfitonly)

top one loose

for refilling.

To locate

acrylic, look in the Yel-

low Pages under

"Plastics:

Tubes, Sheets, Etc." Cut,

Rods,

drill,

sand the tube as required with standard woodworking tools. Seed "dispensers" are tiny, elongated openings

to

make

inch hole, then

little

for
for

up

one,
let

first drill

16"-long,

and

3"-diameter
acrylic tube

^ 8"-long, W dowels

l/w-

the drill "travel" a

or down. Drill

'/i-inch

holes

dowel perches and smaller holes

a hanging wire.

Hammer

dowels into place, then

secure the bottom cap with slowsetting

epoxy Wire, brass

chain,

Vie"

by

Vs"

seed holes

and

an S-hook complete the hanging

hardware.

Plastic mailing

(glue

in

cap

place)

Feeders, Houses

& Baths

101

by

3"
1

=^

Hummer Feeder

Manic hummingbirds need a feeder

all their own, filled with a solution
of water and sugar (for details on
making hummingbird nectar,
see page 92).

Any

bottle or

jar,

tipped

-4

an

at

hung from a tree, eave, or

mounting bracket, can serve

angle and
special

hummingbird feeder. For the

shown at right, sim-

as a

fancier version

ply

fit

a bottle with a tight rubber

stopper and bent glass tube.

little

around at either a pet store or

a scientific supply outlet should turn
up both stopper and tube. Hang the
unit in a shady spot: rapid temperafishing

ture changes cause

Twisted wire holder

hummingbird

Tapered rubber stopper

feeders to leak.

Hummers

Bent glass tube

love red, so bright tape

or an artificial red flower can help at-

know where
you probably won't

them. Once they

tract

the free nectar

need the

is,

Red

plastic flower

color inducement.

Simple Suet Feeders

Suet

is

a special winter treat for in-

such as woodpeckers. To
keep big birds from carrying away
more than their share, you can simply wrap suet with '/2-inch wire
mesh. String or mesh bags (the kind
often used for oranges or onions)
sect eaters

make good

also

containers.

tree-

_1

Soap dish

attached berry basket or wire-cage

soap dish

is

another option. Feeling

industrious? Try the tapered

feeder

shown

Brass hinge

wooden

at right.

You can also make a suet feeder

from a small log. Drill 1-inch-diameter

holes into (but not through) the

log,

then

erate to

fill

with melted

harden the

suet. Refrig-

suet, then

hang

the log from a tree limb. To attract

Mesh

birds that can't cling to tree trunks,

insert small

orange bag

wooden dowel perches

below some of the

holes.

For an even quicker project, just

dip a pinecone in melted suet to

hang out

for the birds.

Log feeder

102

Feeders, Houses

&

Wire

Bnths

mesh

Molding

strips

1"-diameter holes

Nesting Shelves

Certain bird species

robins,

phoe-

and barn swallows are good examples prefer to nest on open plat-

bes,

Robin shelf

forms rather than in standard "box"

Drainage holes

houses.

The two

shown

shelf designs

right are easy to build: use

any

faced 1-bv lumber vou have on

(decav-resistant

redwood,

at

sur-

hand

cedar, or

cypress will last the longest). Cut

pieces to allow for the floor space

and headroom shown on

on page 104.

the chart

Both these units were designed to

hang below eaves or from a house
wall that is partially protected from
the elements and from the eyes of

Barn swallow shelf

potential predators. Robins are also

fond of "hidden" nooks

in ivy or

other vines. Drill two slots near the

top of the back wall of the assembled

shelf,

then

slip the slots

over nails or

screws secured to house framing.

Purple Martin Apartment

Central

air

passage

Purple martins are one of the few

bird species that like to congregate

with

all

their relatives; you'll

need

provide an apartment house to

tract

to

at-

them.

The structure should be lightweight, making it easy to raise and

lower periodically for cleaning.

must

also have

good

purple martins take

the

It

ventilation

up

residence for

whole hot summer.

The house shown at right is built

from /2-inch exterior plywood and is
!

roofed with asphalt composition

shingles.

improves

summer
on,

"ventilation shaft" effect

air circulation

on

warm

As your house catches

you can easily expand upward
days.

the design

is

%" vent holes

modular.

any edge gaps in each story

putty and sand smooth.
Paint inside and out with white exterior latex to keep it cooler. Assemble
with hooks and eyes, then mount to a
Fill

with

wood

Floor

Hook and eye

stout pole or post, 15 to 20 feet high.

Pipe flange

Feeders, Houses

&

Baths

103

Birdhouse Ideas
The answer to bird housing shortages and a means by which to lure

birds to your garden

man-made

is to

offer

nesting structures.

up a hammer and
become acquainted with some

Before you pick

nails,

basic bird "building codes." Each

species requires different

accommo-

dations. For example, a shoebox-size

structure with a 2-inch hole won't at-

wrens

tract the

ply won't use

cozy,

that fly by.

it; it's

They sim-

too large to be

Entrance
diameter

the 2-inch opening will al-

and

low larger birds

to enter

and threaten

%" drainage

the occupants.

The chart

at right lists

some

famil-

garden birds and gives specifications for their needs in house size,

iar

Entrance height

holes

^.

diameter of opening, and height of

opening from the house floor. It also
tells you how high above ground the

Basic birdhouse

house should be mounted.

Not

birds will use birdhouses.

all

Swallows, for example,

open

nests on

make

tails,

Depth

of

Cavity

ledges, often just un-

der the eaves of buildings. For ledge

nesters, you need only provide a
nesting shelf

Floor of
Cavity

Species

their

for construction de-

Floor

Above
Ground

Above

House wren

4" x 4"

6"- 8"

4"-6"

VA"

6'-10'

Carolina wren

4" x 4"

6"-8"

4"-6"

VA"

6'-10'

Black-capped
chickadee

4" x 4"

8"- 10"

6"-8"

VAT

6'-15'

Tufted titmouse

4"x 4"

8"-10"

6"-8"

VA"

6-15'

Nuthatch

4"x 4"

8"-10"

6"-8"

VA"

12'-20'

Bluebird

5"x 5"

8"

6"

VA"

5'-10'

House

6"x 6"

6"

4"

2"

8'-12'

Robin

6"x 8"

8"

6'-15'

Black or eastern

6"x 6"

6"

8'

5"x5"

6"-8"

4"- 6"

VA"

10'-15'

Tree swallow

5"x 5"

6"-8"

4"-6"

VA"

10'-15'

Barn swallow

6"x 6"

6"

8'-12'

Purple martin

6"x 6"

6"

1"

2Vi"

15'-20'

Downy woodpecker

4"x 4"

8"-10"

6"-8"

VA"

6'-20'

Hairy woodpecker

6"x 6"

12"-15"

9"-12"

VA"

12-20'

Common flicker

7"x 7"

16"-18"

14"-16"

TA"

6'-20'

Red -headed
woodpecker

6"x 6"

12"-15"

9"-12"

2"

12'-20'

Screech owl

8"x 8"

12"-15"

9"-12"

3"

10-30'

see page 103.

Keeping

it

mer and

simple.

If

you have even

acquaintance with a ham-

a passing

nails,

you should be able

to

fashion a basic birdhouse like the

one shown above right. Make it out

of any Vi-inch or 1-by 04-inch) scrap
lumber decay-resistant woods such
as redwood, cedar, and cypress are
best. Simply rip (cut to width) and
crosscut (cut to length) pieces with a

handsaw
drill the

or portable circular saw;

entrance hole with a brace

and expansion bit, or use a power

drill and spade bit or hole saw. The
bevel (angle cut) shown where roof
meets backing board makes the joint
a little more seaworthy, but it isn't a
necessity.

Simply

nail the various pieces to-

box or finishing nails; hinge the roof as shown.

Don't worry about the finish birds
don't care, and the house will
weather, blending in with its surroundings. Nails are a quick and

finch

phoebe
Violet-green swallow

'

gether, using galvanized

One or more

104

Height

Diameter
of
Entrance

Entrance

Feeders, Houses

&

Baths

side-,

open

Two advanced designs

45 bevels

easy mounting solution, but vinylcoated wire (shown

is

kinder

to

your

at

bottom

V2"

gap

at top

right)

45 angle

trees.

Side wall

More advanced

designs. Although

the basic birdhouse

works

just fine

pivots out
for

cleaning

as far as birds are concerned, the

woodworker or landscaper in you

may want to fashion something a
little

snazzier.

shown

One of the designs

may fill the bill. Alter

at right

them or mix and match features as

your

mood

dictates.

Although you can cut any bevels

with a portable circular saw or saber
saw, it's more accurate and a lot
faster
to use a table saw to rip and
bevel all pieces. Cut the entrance hole
with a hand brace with expansion
bit, or a power drill with hole saw or
spade bit.

The predator block shown on

the

simply a
scrap block of wood screwed to the

birdhouse

at center right is

inside of the front; the extra hole

depth makes

it

tougher for outsiders

to harrass the official tenants. Drill

through both front and block at once.

If you wish to fashion a drip cap, just
cut a groove with a table saw's dado
blade or use a portable router and
straight bit.

Make

connections with finishing

nails (countersink
nailset) or

them with

decking screws (drive

them with a power drill and Phillips

head screwdriver bit).
Both these designs feature pivoting pieces that allow you access to
the inside for seasonal cleaning.

Form

the pivot points by drilling

through both fixed and moving

pieces; then tap %-inch dowels into
the holes. The dowels are left loose
(unglued), but they are sanded flush
once

installed. For best results,

use a

portable drill press or doweling

jig to

guide your drill bit. Secure the moving piece with a locking pin or screw
as shown.

Back
overlaps
post

^M>

Pi P e

stra P s

Pipe
flange

Vinyl-coated
wire

Feeders, Houses

&

Baths

105

Bamboo Waterspout
The sound

of running water is a

powerful attractor for birds, and this

traditional water spout
or tsukubai
in Japanese
is a simple way to provide it. Team up the spout with the

shown

concrete pool

below, or use a

rock with a natural hollow or

Puncture

some

bamboo joints

other type of small collecting basin.

It's

easy to hollow out

bamboo

for

use as piping: just ram a metal rod

through

it

to

puncture the

joints.

Then run flexible tubing through

and connect the tubing to a drip system or faucet. Set the water flow at a
very slow trickle. Channel any overflow to irrigate nearby plants or run
into a larger pond.

To conserve moisture, hook up the

pump on a timer or

system to a tiny

turn on a ball valve (see facing page)

at certain

times of the day. Early

morning and

when

late

afternoon are times

birds are most active.

Concrete "Rock" Pool

A

small hand-packed concrete pool

is

the simplest type of natural pool

for the do-it-yourselfer to build.

excavate and

First,

tamp the

site,

allowing for pool depth plus about 3

inches of concrete. In areas of freezing weather, dig

down an

extra 3 to 4

inches for a layer of gravel under the

concrete.

Add

either chicken wire or

welded steel mesh; bend it to shape,

then prop it up with bits of rock.
Pack a very

around the

stiff

concrete

mix

reinforcing, then finish

the surface with a

wood

float or

even

a paintbrush; a "rough" finish pro-

vides footing for birds and allows

moss and other plantings to take
hold. To

"-3"

deep

3"-deep concrete

enhance the natural appear-

ance, cover the walls with a mosaic

of rocks set in mortar.

Give your new "rock" pool two

coats of a commercial, cement-based

waterproofing compound. Then

cover and moist-cure the concrete
shell for several days before use.

106

Feeders, Houses

&

Baths

Welded
3"-4" gravel

steel

mesh

& Pool

Waterfall
Nothing
like the

your garden

attracts birds to

sound

of

moving

water.

small waterfall with reflecting pool

like the

one

at right is

with humans,

usually a hit

too.

news

Flexible liners are the big

in

garden pools, and you'll find some

type of liner in most garden centers

and

in virtually every mail-order

garden-pool catalog (see page 109).

These stout sheets 20 to 30 mils or

thicker are designed especially for
garden pools. To figure liner size,
add twice the pool's depth to its
width, then tack on an extra 2 feet;
repeat this procedure to find the cor-

rect length. In other

= 2d +

+ 2

words: liner size

by 2d +

ft

Liner installation

is

+ 2

ft.

straightfor-

Full

depth + 2"

ward. Dig a hole to the contours you

wish, adding 2 inches to the depth
all

around

for a layer of sand. Level

the excavation

and add

sand, smoothing

it

damp

fine,

with a

wood

Cut away 6" apron

edging material

float

Weight edges

for

or steel trowel.

Drape the

liner over the hole,

weight the edges, and slowly fill

with water while smoothing the liner
into shape.

Trim away

inches of excess liner

but about 6

all

all

Flexible liner

around the

pool and finish the edges with

plants, rocks, flagstones, or

some

other material. Shallow water

1

to 3 inches

deep

is

from

best for birds;

deeper areas, be sure to furnish

some rocks or a branch for birds to
land on.

Trim

off

excess

liner

in

To add a waterfall, build

up

slowly

Fill

Rubble

Primary boulders
(mortar in place)

foundation

foundation from rubble, sandbags, or

the dirt excavated when you dug
your pool. Lay down a strip of flexible liner on this foundation and sol-

vent-weld

it

to the pool liner.

Fieldstone edging
set

Now

in

mortar

place your primary rocks at the borders of the channel, being careful not
to

damage

the

liner.

Add

loose rocks

or pebbles for visual accent or to

form ripple patterns. To secure border plantings, pack soil behind the
boulders.

simple submersible

pump

recir-

culates water to the waterfall through

flexible tubing.

Power the

Plastic tubing
routes flow to waterfall

pump

Flexible liner

with

a GFCI-protected outdoor outlet; a

ball valve controls the flow.

Feeders, Houses

&

Baths

107

Pedestal Birdbath
A

sand-cast birdbath

is

Plywood template

not only

Metal rod (pivot point)

great for thirsty, hygienic-minded

birds, but

it

makes

custom garden

accent as well.

make

To

mold

for the bath, dig a

shallow hole, spread out wet sand,

then drive a metal rod or pipe into
the center as a pivot point. Construct
a simple template like the

and

fasten to a piece of

one shown

PVC

First 1" layer

concrete

Second

1" layer

concrete

pipe to

use as a swivel. Pivot the template to

shape the sand mold, then touch up
the sand with a wood float.

Now remove the template and

pour a stiff concrete mix into the
middle of the mold. Trowel from center to edge in one direction only, so
sand is not disturbed, until the entire
mold is covered with a 1-inch layer
of concrete. Then bend welded steel
mesh to the shape of the mold and
press

it

Welded

steel

mesh

into the concrete.

Pour another 1-inch layer of conUse your

template to smooth the bowl, then
fine-tune with a wood float (don't
crete over the reinforcing.

make

the interior too

won't like

it).

Smooth

smooth

birds

hole
metal rod

Drill

for

edges, cut the

top off the pivot rod, and patch the

hole before concrete

sets.

Let your bowl damp-cure for 7

days, then

mount on

or post as

shown.

a large

stump

A Hot Tub for Birds

No,

it's

not really a hot

tut)

it's

sim-

redwood frame surrounding

ply a

Plastic tray

V/z"

%" dowel

recessed bath, plus a pair of hard-

wood

perches for drinking and

lounging.

Use

a shallow plastic basin, pho-

tographic

or similar vessel to

tray,

hold the water just be sure ifs not

more than 3 inches deep and isn't
too

slick.

Make

the inner frame from

construction-grade
dar; size

it

redwood
enough

just large

basin

but not the rim

side.

Cut and

drill

or cefor the

to slip in-

the wider end

panels as shown, then add Vs-inch

dowel perches.

108

Feeders, Houses

&

Baths

!*

TT. T pflYYI
CM
1\J

It

A/TnVP

you want

to find

Birding and conservation organizations:

American Birding Association,
P.O. Box 6599
Colorado Springs, CO 80934
American
National

Museum of Natural

Birds of Nortli America

Chandler S. Robbins, Bertel Bruun, and Herbert

Golden Press, New York

Inc.

Audubon Society Pocket Guides

H. Whitman, Editor
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York

History

(Regional editions are available.)

Cornell University

Catalogs of bird-feeding
and garden pool suppliers:

Laboratory' of Ornithology

159 Sapsucker

Woods Road

Audubon Workshop

New York 14850

Audubon
950 Third Avenue
National

1501 Paddock Drive

Northbrook,

Society

Springfield, Missouri 65804

Audubon Society

The Bird House

Box 722
Estacada, Oregon 97023

Department

Avenue SE

801 Pennsylvania

60062

717

(Write for addresses of local branches.)

International

Illinois

BackYard Birds & Co.

S. Broadview Drive

New York, New York 10022

National

Zim

Ann

Smithsonian Institute
Washington, DC 20560

Ithaca,

S.

Familiar Birds of North America.

Union

Ornithologists'

out more about bird-watching, bird feeding, backyard habitats,

oca j Girding c i u bs, and other subjects discussed in this book, the following organizations and publications can provide information.
j

Suite 301

Washington,

DC 20036

Bird 'n

National Wildlife Federation

Framingham, Massachusetts 01701

Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program

1400 Sixteenth Street

Washington,

DC

Hand

40 Pearl Street

NW

Droll Yankees Inc.

20036-2266

Mill

Road
Rhode

(Kits are available for landscaping a habitat.)

Foster,

The Nature Conservancy

Duncraft
Penacook,

1785 Massachusetts

Washington,

Avenue

NW

DC 20036

Hyde

New

P.O. Box 168

and Wildlife Service

Department of the Interior
Washington, DC 20240

P.O. Box 10

Lilypons Water Gardens

Lilypons, Maryland 21717

Van Ness Water Gardens

Wildlife Refuges.)

2460 Euclid Avenue

Upland, C A 91786

Field guides:
Field

Guide

to the Birds of

Wild Bird Company

North America

Shirley L. Scott, Editor

National Geographic Society, Washington,

The Peterson Field Guide

Series

Roger Tory Peterson

Houghton

Mifflin

Company, Boston

(Regional and beginner's guides are available,

also

CDs and

cassettes of bird songs.)

Company

Waltham, Massachusetts 02254

U.S. Fish

map of National

Hampshire 03303

Bird Feeder

North American Bluebird Association

P.O. Box 6295
Silver Spring, Maryland 20906

(Write for

Island 02825

DC

617 Hungerford Drive

Rockville, Maryland 20850

Wild Bird Supplies

4825

Oak

Street

Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012

Wild Birds Unlimited

1430 Broad Ripple Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46220

Appendix

109

Backyard Checklist

Listed below, in taxonomic order, are the 80 birds described in

"A Garden

on pages 21-61. Record sightings of any of these species. If you see

a particular bird in late April one year, you may want to watch for it at the same

Guest

List,"

time in future years.

Date

Date

Date

Hawks

Crows, Magpies

American

Kestrel

& Jays

Vireos
Red-eyed Vireo

Steller's Jay

Blue Jay

Warblers

Gamebirds

Scrub Jay

Ring-necked Pheasant

American Crow

Gambel's Quail

Yellow Warbler

Pine Warbler

Northern Bobwhite

Titmice

& Chickadees
Tanagers

Black-capped Chickadee

Plovers

Carolina Chirkadpp

Scarlet Tanaeer

KillHper

Tufted Titmouse

Wpstprn Tanager

Doves

Bushtits

Grosbeaks

Rock Dove
Mourning Dove

Bushtit

Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Nuthatches

Owls

Rlack-headpd Grosbpak

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Owl
Wpstprn Srrpprh Owl
Great Horned Owl
Eastern Screech

Buntings

White-breasted Nuthatch

Indigo Runting

Creepers

Painted Runring

Rrnwn Crppppr
Swifts

& Hummingbirds

Chimnpy

Swift

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Black-chinned

Sparrows

Wren
Hummingbird

Kinglets

Rufous-sided Towhee
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throatpd Sparrow

Col den -crown pd Kinglpt

White-crowned Sparrow

Ruby-crownpd Kinglpt

Dark-eyed Junco

Wren
Housp Wrpn

Carolina

Anna's Hummingbird
Broad-tailed

Hummingbird

Kingfishers
Belted Kingfisher

Bluebirds

Blackbirds

Woodpeckers

Fastprn RhipbirH

Red-wingpd Rlarkbird

Red-headed Woodpecker

Wpstprn RlupbirH

Eastern Meladowlark

Red-bellied

Woodpecker

Mountain

Western Meadowlark

Rliipbirrl

Common Grackle

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Thrushes

Rrown-headed Cowhird

Hairy Woodpecker
Northprn Flirkpr

Wood Thrush

Northern Oriole

Flycatchers

Mimic Thrushes

Black Phoebe

Gray

Eastern Phoebe

Northern Mockingbird

Pine Siskin

Brown Thrasher

American Goldfinch
Fvpning Crnebeak

Ampriran Robin

Finches
Purple Finch

House Finch

Cr.thirH

Swallows
.

Purple Martin

Waxwings

Tree Swallow

Cedar Waxwing

Violet-green Swallow

Barn Swallow

Weavers
.

House Sparrow

Starlings

Furnppan Starling

110

Appendix

Index
Boldface numbers refer to bird
descriptions, pages 22-61.

Cardinal, northern. 50, 68. 69. 70.

89

73, 74. 75. 77. 78. 86,

Carduelis pin us. 60

83
81. 82. 83

Acer. 68.

82.

Carduelis tnstis. 60
Carolina snailseed.

Agelaius phoeniceus. 56
Alnus. 68. 82. 83

Amelanchier, 68. 73. 81

82. 83

American bittersweet. See Celastrus scandens

American sweet gum. See
Liquidambar styraciflua
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata. 78
Anatomy, 10-11
Annuals, 71

Aphelocoma coerulescens. 36
See Thuja
Archilochus alexandri. 27

See Cocculus

Families, bird.

Catbird. 68. 69, 70, 73. 74. 75. 77,

tray,

bird

83
Berchemia scandens. 78
Betula. 68. 81. 82.83
82,

See

fortunei 'Vegetus'

10-11

Binoculars, 17

See Betula
also

Water
Bird counts.

Birdfeed.

95

109

Birdseed, 88-89

See

also

Rubus

87

Blackbird. 9,

9,

86

Feet,

Ceryle alcyon. 29

Finch. 9. 68. 70. 73. 74. 75. 78.

56, 87

Blossoms. 71

See Vaccinium
Blueberry climber. See Ampelopsis

Blueberry.

Bluebird, 9, 68. 69, 70, 73, 74, 75.

77. 78

43
mountain, 44
western. 43
eastern,

vociferus.

house,

Bombycilla cedrorum. 47
Boston ivy. See Parthenocissus
Brambles. See Rubus
Breeding, 12

9. 68,
86.'

black-capped,
Carolina. 38,

69, 70. 73. 74, 75.

2. 37,

Flicker, 70. 74. 75, 77, 78.

See

also

See

94

Grackle,

common, 57

Grape See

Vitis

Grosbeak, 9, 68, 69, 70. 73. 74, 75.

77
black-headed, 51
evening, 6, 61,65, 89
rose-breasted, 51

Grouse. See

Game

birds

26

See Rhamnus
Buffaloberry. See Shepherdia

Crops, conserving, 76

70
Crow, 9, 68
American, 37
Currant. See Ribes
Cyanocitta cristata. 36
Cyanocitta stellen, 35
Crossbill,

painted,
Bushtit,

52
52

also Cornus

Callipepla gambelii,

See

23

also by individual

birds

Calypte anna. 28
berries.

24

Dumetella carolinensis, 45

Callicarpa. 73, 81

See Rubus

Edges (ecotones),

19,

66

Eggs. See by individual birds

Elaeagnus, 74, 81 82, 83
,

angustifolia.

69

Celtis

See

also Ilex

Hopper feeder, classic, 96, 101

Hornbeam. See Carpinus

Dove. 8. 68, 73, 86

mourning, 3, 25, 68, 75, 89
rock,

Cakes, 92-93

Cane

See

See

sargentii. 75, 81, 82, 83

Manzanita See Arctostaphylos
Map, climate, 80
Maple See Acer
Martin, purple, 33. See also Swallow
apartment, 103
Meadowlark, 18
eastern, 57

western, 9, 57
Melanerpes carolinus, 30
Melanerpes erythrocephalus. 29
Melospiza melodia, 54
Migration, 14-15
Millet, white proso, 88, 89
Mimus polyglottos. 46
Mockingbird. 68, 69, 70, 73, 74, 75,
77, 78

northern,

46

Molothrus ater. 58
Morus. 70. 81,82, 83
Mountain ash. See Sorbus
Mulberry.

See Morus

Muscicapidae

family,

Myrica, 70, 81 83
pensylvanica, 75, 81
,

Honeysuckle. See Lonicera

18,39,68.70,73

Calls, 13.

64.

also by

Hanging feeder, homemade, 100

Hawk, 68, 70, 87
sparrow. See Kestrel. American
Hawthorn. See Crataegus
Hemlock. See Tsuga
Heteromeles arbutifolia. 74. 83
Hirundo rustica. 35

for birds, 108

Houses, 98-99, 103-105
Huckleberry. See Vaccinium
Hummer feeder, 102
Hummingbird, 8
Anna's, 28
black-chinned, 27
broad-tailed. 28
feeders, 86, 102
garden, 79
nectar, 92
ruby-throated, 10,27
Hylocichla mustelina. 44

Hot tub

Dogwood,

See

individual bird

Holly, 64.

Dendroica petechia, 48
Dendroica pinus. 49

Bunting, 9

Habitat, 18-19, 64-67.

Hackberry.

83

Malus. 69, 81,82, 83

Goldenrod, 71
Goldfinch, 19,68,69, 86
American. 60, 69, 84, 89
Gooseberry. See Ribes

Concrete "rock" pool. 106

Conservation organizations, 109
Corn, 88, 89, 94
pudding. 93
Cornus, 64, 68-69, 73, 81 82. 83
Honda. 68
Corvidae family, 9
Corvus brachyrhynchos. 37
Cotoneaster. 74, 81 82, 83
horizontalis. 73
Cowbird, brown-headed, 9, 58
Crabapple. See Malus

styraciflua. 69, 81,

Mail-order suppliers, 109

Geese, snow. 1
Glonosa daisy, 65

24

Liquidambar

Magnolia. 69, 81, 83

Magpie. 9
Mahonia, 74, 83

Fnngillidae family, 9

birds.

83

Lonicera. 14, 78, 81, 82, 83

Phoebe
Foods. See Feed
also

Game

Cocculus carolinus. 78
Coconut, 93
Colaptes auratus. 32
Colinus virginianus. 23
Colors, 11, 16
family,

Flycatcher, 8-9, 68, 69, 70, 78.

Fruit. 93,

Larix

Ligustrum. 74, 81, 82, 83

Lindera benzoin. 74, 81

14
Flowers, for hummingbirds, 79

Chokeberry. See Aronia

Christmas bird counts. 95
Christmas tree. 94
Classification of birds. 8
Climate map. 80
Coccothraustes vespertinus. 61

See

Larix. 69, 82,

Flight, 11,

62

29

Landscaping. 63-83
Larch.

32

northern,

90

Chipmunks. 86

livia.

95

Woodpecker

89. 90. 91

24

Kingfisher, belted,

70
golden-crowned. 42
ruby-crowned. 42

See Abies
Firethorn. See Pyracantha

Buckthorn.

indigo. 3,

American, 10, 22, 87

Kinglet, 9, 68,

Fir.

See Prunus

77, 78,

86

59, 69, 70, 86, 89

3,

purple. 59, 65. 70. 86. 89.

24

Crataegus. 69, 81. 82,83

Creeper, 68, 70
brown. 40

Bobolink, 9
Bobwhite, northern. 23, 73, 89

virginianus.

Juniperus. 69, 81, 82. 83

Killdeer,

109

brevipedunculata

Bubo

35

Junco, 68. 69. 70

dark-eyed. 56, 86. 89
Junco hyemalis. 56
Juniper. See Juniperus

Kestrel,

Field guides, 16.

red-winged.

Steller's,

tips,

Columbidae

Birdhouses. 98-99. 103-105

Blackberry. 19.

89

scrub, 36

Celastrus scandens. 78
Celtis. 68. 81 82. 83
Certhia americana. 40

Columba

85-94

Birding organizations.

Feed, 85-94
cakes. 92-93
Christmas tree. 94

seeds and supplements. 88-89

90-91
Feeders, 65, 98, 100-102

00

Cats, 87

Chickadee.

See

blue. 36,

protection against pests. 87

45

Catproof feeder

Cherry.

See Berbens
Bayberry See Myrica pensylvanica
Beautyberry. See Callicarpa
Behavior. 12. See also by individual

Birdbaths, 65, 72, 99, 108.

81,83

79

87,89

8-9

favorite foods.

78

Charadnus

Barberry.

Birch.

64, 69, 74.

Insects. 67,

Evolution, 10-11

Carpodacus mexicanus. 59
Carpodacus purpureus. 59
Catalogs, 109

Checklist, backyard. 110

Euonymus

also by

Jay, 9, 68, 69, 70. 73. 74, 75, 77, 78,

Aroma. 73. 81 82
Atriplex, 73, 82. 83

Bills,

Ilex.

Falco sparvenus. 22

gray.

See

individual bird

78

Carpinus. 68. 81. 83

Chaetura pelagica. 26

Big-leaf winter creeper.

82

fortunei Vegetus',

Archilochus colubns. 27
Arctostaphylos. 73. 83

Identification, 16.

Arborvitae.

Berberis. 73. 81

74, 81

58

Icterus galbula.

family.

carolinus

See Alnus

Alder.

See Sambucus

Emberizidae

Euonymus.
alata. 65

Cardinalis cardinalis. 50

Abies. 68. 81

Elderberry.

Nectar, hummingbird, 92
Nesting, 12, 20, 65, 75. See also by
individual bird

shelves, 103
Netting,

76

Niger seed. See Thistle seed

Nuthatch, 9, 68, 69, 70
red-breasted, 39
white-breasted,

2,

40

Oak. See also Quercus

red,

65

Oriole, 68, 70,

86

Baltimore, 2
northern, 9, 58,

72

111

&s
ra
* 0>,'

Otus
Otus

asio,

Pyracantha. 75. 81

25
Owl, 11,68,70,87
great horned, 26

25

also

70, 73, 75, 77, 86.

Game

See

birds

Gambel's, 23
Quercus. 65, 70, 81, 82, 83
Quiscalus quiscula, 57

Paridae family, 9
Parthenocissus, 78

Parus atricapillus, 37
Parus bicolor, 38
Parus carolinensis, 38
Passer domesticus, 61
Passerina ciris, 52
Passerina cyanea, 52
Peanut butter mix, 92

Raspberry. See Rubus

Regulus calendula. 42

Regulus satrapa. 42
Resources, 109

Rhamnus, 75, 81,

82, 83

Ribes, 75, 82, 83

Robin, 19. 20, 68, 69, 70, 73, 74,

Peanuts, 88-89
Pedestal birdbath, 108
Pennisetum, 64

75, 77,

78

American, 20, 45
Rosa. 75, 77, 81 82, 83
Rose. See Rosa
Rubus. 77, 81 82, 83
Russian olive. See Elaegnus
,

Perennials, 71
Pests,

87

Phasianidae family, 8
Phasianus colchicus, 22
Pheasant. See also Game birds
ring-necked, 22
Pheucticus ludovicianus, 51
Pheucticus melanocephalus, 51
Phoebe, 69. 73, 78
black,

Picea, 70, 81

angustilolia

82,

82,

83

Sambucus,

yellow-bellied,

83

Pipilo erythrophthalmus,

53

Piranga ludoviciana. 50
Piranga olivacea. 49
Plum. See Prunus
Pools, 72, 99, 106-107, 109. See
also Water

Popcorn, 94

Sorbus, 70, 81 82, 83

Sparrow, 9,11, 70, 73, 74, 75, 77

33

tree, 53,

white-throated, 16, 55

Sphyrapicus varius. 30
Spice bush. See Lindera benzoin

53
Spizella passerina, 54
Spizella arborea,

Spruce.
blue,

See

Towhee,
78

19, 68, 70, 73, 74, 75, 77,

89

rufous-sided, 53,
Toxics, 91

Toxostoma rufum, 46
Toyon. See Heteromeles arbutifolia
Trees, 68-70
Trochilidae family, 8
Troglodytes aedon, 41
Troglodytidae family, 9

64

house, 61,87,89
song, 10,54,89
white-crowned, 55, 89

also Picea

Tsuga, 70, 81,82, 83

Turdus migratorius, 45
Tyrannidae family, 8-9
Vaccinium. 77, 81

65

83

Viburnum. 65, 77, 81

87
Starling, 77, 87
European, 47
Sturnella magna, 57
Sturnella neglecta, 57
Sturnus vulgaris. 47
Suet, 92
feeders, 65,91, 102
Squirrels, 86,

44

Sialia currucoides,
Sialia

mexicana. 43

Sialia sialis,

Sitta

43

canadensis. 39

Sitta carolinensis,

feeder,

82,

83

Vines, 78
Vireo. 9, 68, 69, 70, 77,

78

red-eyed, 10,48
Vireonidae family, 9
Vireo olivaceus. 48
Virginia creeper.

See Partheno-

cissus
Vitis.

40

Sittidae family. 9

Snowberry. See Symphoricarpos

65

Supplejack.

78

Warbler,

See Berchemia

pine,

scandens
Swallow. 68

yellow, 12,

Waterfall

34

78

48

and

pool,

107

Waterspout, bamboo, 106

Wax myrtle. See Myrica

34
chimney, 26

violet-green,

Symphoricarpos, 77, 81

82,

83

Tachycineta bicolor, 34
Tachycinela thalassina, 34
Tanager, 9, 68

49
western, 50
Taxonomy, 8
scarlet,

Thistle seed, 88,

3, 9. 68, 70, 74, 77,

49

Water, 64, 72, 89, 99, 106-108

barn, 2, 18, 35

Swift,

89

Prunus. 70, 75, 81,82, 83

Psaltriparus minimus. 39

American

chipping, 54, 89

tree,

Siskin, pine, 60, 65, 68, 69. 70. 86.

See Ligustrum
subis,

30

Sassafras albidum. 70, 81

Sayornis nigricans. 32
Sayornis phoebe, 33
Scarecrow, 76
Seeds, 88-89
Selasphorus platycercus. 28
Serviceberry. See Amelanchier
Shadblow. See Amelanchier
Shepherdia. 77, 82
Shrubs, 73-75

Predators, 87

Progne

82

sargentii

Picoides villosus, 31
Pigeon, 8, 68, 87. See also Dove.
rock
Pine. See Pinus
Pinecones, 94

Privet.

77, 81

Sargent crabapple. See Malus

83

Picidae family, 8
Picoides pubescens, 31

Pinus. 70, 81,82,

also by individual

Sunflower seeds, 88, 89, 93

Safflower seeds, 88, 89
Saltbush. See Atriplex

Sapsucker, 68. See also Woodpecker

32

eastern, 33
Photinia, 75, 81

See

13.

birds

83

Quail, 11

screech (eastern and western),

Songs,

Purple martin apartment, 103

25

kennicottii,

Waxwing, 68, 69, 70, 74

cedar, 47, 64, 69, 70, 73, 74, 75,

77,78
Weeds, 71
Wings,

11

Woodpecker, 8, 11, 68, 70,

86,89
downy, 31,65
hairy. 10,

89

31

red-bellied,

feeder, 101

Thrasher, 19, 70, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78

brown. 46
Thrush, 9, 68, 69, 70, 73, 74. 75, 77,

73, 77,

30

red-headed, 29

Wren,

9, 70, 73, 74, 75, 77,

78

Carolina. 41

house, 41

78
wood, 44

Wrentit,

75

Thryothorus ludovicianus, 41
Thuja, 70, 81,82.

Titmouse,

83
86

9, 70, 74,

tufted, 38,

89

Zenaida macroura, 25
Zonotrichia albicollis. 55
Zonotrichia leucophrys, 55

Photographers
George K. Bryce/Animals Animals: 32 bottom; Gay Bumgarner/Photo/Nats: 35 top, 36 top, 72; John Cancalosi/Tom Stack &
Associates: 23 bottom; M. A. Chappell/Animals Animals: 34 bottom; Glenn Christiansen: 75; Mary Clay/Tom Stack & Associates:
35 bottom, 36 bottom, 37 top, 41 bottom, 45 top, 56 top; Priscilla Connell/Photo/Nats: 24 top, 26 top, 27 top, 29 bottom, 30 top, 31 top,
38 bottom, 41 top, 43 top; W. Perry Conway/Tom Stack & Associates: 23 top, 57 top; E. R. Degginger/Animals Animals: 84; Tom
Edwards/Animals Animals: 56 bottom; Bill Everitt/Tom Stack & Associates: 24 bottom; Derek Fell: 78; Jeff Foott/Tom Stack &

&

Associates: 22 bottom; John Gerlach/Animals Animals: 20; John Gerlach/Tom Stack

Associates: 39 bottom, 43 bottom; Warren
Greene/VIREO: 6; C. H. Greenewalt/VIREO: 27 bottom; Win. D. Griffin, Photography/Animals Animals: 61 bottom; George H.
Harrison: 58 top, 60 top; Valerie Hodgson/Photo/Nats: 53 bottom, 59 bottom, 91; Thomas Kitchin/Tom Stack
Associates: 25 bottom, 29 top, 30 bottom, 44 top; Sid Lipschutz/VIREO: 49 top; Joe McDonald/Animals Animals: 51 bottom; Ells Marugg: 68; Brian

&

61 top; Alan G. Nelson/Tom Stack & Associates: 40 bottom, 50 top; Don Normark: 15; John F. O'Connor,
M.D./Photo/Nats: 12, 25 top, 49 bottom; Herbert B. Parsons/Photo/Nats: 44 bottom, 46 bottom, 47 bottom, 57 bottom; Don and Esther
Phillips/Tom Stack & Associates: 32 top, 37 bottom, 47 top; Rod Planck/Tom Stack & Associates: 40 top, 54 bottom; Norman A.
Plate: 89; C. R. Sams II and J. F. Stoick/VIREO: 60 bottom; F. K. Schleicher/VIREO: 31 bottom; B. Schorre/VIREO: 1, 28 top, 52
bottom; Stan Schroeder/Animals Animals: 38 top; G. W. Schwartz/Animals Animals: 50 bottom; Wendy Shattil, Robert Rozinski/
Tom Stack & Associates: 28 bottom; John Shaw/Tom Stack & Associates: 34 top, 48 top, 54 top; Robert C. Simpson/Tom Stack &
Associates: 22 top, 33 top, 42, 45 bottom, 48 bottom, 51 top, 52 top, 53 top, 55, 58 bottom; Michael Thompson: 71, 73; John Trott/
Animals Animals: 62; T. J. Ulrich/VIREO: 33 bottom; Darrow M. Watt: 93; Jack Wilburn/Animals Animals: 39 top, 46 top; J. R.
Woodward/VIREO: 59 top, 95; Tom Wyatt: 77, 96, 98, 99; D. & M. Zimmerman/VIREO: 26 bottom.

Milne/Animals Animals:

112

Index

Welcoming Wild Birds

Learn how to

identify

America's most

80

of North

common callers; each

entry in this mini field guide includes

map

a color photo and range

Invite

feathered friends to your garden

with annual

and perennial plantings that

attract birds

Feed winged guests a banquet of

birdseed, suet, and other snacks; you'll
learn the birds' favorite foods

Build your own birdhouse,

feeder, or

bath with the help of simple step-by-step

projects

and design ideas

Robins drop by for a breakfast of blackberries.

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