common birds of new england · barn swallow •identifying features: blue plumage on the back and...

Common Birds of New England

Let’s learn to identify birds that you can find in your own backyard!

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Black Capped Chickadee

• Identifying features: Small size, short & thin bill, black feathers on head (a “black cap”), white feathers on side of face (white cheeks), gray back, white-tan underbelly.

• Habitat: Trees or woody shrubs, weedy fields, cattail marshes, deciduous and mixed forests.

• Range: They are non-migratory; their range extends from New England to the West Coast even as far south as new Mexico.

• Voice: “Chick-a-dee-dee-dee.”

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/noindex/photo/68055161-480px.jpg

Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/sounds

Tufted Titmouse

• Identifying traits: Small size, gray color, tufted crest on the head, black eyes, flanks are rusty orange.

• Range: eastern and central United Staes, nonmigratory.

• Habitat: Thickets, brush, shade trees.• Voice: Sharp clear whistle, “peter-

peter-peter-peter.”• Call: Sharp, scratchy, “tsee-day-day-

day.”• Fun fact: The largest of the titmice.

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Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tufted_Titmouse/sounds

Barn Swallow

• Identifying features: Blue plumage on the back and top of the wings, and a long, deeply forked tail.

• Habitat: They like open spaces and use human-made structures to nest and breed in.

• Range: Several species are strongly migratory. They are found in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

• Voice: A “twitter-warble” song; also a long series of continuous warbling sounds followed by up to a dozen rapid, mechanical-sounding ”whirrs.” The song is often introduced and followed by a chirp.

• Call: “Cheep” when threatened and a “churee”whistle to signal danger.

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Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Swallow/sounds

American Robin

• Identifying traits: (Male) Brick-red breast, black back and wings, darker head with white eye crescents (Female) Less vibrant colors and a head and a tail that is grayer than the male robin.

• Range: Throughout the continental United States.

• Habitat: Forests, tundra; also able to live in human altered habitats such as suburban yards.

• Voice: Their song is a low, clear series of whistled phrases with a distinct liquid quality. “cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up.”

• Call: A low pup, a sharp clucking, or a rapid, urgent ”kliquiquiquiqui koo.”

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Male

Female

Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/sounds#:~:text=American%20Robins%20often%20make%20a,like%20a%20laugh%20or%20chuckle.

Northern Cardinal

• Identifying traits: (Male) Vibrant red body, wings and tail; black face mask; heavy, triangular, red-orange bill; pointed crest. (Female) Yellow-brownish colored body; wings, tail, and crest all tinted with red; black face mask; heavy, triangular, red-orange bill; pointed crest.

• Range: The northern cardinal is a year-round resident throughout the eastern and central United States, except in the northernmost parts of Vermont and Maine.

• Habitat: Cardinals can be found near the edges of forested areas as well as in thickets and suburban backyards.

• Voice: The cardinal’s cheerful song is a short series of whistling notes, descending in pitch, “what-chee, cheery cheery cheery” or ”whoit whoit whoit.”

• Call: A sharp ”chip!”

Male

Female

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Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/sounds#:~:text=Both%20male%20and%20female%20Northern,or%20birdie%2C%20birdie%2C%20birdie.

Blue Jay

• Identifying traits: Blue head, body, and tail; white breast and underside; black bill; tail with white shafts at corners; black collar, and wings with white spots.

• Range: Blue jays are year-round residents throughout the continental U.S.

• Habitat: Blue jays live naturally in oak, pine, and scrub forests, but they also thrive in suburban areas as well.

• Voice: The blue jay’s call is a loud, raucous ”jay! jay! jay!”

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Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue_Jay/sounds

White Breasted Nuthatch• Identifying traits: (Male) short, stocky body; Slate blue-gray above and

white below; black cap and collar; slender, pointed black beak; short, stiff tail with small white shafts near outer edges; chestnut brown undertail feathers. (Female) short, stocky body; pale gray above and white below; grey cap and collar; slender, pointed black beak, short, stiff tail with small white shafts near outer edges. Both male and femaleoften descend trees headfirst.

• Range: The white-breasted nuthatch is a year-round resident throughout the United States as far south as Georgia and Alabama.

• Habitat: The white-breasted nuthatch is usually found in forests, but they can live anywhere where there is sufficient tree cover, including woodlots, groves, and suburban backyards.

• Voice: The nuthatch’s call is a nasal, almost wheezy ”yank” or ”yank-yank.” Its song is a rapid staccato of nasal, whistled notes of uniform pitch: ”whi, whi, whi, whi, whi.”

• Fun fact: The nuthatch is sometimes spotted climbing down trees in a spiral pattern.


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Male

Female

Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-breasted_Nuthatch/sounds#:~:text=The%20White%2Dbreasted%20Nuthatch's%20most,females%20exchange%20a%20soft%20yink.

American Goldfinch

• Identifying traits: (Male) bright yellow body in summer that fades to a darker green brown in winter; black cap present during the summer; short pointed bill; black wings with white wing-bars; black, slightly forked tail with traces of white around the edges;, white rump. (Female) dull, yellow-olive body; short, pale, pointed bill; black wings with white wing-bars; black, slightly forked tail with traces of white around the edges; white rump.

• Range: The American goldfinch can be found in southern Canada and throughout the continental U.S.

• Habitat: The American goldfinch makes its home in thistle patches, roadsides, open woods, edges, orchards, and gardens. It is attracted to backyard feeders.

• Voice: Canarylike whistles and warbles.• Call: The call of “chik-o-ree” or ”per-chik-o-ree,” is often

heard when they are flying.• Fun fact: They like eating thistle and thistle seeds.



Female

Male

Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/sounds

Cedar Waxwing• Identifying traits: Thin, black bill; pale brown on back and chest

fading to soft gray on wings; belly is pale yellow; pointed brown crest; black face mask; short tail is gray with a bright yellow tip; wing feathers fringed with red.

• Range: Year-round resident from Maine south to the Carolinas. Its breeding range extends into Canada, and it wanders as far south as the Gulf Coast in winter.

• Habitat: Cedar waxwings forage for fruit and insects in wooded areas and orchards; they often visit backyards, especially in winter.

• Voice: The call of a Cedar Waxwing is a high, excited lisping sound: ”tzeeeee!”


Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/sounds

American Crow

• Identifying features: Glossy black feathers; dark grayish black legs and feet.

• Habitat: Common pretty much any where there is available food. Commonly seen in wooded areas, farmland, suburban streets, and open fields.

• Voice: Loud “Caw.”• Range: Stays year-round in the U.S.• Fun fact: Often travels in a pack known

as a “murder” of crows.https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/noindex/photo/70580311-480px.jpg

Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/sounds#:~:text=The%20most%20common%2C%20a%20harsh,rally%20others%20to%20mob%20predators.

Mourning Dove

• Identifying traits: (Male) medium sized bird; small head with bluish crown; pale bluish orbital eye ring; light brown body with black spots near wings and tail; long, pointed tail with white tips. (Female) Smaller and less colorful than the male; lacks the male’s bluish crown.

• Range: The mourning dove can be found throughout the continental United States.

• Habitat: Brushy, open habitats; farms and suburbs.

• Voice: Its song is a hollow, mournful ”ooAAHcooo cooo cooo” and often mistaken for an owl.

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Male

Female

Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/sounds

Northern Mockingbird (American Nightingale)

• Identifying traits: Medium-sized; light gray on top, white below; two white wing bars; long tail and thin bill; thin, dark eye-line; white outer tail feathers; large white wing patches.

• Range: The northern mockingbird can be found throughout the continental United States.

• Habitat: Northern mockingbirds can be found in towns and along roadsides. They usually frequent the open areas near thickets and dense bushes.

• Voice: The northern mockingbird is a great imitator of many species. Its song is a pattern of varied phrases, followed by a pause, after which another pattern is begun, “krrDEE-krrDEE-krrDEE.”

• Call: A harsh ”chak,” or a hoarse ”skeech.”

• Fun Fact: The Northern Mockingbird can sing over 200 songs, including those of other birds, insects, amphibians, and even mechanical sounds.

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Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Mockingbird/sounds

White Throated Sparrow

• Identifying traits: White throat patch; yellow spots between eye and bill; head stripes vary between individuals – black and white or brown and tan; gray breast; black and brown striped back; grayish bill.

• Range: The white-throated sparrow can be found throughout the continental United States.

• Habitat: Thickets, brush, and the undergrowth of coniferous and mixed woodlands. They visit feeders but prefer to stay on the ground.

• Voice: Song is a strong, unbroken whistle, “Old Sam Peabody” or “Oh Sweet Canada.”

• Call: A distinct ”tseep.”

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/assets/og/75222401-1200px.jpg

Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-throated_Sparrow/sounds#:~:text=White%2Dthroated%20Sparrows%20sing%20a,the%20second%20or%20third%20note.

Killdeer

• Identifying traits: Two prominent black breast bands near neck; short neck; brown back; white underparts; in flight displays a golden orange rump, long tail, and a white wing stripe.

• Range: The killdeer can be found throughout the continental United States.

• Habitat: The killdeer is a common bird of farms, fields, airports, lawns, and will nest on flat rooftops.

• Voice: A very noisy, insistent, and piercing ”kill-deah” repeated many times, also “dee-dee-dee.”


Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/sounds

Eastern Blue Bird

• Identifying traits: (Male) dark blue bird with an orange-red breast, a white belly, and a large, round head. (Female) More dull-colored overall than the male.

• Range: The eastern bluebird can be found in eastern and central United States into eastern Arizona.

• Habitat: Open country, farms, and roadsides; they are a heavy user of nesting boxes.

• Voice: A full, warbling whistle, broken into ”chur-wi” and ”tru-ly.”

• Call: A dry chatter.

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MaleFemale

Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Bluebird/sounds

Red Winged Blackbird

• Identifying traits: (Male) glossy black plumage; bill is black, conical, and pointed; red patches on the shouldersbordered with yellow beneath (the red is often hidden); straight tail of medium length. (Female) Mottled brown body; striped underside; bill is sharp and pointed.

• Range: Found throughout the continental United States.

• Habitat: Freshwater marsh areas during the summertime. During other seasons, they are often seen in open fields and similar habitats.

• Voice: The male’s song is three notes, with the last note ending in a high trill, ”oak-a-lee.” Territorial males and females will scare off threats with a harsh “chuck” or “chack.” These sounds also serve as an alarm call.

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Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/sounds

Brown-Headed Cowbird

• Identifying traits: (Male) dark brown head and black body; short bill and medium-long tail. (Female) pale gray body and head with a light-colored throat

• Voice: The cowbird’s song is a bubbly, gurgling ”glug-glug-gleeee,” often repeated.

• Call: A high whistle followed by two rapid notes, ”weee-titi.” Cowbirds utter a sharp ”chuck” note when disturbed.

• Habitat: Any relatively open space with abundant insect life—farms, barnyards, roadsides, and the edges of wooded areas.

• Range: A year-round resident from Vermont south to Virginia and westward.

• Fun facts: It gets its name from following cows to eat the flies that surround them. Brown-headed cowbirds are nest parasites and lay their eggs in other birds’ nests. “The host bird will often accept and incubate the larger egg as one of its own. Once the egg hatches, the young cowbird grows quickly and forces its smaller nestmates out of the nest.”

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Female

Male

Link to Bird Sound: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown-headed_Cowbird/sounds

Sources

• https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Birds/Black-Capped-Chickadee#:~:text=Black%2Dcapped%20chickadees%20are%20non,Appalachian%20Mountains%20south%20to%20Georgia.• https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/lifehistory• http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Birds_Kamm_Kuss/Pages/PAGE_SEARCH_HABITAT.html• https://birdwatchinghq.com/common-birds/• https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Swallow/sounds• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_swallow#Subspecies

common birds of new england · barn swallow •identifying features: blue plumage on the back and...

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