This article will take you on a journey through the world of common backyard birds in Kentucky. Filled with fascinating information compiled from the citizen science program eBird, this guide will introduce you to the diverse avian species that call Kentucky home. With colorful pictures and helpful identification tips, you’ll soon be able to spot and appreciate the unique characteristics of each bird species. Want to attract more feathered friends to your backyard? Look no further, as this article also offers insightful tips on creating a bird-friendly environment. As you delve into the article, you’ll discover that the Northern Cardinal is the most prevalent bird in the state. Additionally, there is valuable information on birding in Kentucky and handy resources to aid in bird identification. So, grab your binoculars, and get ready to wander through Kentucky’s vibrant birding scene.
Northern Cardinal
Description
The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a medium-sized songbird known for its vibrant red plumage. The male cardinal has a bright red body and a black mask around its face, while the female has a more subdued brownish color with touches of red. Both male and female cardinals have a distinctive crest on their heads. These birds have a stout beak, designed for cracking open seeds and fruits, and they have a sweet, melodious song.
Habitat and Distribution
The Northern Cardinal is a common bird found throughout Kentucky and across the eastern United States. Cardinals are adaptable and can be found in various habitats, including woodland edges, gardens, parks, and suburban areas. They are permanent residents in Kentucky and can be seen year-round.
Identification Tips
To identify a Northern Cardinal, look for its bright red color, black face mask on the male, and crest on its head. The female has a brownish color with touches of red. Both genders have a thick beak and a short, rounded tail. Their song is a clear, whistling tune that is often repeated several times.
Attracting Cardinals to Your Backyard
To attract Cardinals to your backyard, provide a combination of food, water, and shelter. Cardinals are primarily seed eaters, so offering a variety of seeds, such as sunflower and safflower seeds, will entice them. They also enjoy fresh fruits, like apples and oranges. Providing a birdbath or a shallow water source will attract cardinals, as they enjoy bathing and drinking water. Additionally, create dense shrubs or bushes near your feeders to provide shelter and nesting sites for these birds.
Eastern Bluebird
Description
The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) is a small thrush with striking blue plumage on its back, wings, and tail. Unlike other bluebirds, the Eastern Bluebird has a reddish-brown breast and a white belly. Males and females look similar, although males may have brighter blue feathers. These birds are known for their gentle, melodious song.
Habitat and Distribution
Eastern Bluebirds inhabit open woodlands, meadows, and farmlands across Kentucky and the eastern United States. They are cavity nesters and often rely on human-made nesting boxes for breeding. Eastern Bluebirds can be seen year-round in Kentucky.
Identification Tips
To identify an Eastern Bluebird, look for its vibrant blue color on the back, wings, and tail. The reddish-brown breast and white belly are distinctive features. They have a slender, short beak and a straight line across their eyes known as the “halo.” Their song is a soft, warbling melody that is pleasant to the ears.
Attracting Bluebirds to Your Backyard
To attract Eastern Bluebirds to your backyard, provide nest boxes specifically designed for them. Place the nest boxes on poles or trees, about 5-6 feet above the ground. Bluebirds prefer open areas with low vegetation and nearby perching spots, so avoid placing the boxes in dense areas. Offer mealworms, crickets, or small berries as a supplementary food source. Providing a shallow birdbath will also attract bluebirds, as they need water for bathing and drinking.
Nest Box Placement
When placing a nest box for Eastern Bluebirds, remember to face the entrance away from prevailing winds and direct sunlight. Mount the box on a sturdy pole or tree trunk, ensuring it is secure and at a height of 5-6 feet above the ground. It is essential to monitor the nest box regularly, as other cavity-nesting birds or predators may attempt to take over the box.
American Robin
Description
The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is a medium-sized thrush with a distinctive appearance. Robins have a reddish-orange breast and a grayish-brown back. They also have a white eye-ring and a yellow bill. Male and female robins look similar, with the males typically having brighter plumage.
Habitat and Distribution
American Robins are prevalent throughout North America and can be found in various habitats, including forests, woodlands, parks, and suburban areas. In Kentucky, robins are common summer residents and can be seen from March to August. During the winter months, they migrate to warmer southern regions.
Identification Tips
To identify an American Robin, look for its reddish-orange breast, grayish-brown back, white eye-ring, and yellow bill. They have a long, slender body and a relatively long tail. Robins are known for their distinct, melodic song, often heard in the early morning.
Attracting Robins to Your Backyard
Robins primarily feed on earthworms, insects, and berries. To attract them to your backyard, provide a variety of these food sources. Avoid using pesticides, as they can harm the worms and insects that robins depend on. Plant berry-producing shrubs and trees, such as holly and mulberry. Robins also appreciate shallow birdbaths for drinking and splashing around.
Feeding Habits
Robins are skilled foragers, often seen hopping on lawns or digging in damp soil to find earthworms and insects. They also feed on fruits and berries when available. During the breeding season, robins may collect dry grass, twigs, and mud to build their nests, so ensuring a suitable nesting habitat will increase their presence in your backyard.
Mourning Dove
Description
The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is a medium-sized, slender dove with a soft, gentle appearance. They have a brownish-gray body with a lighter gray belly. Their long, pointed tails have white edges that become visible in flight. Mourning Doves have a haunting, mournful-sounding coo that is soothing to hear.
Habitat and Distribution
Mourning Doves are widespread across North America, including Kentucky. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, cities, farmlands, and suburban areas. Mourning Doves are year-round residents in Kentucky.
Identification Tips
To identify a Mourning Dove, look for its brownish-gray body, lighter gray belly, and long, pointed tail with white edges. They have a small, round head, a thin, tapered beak, and dark eyes. In flight, the dove’s wings produce a whistling sound.
Attracting Doves to Your Backyard
To attract Mourning Doves to your backyard, provide a variety of seeds, such as millet and cracked corn, in ground feeders or platform feeders. Doves prefer feeding on the ground, so scattering seeds on the lawn can also entice them. Providing a clean, shallow birdbath will attract doves, as they enjoy bathing and drinking water. Mourning Doves may also appreciate low bushes or dense shrubs for nesting and roosting.
Nesting Behavior
Mourning Doves often build their nests in trees or shrubs, using twigs and grasses. The male typically gathers the materials, and the female constructs the nest. They may have multiple broods throughout the nesting season, so having suitable nesting sites in your backyard can encourage dove pairs to stay and raise their young.
American Goldfinch
Description
The American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is a small, vibrantly colored songbird that brightens up any backyard. During the breeding season, male goldfinches have bright yellow plumage with contrasting black wings and a black cap on their heads. Outside of the breeding season, both males and females have a more subdued yellowish-brown color. Goldfinches have a playful, cheerful song that brings joy to any listener.
Habitat and Distribution
American Goldfinches can be found across North America, including Kentucky. They inhabit open fields, meadows, and areas with abundant weeds and wildflowers. Goldfinches are active year-round in Kentucky.
Identification Tips
To identify an American Goldfinch, look for its vibrant yellow plumage during the breeding season, contrasting black wings, and a black cap on the male’s head. Outside of breeding season, both genders have a yellowish-brown color. Goldfinches have a short, conical beak and a small, compact body. Their flight is undulating, with a distinctive rising and falling pattern.
Attracting Goldfinches to Your Backyard
To attract American Goldfinches, offer Nyjer (thistle) seeds in specialized feeders. These small, black seeds are a favorite of goldfinches. Planting native flowers, like sunflowers, coneflowers, and asters, will also attract these birds, as they feed on the seeds and use the fluffy materials for nesting. Goldfinches appreciate fresh water for drinking and bathing, so provide a shallow birdbath or a dripping water source.
Feeding Preferences
American Goldfinches primarily feed on seeds, with a particular preference for Nyjer (thistle) seeds. They use their specialized beaks to extract seeds from the heads of flowers or feeders. During the breeding season, goldfinches will also feed on insects to provide protein for their nestlings. Providing a consistent supply of fresh seeds will help attract and support goldfinches in your backyard.
Carolina Chickadee
Description
The Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) is a small, energetic songbird with a distinctive black cap and throat patch against a white face. Its body is primarily gray with buffy sides and a whitish belly. Chickadees have a cheerful, high-pitched song that sounds like “fee-bee” or “chick-a-dee-dee.”
Habitat and Distribution
Carolina Chickadees can be found in the southeastern United States, including parts of Kentucky. They inhabit a variety of wooded areas, including forests, parks, and suburban areas. Chickadees are year-round residents in Kentucky.
Identification Tips
To identify a Carolina Chickadee, look for its gray body, black cap, and throat patch against a white face. They have a short, stout beak and a slender, compact body. Chickadees often display acrobatic behavior, hanging upside-down while foraging for insects.
Attracting Chickadees to Your Backyard
To attract Carolina Chickadees, offer a variety of seeds, such as sunflower and safflower seeds, in feeders. They also feed on insects, so it’s beneficial to provide suet or mealworms. Chickadees are fond of birdbaths, so having a shallow, clean water source will entice them. Adding native trees and shrubs, like oaks and dogwoods, will provide food and shelter for these birds.
Nest Construction
Carolina Chickadees nest in tree cavities or bird boxes, usually 4-15 feet above the ground. Providing nest boxes with an entrance hole diameter of 1 1/8 inches will attract chickadees. They construct their nests using moss, fur, and plant fibers. Chickadees have an interesting habit of excavating their nest cavity by pecking and chipping away at wood.
European Starling
Description
The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a medium-sized, chunky bird with striking iridescent plumage. They have glossy black feathers with hints of purple and green, and during the breeding season, their plumage develops white speckles. Starlings have a variety of songs and calls, often mimicking other birds and even human sounds.
Habitat and Distribution
European Starlings are non-native birds that were introduced to North America in the late 1800s. They have since become widespread and can be found in various habitats, including cities, suburbs, farmlands, and open fields. Starlings are year-round residents in Kentucky.
Identification Tips
To identify a European Starling, look for its glossy black plumage with hints of purple and green. During the breeding season, their plumage may develop white speckles. Starlings have a pointed, yellow beak and a stocky body. They walk or hop rather than hopping between branches like smaller songbirds.
Attracting Starlings to Your Backyard
Attracting European Starlings to your backyard might not be a priority for everyone, as they can be considered pest birds due to their aggressive behavior and habit of displacing native bird species. However, if you’re interested in accommodating starlings, supplying a variety of seeds, suet, and berries will entice them. Starlings are also known to visit birdbaths for drinking and bathing.
Feeding Habits
European Starlings have a varied diet and feed on a wide range of foods, including insects, fruits, seeds, and even garbage. They often forage on the ground or in large flocks, using their sharp beaks to probe for insects or cracking open seeds. Starlings are known for their gregarious feeding behavior and may dominate feeders, sometimes deterring other bird species.
Tufted Titmouse
Description
The Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) is a small, lively bird known for its cute appearance and distinctive, crest-like tuft on its head. They have a gray body, a rusty-colored patch on their sides, and a white belly. Titmice have a variety of calls and songs, including a whistled “peter-peter-peter” that is easy to recognize.
Habitat and Distribution
Tufted Titmice are common birds in the eastern United States, including Kentucky. They inhabit woodlands, forests, parks, and suburban areas. Titmice are year-round residents in Kentucky.
Identification Tips
To identify a Tufted Titmouse, look for its gray body, rusty-colored patch on the sides, and their characteristic crest-like tuft on their head. They have a short, stout beak and a compact body. Titmice often travel in small groups, making rapid, acrobatic movements as they forage for insects and seeds.
Attracting Titmice to Your Backyard
To attract Tufted Titmice, offer a variety of seeds, such as sunflower, safflower, and peanuts, in feeders. They also enjoy suet, mealworms, and even small bits of fruit. Providing a clean, shallow birdbath will attract titmice, as they need water for drinking and bathing. Offering nesting boxes can also help entice titmice to stay and raise their young in your backyard.
Nest Box Placement
When placing a nest box for Tufted Titmice, choose a location that offers some cover and is roughly 4-15 feet above the ground. Mounting the box on a tree trunk or pole is suitable, and it should be securely fastened. Monitoring the nest box regularly will allow you to observe the nesting behavior and potentially witness the parents feeding their young.
Downy Woodpecker
Description
The Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) is a small, charming bird with a black and white plumage pattern. They have a black back and wings with white spots, a white belly, and a distinctive white stripe down their back. Downy Woodpeckers have a short, chisel-like beak that they use to excavate insects from trees. Their call is a sharp, high-pitched “pik.”
Habitat and Distribution
Downy Woodpeckers can be found throughout North America, including Kentucky. They inhabit various wooded areas, including forests, woodlots, parks, and suburban areas. Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Kentucky.
Identification Tips
To identify a Downy Woodpecker, look for its black and white plumage pattern. They have a small black beak that contrasts against their white face and belly. Downy Woodpeckers are the smallest woodpecker species in North America. They often forage on tree trunks and branches, using their sturdy tails for support.
Attracting Woodpeckers to Your Backyard
To attract Downy Woodpeckers, offer suet in specialized feeders. Woodpeckers are attracted to the high-fat content in suet, which provides them with valuable energy. Providing a variety of nuts and seeds, such as sunflower and peanuts, will also entice woodpeckers. Additionally, creating dead trees or leaving dead branches in your yard can provide natural foraging and nesting spots for these birds.
Foraging Behavior
Downy Woodpeckers are skilled foragers, using their beaks to excavate insects from tree bark. They also feed on tree sap, berries, and seeds. These woodpeckers often move in a distinctive pattern, hopping along tree trunks and branches, using their stiff tail feathers for support. Watching their foraging behavior can be entertaining and educational.
Additional Birding Resources
Kentucky Birding Hotspots
Kentucky offers a variety of excellent birding hotspots for both experienced birders and beginners. Some popular birding locations include:
- Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
- Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
- Cave Run Lake
- Mammoth Cave National Park
- The Red River Gorge
- Lake Cumberland
Visiting these hotspots provides opportunities to observe a diverse range of bird species in their natural habitats. Birders should remember to pack binoculars, a field guide, and a camera to enhance their birding experience.
Bird Identification Apps
For birders looking for assistance in identifying bird species, there are several helpful mobile apps available. These apps provide detailed information about bird species, including photos, range maps, and audio recordings of their songs. Some popular bird identification apps include:
- Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- eBird by Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Audubon Bird Guide by National Audubon Society
These apps can be a valuable tool for birders of all levels, helping them identify, track, and learn more about the birds they encounter.
Bird Field Guides
Bird field guides are essential resources for birders who prefer using printed materials for identification. These guides typically include detailed descriptions, range maps, and illustrations or photographs of bird species. Some popular bird field guides for North America include:
- “The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America” by David Allen Sibley
- “National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America” by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer
- “The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America” by Donald and Lillian Stokes
Carrying a field guide during birding outings allows birders to quickly reference and identify the birds they encounter, enhancing their birding experience.
By understanding the descriptions, habitat, identification tips, and ways to attract various backyard bird species mentioned in this article, birders in Kentucky can create bird-friendly environments and enjoy the beauty and diversity of their local avian friends. So grab your binoculars, set up some feeders and birdbaths, and get ready to welcome a delightful array of birds to your backyard. Happy birding!
