“The Most Common Backyard Birds in Iowa” is a comprehensive resource for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Drawing from data collected through the citizen science program eBird, this article presents a compelling list of the most common birds found in the backyards of Iowa. Each bird species is accompanied by captivating pictures and informative details on how to welcome these beautiful creatures into your own backyard. From the vibrant Northern Cardinal, the most prevalent bird in Iowa, to the delightful American Goldfinch, this article offers a remarkable glimpse into the avian wonders of the state. Not stopping at just identifying the birds, it also provides valuable insights into bird watching in Iowa and directs readers towards additional resources for bird identification. Above all, the article stresses the significance of considering habitat when attracting specific bird species to your backyard, reaffirming the importance of coexisting harmoniously with nature.
Northern Cardinal
Description
The Northern Cardinal is one of the most recognizable and beloved backyard birds in Iowa. With its vibrant red plumage, black mask, and distinctive crest, the male Northern Cardinal is a stunning sight to behold. The female, on the other hand, is predominantly brown with touches of red on her wings and tail. Both sexes have a strong, cone-shaped bill that is perfect for cracking open seeds.
Habitat
The Northern Cardinal is a year-round resident of Iowa and can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, forests, shrublands, and gardens. They are known to prefer areas with dense vegetation, such as thickets and brush, where they can find cover and build nests. Cardinals are also quite adaptable and are often seen in urban and suburban areas, making them a frequent guest in backyard bird feeders.
Food Preferences
Northern Cardinals have a diverse diet consisting mainly of seeds, fruits, and insects. Sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, and cracked corn are popular choices for attracting these beautiful birds. They are also fond of berries, particularly those of the dogwood and elderberry trees. Insects, such as beetles, ants, and grasshoppers, make up a significant portion of their diet, especially during the breeding season when they need to provide protein-rich food for their chicks.
Attracting Techniques
To attract Northern Cardinals to your backyard, start by offering a variety of bird feeders filled with their preferred foods. Providing a mix of sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, and cracked corn will ensure a diverse menu that appeals to cardinals and other backyard birds. It is also essential to create a suitable habitat for them by planting native shrubs and trees that produce berries and provide cover. Additionally, keeping your yard free of chemicals and pesticides will make it more inviting to these beautiful birds.
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American Goldfinch
Description
The American Goldfinch, also known as the Eastern Goldfinch, is a small songbird with a bright golden plumage that shines in the sunlight. Males are vibrant yellow during the breeding season, while females have a more subdued, olive-brown coloration. In the winter months, both males and females adopt a duller plumage, making them more challenging to recognize. One notable feature of the American Goldfinch is their distinctive voice, characterized by a series of high, musical notes.
Habitat
American Goldfinches can be found throughout Iowa, primarily in open fields, meadows, and grasslands. They are frequently seen in residential areas with ample gardens and yards. These beautiful songbirds are typically found in areas with plenty of shrubs and trees, as they provide ideal nesting sites and abundant food sources. Goldfinches are also known to migrate in large flocks, making them a common sight at backyard bird feeders during the winter months.
Food Preferences
The American Goldfinch has a unique dietary preference for seeds, particularly those of plants in the sunflower family. They are especially fond of the seeds found in the heads of mature sunflowers, as well as thistles, dandelions, and other composite-flowered plants. Goldfinches also consume insects and spiders during the breeding season when they need additional protein for their growing chicks. Providing nyjer (thistle) seeds, sunflower chips, and other small seeds in specialized feeders will help attract these delightful birds to your backyard.
Attracting Techniques
To attract American Goldfinches to your backyard, create a welcoming habitat by planting sunflowers and other composite-flowered plants. These will not only provide a natural food source but also serve as excellent perches for the goldfinches as they feed on the seeds. Adding feeders with nyjer (thistle) or sunflower chips will also entice them to visit your yard. Additionally, providing a shallow birdbath or reliable water source will attract goldfinches, as they need to stay hydrated, especially during the hot summer months.
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Blue Jay
Description
The Blue Jay is a striking bird with its bright blue feathers, black collar, and crest on its head. Known for their noisy calls and bold personalities, Blue Jays are a common sight in backyards across Iowa. They have a sturdy build and a long, strong bill that is well-adapted for cracking open nuts and seeds. Their wings feature distinctive blue and black patterns, making them easy to identify even from a distance.
Habitat
Blue Jays can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, forests, and parks. They are particularly fond of oak and pine forests, as these provide both food and suitable nesting sites. Blue Jays are quite adaptable and are known to visit residential areas, especially if there are ample trees and shrubs to provide cover. They are also frequent visitors to bird feeders, where they enjoy feasting on seeds, peanuts, and suet.
Food Preferences
These intelligent birds have a diverse diet that includes both plant and animal matter. Blue Jays are known to relish acorns, nuts, and seeds, often storing them for future consumption. They also eat a variety of fruits, including berries, cherries, and apples. Additionally, Blue Jays consume insects, spiders, and occasionally even small vertebrates like frogs and lizards. They have a unique feeding habit of holding their food with their feet while eating.
Attracting Techniques
Attracting Blue Jays to your backyard can be as simple as providing a variety of food sources. Offering peanuts in shell, sunflower seeds, and suet will appeal to their dietary preferences. Blue Jays are also attracted to birdbaths and other water sources, so make sure to include clean and shallow water options in your yard. Additionally, planting oak trees, which produce acorns, will provide a natural food source that will draw Blue Jays to your backyard.
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Eastern Bluebird
Description
The Eastern Bluebird is a small, beautiful bird known for its stunning blue plumage, reddish-brown breast, and white belly. Males and females are similar in appearance, with the males typically being more vibrant in color. Eastern Bluebirds have a melodious song that can be heard throughout their breeding season. They have a compact body with a short, straight bill that is perfect for catching insects, their main source of food.
Habitat
Eastern Bluebirds prefer open habitats with scattered trees, including cultivated areas, pastures, meadows, and suburban yards. They rely on the presence of wooden nest boxes for breeding, making them a popular sight in many neighborhoods. Eastern Bluebirds are cavity nesters and often choose abandoned woodpecker holes or specially designed nest boxes for their broods. They are also commonly found in open woodlands with a mix of grassy areas and trees.
Food Preferences
Eastern Bluebirds have a predominantly insectivorous diet, with insects making up the majority of their food intake. They feed on a variety of flying insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars. Bluebirds, especially during the breeding season, will also eat berries and small fruits to supplement their diet. Providing mealworms, fruit, and suet in specially designed feeders will help attract these delightful birds to your backyard.
Attracting Techniques
To attract Eastern Bluebirds to your backyard, offering suitable nest boxes is an effective method. These boxes should be placed on posts or trees at least five feet above the ground and away from prevalent predators, such as cats and raccoons. Providing open areas of short grass, which mimic their preferred natural habitat, will also make your yard more attractive to bluebirds. Supplementing their diet with mealworms, fruits, and suet will further entice these beautiful birds to visit your backyard.
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Baltimore Oriole
Description
The Baltimore Oriole is a stunning bird with bright orange plumage, contrasting black wings, and a distinct black head. The male Baltimore Oriole is particularly striking, with his vibrant orange coloration and black accents. Females, on the other hand, have a more subdued coloration, with a duller orange and grayish underparts. Both sexes display white wing bars and have a slender, curved bill, perfect for capturing insects and sipping nectar.
Habitat
Baltimore Orioles inhabit a variety of habitats, including open woodlands, forest edges, parks, and residential areas with mature trees. They are often found near water sources such as streams, rivers, and marshes, as these provide an abundance of insects and nectar-rich flowers. Baltimore Orioles are migratory birds, spending their summers in Iowa to breed and raising their families before embarking on a long journey to Central and South America for the winter.
Food Preferences
These beautiful birds have a diverse diet that includes both insects and fruits. Baltimore Orioles feed on insects, especially during the breeding season when they need protein-rich food for their chicks. They are also nectar feeders and enjoy sipping the sweet nectar from a variety of flowers, including trumpet vines, honeysuckle, and fruit tree blossoms. Offering a combination of orange halves, grape jelly, and nectar feeders will help attract these vibrant birds to your backyard.
Attracting Techniques
To attract Baltimore Orioles to your backyard, providing a food source that mimics their natural diet is crucial. Offering orange halves or a specially designed oriole feeder filled with sugar water (nectar) will entice them to visit. Grape jelly is also a favorite treat for orioles and can be placed in small dishes or specialized feeders. Planting nectar-rich flowers and providing nesting material, such as yarn or string, will further enhance the appeal of your backyard to these beautiful birds.
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Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Description
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a tiny, iridescent bird with brilliant green plumage and a shimmering throat that ranges from bright red in males to white in females. These tiny birds have a unique hovering flight pattern and can be seen darting quickly from flower to flower or feeder in search of nectar. The males have a distinctive vibrant red throat patch, which they display to attract mates during the breeding season.
Habitat
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds inhabit a range of habitats, including woodlands, gardens, and meadows. They are a common visitor to Iowa during the summer months as they breed in the region. These birds are known to favor areas with a mix of open spaces and trees where they can find a variety of nectar-rich flowers for feeding. They are often seen near hummingbird feeders, where they can supplement their diet with the sugar water provided.
Food Preferences
The primary food source for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds is nectar, which they obtain from various flowers and feeders. They have long, tubular tongues that allow them to reach deep into flowers to extract nectar. Hummingbirds are also known to catch small insects and spiders in flight, which provide essential protein for their diet. Providing a mixture of sugar water (four parts water to one part sugar) in hummingbird feeders will help attract these tiny birds to your backyard.
Attracting Techniques
Attracting Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to your backyard requires a combination of nectar sources and shelter. Planting a variety of brightly colored flowers, such as cardinal flower, bee balm, and trumpet vine, will provide a natural nectar source that hummingbirds cannot resist. Hanging multiple feeders filled with sugar water at different heights will also increase your chances of attracting these tiny birds. Additionally, providing a source of water, such as a misting fountain or shallow birdbath, will further entice hummingbirds to visit your backyard.
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Red-bellied Woodpecker
Description
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird with a stunning mix of black and white patterns on its back and wings. Contrary to its name, the red belly is not as prominently visible as its red cap and nape, which males display with pride. Females, on the other hand, have a red nape but lack the red cap. These woodpeckers have a chisel-like bill and a long, barbed tongue that aids in extracting insects from tree bark.
Habitat
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, forests, and suburban areas with mature trees. They are native to Iowa and are a common sight in residential neighborhoods with ample trees and wooded lots. These adaptable birds also inhabit wetland areas, such as swamps and floodplains, where they can find a plentiful supply of insects and suitable trees for nesting and foraging.
Food Preferences
The Red-bellied Woodpecker’s diet consists mostly of insects, supplemented with fruits, nuts, and berries. They have a special liking for beetles, ants, and other wood-boring insects, which they locate by drumming on tree trunks. These woodpeckers also consume acorns, hickory nuts, and the fruits of dogwood and wild grape vines. Providing a mix of suet, nuts, and sunflower seeds in specialized feeders will attract Red-bellied Woodpeckers to your backyard.
Attracting Techniques
To attract Red-bellied Woodpeckers to your backyard, start by providing suet feeders. These woodpeckers are fond of suet and will readily visit feeders filled with this high-energy food source. Offering a mix of peanuts, sunflower seeds, and other nuts in specialized feeders will also entice them to visit. Providing a variety of trees and perching sites in your yard will further enhance its appeal to these beautiful woodpeckers.
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White-breasted Nuthatch
Description
The White-breasted Nuthatch is a small, lively bird with a unique appearance. It has a bluish-gray back, a white breast, and a distinctive black cap that extends down the neck. These birds have a compact body with short legs and a long, pointed bill, which they use to pry open crevices in tree bark in search of insects and seeds. White-breasted Nuthatches are known for their ability to walk headfirst down tree trunks, making them a delightful sight to observe.
Habitat
White-breasted Nuthatches are widespread in Iowa and can be found in various wooded habitats, including forests, woodlands, and parks. They frequently visit backyard bird feeders, especially those placed near trees and wooded areas. These charming birds are most commonly seen foraging on tree trunks, using their strong feet and claws to grip the bark. Nuthatches are year-round residents of Iowa and can often be heard making their distinctive nasal calls.
Food Preferences
The diet of White-breasted Nuthatches consists primarily of insects, seeds, and nuts. They feed on a variety of insects found in tree bark, including beetles, ants, and caterpillars. These birds are also known for their preference for seeds, particularly those of pine cones, maples, and other trees. White-breasted Nuthatches will readily visit feeders filled with peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet, making them a delightful addition to any backyard feeding station.
Attracting Techniques
To attract White-breasted Nuthatches to your backyard, providing a variety of feeding options is essential. Offering a mix of peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet in specialized feeders will meet their dietary preferences. These birds are also known to cache food for later consumption, so consider placing food sources near trees or suitable perching areas. Additionally, providing a source of water, such as a birdbath or shallow dish, will also attract White-breasted Nuthatches to your yard.
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Mourning Dove
Description
The Mourning Dove is a common and widespread bird in Iowa. These slender, graceful birds have a distinctive gray-brown coloration with a pale pink hue on their underparts. Mourning Doves have a delicate appearance, with a long, pointed tail and a small, round head. They have a soft, cooing call that is often associated with peace and tranquility. These birds are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, parks, and residential areas.
Habitat
Mourning Doves are widespread across Iowa and can be found in a variety of habitats, including agricultural fields, grasslands, and open woodlands. These birds are not very picky about their habitat requirements and can prosper in both rural and urban settings. Their presence is often observed near bird feeders, as they are frequent visitors to backyard feeding stations. Mourning Doves are also known for their characteristic courtship flights, where they fly in circles and perform aerial displays.
Food Preferences
Mourning Doves primarily feed on seeds, including those of grasses, grains, and weeds. They have a specialized diet that allows them to swallow seeds whole and digest them in their gizzard. These birds are also known to consume fruits and berries when available. Offering a variety of birdseed, such as millet, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds, will attract Mourning Doves to your backyard feeding station.
Attracting Techniques
Attracting Mourning Doves to your backyard is relatively straightforward. Offering a variety of birdseed in large, ground-level feeders will make the feeding process easier for these ground-feeding birds. Providing elevated perches, such as branches or platform feeders, will make it more convenient for Mourning Doves to access the food. These birds are also attracted to reliable sources of clean, fresh water, so including a birdbath or shallow dish in your yard would be beneficial.
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Importance of Considering Habitat
Understanding Different Habitats
The diversity of bird species found in Iowa is closely tied to the variety of habitats available to them. Different bird species rely on specific habitat characteristics to meet their unique needs for food, shelter, and nesting. Woodland species, such as the Blue Jay and White-breasted Nuthatch, thrive in forested areas with ample trees and understory vegetation. Open-space birds, like the American Goldfinch and Eastern Bluebird, prefer grasslands and meadows with scattered trees for nesting and food sources. Understanding the habitat preferences of different bird species is crucial for attracting them to your backyard.
Creating Suitable Habitats in Your Backyard
One of the most effective ways to attract specific bird species to your backyard is by creating a suitable habitat that mimics their natural environment. Planting a diverse range of native trees, shrubs, and flowers that provide food, shelter, and nesting sites is a great place to start. Incorporating vegetation at different heights and stages of growth will cater to the needs of various bird species. Adding water features, such as birdbaths or small ponds, will also attract birds that require a reliable water source.
Conservation Practices
By understanding the importance of habitat and creating suitable environments in our backyards, we can contribute to bird conservation efforts. Providing food and shelter for birds can help offset the loss of natural habitats due to urbanization and habitat degradation. It is also important to practice responsible bird feeding by regularly cleaning feeders and bird baths to prevent the spread of disease. Additionally, avoiding the use of chemicals and pesticides in our yards helps protect birds and their habitats. Conservation practices at a local level can have a significant impact on bird populations and overall biodiversity.
In conclusion, attracting a variety of bird species to your backyard in Iowa is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. By understanding the unique characteristics, habitat requirements, and food preferences of different bird species, you can create a haven that caters to their needs. Providing a diverse range of bird feeders, planting native vegetation, and offering reliable water sources will entice a variety of beautiful birds to visit your backyard. Remember, creating suitable habitats not only benefits the birds but also contributes to bird conservation efforts and helps maintain the rich biodiversity of our natural world. Happy birding!