From cardinals in the East to chickadees almost everywhere, American feeders draw a brilliant cast. Here are the regulars, how to tell them apart, and how to keep them safe around glass.
Ranges vary: several of these are eastern birds. Check a regional field guide for your state.
Look for: Males brilliant red with a black face and crest; females warm tan with red in the wings and crest.
Eats: Black-oil sunflower and safflower seed.
Tip: Likes a flat tray or platform. Window feeders suit them well.
Look for: Black cap and bib, white cheeks, buff flanks. The Carolina Chickadee of the South-east looks almost identical.
Eats: Sunflower seed, suet, insects.
Tip: Takes one seed and flies off to eat it, so you'll see lots of quick visits.
Look for: Soft grey with a pointed crest, big dark eyes and rusty flanks.
Eats: Sunflower seed, peanuts, suet.
Tip: Common in the East. Often travels with chickadees.
Look for: Summer males bright yellow with a black cap; in winter, both sexes turn olive-brown.
Eats: Nyjer and sunflower hearts.
Tip: Nests late, in mid to late summer, when thistle seed is ready.
Look for: Males have a red head and breast; females are plain, streaky brown.
Eats: Sunflower and mixed seed.
Tip: Prone to an eye disease spread at feeders. Clean them every couple of weeks.
Look for: Small black-and-white woodpecker with a short bill; males have a red patch on the back of the head.
Eats: Insects, suet, sunflower seed.
Tip: Suet brings them in, especially in winter.
Look for: Slate grey above, white belly, pale pink bill, white outer tail feathers that flash in flight.
Eats: Small seeds, usually from the ground.
Tip: A winter visitor across much of the country.
Look for: Blue crest and back, black necklace, white face.
Eats: Peanuts, acorns, sunflower seed.
Tip: Bold and loud. Common in the East and Midwest.
Look for: Soft grey-tan with a small head and a long, pointed tail. Soft, mournful cooing.
Eats: Seeds, mostly from the ground or a tray.
Tip: That's the bird in our homepage photo, at a window feeder.
Look for: Blue-grey back, white face and breast, black cap. Climbs head-first down tree trunks.
Eats: Sunflower seed, peanuts, suet.
Tip: Often wedges seeds into bark to crack them.
Look for: Males have a grey crown and black bib; females are plain brown.
Eats: Mixed seed.
Tip: Introduced from Europe. Sunflower hearts suit native birds better than cheap mixes.
Look for: Zebra-barred back, red cap and nape (only a faint blush on the belly, despite the name).
Eats: Suet, nuts, fruit, insects.
Tip: Common in the East. Loves peanuts and suet.
Black-oil sunflower seed attracts the widest range of feeder birds in North America. Add nyjer for finches, safflower for cardinals and suet in winter for woodpeckers and nuthatches.
Window collisions kill huge numbers of birds in the US every year. The fix is placement: put feeders within about 3 feet (1 m) of a window or more than 30 feet (9 m) away. A window feeder fixed right on the glass is one of the safest options there is. Birds leaving it can't build up speed.
Clean feeders every couple of weeks with hot soapy water (or a dilute bleach solution), rinse well and dry before refilling. Rake up spilled seed under feeders.
In bear country, follow your state wildlife agency's advice. Usually that means taking feeders down from spring to late fall. We don't sell seed: buy it locally.
Black-oil sunflower seed, or sunflower hearts for less mess. It attracts chickadees, titmice, cardinals, finches and nuthatches.
Window feeders reduce them. Birds leaving a feeder that's on, or within 3 feet of, the glass can't build up enough speed to be hurt.
Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Chickadees and titmice are usually first.
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