“What kind of bird is that?” is a common question during any outdoor activity, but especially gardening. A well-designed garden space will attract all kinds of avian species, and birds add a real joy and vibrancy to any garden or landscape. We’ll confess that when we started this article we had no idea how many different species of “common” birds there were in the US and Canada, and we can’t possibly cover them all. So consider this instead an introduction to some of the most frequent feathered visitors to North American gardens, and we’ll include some helpful links to help you find more information about the birds you see where you live. Let’s dig in!
The common sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a Eurasian species that was introduced to the Americas several times, both accidentally and intentionally. They are so common that their name is synonymous for a “regular”, and with good reason—nearly 600 million of these live in North America alone! Sparrows are multicolored birds, sporting patches of white, brown, black, and grey, and their drab coloring helps them hide from predators. They live in organized groups and since they eat seeds and small insects are frequently found around homes, farms, and gardens.
Though much larger than the European species of similar name, the American robin (Turdus migratorius) shares the same distinctive red chest and stomach coloration. This makes them easy to identify as well as being a fun colorful sight in any garden. Robins feed on insects, worms, and smaller fruits and berries—you may see them around your holly, firethorn, or hawthorn plants—and love to socialize in small groups while feeding.
Juncos—also known as “dark-eyed juncos”, “snowbirds” or scientifically as “Junco hyemalis”—lives across most of North American. In the summer these cute little birds range quite far north, heading deep into the Arctic in some cases. Their coloration—gray, brown, and slate-colored backs and heads with white bellies—at times makes them easy to confuse with their close relative the sparrow. Ground feeding birds, Juncos eat mainly seeds and some smaller insects. Fun fact: a group of juncos is sometimes called a “blizzard”, presumably due to their seasonal movements.
Red-wing blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) range from northern Canada down to Central America, and their wonderfully descriptive name fits them perfectly. The males of the species are striking black birds with distinctive red and yellow shoulder patches. The females are much more drab, but that’s for a clever reason—it helps them hid their nests from predators! While beautiful, red-winged blackbirds often get mixed reviews from gardeners and farmers. On the one hand, they eat insects that like to feed on crops like cotton and alfalfa, and they love to eat the seeds of common weeds. On the other hand, they also love to feed on grain crops like corn/maize and wheat.
The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) can be quite easy to spot—the males are a bright red color with darker eyepatches and are quite beautiful. As with red-winged blackbirds, the females are more drab but have a beautiful muted red-brown coloration of their own. Common across eastern North America, the northern cardinal ranges from the lower parts of Ontario through the Gulf Coast of Mexico and into Central America, with smaller populations in the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico. As lovers of wooded areas and shrubs, cardinals often make their homes in or near gardens. They mate for life, so you may see the same pair and their descendants year after year!
We hope this helps you identify some of the more common birds you might see in your garden, and maybe inspires some curiosity about the birds we didn’t mention here. The Audubon Society has great resources to help you learn more about the many species of birds that live across the US and Canada. Even if you don’t take up birdwatching—though we encourage you to try it as it’s fascinating—knowing a bit more about the wildlife around you can make gardening an even richer experience. So get to know your feathered friends and let us know what birds you see around you!
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