33 Common backyard Birds in Tennessee
What birds will you see in your backyards in Tennessee? This article will help you identify the most common backyard birds in Tennessee.
Which backyard birds of Tennessee can you spot on your birdfeeders and what kind of birds should you look for on the ground? What kind of birdseed should you be using? All these questions will be answered.
This article will help you to identify common backyard birds in Tennessee for all seasons. We will explain what to look for by color, shape, and size. We will also include a picture so you can refer to this guide when you can’t identify a bird in your backyard.
Depending on the time of year it is, there are over 450 bird species in Tennessee. The most-seen birds in Tennessee are Mourning Doves, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, House Finch, Northern Mockingbird, Carolina Chickadees, American Robins, Northern Cardinals, and American Goldfinches.
The official state bird of Tennessee is the Northern Mockingbird. It became official in 1933 by a vote. They are known for their lovely songs and can sing around 200 different songs. About 10% of these songs mimic other birds the majority of songs are original to the Mockingbirds. Also, the Mockingbird sings at night. It can be seen in Tennessee year-round.
Tennessee also has a state game bird, the Bobwhite Quail.
For other birdwatching in Tennessee see our article on Woodpeckers in Tennessee.
1. Northern Mockingbird
Scientific Name: Mimus polyglottos Size: 10 inches
Description And Field Marks
Mockingbird bodies are grayish brown with white wing bars, (2 on each wing). Their breasts are slightly paler (may look whiteish) than their bodies. Mockingbirds have small heads, long legs, and a long thin bill.
Nesting
The male builds several nests in trees and shrubs usually 3 to 10 feet but could go higher. The female will choose which nest she will lay her eggs.
Northern Mockingbirds lay 2 to 6 eggs which are pale blue or white in color with spots of red or brown. The incubation period is around 2 weeks and the young will remain in the nest for about 2 weeks.
They have between 2 to 3 broods a mating season and the male will continue to feed the young from the first brood when the female will lay eggs for the second brood, which she will choose enough nest for.
Diet
Northern Mockingbirds will eat insects during the summertime and will switch to fruit and berries during the fall and winter.
Habitat
Mockingbirds are very common in Tennessee and also is the state bird. They can be found all over the state. Common places to see them are along your fence, in trees, on scrubs, and on utility lines.
Song And Call
2. Blue jays
Scientific Name: Cyanocitta cristata Size: 9.8-11.8 inches
Description And Field Marks
Blue jays are easily identified by their blue feathers, white cheeks, and large crest on top of their head. They are large birds with a wingspan of about 20 inches.
They are loud and noisy, but other birds trust them to notify them of danger. Jays are one of the species that will mob hawks and owls and pin them down in trees, alerting all the birds in the area that a predator is nearby.
Blue jays are brilliant birds and have a wide range of vocalizations. They are known to mimic other birds, animals, and even humans. Blue jays will also use their intelligence to solve problems.
Nesting
Blue Jays build their nest 10 to 25 feet above the ground, mostly in trees by any V branches. However, once I had a blue jay build their nest near the light next to my front door. That was crazy as we couldn’t use our front door during that time because they would dive down at us if we went near the door.
The nest is a cup-like structure made of grass, twigs, and mud. Although both the male and female gather material for the nest, the female does most of the building while the male does most of the gathering.
There are usually 2 to 7 eggs that are light brown in color with darker brown spots on them. The incubation period is 17-18 days and the young remain in the nest from 17 to 21 days.
The nesting season is from March to July. Although the Blue Jay can have 2 broods each season, they usually only have one.
Diet
Blue jay’s diet consists of nuts, fruits, and insects. They will also eat bird seed from backyard feeders and they have been known to steal food from other birds
Jays love whole peanuts. Toss a handful on your lawn or patio and watch what happens. They fly away with their peanuts and leave the feeders alone for a while.
Habitat
Blue Jays are quite common birds in Tennessee. They can be found in suburban areas, parks, and forests. They can be found year-round in the northeast but they tend to migrate south for the winter months.
Bird Note
Jays have been known to mimic a Red-tailed Hawk call to keep small birds away from a food source, screeching to clear the birds off the bush with the tasty berries and then swooping down into the bush to feed after the competition’s been chased off.
Song And Call
3. Red-winged blackbirds
Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus Size: 6.7-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
The male red-winged blackbird is a large blackbird with white underparts and red wings. It has an orange-red patch on its shoulder and long pointed wings. But not all Red-winged Blackbirds have red wings. Some may have yellow or orange epaulets on their wings.
The female red-winged blackbird is striped and brown-streaked in color.
Red-winged blackbirds are usually active during the day, but they may be seen at night near lights.
Nesting
A red-winged blackbird’s nest is usually in a marsh or near water, but they have also been found on flat roofs and even in chimneys.
Their nest is made of twigs, grasses, and hair. They are lined with finer grasses, rootlets, or horsehair. The female lays 4 to 6 eggs that are a pale blue-green color. They also have black, brown, and purple speckles all over them. They are incubated by both parents for about 12 days. The young leave the nest after 14 days.
Diet
They are known to eat insects and seeds, including corn, wheat, and other grains. They also eat berries from shrubs and trees like elderberry, mulberry, wild grape, or honeysuckle.
Habitat
The red-winged blackbird is a migratory bird that travels south in the fall and returns to Tennessee in early spring. They are very common in many of our backyards. The first sighting of Red-winged Blackbirds means Spring is around the corner.
Bird Note
You’ve heard the expression “Birds of a feather flock together”? Always check flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds for Common Grackles, European Starlings, and Brown-headed Cowbirds. These birds are often found together in large flocks.
Song And Call
Red-winged blackbirds can often be heard singing from a perch high in a tree or on power lines.
They have a loud, clear whistle that sounds like “fee-bee” and they also make a variety of cackling and chattering noises.
4. dark-eyed junco
Scientific Name: Junco hyemalis Size: 5.5-6.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
The dark-eyed juncos are little birds that are slated gray in color. They are known as medium size sparrows with long tails, round faces, and white on their belly. They also have bright white markings on its tail.
Dark-eyed junco has a population of over 600 million making it one of the most common birds in the United States and Canada.
Nesting
The Dark-eyed Juncos lay three to six eggs. They are cream-colored with brown spots. The eggs are usually laid in a tree hole or on the ground.
Diet
The Dark-eyed Junco eats seeds, berries, and insects. They can be found in bushes and trees. Juncos LOVE feeders! They will eat whatever you put out black-oil sunflower seeds, suet, peanut butter, or generic wild bird food. They are not picky.
Habitat
When Juncos appear, Winter is near. You can see them in Canada and the western mountains during the spring and summer months. These birds flew south to North America for the winter months.
Look for them on deciduous forest floors and on the grass in your backyard. They can be found in bushes and trees all over Tennessee during the winter months.
This is another bird that can travel in mixed flocks, so you never know who else will turn up at your feeder alongside the Juncos.
Song And Call
5. red-bellied woodpeckers
Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus Size: 9.4 inches
Description And Field Marks
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are one of the most common backyard birds in Tennessee. You can identify them by their red belly (hence the name) and black and white stripes down their back. Male Red-bellied Woodpeckers also have a red cap, but females only have napes of red.
It’s big, it’s loud, and it will peck on your siding.
Nesting
Red-bellied Woodpeckers also build nests in dead trees and make the same nest each year. They lay up to 4-5 eggs on top of wood chips inside the nest cavity. The eggs hatch after about 2 weeks, and the young birds leave the nest after about 4-5 weeks
Diet
Red-bellied Woodpeckers devour spiders, insects, and seeds from grasses, fruits, and nuts. They are especially fond of acorns and beech nuts. In fact, they play an important role in dispersing these seeds since they often cache (or store) more food than they can eat in one sitting.
Loves suet, peanut butter, and peanuts.
Habitat
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are found in all Eastern US states, and they don’t migrate. This means that you can see them in your backyard all year round! They tend to stay close to the ground and can often be found in birdfeeders, specifically in wooded areas.
Call And Drumming
6. American robin
Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius Size: 7.9-11.0 inches
Description And Field Marks
The American Robins has a gray-brown back and wings, with white underparts. It also has a short tail and a pointed bill for catching insects in flight or on the ground. Males have a red patch on their breasts and a black head, throat, and upper chest. Females are duller looking than males with less contrast in colors.
They prefer an open country with scattered trees and shrubs. It is found in a variety of habitats, including farmland, grasslands, parks, yards, and gardens.
Nesting
The American Robin makes its nest in a tree or shrub, usually near water. The female Robin lays four to six eggs and both parents take turns sitting on them. The eggs are solid bright blue in color. The eggs hatch in about two weeks and the chicks leave the nest after another week or so.
Diet
They eat worms and insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and crickets. It also eats fruit and berries in the summer. They don’t do feeders, but love to find bugs and worms in the grass all around your yard.
Habitat
The American Robin is found in eastern North America, from the Maritime Provinces of Canada to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It is also found throughout the United States and southern parts of Canada, including most of Alaska.
The American Robin is a migratory bird that travels south for winter. It returns to the same area each spring.
Song And Call
They are very early-morning singers. Listen for their call
7. house sparrows
Scientific Name: Passer domesticus Size: 5.9-6.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The House Sparrow differs from another American Sparrow as they are not related. They have a rounder head and are chunkier, with a bigger chest, short tails, and thicker bills.
Like most other female birds, she is duller than the male, brown with dirty gray and brown underparts with striped backs in brown, black, and buff.
Male House Sparrows are chunky with a round head, stout bill, and full breasts. Colors include gray crowns, dark brown necks, white cheeks, black bibs, and gray crowns.
Nesting
House sparrows nest in cavities and use a variety of materials to build their nests. They are not known for being picky about where they nest, so if you have a birdhouse or an old nest box in your yard, it might attract house sparrows. House sparrows nest in cavities in trees or buildings.
The female lays 3-8 eggs. The incubation period is 10-14 days and the young stay in the nest for 10 to 14 days.
Diet
They eat seeds, grains, and insects. Sparrows will definitely be at your feeder eating birdseed, sunflower seeds, millet, and milo.
Habitat
The House Sparrow lives where people live. You will find them in cities and towns, in backyards and parks.
Song And Call
8. downy woodpeckers
Scientific Name: Dryobates pubescens Size: 5.5-6.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Downy Woodpecker is bigger than a junco or House Finch but smaller than a Red-winged Blackbird. It has a black-and-white striped head and black wings with white spots and a solid white back and white underparts. The Downy Woodpecker has a black tail with white outer tail feathers with black bars or spots. The male has a small red spot on the back of his head.
Nesting
Look for their nest in dead trees or live trees with dead areas. They carve out an area large enough for the eggs and the bird. They line the nest only with wood chips. The nest can take weeks to make and is done by both the male and female.
A Downy woodpecker only has one brood each year with 3 to 8 eggs which are white in color. The incubation period is around 12 days with both the male and female taking turns. The young will stay in the nest for around 30 days.
Diet
Mostly Downy Woodpeckers eat insects. The male tends to eat from the ground while the female likes to find insects from branches and in trees. They will also eat seeds, weeds, and fruit.
The Downy Woodpecker will visit your backyard feeders for suet and nuts.
Habitat
The Downy Woodpecker is a common bird found throughout Tennessee in places where there are trees. You will see them in residential areas, cities, farmland, and wooded areas.
Call And Drumming
9. ruby-throated hummingbird
Scientific Name: Archilochus colibris Size: 3.8 inches
Description And Field Marks
Tiny, brightly-colored bird with a huge bill. Males are bright green with a ruby-red throat and a black facial stripe; the female is bright green above with a white throat. Fast fliers that appear like large bees while in flight.
The hummingbird is one of the few birds that can fly at night because it has excellent eyesight. It uses its long bill to catch insects to eat.
It can fly up to 35 miles per hour. These tiny birds can fly up, down, sideways, and even backward.
Nesting
The Hummingbird’s nest is very tiny, about 2 inches wide and 1 inch deep. It is made in trees about 40 feet high on branches out of thistle, spider silk, and pine resin. It takes the female a little over a week to make.
The female usually lays 2 tiny white eggs. The incubation period is 12-14 days and the young remain in the nest between 18 and 22 days.
Diet
Hummingbirds love bright flowers, and they have Hummingbird bushes that will attract them to your backyard. They will come to special Hummingbird feeders with nectar which is white sugar and water. They sell the nectar in stores, but you can also make it yourself.
Please don’t buy the red colored one as it can be harmful to the birds.
Habitat
Everyone loves to see hummingbirds in their backyards. The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common species in Tennesee. It is easy to identify because of its iridescent red throat and the fact that it can hover like a helicopter while feeding,
Call and Wingbeat
10. Carolina wrens
Scientific Name: Thryothorus ludovicianus Size: 4.7-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
A lot of birds packed into a tiny body. Carolina Wrens are aggressive and loud and have no issue chasing off larger birds from their neighborhood. Small, brown bird with creamy-colored breasts, distinctive white eye stripe, white wing bars, and a cocked-up tail.
Nesting
The Carolina Wren will nest in any pockets they can find about 3 to 6 feet above the ground. They look for nest pockets on your property such as an old flower pot, stumps, pales, propane covers, etc.
Both the male and female build the nest out of leaves, twigs, grasses, straw, paper, or whatever they can find. They also built several nests and then chooses the one they want. They cover 3 sides of the nest with only an entrance to get in and out.
The Carolina Wren has 1 to 3 broods a mating season and lays 3 to 7 eggs each time.
The eggs can be one of several colors (white, cream, pink) but all have small brown spots on them. The incubation period is about two weeks and the young remain in the nest for an additional two weeks.
Diet
The Carolina wren mostly eats insects and spiders. On occasion, they will eat some plant material and seeds.
Habitat
The Carolina Wren can be found in bushes and trees. It can also be found on the ground.
The Carolina Wren is a common bird and can be seen year-round in Tennessee.
Song And Call
Carolina Wrens have a lot to say. If you hear something that sounds like a finger running down a comb, that’s a Carolina Wren. The easiest call to learn is the “Tea Kettle, Tea Kettle, Tea Kettle” call.
11. Eastern towhees
Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Size: 6.8-8.2 inches
Description And Field Marks
The male has a black head, throat and underparts, reddish-brown sides, and a white belly. The Eastern Towhee also has a long tail and white on its wings especially seen when flying. The female looks basically the same except she has brown whereas the male is black.
Nesting
They build their nests on the ground in the fallen leaves. The female builds the nest and lays 2 to 6 eggs. They can have up to 3 broods each breeding season. The incubation period is 12 to 13 days with a nesting period of 10-12 days.
It is not usual that the brown-headed cowbirds will drop their eggs into the eastern Towhee’s nest. The Eastern Towhee will raise the Brown-headed Cowbirds’ young. Sometimes the cowbirds will take out the Towhee’s eggs so they don’t notice that they have too many eggs in the nest.
Diet
The Eastern Towhee eats fruits, seeds, and insects. They will likely visit your feeders but will take the seed which has fallen to the ground. They are very likely to visit your backyard with you a lot of brush and shrubs.
Habitat
These year-round birds in Tennessee can be seen on the edges of forests, brushy woodlands, and bushing backyards. Their main area where you can see them is dense scrub cover and leafy areas to scratch around in.
Song And Call
They are known for their common called “chewink”.
12. house finch
Scientific Name: Haemorhous mexicanus Size: 5.1-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The House Finch is a small bird with a length of 7.5 inches and a weight of 5 ounces. The male House Finch has a brown back, wings, tail, and head with white underparts and varying shades of red around the head while the female is grayish-brown all over.
Nesting
House Finches build their nest anyway as long as it’s 12 to 15 feet above the ground usually in buildings and trees. Nests are made of grass, weeds, twigs, and leaves. The female builds the nest while the male will feed her during this time and incubation.
The eggs are pale blue with lavender and black dots and consist of 2 to 6 eggs. The incubation period is 13 to 14 days. Both the male and female feed their young for the 12 to 15 days they remain in the nest.
House Finches usually have 3 broods each year.
Diet
House Finches like to eat small worms, insects, seeds of small plants, and berries of some plants as well. They will visit the bird feeders often and really love sunflower seeds. They will also visit your Hummingbird feeders for the sugar water.
Habitat
Seen throughout North America, the House Finch is a very social bird and is usually seen in flocks except during mating season. You will find them in cities, suburban towns, and farmland. They love lawns, weedy areas, and trees but not dense forests.
Bird Notes
If the bird you’re looking for has a raspberry or light pink body check to see if it’s a purple finch.
Song And Call
The House Finch has a high-pitched sound that the male House Finch mostly uses to attract the female for breeding.
13. Carolina chickadee
Scientific Name: Poecile carolinensis Size: 3.9-4.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Carolina Chickadee is a tiny bird with a short neck, large head, and long and narrow tail. It has a black cap and bib with white cheeks. The rest of its body is a light gray.
Nesting
Carolina Chickadees nest in nest boxes so if you have these in your backyard you can attract a breeding pair. Both the male and female choose the nest location however the female will add a lining of hair and moss.
The Carolina Chickadee only has one brook per season. The female lays 3 to 10 white eggs with small dots. The incubation period is 12 to 15 days and the young remain in the nest for another 16 to 19 days.
A fun fact about these birds is that more than half of all breeding pairs will stay together for several seasons.
Diet
During the summer, the Carolina Chickadee mostly eats small insects and spiders. They can hang upside down on a tree to get insects from the bark.
During the winter in addition to insects, they will eat from your bird feeders. They like sunflower seeds and suet. They also like peanuts.
Habitat
Carolina Chickadees are found in open areas, woods, parks, cities, and suburban areas.
In Tennessee, you will see the Carolina Chickadee year-round.
Bird Facts
It’s very hard to tell the difference between the Black-Capped Chickadee and the Carolina Chickadee besides that the Black-capped Chickadee lives in the northern states and the Carolina Chickadee are in the southern states.
The Black-capped Chickadees are a little larger with a longer tail and a brighter white line on their cheek and neck. Their bodies can be darker and more white on their wings. Unless they are side by side you probably won’t be able to tell the difference.
Song And Call
14. White-throated sparrow
Scientific Name: Zonotrichia albicollis Size: 6.3-7.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
White-throated sparrows are very small birds, with a length of 4 inches and a weight under 2 ounces. They have brown backs and white underbelly, with a white stripe on the back of their necks. They have brown eyes and gray bills.
Nesting
White-throated sparrow makes their nests on the ground or just above it usually in bushes or under bushes so it has some cover. The female builds the nest out of grasses, twigs, pine needles, and rootlets. Their nest is small usually only around 4″ and about 2″ deep.
The eggs are pale blue and his several colored speckles (purple, chestnut, lilac). They lay 1 to 2 broods a year (will build a new nest for each) with between 1 to 6 eggs. The incubation period is 11 to 14 days and the young will stay in the nests for around a week to two weeks.
Diet
Their diet consists of insects, seeds, and berries. will feed from seed on the ground. During the winter they will eat from your bird feeders and like black oil sunflower seeds and millet.
Habitat
White-throated sparrows are very social birds and can be seen in large flocks during migration. They are migrating birds that breed in Canada, and head south in the fall.
White-throated sparrows are common birds in Tennessee, especially during the winter months. often found in small groups in brushy areas of parks and fields. When they leave, Spring is on its way.
Song And Call
The song is “Oh Canada, Canada, Canada”.
15. American crow
Scientific Name: Corvus brachyrhynchos Size: 15.8-20.9 inches
Description And Field Marks
The American Crow is not a crow at all. It is actually a raven, but it has been called the “American Crow” for many years. This all-black bird has shiny feathers. The bill is also black with a hook on the end. The male is slightly more glossy than the female.
The American crow is smaller than the fish crow.
Nesting
The American Crow doesn’t breed until it’s between 2 and 4 years old. The “family” stays together for years, so some of the “kids” will help raise the next year’s brood.
Their nests are in large trees mostly evergreens. Both the male and female will make the nest out of large twigs lined with pine needles. The nest is big around 15 inches across and 7 to 10 inches deep.
They usually lay 3 to 9 eggs which are bluish-green in color with gray and brown blotches at either end.
The incubation period is 16 to 18 days, and the young remain in the nest anywhere from 20 to 40 days.
Diet
The American Crow will eat just about anything including seeds, nuts, worms, and small animals such as mice. They will also steal and eat eggs from other birds like robins, sparrows, loons, jays, and eiders. They will even eat garbage from the dumps.
Habitat
The American Crow can be seen throughout the United States but differ in size by region. Eastern crows are the ones you will see in Tennessee throughout the year and are larger than what you will see on the west coast. In Florida, the American Crow is smaller but has large feet. And the Northwestern Crow, once thought to be a different species are smaller with a deeper voice.
It is common to see them on lawns, open fields, woodlands, parking lots, and in towns as well as in cities.
Bird Notes
The American Crow is an aggressive bird that will chase many large birds like eagles and hawks. Many times you will see them in flocks of up to 1000 birds.
Song And Call
16. common grackles
Scientific Name: Quiscalus quiscula Size: 11.0-15.4 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Common Grackle is part of the blackbird family and all blackbirds have iridescent feathers (usually dark blue or purple).
Grackles are often mistaken for crows, but they are much smaller in size and can be distinguished by their long tails and shiny black feathers. They have yellow eyes and their size is larger than a robin.
They are often found in large flocks during the summer months.
Nesting
They nest in colonies and build their nests in trees and bushes that are at least 3 feet off the ground. The female picks the spot of the nest and mostly builds them too but the male will help her.
They usually lay 1 to 7 eggs that can be pearl gray, light blue, or dark brown in color however they usually have brown spots. The incubation period is 11 to 15 days and the young will stay in the nest for 10 to 17 days. The common grown has 1 to 2 broods each year.
Grackles are also known as “possum hawks” because they sometimes prey on the eggs of ground-nesting birds like quail, grouse, and pheasants.
Diet
Grackles are omnivores and eat insects, fruits, seeds, and grains. They can often be seen at backyard bird feeders where they will also dine on sunflower seeds and cracked corn.
Grackles are very intelligent birds that sometimes use their beaks to turn over rocks in search of insects. You will also find them find at farm fields where they will eat the seeds from corn and rice.
Habitat
Grackles can be found throughout the United States in parks, yards, open fields, and woodlands. They are very adaptable birds that have learned to thrive in cities where they often find food and water.
Song And Call
Grackles can also be heard making a wide range of calls that include whistles and rattling sounds.
17. red-headed woodpecker
Scientific Name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus Size: 7.5-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
You can’t miss these medium-sized birds with their bright red head and white belly. The Red-headed woodpecker is the size of a Hairy woodpecker, between the size of a Robin and a Crow.
It has a powerful, spike bill that it uses to peck at wood to get insects. Its back and the tip of its tail are black but it has white wings. The male and female look the same but an immature bird has a brownish head with brown on its back and although its wings are white they have brown lines on them.
Nesting
The male picks out the nesting site and both the male and female help to build the nest, which is usually in dead trees.
They have one to two broods each year with 3 to 10 eggs which are pure white in color. The incubation period is around 12 to 14 days with both the male and female taking turns. The young will stay in the nest for 24 to 31 days.
Diet
Their diet consists mainly of insects, fruits, and seeds. It is one of the few woodpeckers that will store its food in tree cavities to consume at a later date. They will also visit backyard suet feeders during the winter.
Habitat
The red-headed woodpecker is one of the more aggressive woodpeckers as it will fight with birds larger than itself and even take over nest boxes from other birds including ducks.
They like areas where they are dead trees. They can be plentiful in an area one year and can be rarely seen the next year.
You will see them in Tennessee all year long but the best time to see them is during the breeding season in spring and summer.
Call And Drumming
18. brown-headed cowbirds
Scientific Name: Molothrus ater Size: 7.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
Chunky, dark-eyed blackbird with short tails and thick bills. Adult males are glossy black with iridescent brown heads. Females are brown with light streaks on the belly.
Nesting
Brown-headed Cowbirds nest in trees, but there is no nest-building involved. Female Brown-headed Cowbirds are parasites – they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. In many cases, larger Cowbird nestlings will push the other species’ eggs or chicks out of the nest. Parasite hosts raise the Cowbird chick as their own.
Diet
Seeds, grasses, and insects make up most of the Brown-headed Cowbird’s diet. Females add snails and eggs from nests they parasitize; they need the extra calcium because they lay so many of their own eggs in other birds’ nests.
Brown-headed Cowbirds will come to feeders, usually with Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and European Starlings that sometimes overwhelm household feeders.
Habitat
Brown- Cowbirds can be found pretty much everywhere but in heavy forests. They got their name by foraging among herds of grazing buffalo and cattle.
In Winter, Brown-headed Cowbirds can be found among the large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and European Starlings.
Bird Notes
The much smaller Yellow Warbler’s nests are targets for Brown-headed Cowbirds, but the Yellow Warbler has figured out a way to deal with this. Since they are too small to just push the Cowbird egg out of the nest, they build another nest on top of the Cowbird egg, smothering it and allowing their own eggs to hatch without intruders.
Song And Call
19. tufted titmouse
Scientific Name: Baeolophus bicolor Size: 5.5-6.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Tufted Titmouse is a small bird, but a large titmouse. This species is larger than chickadees, about the size of a junco or House Finch. They are stocky birds with dark eyes and crests. Gray on top and white below and some even have a peachy color on their sides.
The Tufted Titmouse is a common and favorite bird for many people in their backyards. They are active all year, but more so in winter when they will flock with chickadees and other small birds.
Nesting
The Tufted Titmouse is a cavity nester, which means it will nest in an abandoned woodpecker hole or another hollow.
They will make their nest in a hole in a tree or building. The female Tufted Titmouse lays 4-6 white eggs and incubates them for 11-12 days.
Diet
Tufted Titmouse diet consists of insects, seeds, and berries, and will feed on the ground or in trees. They will often be found with Chickadees and love feeders, suet, and shelled peanuts.
Habitat
The Tufted Titmouse is found in the eastern and southeastern United States and is expanding its range northward.
Song And Call
20. European starling
Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgaris Size: 7.9-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
The European Starling is the size of a Robin and from a distance looks all black. However, they have a purplish-green iridescent color to them when you see them up close. Their yellow bill stands out and they have short tails.
You often see them in large flocks with blackbirds and grackles.
Nesting
Starlings will take other birds’ nests and use them as long as they are high off the ground, usually in trees, on streetlights, buildings, or nest boxes. The male will find these nests and will add twigs, pine needles, grasses, and feathers. Females will add greens to the nest before laying 3 to 6 eggs.
Both the male and female will incubate the eggs for a period of around 12 days. The egg color is bluish to greenish white. The young will stay in the nest for about 3 weeks.
Diet
European Starlings eat mostly insects but will also eat fruits. In addition, they will eat seeds, nectar, garbage, and livestock feed.
Habitat
They live where humans are, in towns and cities, and roost in trees and on buildings, also you will see them on wires. They like open fields and lawns and are not far from a water source.
Bird Notes
A fun fact about the European Starling is that all North American birds descended from 100 birds that in 1890 were intentionally released into Central Park in New York City. Today they have a population in North America of over 2 million.
Song And Call
The European starling is a highly sociable bird. It lives in flocks of up to 100 birds, and its calls include whistling and chattering noises.
21. white-breasted nuthatch
Scientific Name: Sitta carolinensis Size: 5.1-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The White-breasted Nuthatch gets its name from the fact that it stuffs nuts and seeds under tree bark, then uses its sharp beaks to hatch the seed from the shell. The White-breasted Nuthatch has a black cap on top of their heads, with white on either side and on their bellies.
Plump little birds, larger and heavier-bodied than Red-breasted Nuthatch. Nuthatches always start at the top of the tree and work their way down to the ground.
Nesting
They make their nets in tree cavities or holes made by woodpeckers at least 15 feet above the ground. Females build their nests out of grasses, twigs, mosses, and bark fibers.
They only have one brood per year consisting of 5 to 9 eggs. The eggs are white with reddish-brown spots. The eggs are incubated by the females. The males feed them during that time.
Both the male and female feed their young which leave the nest at any point from 14 to 26 days.
Diet
The White-breasted Nuthatch will visit most seed feeders and like mixed seed blends, black sunflower seeds, peanut butter, peanuts, or suet. They usually like to grab and run, taking a seed and immediately flying off to eat it or cache it in a nearby tree.
Habitat
It is a small bird that is the largest nuthatch in North America. The White-breasted Nuthatch is found year-round throughout Tennessee and is a common backyard bird.
Song And Call
Their call sounds like a squeaky wheel.
22. hairy woodpecker
Scientific Name: Leuconotopicus villosus Size: 7.1-10.2 inches
Description And Field Marks
Very similar to the Downy Woodpecker in color and looks except the Hairy Woodpecker is larger in size and has a longer bill.
Nesting
Hairy Woodpeckers make their nest in trees, especially diet trees. They lay 3-6 all-white eggs with an incubation period of 10 to 12 days. The young woodpeckers remain in the nest for about a month.
Diet
Their main source of food is insects just they find in trees and branches.
Habitat
Year-round residence to Tennessee’s backyards and also wood forests especially pine trees which are abundant in Tennessee. If you don’t see them you will definitely hear them drumming on trees.
Call and Drumming
23. yellow-rumped warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga coronata Size: 4.7-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The males are dark gray with white on their wings, and yellow on their faces, sides, and rump. The east coast male could have a white throat instead of the yellow one. The females are duller and could be brown instead of gray with less yellow.
Nesting
Females built their nests in pine trees with materials brought to them by the male. She lays 1 to 6 white-speckled eggs. The incubation period is 12 to 13 days with a nesting period of 10 to 14 days.
Diet
The yellow-rumped warblers eat insects during the summer.
Habitat
In Tennessee, you will see the yellow-rumped warbler in winter during the non-breeding season as the breed in the north. They like open areas, such as parks, woodland pine forests, dunes, and residential areas.
Song And Call
24. eastern bluebird
Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Size: 6.3-8.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Eastern Bluebird is a small size bird that belongs to a family of North American songbirds known as the Turdidae. The Eastern Bluebird is mostly found in farmlands, orchids, gardens, and open woods.
The male bluebird is mostly blue with a rusty color throat and chest. The female is much duller with a grayish head and back and bluish wings and tails. Its breast is light orange-brown and its dirty white belly.
Nesting
Nests are made by the Eastern Bluebird in the holes of trees, like pine and dead trees. The Eastern Bluebird lays three to five eggs at a time and incubates them for around 12 days. The chicks become mature in 12 to 15 days
Diet
It will definitely visit the feeders, the Eastern Bluebird eats small fruits, berries, seeds, and worms. Worms and insects are the major food items for the grown-up Eastern Bluebird.
Habitat
Eastern bluebirds are mostly found in the northern part of the United States. They are also found in Canada and Mexico. They can be seen year-round in Tennessee.
Song And Call
The Eastern Bluebird produces a beautiful melody with its vocals.
25. American Goldfinch
Scientific Name: Spinus tristis Size: 4.3-5.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
The American Goldfinch is a small, sparrow-sized bird with a short, notched tail.
In Spring and Summer, the male has a bright yellow body, black wings with wing bars, and a heavy, finch-like bill, while the female is less boldly colored. In winter both males and females become dull green-gray and look like female House Finches.
Goldfinches are very social birds and often travel in flocks. They fly in a rolling up-and-down pattern, and their song is high-pitched and mellifluous.
Nesting
Nesting later than most birds in this area (late June), the American Goldfinch hides its nests in thick brushes and shrubs making them very hard to see. The nests look like cup-like structures made of grasses, seeds, and soft materials on top of the twigs in the brushes.
The female lays 2 to 7 eggs which take 12 to 14 days to hatch. The young are fed by the male and stay in the nest for 11 to 17 days. Depending on how late the pair mates, they can mate again having two broods in a season.
Diet
They love Nyjer and sunflower seeds year-round, but will also eat a finch seed blend. Finch feeders have very small openings and can be either rigid feeders or disposable nylon socks.
Habitat
They are year-round residents and are found in most areas of North America. However, those that breed in Canada and the Midwest migrate to the southern US States for winter.
American Goldfinches are spotted in Tennessee year-round, but their numbers increase during the breeding season. Breeding usually starts in late April or early May.
Bird Note
In winter, check your finch feeder for Pine Siskins, which look like sparrows with yellowish accents.
Song And Call
26. pileated woodpecker
Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus Size: 16.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The largest woodpeckers in Tennessee are the Pileated. It’s almost the size of a crow with an all-black body with white stripes down a long neck and a bright red crest on the back of their heads and strong bills. White under-wing and white wing patches are easily seen in flight.
Pileated Woodpeckers fly in fairly straight lines, unlike other woodpecker species, who fly in undulating lines.
These birds have been known to thrive in Tennessee’s forests, especially throughout The northwestern part of the state. Therefore, Pileated Woodpeckers provide an important source of biodiversity to the state’s ecosystem and also act as indicators for healthy woodlands.
These are noisy, loud woodpeckers. Their drum is slow and powerful, accelerates, and then trails off, not more than two times a minute.
Nesting
Pileated Woodpeckers drill out nest holes in large tree trunks.
Diet
They really like carpenter ants, so they’re often found foraging at the bottoms of dead trees or on fallen logs.
Habitat
Likes mature forests and open woodlands. Pileated Woodpeckers look for dead trees and logs, which offer food and a nest cavity.
Bird Notes
Pileated Woodpecker holes are rectangular rather than round or oval like other woodpeckers, and they are deep enough to break smaller trees in half.
Call And Drumming
27. indigo bunting
Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Size: 4.7-5.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Indigo Bunting male is all blue with a silver bill and the female is brown with some white on her throat. Sometimes the females have some blue on their wings and immature males are a patchy blue with brown.
Nesting
The female Indigo Bunting builds the nest close to the ground in open fields, near the wood edges, near roadways, and even by railroad tracks. Sometimes the males will watch but will not help.
They have 1 to 3 broods per season and lay 3 to 4 white eggs. The incubation period is 11 to 14 days and the nestling period is 8 to 14 days.
Diet
The indigo Bunting feels on small seeds, fruits, berries, and small insects. You can attract them to your backyard feeders when you use small seeds, especially thistle or nyjer.
Habitat
You can see Indigo Bunting in Tennessee during the summer in bushy areas along woods, forests, and backyards and they are usually alone. When they are ready to migrate south for the winter they form flocks and will travel together at night using the stars as guidance.
Song And Call
You can hear them singing as they are known for their whistling song
28. Northern cardinal
Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis Size: 8.3-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
A male cardinal is bright red in color and the female is a brownish color with red on its wings. The male’s crest is also longer than the female’s. They both have a thick finch bill with black around their faces.
The Northern Cardinal is a songbird and males sing from high perches to attract mates. They are very territorial and will defend their territory from other Cardinals
Nesting
These birds like dense, thick foliage like pines, junipers, and shrubs to build their nests in. They average about 3 eggs each spring and the eggs are white but could have a hint of blue, green, or brown to them. The eggs can also have colored speckling of gray, brown, or red. They are incubated for around 11 to 13 days. Both parents will feed their young for a few months until they are able to survive on their own.
Diet
The Northern Cardinal is a seed eater, eating seeds from the ground or off plants. They also eat insects, fruits, and berries when available.
Cardinals are frequent users of feeders and are attracted by wild bird seed mix, black-oil sunflower seeds, and safflower seeds.
Habitat
The Northern Cardinal is one of the most common and popular backyard birds in the eastern half of the United States. The Northern Cardinal is found in Tennessee year-round.
Bird Note
It is often said that when a “cardinal appears a loved one is near”, so the cardinal brings peace of mind to many.
Song And Call
29. northern flicker
Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus Size: 11.0-12.2 inches
Description And Field
The Northern Flicker male and female are similar in color. They both have a rounded head, the bill is curved down and the tail tapers to a long point.
With its gray-brown plumage, Northern Flickers stand out from other woodpeckers in their area. They also have plenty of dark markings on their undersides and brightly colored tail feathers.
Although the same bird their colors differ from the eastern United States (bright yellow wing and tail feathers) and the western US (red wing and tail feathers).
The Northern Flicker is also known as “the woodpecker that doesn’t peck wood.” Instead, it cleans insects from the bark of trees.
Nesting
It nests in holes excavated by other animals, such as squirrels and woodpeckers. It lays 5 to 8 eggs which are all white. They only have one brood per nesting season.
The incubation period is around 2 weeks and the young stay in the nest for about a month.
Diet
Northern Flickers mostly will eat insects that they get from the ground. They will “drum” at the ground as other woodpeckers drum in trees and wood. During the winter months, they will also eat fruits and seeds.
The Northern Flicker is a great backyard bird because it is generally easy to attract and stops in at your suet and peanut feeders, but most likely you’ll see them nesting in old trees.
Habitat
You will see Northern Flickers in city parks and backyards in the suburbs. They will also be in woodlands with open trees, burned forests, swamps, and marshes.
You can see the Northern Flicker year-round in Tennessee.
Call And Drumming
The Northern Flicker has a wide range of calls. It has a typical woodpecker-like “drum” and a more musical, gurgling call that is often mistaken for the song of the Red-winged Blackbird.
They make excellent watch birds due to their loud “wicka-wicka-wicka” call that can be heard from quite a distance.
30. mourning dove
Scientific Name: Zenaida mactoura Size: 9.1-13.4 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Mourning Dove is a medium-sized bird from the dove family. It has a rusty brown color and a few black spots above the wings. They can reach up to 12 inches in body length while their wingspan can be up to 18 inches.
Nesting
The pair of Mourning Doves is monogamous and they usually mate for life. They use old nests of other birds or build their own nest on top of a post, tree branch, or even on the ground.
Mourning Doves lay two white eggs and incubate them for 13 days. The male also feeds her during this time. The young will leave the nest after 15-16 days.
Diet
Mourning Doves eat seeds and grains that are found in the backyard. They also eat insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, and beetles.
Mourning Doves are one of the vacuums of the bird world, so they don’t eat from feeders but from what falls on the ground when other birds use your feeder.
Habitat
The Mourning Dove is frequent in most parts of the United States.
Song And Call
31. brown thrasher
Scientific Name: Toxostoma rufum Size: 9.1-11.8 inches
Description And Field Marks
The only thrasher east of Texas, the Bown Thrasher is a fox color brown bird that has whitish underparts. It is known for its bright yellow eyes, long tail that stands upward like a Wren, and its long downcurved bill.
This songbird is larger than a Blue Jay but smaller than a Northern Mockingbird.
Nesting
Both the male and female Brown Thrashers help with nesting. They both pick the nested placement usually thorny bushes or low trees. They make the nest out of grasses, bark, twigs, and leaves. The nest is cup-like, a few inches deep, and around 3 to 4 inches wide.
Brown Thrashes have 1 to 2 broods each breeding season with 2 to 6 eggs each. The color of the eggs varies from pale blue to greenish blue and even white with red-brownish spots.
Both parents will incubate the eggs and feed the young. The incubation period is 10 to 14 days and the young remain in the nest for another 9 to 13 days.
Diet
Their diet consists mostly of insects but Brown Thrasher will also eat fruit, seeds, and nuts. They will come to your feeders for seeds and you can find them eating seeds off the ground around feeders.
The best way to attract Brown Thrashers to your yard is by planting fruit bushes.
Habitat
Brown Thrashers make a lot of noise but are hard to see because they prefer dense shrubs for cover. You will find them in woodlands, on forest edges, and in your backyards especially if you have dense shrubs.
In Tennessee, you will see them year-round.
Bird Notes
Brown Thrasher can be aggressive birds and have been known to strike people and dogs if you go too close to their nests.
Song and Call
32. purple martin
Scientific Name: Progne subis Size: 6 inches
Description And Field Marks
The males are dark blue with a glossy look with black wings and tails while the females are brown with darker brown wings and tails and white breasts.
The Purple Martin is a member of the swallow family. It is not a Martin at all but was named for the color of its back. They are very graceful flyers as they can fly backward, sideways, and even upside down!
Nesting
Purple Martins are very social birds and like to live in colonies. They build their nest’s side by side in the same tree. They will also build nests in birdhouses, especially the “condo” type.
The female lays 3 to 6 white eggs. The incubation period is 15 to 18 days and the young remain in the nets for about a month.
Diet
The Purple Martins get all their food from the air. They drink nectar from flowers, and they eat flying insects.
Habitat
The Purple Martin is a migratory bird. It winters in South America. In the spring, Purple Martins return to North America. If you put a purple martin house in your backyard you will get plenty of Purple Martins. They are in Tennessee for the spring and summer.
Song And Call
Purple Martin colonies are noisy, with birds chattering to each other and making a whirring sound as they fly overhead.
33. gray catbird
Scientific Name: Dumetella carolinensis Size: 8.3-9.4 inches
Description And Field Marks
In the songbird family, the Gray Catbird is mostly gray but has some cinnamon brown under its tail and some black on its cap and tail.
Nesting
Female catbirds build their nest in shrubs, vines, and bushes usually around 4 feet off the ground. Nests are made of twigs, branches, and grass-like materials.
Catbirds can have 2 to 3 broods per mating season with 1 to 6 eggs each. Incubation lasts 12 to 15 days and the young remain with their parents for around 10 days.
Diet
They mostly eat insects, caterpillars, and moths but will also eat fruit and berries. They can become backyard pests if you grow fruit in your yard.
Habitat
Gray catbirds don’t like to fly in open areas so you will most likely see them in small vines, bushes, and trees. You will see them in your backyards so look in the branches of your bushes both in summer and winter.
Song And Call
The Gray Catbird songs all day long and will mimic other birds.
What Are The Best Ways To Attract Backyard Birds?
1. Put Out Bird Feeders
There are many different types of bird feeders available on the market, each designed to attract different types of birds. The most popular bird feeders include tube feeders, hopper feeders, platform feeders, and window feeders.
Tube feeders are long and cylindrical in shape, with small holes near the top where birds can insert their beaks to reach the bird seed inside. Hopper feeders are similar in shape to tube feeders but have a large opening at the top where birds can perch and eat. Platform feeders are flat surfaces with raised edges, upon which birds can land and eat the bird seed placed there. Window feeders are designed to be attached to windows so that birds can eat right up close to your home.
The type of bird food you put inside your birdfeeder will also depend on the type of birds you want to attract. Bird food includes sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet. Some tips on how to put out your birdfeeder include using a squirrel-proof design and making sure that the feeder is level so that the seed does not spill out.
2. Add A Water Source
Adding a water source to your backyard is a great way to attract birds. Water is essential for birds, and they will be drawn to any backyard that has a water source. Birdhouses are also a great way to attract birds. Solar fountains are also a good option for attracting birds. These emit a gentle flow of water that will attract birds to your yard.
3. Offer Birdhouses
Building a birdhouse is a great way to attract birds to your yard. There are a few things to consider when building a birdhouse, such as the size and shape of the house, and what type of bird you want to attract.
The most important thing to remember when building a birdhouse is to make sure the entrance hole is the right size for the type of bird you want to attract. If the hole is too small, the bird will not be able to get inside, and if it is too large, predators will be able to get in.
Once you have decided on the size and shape of your birdhouse, you can start construction. It is important that the house is made out of sturdy materials that will withstand weathering and decay. Some good choices for materials include cedar or redwood for the exterior and plywood or pine for the interior.
After your birdhouse is built, you need to decide where to place it. The best location for a birdhouse is in an open area away from trees or other structures that could block access or provide perches for predators. Once you have found the perfect spot for your new house, simply mount it on a pole or post using screws or nails. Make sure that the house is secure so that it does not fall and hurt any birds.
4. Add Native Plants
Native plants are more effective in attracting backyard birds because they provide the birds with the type of food that these birds prefer. By adding native plants to your backyard, you can help promote a healthy ecosystem that supports both bird species and insects. Grow native plants that offer food, shelter, and fruit for the birds. Non-native plants can outcompete native plants and disrupt the ecosystem, so it’s important to select plants that will be beneficial to your backyard birds.
Conclusion
We just covered some of the many backyard birds in Tennessee. If you want more information on any of these birds or numerous other birds that you can see in Tennessee, check out the Tennesse Audubon Society.
Happy birdwatching!
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