Are you fascinated by birds? Do you watch them every day at the birdfeeder but wish you knew what type of birds you were looking at? Would you like to know more about them? Florida backyard birds are incredibly diverse and fascinating.
In the state of Florida, over 525 species of birds have been recorded and many of them can show up in backyards like yours.
So what are the most common species of backyard birds that you can find at your Florida feeder? Here we have 25 of the most common birds along with some helpful tips on how to ID them.
25 Common Florida Backyard Birds
1. Northern Cardinal
Cardinals are one of the most recognizable backyard birds in North America. The males are a vibrant red and the females are a softer brown. The Northern Cardinal is quite common along the East coast of the US and has been making its way farther North, decade by decade.
They are fans of shelled sunflower seeds, so keep your feeder stocked if you hope to encourage more cardinals to your backyard. In the North, they brighten winter days with their bright plumage against the white snow. When the male bird sings, he is either trying to attract females or is defending his territory from intruding males.
Expert Tip: When it comes to foraging for food, the Northern Cardinal has a varied and omnivorous diet, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They enjoy berries, seeds, and insects.
2. Tufted Titmouse
The Tufted Titmouse is a small gray feathered bird with a pointed tuft of feathers giving it’s head a pointed shape. These small birds flit through forests landing at feeders to snatch up their favorite sunflower seeds along with other seeds and suet.
The little Titmouse hoards seeds in the fall and winter, and will even shell them before storing them to avoid the work later. Aside from feeders, they tend to forage for insects in the forest. Unlike their relatives, they stay in their mating pairs throughout the year and do not flock together to find new mates.
Titmice live and nest in small holes and nest boxes, but they cannot peck out their own hole, so they use the holes created by woodpeckers. The sneaky little birds will steal hair right off of an animal and use it to line their nests, hair has been found from several species including humans.
3. Blue Jay
Blue Jay‘s are hard to miss at the feeder and are sometimes seen as feeder bullies. They are large songbirds with bright blue, white, and black plumage. Their song is loud and you may even find it quite obnoxious. When it comes to feeders, they prefer tray feeders placed on poles and will indulge in peanuts, suet, and sunflower seeds.
When foraging on their own. Blue Jays are famed for their love of acorns, this infatuation has been credited for the widespread of oak trees after the glacial age. Blue Jays are similar to crows when it comes to intelligence and family bonds. They can figure out complex problems and are tightly knit with their families. They can even mimic hawks.
4. Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Common throughout the Eastern side of the United States, the Red-Bellied Woodpecker can commonly be found at feeders near wooded areas. They are medium-sized woodpeckers and are easily recognizable by the barred black and white pattern on their back and a strikingly red cap upon their heads.
These birds have a deep and distinctive call that, once you learn it you will start to hear frequently. They have luckily stayed in the low concern category of conservation. When it comes to attracting them to your bird feeder, they are fans of suet, peanuts, and the occasional sunflower seed.
Expert Tip: Red-bellied Woodpeckers have even been known to drink nectar from hummingbird feeders with their extraordinarily long tongues.
In the wild they scavenge insects that live in the bark of trees, but what’s the fun of doing that when you can get a free meal from a feeder?
5. Mourning Dove
Found nearly throughout the entire continent of North America, the mourning dove is a common bird to see at most feeders in Florida. Mourning doves have small heads on a larger body, reminiscent of a more elegant and smaller version of a pigeon. Mourning Doves have an almost haunting coo that is easily recognizable.
They forage for seeds on the ground, so spreading seeds on the ground near your feeder will entice them to become common visitors. If you have a cat, it is probably best to keep them inside as ground foragers are much more likely to fall prey to the feline hunters.
If you wish to entice a mating pair then think about planting shrubs and trees around your home, a nesting cone is also a fine idea. Just be sure to make these happy little nesting areas available well before nesting season comes around.
6. American Robin
The early bird who got the worm. American Robins can be found on lawns across North America pulling worms from the ground in the early mornings. You can recognize the American Robin by its reddish-brown belly, gray back, and cheerful song. Although commonly seen at feeders.
American Robins are typically ground foragers that feed on fruits and insects. They tend to eat more insects and worms in the morning and more fruit in the later part of the day.
When it comes to ground foraging birds like the American Robin and Mourning Dove, it is important to take the use of herbicides and pesticides on lawns into account. They can be negatively impacted by the chemicals, so it is best to avoid them to keep the birds happy and healthy.
7. American Crow
The American crow is a large and regal blackbird that will eat just about anything put in front of them. Crows don’t commonly frequent feeders, but if you have wooded areas near your home, then is likely that you will see them in the trees and on the ground foraging for seeds and insects.
Along with eating everything from seeds and insects to carrion and garbage. American crows also live just about anywhere. From the beach to the forest to garbage dumps, they are highly adaptable birds.
Expert Tip: American Crows are famed for their extreme intelligence. They have been known to use tools both in the wild and in captivity, they will steal food from other animals by distracting them while another crow takes the food for the group.
Crows are also extremely close with their families and “friends” in the winter they will roost with their family and other crows. These roosts can reach numbers of up to 2 million.
8. Palm Warbler
Palm Warblers are smaller brownish-olive colored birds with faded eye stripes and a rusty brown cap. They can be found walking along the ground wagging their little tails, this is uncommon behavior for most warbler species.
In the winter, Palm Warbler’s migrate South and can be found in the backyards of Florida homes. They do not breed in Florida, but they do enjoy a warm winter vacation.
9. Eastern Bluebird
Found on the Eastern side of North America, these colorful birds wow birdwatchers. The male Eastern Bluebird has a brilliant blue back and a rusty brown breast, the female is grayer with blue highlights on her wings and tail.
The best way to entice these shy birds to your feeder and backyard is to provide mealworms, it also helps to have an open area without a lot of large trees. Another great way to invite Eastern Bluebirds to your yard is to put up nesting boxes, then you can enjoy them for an entire breeding season.
10. European Starling
Interestingly, the European Starling was brought to America by Shakespear enthusiasts and is now one of the most prolific songbirds on the continent. The starling has a long yellow beak, triangular wings, and a black stout body.
They are beautiful birds with a negative reputation for being aggressive towards other birds and being a public nuisance. Their common habitats are in towns so they are commonly found eating at bird feeders.
11. Red-Winged Blackbird
Living in marshes, the Red-winged Blackbird can commonly be found sitting atop cattails and telephone wires. They have very distinctive coloring with a black body and bright red and yellow spots on their wings. Females on the other hand more closely resemble a large sparrow with brown streaky coloring.
Expert Tip: Red-winged Blackbirds are ground foragers and are fans of seeds and grains.
They are found in Florida year-round, so keep an eye out for these gorgeous and elegant birds.
12. Downy Woodpecker
This small woodpecker barely outsizes the other songbirds at the feeder, but it can be recognized by its black and white striped head, a little red tuft, black back, and spotted wings. They are found in Florida year-round and are commonly found eating at feeders amongst the other birds.
These little woodpeckers prefer suet feeders but are not overly picky.
13. Common Grackle
Commonly seen at bird feeders, the Common Grackle looks similar to a stretched blackbird with shiny and colorful bodies. They prefer to eat corn but will eat other crops as well and even garbage.
They are common to be seen walking on the ground foraging for plants and insects, so spreading seeds on the ground will make for a more natural feeding environment for the Common Grackle.
14. Northern Mockingbird
With long slender bodies and white spots on their open wings, the Northern Mockingbird is relatively easy to recognize. As the name suggests, it can mimic many other species and sounds. So instead of having a flock of singing birds in the trees, you may just have a resident Mockingbird. Males can learn up to 200 songs in their lifetime.
They are fans of different fruits, so having fruit trees will attract them to your yard. Their habitat is among neighborhoods, so keep an eye out for them foraging on the ground.
15. Eastern Towhee
Common to the Eastern United States, the Eastern Towhee is easily identifiable by its tri-colored body. It has a black back, brown stripes across the wing, and a white breast. They live in the Scrubby undergrowth of bushes and will briefly make appearances at feeders before hustling back into safety.
As they are ground foragers, they tend to stick to fallen seeds from nearby feeders.
16. Eastern Phoebe
The Eastern Phoebe lives in Florida but does not breed there, they are a small bird that can be recognized by its distinctive “phee-bee” call. Although they don’t typically found at feeders, they can be seen fluttering through backyards while hunting flying insects.
17. Pine Warbler
Small, dirty yellow, and with gray wings, the Pine Warbler is one of the only warblers that will eat seeds on a regular basis. They are fans of millet, corn, suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts. Along with these, the Pine Warbler enjoys snacking on different tree fruits.
They are often found flitting amongst the branches of pine forests foraging for insects. Florida is lucky enough to have the Pine Warbler as a permanent backyard bird.
18. Carolina Wren
Perhaps you have never seen a Carolina Wren due to their shy nature, but you are sure to have heard them. They are common in open woodland areas and at times you may catch a glimpse of their warm cinnamon plumage. Not to be objective, but they are adorable fluffy feather balls.
These little birds are fans of suet feeders, so try one of those and patiently wait.
19. American Gold Finch
I love these glowing yellow finches, the males glow with a golden yellow and accents of black and white. The females are a faded brown with faint yellow accents. In Florida, the American Gold Finch enjoys their balmy winter before heading North to nest. When it comes to feeders, they are fans of nyjer and sunflower seeds.
Luckily, for backyard bird enthusiasts. American Goldfinches do not discriminate when it comes to different types of feeders.
20. Gray Catbird
This charming gray bird with a black cap is named for its call, which is very cat-like, listens closely to shrubs and thickets for their call. This is another Florida backyard bird that loves fruit. So planting native fruit trees will be sure to draw them to your backyard.
21. Tree Swallow
Florida is known for its swamps and ponds which is the ideal habitat for tree swallows. Watch them dip and weave around the water’s edge catching insects. Along with insects, Tree Swallows also have an affinity for fruit such as berries. They are gorgeous birds with a deep-blue back and brilliantly white breasts.
So although you may not see them at your feeder, you are sure to see them flitting over neighboring ponds and lakes.
22. Carolina Chickadee
Sunflower seeds, peanut chips, and suet make up some of Carolina Chickadee’s favorite feeder foods. They have a cute black cap, black bib, and white cheeks, and these wee birds tend to hang out in Northern Florida along with the rest of the South, and lucky for you they will be with you year-round.
23. Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Found throughout Florida, this backyard bird morphs from dull gray foliage in the winter to a contrasting gray and bright and yellow pattern in the spring, right above their tail you can find a spot of yellow, showing us where they got their name. Along with your typical mix of seeds add in some raisins to draw in this pleasant bird.
Because they winter in Florida, they may not have their vibrant yellow highlights, but they are still a joy to see.
24. Song Sparrow
Another wonderful and common backyard Florida bird is the Song Sparrow. Song Sparrows are small birds with brown and copper streaks leading from their head down their back. Their bellies are white with copper accents.
They are one of the most common sparrows in the USA and you are sure to see them frequenting your backyard feeders.
25. Baltimore Oriole
These backyard Florida birds frequent backyards that offer something sweet. They are fans of fruit from trees and feeders, providing these will help to lure them to your backyard (try cutting oranges in half). They are stunning birds, the males have a glowing orange belly with black backs and white accents on their wings.
The females are a more muted collection of orange and yellows but are beautiful nonetheless.
As migratory birds, you are more likely to see Baltimore Orioles in Florida during the winter basking in the warmth.
Recognizing Florida Backyard Birds
Now as you gaze out your window, enjoying the happy mix of visiting birds, you will be able to recognize them by name. American crows high in the trees, the lamenting coo of the mourning doves, to the worm hunting American Robin, this eclectic mix of birds is sure to bring a spark of joy to your day.
