Bird Identification Pa: A Comprehensive Guide

Bird identification in Pennsylvania can be a thrilling experience, especially with the state's diverse range of bird species.

Pennsylvania is home to over 400 species of birds, making it a paradise for bird enthusiasts.

The state's varied landscape, from mountains to coastlines, supports a wide variety of habitats that attract different bird species.

To identify birds in Pennsylvania, it's essential to know their distinctive characteristics, such as beak shape, size, and color.

The shape and size of a bird's beak can give away its diet and habitat preferences.

Birds with large, strong beaks are often seed-eaters, while those with small, pointed beaks are typically insect-eaters.

Worth a look: Bird Identification by Photo

The Pennsylvania Birds List is a great resource for identifying birds in the state.

You can find over 20 species of birds on this list, including the Ruffed Grouse and the American Goldfinch.

Some birds on the list are known for their distinctive calls, like the American Robin, which is famous for its cheerful song.

The American Robin is a common sight in Pennsylvania backyards and parks.

Other birds on the list are known for their bright colors, such as the Baltimore Oriole, which is recognized by its orange and black plumage.

The Baltimore Oriole is a migratory bird that passes through Pennsylvania in the spring and fall.

Here's a list of some of the birds on the Pennsylvania Birds List:

Bird identification can be a thrilling experience, and knowing what to look for can make all the difference. A bird's size, shape, and coloration are all important characteristics to consider.

The Gray Catbird, for example, is a slender gray bird with a black cap and chestnut under its tail. It's about 8.5 inches long and weighs around 1.3 ounces.

When it comes to distinguishing between different bird species, pay attention to their beaks and bills. Finches, for instance, have sturdy bills that help them crack open seeds.

Here's a quick rundown of some key bird characteristics to keep in mind:

The American Goldfinch is a small, bright yellow finch with a black cap, wings, and tail in the summer. It's a common sight in weedy and brushy fields, second growth, parks, and backyards.

Outside of the breeding season, American Goldfinches occur in small flocks and often visit feeders. They're social birds and love to travel in flocks.

In the spring and summer, males have a bright yellow body, black wings with wing bars, and a heavy, finch-like bill. Females are less boldly colored.

American Goldfinches are known for their distinctive flight pattern, flying in a rolling up-and-down pattern. They also have a high-pitched and mellifluous song.

They love to eat Nyjer and sunflower seeds year-round, and will also eat a finch seed blend. Finch feeders have very small openings and can be either rigid feeders or disposable nylon socks.

Here are some key identification features of the American Goldfinch:

In the winter, both males and females become dull green-gray and look like female House Finches.

The Northern Cardinal is a stunning bird, known for its vibrant red plumage. Males are a bright red color, while females are a brownish color with red on their wings.

One of the most distinctive features of the Northern Cardinal is its crest, which is longer in males than in females. 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. Their song can be described as "pichew-pichew-pichew, chew,chew,chew,chew,chew" or a quick series of "birdee,birdee,birdee,birdee,birdee".

In addition to their song, Northern Cardinals also make loud, sharp chip notes. They are very territorial and will defend their territory from other Cardinals.

Here are some key identification features of the Northern Cardinal:

The Northern Cardinal is a frequent user of feeders, attracted by wild bird seed mix, black-oil sunflower seeds, and safflower seeds.

The American Crow is a large black bird that's quite common in many parts of North America.

These birds have a distinctive call, which is often heard as "Caw! Caw! Caw!" - a loud and distinctive sound that's hard to mistake.

They're found in a wide range of habitats, from urban zones to more natural environments, and are known to forage for a variety of food sources, including carrion, fruit, seeds, insects, and small animals.

American Crows are very vocal birds, and their most common call is indeed "Caw! Caw! Caw!". They're also known to make other calls, but this one is the most recognizable.

If you're trying to identify an American Crow, look for its distinctive appearance: a big, all-black bird with a long, broad wing and a broad tail.

Here are some key characteristics to look out for:

The Red-Bellied Woodpecker is a common and adaptable bird that can be found in a variety of habitats, from urban areas to wilder places.

They are grayish in color with black and white barring above, and red on the top of the head and back of the neck. Their wingspan is quite impressive, measuring 16 inches.

Red-Bellied Woodpeckers are known for their loud exclamation, "Qwerr!", which they use to communicate. They also make other, briefer and quieter "chug" calls.

They have a very long tongue, extending 2 inches past the tip of their bill when extended. This helps them forage for seeds, nuts, insects, and other food on trunks and branches.

Here are some key characteristics of the Red-Bellied Woodpecker:

The Downy Woodpecker is a common bird found throughout North America, and it's easy to identify due to its distinctive black and white coloring.

They're the smallest woodpecker species in North America, typically measuring between 5.5-6.7 inches in length.

You can spot them in a variety of habitats, including deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as residential areas, cities, farmland, and wooded areas.

Downy Woodpeckers have a black-and-white striped head, black wings with white spots, and a solid white back and white underparts.

The male has a small red spot on the back of his head, while the female does not.

They primarily eat insects, although they'll also consume seeds, weeds, and fruit.

In fact, they tend to eat from the ground, with the male doing so, while the female prefers to find insects on branches and in trees.

If you're looking to attract Downy Woodpeckers to your backyard, consider setting up suet and nut feeders – they love these treats!

Here's a quick rundown of some key Downy Woodpecker facts:

The Carolina Wren is a small, reddish-brown and buff bird with a long beak and long white eyebrow.

They're known for their loud and melodious songs, which can fill a garden with sound. One common song sounds like "teakettle, teakettle, teakettle".

Carolina Wrens are aggressive and loud, and have no issue chasing off larger birds from their neighborhood.

On a similar theme: South Carolina Bird Sounds Identification

They mostly eat insects and spiders, but will occasionally eat some plant material and seeds.

In Pennsylvania, they're a common backyard bird because they prefer habitats with dense understory cover.

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.

Consider reading: Birds Eat

The White-Breasted Nuthatch is a small, sparrow-sized bird with a distinctive appearance. It's blue-gray above, mostly white below, and has a longish, slightly upturned beak.

One of the key characteristics of the White-Breasted Nuthatch is its ability to creep on branches and down tree trunks in search of insects, nuts, and seeds. It's a common sight at backyard feeders, where it will visit most seed feeders and enjoy mixed seed blends, black sunflower seeds, peanut butter, peanuts, or suet.

The White-Breasted Nuthatch is known for its vocal nature, making nasal calls "yank yank" and singing a nasal, laughter-like song, "wehn wehn wehn wehn wehn wehn wehn wehn". It's also quite social and can be found foraging in flocks with chickadees and titmouse species.

Here's a summary of the White-Breasted Nuthatch's key characteristics:

In terms of its habitat, the White-Breasted Nuthatch is typically found in mature woodlands and forest edges, particularly in deciduous stands with trees like maples, walnut trees, linden trees, and oaks.

The European Starling is a rounded, blackish bird with a long, sharp beak and short tail. They can grow up to 8.5 inches in length.

These birds are known for their distinctive songs, which sound like "tiktiktitZHREEree..tiktiktik..ZHREE". They also mimic other birds and sounds in their environment.

European Starlings are found in towns, cities, parks, on farms, and in other open habitats. They live in large flocks called "murmurations" that move in coordinated patterns.

Here are some key characteristics of the European Starling:

In Pennsylvania, European Starlings are seen year-round, living in towns and cities, and roosting in trees and on buildings. They also frequent bird feeders and can be found on wires.

The Gray Catbird is a slender gray songbird with a black cap and chestnut under the tail. It's a small to medium-sized bird, measuring 8.3-9.4 inches in length.

You can spot them in small trees, bushes, and vines, as they tend to avoid open areas. They're also common visitors to backyards, especially if you have fruit trees or shrubs like dogwood, winterberry, or serviceberry.

Gray Catbirds are primarily insectivores, feeding on insects, caterpillars, and moths, but they'll also eat fruit and berries. Be aware that they can become backyard pests if you grow fruit in your yard.

Their songs are quite distinctive, with a melodious, complex sound made up of jumbled, chattering sounds and phrases. They're also known to mimic other birds and make a cat-like mewing call, "rheah!"

Here are some key characteristics to help you identify a Gray Catbird:

They're quite vocal birds, singing throughout the day, and can be found in Pennsylvania backyards, especially in the branches of bushes, both in summer and winter.

The White-Throated Sparrow is a bird you're likely to spot in northern forests and woodland habitats, particularly during the winter months when they flock together. They're quite distinctive with their gray and brown plumage, white throats, and black and white or tan stripes on their head.

One of the easiest ways to identify a White-Throated Sparrow is by its song, which is a clear, whistled tune that goes "Ohhh Canada Canada Canada" or "Ohhh, Cana, Cana, Cana." They also make sharp "tink" calls, often in large flocks.

These birds are quite social and can be found in groups on the ground or in trees near wooded areas. They're also known to visit bird feeders, particularly during the winter when they'll eat black oil sunflower seeds and millet.

If you're trying to attract White-Throated Sparrows to your yard, consider offering seeds on the ground, as they're known to scratch leaves to find them.

Here are some key identification features to look out for:

The Dark-Eyed Junco is a common bird species found in many areas, and it's known for its distinctive appearance and behavior. They're small, measuring between 5.5-6.3 inches in length, and are typically gray in color.

One of the most recognizable features of the Dark-Eyed Junco is its long tail, which has bright white markings. They also have a round face and white on their belly.

These birds are ground-dwellers, and they can be found jumping around the bases of trees and shrubs in search of food. They also venture out onto lawns in search of fallen seeds.

The Dark-Eyed Junco's diet consists of seeds, berries, and insects. They're not picky eaters and will eat whatever is put out at feeders, including black-oil sunflower seeds, suet, peanut butter, and generic wild bird food.

If you're looking to attract Dark-Eyed Juncos to your yard, putting out a variety of food at feeders is a great way to do so. They're especially fond of feeders, and they'll visit them frequently.

Here are some key characteristics of the Dark-Eyed Junco:

The Northern Flicker is a big bird, measuring 11-12.2 inches in length. It's a tan woodpecker with gray highlights, a white rump, and black markings.

These woodpeckers are known for foraging for ants and other insects on the ground in open and wooded areas. They'll also "drum" at the ground, similar to how other woodpeckers drum in trees and wood.

The Northern Flicker's song is a loud, "kick,kick,kik,kik,kik.kik.kik.kik.kik.kik.kik.kik!" The males and females are similar in color, with a rounded head and a curved bill.

You can spot Northern Flickers in city parks and backyards in the suburbs, as well as in woodlands with open trees, burned forests, swamps, and marshes.

Here are some key characteristics of the Northern Flicker:

The Eastern Bluebird is a smallish bird, measuring 7 inches in length and weighing just 1.1 ounces.

They have a distinctive wingspan of 13 inches, which allows them to fly with ease.

Their song is a unique "fer fer chidip fer" that's sure to catch your attention.

Eastern Bluebirds are small, blue and white thrushes with orange highlights on their throat, breast, and flanks.

They forage for insects and small fruit, making them a welcome sight for gardeners.

Here are some key characteristics of the Eastern Bluebird:

Adult males are very conspicuous, with royal blue on top and bright orange throat and chest.

The Mallard is a large and familiar duck species that's easy to recognize. It's about 23 inches long and has a wingspan of 35 inches.

The male Mallard has a distinctive dark green head, a white ring around its neck, and a chestnut breast. The female, on the other hand, is mottled buff and brown with a dark gray and orange beak.

Mallards are opportunistic feeders, which means they'll eat just about anything they can find. They feed on insect larvae, grain, seeds, and other items picked up with their bill in and near shallow water.

If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a Mallard's nest. They make a shallow stick nest hidden in grass or under a bush.

One of the most recognizable sounds of a Mallard is the female's classic "quack, quack" call. Males make similar but softer sounds and a whistling call.

The Carolina Chickadee is a small bird with a distinctive appearance. It has a grayish color with a black cap and throat, and a white face.

They are known for their excellent memory, which helps them recall where they hide food bits. This is quite impressive, especially considering their small size.

One of the most recognizable features of the Carolina Chickadee is its song. They make a high-pitched call that sounds like "see-dee, see-dew". If you're lucky, you might even hear them making this call in person!

These birds are social creatures and often live in small flocks. They forage for food together, searching for insects and seeds to eat. They're also regular visitors to bird feeders, so you might spot them there.

Here are some key characteristics of the Carolina Chickadee:

They're skilled at finding food, but they also know how to take care of their young. They nest in tree cavities and nest boxes, making them a popular choice for backyard birders who want to attract these birds.

Check this out: Bird Nest

The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that's very similar to the Downy Woodpecker in color and looks.

One key way to tell them apart is by size, as Hairy Woodpeckers are larger, measuring 7.1-10.2 inches.

Male Hairy Woodpeckers can be identified by a distinctive red dot above their heads.

They have a unique, erect posture while on trees, which is quite striking.

These birds are known to frequent bird feeders, particularly for suet.

Hairy Woodpeckers are also found in wood forests, especially pine trees, where they can be heard drumming on trees.

They eat a variety of foods, including small worms, insects, seeds, and berries.

The Chipping Sparrow is a small, slender bird with a distinctive appearance. It has a rufous cap and pale eyebrow in the summer, while in the winter it has a brown and buff head, gray rump, and dark line through its eyes.

One of the key characteristics of the Chipping Sparrow is its size, which ranges from 4.7 to 5.9 inches in length. This is a relatively small bird, but it has a distinctive long tail.

Chipping Sparrows are common birds of golf courses and other semi-open habitats, where they can be found foraging for insects and seeds on the ground in grassy habitats with pines. They also flock together during the winter.

Their diet consists mainly of seeds, which they eat in large quantities - over 70 times their own weight in seeds, every winter! They also eat insects and spiders.

Chipping Sparrows are known for their distinctive song, which sounds like a mechanical trill: "titititititititititititti". They also make a short chip note.

Here's a summary of the Chipping Sparrow's physical characteristics:

The Eastern Towhee is a bird you might spot in Pennsylvania, and it's actually one of the most common birds in the state.

These birds are medium-sized, boldly patterned, with a dark hood, small white wing patch, and chestnut flanks. They're quite distinctive, making them easier to identify.

They forage for insects and seeds on the ground, in leaf litter beneath and next to dense second growth. This behavior is a great clue to their presence.

Eastern Towhees are known to build open cup nests in dense vegetation, near or on the ground. This is a key detail to keep in mind if you're trying to spot their nests.

One of the best ways to identify an Eastern Towhee is by its call. They make a brief "jay or cat-like" call, "neah", a "short rising 'week!' sound", and sing a distinctive song with a trilled note at the end, "Drink your TEA!"

The ruffed grouse is a small bird with a distinctive triangular crest and a long fan-shaped tail. They often look thinner than other species of grouse due to their short legs.

Their plumage is intricately patterned with dark bars and spots on a reddish brown or grayish background. The dark bars on the sides of the neck continue and widen in the belly, making them a striking sight.

Rufous grouse can be found in mixed interiors of deciduous and coniferous forests with sparse lagoons. They also inhabit forested streams and areas that grow after burning or logging.

In the eastern United States, the ruffed grouse is a common sight in many backyards, often seen foraging for food on the forest floor.

The American robin is a large songbird with a distinctive appearance. They have a grayish-brown body, warm orange underparts, and dark heads.

Robins are the largest thrushes in North America, making them a great benchmark for comparing the size and shape of other birds.

In flight, a white patch on the underside of the belly and under the tail can be a telltale sign of an American robin.

Compared to males, females have paler heads that contrast less with the gray back of the bird.

The Baltimore Oriole is a medium-sized songbird with a thick neck and long legs, similar to an American Robin but narrower and thinner.

They have distinctive beaks that are long and thick-based, a characteristic of the blackbird family they belong to.

Adult males are a striking fiery orange and black color, with a solid black head and a white stripe on their black wings.

Female and juvenile males have a more subdued coloration, with an orange-yellow chest, greyish head and tail, and two white bands on their wings.

To identify a Baltimore Oriole, look for its long, pointed beak and distinctive color patterns, which can vary depending on the individual's age and sex.

Here's a quick reference guide to help you identify a Baltimore Oriole:

The Great Egret is a bird you'll likely spot in wetlands, characterized by its pure white plumage and yellow dagger-shaped bill. It's a striking sight to see.

Great Egrets are known for their stealthy approach to hunting, often wading into shallow waters to catch fish, frogs, and other small sea creatures. They're not picky about the water type either, as they'll feed in both fresh and salty waters.

Their feeding style is quite unique, as they usually stand still and wait for unsuspecting prey to pass by. Then, in a flash, they strike with a jab of their long neck and beak.

One of the most distinctive features of the Great Egret is its large black legs, which provide a striking contrast to its snowy white feathers.

The Piping Plover is a grayish-brown sandy bird with white underparts.

They have a distinctive appearance, especially during the breeding season, when they sport an orange bill with a black tip.

In the non-breeding season, their bill turns black, and their neck loses its distinctive black collar and line across the top of their head.

Their legs remain a consistent yellowish orange in all seasons.

You can identify a Piping Plover by its narrow, often broken neck, which is a characteristic feature of this bird species.

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The Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher is a small, compact bird with a large-eyed gaze.

It has a distinctive appearance, with a large head that sometimes shows a bill at the rear, and a short tail.

This bird is generally yellowish olive in color, with a strong white eyepiece and two whitish side bars.

Its beak is small but wide, and it has yellowish underparts from chin to lower belly.

The Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher is often found perched in the lower and middle levels of dense forests, where it flies rapidly to grab insects from the air or vegetation.

It's a quick and agile flyer, and when perched, it turns its head nervously and sometimes gently wags its tail.

The Indigo Bunting is a beautiful bird to spot, especially with its striking blue color. The male Indigo Bunting is all blue with a silver bill.

They love to eat small seeds, fruits, berries, and small insects. You can attract them to your backyard feeders with small seeds, especially thistle or nyjer.

Indigo Buntings can be found in Pennsylvania during the summer in bushy areas along woods, forests, and backyards, often alone. They're usually solitary birds, but when they're getting ready to migrate south for the winter, they form flocks and travel together at night using the stars as guidance.

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The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is a small bird that's common in the summer in gardens and woodland edges.

It's a unique bird with a wingbeat that can be heard when it's flying, and it's easy to attract to your backyard with homemade nectar.

They're bright green on the back and crown, with a gray-white underside, and males have an iridescent red throat.

In Ohio, they breed in the summer and may stay until December.

Male Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds can be aggressive in their defense of flowers and feeders, and they may migrate by early August.

They migrate south over the Gulf of Mexico or through Texas to Central America for winter.

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is the most common species in Pennsylvania, and everyone loves to see them in their backyards.

The Northern Mockingbird is a common backyard bird in Pennsylvania, found all over the state.

These birds are known for their beautiful songs, which they sing throughout the year.

One way to identify a Northern Mockingbird is by its grayish-brown body and white wing bars, with two on each wing.

Their breasts are slightly paler than their bodies, giving them a whiteish appearance.

Northern Mockingbirds have small heads, long legs, and long thin bills.

In the summer, they eat insects, but switch to fruit and berries during the fall and winter.

They enjoy staying in the same area throughout their lifetime, which is why you'll often see them along your fence, in trees, on scrubs, and on utility lines.

Cedar Waxwings are small birds, averaging only 5.5 inches long. They have a distinctive appearance, with a dark brown body and white belly.

One of the most notable features of the Cedar Waxwing is the bright red feathers on their wings, which they display in the spring. These feathers give them their name and are a key identifier.

Cedar Waxwings can be found year-round in Pennsylvania, but they're particularly common from May to November. They can also be found in other northern states, including Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Michigan.

In the spring, Cedar Waxwings switch from eating fruits and berries to insects. This change in diet is likely due to the availability of food sources.

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In Pennsylvania, bird abundance is described using a single system that combines Status Definition and Numerical Abundance Codes.

A species is considered Regular if it's rare but annual, or a highly restricted/irregular breeder.

Species that are Casual are occasional or increasing vagrants, with six or more records in the last 30 years.

Accidental species have generally five or fewer records in the last 30 years.

Extirpated species are those that have not been recorded in the state for 50 years.

Records refer to distinct instances of a bird or group of birds in a region, not multiple observations of the same species.

Bold and underlined species, as well as any species not already on the list, are classified as rarities and require documentation for acceptance.

Species with an asterisk ' * ' are no longer on the review list due to their increased abundance in the state.

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Birds come in all shapes and sizes, but identifying them can be a challenge. To start, let's look at some common characteristics that can help you narrow down the possibilities.

One of the most distinctive features of a bird is its song. The White-breasted Nuthatch, for example, has a unique song that sounds like "wehn wehn wehn wehn wehn wehn wehn wehn".

Color is another important factor in bird identification. The Dark-eyed Junco, for instance, is a slate gray bird with white markings on its tail.

Size is also a key consideration. The Carolina Wren, for example, is a small bird that stands at around 4 inches tall. In comparison, the White-breasted Nuthatch is slightly larger, measuring 5.75 inches in length.

Here's a list of some common bird characteristics to keep in mind:

By paying attention to these characteristics, you can start to narrow down the possibilities and identify the birds you see. Just remember, practice makes perfect, so keep observing and learning!

The house sparrow is a bird that's easy to spot, but not always easy to identify. It's not related to North American sparrows, but is instead related to Old World sparrows.

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This bird is native to Europe and Asia, and has been introduced to many parts of the world, including North America. It was brought over in the mid-1800s to help control insect pests.

Male house sparrows have distinctive black patches on their chin and breast, and white cheeks. Females are a dull brown color.

Here are some key identification features of the house sparrow:

The house sparrow is a relatively small bird, measuring 6.25 inches in length and weighing just .98 ounces.

Winter finches are a fascinating group of birds that visit Pennsylvania in the winter months. They're attracted to the state's abundant conifer plantations and spruce bogs.

In some years, they invade the area in large numbers, descending upon feeding stations in yards. Ornithologists believe they come south when key food sources, particularly conifer seeds, fail in their boreal habitat.

Red crossbills and white-winged crossbills have oddly shaped bills that allow them to pry open spruce cones and extract the seeds inside. The male red crossbill is brick red in color, while the female is a mix of olive-gray and yellow.

Both crossbill species eat the seeds of various conifers, as well as buds and weed seeds. They may arrive in Pennsylvania with cold fronts in late October and November.

The common redpoll is a small bird, about the size of a goldfinch. It has a distinctive red forehead and black chin.

They actively forage in brushy and weedy fields and along woodland edges.

Redpolls pick up seeds of trees, weeds, and grasses as they feed.

They often forage in mixed flocks with pine siskins and goldfinches.

Winter finches are a fascinating group of birds that visit Pennsylvania in the winter months. They come from the far north, where key food sources, particularly conifer seeds, fail in their boreal habitat.

In some years, these finches invade our area, while in others, they stay in the north. They are attracted to feeding stations in yards, where they can find seeds to eat.

Red crossbills and white-winged crossbills are two types of winter finches that have oddly shaped bills, which they use to pry open spruce cones and extract the seeds inside. The male red crossbill is brick red in color, and the female is a mix of olive-gray and yellow.

The white-winged crossbill has white wingbars in both sexes, and the male is a rosy pink, while the female is colored much like the red crossbill female. Both types of crossbills eat the seeds of various conifers and also feed on buds and weed seeds.

In the years when they winter in Pennsylvania, red crossbills and white-winged crossbills may arrive with cold fronts in late October and November. They can be found actively foraging in brushy and weedy fields and along woods edges, picking up seeds of trees, weeds, and grasses.

The most common birds in Pennsylvania are a delight to spot, and with a little knowledge, you can easily identify them. According to eBird sightings, the most commonly seen birds in the state are led by the Ruffed Grouse.

Here are the top 15 most common birds in Pennsylvania, in order from most common to least common:

These birds are frequently seen throughout the state, and with a little practice, you can learn to identify them by their appearance and behavior.

The Red-Winged Blackbird is a common sight in many open habitats, particularly in marshes and wet meadows. They're social birds that can be seen in huge flocks during the winter months.

Males are easily recognizable with their bright red patches on their wings, while females have a more subdued appearance with streaks and a sharp black beak. The females also have buff on their heads.

These birds are opportunistic feeders, eating seeds, grain, and insects on the ground. They can be attracted to backyards with mixed grain and seeds scattered on the ground or by hanging a large tube feeder from a tree.

In the winter, Red-Winged Blackbirds roost in massive groups along roadsides and other open habitats. They can form daily commutes of up to 50 miles to and from their roosting and feeding sites.

Here are some fun facts about the Red-Winged Blackbird's calls:

If you're looking to attract these birds to your yard, try using platform feeders or large bird baths. They'll also enjoy eating from tube feeders or hanging feeders.

The Common Grackle is a fascinating bird species that's easy to spot in open habitats. They're fairly large, black birds with glossy purple, greenish, bronze, or dark blue highlights.

Their distinctive call is often described as a raspy, metallic sound, with a "Sherink!" or "kek" call. You might even hear them making a range of whistles and rattling sounds!

Common Grackles are known to forage for insects, seeds, and other food on the ground in various open habitats. They're intelligent birds that will use their beaks to turn over rocks in search of insects.

In terms of size, Common Grackles typically range from 11 to 15.4 inches in length. They're much smaller than crows, but larger than robins.

To attract Common Grackles to your backyard, try feeding them mixed grains and seeds sprinkled on the ground or platform feeders. They're adaptable birds that thrive in cities, where they often find food and water.

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Here are some key characteristics of the Common Grackle:

They're common birds that can be found throughout the United States, including in Pennsylvania, where they're often seen in parks and yards.

The Common Yellowthroat is a small songbird that's quite common in Pennsylvania during the summer months. It's about 4.3-5.1 inches long.

These birds are known for their distinctive appearance, with males sporting a dark mask and a yellow throat. Females, on the other hand, are browner on their heads with a yellow throat and no black markings.

Common Yellowthroats are insect-eaters, and you can find them snatching up bugs from the ground, leaves, bushes, and flowers. They're quite active foragers.

You might not see them in your backyard all year round, but during migration, they'll make an appearance. They're usually found in dense forests, but they're not picky and will visit backyards too.

In the winter, they head south, but if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of them in Pennsylvania during the warmer months.

Birds in Pennsylvania are just as fascinating as the state itself. The most common birds in the state are a great place to start, and they can be found using eBird sightings.

The American Robin is often the first bird many people think of in Pennsylvania, and it's no wonder why - it's the most commonly seen bird in the state. They're known for their distinctive red breasts and cheerful songs.

The Mourning Dove is another bird that's frequently spotted, with its mournful call and gray-brown plumage. These birds are often seen in open areas, such as fields and backyards.

The Blue Jay is a stunning bird with bright blue and white feathers, and it's a common sight in Pennsylvania. They're known for their bold behavior and distinctive crest.

The Red-winged Blackbird is a common bird in Pennsylvania's wetlands and fields, with its distinctive red and black plumage. These birds are known for their loud songs and territorial behavior.

The American Goldfinch is a bright yellow bird with a distinctive song, and it's a common sight in Pennsylvania's fields and backyards. They're known for their acrobatic abilities and love of thistle seeds.

The Northern Cardinal is a year-round resident in Pennsylvania, with its vibrant red plumage and distinctive song. These birds are known for their bold behavior and territorial defense.

The Tufted Titmouse is a small bird with a distinctive tuft of feathers on its head, and it's a common sight in Pennsylvania's woodlands. They're known for their acrobatic abilities and love of seeds and nuts.

The Downy Woodpecker is a small woodpecker with a black and white striped back, and it's a common sight in Pennsylvania's woodlands. These birds are known for their drumming on trees and love of insects.

Song Birds are known for their beautiful melodies, and some species are quite easy to identify by their songs.

The Song Sparrow's song is a high-pitched "seet serate sitsziziziziziziziz seet" that's often heard in brushy areas and large gardens.

Some common characteristics of Song Birds include small size, brown plumage, and a tendency to forage on or near the ground for seeds and insects.

Here are some Song Birds you might find in Pennsylvania, listed in no particular order:

The Blue Jay is a stunning songbird with a large crested head and a broad, rounded tail. They're smaller than crows, but bigger than robins.

Their feathers are a beautiful mix of white or light gray below and various shades of blue, white, and black above. I've seen them in my backyard, and their colors are just striking.

Blue Jays make a wide variety of calls that travel long distances, and most of these calls are made while they're perched inside a tree. They're quite vocal birds, and you can often hear them calling out to each other.

It's worth noting that Blue Jays usually fly silently through open areas, especially during migration. This is because they tend to conserve their energy for longer flights.

The Tufted Titmouse is a small bird that can be found in the United States and Canada. It has a distinctive black crest/crown over its head, and a gray upper body with a white front and tufted gray crest.

They can be found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous forests, river basins, backyards, swamps, and orchards.

Tufted Titmice are frequent visitors to feeders and love to eat seeds, berries, and insects. They'll often be found with Chickadees and will happily feed on the ground or in trees.

They have a short tail and a long, narrow bill that's straight or slightly raised.

Song birds are a delight to listen to and spot in the wild. They come in various sizes, but the Song Sparrow is one of the smallest, measuring just 6.25 inches in length.

The Song Sparrow's weight is a mere 0.7 ounces, making it a tiny but mighty bird. Its wingspan is slightly larger, at 8.25 inches.

You can often hear the Song Sparrow's cheerful song, which sounds like "seet serate sitsziziziziziziziz seet". This high-pitched tune is a common sound in brushy areas and large gardens.

The Song Sparrow's reddish-brown plumage features dark brown streaks and a dark brown breast patch on white underparts. They usually occur in pairs and are often seen foraging on or near the ground for seeds and insects.

Here are some key characteristics of the Song Sparrow:

The Chipping Sparrow is a small brown sparrow with a plain breast and long tail. They are common birds in the Eastern United States and Canada, and can be spotted as far west as Texas and California.

Chipping Sparrows can be identified by their distinctive plumage, which changes with the seasons. Breeding birds have a reddish cap and white brow with dark eye lines, while non-breeding birds have a brown cap, duller dirty gray breast, and dark eye line.

One of the most notable features of the Chipping Sparrow is their diet, which consists of seeds, insects, and spiders. They are frequent visitors to suet and black-oil sunflower seed feeders.

Chipping Sparrows are found in a variety of habitats, including woods, backyards, cities, towns, and farms. During the fall and winter, they can be seen in flocks.

Here are some key facts about the Chipping Sparrow's calls and song:

In terms of their habitat preferences, Chipping Sparrows can often be found in areas with pine trees, and are particularly common in the woods.

Finches are a delight to spot in Pennsylvania, and with their vibrant colors and varied habitats, it's easy to get hooked on identifying these charming birds.

Purple finches, for example, nest in conifer plantations, spruce bogs, and hillside pastures, often at higher elevations in southern regions. They're associated with larger forest tracts but can be found at edges and in openings.

In winter, purple finches eat weed, grass, and conifer seeds, as well as other tree seeds. They also join foraging flocks with other species, like American goldfinches and pine siskins.

House finches, on the other hand, are adaptable birds that thrive in urban, rural, and suburban environments. They're often found near human dwellings, where they readily visit feeding stations and feed on seeds, flowers, buds, berries, and small fruits.

House finches are known to form pairs within flocks during winter, and males defend areas around their mates. They begin nesting as early as March and produce two or more broods per year, each with four or five young.

In some years, "winter finches" like the white-winged crossbill and common redpoll visit Pennsylvania from the far north, descending on feeding stations in yards. These birds are drawn to key food sources, particularly the seeds of conifers, which fail in their boreal habitat.

Purple finches are a common sight in Pennsylvania, particularly in the northern tier and at higher elevations in southern regions of the state.

They can be found in conifer plantations, spruce bogs, hillside pastures, woods edges, and mixed and open woods. In winter, they eat weed, grass, and conifer seeds, as well as other tree seeds like elm, ash, and tulip tree.

Their melodious warbling song is a distinctive feature, usually given from high in a tree but sometimes mid-air, called "sky-larking." The female builds a nest at any height from 3 to 60 feet above the ground, on a horizontal branch, usually in a conifer.

She weaves a compact open cup out of twigs, weeds, rootlets, and strips of bark, and lines it with fine grasses or animal hair. The two to seven eggs are a pale greenish blue, dotted with black and brown.

The female incubates them for around 13 days, and both parents feed the nestlings, mainly with seeds, until they fledge about two weeks after hatching. In winter, purple finches may join foraging flocks with American goldfinches, pine siskins, and other species.

At feeding stations, house finches and house sparrows dominate purple finches and often drive them away, but purple finches are more numerous than those species.

House Finches are small, colorful birds that are easy to spot in residential areas. They have a distinctive appearance, with males having a reddish face and upper breast, and brown streaks on their back, belly, and tail.

Females, on the other hand, have a gray and brown pattern on their feathers.

House Finches are found across North America, and they prefer to eat small seeds, fruits, berries, and insects. They also eat small worms and insects.

One interesting fact about House Finches is that they can adapt to a wide range of human-associated habitats, including urban, rural, and suburban environments.

They are known to visit feeding stations, and it's essential to regularly clean these stations with soapy water to prevent the spread of Mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, a highly contagious eye disease that can cause respiratory problems and swollen eyes.

Here are some key characteristics of House Finches:

House Finches make a soft cup nest in trees, on building ledges, and other places, and they often make a soft, “fidip” call. Males also sing a warbling song from prominent, high perches.

The evening grosbeak is a big, husky bird. It's a bit of a bully at the bird feeder, displacing other birds and giving them a hard time for food.

The male evening grosbeak is a dull yellow color with prominent white wing patches. The female is a bit more subdued, with a yellowish gray hue.

These birds are quite adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, including mixed woodlands, coniferous forests, towns, and suburbs. They'll even visit your backyard if you set up a bird feeder with sunflower seeds.

At bird feeders, evening grosbeaks can get quite aggressive, giving strident chirping calls and putting on displays to compete for food.

The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak is a plump, medium-sized songbird with a very large triangular beak.

They have a broad chest and a short neck, making them quite distinctive.

Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks have a square tail of medium length, which is a notable feature.

Adult males are black and white birds with a bright red chevron that extends from the black throat to the middle of the chest.

Females and immatures are brown and heavily striped, with a bold whitish stripe over the eye.

Males blink pinkish-red under their wings; females blink yellowish.

Both sexes show white spots on the wings and tail.