How to use this list
This list focuses on birds that commonly show up in North American yards in winter. Your own list will differ by region, habitat and feeders, so treat it as a starting point rather than a guarantee. For the bigger picture of residents versus migrants, start with our guide to winter birds: who stays and who migrates.
Year-round residents at feeders
These birds stay in much of their range all year, so they are the most dependable winter visitors.
- Northern cardinal: the male is bright red with a crest and black face; the female is warm brown with red tinges. Eats sunflower seed, safflower and cracked corn.
- Black-capped chickadee (or Carolina chickadee in the Southeast): small, with a black cap and bib and white cheeks. Takes sunflower seed, suet and peanuts, often grabbing one seed and flying off to eat or store it.
- Tufted titmouse: gray with a small crest and large dark eyes. Eats sunflower seed and suet.
- White-breasted nuthatch: blue-gray back, white face and underparts; often moves headfirst down tree trunks. Likes suet, sunflower seed and peanuts.
- Downy woodpecker: small black-and-white woodpecker with a short bill. The hairy woodpecker looks similar but is larger with a longer bill. Both visit suet.
- Blue jay: bright blue with a crest and white underparts. Prefers peanuts in the shell and sunflower seed, often at platform feeders.
- House finch: males have a red head and chest, females are streaky brown. Eats sunflower and nyjer seed.
- Mourning dove: soft gray-brown with a long pointed tail. Feeds on the ground on millet and cracked corn.
Winter visitors from the north
These birds may arrive only for the colder months, or only in some years.
- Dark-eyed junco: gray (or brownish, depending on region) above with a white belly and white outer tail feathers. Feeds on the ground on small seeds such as millet. Often called a “snowbird.”
- American tree sparrow: rusty cap and a dark spot on a plain breast. Eats small seeds on or near the ground.
- White-throated sparrow: white throat patch and a yellow spot in front of the eye on many birds.
- Pine siskin: small, brown and streaky with yellow in the wings. Comes to nyjer and sunflower seed, sometimes in flocks.
- Common redpoll: small finch with a red forehead and streaky body, in some winters at feeders in the northern US.
- Red-breasted nuthatch: smaller than the white-breasted, with a black eye stripe and a rusty belly. Some move south in winter.
Birds that may be less expected
- Cooper’s hawk and sharp-shinned hawk: these bird-eating hawks sometimes visit feeders to hunt other birds. Their visit is natural, and feeder birds will usually freeze or scatter.
- Snowy owl: a rare visitor in open fields and shorelines in some winters, not typically at feeders.
- Snow bunting: looks for seeds in open fields and along roadsides.
- Red-bellied woodpecker: a medium woodpecker with a red cap and nape that is common in the eastern US.
Where to look for winter birds
- Your feeders, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.
- Shrubs, evergreens and brush piles close to feeders, where birds wait their turn and shelter.
- Open fields and weedy edges for sparrows, juncos and buntings.
- Waterways that stay unfrozen, which can attract ducks and some wintering songbirds.
- Local parks and nature preserves, especially during community counts such as the Christmas Bird Count.
Where do summer birds go in winter
Many insect-eaters leave. Warblers, swallows, orioles, tanagers and most hummingbirds move south, some as far as Central or South America. Others only move a short way. Robins, for example, often shift to areas with berries instead of leaving entirely, so they can still be seen in some northern states in winter.
Where common birds go depends heavily on the species, so check a range map such as those on the Cornell Lab’s All About Birds site for the species you are interested in.
Quick food guide for the list
| Food | Birds that commonly use it |
|---|---|
| Black oil sunflower seed | Cardinals, chickadees, titmice, finches, nuthatches, jays |
| Suet | Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees |
| Millet (ground or tray feeder) | Juncos, sparrows, doves |
| Nyjer (thistle) | Goldfinches, siskins, redpolls |
| Peanuts | Jays, woodpeckers, titmice |
Winter feeding works best with fresh, dry food and clean feeders. For more on parasites and hygiene at feeders, see do wild birds get fleas and mites.
Frequently asked questions
Where do common birds go in the winter?
Some stay put, some move short distances to find food, and some migrate long distances. Seed- and bark-feeders are more likely to stay, while insect-eaters are more likely to leave.
Where can I find winter birds?
Feeders, evergreen cover, weedy fields and open water are the best places to start.