Top 33 COMMON Birds In Pennsylvania (ID Guide With Photos)
Did you recently come across a familiar bird in Pennsylvania, and want to know what species it was?
Bird identification in the state of Pennsylvania is not as easy as it might seem, since there are many different species of birds in the Keystone State that look similar.
To help you identify the bird you saw, we’ll cover the most common birds of Pennsylvania in this article, and where to find them.
What are the most common bird species in Pennsylvania?
The 31 most common bird species found in Pennsylvania are:
- American Robin
- Northern Cardinal
- Northern Mockingbird
- House Sparrow
- American Goldfinch
- Mourning Dove
- Blue Jay
- American Crow
- House Finch
- European Starling
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Common Grackle
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Carolina Wren
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- House Wren
- Gray Catbird
- Tufted Titmouse
- Tree Swallow
- Common Yellowthroat
- Eastern Bluebird
- Indigo Bunting
- Yellow Warbler
- Baltimore Oriole
- Black-capped Chickadee
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Song Sparrow
- Chipping Sparrow
- Scarlet Tanager
- Ruffed Grouse
While many of these birds are found year-round in Pennsylvania, some are migratory birds that only occur in Pennsylvania during the summer.
Now let’s dive into the details, and take a closer look at each of these common species in order to get the full scoop:
American Robin
Scientific name: Turdus migratorius
The American Robin is one of the most common songbirds in the Keystone State.
This popular bird is actually a thrush, but got its name from early settlers in North America who noticed its resemblance with the European Robin.
The orange chest of the American robin makes it easy to identify this type of bird. It mostly forages for food on the ground with the help of its powerful legs and stout yellow beak.
In the fall and winter, it feeds on fruit and searches for snails and worms amid the fallen leaves. It frequently congregates in big roosts in the non-breeding season.
The American Robin is a superb singer, with a song that is melodious and flowing, similar to many other thrushes.
They construct their bulky nests out of twigs at a very variable height, from the ground all the way up to the canopy of the trees.
In a typical year, American robins will have between two and three broods.
While the original habitat of American Robins was woodlands, they have adjusted superbly to the expansion of human settlements, and are now found in suburban areas as common breeding birds.
The American Robin is a partial migratory bird, and outside of the breeding season it likes to form flocks that roost together.
American Robins in northern Pennsylvania (i.e. the upper peninsula of Pennsylvania) are entirely migratory, while they are year-round residents in southern Pennsylvania.
Northern Cardinal
Scientific name: Cardinalis cardinalis
As the state bird of no less than seven US states and one of the most familiar species, the Northern Cardinal is perhaps the most well known red bird in Pennsylvania.
Male Northern Cardinals have a bright crimson red coloration on their head, chest, and belly, and slightly darker red on their back and wing feathers.
In addition, the face has a black mask extending from the bright red bill to the throat.
Female Northern Cardinals are not quite as colorful as males, and have a more buff-brown body color with some reddish tinges, although they also have a bright red bill.
During the winter months it doesn’t defend its territory, and sometimes gathers in flocks of up to 25 individuals that feed together. The Northern Cardinal is a regular visitor at bird feeders.
Northern Cardinals are common backyard birds in Pennsylvania, and can be seen year round in backyards, small forests, and parks.
Northern Mockingbird
Scientific name: Mimus polyglottos
The melodious whistling song of the Northern Mockingbird can be heard in many parts of Pennsylvania.
Its overall appearance is dark gray with black wings with white stripes, which are especially conspicuous in flight, flashing like bright signals.
Both sexes of Northern Mockingbirds resemble each other. In addition to the black wings, the tail is also black, and has white margins.
It has a dark eyestripe that contrasts with the yellow eye, while the underparts are buff white. Juvenile birds look similar to adults, but are covered with spots and streaks.
The Northern Mockingbird is a common songbird throughout North America, and a year-round resident in Pennsylvania.
This bird is the only mockingbird species found in North America. It prefers wooded areas as well as urban habitats with sufficient tree growth, such as parks and golf courses.
House Sparrow
Scientific name: Passer domesticus
The House Sparrow is a familiar urban songbird in Pennsylvania.
Adult males have upperparts that are primarily chestnut brown with dark streaks. The wings are chestnut brown with a white wingbar.
A great characteristic to identify males is by their gray crown and rump. Females are more drab, and are mostly buff gray with dark streaks on their back.
The House Sparrow is not a native bird of Pennsylvania, but was introduced by European settlers.
However it has successfully colonized the entire North American continent, and is now a common urban bird that is found in parks and backyards. The House Sparrow is, however, experiencing significant population declines.
American Goldfinch
Scientific name: Spinus tristis
The American Goldfinch is easily recognizable due to its distinctive bright coloration.
Adult males have almost entirely bright yellow plumage, except for a black cap, black wings, and a black tail.
Females are not as brightly colored, but are more buff yellowish-brown with black wings.
It is a common year-round backyard bird in Pennsylvania, and a regular visitor at bird feeders offering sunflower seeds.
During the winter months, it forms flocks that forage together, feeding on thistles in weedy fields.
Mourning Dove
Scientific name: Zenaida macroura
The Mourning Dove is one of the most common birds in North America, especially around farms and suburban areas where they can be found in large numbers.
This bird is almost entirely grayish-brown with a pale underside. The wings and the tail are pointed, and there is a small black dot on the side of the face.
When viewed up close, a grayish blue eyering as well as pink legs and toes are great distinguishing features of the Mourning Dove.
It is a common dove throughout Pennsylvania, and can be seen year-round while bird watching. During the winter it also frequents open woodland, but avoids large forests.
Blue Jay
Scientific name: Cyanocitta cristata
A common blue-colored bird, the Blue Jay prefers open areas with scattered trees, shrubs, and other vegetation with dense undergrowth.
These medium-sized birds are grayish blue on top, with bright arctic blue wing feathers and tail feathers. Their underparts are light gray.
They are social birds that live in small groups called colonies, with each colony containing one dominant pair and several subordinate members.
Dominant male birds defend their territory against intruders and aggressively chase away subordinates. Subordinate females and young birds are tolerated but not protected.
These blue backyard birds are opportunistic feeders. They eat fruit, invertebrates, small vertebrates, and carrion, and also steal food from other animals.
During the summer, insects make up the largest part of their diet. They sometimes catch insects in flight, while at other times, they catch insects at ground level using a variety of techniques.
These blue birds of Pennsylvania often use man made structures such as buildings, bridges, and telephone poles for foraging.
When hunting for food, jays often run along branches or wires before swooping down to capture prey.
They are partially migratory birds, but can be seen in Pennsylvania all year round. During the cold season they sometimes move around to areas with a more plentiful supply of food.
If you want to attract these birds to your feeder, it’s best to offer them peanuts or sunflower seeds.
American Crow
Scientific name: Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Crows are relatively large Pennsylvania birds that are entirely black, including their beaks, legs, and eyes.
Both adults and immature crows are completely black, and are hard to distinguish from each other.
This is one of the most intelligent birds in the world. It also happens to be one of the most sociable, and it likes to pass the time by harassing other birds.
Similar to vultures and Pennsylvania birds of prey, American Crows like to feed on roadkill, but rarely get hit by cars themselves.
The American Crow builds a big stick nest in trees, which it likes to reuse for many years. Old crows nests are also used by many other birds, including raptors and owls in Pennsylvania.
Family groups of crows sleep together at night but split off during the day to go foraging.
Outside of the breeding season, American Crows form massive flocks, sometimes topping out at thousands of birds.
American Crows are easily recognizable black birds in Pennsylvania. They are common throughout the state in open forests and woodlands, as well as farmland and urban areas such as parks, golf courses, and large gardens.
House Finch
Scientific name: Haemorhous mexicanus
The House Finch is a common small bird in Pennsylvania, and is mostly found in settled areas, ranging from small towns to large metropolitan centers.
Adult male House Finches can be identified by the bright red feathers on the head and upper breast, although in some cases they are slightly more orange or yellowish in color.
The females lack any red coloration, and instead have grayish streaks on a brown background.
The House Finch was originally a western bird, and it wasn’t until the 1940s that this bird was discovered in New York and other places on the east coast of the US.
The eastern House Finch population began to grow in the 1950s and 60s, and by the year 2000, it had expanded so far west that it connected with the original western population.
The House Finch is entirely herbivorous, and feeds on seeds, buds, and fruits.
If you set up a tray feeder in your backyard, you can expect House Finches to be among the first birds to visit it.
The House Finch is found in Pennsylvania all year round, and while it is not a migratory bird, it does move to areas with more food outside of the breeding season.
European Starling (Common Starling)
Scientific name: Sturnus vulgaris
The Common Starling (also known as European Starling) is a common backyard bird in the Keystone State. Adult Common Starlings are uniformly black with a glossy sheen.
Winter birds are covered with light spots, which can be a great characteristic to identify them.
This species is originally from Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but it was introduced to North America and many other parts of the world, where this bird has established itself as a successful breeding species within a short period of time.
Common Starlings inhabit open country with few trees as their original habitat, but they are also among the most successful urban birds, and are especially common in parks and gardens.
While Common Starlings nest in tree holes in the wild, they are also known to nest inside buildings and nest boxes in urban settings.
Unfortunately, native birds in Pennsylvania are sometimes driven out of their nesting sites by competing Starlings.
Similar to grackles and other blackbirds, Common Starlings form large flocks outside of the nesting season.
These flocks can contain more than a million individuals, and can be seen performing amazing aerial acrobatics.
Red-winged Blackbird
Scientific name: Agelaius phoeniceus
The Red-winged Blackbird is one the most abundant birds in Pennsylvania, and it is definitely the most common black-colored bird in Pennsylvania during the summer.
The great thing about these blackbirds is that you can easily distinguish males from females.
Male Red-winged Blackbirds are completely black except for the bright red patches on their wings. In contrast, females (and juvenile birds) are a blackish brown color with white streaks.
Generally speaking, this blackbird lives in open fields and near water. In Pennsylvania, it is often found in marshes, wetlands, and around lakes.
To find food, the Red-winged Blackbird travels many miles a day, especially outside of the nesting season.
While this blackbird is primarily a seed-eater during fall and spring, it switches to feeding almost exclusively on insects during summer.
Depending on where this bird is found, the Red-winged Blackbird is either a seasonal migrant (in the north of its range), or a resident (in the south of its range).
Red-winged Blackbirds roost in flocks up to millions of individuals strong, creating a deafening noise with their rapidly beating wings.
In spring, males are usually the first ones to arrive in order to claim a desirable territory before the females arrive.
During the mating season, the male will sing from a conspicuous perch and display the red shoulder patches on his feathers in order to attract the attention of females.
After a female chooses a mate, she builds her nest over shallow water in a thick stand of vegetation. Her chosen mate then aggressively defends the nest against other blackbirds.
The most successful males are bigamous, and can mate with multiple females at the same time.
Common Grackle
Scientific name: Quiscalus quiscula
From a distance, a Common grackle seems to be a largely black-colored bird, making it easy to confuse it with a crow, which is also entirely black.
But in contrast to a crow, the Common Grackle has a pointed beak that is formed like a cone, as well as eyes that are bright yellow, and a long tail that is shaped like a wedge.
This bird lives in open spaces such as meadows, parks, and fields, as well as suburban and residential regions
Male Common Grackles have shimmering purple coloration on the black feathers of their heads, breasts, and necks, as well as other parts of their bodies.
During the nesting season, the females construct large nests in which they will lay a clutch of about five eggs.
In most of Pennsylvania, the Common Grackle is a migratory summer visitor, although it can be found year-round in southernPennsylvania.
This bird is a member of the New World family of blackbirds, which contains some of the most common birds in North America, many of which like to gather in large flocks and make a lot of noise.
On farms, Common Grackles can congregate in huge flocks to feed on crops and grain, and to roost, which can cause a problem to Pennsylvania farmers.
Because this bird is such a versatile species, the Common Grackle can thrive in many different environments.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Scientific name: Melanerpes carolinus
The Red-bellied Woodpecker has a black-and-white “Zebra” pattern on its back, as well as a white rump.
Its red crown goes all the way down to the base of the neck. Both sexes look similar, although the female has a partially gray crown.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker favors shady woodlands, forest edges and backyards with old trees.
This bird excavates holes in rotting wood to locate beetles, centipedes, spiders, and other creatures.
During winter, this bird stores berries and acorns in tree crevices and cracks. Every year, the Red-bellied Woodpecker excavates a new nest below the previous one in the same tree.
While this bird is named for the reddish tinge on its belly, this can be hard to see unless you get a close up view.
Fortunately, this beautiful red headed bird is steadily expanding its range across the whole country.
Downy Woodpecker
Scientific name: Picoides pubescens
The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker found in Pennsylvania.
While males are black and white with a small red patch on their nape, females are entirely black and white.
The wings of both sexes are black with white bars, which look like spots when the wings are folded.
Downy Woodpeckers are non-migratory, and can be seen all year round throughout North America, except for the arid regions in southern states.
You can tell this woodpecker apart from the Hairy Woodpecker by its smaller size and short bill.
While Downy Woodpeckers don’t migrate, they like to move around outside of the breeding season, in search of areas with plentiful food.
Their preferred habitat is deciduous or mixed forest, where they feed on insects and insect larvae found under the bark of trees. During winter they also eat berries and seeds.
Hairy Woodpecker
Scientific name: Picoides villosus
The Hairy Woodpecker looks similar to the Downy Woodpecker, but has a longer, thicker bill, and is a much larger bird overall.
Both the male and the female have black upperparts with white markings on the wing feathers, which look like spots when the wings are folded.
The male has a very small red patch on the back of its head, which is considerably smaller than the red patches on other woodpecker species.
The Hairy Woodpecker is a common breeding bird found throughout North America, and can be seen in Pennsylvania year-round.
This woodpecker breeds in both coniferous and deciduous forests, and is even found in parks and other urban areas with trees.
Carolina Wren
Scientific name: Thryothorus ludovicianus
The Carolina Wren is a common little garden bird with chestnut brown upperparts and creamy white underparts. Wings and tails have dark brown barring.
Males and females look alike, as do young individuals. The Carolina Wren is a non-migratory species, and can be spotted all year round in the southern parts of Pennsylvania.
It is a familiar small bird, which can be found in Pennsylvania backyards, scrubland, and forests. It feeds mostly on insects and other small invertebrates.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Scientific name: Archilochus colubris
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the smallest bird in Pennsylvania. Weighing just 0.1 ounces, it is truly a tiny songbird compared to other species of birds.
The male has a black throat that reflects flashes of ruby red when it catches the sunlight.
Similar to other Hummingbirds, this bird can fly straight up, down, or backwards, and can also hover in mid air, with its wings generating a humming sound like a tiny generator.
Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures that breathe up to 250 times per minute and have a heartbeat of over 1,200 times per minute.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is attracted to gardens and backyards in Pennsylvania with tubular flowers that produce a lot of nectar.
In addition to flower nectar, this bird also feeds on insects. It is a long-distance migrant, and spends its winter in Central America.
House Wren
Scientific name: Troglodytes aedon
The House Wren is a small songbird with a relatively long beak. Compared to other wrens, this bird has a long tail, which it likes to cock up.
At a distance, House Wrens resemble uniformly brown birds, but when viewed close up, you can discern subtle barring on their wings and tail.
In contrast to the Carolina Wren, which is a year-round resident in Pennsylvania, the House Wren is a summer visitor in Pennsylvania, where it can be seen from May through September.
Gray Catbird
Scientific name: Dumetella carolinensis
The Gray Catbird is easily recognizable due to its long tail. Both sexes and juvenile birds look alike and have dark gray body coloration, a black cap and a rufous red undertail.
The Gray Catbird is a summer visitor and breeding bird in Pennsylvania, and flies south to winter in the Gulf Coast and Central America.
They like to forage for insects and berries on the ground, and can be found in forests and scrubland.
They are secretive small birds that are hard to observe.
Tufted Titmouse
Scientific name: Baeolophus bicolor
The Tufted Titmouse is a common and easily recognizable small songbird thanks to the distinctive crest on its head.
The sexes resemble each other, and have grayish-blue upperparts with a black forehead and a crest on the back of their head. The underparts are pale gray, but the flanks are tinged with buff orange.
These birds live in Pennsylvania all year, and are readily observed, since they aren’t very shy. They are common visitors at backyard feeders, and also breed in nestboxes.
This bird prefers deciduous forests, as well as parks and backyards, where this bird feeds on small invertebrates and seeds.
Tree Swallow
Scientific name: Tachycineta bicolor
The Tree Swallow is relatively common in Pennsylvania, and is most often found close to lakes, marshes, and ponds.
Adult Tree Swallows are greenish blue on top, and have buff white underparts. Their feathers are iridescent, and change color when viewed in direct sunlight.
While adult females look similar to adult males, young individuals are more grayish brown with a white underside.
This swallow readily accepts suitable nesting boxes, which gives you an opportunity to attract birds to your yard by hanging up nest boxes..
This bird feeds exclusively on insects that it catches in the air, and as a strict insectivore it is a long distance migrant that only spends the summer in Pennsylvania.
Tree Swallows winter around the Gulf of Mexico, as well as in Central America.
Common Yellowthroat
Scientific name: Geothlypis trichas
The Common Yellowthroat is a brightly colored small wood warbler. Adult males have a bright yellow throat and chest, as well as a broad black mask that covers the forehead and cheeks.
The black face mask is bordered on top by a grayish white band, which transitions into the olive brown nape and back. Females are similar, but lack the black face mask.
The Common Yellowthroat is a common breeding bird and summer visitor in Pennsylvania. It winters in the southern USA and Central America.
This bird prefers shrubland and grassy habitats in Pennsylvania, and feeds on insects and other invertebrates.
Eastern Bluebird
Scientific name: Sialia sialis
The Eastern Bluebird is a brightly colored and widespread backyard bird in Pennsylvania.
The upperparts of adult males are a rich shade of admiral blue. Their blue coloration also extends to their wings, tail, and the back of their heads.
The partial orange collar of males creates the impression of having a cap on their head. Males have a prominent orange chest, with shades of warm-toned rufous brown.
The upperparts of adult females have a more grayish-brown color. However, females also have blue tail feathers and wing feathers, as well as a rufous-orange chest and flanks.
It is a migratory bird in the northern part of its range, but can be seen year-round in the southern part of the United States. Northern populations winter in Mexico.
The Eastern Bluebird nests in holes, and competes with House Sparrows and European Starlings for nesting sites.
During their fall migration, they can be seen in flocks that like to feed on fruits and berries.
The population of Eastern Bluebirds underwent a dramatic decline at the end of last century, due to lack of nesting holes and competition with European Starlings.
But largely thanks to the efforts of numerous Pennsylvania citizens providing nest boxes for Eastern Bluebirds, these beautiful birds are a common sight once more.
Indigo Bunting
Scientific name: Passerina cyanea
The Indigo Bunting is a brightly colored small finch. During the summer, the male is almost entirely indigo blue, except for darker brownish wingtips and tail feathers.
Females and juvenile birds are more inconspicuous, with light brown upperparts, and creamy white underparts.
The Indigo Bunting is relatively common in Pennsylvania at forest edges, gardens, and parks, and will readily visit feeders that offer seeds.
This blue bird is most commonly seen at bird feeding stations in spring, as it switches over from seeds to eating mostly insects during the summer.
During the breeding season, males can often be observed singing from a treetop perch.
This blue bird is strictly migratory, and is only found in Pennsylvania during the summer. It winters in Central and South America, and flies south in small flocks during the fall migration.
Yellow Warbler
Scientific name: Setophaga petechia
Also known as the American Yellow Warbler, this songbird lives up to its name.
Adult males have a brilliant yellow color, except for their wings, which are just slightly darker and have two pale wingbars.
They also have reddish stripes on the breast and the sides. Adult females are very similar to the males, but have less streaking and are thus more uniformly yellow.
These yellow birds of Pennsylvania are present as summer visitors in the Keystone State from April through August. They spend the rest of the year in Central America and South America.
It favors open habitat with low thickets and scrubland in Pennsylvania, which makes it easy to observe.
Baltimore Oriole
Scientific name: Icterus galbula
The Baltimore Oriole is a wonderful singer that is more frequently heard than seen.
Adult males are very conspicuous due to their flaming orange underside, paired with a completely black back and head, as well as a single white band on their otherwise black wings.
Females and immatures are much more drab, and have a brownish yellow coloration.
Baltimore Orioles are readily attracted to feeders that contain orange halves, grape jelly, or nectar.
And similar to Orchard Orioles, parents bring their recently fledged young to a nearby feeder.
This orange Pennsylvania bird favors open spaces such as yards, parks, and woods, and frequently comes back to the same location year after year.
Keep an eye out for Baltimore Orioles in deciduous forests, but not in dense woods. You may encounter them in places like open forests, forest margins, orchards and even Pennsylvania backyards.
Due to the fact that they forage high in trees in search of insects, fruit, and flowers, most orioles are more frequently heard than seen.
The Baltimore Oriole is a summer visitor to Pennsylvania, and is one of the latest migratory birds to arrive in spring, and one of the earliest to leave in fall.
Black-capped Chickadee
Scientific name: Poecile atricapillus
The Black-capped Chickadee is a common bird species in North America and one you might spot in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. Both sexes look similar, and have gray backs with buff underparts.
Their most distinguishing feature is the black cap and the black throat, which contrasts with the bright white cheeks.
This chickadee is present year-round in Pennsylvania, where it favors a variety of woodland habitats as well as backyards.
These common birds are regular visitors at bird feeders, and also readily accept nestboxes.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Scientific name: Sitta carolinensis
This is the largest Nuthatch species in North America, and is a common year-round resident in Pennsylvania.
Adults have a grayish blue back and wings, as well as a white face, throat, and breast.
These birds favor deciduous or mixed forests, and are common visitors at tube feeders in Pennsylvania offering sunflower seeds.
Outside of the breeding season White-breasted Nuthatches form small flocks with other species of songbirds, which rove around in Pennsylvania and forage together.
Song Sparrow
Scientific name: Melospiza melodia
The Song Sparrow is an inconspicuous little brown bird, but can be recognized by its dark breast markings that merge into a central black spot.
The back is reddish brown with dark brown streaks, and the reddish wings have two white wingbars.
The Song Sparrow is a common summer visitor in Pennsylvania, where it can be seen from April to October.
It spends the winter in more southern states, and also in Mexico. Song Sparrows prefer fields and meadows with scrubs and dense bushes.
Chipping Sparrow
Scientific name: Spizella passerina
The Chipping Sparrow is a common bird in many man made habitats, including backyards, gardens, and parks.
Adult birds can be recognized by their chestnut crown, which contrasts with a white supercilium (or eyebrow stripe) and black eye stripe.
The Chipping Sparrow is a widespread and common breeding bird in Pennsylvania, where it can be seen as a summer visitor from May through October.
These birds migrate south and spend the winter in the southern USA, as well as Mexico and Central America.
Scarlet Tanagers
Scientific name: Piranga olivacea
Scarlet Tanagers are a visually striking songbird, with breeding males showcasing a brilliant scarlet red body and black wings, while females and non-breeding males display a more subdued olive-yellow plumage. Measuring about 6.3-6.7 inches in length, these birds prefer mature deciduous and mixed forests, particularly favoring oak-dominated woodlands during breeding season.
In Pennsylvania (a migratory home for this bird) during the spring and summer, Scarlet Tanagers can be spotted at Hawk Mountain, a renowned site for raptor migration.
Their distinctive song consists of burry phrases often described as “chick-burr” or “chip-chur-weeee,” similar to but hoarser than an American Robin’s song.
Primarily insectivorous, especially during breeding, Scarlet Tanagers also incorporate fruits and berries into their diet, particularly during migration and in their South American wintering grounds.
Despite their vibrant coloration, these canopy-dwelling birds can be challenging to spot, making their unique vocalizations a key identifier for birdwatchers. The Scarlet Tanager has experienced habitat loss mainly due to deforestation, but is currently considered least concern by IUCN.
Ruffed Grouse
Scientific name: Bonasa umbellus
The Ruffed Grouse is a unique species of forest-dwelling game bird native to North America.
This medium-sized grouse is known for its mottled plumage, which varies from gray to red or brown, providing excellent camouflage in its woodland habitat. A distinctive feature is the “ruff” of dark feathers around the neck, which males can erect during courtship displays.
Ruffed Grouse adapt to a variety of habitats, thriving in mixed forests with dense understory, particularly favoring aspen and birch stands. Their diet is diverse and changes seasonally, consisting of buds, leaves, and twigs in winter, transitioning to fruits, seeds, and insects in warmer months. This adaptability in both habitat and diet has allowed the Ruffed Grouse to maintain populations across a wide range of forest types, from the Appalachian Mountains to the boreal forests of Canada, showcasing its resilience as a species.
In Pennsylvania, Ruffed Grouse can be found throughout the state’s forested regions, with notable populations in the Allegheny National Forest, State Game Lands, and other large tracts of mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, particularly in the state’s northern and central counties.
What are the top 5 most common birds in Pennsylvania?
The top 5 most common birds found in Pennsylvania are:
- American Robin
- Northern Cardinal
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Mourning Dove
- Blue Jay
Out of these 5 species, the Northern Cardinal is the most frequently seen bird in Pennsylvania, and is reported in 51% of eBird checklists submitted for Pennsylvania.
While all of these birds are familiar backyard birds of Pennsylvania, many of them can also be seen in more remote areas.
How can you attract common backyard birds in Pennsylvania?
Observing wild birds in your own backyard can be a rewarding experience, turning your outdoor space into a living field guide. Here are the top 5 things you can do to attract a variety of wild birds to your Pennsylvania backyard:
- Set up a feeder: Offer sunflower seeds or a quality seed mix to attract a wide range of wild birds. Different seed types can attract different species, so consult a field guide to match seeds with the birds you hope to attract.
- Provide water: Install a bird bath to offer wild birds a place to drink and bathe. Moving water, such as a small fountain, can be especially attractive to birds.
- Plant native shrubs: These provide nesting opportunities and shelter for wild birds. Consult a field guide or local nursery to choose shrubs native to Pennsylvania.
- Grow native fruiting plants: These offer natural foraging opportunities for fruit-eating birds. Your field guide can help you identify which plants are favored by specific species in your area.
- Create brush piles: Establish several brush piles in your backyard to provide additional foraging opportunities for ground-feeding birds.
Bonus Tips:
- To attract Eastern Bluebirds to your own backyard, offer mealworms instead of seeds.
- For American Robins, put out apple slices or other fruits, as they don’t typically eat seeds.
Remember, creating a bird-friendly backyard is like compiling your own living field guide. Each new visitor adds a page to your backyard’s bird story!