35 Backyard small birds in Florida
Are you ready to bring some backyard small birds in Florida? Small birds are a delightful addition to any outdoor space, providing a splash of color and song to brighten up your day. From the vibrant reds and yellows of the Northern Cardinal to the delicate chirps of the Carolina Wren, Florida is home to a variety of small birds that are sure to delight nature enthusiasts of all ages.
Florida is home to a wide variety of small birds that can be found in backyards throughout the state. Some common species you might see include the Northern Cardinal, Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, Chickadee, and Titmouse.
These birds are known for their colorful plumage and cheerful songs, and they can often be attracted to your backyard by providing food and shelter.
To attract small birds to your backyard, you can set up a bird feeder filled with seeds, suet, or nectar or create a bird-friendly habitat by planting native flowering plants and shrubs that provide food and shelter.
You can also provide a source of water, such as a birdbath or a small pond, to help attract a wider variety of birds to your backyard.
35 common small backyard birds in Florida?
Florida is home to a diverse array of bird species, many of which can be found in backyard habitats.
Here are 35 common small backyard birds found in Florida, along with some information about each species:
1. American Goldfinch
These small, brightly-colored birds are often found in open wooded areas, gardens, and meadows. They primarily eat seeds, including thistle and sunflower seeds, and occasionally insects. They are often seen in flocks and are known for their distinctive, whistling songs.
2. Blue Jay
These medium-sized birds are common in wooded areas, gardens, and suburban areas. They have a varied diet that includes seeds, nuts, fruit, insects, and occasionally eggs or young birds. They are known for their loud, harsh calls and striking blue, white, and black plumage.
3. Carolina Chickadee
These small, energetic birds are common in wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat insects, seeds, and fruit and are known for their ability to cache food for later use. They are easily recognized by their black and white plumage and distinctive “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call.
4. Eastern Bluebird
These medium-sized birds are found in open wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat insects and fruit and are known for their bright blue upper parts and reddish-orange breast. They are often seen perched on telephone wires or hunting for insects in open areas.
5. Eastern Towhee
These large, ground-dwelling birds are found in brushy areas and gardens. They primarily eat seeds, fruit, and insects and are known for their distinctive “drink-your-tea” call. They have a reddish-brown back, white belly, black head, wings, and tail.
6. House Finch
These small, brightly-colored birds are found in a variety of habitats, including gardens, parks, and urban areas. They primarily eat seeds and occasionally insects, and are known for their distinctive red head and breast (in males). They are often seen at backyard feeders.
7. Northern Cardinal
These medium-sized birds are found in a variety of habitats, including wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat seeds, fruit, and insects and are known for their distinctive red plumage and distinctive “whit-chew” call.
8. Purple Martin
These large, aerial insects are found in open areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat insects and are known for their acrobatic flight and distinctive vocal calls. They are often seen flying high in the sky or perched on utility lines.
9. Red-winged Blackbird
These medium-sized birds are found in wetlands, marshes, and grassy areas. They primarily eat seeds, fruit, and insects and are known for their distinctive red and yellow wing patches and loud, melodic calls.
10. Song Sparrow
These small, sparrow-like birds are found in a variety of habitats, including wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat seeds, fruit, and insects, and are known for their distinctive streaked breast and complex, melodic songs.
11. Tufted Titmouse
These small, active birds are found in wooded areas and gardens. They primarily eat insects, seeds, and fruit and are known for their distinctive tuft of feathers on their head and their high-pitched, ringing calls.
12. White-throated Sparrow
These medium-sized birds are found in a variety of habitats, including wooded areas, gardens, and parks.
13. American Robin
These medium-sized birds are found in a variety of habitats, including wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat worms, insects, and fruit and are known for their distinctive red breast and complex, melodic songs.
14. Barn Swallow
These small, aerial birds are found in open areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat insects, which they catch in flight, and are known for their distinctive, deeply forked tail and aerial acrobatics.
15. Black-capped Chickadee
These small, energetic birds are found in wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat insects, seeds, and fruit and are known for their ability to cache food for later use. They are easily recognized by their black and white plumage and distinctive “chick-a-dee” call.
16. Blue Grosbeak
These medium-sized birds are found in open wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat seeds, fruit, and insects and are known for their striking blue plumage and distinctive melodic songs.
17. Brown-headed Cowbird
These medium-sized birds are found in a variety of habitats, including wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat seeds, fruit, and insects and are known for their distinctive brown head and their habit of laying eggs in the nests of other bird species.
18. Chipping Sparrow
These small, sparrow-like birds are found in open wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat seeds, fruit, and insects and are known for their distinctive, crisp “chip” call and their distinctive white eye stripe.
19. Downy Woodpecker
These small, active birds are found in wooded areas and gardens. They primarily eat insects, seeds, and fruit and are known for their distinctive black and white plumage and their habit of drumming on trees to communicate.
20. Eastern Phoebe
These small, active birds are found in a variety of habitats, including wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat insects and are known for their distinctive “phoebe” call and their habit of building nests on ledges or in cavities.
21. Eastern Screech-Owl
These small, nocturnal birds are found in a variety of habitats, including wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat insects and small mammals and are known for their distinctive “screech” call and their ability to blend in with tree bark.
22. Gray Catbird
These medium-sized birds are found in wooded areas and gardens. They primarily eat insects, fruit, and berries and are known for their distinctive, raspy “meow” call and their slate-gray plumage.
23. House Sparrow
These small, sparrow-like birds are found in a variety of habitats, including gardens, parks, and urban areas. They primarily eat seeds, fruit, and insects and are known for their distinctive chirping songs.
24. Indigo Bunting
These small, brightly-colored birds are found in open wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat seeds, fruit, and insects, and are known for their striking blue plumage and distinctive, melodic songs.
25. Northern Mockingbird
These medium-sized birds are found in a variety of habitats, including wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat insects, fruit, and berries and are known for their ability to sort food real quickly.
26. Orchard Oriole
These medium-sized birds are found in open wooded areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat insects, fruit, and nectar and are known for their striking orange and black plumage and distinctive melodic songs.
27. Pileated Woodpecker
These large, striking woodpeckers are found in wooded areas and gardens. They primarily eat insects, including carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles, and are known for their distinctive red crest and their habit of making large, rectangular holes in trees while foraging.
28. Red-bellied Woodpeckers
These medium-sized woodpeckers are found in wooded areas and gardens. They primarily eat insects, seeds, and fruit, and are known for their distinctive red belly and their habit of drumming on trees to communicate.
29. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
These small, aerial birds are found in gardens, parks, and wooded areas. They primarily eat nectar, insects, and spiders, and are known for their distinctive iridescent green and red plumage and their rapid wing beats.
30. Savannah Sparrow
These small, sparrow-like birds are found in open grassy areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat seeds and insects and are known for their distinctive, unsteady flight and their distinctive, buzzy “Spink” call.
31. Swainson’s Thrush
These medium-sized birds are found in wooded areas and gardens. They primarily eat insects, fruit, and berries and are known for their distinctive, flute-like songs.
32. Tree Swallow
These small, aerial birds are found in open areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat insects, which they catch in flight, and are known for their distinctive, deeply forked tail and their habit of nesting in cavities.
33. Vesper Sparrow
These small, sparrow-like birds are found in open grassy areas, gardens, and parks. They primarily eat seeds and insects and are known for their distinctive, buzzy “Spink” call and their streaked breast.
34. Warbling Vireo
These small, active birds are found in wooded areas and gardens. They primarily eat insects, fruit, and berries and are known for their distinctive melodic songs and their habit of constantly moving while foraging.
35. Yellow Warbler
These small, brightly-colored birds are found in wooded areas and gardens. They primarily eat insects and fruit and are known for their distinctive yellow plumage and their distinctive, sweet “sweet-sweet-sweet” call.
In addition to these 35 common small backyard birds, Florida is home to a wide variety of other bird species, including many species of waterfowl, raptors, and shorebirds.
To attract a diversity of birds to your backyard, you can provide food, water, and shelter in the form of bird feeders, birdbaths, and nesting boxes. You can also plant native flowering plants and shrubs to provide additional food and habitat for birds.
How can I attract small birds to my backyard in Florida?
There are a few steps you can take to attract small birds to your backyard in Florida:
Provide a source of water: Birds need a source of water to drink and bathe in. You can install a birdbath or a small pond to attract birds to your backyard.
Offer a variety of food: Different types of birds prefer different types of food. To attract a wide variety of small birds to your backyard, consider offering a variety of foods such as seeds, suet, fruit, and nectar. You can use feeders, birdhouses, and/or plant native plants that produce seeds, berries, and nectar to attract birds.
Create shelter: Birds need a place to rest and protect themselves from the elements. Consider installing birdhouses or providing plants and shrubs for birds to nest in.
Keep cats indoors: Cats can be a major threat to small birds. If you have cats, it’s best to keep them indoors to protect the birds in your backyard.
Provide nesting materials: Some birds, such as finches and sparrows, will build their own nests, but others may appreciate having access to nesting materials such as yarn, string, or twigs.
Make your backyard bird-friendly: Avoid using pesticides and try to minimize your use of water to create a more sustainable and bird-friendly environment.
By following these steps, you can create a welcoming and attractive habitat for small birds in your backyard in Florida.
What types of feeders and birdseed should I use for small backyard birds in Florida?
There are many types of feeders and birdseed that can attract small backyard birds to your yard in Florida.
Some options to consider include the following:
Tube feeders: These are small, cylindrical feeders that can hold a variety of seeds and are easy to fill and clean. They can attract a wide range of small birds, including finches, chickadees, and sparrows.
Platform feeders: These are flat, tray-like feeders that can be placed on a tabletop or hung from a tree. They are a good choice for birds that prefer to feed on the ground, such as doves and juncos.
Hummingbird feeders: These are specialized feeders designed to attract hummingbirds with nectar. They are typically small and have a red base, which is a color that hummingbirds are attracted to.
Suet feeders: These are feeders that hold suet, a high-energy food made from rendered fat that is especially attractive to insect-eating birds such as woodpeckers and nuthatches.
As for the type of birdseed to use, there are many options available. Some good choices for small backyard birds in Florida include black oil sunflower seeds, thistle seeds, and nyjer seeds. You can also offer a variety of seeds by using a seed blend specifically designed for small backyard birds.
It’s important to keep your feeders clean and well-stocked to attract a variety of birds to your yard. You should also be sure to place your feeders in a location where the birds will feel safe and protected from predators.
How can I provide water for small backyard birds in Florida?
Providing water for small backyard birds in Florida is an important way to support their survival and encourage them to visit your yard. There are several ways you can provide water for small backyard birds:
Bird baths
Bird baths are shallow basins that can be filled with water for birds to drink and bathe in. You can place a bird bath on a tabletop or on the ground, or you can hang it from a tree or a hook. Be sure to clean the bird bath regularly to prevent the water from becoming dirty or stagnant.
Fountains
If you have a larger yard and want to add a more decorative element, you can consider installing a fountain. Birds are attracted to the sound of running water, so a fountain can be a great way to attract birds to your yard.
Water dishes
You can also simply provide a dish of water for birds to drink from. This can be as simple as a shallow bowl or tray filled with water.
No matter what type of water source you choose, it’s important to keep it clean and well-maintained to ensure that it is a safe and inviting place for birds to drink and bathe. In addition, be sure to place your water source in a location where the birds will feel safe and protected from predators.
What types of birdhouses and nesting boxes are suitable for small backyard birds in Florida?
There are many types of birdhouses and nesting boxes that are suitable for small backyard birds in Florida. Some options to consider include the following:
Bluebird houses: These are specialized birdhouses designed to attract Eastern Bluebirds, which are native to Florida. They have a sloping roof and an entrance hole that is sized specifically for bluebirds.
Wren houses: Wrens are another common backyard bird in Florida, and they can be attracted to birdhouses with a 1-1/8 inch entrance hole. These houses should have a sloping roof and a floor that is at least 4 inches deep.
Chickadee houses: Chickadees are small, active birds that can be attracted to birdhouses with a 1-1/8 inch entrance hole. These houses should have a sloping roof and a floor that is at least 4 inches deep.
Martin houses: Purple Martins are a type of swallow that are native to Florida and can be attracted to large, multi-unit houses with multiple entrance holes. These houses should be placed on a pole or other tall structure and should have compartments for the birds to nest in.
When choosing a birdhouse or nesting box, be sure to select a size and style that is appropriate for the type of birds you want to attract. In addition, be sure to place the house or box in a location where the birds will feel safe and protected from predators.
How can I make my backyard more appealing to small birds in Florida?
There are many ways you can make your backyard more appealing to small birds in Florida:
Provide food: Offer a variety of seeds, suet, and nectar to attract a wide range of small birds. Use feeders, bird baths, and other food sources to make it easy for birds to find and access food.
Provide water: Birds need water for drinking and bathing, so be sure to provide a clean and well-maintained water source in your yard. This can be as simple as a bird bath or a shallow dish of water.
Offer shelter: Birdhouses and nesting boxes can provide small birds with a safe and secure place to rest and raise their young. Choose a size and style that is appropriate for the type of birds you want to attract and place it in a location where the birds will feel safe and protected.
Create a habitat: Plant native trees, shrubs, and flowers in your yard to provide birds with food, shelter, and nesting sites. Avoid using pesticides and other chemicals, as these can be harmful to birds.
Make your yard bird-friendly: Keep cats indoors, put up a bird-safe glass on windows, and use bird-friendly lighting to reduce the risk of birds colliding with obstacles in your yard.
By following these tips, you can create a backyard that is attractive and welcoming to small birds in Florida.
What are the best plants to attract small backyard birds in Florida?
There are many plants that can attract small backyard birds in Florida.
Some good options to consider include the following:
Native trees and shrubs: Planting native trees and shrubs can provide birds with food, shelter, and nesting sites. Some good options for Florida include oak trees, pine trees, dogwood trees, and holly shrubs.
Native flowers: Native flowers can provide birds with nectar and insects to eat. Some good options for Florida include cardinal flower, bee balm, and purple coneflower.
Fruit trees: Planting fruit trees such as citrus trees and blueberry bushes can attract birds that feed on fruit.
Seeds and grains: Planting seeds and grains such as sunflowers, thistle, and millet can attract birds that feed on seeds.
By planting a variety of plants that provide food and shelter, you can create a backyard habitat that is attractive to small backyard birds in Florida. In addition, be sure to provide clean, fresh water and a variety of feeders to give birds additional food sources.
Recommended:
What types of bird baths are suitable for small backyard birds in Florida?
There are many types of bird baths that are suitable for small backyard birds in Florida. Some options to consider include the following:
Hanging bird baths: These are small, shallow basins that can be hung from a tree or a hook. They are easy to fill and clean, and they can be placed at a height that is convenient for the birds to access.
Tabletop bird baths: These are small, shallow basins that can be placed on a tabletop or other flat surfaces. They are a good choice for yards with limited space or for people who want a more decorative option.
Ground-level bird baths: These are larger, shallow basins that can be placed on the ground. They are a good choice for birds that prefer to bathe on the ground, such as doves and juncos.
No matter what type of bird bath you choose, it’s important to keep it clean and well-maintained to ensure that it is a safe and inviting place for birds to drink and bathe. In addition, be sure to place your bird bath in a location where the birds will feel safe and protected from predators.
Tips for identifying small birds in your Florida backyard
Here are some tips for identifying small birds in your Florida backyard:
Observe the bird’s size, shape, and color: Pay attention to the overall size and shape of the bird, as well as its color and markings. These characteristics can help you narrow down the possible species.
Note the bird’s behavior:
Observe the bird’s behavior and habits. Does it hop on the ground or flit from branch to branch? Does it feed on seeds, insects, or fruit? These behaviors can help you identify the bird.
Look for distinctive features:
Look for distinctive features such as a long beak, a short tail, or a specific type of crest or crown. These features can help you identify the bird.
Use a field guide:
Use a field guide or online resources to help you identify the bird. Look up the bird’s size, shape, and markings and compare them to the illustrations in the guide.
By using these tips, you should be able to identify many of the small birds that visit your Florida backyard. As you become more familiar with the birds in your area, you’ll be able to identify them more easily.
Conclusion
Florida is home to a diverse array of small backyard birds, including sparrows, finches, wrens, and warblers. These birds can provide enjoyment for birdwatchers and can also help with pest control in gardens.
To attract small birds to your backyard, it is important to provide food, water, and shelter. This can be done through the use of bird feeders, birdbaths, and nesting boxes. By creating a welcoming habitat for small birds, you can enjoy the beauty and variety of these backyard small birds in Florida.
