What Bird Species Have You Seen in Your Backyard?

Backyard Birds: What Bird Species Have You Seen in Your Backyard?

Even though restrictions have been loosening, I thought a list like this would be fun, to look over some of the birds we have seen while stuck at home.

What birds have you seen in your 'yard'? Any bird seen within or on the property of your home, apartment complex, or place of residence counts. List sightings for this year (2021) and if you want you can also tell us of other notable birds seen. Who can/has attract(ed) the most birds to their backyard?

 

Here is my list for 2021:

1. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
2. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
3. Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
4. Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
5. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
6. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
7. Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
8. White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
9. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
10. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
11. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
12. Red-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
13. Black-Capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
14. Brown Creeper/ American Treecreeper (Certhia americana)
15. House Sparrow/ English Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
16. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
17. Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
18. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
19. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
20. Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
21. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
22. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
23. Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
24. White-Throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
25. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
26. House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
27. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
28. Veery (Catharus fuscescens)
29. Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
30. Blue-grey Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
31. Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
32. Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)

 

Can I count species seen from within yard limits as well as the yard itself?

 

This is a great idea for a thread! Living in an apartment complex rather than a house, technically they wouldn't be in my backyard, but in my apartment complex. So far, I can remember that I have seen the following;

Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii)

White-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica)

Vermillion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus obscurus)

Greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)

Cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)

Curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)

Gila woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)

Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)

I may be missing others... I just have to think harder and dig through photos I have taken.

I am sure @Arizona Docent would have a lot to contribute here as he lives up the hill from me.

 

Probably some sort of hummingbird, too? Anna's are everywhere in Tucson.

 

List for 2021 :

1. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
2. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
3. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
4. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
5. Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
6. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
7. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
8. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
9. Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
10. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
11. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
12. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
13. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
14. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
15. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
16. Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
17. Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricappilus)
18. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
19. House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
20. Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
21. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
22. Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
23. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
24. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
25. Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
26. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
27. American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
28. Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)
29. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
30. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
31. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodica)
32. White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
33. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
34. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
35. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
36. Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
37. Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)
38. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
39. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

In the past I've also had

1. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
2. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
3. Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)
4. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
5. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
6. Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
7. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
8. Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
10. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
11. Sumer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
12. American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)
13. Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
14. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
15. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
16. Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)
17. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

 

Now that you mention it, I have seen them fly into my deck. They are attracted to my plants. I have aloes and cacti that flower.

 

Oh and I have also seen Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii), Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) and Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) in my apartment complex.

 

Yes, for example a Great Blue Heron or a Turkey Vulture seen from the backyard or porch.

 

33. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
34. Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)
35. Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)

 

36. Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
37. Yellow-throated vireo (Vireo flavifrons)
38. American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
39. Field sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
40. Bay-breasted warbler (Setophaga castanea)
41. Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
42. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
43. Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
44. Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
45. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
46. Yellow Bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

More backyard birds

 

47. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
48. Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
49. American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)
50. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
51. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
52. Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)
53. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
54. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
55. Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
56. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
57. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
58. Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
59. Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)

Some more birds seen from the past half-year or so in or flying above my backyard

Seen from 2020:
60. Sumer Tanager (Piranga rubra)

 

From memory, this is my yard list (seen and heard). I do not have a feeder and do not try to attract birds in any way.

1. Black Butcherbird
2. Torresian Imperial-Pigeon
3. Rainbow Lorikeet
4. Metallic Starling
5. Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo
6. Laughing Kookaburra (heard only)
7. Bush Stone-Curlew (heard only)
8. Australian Brushturkey
9. Orange-Footed Scrubfowl
10. Helmeted Friarbird
11. Australian Swiftlet
12. Papuan Frogmouth
13. Spangled Drongo
14. Green Oriole (heard only)
15. Willie Wagtail

I hear several other birds, but I don't know what species they are. I'm trying to ID some of them from calls, but it's harder than I had anticipated!

 

Been over a year since I asked this question and no list was forthcoming, suppose I'll fix that.

This is the all time list for my yard since I moved in to my current place 12 years ago, just fyi. It includes species seen outside yard boundaries that were seen from within the fence line. I live in a suburban neighborhood next to a large pond, with lots of mature trees and greenbelt for additional reference. (Also I clearly need to update the taxonomy sequence on the document I copied the list from!)

Bold - rare visitor
Asterisk - breeds in the near vicinity at least most years

1. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
2. Ross’s Goose (Anser rossi)
3. Snow Goose (Anser canagaica)
4. Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)
5. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)*
6. Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
7. Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
8. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
9. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)*
10. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)*
11. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
12. Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
13. American Wigeon (Mareca americana)
14. Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)
15. Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera)
16. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
17. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
18. Canvasback (Aythya valisneria)
19. Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
20. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
21. Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
22. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
23. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
24. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
25. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
26. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
27. Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
28. California Quail (Callipepla californica)*
29. Common Loon (Gavia immer)
30. Pied-billed Grebe (Podylimbus podiceps)*
31. Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
32. Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
33. Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
34. Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
35. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchus)
36. American Bittern (Botaurus lentigosus)
37. Green Heron (Butorides viridis)
38. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
39. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
40. Great Blue Heron (Area herodias)*
41. Black-crowned Night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
42. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
43. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
44. White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)
45. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonicus)
46. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaotos)
47. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
48. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
49. Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperi)
50. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)*
51. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)*
52. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)
53. Sora (Porzana carolina)
54. Common Moorhen (Gallinula galeata)
55. American Coot (Fulica americana)
56. Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)
57. Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicana)
58. American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
59. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferans)*
60. Spotted Sandpiper (Actictis macularius)
61. Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
62. Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americana)
63. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
64. Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
65. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
66. Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
67. Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
68. Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
69. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
70. California Gull (Larus californicus)
71. Herring Gull (Larus argenteus)
72. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
73. Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)
74. Rock Dove (Columba livia)
75. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
76. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
77. Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
78. Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
79. Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)
80. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)*
81. Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicotti)
82. Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadius)
83. Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
84. Vaux’s Swift (Chaetura vauxi)
85. Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archochilus alexandri)
86. Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)*
87. Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte costae)
88. Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)
89. Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
90. Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
91. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)*
92. Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewisii)
93. Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
94. Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber)
95. Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttalli)
96. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
97. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
98. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
99. Merlin (Falco columbarius)
100. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
101. Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
102. Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax trailii)
103. Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii)
104. Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri)
105. Hammond’s Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondi)
106. Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)
107. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
108. Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
109. Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)
110. Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
111. Hutton’s Vireo (Vireo huttoni)
112. Cassin’s Vireo (Vireo cassini)
113. Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)
114. Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
115. Western Scrub Jay (Alphelocoma californica)*
116. Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli)
117. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
118. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
119. North Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
120. Purple Martin (Progne subis)
121. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
122. Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
123. Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)
124. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
125. Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
126. Oak Titmouse (Baelophus inornatus)*
127. Bushtit (Psaltripus minimus)*
128. Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)
129. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
130. Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
131. House Wren (Troglodytes aeodon)
132. Bewick’s Wren (Thyromanes bewickii)
133. Marsh Wren (Cistotherus palustris)
134. Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
135. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
136. Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)*
137. Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
138. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
139. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)*
140. Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)
141. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)*
142. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)*
143. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
144. Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)
145. Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata)
146. Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
147. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
148. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
149. Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens)
150. Townsend’s Warbler (Setophaga townsendi)
151. Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
152. MacGillivray’s Warbler (Geothlypis tolmiei)
153. Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina wilsonia)
154. Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)
155. American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)
156. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
157. Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
158. Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
159. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
160. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
161. White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
162. Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicilla)
163. Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
164. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
165. Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
166. California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)*
167. Spotted Towhee (Piplio maculatus)
168. Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
169. Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
170. Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)
171. Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
172. Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor)
173. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoenicus)*
174. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
175. Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicana)
176. Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)*
177. Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
178. Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus)
179. Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullocki)
180. Purple Finch (Haemohorus purpureus)
181. Cassin's Finch (Haemorhorus cassini)
182. House Finch (Haemorhorus mexicanus)*
183. Pine Siskin (Spinus spinus)
184. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
185. Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
186. Lawrence’s Goldfinch (Spinus lawrencei)
187. Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)
188. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

 

Here is my backyard bird list currently. The fairywren, friarbird and frogmouth have each only been seen once. The Blue-faced Honeyeaters, Australasian Figbirds and Rainbow Lorikeets breed annually in a large eucalypt that towers above most trees in the suburb.

Australian Brush-turkey
Spotted Dove
Feral Pigeon
Crested Pigeon
Eastern Koel
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Tawny Frogmouth
Masked Lapwing
White-faced Heron
Australian White Ibis
Laughing Kookaburra
Little Corella
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Galah
Pale-headed Rosella
Rainbow Lorikeet
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Superb Fairywren
Little Friarbird
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Noisy Miner
White-breasted Woodswallow
Grey Butcherbird
Pied Butcherbird
Pied Currawong
Australian Magpie
Torresian Crow
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Australasian Figbird
Magpie-Lark
Welcome Swallow
White-throated Needletail
Common Myna

 

Wow, most impressive, that list is longer than my year list. I suppose having a lake in the backyard helps quite a bit.

I used to have the same problem with bird calls until I found an app called Merlin. It's not perfect, but figuring out what is calling became much easier. While I don't think it works for Australian birds yet, I'm sure there are similar apps to ID Australian bird sounds, which might be worth a look.

 

That it does.

Well Merlin has sounds for Australian birds, just not sound ID yet. Use carefully though, it's not fully accurate. I saw a local Ebird checklist the other day with six rarities all identified off of Merlin sound ID, and most of them were clearly wrong and pertained to a different more common species based on location. I've seen an increasing number of incorrect reports ID'd by Merlin as it becomes more popular, double check the app's suggestions and make sure it lines up with local range and habitat!

 

I do have the Merlin app, but as @Great Argus said, it doesn't have sound ID for aussie birds.

 

Yes, of course, I only use it as a reference to compare sounds with. The quick suggestions are most helpful for me in determining if a nearby bird might be one I want to look for more carefully, or if it is likely a more common one that I can ignore. This strategy has helped me find numerous new passerines in the trees.