Ever Wonder What Birds Visit Your Backyard?

I do wonder all the time. There is a magic time in the morning when I hear birds chattering as I head out for my early morning walk/runs. I hear them in the bushes and overhead and when I am out working in the garden, I hear them rustling and calling each other.

I see birds congregating by my bird feeders and during warm days, I also see them enjoying the bird baths. Often, I’ve wondered what they are. My neighbor, Jim Robellard, a nature photographer, is always around his yard and around the neighborhood with his amazing long lens. He shared these photos with me – and I know that you are going to enjoy them. These are just a few of the most common birds you see in Marco’s backyard. 

Female Painted Bunting – yellowish green in coloration and they love my bird feeder. Sometimes I see a whole bunch of them feeding and I thought they were finches only to discover they are buntings. They also appreciate a quick splash in the bird bath.

Male Painted Bunting – such distinct coloration. At first, I did not believe my eyes with its distinct purple, blue, red, yellow and green plumage. Very shy birds, but they do come around to the feeder and to the bird bath in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

Indigo Bunting – I saw it from the corner of my eyes, foraging underneath the butterfly bush. I saw a flash of blue, which wasn’t really blue – but this is another bird that enjoys the bird feeder. Very shy and does not stick around long. It feeds and then it is gone. Might not see it again for a couple of days.

Northern Cardinal – everyone’s favorite backyard red bird and smaller than its northern cousins. It lives year-round in Florida. The male is bright red and the female is grayer with just a hint of red in its wings and tail and both are crested. Very common backyard feeder.

Blue Jay:  very common backyard bird – bold, brash and acts like a bully at the feeder and can quickly empty your feeder in one visit. They tend to scare away the smaller birds. But they are fun to watch.

Red-bellied Woodpecker – fairly large and most common backyard bird – you hear them before you see them as they cling to tree trunks with their short legs and stiff tail. They are feeding on insects and occasionally visit my feeder for peanuts.

Welcome two baby eaglets – new to the neighborhood, about four to six weeks old – a treat for all nature photographers in the neighborhood as we watch them grow. Hopefully, this year they will grow to maturity.

My backyard is nothing special but it does provide plenty of shelter for both small and larger birds. I have a centenary live oak that is a bird sanctuary for all kinds of birds. Also, I have berry producing bushes – wild coffee, cassia, butterfly bushes and seed producing shrubs – such as dune sunflowers and wild gaillardias or blanket flowers. In addition, the birds also enjoy the berries from the neighborhood sea grape and when ripe is the favorite for larger birds such as the woodpeckers, blue jays and cardinals.

I have several types of bird feeders. One feeder is geared for the smaller birds and the larger feeders contain sunflower seeds and peanuts.

Let’s not forget the importance of bird baths for all our feathered friends!