4 common birds of Summer

The Song Sparrow has a short and round stature. These little birdies stick around for most of the year across the Midwest. They can be spotted with brown, gray, and white colors. Song Sparrows also have brown stripes around their eyes.

On their plate: Song Sparrows love to eat small fruits, seeds, and insects. These feathered friends enjoy hopping on the ground to look for things to eat.

Their favorite song: Just like their name, Song Sparrows like to sing various songs. Most of their songs last up to 4 seconds and have spaced-out notes with a buzzing sound at the end.

Busi's fun fact: Male and female Song Sparrows search for their nest together. This is usually in shrubbery, flower beds, or other grassy areas.

Downy Woodpeckers are easily identified by their unique checkered pattern of black and white. Male Downy Woodpeckers
have a small red stripe on their heads. These avian pals have a short, pointy beak, and are the smallest of the woodpeckers in the USA.

On their plate: Downy Woodpeckers enjoy eating black oil sunflower seeds and many insects. They often find their food by hammering their beak into trees to reach insects hiding inside.

Their favorite song: These backyard birds are all about the drums. While they don’t sing, the repeated noise of hammering into a tree creates a noticeable drumming noise.

Busi's fun fact: Unlike other woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers are able to get to food on slim branches that are high up on trees due to their small stature.

The House Finch is well-known across the Midwest. These birds have a brown and white-colored body. The males also have a red patch on their face and belly. Their curved beaks and notched tails are also recognizable features.

On their plate: House Finches are vegetarians. They love to eat seeds and fruits. They especially like thistle seeds, mustard seeds, black oil sunflower seeds, strawberries, and pears.

Their favorite song: These birds love fast-paced songs! They sing a set of rapid high-pitched notes in most of their songs.

Busi's fun fact: Male House Finches get their red color from the carotenoids in what they eat. That’s why you will see some variation in how bright the red color is on their face and belly.

Red-winged blackbirds are quite common around most of the United States. The males have recognizable red and yellow patches on their wings and a black coloring on their body that has a sheen to it. The females have Sparrow-like coloring with brown and white streaks. Red-winged blackbirds have pointy beaks, broad shoulders, and a round body shape.

On their plate: These feathered friends aren’t picky! They eat insects, seeds, weeds, and some small fruits.

Their favorite song: Red-winged Blackbirds keep things short and simple. They have a brief song they like to sing with an abrupt note at the beginning.

Busi's fun fact: Red-winged Blackbirds love marshes, wetlands, and tall grassy areas. They also become super protective of their territory during breeding season and will chase predators and other male Red-winged Blackbirds away from their spot.