Birds to Help in: Suburban Areas

Suburban areas, with lawns and ornamental trees and bushes, often attract a wide range of common native birds. Additional species can thrive in suburban yards and neighborhoods by providing native trees and shrubs that are more similar to those found in local parks or natural areas, and by providing nest boxes for birds that normally nest in abandoned woodpecker holes. Consider trying to help some of these recommended species that need help to thrive in suburban areas.





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Bewick’s Wren: A common resident in the Western United States, found in brushy areas, thickets and scrub in open country, and open and streamside woodland. To learn more download the PDF.



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Brown Thrasher: A songbird that nests in shrubby areas in the Eastern United States. Help by planting patches of native shrubs. To learn more download the PDF.



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Bullock’s Oriole: A colorful summer resident over much of the Western United States, nesting in large trees and are often found along waterways or in suburban neighborhoods with large trees. To learn more download the PDF.



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Bushtit: A small gray insect-eating bird that roam widely in flocks of 10-40 birds over open wooded or shrubby habitats in the Western United States from Western Washington to West Texas, including suburban neighborhoods. To learn more download the PDF.



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Carolina Chickadee: A common insect-eating bird in woodlands of the American South. Help by providing nest boxes and its favorite seeds and other foods. To learn more download the PDF.



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Eastern Screech-Owl: This small owl is often common in suburban yards where it nests in holes in trees and hunts at night in the open area beneath yard trees. Help by placing nesting and roosting boxes. To learn more download the PDF.



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Great Crested Flycatcher: A common bird that feeds on flying insects in woodlands in the Eastern United States. Help by placing nest boxes high in native shade trees. To learn more download the PDF.



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Northern Flicker: A medium-sized woodpecker that forages for native ants on the ground. Help by placing nest boxes and protecting colonies of native ants. To learn more download the PDF.



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Purple Martin: The quintessential nest-box bird across most of the Eastern United States. Help by providing specially designed martin houses or gourds. To learn more download the PDF.



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Spotted Towhee: A songbird that lives in thick shrubby areas in the Western United States. Help by planting patches of native shrubs. To learn more download the PDF.