Nesting Birds 2012

Carolina Chickadee Nestlings the day of hatching, 4-22-2012

The Carolina Chickadee is our among the smallest birds in the Carolinas at barely 3.5 inches long. I have been raising and providing habitat for Carolina Chickadees for 4 years and Eastern Bluebirds for three years. I monitor the nests once or twice a week and check in on them daily and take notes on behaviors. Carolina Chickadees will nest in any available cavity including birdhouses with hole sizes ranging from 3/4 of an inch in diameter to duck houses with 6" holes. Chickadees and Tufted Titmice will also nest inside old woodpecker holes, in old buildings, abandoned cars and boats, uprooted trees and even laundry, pots and other items around human dwellings. With the exception of the nonnative European house sparrow and native purple martins that nest only in specialized nest boxes or in dead trees filled with woodpecker holes, Carolina Chickadees are our most common cavity nesting bird and may be the only native woodland bird that nests in urban areas.

An average suburban or inner city backyard in eastern North America can have between 10-20 breeding species of birds. However, a well wooded backyard or one that contains an native plant habitat or is near a natural grassland or forest can have fifty or more species of breeding birds. Here is an list of the most common backyard nesting birds and their nest requirements. The exact species of birds in your area depends on your geographic location, local habitat conditions and the local abundance of that species in your county.

Birds 

Mourning Dove: commonly nests in trees, shrubs and weedy areas along property borders

Yellow Billed Cuckoo: a common bird in hedgerows and woodland edges, may nest in gardens

Eastern Screech Owl: may be enticed to nest in a yard with a owl nest box  

American Kestrel: may move in to a flicker or kestrel nest box  

Chimney Swift: commonly nests in chimneys and on the eves of houses  

Red Bellied Woodpecker: often drills nest holes in shade trees, telephone poles and even houses  

Pileated Woodpecker: may nest in a dead tree or a telephone pole, also uses large bird houses

Northern Flicker: readily takes nesting boxes or drills cavities in trees near open areas  

Eastern Wood Pewee: nests high in trees, either wooded yards or urban parks

Eastern Phoebe: often nests on porches, over barn doors or in sheds

Great Crested Flycatcher: either uses a nest cavity or woodpecker hole or birdhouses, mail boxes and eves 

Least Flycatcher: usually nests in garden hedgerows or in brushy areas near water

Blue Jay: nests 60-100ft in trees near or in oak, hickory forests or mixed forests, also in parks   

Red Eyed Vireo: nests in shade trees, either in isolated street trees or in remote forests

White Eyed Vireo: may nest in a hedgerow or overgrown fence row, favors grapevines for nest sites

Barn Swallow: often nests on the side of houses, barns and bridges

Purple Martin: uses multi compartment martin houses or clusters of hanging gourds in open areas

Tree Swallow: often uses bluebird houses in open areas, sometimes competing with bluebirds  

Carolina Chickadee: uses nest boxes, tree holes, eves, vents and even overturned pots around houses

Tufted Titmouse: uses both natural and man made cavities near forested areas.

White Breasted Nuthatch: usually nests in old downy woodpecker cavities near woodlands

Carolina Wren: nests in forested areas or hedgerows, may use gourds wicker baskets or boxes on porches

House Wren: eagerly takes nest boxes and can out compete all other songbirds in suburban areas

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher: usually nests in open woodlands or parks with lichen covered trees

Eastern Bluebird: takes wooden nest boxes placed in meadows, lawns or parks

Wood Thrush: often nests in shade trees or large shrubs in yards near forests or large parks  

American Robin: often nests in backyards near forests, feeds on lawns and in fields  

Northern Mockingbird: nests in shrubs and vines in many locations from prairies to cities to farms.

European Starling: uses woodpecker holes or nest boxes meant for flickers in wooded yards.  

Pine Warbler: nest only in pine trees, can be abundant in newer subdivisions with pine trees

Yellow Throated Warbler: nests in trees near water and even close to houses and gardens.

Yellow Warbler: usually nests in backyards near marshes, often in alder or willow trees

American Redstart: often nest in semi open yards with patches of shrubs, trees and open areas

Common Yellowthroat: nests mainly in large gardens, marshes and overgrown lots 

Summer Tanager: nest high in oak or pine trees, more common in older neighborhoods with old trees  

Northern Cardinal: nests in shrubs near forests or along your home foundation, even along streets 

Indigo Bunting: usually nests in hedgerows along property borders or in large gardens  

Rose Breasted Grosbeak: may nest in a backyard tree if its near a wooded area  

Chipping Sparrow: common in neighborhoods with pine trees or juniper, may nest in a potted plant.  

Field Sparrow: nests in overgrown hedgerows or habitat gardens with shrubs and tall grasses  

Song Sparrow: often nests in gardens, hedgerows or plantings along streets and roads.  

Red Winged Blackbird: nests mainly in marshy areas, often uses willows or shrubs along a pond

Common Grackle: nests in colonies 100ft in trees, almost always near creeks or swamps  

Orchard Oriole: nests in large trees near open areas, even along city streets  

Baltimore Oriole: nests in large trees near open areas, even along city streets  

House Finch: often nests in backyards with pine trees, junipers, may nest on the eves of homes or in potted plants. flocks travel to meadows, pastures and large gardens to feed.

American Goldfinch: may nest in a backyard if it contains a large garden or if the property backs up to an weedy area

House Sparrow: often nests in city backyards or at farmhouses where they nest over doors, on porches, streetlights, store signs, and compete with native songbird for woodpecker holes and nest boxes 

Please consult with a field guide or an local birding group to see which birds nest in your area.



A typical wooded neighborhood in the Eastern United States
Wilmington NC Spring