Do you know who nests where?

Cavity nesters are backyard birds most hurt by man's encroachment on their environments.
However other bird species nest on the ground, in shrubs, trees and on various ledges. The
following list includes some common backyard bird nest sites.

Ground nesters:
American black duck
American woodcock
Boblink
Bobwhite
Canada goose
Eastern meadowlark
Killdeer
Mallard
Quail
Ring-necked pheasant
Rufous-sided towhee
Western meadowlark
White-throated sparrow

Shrub nesters
Brown thrasher
Brown towhee
California thrasher
Chipping sparrow
Common yellowthroat
Indigo bunting
Northern cardinal
Northern mockingbird
Red-winged blackbird
Rose-breasted growbeak
Song sparrow
White-crowned sparrow
Yellow warbler

Shrub or tree nesters
American robin
Black-billed cuckoo
Black-billed magpie
Brewer's blackbird
Kingbird
Wood thrush
Yellow-billed cuckoo

Tree nesters
American crow
Blue Jay
Cedar Waxwing
Great horned owl
Hooded oriole
Inca dove
Lesser goldfinch
Mourning dove
Northern oriole
Orchard oriole
Pewee
Pine siskin
Purple finch
Red-tailed hawk
Screech owls

Platform nesters
American robin
Barn swallow
Black Phoebe
Cliff swallow
Eastern phoebe
Say's phoebe

Water tip
Provide water at varying levels for your backyard birds. Each avian species bathes a bit differently.
Depending on size, a bird may need water from only a half inch to several inches deep. Try placing
several flat stones around the edge of your bird bath. This allows the birds to gradually enter the
water.

© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education