Who's at my feeder?

Backyard birds by state

Backyard birds of District of Columbia

The birds that visit feeders in District of Columbia, when they come and what they eat – counted from 1.9 million bird sightings reported across District of Columbia from 2019 to 2024.

  • 27year-round residents
  • 6winter visitors
  • 6summer visitors
American Robin – the most common of the backyard birds in District of Columbia
Photo Judy Gallagher / iNaturalist, CC BY

All year

Year-round backyard birds in District of Columbia

These birds are reported in every season. Most of them will use a seed or suet feeder in any month.

  1. American Robin, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    American Robin

    Everyday visitor · most common in March

    Eats: fruit, mealworms

    Photo: Judy Gallagher / iNaturalist, CC BY

  2. Northern Cardinal, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Northern Cardinal

    Everyday visitor · most common in February

    Eats: black oil sunflower, safflower

    Photo: Michael / iNaturalist, CC BY

  3. European Starling, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    European Starling

    Everyday visitor · most common in February

    Eats: suet, mealworms

    Photo: Timothy Lindsey / iNaturalist, CC BY

  4. Blue Jay, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Blue Jay

    Everyday visitor · most common in October

    Eats: peanuts, sunflower, corn

    Photo: Judy Gallagher / iNaturalist, CC BY

  5. Carolina Wren, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Carolina Wren

    Everyday visitor · most common in August

    Eats: suet, mealworms

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

  6. House Sparrow, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    House Sparrow

    Everyday visitor · most common in June

    Eats: millet, cracked corn

    Photo: Esteban Poveda / iNaturalist, CC BY

  7. Mourning Dove, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Mourning Dove

    Everyday visitor · most common in August

    Eats: millet, cracked corn, sunflower

    Photo: Timothy Lindsey / iNaturalist, CC BY

  8. Song Sparrow, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Song Sparrow

    Everyday visitor · most common in March

    Eats: millet, sunflower hearts

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

  9. Downy Woodpecker, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Downy Woodpecker

    Everyday visitor · most common in January

    Eats: suet, peanuts

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

  10. Red-bellied Woodpecker, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Everyday visitor · most common in September

    Eats: suet, peanuts, sunflower

    Photo: Michael / iNaturalist, CC BY

  11. Northern Mockingbird, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Northern Mockingbird

    Everyday visitor · most common in July

    Eats: fruit, mealworms, suet

    Photo: Morgan Caygill / iNaturalist, CC BY

  12. Tufted Titmouse, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Tufted Titmouse

    Everyday visitor · most common in February

    Eats: sunflower, peanuts, suet

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

Oct – May

Winter birds of District of Columbia

They arrive from the north in autumn and leave again in spring. Millet and sunflower hearts on a tray or on the ground bring most of them in.

  1. White-throated Sparrow, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    White-throated Sparrow

    Everyday visitor · most common in November

    Eats: millet, sunflower hearts

    Photo: Judy Gallagher / iNaturalist, CC BY

  2. Dark-eyed Junco, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Dark-eyed Junco

    Regular visitor · most common in November

    Eats: millet, sunflower hearts

    Photo: Becky Matsubara / iNaturalist, CC BY

  3. Yellow-rumped Warbler, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Yellow-rumped Warbler

    Regular visitor · most common in April

    Eats: suet, mealworms

    Photo: Willem Span / iNaturalist, CC BY

  4. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

    Regular visitor · most common in October

    Eats: suet, tree sap

    Photo: Martin Tremblay / iNaturalist, CC BY

  5. Fox Sparrow, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Fox Sparrow

    Occasional visitor · most common in March

    Eats: millet, seed mixes, black oil sunflower

    Photo: Blake Ross / iNaturalist, CC BY

  6. Purple Finch, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Purple Finch

    Occasional visitor · most common in November

    Eats: seeds

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

Apr – Oct

Summer visitors

These birds spend spring and summer in District of Columbia and winter further south.

  1. Gray Catbird, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Gray Catbird

    Everyday visitor · most common in August

    Eats: fruit, jelly, mealworms

    Photo: kirk gardner / iNaturalist, CC BY

  2. Brown-headed Cowbird, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Brown-headed Cowbird

    Regular visitor · most common in April

    Eats: millet, cracked corn

    Photo: cello caruso-turiello / iNaturalist, CC BY

  3. Indigo Bunting, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Indigo Bunting

    Regular visitor · most common in July

    Eats: nyjer, millet, sunflower hearts

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

  4. Ruby-throated Hummingbird, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Ruby-throated Hummingbird

    Regular visitor · most common in August

    Eats: sugar water (1:4)

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

  5. Baltimore Oriole, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Baltimore Oriole

    Occasional visitor · most common in May

    Eats: oranges, grape jelly, sugar water

    Photo: Dmitry Mozzherin / iNaturalist, CC BY

  6. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Rose-breasted Grosbeak

    Occasional visitor · most common in September

    Eats: black oil sunflower, safflower, fruit

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers in District of Columbia

6 woodpecker species are reported regularly in District of Columbia. Downy Woodpecker and Red-bellied Woodpecker are the ones most often seen. All of them come for suet – a suet cage with a tail-prop panel also works for the larger species.

Which suet to use and when →

  1. Downy Woodpecker2.3%
  2. Red-bellied Woodpecker2.3%
  3. Northern Flicker1.7%
  4. Pileated Woodpecker0.7%
  5. Hairy Woodpecker0.7%
  6. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker0.4%
  1. Downy Woodpecker, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Downy Woodpecker

    Everyday visitor · most common in January

    Eats: suet, peanuts

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

  2. Red-bellied Woodpecker, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Everyday visitor · most common in September

    Eats: suet, peanuts, sunflower

    Photo: Michael / iNaturalist, CC BY

  3. Northern Flicker, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Northern Flicker

    Everyday visitor · most common in September

    Eats: suet, peanuts

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

  4. Pileated Woodpecker, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Pileated Woodpecker

    Regular visitor · most common in September

    Eats: suet

    Photo: tsaiproject / iNaturalist, CC BY

  5. Hairy Woodpecker, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Hairy Woodpecker

    Occasional visitor · most common in September

    Eats: suet, peanuts, sunflower

    Photo: Blake Ross / iNaturalist, CC BY

  6. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

    Regular visitor · most common in October

    Eats: suet, tree sap

    Photo: Martin Tremblay / iNaturalist, CC BY

Hummingbirds

When hummingbirds arrive and leave District of Columbia

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the main hummingbird in District of Columbia. Sightings start in April, peak in August and fade out in September.

Put a nectar feeder out by mid-April so the first arrivals find it, and keep it up until two weeks after you see the last bird – late migrants from further north still pass through.

Nectar: one part white sugar to four parts water, no red dye. Hummingbird feeders compared →

Ruby-throated Hummingbird sightings per month in District of Columbia, darkest in the peak month.

Identification

Red birds in District of Columbia

Northern Cardinal – the male is red all over with a black face; the female is tan with red on wings, tail and crest.
House Finch – males have a red head, breast and rump over brown streaks; common at seed feeders all year.
Purple Finch – males look dipped in raspberry juice, with less streaking on the flanks than a house finch.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – despite the name, the red is on the back of the head; the belly shows only a faint blush.

Bird calendar

The year at the feeder in District of Columbia

One row per bird, darkest in its strongest month.

BirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
American Robin
Northern Cardinal
European Starling
Blue Jay
Carolina Wren
House Sparrow
Mourning Dove
Song Sparrow
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Mockingbird
Tufted Titmouse
White-throated Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Common Grackle
Northern Flicker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Gray Catbird

Want the list for your own garden? Enter your ZIP code – the birds within 30 km, month by month.

Questions

Backyard birds in District of Columbia: questions

What is the most common backyard bird in District of Columbia?

The American robin. It makes up about 4.1% of all bird sightings reported in District of Columbia, and it stays all year.

What birds are in District of Columbia in winter?

Besides year-round residents such as the American robin, northern cardinal, European starling, winter brings white-throated sparrow, dark-eyed junco, yellow-rumped warbler.

What woodpeckers live in District of Columbia?

6 species are reported regularly: downy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, northern flicker, pileated woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, yellow-bellied sapsucker.

When do hummingbirds leave District of Columbia?

Ruby-throated Hummingbird sightings fade out in September. They arrive in April. Keep your feeder up for about two weeks after the last visit.

More states

Backyard birds in other states