Who's at my feeder?

Backyard birds by state

Backyard birds of Maine

The birds that visit feeders in Maine, when they come and what they eat – counted from 9.6 million bird sightings reported across Maine from 2019 to 2024.

  • 26year-round residents
  • 5winter visitors
  • 13summer visitors
Black-capped Chickadee – the most common of the backyard birds in Maine
Photo Blake Ross / iNaturalist, CC BY

All year

Year-round backyard birds in Maine

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

  1. Black-capped Chickadee, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Black-capped Chickadee

    Everyday visitor · most common in February

    Eats: sunflower hearts, suet

    Photo: Blake Ross / iNaturalist, CC BY

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

    Blue Jay

    Everyday visitor · most common in November

    Eats: peanuts, sunflower, corn

    Photo: Judy Gallagher / iNaturalist, CC BY

  3. American Goldfinch, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    American Goldfinch

    Everyday visitor · most common in August

    Eats: nyjer, sunflower hearts

    Photo: lwolfartist / iNaturalist, CC BY

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

    Song Sparrow

    Everyday visitor · most common in April

    Eats: millet, sunflower hearts

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

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

    Mourning Dove

    Everyday visitor · most common in March

    Eats: millet, cracked corn, sunflower

    Photo: Timothy Lindsey / iNaturalist, CC BY

  6. White-breasted Nuthatch, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    White-breasted Nuthatch

    Everyday visitor · most common in February

    Eats: sunflower, suet, peanuts

    Photo: Judy Gallagher / iNaturalist, CC BY

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

    Northern Cardinal

    Everyday visitor · most common in March

    Eats: black oil sunflower, safflower

    Photo: Michael / iNaturalist, CC BY

  8. 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

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

    American Robin

    Everyday visitor · most common in April

    Eats: fruit, mealworms

    Photo: Judy Gallagher / iNaturalist, CC BY

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

    Downy Woodpecker

    Everyday visitor · most common in February

    Eats: suet, peanuts

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

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

    Dark-eyed Junco

    Regular visitor · most common in February

    Eats: millet, sunflower hearts

    Photo: Becky Matsubara / iNaturalist, CC BY

  12. Red-breasted Nuthatch, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Red-breasted Nuthatch

    Regular visitor · most common in February

    Eats: sunflower hearts, suet

    Photo: Matt Felperin / iNaturalist, CC BY

Oct – Apr

Winter birds of Maine

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. American Tree Sparrow, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    American Tree Sparrow

    Occasional visitor · most common in December

    Eats: millet, sunflower hearts

    Photo: Mary Krieger / iNaturalist, CC BY

  2. Pine Siskin, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Pine Siskin

    Occasional visitor · most common in March

    Eats: nyjer, sunflower hearts

    Photo: fishhawk / iNaturalist, CC BY

  3. Redpoll, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Redpoll

    Occasional visitor · most common in February

    Eats: nyjer

    Photo: egorbirder / iNaturalist, CC BY

  4. Pine Grosbeak, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Pine Grosbeak

    Occasional visitor · most common in January

    Eats: black oil sunflower

    Photo: Richard Littauer / iNaturalist, CC BY

  5. White-crowned Sparrow, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    White-crowned Sparrow

    Occasional visitor · most common in October

    Eats: millet, sunflower hearts

    Photo: Mike Baird / iNaturalist, CC BY

Mar – Oct

Summer visitors

These birds spend spring and summer in Maine and winter further south.

  1. Red-winged Blackbird, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Red-winged Blackbird

    Everyday visitor · most common in April

    Eats: sunflower, cracked corn

    Photo: Matt Felperin / iNaturalist, CC BY

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

    Gray Catbird

    Regular visitor · most common in September

    Eats: fruit, jelly, mealworms

    Photo: kirk gardner / iNaturalist, CC BY

  3. Chipping Sparrow, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Chipping Sparrow

    Regular visitor · most common in May

    Eats: millet, sunflower hearts

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

  4. Common Grackle, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Common Grackle

    Regular visitor · most common in April

    Eats: cracked corn, sunflower

    Photo: Shaun Coleman / iNaturalist, CC BY

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

    Yellow-rumped Warbler

    Regular visitor · most common in October

    Eats: suet, mealworms

    Photo: Willem Span / iNaturalist, CC BY

  6. Cedar Waxwing, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Cedar Waxwing

    Regular visitor · most common in August

    Eats: berries, dried fruit

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

  7. 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

  8. Pine Warbler, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Pine Warbler

    Regular visitor · most common in April

    Eats: suet, sunflower hearts

    Photo: Dan Vickers / iNaturalist, CC BY

Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers in Maine

6 woodpecker species are reported regularly in Maine. Downy Woodpecker and Hairy 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 Woodpecker2.0%
  2. Hairy Woodpecker1.4%
  3. Red-bellied Woodpecker0.7%
  4. Northern Flicker0.6%
  5. Pileated Woodpecker0.5%
  6. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker0.3%
  1. Downy Woodpecker, one of the backyard birds that visit feeders

    Downy Woodpecker

    Everyday visitor · most common in February

    Eats: suet, peanuts

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

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

    Hairy Woodpecker

    Regular visitor · most common in February

    Eats: suet, peanuts, sunflower

    Photo: Blake Ross / iNaturalist, CC BY

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

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Regular visitor · most common in December

    Eats: suet, peanuts, sunflower

    Photo: Michael / iNaturalist, CC BY

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

    Northern Flicker

    Regular visitor · most common in September

    Eats: suet, peanuts

    Photo: iNaturalist, CC0

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

    Pileated Woodpecker

    Occasional visitor · most common in March

    Eats: suet

    Photo: tsaiproject / iNaturalist, CC BY

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

    Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

    Occasional visitor · most common in April

    Eats: suet, tree sap

    Photo: Martin Tremblay / iNaturalist, CC BY

Hummingbirds

When hummingbirds arrive and leave Maine

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the main hummingbird in Maine. Sightings start in May, peak in August and fade out in September.

Put a nectar feeder out by mid-May 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 Maine, darkest in the peak month.

Identification

Red birds in Maine

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.
Pine Grosbeak – a large, plump finch of the North; males are rosy red with grey flanks.

Bird calendar

The year at the feeder in Maine

One row per bird, darkest in its strongest month.

BirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Mourning Dove
White-breasted Nuthatch
Northern Cardinal
Tufted Titmouse
American Robin
Downy Woodpecker
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Hairy Woodpecker
White-throated Sparrow
House Finch
European Starling
Eastern Bluebird
Red-winged Blackbird

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

Questions

Backyard birds in Maine: questions

What is the most common backyard bird in Maine?

The black-capped chickadee. It makes up about 4.5% of all bird sightings reported in Maine, and it stays all year.

What birds are in Maine in winter?

Besides year-round residents such as the black-capped chickadee, blue jay, American goldfinch, winter brings American tree sparrow, pine siskin, redpoll.

What woodpeckers live in Maine?

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

When do hummingbirds leave Maine?

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

More states

Backyard birds in other states