Who's at my feeder?

Identify by colour

Red birds at the feeder

Cardinals, finches, woodpeckers with red heads and more – the red birds that visit feeders, with how to tell them apart.

Colours you saw

  1. American Robin, a red feeder bird

    American Robin

    Brick-red chest, grey back, white eye spots.
  2. House Finch, a red feeder bird

    House Finch

    Red eyebrow, forehead, throat and chest contrasting with a brown cap
  3. Northern Cardinal, a red feeder bird

    Northern Cardinal

    Crimson red with a crest, a black face mask and a massive pinkish-red bill.
  4. Purple Finch, a red feeder bird

    Purple Finch

    Chunky finch washed with old-rose red on the head and foreparts, without dark side stripes.
  5. Red-headed Woodpecker, a red feeder bird

    Red-headed Woodpecker

    Solid black, white and red: all-red head and big white wing patches.
  6. Cassin's Finch, a red feeder bird

    Cassin's Finch

    Sharply defined red cap and paler pink chest
  7. Goldfinch, a red feeder bird

    Goldfinch

    Red face, black-and-white head, warm brown back and black-and-yellow wings.
  8. Red-crested Cardinal, a red feeder bird

    Red-crested Cardinal

    Red head, bib and short crest, white underparts and a grey back, wings and tail.
  9. Downy Woodpecker, a black feeder bird

    Downy Woodpecker

    White back, striped face, very short stubby bill, black bars on white outer tail feathers
  10. Red-winged Blackbird, a black feeder bird

    Red-winged Blackbird

    Black with red shoulder patches (epaulets), usually bordered with yellow.
  11. Chipping Sparrow, a brown feeder bird

    Chipping Sparrow

    Chestnut cap, white eyebrow and black eyeline in summer.
  12. Hairy Woodpecker, a black feeder bird

    Hairy Woodpecker

    Black and white with a white back patch, bill nearly as long as its head, clean white outer tail
  13. Pileated Woodpecker, a black feeder bird

    Pileated Woodpecker

    Very large, mostly black with a red crest and white neck stripe
  14. Red-bellied Woodpecker, a black feeder bird

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Black-and-white barred back, buffy face and chest
  15. Ruby-throated Hummingbird, a green feeder bird

    Ruby-throated Hummingbird

    Metallic green back and an iridescent ruby throat that looks black in most light
  16. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a black feeder bird

    Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

    Black-and-white face, red forehead cap, red throat, white wing stripe and a pale yellow wash on the belly.
  17. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a black feeder bird

    Rose-breasted Grosbeak

    Black head and back, white belly, rosy triangle on the chest and big white wing spots.
  18. Fox Sparrow, a brown feeder bird

    Fox Sparrow

    Large sparrow with heavy triangular spots below
  19. Brown Thrasher, a brown feeder bird

    Brown Thrasher

    Rufous-brown above, striped below, with a long tail and yellow eyes.
  20. American Tree Sparrow, a brown feeder bird

    American Tree Sparrow

    Rusty cap, two-toned bill, dark chest spot and two white wing bars.
  21. Redpoll, a brown feeder bird

    Redpoll

    Small streaky finch with a red forehead, black chin and yellow bill
  22. Rufous Hummingbird, a orange feeder bird

    Rufous Hummingbird

    Bright coppery-rufous above with a throat that shines red.
  23. Anna's Hummingbird, a green feeder bird

    Anna's Hummingbird

    Green with a rose-red throat and crown that can look black or gold.
  24. Pine Grosbeak, a pink feeder bird

    Pine Grosbeak

    Large pink-and-grey finch with a stubby black bill and two white wing bars.
  25. Broad-tailed Hummingbird, a green feeder bird

    Broad-tailed Hummingbird

    Rose throat, green back and sides
  26. Painted Bunting, a blue feeder bird

    Painted Bunting

    Blue head, bright green back and red throat, chest and rump.
  27. Acorn Woodpecker, a black feeder bird

    Acorn Woodpecker

    Clown-faced: black above and on the chest, red cap, strong face pattern and white eyes.
  28. Bullfinch, a pink feeder bird

    Bullfinch

    Pinkish-red breast and cheeks, grey back, black cap and tail and a bright white rump.
  29. Great Spotted Woodpecker, a black feeder bird

    Great Spotted Woodpecker

    Black and white with red under the tail
  30. Ladder-backed Woodpecker, a black feeder bird

    Ladder-backed Woodpecker

    Black-and-white 'ladder' barring on the back and wings, cream underparts
  31. Redwing, a brown feeder bird

    Redwing

    Creamy eyebrow and orange-red flank patches.
  32. Robin, a orange feeder bird

    Robin

    Red breast and brown back.
  33. Green Woodpecker, a green feeder bird

    Green Woodpecker

    Green above, paler below, yellow rump, red crown and a black moustache with a red centre.
  34. Pyrrhuloxia, a gray feeder bird

    Pyrrhuloxia

    Grey and red with a spiky crest and a thick, curved, stubby yellow bill.
  35. Ring-necked Parakeet, a green feeder bird

    Ring-necked Parakeet

    Pale green parakeet with a very long pointed tail, red bill, black chin and a black-and-pink collar.
  36. Broad-billed Hummingbird, a blue feeder bird

    Broad-billed Hummingbird

    Dark blue-green with a red-based bill
  37. Gila Woodpecker, a brown feeder bird

    Gila Woodpecker

    Black-and-white barred back, wings and tail
  38. Nuttall's Woodpecker, a black feeder bird

    Nuttall's Woodpecker

    Black back with narrow white barring and thin white face stripes

Red heads

Birds with red heads

Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Redpoll, Cassin's Finch, Acorn Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Red-crested Cardinal – mostly woodpeckers, where often only the male shows red on the head.

Questions

Red birds: questions

What red birds come to feeders?

American Robin, House Finch, Northern Cardinal, Purple Finch, Red-headed Woodpecker, Cassin's Finch, Goldfinch, Red-crested Cardinal.

Why does the bird look duller than in the photos?

Many species show their brightest colours only in adult males in spring and summer; females, young birds and winter plumage are often duller.

How do I find out which red birds live near me?

Choose your state or UK nation in the filter above, or enter your ZIP code on the home page for the birds within 30 km.

By colour

Identify birds by colour