Who's at my feeder?

Identify by colour

Small brown birds at the feeder

Sparrows, wrens, female finches and dunnocks – how to identify the small brown birds at your feeder.

Colours you saw

  1. Chipping Sparrow, a brown feeder bird

    Chipping Sparrow

    Chestnut cap, white eyebrow and black eyeline in summer.
  2. Pine Siskin, a brown feeder bird

    Pine Siskin

    Brown with heavy streaking and yellow edging in the wings and tail.
  3. Carolina Wren, a brown feeder bird

    Carolina Wren

    Chestnut above, butterscotch below, with a bold white eyebrow.
  4. Redpoll, a brown feeder bird

    Redpoll

    Small streaky finch with a red forehead, black chin and yellow bill
  5. Bewick's Wren, a brown feeder bird

    Bewick's Wren

    Dull brown above, pale grey below, white eyebrow and a long tail.
  6. Brown-headed Nuthatch, a brown feeder bird

    Brown-headed Nuthatch

    Brown cap down to the eye, white nape spot, grey back.
  7. Chestnut-backed Chickadee, a brown feeder bird

    Chestnut-backed Chickadee

    Sooty brown cap, black bib, white cheeks and rich chestnut back and sides.
  8. Tree Sparrow, a brown feeder bird

    Tree Sparrow

    Chestnut crown, black cheek spot on a white cheek and a small black bib.
  9. Dunnock, a brown feeder bird

    Dunnock

    Small brown and grey bird with a streaked brown back and a thin bill.
  10. Wren, a brown feeder bird

    Wren

    Tiny, almost round chestnut-brown bird with a fine bill and a short tail often held upright.
  11. Boreal Chickadee, a brown feeder bird

    Boreal Chickadee

    Brown cap, brown sides and a dusky wash on the cheeks.
  12. Scaly-breasted Munia, a brown feeder bird

    Scaly-breasted Munia

    Brown upperparts, dark brown head, stubby dark bill and a scaly-patterned breast.
  13. House Finch, a red feeder bird

    House Finch

    Red eyebrow, forehead, throat and chest contrasting with a brown cap
  14. Rufous Hummingbird, a orange feeder bird

    Rufous Hummingbird

    Bright coppery-rufous above with a throat that shines red.
  15. Bushtit, a gray feeder bird

    Bushtit

    Tiny plain grey-brown bird with a small bill and long tail
  16. Pygmy Nuthatch, a gray feeder bird

    Pygmy Nuthatch

    Grey-brown cap down to the eye, white nape spot, grey back.
  17. Goldfinch, a red feeder bird

    Goldfinch

    Red face, black-and-white head, warm brown back and black-and-yellow wings.
  18. Robin, a orange feeder bird

    Robin

    Red breast and brown back.
  19. Oak Titmouse, a gray feeder bird

    Oak Titmouse

    Grey or brownish-grey with a very plain face and a short crest.

Questions

Small brown birds: questions

What small brown birds come to feeders?

Chipping Sparrow, Pine Siskin, Carolina Wren, Redpoll, Bewick's Wren, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Tree Sparrow.

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 small brown 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