Backyard Birds of Iowa

The state of Iowa has many beautiful bird species. Backyard birds of Iowa include a number of species from the Yellow-headed Blackbird (least frequent) to the Black-capped Chickadee (most frequent).

State Bird of Iowa

In 1933, the American Goldfinch was adopted and declared the state bird of Iowa. One can witness an American Goldfinch often in this state. This yellow color bird remains in the Iowa state throughout the winters and features a black tail and wings.

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Backyard Birds of Iowa

● Over 428 bird species were recorded in this area.

● 3 bird species are extinct, 8 have been introduced to the North American continent, and a single bird species have been extirpated.


● States sharing common bird species – Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

Attracting Birds to Your Iowa Backyard

● Did you know birds that feel safer in a natural shelter? Native plants of Iowa such as butterfly milkweed and Canadian wild ginger provide the backyard birds with the perfect nesting place for raising their offsprings and protection against predators.

● Moving water attracts the attention of backyard birds.

● These little angels love seed-producing plants.

Fun Bird Watching Activities for Your Backyard

Bird-watching not only enhances your physical fitness but reduces stress as well. Stating simply, “more birds = less anxiety and depression”

These exciting bird-watching activities will help you to increase your knowledge about the backyard birds and their daily routine/activities:

● Great backyard bird count activity.


● Collect the feathers of the bird in your yard and identify the specific bird it belongs to.

● Build a nest for your backyard birds.

Identifying Backyard Birds

Here are some useful tips that will help you in identifying backyard birds:


● Don’t rely on books as birds don’t necessarily always look alike as printed in them.


● Use your ears to identify the calls, songs, and noises made by a particular backyard bird of Iowa.


Tip: If you notice something extremely exotic-looking, it may not be wild. Look out for fugitives on the run!

Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal is one of the most popular birds because of its vibrant red color. The Cardinal is also known for its sweet song, which can be heard early in the morning. Northern Cardinals can be found mainly in the Eastern half of the United States. Cardinals like to visit bird feeders and eat sunflower seeds. The Cardinal is the state bird of seven states!

Red-winged Blackbird

The Red-winged Blackbird can be found throughout North America, near marshes and other wetlands. Red-winged Blackbirds are black with a red and yellow patch on their shoulders. These Blackbirds prefer to feed on seeds and grain off the ground. Their song is one of the first signs of spring.

Cooper’s Hawk

The Cooper’s Hawk is a common woodland hawk found throughout North America. They feed on small birds. The Cooper’s Hawk is blue-gray with a reddish-brown underpart. Cooper’s Hawks are smaller than most hawks but still just as fast.

Tufted Titmouse

The Tufted Titmouse is a small gray bird with big black eyes. They have an echoing voice. The Titmouse enjoys visiting backyard feeders and enjoy sunflower seeds. The Tufted Titmouse nest in natural holes and cavities usually left by Woodpeckers.

Pine Siskin

The Pine Siskin is found throughout North America. Pine Siskins are small songbirds with pointed bills and a short tail. They are brown birds with yellow on their wings and tails. Pine Siskins can be found in pine trees looking for seeds, sometimes even hanging upside down.

White-breasted Nuthatch

The White-breasted Nuthatch is white but also has black and gray markings. These Nuthatches are active and enjoy eating insects and large seeds. The White-breasted Nuthatch is a small bird with a loud voice. The White-breasted Nuthatch can be found throughout North American, near deciduous trees.

Northern Flicker

The Northern Flicker is a large Woodpecker with a brown body. The Northern Flicker eat mainly ants and beetles. They walk around the edge of wooded areas. The Northern Flicker nests in small holes in trees much like other Woodpeckers. These birds can be found throughout North America.

Bird Feeders that Attract Backyard Birds

If you spread safflower or sunflower seeds on platform feeders, it might attract a variety of backyard birds such as Grosbeaks, Cardinals, Nuthatches, and Chickadees. Finches can be lured by putting Nyjer seeds in specially designed tubes.

Final Words

For years, humans have been obsessed with flight and birds. If you aren’t one of them, we hope this article provided you enough reasons to move out of your room and have a look at the beautiful backyard birds of Iowa.

Ornithology

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