Kansas is one state where you can spot birds all year round. Backyard birds of Kansas range from the Mountain Bluebird (least frequent) to the American Robin (most frequent).
State Bird of Kansas
In 1937, the Western Meadowlark was designated the state bird of Kansas. This bird is multicolored with its upper throat, chest and a part of the face being yellow.
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Backyard Birds of Kansas
● Over 457 bird species were spotted in this state.
● 2 bird species are labeled as extinct, 5 have been introduced to the North American continent,
and a single bird species have been extirpated. Did you know that even the 12 bird species of Kansas are considered hypothetical?
● States sharing common backyard birds of Kansas species – Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Nebraska.
Attracting Birds to Your Kansas Backyard
● Multiple feeders will attract more backyard birds.
● Use native plants of Kansas such as big bluestem, common milkweed, common ninebark to lure birds to your yard.
● If possible, design roost boxes to keep winter backyard birds warm.
● Use flowering, colorful plant species for adding a pinch of color to your yard bird space. This will allow backyard birds to notice your bird oasis easily.
Fun Bird Watching Activities for Your Backyard
Bird-watching heavily contributes to mindfulness and meditation. It also helps transform you into a better person. Here are few bird-watching activities you might consider pursuing in your Kansas backyard:
● Participate in the great backyard bird count which is conducted in the second week of February.
● Plant for these cute little angels – Create a safe, secure, and fun place for backyard birds to hang out.
● Help the backyard birds cool off by building a birdbath.
Identifying Backyard Birds
Making note of the below-mentioned 4 primary features will help you in identifying backyard birds of Kansas:
● Habitat
● Color
● Shape
● Size
Black-capped Chickadee
The Black-capped Chickadees are gray and white with a “black cap”. Chickadees are easy to attract to backyard feeders because they like seeds. The Black-capped Chickadee can be found throughout North America.
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!
European Starling
The European Starling is the most numerous songbird found throughout North America. They are an all-black bird with short tails, pointed bills, and triangular wings. Although in the winter, they are covered with white spots. European Starlings are sometimes viewed as aggressive as they run along the ground.
Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker is a black and white woodpecker. These Woodpeckers are often seen in backyards, parks, and woodlots. Woodpeckers don’t sing songs, they drum. In the winter Downy Woodpeckers like to hang out with other birds, such as the Nuthatch and Chickadee. The Downy Woodpecker can be found throughout North America.
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.
Eastern Bluebird
The Eastern Bluebird lives in the eastern United States. They live as far south as Nicaragua, Central America. Eastern Bluebirds have a royal blue back and head. Their chest is a red-brown color. Eastern Bluebirds can often be found perched somewhere high, like a power line. They enjoy eating insects, berries, and wild fruit.
Carolina Wren
The Carolina Wren has a light brown body and an upward tail. Carolina Wren is a shy bird. Though hard to see, the Carolina Wren sings many different songs and is loud! The Carolina Wren likes quiet areas. They can often be seen near piles of brush or a faraway corner of a yard. The Carolina Wren does not like the cold.
Bird Feeders that Attract Backyard Birds
The mantra of luring backyard birds via bird feeders is ‘Sunflower and corn seeds with some thistle and millet’.
Tip : Add milo if you want to attract House Sparrows.
Want to attract Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, and Chickadees? Use suet!
Final Words
We hope that now you can differentiate between various backyard birds of Kansas if these angels fly down in your yard sometimes. Fun Fact: The most commonly seen bird in this state is the Northern Cardinal!
