Many Wild Birds Head North as Part of Spring Migration

More than 300 bird species found in the United States and Canada spend the winter in South and Central America. As the seasons change, they know it’s time to travel to their summer breeding grounds, where they’ll find the right food and nesting materials to bring a new brood into the world. Many of these trips span more than 7,000 miles and some involve flying nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico. 

Backyard bird watchers enjoy each spring’s migration because it brings a wide variety of species to their feeders. Throughout their journey, migrating birds are on the lookout for places to rest and refuel. Some stay in an area for a few days while they prepare to travel farther north. Others stay all season and will nest in the area. By providing a source of fresh water and food and having a backyard habitat that gives birds plenty of places where they can rest, birds will be able to build up the energy they need for successful migration.

 

Baltimore Oriole

Orioles build their sack-like nests very high in trees, preferring sycamore trees. They can be attracted easily during migration, but more difficult to attract once they have established their nesting site.

Where You'll See Them:

Sitting at the very tops of trees, scanning the area for food and predators

Favorite Feeder:

Nectar feeders, jelly feeders, or cup feeders

Favorite Food:

Nectar or orange slices

 

Brown Thrasher

These beautiful brown birds are cousins to the American Robin. They love to sing and the males have the largest song catalog of any bird.

Where You'll See Them:

Hopping around on the ground or hanging out in dense shrubbery

Favorite Feeder:

Ground tray feeder or simply on the ground under your feeder cleaning up other birds' messes

Favorite Food:

Mealworms, dried fruit, and Bark Butter Bits

 

Eastern Towhee

These birds have a distinctive call that sounds like they're telling you to "Drink your tea!" Males are black and white with orange sides while females are brown and white with orange sides.

Where You'll See Them:

Hopping backwards through leaf litter to uncover bugs and grubs

Favorite Feeder:

Tray feeders and hopper feeders

Favorite Food:

White Millet or blends that include it like No Mess LM Blend and Deluxe Blend

 

House Wren

These birds are well known for being long-winded songsters. They will sing from dawn until dusk during the mating season, sometimes annoying other birds as well as their human landlords!

Where You'll See Them:

Investigating multiple nesting sites and building twiggy platforms

Favorite Feeder:

Trays, dishes, or other open-air feeders

Favorite Food:

Mealworms, dried fruit, and Bark Butter Bits

 

Indigo Bunting

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

These neon birds always return to the same nesting sites year after year. They are not actually blue, but rather iridescent black birds that appear blue when the sun hits them.

Where You'll See Them:

Exploring woodland edges, often in small flocks

Favorite Feeder:

Hopper feeders, tube feeders, and tray feeders

Favorite Food:  

White Millet or blends that include it like No Mess LM Blend and Deluxe Blend, mealworms

 

Red-breasted Grosbeak

This cousin to the cardinal has many of the same habits, including traveling in mated pairs. We typically see them for a couple weeks in the spring and fall as they move to their nesting sites.

Where You'll See Them:

Chowing down at your feeders

Favorite Feeder:

Hopper feeders, tube feeders, and tray feeders

Favorite Food:

Safflower, Premium Oil Sunflower, and sunflower chips

 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The only hummingbird native to Indiana, ruby-throated hummingbirds typically arrive in Indiana in mid-April. Their activity peaks in late summer after they finish nesting and begin to prepare to migrate back South.

Where You'll See Them:

Fluttering around your flowers or flying through your hose mist

Favorite Feeder:

High-perch hummingbird feeders

Favorite Food:

Nectar and flowers