One of the first signs of Spring across the U.S. is the change of bird song drifting in the canopy, heralding the arrival of spring birds. Birds will chip and tweet throughout the winter, but as early as mid-February they announce the imminent breeding season through drawn-out songs and whistles.
In my area, the tufted titmouse is one of the early spring birds to first announce the season’s imminent arrival. They start singing a lofty tune around early February. Once I hear them singing from the tops of trees, excitement swells in my heart, for I know the long winter will soon end.
When you hear the change in birdsong, it isn’t long before the southern migratory spring birds arrive. These spring birds are sure signs the new season, and with their arrival comes the promise of warm weather and lengthening days. Keep your bird feeders clean and stocked, set out a bird bath and perhaps a bird house, and you’ll be sure to invite some migratory birds into your backyard.
US Birds to Look Out for in Your Backyards This Spring
The spring birds that may appear in your backyard this year depend on your region. Here in central Michigan, I can rely on the Red-winged blackbird and common grackle to be among the first arrivals. However, the first birds to arrive in your area might be different than mine.
Many migratory birds winter in the far south, so it’s common for spring arrivals in the northern United States to be wintering birds in the south. The south is also the first place for birds who winter in the tropics to arrive.
BirdCast, a radar data analysis that tracks nighttime bird migration, reveals peak migration weeks across the country. Based on their tracking results over several years, these are the peak dates for each region:
- The Gulf states and parts of California: April 21st-May 2nd
- Southern States, Central Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest: May 3-14th
- Great Lakes region, Northern Plains, and Northeast: May 15th-21st
The best way to know which birds arrive in your area is to keep a watchful eye at your bird feeder and to keep an attentive ear to various bird songs. Sometimes, you’ll hear a new bird species before you actually see it. I also recommend going on daily walks at a local natural area and pay attention to the shifts in bird activity.
This year, I’ve been keeping track of the season’s changes by writing what I noticed on my calendar. For instance, I heard a nighthawk on March 5th and saw the first red-winged blackbird at my feeder on March 8th. During that week, I also noticed that resident birds were starting to pair off for breeding, such as Canada geese, mourning doves, and European starlings.
Noticing little changes in behavior is a wonderful way to be in tune with the season and become more knowledgeable about the local birds in your area. I would love to read some of the changes you’ve noticed, such as which spring birds are the first to arrive at your feeder. If you’re not sure, the following list of spring birds will help you know where to start.
As we dive into each spring bird species, I’ll cover their migratory pattern and when that bird may arrive in your area. That way, you can prepare for their window of arrival, and you won’t miss their beautiful plumage or enticing melodies.
American Robin (Most Common Spring Birds)
Although often seen as spring birds, American robins are considered a residential species and stay in their breeding range year-round. However, they are still a sign of spring because many robins fly to southern states during the winter, and the robins that stay around aren’t as active in lawns or backyards. Rather, they stick to the tree canopy or dense shrubs, relatively out of sight.
In this way, flocks of robins hopping around on the ground looking for worms and insects are a joyous sign of spring. Plus, around mid-February to early March, they’ll start perching at the tops of trees and sing rich caroling notes in the morning and evening. These delightful melodies will last through the warm season into early Autumn.
Red-Winged Blackbird
Red-winged blackbirds are a year-round resident in the South and parts of the West. However, red-winged blackbirds are one of the first spring birds to arrive in the Midwest and Northern United States. In the Great Lakes region and Northeast, they arrive mid-February to early March.
Red-winged blackbirds’ preferred nesting habitat is wetland areas where cattails are abundant. As such, make sure to visit your local wetland areas, and remember you might hear them before you see them! Considering this, make sure to familiarize yourself with their rich and musical calls.
They will visit bird feeders if it’s near their nesting habitat. Because they often fly in flocks together, common grackles will also arrive around the same time as red-winged blackbirds.
Purple Martin (Early Spring Birds)
If you’re lucky, purple martins may visit your backyard bird feeder as they migrate from South America to their northern breeding ground. These early spring birds arrive in the southern United States as soon as mid-January and can reach New England around mid-April.
Purple Martins predominantly breed in the Midwest to the East Coast where they almost exclusively nest in specialty purple martin birdhouses. They are rare in the west where they prefer old woodpecker cavity nests.
As the largest North American swallow, purple martins are beautiful and unique birds to attract to your backyard. Their numbers are in decline, which makes it even more critical for birders in the east to provide bird houses for this species.
Tree Swallow
According to Audubon fieldguide, “[tree swallows] migrate north relatively early in spring,” arriving in the southern United States in late January to early February. They steadily make their way north and can reach the northernmost parts of the U.S. by March or April.
Tree swallows are one of the easiest birds to attract to a bird house. Because of this, you can invite them to your backyard by setting up a cavity bird house.
House Wren
The house wren is a delightful springtime visitor to backyards across the United States. House wrens winter in the southern states and migrate to northern breeding grounds which span across much of the United States. They arrive from late March to early May.
These little birds love brush piles and dense foliage. If you have shrubs in your backyard, they may stop by for a visit. If you wish to attract a breeding pair to live in your backyard for the season, consider setting up a bird house.
Indigo Bunting (Most Beautiful Spring Birds)
The Indigo Bunting is a wonder to behold. In the spring, you can attract these beautiful dark blue birds to backyard bird feeders as they migrate to breeding grounds.
Wintering in Central America, Indigo Buntings migrate to the United States and southern Canada to breed. They arrive in the southern states around the end of April and in the northern states from late May to early June.
Indigo buntings are common from the Midwest to the East Coast and are much less common in the West.
Orioles (Most Colorful Spring Bird)
Orioles are brightly-colored birds whose arrival marks the height of Spring. The Baltimore oriole is the easiest backyard species to spot compared to the other, more conspicuous orioles (such as the Orchard oriole). This striking bird arrives in the Eastern and Central United States from early April to late May.
The western counterpart to the Baltimore oriole is the Bullock’s oriole. This oriole is common in cottonwood tree stands throughout the west during the breeding season.
Leave fresh orange halves or grape jelly out and you’ll likely attract these common orioles to your backyard. You can even purchase oriole bird feeders that provide sweet nectar water.
Grosbeaks
As strikingly beautiful birds with equally impressive songs, grosbeaks signal that spring is here to stay. While there are a few species across North America, the spring species to pay attention to are the Rose-breasted grosbeak, the Blue grosbeak, and the Black-headed grosbeak.
Rose-breasted grosbeaks are a treasure to the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes region, and New England. They frequent bird feeders and will stick around your backyard if there are plenty of trees nearby. They arrive at their northern breeding grounds in early to mid-May.
The blue grosbeak shares a similar range to the Rose-breasted grosbeak but tends to breed farther south. In the west, keep a lookout for the black-headed grosbeak. When I lived in Oregon, a breeding pair visited my feeder, and the beautiful orange and black male gifted us with a lovely song day after day.
Warblers
We can’t talk about spring birds without mentioning the many warblers that migrate across North America. These cheerful little birds love to visit backyards and dense shrubs. However, you might miss them if you don’t keep a lookout! Warblers move quickly through areas, but if you have a variety of native plants and shrubs, they’ll likely come again.
Some of the more common spring warblers to see in your backyard this spring include the yellow warbler, Wilson’s warbler, common yellowthroat, American redstart, and the Magnolia warbler. What warblers have you seen in your area?
Additional Spring Birds to Look Out For
Spring is a joyous time for birders across the U.S. as millions of birds migrate to breeding grounds. Audubon writers Dr. Jeff Wells and Dr. Fritz Reid remark:
“We all anticipate the return of migrant birds each spring. Their arrival is a fundamental reiteration of the great cycles of nature and Earth. The days will get longer. Warmth will come again. Snow storms will be replaced by rain. The grass will turn green. The trees will become clothed in leaves. It makes us thankful every spring.”
I couldn’t agree more, and the birds listed above are just a few of the millions of spring birds migrating across the country. In addition to the birds listed above, keep an eye out for hummingbirds, thrushes, kinglets, and sparrows.
These birds might stop by if you have a backyard with native plants and shrubs, a stocked birdfeeder, and a bird bath. Plus, take frequent trips to local nature preserves, wetlands, and lakes so you can see spring birds that aren’t likely to visit your feeder.
Quick Reference: US Spring Birds to Look Out for in Your Backyard
- American Robin
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Purple Martin
- Tree Swallow
- House Wren
- Indigo Bunting
- Orioles
- Grosbeaks
- Warblers
- Hummingbirds
- Thrushes
- Kinglets
- Sparrows
Which Spring Birds Have You Seen in Your Backyard?
How many spring birds on this list have you spotted in your backyard? Are there any birds that frequent your feeder you didn’t see on this list?
Because of all the different species migrating across North America, you’ll likely have some visitors not mentioned here. Let us know in the comments below; we’d love to hear from you!
