These are the most beautiful birds that you will see only in our country!
Birds are nature’s wonders, and it’s so fascinating to watch them fly because, despite their size, they’re incredibly fast and forceful. One of the best things about them is that they can be found everywhere, even in the world’s coldest places! I don’t know about you, but I think it’s amazing just looking at the birds that I see in the park, outside my windows at work, or in the front yard of my house.
Few people can recognize birds, even though they are everywhere. Therefore, in today’s post, I’ll introduce you to a couple of stunning birds that are unique to our nation and so widespread that you might say, “Oh, I recognize this one!”
Ready to fly away alongside birds and find some of the cutest facts about them? Let’s start!
Blue Jay
I will start the list with the one and only Blue Jay, an incredibly tiny bird that can be spotted only in America. The blue jay weighs 3.5 ounces, has a wingspan of 17 inches, and is about 12 inches long from bill to tail. Its potent blue plumage makes it almost impossible to miss, so if you’ve never seen a Blue Jay before, besides this picture, you will most certainly recognize one if you see it in real life.
If we can easily talk about other birds’ migration, when it comes to the Blue Jay, things are a bit fuzzy. Although many adults migrate as well, young jays may migrate more frequently than adults. Individual jays may migrate south one year, spend the following winter in the north, and then migrate south once more the following year. Apparently, after years of studying them, nobody knows why they migrated at that time.
While some species may live up to ten or fifteen years in controlled settings, blue jays can only live around seven years in the wild. Although they appear to be innocent, Blue Jays are among those birds that seek other birds’ nests to steal. Yep, they’re too lazy to make their own.
Furthermore, people from Florida who are more familiar with these beautiful birds can agree they’re also very loud; their yell resembles hawks.
Black-billed Magpie
Another bird that’s native to America is the black-billed magpie. Known for its iridescent feathers, long tail, white breast, and black head and back, this large bird is a “staple” of the West side of the country. In both urban and rural settings, you can spot magpies since they frequently show around open spaces in search of food. The Black-billed Magpie is not a picky eater; it eats a wide variety of foods, including carcasses, small rodents, grasshoppers, and beetles.
Compared to the Blue Jay, these beautiful birds are very good at making massive nests that can measure somewhere around three feet in diameter. I want to compare them with an old handmade bushel basket. The most fascinating part of this nest-building process is that the magpies also make tiny openings for entry and departure.
American Robin
It’s not that Robin from DC’s Batman series, but a bird native to America known worldwide. Compared to other birds on the list, this one can be spotted in every state in the lower 48, Alaska, and almost every Canadian province. Easy to recognize from far away due to their orange plumage on the belly with shades of grey on the back.
From cities and towns to parks and forests, robins can be seen running upright across lawns and meadows in search of worms. Their rich, throaty songs are a constant delight in our everyday lives.
Dark-eyed Junco
These birds are so tiny and kind of hard to spot, especially if they sit on a twig, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you told me you never saw a dark-eyed Junco before. Also known as “snowbirds” because they seem to like the weather when the temperature drops, from the high mountains and boreal forests of the North, juncos are a widespread winter visitor to nearly every part of the United States.
Although they are common in backyards, where they frolic under feeders, foraging, and consuming spilled seeds, they prefer mixed woods and coniferous habitats. Although there are a few distinct subspecies of the junco that differ geographically, the eastern version of the bird—the dark-eyed one above—has a white belly and a slate head and back.
Their humming is so sharp that if they’re near your windows, especially during the morning, you might wake up instantly.
Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal is probably one of the most beautiful birds living in America at this moment. Compared to other birds from the list, the male Northern Cardinal is the one that possesses the red soft plumage, like the one that you can see in the picture, but the females are also pretty with tawny soft feathers.
Cardinals can be found at feeders and in mixed habitats across the East and portions of the Southwest, and they frequently travel in pairs. The northern cardinal is among the few bird species that mate for life!
Mourning Dove
The Mourning Dove, the most common dove in North America, is a ground feeder that can be easily scared and found in almost any open habitat, including cities and woodlands. Same as other beautiful birds from the list, Mourning Doves aren’t picky eaters; whenever they see a source of food, you will see them quickly grabbing whatever they find and carefully storing everything in a throat pouch. Afterward, they will fly to a safe place to munch on what they’ve found.
If you spot one near your neighborhood, take a moment to observe the light-blue eye-ring, dark spots on the wings, sharp, pointed tail, and consistent brown-gray coloring. These doves are also easily recognized by their mournful humming, which is frequently confused with an owl’s hoots.
Tufted Titmouse
I have chosen to end my list of beautiful birds that you will see only in America with the tufted titmouse. This little fellow with a spiky crest measures 6 inches tall, and it can be easily seen in the mixed forests of the East. If you’re anywhere near a tufted titmouse, take a moment to observe the splash of black above the beak and the rust-colored wash beneath the wings.
You’re probably curious about the name etymology, and you’re thinking it may have a connection with mice, but in reality, titmouse is an old English word for small. Isn’t this cute? Plus, it fits like a glove for the cute bird.
There is one tiny detail that I particularly like about the tufted titmouse: its humming sounds like the bird is trying to call a guy named “Peter” three times. It is unmistakable, and no other bird does it!
Did this article manage to pique your interest in birds? Then I have a great book recommendation for you! The National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America, 2nd Edition, printed only in paperback, is available on Amazon for just $15.78. Initially, it was sold for $21.99, but now it has a discount, so you might want to hurry up if you want to grab a copy. Why this book? It’s a fascinating guide that also has a ton of lively colored pictures of these beautiful birds together with some facts about each of them.
Are you new around here? Greetings and welcome! If you liked reading this article that sparked your curiosity about other wildlife facts, then you might want to check out 5 Best Places for Wildlife Spotting in America.
