Autumn is a cherished season for numerous reasons, not least because it’s the ideal time to observe some stunning avian creatures. During this period, many bird species, which you might not encounter year-round, journey southward in pursuit of milder climates. We reached out to our bird specialists to discover which fall feathered friends you might spot during this migratory season. So, stock up on bird feed and refer to this expert guide to identify the feathered visitors frequenting your garden.
This season, keep a keen eye out for these charming autumn birds. Maria Kincaid, an ornithology research specialist at FeatherSnap, explains that Red-breasted Nuthatches are dainty birds with elongated, slender beaks and stubby tails. They possess a grayish back, a black cap adorned with striking white eye stripes, white cheeks, and a cinnamon-brown breast and belly.
Regarding their feeding habits, she notes that these birds are known to actively search for food on tree trunks and branches, often descending to the ground, and sit in an extremely forward posture, unlike the songbirds often seen at feeders. If you’re not quick to spot them, she suggests you might hear their unique, nasal “yank-yank” call before seeing them.
“Red-breasted Nuthatches are indigenous to North America and are also present in Canada, New England, and certain regions of the Western United States, where they favor evergreen forests rich in fir and spruce trees,” she adds. “Typically, only the most northerly populations migrate south after breeding, while the rest remain residents, a phenomenon known as partial migration.”
“Red-breasted Nuthatches are at the top of my list because this year we’re experiencing an irruptive event, with these birds being sighted further south than usual at an earlier time. This is due to the availability of food in their breeding areas,” she continues. “Due to these irruptions, predicting when these nuthatches will be found further south than usual is challenging. They have been observed in Chicago and parts of Pennsylvania since September, and could be seen as far south as central Texas.”
Purple Finches, slightly more robust than other finch species, exhibit sexual dimorphism, meaning the male and female have distinct appearances. “Both are relatively large for finches, yet still petite birds, with a notched tail and a short, conical beak,” Kincaid explains. “The male has a purplish pink hue, often likened to raspberry, on his head, neck, sides, and back, with his belly and undertail being white and unstriped.”
The females are marked with brown and white on their breast and belly, with a distinctive white eyebrow stripe and a solid brown ear patch. You’ll need to pay close attention to the details, as she points out that these birds can be challenging to differentiate from House Finches, which are widespread across the U.S.
“Purple Finches breed across Canada and in parts of the west, and are found year-round in the northeastern part of the country and around the Great Lakes, but are currently migrating south,” she says. “We’ve seen a few at some of our feeders in north Iowa. Their fall migration can begin as early as August and extend through December, with the peak occurring from September to November.”
“Similar to the Red-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finches can exhibit irruptive behavior, moving further south than normal and earlier,” she adds. “There’s a possibility we could see an irruptive year with them as well.”
Should you come across a bird resembling a cardinal’s relative, it’s likely a Cedar Waxwing. Nonetheless, these birds are not related and possess distinctive features that make them easy to recognize. Mary Mack Gray, an ornithologist and ecologist at Bird Buddy, describes the Cedar Waxwing as a striking bird with a pointed crest jutting from the back of its head, creating a unique silhouette that simplifies identification.
“Its eyes are framed by a geometric black mask that runs perpendicular to its crest in a graceful symmetry,” she says. “It also has a short white mustache, adding a dapper touch to its appearance. Set against its brown and cream plumage are its striking red wing tips and a yellow band on the tail tip.”
Cedar Waxwings are of the same size as a Robin and are often seen in flocks, foraging together, emitting high-pitched whistles as they pluck berries from loquat, cedar, and juniper trees.
She notes that their preference for berries leads them to migrate south to the southeastern U.S., where they typically overwinter. They can be found across the southern United States from October to May, though this can vary based on food availability. They are common winter residents in North Carolina through Florida, south of Ohio and the Dakotas in the mid-to-central West, and south of Northern California in the West.
“Offering pieces of fresh fruit like apples and berries, along with jelly, at your feeders will enhance your chances of seeing this handsome bird this winter,” she advises.
Harris’s Sparrows, one of the larger sparrows in North America, can be identified by their relatively long tail. “Their head and tail are predominantly brown, with streaky backs and wings, while their breast and belly are mainly white,” Kincaid explains. “This time of year, they have a brown face with a black hood-like marking. Their chin, forehead, and up through the crown are black, though the crown may have some streaks.”
However, she mentions that during their spring migration and breeding season, their facial plumage is gray, and the crown is a more pronounced black.
“Harris’s Sparrows are a central species, breeding in the extreme northern latitudes of Canada, migrating through central Canada and the U.S., and wintering in southern Nebraska to central Texas,” Kincaid continues. “The fall migration for some individuals begins in mid-August, with the majority arriving at their wintering grounds in mid-November to early December. If you reside in the central United States, now is an excellent time to search for these striking sparrows.”
You won’t want to miss the opportunity to witness these vibrant autumn birds. Gray notes that they have a seed-snapping beak that covers 80% of their face. “Males of this species display a rose-red splash across their ivory breast, starkly contrasting with their jet-black face,” she says. “Peaks of white in their black feathers give them an overall appearance reminiscent of a dalmatian moonlighting as a blood spatter analyst.”
Gray adds that female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have striking white eyebrows that stand out against the mottled brown of their plumage.”
These birds breed in the Northern U.S. and Canada, as far south as the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina and the Great Plains in the Midwest. She suggests the best time to spot these graphic visitors is when they’re migrating south in early October—especially if your feeders are near woodlands.
Gray says that spotting a Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a real treat. It’s a nondescript brown bird that hides a secret of ruby-colored head feathers. True to the adage ‘good things come in small packages,’ she says, this tiny bird boasts a well-balanced proportion. It features a short tail, small bill, and an attitude that belies its petite 4-inch frame.
“Male Ruby-crowned Kinglets raise their flash of head feathers in displays of dominance against other males,” she says. “They often seem anxious as they dart and search for food, flicking their tiny wings almost continuously. Since they often reserve their crown for dominance displays, you’ll instead want to look for this characteristic wing-flicking when trying to identify this kinglet.”
These feisty little birds breed in Alaska, Canada, and the northeastern parts of the U.S., such as Vermont and Maine. Ruby-crowned Kinglets overwinter as far north as southern Massachusetts in the east, but are generally found south of Pennsylvania and Kansas through the Midwest. “They often search for food high in the canopy except during migration, when they often flit down to backyard feeders,” she informs. They start appearing in the southern United States in early October and remain until April.
Despite being common across the United States, White-crowned Sparrows are among the most captivating fall birds to observe this year. Kincaid says they are large sparrows with a brown and black-streaked back, a gray face and underparts, and a distinctive black crown with a white center stripe and white eyebrow stripes. Male and female adults look identical, while juvenile birds have a brown cap instead of a black one.
“These birds breed in northern Canada, Alaska, and parts of Western Canada, with their breeding range dipping into western Montana and eastern Idaho,” Kincaid notes. “They winter in the U.S. and Mexico, though there are some regions in the west where they are found year-round.”
Unlike many other songbirds, she says that individual White-crowned Sparrows migrate alone and do not form migration flocks. “The timing of their migration is dependent on the population they belong to, with fall migration beginning in late August to September, peaking in October, and continuing through November, depending on their wintering grounds,” Kincaid says. “So now is a great time to go looking for White-crowned Sparrows if you happen to be in range.”
Gray describes this robust ground-foraging bird as being about the size of a Robin, with a speckled breast that resembles the ermine worn by royalty throughout history. It seems like an overall brown bird at first glance, but closer inspection reveals speckles of rich and rusty browns on its outer wing feathers and shoulders.
“The Hermit Thrush’s most remarkable feature is its melodic, flute-like song that evokes the sound of a bubbling stream,” Gray says. “It frequents woodland habitats, so those with feeders close to coniferous forests may be rewarded with a visit.”
They breed in boreal forests across Canada and in the northern and western United States, around the Great Lakes states, and west of the Rockies. Gray recommends watching for these fall birds during October and early November as they migrate through the midwestern and central U.S.
Lastly, the season’s most adorable autumn birds are the beloved Yellow-rumped Warblers, also known as “butter butts.” Kincaid reveals that Yellow-rumped Warblers are among her favorite birds, and she eagerly awaits their migration through her area.
“There are two subspecies of Yellow-rumped Warblers, the Myrtle found in eastern North America, and the Audubon’s found in the west, with slightly different plumages,” she says. “They are large for warblers, yet still quite small birds, featuring the eponymous bright yellow rump and a small, slender beak, ideal for catching insects.”
Kincaid states that during this time of year, when they’re in non-breeding plumage, they’re slightly more muted than in breeding plumage, but are predominantly gray-brown overall, with streaky bellies, bright yellow rumps, and bright yellow patches on their sides near the wings. Audubon’s have a yellow throat, while Myrtle’s have a white throat. “They exhibit Warbler behavior, as they don’t remain still for long and are always moving through the trees searching for insects, seeds, or fruits,” Kincaid informs.
These stunning birds breed across Canada and parts of the western United States. Kincaid says you can spot them as they migrate through the central U.S., and they winter in the southern United States, the Midwest, and down into Mexico and Central America.
“Fall migration occurs over a relatively lengthy period, with some populations beginning as early as August, although some individuals may linger until late if food is abundant,” Kincaid adds. “The peak migration for this species is in September and October, with them reaching their wintering grounds by the end of November.”
