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Words by
Andrew Del-Colle
Digital Editorial Director, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Magazine
Published December 27, 2016
Suet is a great way to attract a variety of birds to your yard in the winter. To figure out who's who,Ìýuse this guide to work your way through the usual suspects. And to keep improving your ID skills, be sure to download our free Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ¿ª½±¼Ç¼ bird guide app.Ìý
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If your mystery bird is tiny and round,Ìýwith a grayish back, black cap, white cheeks, and a black chin,Ìýyou've got yourself a chickadee. In the northern states, it would be a Black-capped Chickadee. From Philadelphia southward, it would be the look-alike Carolina Chickadee. Out west, it might be a Mountain Chickadee or Chestnut-backed Chickadee. TheyÌýare all very common yard birds.
Tufted Titmouse
Now, if yourÌýbird is tiny and almostÌýall gray,Ìýwith a small crest and aÌýblot of black above its squatÌýbeak,ÌýaÌýTufted TitmouseÌýhas stopped by your suet. A familiarÌýbackyard bird in the eastern U.S., the Titmouse can also be identified by theÌýrusty washÌýunder itsÌýwings.Ìý
White-Breasted NuthatchÌý
A bit larger than the titmouse and chickadee is theÌýWhite-breasted Nuthatch. This bird has aÌýwhite-to-gray breast, slate back, and black on its cap and nape.ÌýAlso notable:ÌýtheirÌýlong, thinÌýbeaks and tendency to scale trees and hang from feeders while upside down.Ìý
Carolina WrenÌýÌý
Hard to confuse this little brown birdÌýwith the others here, butÌýCarolina WrensÌýwill happilyÌýswing by aÌýsuet feeder. These chatty birdsÌýcan be quickly identified by the bright white lines above their eyes, aÌýslightly curved beak, and their upright tails, which they flick about as they busilyÌýhop around.Ìý
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Downy WoodpeckerÌý
Woodpeckers are some of the most frequent suetÌýguests,Ìýand theÌýDowny WoodpeckerÌýis probably the most frequent. The smallest of the North AmericanÌýwoodpeckers, itÌýhas blackÌýandÌýwhite markingsÌýon its face, wings, and back. Males alsoÌýhave aÌýbit of red onÌýthe back of their heads. Downy WoodpeckersÌýare often confused with the largerÌýHairy Woodpecker.Ìý
Hairy WoodpeckerÌý
Speaking of theÌýHairy Woodpecker, it is probably the second most commonÌýwoodpecker to visit feeders after the smaller Downy. The two birds also look very similar. To decide which you have, considerÌýtheÌýbeakÌýand the size of the bird in question. As a general rule, if you have a classic suet cage and the bird is roughly the same lengthÌýor smaller, youÌýhave a Downy. If the bird isÌýa bit longerÌýthanÌýthe cageÌýand has aÌýthickerÌýbill, it's aÌýHairy. As with the Downy, maleÌýHairy Woodpeckers haveÌýred on the back of their heads.Ìý
Red-bellied WoodpeckerÌý
Because of its distinguishingÌýbright red cap, theÌýRed-bellied WoodpeckerÌýis sometimes confused with the Red-headed Woodpecker. But when compared side by side,Ìýthey are very differentÌýlooking birds. Red-headsÌýare also not nearly as common.ÌýAn abundantÌýwoodpecker in the eastern U.S., the Red-bellyÌýis aÌýmedium-sizeÌýwoodpecker. In addition to its red cap, itÌýhas a black-and-white stripedÌýback and a wash of red on its creamy-grayÌýbelly, which is how the bird got itsÌýname.Ìý
Northern FlickerÌý
One of the more striking birds you'll see around your backyard, theÌýNorthernÌýFlickerÌýis a large woodpecker that often visits suet feeders.ÌýWith their spotted breasts, striped backs, black bib, and a flash of yellow or red in the wings when they fly, they areÌýstunning birds that look like nothing else hangingÌýfromÌýyourÌýsuet feeder. Enjoy.Ìý
