BIRDS IN THE BOISE AREA

1. BIRDS IN THE BOISE AREA AND HOW TO ATTRACT THEM TO YOUR BACKYARD

2. Dark-eyed Junco House Finch Northern Flicker American Goldfinch Pine Siskin Mourning Dove American Robin House Sparrow European Starling Red-winged Blackbird Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Downy Woodpecker California Quail Song Sparrow Top 15 Birds

4. Dark-eyed Junco • “Snowbirds” • Arrives early winter • Sparrow family • Prefers millet, weeds, grasses • Ground feeder • Pink bill, white belly

6. House Finch • Color is dependent on the amount of carotenoid pigments found in food sources • 97% vegetarian • Will drink nectar • Attracted to water • Will return to same area to breed

8. Northern Flicker • Prefer to eat ants • Love peanuts and seeds too • Tongue 2-3 times longer than bill • Tongue retracts into skull behind right eyeball

10. American Goldfinch • Latest nester of birds – late June to July • Use thistle down in their nests • Completely molt feathers twice yearly • Favorite food is niger (thistle) • Will readily accept and eat sunflower chips • Love purple coneflower seeds

12. Pine Siskin • Most common winter finch at feeders • Natural foods are hemlocks, alders, birches and cedars • Irruptions occur every 3-4 years • Prefer niger, black oil sunflower and chips

14. Mourning Dove • One of few species of birds that suck water up instead of trickling down • Monogamous during breeding season • Male incubate eggs during hot part of day • 1 of most abundant birds - 400 million in fall • Large crop allows large amounts of seed to be eaten

16. American Robin • Found throughout North America • Some robins stay north throughout the winter • Robins migrate in flocks • Attracted to open lawns and gardens with mature shrubs and trees • Eat insects and berries • They LOVE water

18. House Sparrow • Introduced from England in 1851 • Are now on all continents except Antarctica • Prefer to feed on the ground • Adapt anywhere there are humans • One of three unprotected birds

20. European Starling • Introduced from Europe in 1891 • Negatively impacted bluebirds, woodpeckers and Purple Martins • Mimic other birds calls • Return to same nest cavity year after year • Eat insects, fruit and seeds • Not a protected bird

22. Red-Winged Blackbird • Will increase feeding rate to match others • Will fiercely defend territory • Most polygamous of all birds • Typically raise one brood per year • Partial migrator • Do not like safflower seed

24. Black-capped Chickadee • Found in more wooded areas • Primarily insect eater during breeding, ½ insects ½ seeds rest of time • Generally monogamous, mating for life • Cavity nesters • Will visit feeders, 75-80% of foods from natural sources

26. Red-breasted Nuthatch • One toe faces backward to allow downward climbing • Aggressive defender of nesting cavity • Likes sunflower and will hide it in tree bark • Earliest species to begin migrating in summer/fall • Also eat suet

28. Downy Woodpecker • Eat at least 44 different types of insects • Air bubbles in skulls act as shock absorbers • Use stiff tail feathers to prop against trees • Very long retractable tongue • Eats peanuts, sunflowers, suet in winter

30. California Quail • Prefer mixed seeds of millet and cracked corn • Can fly but prefer to walk • Broods combine to form large coveys • Ground nesters mostly • Roost in spruce trees if available

32. Song Sparrow • Most common and widespread sparrow • Adult males perform 6-20 different melodies • They sing throughout the year • Prefer to feed on the ground • Will visit feeders, especially like millet • Rarely feeds in flocks