15 Most Common Birds in Virginia

From the majestic Eastern Bluebird soaring above the Chesapeake Bay to the tiny American Goldfinch belting out its cheerful song in the backyard, Virginia is home to a diverse array of bird species.

Whether you’re an avid birdwatcher or just starting out, discovering the feathered residents of the Old Dominion can be a fascinating and rewarding experience.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the 15 most common birds in Virginia, from the ubiquitous Northern Cardinal to the colorful Wood Duck, and explore what makes each of these avian species so unique and captivating.

So grab your binoculars and let’s take flight on a journey through Virginia’s vibrant birdlife!

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Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird

  • Scientific Name: Sialia sialis
  • Family Name: Sittidae
  • Length: 5-6 in
  • Weight: 0.6-1 oz
  • Wingspan: 9-10 in
9.7
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White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

  • Scientific Name: Zonotrichia albicollis
  • Family Name: Passerellidae
  • Length: 6.25-7 in
  • Weight: 0.8-1 oz
  • Wingspan: 7.5-8 in
9.5
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Evening Grosbeak

Evening Grosbeak

  • Scientific Name: Hesperiphona vespertina
  • Family Name: Fringillidae
  • Length: 7-8 in
  • Weight: 1.5-2 oz
  • Wingspan: 13-14 in
9.1
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Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

  • Scientific Name: Junco hyemalis
  • Family Name: Passerellidae
  • Length: 5.5-6.5 in
  • Weight: 0.6-0.8 oz
  • Wingspan: 7.5-9.8 in
8.8
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Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse

  • Scientific Name: Baeolophus bicolor
  • Family Name: Paridae
  • Length: 5.5-6 in
  • Weight: 0.5-0.6 oz
  • Wingspan: 7.5-8.5 in
8.6
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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

  • Scientific Name: Polioptila caerulea
  • Family Name: Polioptilidae
  • Length: 4-4.5 in
  • Weight: 0.1-0.3 oz
  • Wingspan: 6.5 in
8.2
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Purple Finch

Purple Finch

  • Scientific Name: Haemorhous purpureus
  • Family Name: Fringillidae
  • Length: 5-6 in
  • Weight: 0.8-1.1 oz
  • Wingspan: 9.5 in
8
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Common Redpoll

Common Redpoll

  • Scientific Name: Acanthis flammea
  • Family Name: Fringillidae
  • Length: 4.5-5 in
  • Weight: 0.4-0.7 oz
  • Wingspan: 7-8 in
7.7
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Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

  • Scientific Name: Dryobates pubescens
  • Family Name: Picidae
  • Length: 5.5-6.5 in
  • Weight: 0.7-1 oz
  • Wingspan: 9.5-11 in
7.4
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Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chickadee

  • Scientific Name: Poecile carolinensis
  • Family Name: Paridae
  • Length: 4.5 in
  • Weight: 0.3 oz
  • Wingspan: 6-8 in
7.2
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European Starling

European Starling

  • Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgaris
  • Family Name: Sturnidae
  • Length: 7.5-9 in
  • Weight: 2.5-3.5 oz
  • Wingspan: 12-17 in
9.5
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Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow

  • Scientific Name: Hirundo rustica
  • Family Name: Hirundinidae
  • Length: 6.7-7.5 in
  • Weight: 0.6-0.7 oz
  • Wingspan: 13-15 in
9.5
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American Robin

American Robin

  • Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius
  • Family Name: Turdidae
  • Length: 9-11 in
  • Weight: 2.7-3 oz
  • Wingspan: 12-16 in
9.5
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Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird

  • Scientific Name: Mimus polyglottos
  • Family Name: Mimidae
  • Length: 20-28 cm (8-11 in)
  • Weight: 40-58 g (1.4-2.0 oz)
  • Wingspan: 31-38 cm (12-15 in)
9.5
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American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

  • Scientific Name: Spinus tristis
  • Family Name: Fringillidae
  • Length: 11-13 cm (4-5 in)
  • Weight: 12-18 g (0.4-0.6 oz)
  • Wingspan: 19-22 cm (7-9 in)
9.5
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If you don’t have the time to read the whole article, check out this video for a quick understanding.

Most Common Birds in Virginia

1. Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) are small thrushes with bright blue plumage on their backs, wings, and tail.

The belly and throat are reddish-brown, and the males have a brighter blue color than the females.

Both sexes have a white underbelly and a distinctive rusty-red breasts.

The birds have small, straight bills and short legs.

Female Bluebirds have a more muted blue and rust color scheme, with grey incorporated into their upper plumage.

From head to tail, these birds are 6.3–8.3 inches long, with wingspans ranging from 9.8 to 12.6 inches.

Eastern Bluebirds weigh about 1 to 1.1 ounces.

Fill that feeder to the brim, and you might just catch their interest.

Eastern Bluebirds are finicky eaters.

Eastern Bluebirds primarily feed on insects such as caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders.

Below are the characteristics of the Eastern Bluebird,

Scientific Name Sialia sialis
Family Name Sittidae
Length 5-6 in
Weight 0.6-1 oz
Wingspan 9-10 in
Habitat Woodlands, forests, parks, and suburban areas
Food Insects, nuts, seeds, and suet

2. White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) feature long brownish tails and dark wings with white accents on the shoulder parts.

Their chests and underside are gray, and the grey extends over their faces, from the chin to the back of the neck and the bottom of the eye.

A black line goes from below the eye to the back of the neck on this bird’s chin.

Just in front of the small, conical bill, a conspicuous white brow emerges, becoming yellow.

The color is completed by the bird’s skunk cap, which is simply a white center stripe on top of the black upper portion of the head.

It’s an eye-catching bird that you’ll easily recognize once you’ve seen one.

Sometimes you’ll notice a type with brown and white stripes rather than black and white, and these Sparrows are known as tan striped.

These birds have wingspans of 7.9 to 9.1 inches and measure 6.3 – 7.1 inches in length.

White-throated Sparrows typically weigh between 0.8 to 1.2 ounces (22 to 34 grams).

These birds prefer dense woodlands and thickets, as well as water.

They are not afraid to go into people’s backyards, so plan accordingly.

They prefer to forage on the ground, so when you’ve loaded your feeder, sprinkle a bit around the base for maximum results.

Their diet consists mainly of seeds, including those grasses, weeds, and trees.

They also eat insects during the breeding season, including caterpillars, beetles, and ants.

Below are the characteristics of the White-throated Sparrow,

Scientific Name Zonotrichia albicollis
Family Name Passerellidae
Length 6.25-7 in
Weight 0.8-1 oz
Wingspan 7.5-8 in
Habitat Forests, brushy fields, and suburban areas
Food Seeds, insects, and fruits

3. Evening Grosbeak

Evening Grosbeak

The wings of Evening Grosbeaks (Hesperiphona vespertina) are yellow around the shoulders, followed by a huge white patch, and the rest of the wing is black.

Their backs are black and grey with yellow breasts and a yellow underside.

Their faces are basically the same gray-black, with the exception of a prominent yellow eyebrow over their strong and slightly curved light-yellow bills.

Females are grayer and have a greenish-yellow coloring.

This bird is between 6.3 and 7.1 inches long, with an 11.8 to 14.2-inch wingspan.

The Evening Grosbeak weighs around 1.5 to 2 ounces, with males being slightly larger than females.

These birds spend their winters in the woods, preferring oaks and pines alike, but they also enjoy backyard feeders, so be ready.

The Evening Grosbeak’s diet consists mainly of seeds and fruit, including conifer seeds, maple seeds, and berries.

Below are the characteristics of the Evening Grosbeak,

Scientific Name Hesperiphona vespertina
Family Name Fringillidae
Length 7-8 in
Weight 1.5-2 oz
Wingspan 13-14 in
Habitat Coniferous forests and mountain regions
Food Seeds, buds, berries, and insects

4. Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is a small sparrow-like bird with a distinctive coloration.

The most common form of Dark-eyed Junco has a dark gray head, neck, and breast, contrasting with a pale gray belly and sides.

They have a pinkish bill and white outer tail feathers that flash when they fly.

Other forms of Dark-eyed Junco have different color variations, including brownish, reddish-brown, and black.

The Dark-eyed Junco measures about 5.5 to 6.5 inches in length.

The Dark-eyed Junco weighs around 0.4 to 0.8 ounces, with males being slightly larger than females.

The Dark-eyed Junco weighs around 0.4 to 0.8 ounces, with males being slightly larger than females.

Dark-eyed Juncos spend the majority of their time in coniferous woods throughout the summer however they will occasionally venture out into open areas.

When it comes to foraging fields and backyards are all fair game so keep a lookout throughout the year and you could just receive a visit.

Any passing Juncos would be thrilled if you set up a ground feeder with broken corn and hulled Black Oil Sunflower seeds.

The Dark-eyed Junco’s diet consists mainly of seeds and insects.

They feed on a variety of seeds, including grass, weed, and tree seeds, as well as berries and fruit.

Below are the characteristics of the Dark-eyed Junco,

Scientific Name Junco hyemalis
Family Name Passerellidae
Length 5.5-6.5 in
Weight 0.6-0.8 oz
Wingspan 7.5-9.8 in
Habitat Forests, fields, and suburban areas
Food Seeds, insects, and fruits

5. Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse

The Tufted Titmouse’s (Baeolophus bicolor) back and medium-length somewhat rounded tail is all a beautiful gray-blue.

This bird’s breast and bottom are white with a faint peach border on the sides, and it has a beautiful blue-gray crest that starts at the top of the head and runs down the neck, giving the eyes a broad shape.

The bottom half of the bird’s face is white, and it has a distinctive black square over its small slightly curved black beak.

The length of these birds ranges from 5.5 to 6.3 inches with wingspans ranging from 7.9 to 10.2 inches.

The Tufted Titmouse weighs around 0.5 to 0.6 ounces, with males being slightly larger than females.

These birds are found in both evergreen and deciduous forests but they also visit parks and backyards with well-stocked feeders.

A Tufted Titmouse will eat a variety of foods.

The Tufted Titmouse’s diet consists mainly of insects, seeds, and nuts.

They forage in trees and shrubs, searching for insects, caterpillars, and spiders.

They also eat seeds and nuts, including acorns, beech nuts, and sunflower seeds.

Below are the characteristics of the Tufted Titmouse,

Scientific Name Baeolophus bicolor
Family Name Paridae
Length 5.5-6 in
Weight 0.5-0.6 oz
Wingspan 7.5-8.5 in
Habitat Forests, woodlands, and suburban areas
Food Insects, nuts, and seeds

6. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) resembles a cartoon bird in appearance.

The back of this bird is blue-gray, and the short wings have black highlighting at the tips, as well as a medium-length tail that is black on top and white below.

The white of this bird’s breast and bottom continues upward to just past the eye, then runs levelly over the face to the back of the neck, and is visible in front of the wings.

This bird’s top half is blue-gray, with a large black forehead mark that gives him an angry expression.

This bird has a white eyeing and a slender medium-length straight beak.

These little birds are between 3.9 and 4.3 inches long and have a wingspan of around 6.3 inches.

The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher weighs around 0.2 to 0.3 ounces, making it one of the smallest birds in North America.

These birds spend their time in deciduous woods on the edges of them and anywhere there is dense foliage for cover.

If you have some bushes in your garden, you’ll have a better chance of getting a visit since they help these birds feel secure.

The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher’s diet consists mainly of insects, including small flies, gnats, and other tiny insects.

Below are the characteristics of the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,

Scientific Name Polioptila caerulea
Family Name Polioptilidae
Length 4-4.5 in
Weight 0.1-0.3 oz
Wingspan 6.5 in
Habitat Woodlands, thickets, and suburban areas
Food Insects, spiders, and berries

7. Purple Finch

Purple Finch

The male Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) is easy to recognize and highly beautiful, with brown wings that are raspberry-stained and emphasized at the shoulders with some minute white border.

They feature short grey tails with white tips as well as white breasts and undersides with raspberry streaks.

This striping is more prominent at the breast and gradually fades as the coloring moves down the underbelly.

You’ll note that this bird’s face is totally raspberry from the throat up although certain markings are a deeper hue.

This usually appears as a darker raspberry with a thin stripe running down the middle of the head a line on the lower face defining the cheek and a raspberry mask that curves downward after crossing the eyes.

Females on the other hand lack the raspberry color and have heavier streaking at the breast a lighter eye stripe and a black line that runs down the throat.

The bills of these birds are big and conical grey with a splash of black on the top part of the beak.

The length of these lovely little birds ranges from 4.7 to 6.3 inches with a wingspan of 8.7 to 10.2 inches.

The Purple Finch weighs around 0.6 to 1.1 ounces, with males being slightly larger than females.

Coniferous trees are their preferred habitat with deciduous trees coming in second.

They will occasionally visit parks and this frequency rises in the winter when they will also go into fields and their backyard excursions will become much more frequent as they search for food.

The Purple Finch is fairly easy to please when it comes to the regular feeder configuration, preferring Black Oil Sunflower seeds the most.

The Purple Finch’s diet consists mainly of seeds, with a preference for conifer seeds such as those from pine, fir, and spruce trees.

They also eat seeds from deciduous trees and shrubs, as well as weed seeds.

Below are the characteristics of the Purple Finch,

Scientific Name Haemorhous purpureus
Family Name Fringillidae
Length 5-6 in
Weight 0.8-1.1 oz
Wingspan 9.5 in
Habitat Forests, woodlands, and suburban areas
Food Seeds, berries, and insects

8. Common Redpoll

Common Redpoll

In the Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea), there is a lovely merging of hues.

The wings and tail are streaked with brown and white but the breast and lower belly have a greater white content in the underbelly and some rose-red coloring at the top of the breast that runs all the way up under the bill.

The remainder of the face is brown and white, save for a bright red patch on the front part of the skull.

The beak of these birds is tiny, golden, and barely curled.

The length of these birds ranges from 4.7 to 5.5 inches, with wingspans of 7.5 to 8.7 inches.

The Common Redpoll weighs around 0.4 to 0.6 ounces, with males being slightly larger than females.

Fields and coniferous forests are ideal habitats for these birds.

The Common Redpoll’s diet consists mainly of seeds, particularly those from birch and alder trees.

Below are the characteristics of the Common Redpoll,

Scientific Name Acanthis flammea
Family Name Fringillidae
Length 4.5-5 in
Weight 0.4-0.7 oz
Wingspan 7-8 in
Habitat Tundra, boreal forests, and suburban areas
Food Seeds and insects

9. Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Do you enjoy woodpeckers but think they’re a touch too big in general? Try to identify one of these.

Downy Woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens) have white backs and black wings with white blocks and dots across them making them easy to detect.

The bird has a short black tail with white undersides and outer feathers, giving the wings a checkered look.

This bird’s breast and underside are snow-white with only a black mustache a mask band that runs from the front of the eye to the rear of the head and a black cap to break up the whiteness.

This hat has a prominent red patch at the rear of the head in men.

The beak of this bird is tiny and slender and it is black.

These mini-Woodpeckers are just 5.5–6.7 inches long with wingspans ranging from 9.8 to 11.8 inches.

The Downy Woodpecker weighs around 0.7 to 1.0 ounces, with males being slightly larger than females.

Look for these birds in meadows or at the forest’s edge since they like open woodland settings.

They also like locations with a thick brush or untended weed and they frequent parks and backyards when they range out.

The Downy Woodpecker’s diet consists mainly of insects, including ants, beetles, and caterpillars.

They also eat insect eggs and spiders.

Below are the characteristics of the Downy Woodpecker,

Scientific Name Dryobates pubescens
Family Name Picidae
Length 5.5-6.5 in
Weight 0.7-1 oz
Wingspan 9.5-11 in
Habitat Forests, woodlands, and suburban areas
Food Insects, seeds, and fruits

10. Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chickadee

Light grey wings with black accents and short grey tails distinguish Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis).

They have white and grey breasts that deepen slightly at the underside but are significantly lighter than the rest of their body.

These birds have a black chin and throat while the rest of their face is snow-white from behind the eye to the back of the neck.

A huge black cap covers the remainder of the face above this.

The bill of this bird is very small and black.

These tiny birds have a wingspan of 5.9 to 7.9 inches and a length of 3.9 to 4.7 inches.

The Carolina Chickadee weighs around 0.3 to 0.4 ounces, with males and females being similar in size.

These birds like huge trees in the woods, so if you do have one or more in your garden you’re in luck.

Even if you don’t, they may come to your backyard in search of the correct feeder combo.

When it comes to the Carolina Chickadee, suet and little Black Oil sunflower seeds are a great combo.

The Carolina Chickadee’s diet consists mainly of insects, including caterpillars, beetles, and ants.

Below are the characteristics of the Carolina Chickadee,

Scientific Name Poecile carolinensis
Family Name Paridae
Length 4.5 in
Weight 0.3 oz
Wingspan 6-8 in
Habitat Forests, woodlands, and suburban areas
Food Insects, seeds, and fruits

11. European Starling

European Starling

The purple-green colors of European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) plumage make them easy to spot.

This covers their entire bodies but their long straight yellow bills are another distinguishing feature.

They molt out of their gleaming plumage in the winter and replace it with a brown coloring speckled with white dots.

These birds have wingspans ranging from 12.2 to 15.8 inches from wingtip to wingtip and from 7.9 to 9.1 inches in length.

European Starlings are medium-sized birds that typically weigh between 60 and 100 grams (2-3.5 ounces), with males being slightly larger than females.

These species can be found pretty much anywhere.

They like populated settings whether on a farm or in a city.

You could spot one on a telephone line or wandering along the street as their lengthy cohabitation has accustomed them to being around people.

These birds consume a diverse range of foods.

They consume berries and other things when they aren’t consuming insects.

Grains are an excellent option and putting some White Proso millet and oats in your feeder may entice a European Starling to pay you a visit and it may return for more.

These creatures have an unhealthy obsession with grain and they may be a problem when they attack grain warehouses, causing contamination concerns.

Below are the characteristics of the European Starling,

Scientific Name Sturnus vulgaris
Family Name Sturnidae
Length 7.5-9 in
Weight 2.5-3.5 oz
Wingspan 12-17 in
Habitat Urban and suburban areas, agricultural fields, and woodlands
Food Insects, fruits, and seeds

12. Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) are swallows with blue wings and long forked blue tails.

Their breast and bottom are a cinnamon hue, and the blue from the wings extends across the breast like a cape.

The bottom part of the bird’s face, up to the cheek, is the same cinnamon color as the rest of the head.

These birds have a black beak that is short and straight.

Barn Swallows have wingspans of 11.4 to 12.6 inches and a length of 5.9 – 7.5 inches.

Barn Swallows are small birds that typically weigh between 16 and 22 grams (0.5-0.8 ounces).

These birds prefer open spaces like parks and fields, but they also appear to enjoy the water.

Mealworms are a fantastic choice for Barn swallows because they like insects and they are insectivores.

Surprisingly, if you leave eggshell parts out, they will eat them. This is thought to aid their digestion.

Below are the characteristics of the Barn Swallow,

Scientific Name Hirundo rustica
Family Name Hirundinidae
Length 6.7-7.5 in
Weight 0.6-0.7 oz
Wingspan 13-15 in
Habitat Open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and wetlands
Food Insects, including flies, beetles, and wasps

13. American Robin

American Robin

With grayish-brown back large wings of the same hue and a deeper gray-brown at its long tail, the American Robin (Turdus migratorius) has a unique look.

The chest and underside have a soft or thick brownish-orange tint that goes all the way up to just behind the chin and the tail is white on the undersides, with the white originating from the bird’s rump.

This bird has a broken white eyeing on its face and a black head with a tiny amount of white under its short curved yellow beak.

Females will have similar appearances to males, with the exception of paler coloring on the head.

The length of these birds ranges from 7.9 to 11 inches with wingspans ranging from 12.2 to 15.8 inches.

American Robins are medium-sized birds that typically weigh between 77 and 85 grams (2.7-3 ounces).

American Robins have a broad range of habitats so you may find them in evergreen or deciduous forests as well as on a golf course.

Foraging areas for these birds include parks and unkempt fields and they are more than glad to visit well-stocked household feeders.

Because these birds are omnivores they have a wide variety of dietary options.

Use some diced apples and any berries you have on hand to make a fruit salad.

When they’re not eating insects robins like fruits and feeding them can provide some nice results.

Below are the characteristics of the American Robin,

Scientific Name Turdus migratorius
Family Name Turdidae
Length 9-11 in
Weight 2.7-3 oz
Wingspan 12-16 in
Habitat Woodlands, suburban areas, and open fields
Food Earthworms, insects, fruits, and berries

14. Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird

The wings and tail of Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) are greyish brown, with stunning white wing bars and white outer tail feathers.

The hue of the bird’s breast and underbelly is white to greyish-white, and it extends to the bottom part of the bird’s face.

The top half of the bird is the same grayish-brown as the wings, and the bill is small and straight.

These birds range in size from 8.3 to 10.2 inches in length, with wingspans ranging from 12.2 to 13.8 inches.

Northern Mockingbirds are medium-sized birds that typically weigh between 40 and 58 grams (1.4-2 ounces).

They can be found in playgrounds, back gardens, or simply hanging out in a nearby tree.

These birds are cautious of feeders but they will be fascinated by fruits growing in your yard.

Blackberry vines are a simple and lovely addition to your yard if you wish to attract these birds.

Northern Mockingbirds are omnivores, meaning they eat a variety of foods.

Their diet consists mainly of insects, berries, and fruits, but they will also eat seeds, small reptiles and amphibians, and occasionally small mammals.

Below are the characteristics of the Northern Mockingbird,

Scientific Name Mimus polyglottos
Family Name Mimidae
Length 20-28 cm (8-11 in)
Weight 40-58 g (1.4-2.0 oz)
Wingspan 31-38 cm (12-15 in)
Habitat Urban areas, open woodlands, scrublands, and grasslands
Food Insects, fruits, and berries

15. American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) has a beautiful color scheme that will draw your attention.

Their black wings have white lines and patches, which are also visible on their black tails.

By contrast, their backs, breasts, and underbelly are all bright yellow.

When the bird is flying there is some white under the base of the tail which is more noticeable.

The top of this bird’s head is yellow, with a black cap that continues down to a short, conical orange beak.

Females have a duller yellow on the lower part of their bodies and olive green above and in the winter they are brown with wing bar patterns.

The average length of these small birds is 4.3 – 5.1 inches, with wingspans ranging from 7.5 to 8.7 inches.

American Goldfinches are small birds that typically weigh between 11 and 20 grams (0.4-0.7 ounces).

The American Goldfinch prefers the undergrowth, therefore any area with thistles or thickets will appeal to them.

American Goldfinches are primarily granivores, meaning they eat seeds.

Birds also don’t mind coming to feeders, so start stocking up and start meeting new species.

Once you’ve gotten their attention, the dynamic pair of Nyjer and Black Oil sunflower seeds will keep them coming back.

Below are the characteristics of the American Goldfinch,

Scientific Name Spinus tristis
Family Name Fringillidae
Length 11-13 cm (4-5 in)
Weight 12-18 g (0.4-0.6 oz)
Wingspan 19-22 cm (7-9 in)
Habitat Fields, meadows, open woods, and gardens
Food Seeds, primarily from plants in the Asteraceae family such as thistles and sunflowers

Check out this article on the Types of Hawks in Virginia.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Virginia is home to a diverse array of bird species, with 15 of the most common ones discussed in this article.

Again, These are the Most Common Birds in Virginia:

  1. Eastern Bluebird
  2. White-throated Sparrow
  3. Evening Grosbeak
  4. Dark-eyed Junco
  5. Tufted Titmouse
  6. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
  7. Purple Finch
  8. Common Redpoll
  9. Downy Woodpecker
  10. Carolina Chickadee
  11. European Starling
  12. Barn Swallow
  13. American Robin
  14. Northern Mockingbird
  15. American Goldfinch

Whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher or just starting out, Virginia offers plenty of opportunities to see these beautiful creatures in their natural habitats.

As always, it’s important to respect and protect the natural environment and the birds that call it home by following responsible birdwatching practices and conservation efforts.

FAQ

Where is the best place to go birdwatching in Virginia?

Virginia offers many great places for birdwatching, including Shenandoah National Park, Great Falls Park, and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, among others. The state’s varied habitats, including forests, wetlands, and coastlines, provide opportunities to see a wide variety of bird species.

When is the best time to go birdwatching in Virginia?

The best time to go birdwatching in Virginia depends on the species you want to see. Many birds migrate through Virginia in the spring and fall, so those seasons can be great for spotting a variety of species. Summer is also a good time to see breeding birds in their habitats.

What should I bring when going birdwatching in Virginia?

When going birdwatching in Virginia, it’s important to bring a good pair of binoculars, comfortable walking shoes, appropriate clothing for the weather, and a field guide to help identify the birds you see. It’s also a good idea to bring water and snacks.

How can I attract birds to my backyard in Virginia?

To attract birds to your backyard in Virginia, you can provide food, water, and shelter. Bird feeders and bird baths are great options for providing food and water, and planting native trees, shrubs, and flowers can provide habitat and shelter for birds. Avoid using pesticides and other chemicals in your yard, as these can harm birds and other wildlife.

How can I identify bird species in Virginia?

To identify bird species in Virginia, you can use a field guide or birding app to help you match the bird’s physical characteristics and behaviors to those in the guide. Pay attention to the bird’s size, shape, plumage, and behavior, and listen to its vocalizations to help with identification. Joining a birdwatching group or attending a birding event can also help you learn more about identifying bird species in Virginia.

Last Updated on March 22, 2023 by Lily Aldrin

About Lily Aldrin

I am Lily Aldrin. I attended Cornell University, where I obtained my degree to become an Ornithologist so I could pursue my love of these magnificent creatures in and out of their natural habitats.

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