28 Backyard Birds In Pennsylvania (Pictures)

Many species of birds can be found in the state of Pennsylvania. Some of these species live in Pennsylvania all year long, others are migratory and only spend the summer or winter in the state. In this article, we’re going to take a look at 28 of our favorite backyard birds that live in Pennsylvania, and learn a little about each species.

After that I’ll show you how to attract them to your yard, 10 different types of bird feeders you can use, and mention a few birdwatching hotspots in Pennsylvania. 

How many different species of wild birds are in Pennsylvania?

It’s difficult to get an exact number on how many bird species are found in North America, the United States, or even in the state of Pennsylvania. However, according to Wikipedia as of May 2021, there are at least 439 species of birds in the state of Pennsylvania.

Most reputable sources believe there are between around 800 – 1100 species of birds in North America. For the purposes of this article, we are just going to look at some of the species people frequently see in Pennsylvania, especially in backyards. 

28 common backyard birds in Pennsylvania

Below we’ll look at 28 species of backyard birds in Pennsylvania, including some migrants. These obviously aren’t all the species in the state, or even close to it, but they are some of the more recognizable Pennsylvania backyard birds. Without any further delay, let’s take a look!

1. Northern Cardinal

Scientific name: Cardinalis cardinalis
Length: 8.3-9.1 in
Weight: 1.5-1.7 oz
Wingspan: 9.8-12.2 in

Northern Cardinals are among the most recognizable and common backyard birds in North America. Males have bright red feathers and a black mask, females have duller colors and are more tawny brown with some reddish coloring. Both males and females are easily recognized by their  crests, which look like mohawks a top their heads, and reddish orange beaks. 

Northern Cardinals are found throughout Pennsylvania year-round.

Cardinals will visit most seed feeders, offer them mixed seed blends and black sunflower seeds.

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2. Tufted Titmouse

Scientific name: Baeolophus bicolor
Length: 5.5-6.3 in
Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz
Wingspan: 7.9-10.2 in

These little birds are very common at feeders and in backyards within their range. Like Cardinals, they have a small mohawk that helps you tell them apart from other birds. Titmice are silver-gray on top and lighter on bottom, with a black patch just above their beaks. Sometimes an orange patch is visible on their side under the wing. 

The Tufted Titmouse is found throughout Pennsylvania all year.

Titmice will visit most seed feeders, offer them mixed seed blends and black sunflower seeds.

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3. Chickadees

Scientific name: Poecile atricapillus (Black-Capped), Poecile carolinensis (Carolina)
Length: 4.7-5.9 in (Black-Capped), 3.9-4.7 in (Carolina)
Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (Black-Capped), 0.3-0.4 oz (Carolina)
Wingspan: 6.3-8.3 in (Black-Capped), 5.9-7.9 in (Carolina)

Chickadees are tiny little birds that are very easy to recognize because of their “black cap” and black bib. Their cheeks are solid white, their wings and backs are gray, and their underbodies are fluffy and light. They are quick and curious birds, and can appear quick brave around humans near birdfeeders.  

The two types of Chickadees found in the east are Black-capped Chickadees and Carolina Chickadees, and they look nearly identical. In many places, you can tell which one is which just based on the state you are in. However in Pennsylvania, both chickadees are present.

Both species remain in state all year. Carolina chickadees can be found more in the southern portion of the state. Black-capped chickadees are found throughout the entire state but may be less common in the far southeast corner.

Chickadees will visit most seed feeders, offer them mixed seed blends and black sunflower seeds.

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4. Blue Jay

Scientific name: Cyanocitta cristata
Length: 9.8-11.8 in
Weight: 2.5-3.5 oz
Wingspan: 13.4-16.9 in

Another very well-known bird species in North America and the U.S. is the Blue Jay. They have a large blue crest on top of their heads with mostly blue feathers on top and white feathers on bottom. They also have a black ring around their necks that looks like a necklace. Their wings are barred white, blue, and black. Females and males share the same coloration.

Blue Jays are another year-round resident to the entire state of Pennsylvania. They are common in backyards and at feeders.

Blue Jays like platform feeders, peanut feeders, and feeders with large perches. Offer them black sunflower seeds, mixed seeds, and peanuts. 

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5. Eastern Bluebird

Scientific name: Sialia sialis
Length: 6.3-8.3 in
Weight: 1.0-1.1 oz
Wingspan: 9.8-12.6 in

True to their name, bluebirds are all blue on top with rusty reddish-orange bellies. Females and males share the same coloration, however the females colors appear much duller and more faded, especially the blue. They are just about the most sought after tenants of birdhouses in the U.S. making the bluebird house industry pretty booming. They are very common in backyards, though not so much at feeders. Put up a birdhouse and try your luck in attracting a mating pair, I was able to with this birdhouse on Amazon. 

In certain parts of North America bluebirds do migrate, but not in Pennsylvania. Here the Eastern Bluebird can be found year round. Check out the Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania to learn more.  

Bluebirds don’t typically eat seeds, but can be enticed to visit feeders with mealworms on a tray feeder or in a dish. 

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6. White-breasted Nuthatch

Scientific name: Sitta carolinensis
Length: 5.1-5.5 in
Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz
Wingspan: 7.9-10.6 in

White-breasted Nuthatches are very common feeder birds found in most backyards within their range. Nuthatches get their name from the fact that they stuff nuts and seeds under tree bark, then use their sharp beaks to hatch them back out. These birds also have the ability to walk vertically on trees better than many other types of birds. White-breasted Nuthatches have a thick black stripe on top of their heads, with white on either side and on their bellies. Their wings are mostly gray and black, and they have a chisel-like beak that is longer than many other feeder birds. 

White-breasted Nuthatches are found year-round throughout Pennsylvania.

Nuthatches will visit most seed feeders, offer them mixed seed blends, black sunflower seeds or peanuts. They also enjoy suet and are adept at clinging to suet feeders.

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7. American Robin

Scientific name: Turdus migratorius
Length: 7.9-11.0 in
Weight: 2.7-3.0 oz
Wingspan: 12.2-15.8 in

Highly common in backyards, robins are mostly seen hopping around the grass looking for worms and other invertebrates to eat. They often retreat to the woods during the winter, then emerge back to more public places in the spring, giving the illusion that they migrate out of the state. While they will occasionally visit bird feeders, they do not typically eat seeds. Their bright orange round bellies, yellow beaks, and larger size make them easy to identify. 

Robins live all year throughout the state of Pennsylvania. 

American Robins do not often visit seed feeders, so attract them with meal worms, native fruit-bearing plants, or a bird bath. 

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8. Mourning Dove

Scientific name: Zenaida macroura
Length: 9.1-13.4 in
Weight: 3.0-6.0 oz
Wingspan: 17.7 in

About the size of a robin, doves are very common in backyards and will often sit perched on telephone wires or in groups in trees. I sometimes see them on my tray feeder, but more often then not they are seen walking around on the ground beneath hanging bird feeders. Mourning Doves are mostly gray with black spots on top, a pale peachy color below, and pink legs. Males and females look the same.

Mourning Doves remain all year throughout Pennsylvania.

Doves will often visit seed feeders, but prefer scouring the ground for seeds that have fallen. Try a ground feeder with a mixed seed blend, or simply scatter some seeds on the ground.

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9. European Starling

Scientific name: Sturnus vulgaris
Length: 7.9-9.1 in
Weight: 2.1-3.4 oz
Wingspan: 12.2-15.8 in

100 starlings were set loose in New York in the 1890s and they have since taken over the country. They destroy other birds’ nests, kill their young, and will overtake feeders not allowing other birds to get any of the food that you put out. They are mostly all dark with white specks on their backs and wings, and have yellow beaks and feet. Starlings can also be a purple and green iridescent color and in the right light can actually be quite pretty.

Starlings are found in every one of the lower 48 states year-round, Pennsylvania included. 

European Starlings will eat almost anything. They are an invasive species so we suggest you do not attempt to attract them, they’ll show up anyway.

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10. American Goldfinch

Scientific name: Spinus tristis
Length: 4.3-5.1 in
Weight: 0.4-0.7 oz
Wingspan: 7.5-8.7 in

Goldfinches are among my favorite birds to see at feeders, especially when they have their bright yellow feathers in the Spring and Summer. During this period they are mostly yellow, or “gold”, with black-tipped wings. Males also have a black cap on top of their heads. In the winter they will molt and lose these flashy colors and have more brown or olive coloring. Many people mistake them for a different species in the winter, that’s how different they look. You can always recognize them any time of year by their black wings with white bars, and their finch-like beaks. 

Goldfinches are found all year throughout Pennsylvania.

Goldfinches prefer thistle (nyjer) feeders. They may also eat sunflower chips but a thistle feeder is your best chance to attract them. 

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11. House Finch

Scientific name: Haemorhous mexicanus
Length: 5.1-5.5 in
Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz
Wingspan: 7.9-9.8 in

The House Finch is yet another very common backyard bird in Pennsylvania. Though they are invasive in the east, they are not universally hated like House Sparrows, and do not cause the problems that the sparrows do. If you attract them, which is fairly easy to do, they may show up in large flocks and mob your feeders. Both sexes are brown with heavy white streaking. Males have red splashed on their head, chest, and back. 

House Finches are common throughout all of Pennsylvania any time of year.

 House Finches love bird feeders, and will eat black sunflower or mixed seed. Like other finches, House Finches will also visit thistle feeders.

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12. House Sparrow

Scientific name: Passer domesticus
Length: 5.9-6.7 in
Weight: 0.9-1.1 oz
Wingspan: 7.5-9.8 in

Generally looked at as pests, House Sparrows are the only other species of wild birds in the U.S. besides starlings that you can legally trap and humanely kill. Like starlings, they were introduced in New York in the 1800s and have since spread across our country like wildfire as an invasive species. They are mostly brown in color, with some black and brown streaking on their wings and buffy chest. Males often stand out with a black mask and chest. They are overall aggressive towards other birds, especially around nests and birdhouses. 

House Sparrows are common year round in all parts of Pennsylvania.

Like the European Starling, House Sparrows are invasive and pose a threat to native species. They will eat most types of seed. 

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13. Red-winged Blackbird

Scientific name: Agelaius phoeniceus
Length: 6.7-9.1 in
Weight: 1.1-2.7 oz
Wingspan: 12.2-15.8 in

Among the most abundant birds in all of North America, male Red-winged Blackbirds are unmistakable because of their red and yellow “shoulders” that stand out amongst their black bodies. The females of this species however, look quite different and are mostly brown with light streaks. They are known as a polygynous species, meaning males will have up to 15 different females that they are mating with. While most at home around marshes and wetlands, they will visit bird feeders and often show up in large groups. 

Red-winged Blackbirds are year round residents of Pennsylvania.

Red-winged Blackbirds visit most types of feeders and will eat seed as well as suet.

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14. Brown-headed Cowbird

Scientific name: Molothrus ater
Length: 7.5 – 8.7 in
Weight: 1.5 – 1.8 oz
Wingspan: 12.6 – 15.0 in

Brown-headed cowbirds are often lumped into the “blackbirds” category not only due to the color of the males, but also because they travel in large flocks (sometimes mixed with actual blackbirds) and can mob your feeders. Males have an iridescent black body with dark brown head. Females are an all-over lighter brown.

Unfortunately, cowbirds are “nest parasites” and lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, reducing the other species numbers. Sometimes they sneak in and lay one egg among the others, sometimes they kick other eggs out of the nest to make room for their own. Many birds do not recognize the imposter egg and will raise the chick as their own. 

Cowbirds are found all year in Pennsylvania.

Brown-headed cowbirds will readily visit feeders, sometimes in large groups. They will eat just about any type of mixed seed. 

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15. Song Sparrow

Scientific name: Melospiza melodia
Length: 4.7-6.7 in
Weight: 0.4-1.9 oz
Wingspan: 7.1-9.4 in

Song Sparrows are very common throughout most of North America and their plumage can vary from region to region. In the east, these sparrows are mostly brown on the back and wings, with heavy brown streaks on their chest and a white belly. The streaks on their chest often converge in a noticeable brown spot, which can help with identification. The male of the species uses his song to attract females as well as to defend his territory. 

Song Sparrows migrate in many areas, however they stick around in Pennsylvania all year. 

Song Sparrows will sometimes visit bird feeders and snack on mixed seeds and sunflower seeds. 

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16. Red-bellied Woodpecker

Scientific name: Melanerpes carolinus
Length: 9.4 in
Weight: 2.0-3.2 oz
Wingspan: 13.0-16.5 in

These medium-sized woodpeckers are fairly common at feeders and backyards in the eastern U.S.. Though they are described as “red-bellied” you may first notice the bright red streak along the back of their heads. They have a plain white breast with an area of pinkish-red lower down in their “belly” area which is often not visible. Their wings are what really makes them easy to identify though, with the white and black barring.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers live year-round in Pennsylvania, but may be found in fewer numbers in the far northeastern corner of the state.

Attract Red-bellied Woodpeckers with a suet feeder, though they will also sometimes eat at seed feeders, especially if you offer mixes containing peanuts. 

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17. Downy Woodpecker

Scientific name: Picoides pubescens
Length: 5.5-6.7 in
Weight: 0.7-1.0 oz
Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 in

Downy’s are very common backyard birds that love to visit bird feeders. They are the smallest woodpeckers in North America and are always one of the first species I see at a new bird feeder. They are easily identifiable by their all white underbodies, black wings with white spots, black and white striped heads, and the red spot on the back of their heads (in males, females have no red). Though they do closely resemble the Hairy Woodpecker, Downy’s are smaller with shorter beaks. 

Downy Woodpeckers are found all year throughout the whole state of Pennsylvania. 

Downy Woodpeckers are very common at most types of bird feeders. Offer them mixed seed, black sunflower seed, and suet. 

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18. Carolina Wren

Scientific name: Thryothorus ludovicianus
Length: 4.7-5.5 in
Weight: 0.6-0.8 oz
Wingspan: 11.4 in

These little birds are mostly reddish-brown on top and a lighter orangish color on bottom. Their longish, slightly curved beak and bold white “eyebrow” are good identifiers. They like to hide in brush and may be hard to spot, however their loud “teakettle-teakettle” song is likely one you would recognize.

Carolina Wrens are found throughout Pennsylvania all year. 

Carolina Wrens are quite common in backyards and are often seen visiting suet feeders.

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19. Indigo Bunting

Scientific name: Passerina cyanea
Length: 4.7-5.1 in
Weight: 0.4-0.6 oz
Wingspan: 7.5-8.7 in

These beautiful buntings migrate at night, traveling up from their wintering grounds in Mexico and southern Florida. While females are mostly brown with just hints of blue, males are bright blue all over with some black on their wings. This coloring comes from the way their feathers reflect light rather than blue pigment. Look for them in summer singing along the edges of fields and woods. 

Indigo Buntings can be found throughout Pennsylvania during the spring and summer.

While not as common at feeders, they will sometimes visit especially if you offer mixed seed and nyjer.

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20. Dark-eyed Junco

Scientific name: Junco hyemalis
Length: 5.5-6.3 in
Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz
Wingspan: 7.1-9.8 in

Juncos are often thought of by people in the U.S as winter birds, since they spend their summers up in Canada. They have many different colorations across the United States. In the eastern U.S. the “slate-colored” variety is common. They are dark gray on their head, chest, back, wings and tail. Their belly all the way to the bottom of the tail is white. Females may look similar or appear a buffy brown instead of gray. Two good things to look for when recognizing junco’s are their pale pink beak and roundish body shape.  They are most common in forests and wooded areas where they can often be seen hopping around on the ground. 

Dark-eyed Juncos may be found in many parts of Pennsylvania year-round, but their numbers will increase during the winter months. 

Juncos will sometimes visit feeders, but typically prefer to eat seed from the ground underneath your feeders that other other birds are dropping. They like mixed seeds. 

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21. Chipping Sparrow

Scientific name: Spizella passerina
Length: 4.7-5.9 in
Weight: 0.4-0.6 oz
Wingspan: 8.3 in

Chipping sparrows spend their breeding season in the northern half of North America, then migrate down south and into Mexico for the winter. They have their most crisp feathers in the summer, with a buffy gray breast, brown and tan streaked wings, rusty red cap, and a black line through the eye with white above. In winter their markings may appear less defined and their coloring more buffy-brown. They are common sparrows that like to feed on open ground. 

Chipping Sparrows are found throughout Pennsylvania during the spring and summer only. 

Chipping Sparrows are common at backyard feeders, and often like to remain on the ground picking up what has spilled. Attract them with sunflower and mixed seed, especially scattered on the ground.

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22. Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Scientific name: Archilochus colubris
Length: 2.8-3.5 in
Weight: 0.1-0.2 oz
Wingspan: 3.1-4.3 in

Though only common in the eastern half of the United States, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the most abundant species of hummingbirds in the country. They are also the only breeding species of hummingbird found in the Eastern U.S. They get their name because males have a bright ruby-red throat. Ruby-throated Hummers are emerald-green on their backs, wings, and heads with white under-parts. Females lack the red throat feathers.

You might find a couple of rare wandering species from time to time, but Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are generally the main hummingbirds found in Pennsylvania. They are found throughout the state from Spring to Fall. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are very common in backyards if you put out nectar feeders, in most cases this should be done in April or May. 

You may like: Plants and Flowers that Attract Hummingbirds

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23. Eastern Towhee

Scientific name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Length: 6.8-8.2 in
Weight: 1.1-1.8 oz
Wingspan: 7.9-11.0 in

The Eastern Towhee is a lovely species of backyard bird that is always a treat to see. Both sexes have a dark head and back with white wing spots, orange sides and a white belly. However the dark color on males is black while on females it is brown. They have a beautiful song that is a familiar sound in the woods during spring and summer. Master foragers, towhees search through leaf litter and vegetation for insects, seeds and berries. If you want a better chance of attracting towhees to your yard, leave some brushy edges and leaf litter along your yard line. 

Eastern Towhees migrate to Pennsylvania during the breeding season (spring and summer), then will head south in the fall.   

Eastern Towhees do not eat directly from bird feeders very often in my experience, but I regularly see them hopping around the ground beneath my feeders. So bird feeders may attract towhees in that sense. 

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24. Gray Catbird

Scientific name: Dumetella carolinensis
Length: 8.3-9.4 in
Weight: 0.8-2.0 oz
Wingspan: 8.7-11.8 in

Catbirds are robin-sized birds with dark slate gray coloring all over, a black cap on top of their head and a long tail. They have a rusty red patch just beneath their tails which often goes unseen. Catbirds love to eat fruit, so attract them with native fruit-bearing trees and bushes. They get the name catbird from their calls that somewhat resemble that of a meowing cat.  

Gray Catbirds are found in Pennsylvania, and most of the U.S., only during the spring and summer. 

You may be able to attract catbirds if you offer some fruits, berries, and other sweet things but they prefer to forage on the ground or in bushes for food. 

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25. Northern Flicker

Scientific name: Colaptes auratus
Length: 11.0-12.2 in
Weight: 3.9-5.6 oz
Wingspan: 16.5-20.1 in

These medium to large sized woodpeckers are quite common in backyards throughout the United States, though not extremely common at feeders. In my opinion they are also among some of the most colorful birds in North America. Flickers feed mainly on insects and unlike other woodpeckers, often like to find them on the ground rather than trees. Identify them by the black spots on their bellies, solid black bib, red patch on the back of their necks, and barred black and gray wings. Males have a black “mustache”. In Pennsylvania you get the “yellow-shafted” variety, and they have bright yellow feathers on the underside of their wings and tail.

Northern Flickers are common all year in Pennsylvania.

Northern Flickers may not visit feeders as often as other woodpecker species, but they will still come to suet feeders. If you have some leaf piles in the yard, you may see them digging around for bugs. 

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26. White-throated Sparrow

Scientific name: Zonotrichia albicollis
Length: 6.3-7.1 in
Weight: 0.8-1.1 oz
Wingspan: 7.9-9.1 in

White-throated sparrows are common across much of the U.S. during the winter, and then migrate to Canada in the summer to breed. Their white throat patch makes them easier to identify among sparrows, along with their bold facial pattern of black and white stripe with yellow spots between the eyes. The females often nest on or just above the ground in hidden areas of dense brush and vegetation. 

White-throated sparrows are common throughout Pennsylvania during the winter months. Along the state’s northern border, some may stick around all year. 

White-throated sparrows readily visit feeders and like to pick up fallen seed on the ground below feeders. Offer sunflower, millet and mixed seed blends.

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27. Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Scientific name: Pheucticus ludovicianus 
Length: 7.1-8.3 in
Weight: 1.4-1.7 oz
Wingspan: 11.4-13.0 in

Rose-breasted grosbeaks spend their winters in Central and South America, so their annual return to the U.S. is exciting for may backyard bird lovers. While females are a streaky brown and white with a bold white eyebrow, males have quite striking colors. They have a black head and back with white wing spots, and a bright red triangle on the chest. Their fat pink beaks can help them break open tough seeds. 

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks migrate back to Pennsylvania in the spring and stall until fall.

Red-Breasted Grosbeaks will sometimes visit bird feeders and snack on mixed seeds and sunflower seeds.

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28. Baltimore Oriole

Scientific name: Icterus galbula

The Baltimore Oriole is a familiar summer sight in Pennsylvania, named for its resemblance to the black and orange coat-of-arms of 17th-century Englishman, Lord Baltimore. Males are flame-colored with a black back and head, while females are yellow with gray wings. These orioles are common in the eastern U.S. during summer and migrate to warmer regions in winter.

In Pennsylvania, Baltimore Orioles frequent orchards, gardens, and wooded areas with flowering trees. They prefer dark-colored fruits like mulberries, dark cherries, and purple grapes but can be attracted to backyards with orange halves and grape jelly. They also eat insects, often found searching for caterpillars in flowering trees during early spring.

Bird watching in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a wonderful state for birding if you want to go take your hobby outside of your own backyard. The Audubon Society of Pennsylvania  is always having meetups, workshops, field trips, and birding tours, should you want to get a little more involved.

If you are a Pennsylvania resident and would like to add some new species to your life list, then take a look at this list I’ve compiled some popular birding locations in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania birding locations

Learn more about what each of these locations has to offer (as well as local birding events and festivals) at birdwatchersdigest.org

• Bald Eagle State Park
• Erie National Wildlife Sanctuary
• Hawk Mountain
• John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum
• Presque Isle State Park

Find even more hotspots with Audubon’s Pennsylvania Important Bird Areas, or the great resources listed at the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology. 

Some other content you may enjoy:

• Hummingbirds in Pennsylvania
• Woodpeckers in Pennsylvania
• Owls in Pennsylvania
• Hawks in Pennsylvania
• Falcons in Pennsylvania