Birds of Ohio | Ohio Birdwatching

Rufous Hummingbird Greeting Card by lakeerieartists
See many other cards on zazzle.com

Did you know that birding is the number one sport in America? According to US Fish and Wildlife Service, there are currently 51.3 million birders in the United States alone, and this number continues to grow!

To begin birding, all you need are three items: Binoculars, a field guide and a blank notebook. Having a friend that has more experience in birding can also be helpful.

But just as important, you need patience. Birding can be a challenging activity because birds are naturally skittish. However, the rewards are well worth it; few other activities can bring such a sense of wonder, satisfaction, connecting with nature, as well as peaceful solitude -- in today's busy world.

The first challenge to birding is figuring out where to find birds in the first place! Whether you live in the city, suburbs, country, mountains or seaside, knowing your habitat is key to predicting which feathered friends will be around.

Like you, birds can be very selective in where they live; your surroundings may not supply them with the necessities of life. Be realistic about what you might find in your neighborhood, and when. A good bird guide is important. Look up birds that are known to occur in your region, and see if you can spot them. If you want to see a particular kind of bird, check out the maps to see if they occur near you, and read about the habitats in which they live. Remember, you probably won't see a marsh-living raptor on your city block. Some birds may use your region to rest during spring/fall migration, some may winter nearby, while others may breed there.

For more information on birding basics, follow this link.

Bird feeding can benefit birds and also provides great bird watching from your own backyard. The obvious time to feed birds is in winter when natural food supplies are scarce; however, additional species visit feeders during the spring and fall migrations, and also during summer while nesting.

To keep birds coming back to your feeders in any season provide them with the following three essential elements:

• Variety of quality seed.


• Fresh water for drinking and bathing.


• Ample cover, preferably provided by native plants. Native plants also provide potential nesting sites and a source of natural food.

Scarlet Tanager
The scarlet tanager's songs are easily enough heard and can give away their presence. While somewhat robin-like in phrasing and tempo, their song has a rough, burry quality and has often been likened to a "robin with a sore throat."

The blue jay is part of the crow family, which is a group of larger, aggressive birds. Their bills are large and stout; the feet and legs are heavy, enabling them to spend much time on the ground. Both the wings and the tail are rounded. The family is omnivorous (they eat both plant and animal material) and their songs are loud, raucous calls.

Finches are at the top of the evolutionary line of Ohio's birds. This is a family of small to medium-sized hopping birds. The bill is usually short, conical, and stout, allowing them to easily crack the seeds that form the bulk of their diet. In some finches the male is much brighter than the female; in others the sexes are similar. These birds are found in every land habitat in Ohio. The group is the largest bird family in the world and includes grosbeaks, finches, buntings, and sparrows.

Wood Duck in Blue by lakeerieartists
Design cards using zazzle.com

Puddle ducks are typically birds of fresh, shallow marshes and rivers rather than of large lakes and bays. They are good divers, but usually feed by dabbling or tipping rather than by submerging. Any duck feeding in croplands will likely be a puddle duck, for most of this group are surefooted and can walk and run well on land. Their diet consists of mostly vegetables.

Warbler by lakeerieartists
Browse more Birds Postcards

Warblers, with their brilliantly colored feathers, are the tiny jewels of Ohio's bird families. They are very active -- constantly flittering around. Most are yellow with black and white markings. Their plumage varies considerably from spring to fall, juvenile to adult, and male to female. The tail is square, often with white markings. Warblers feed almost entirely on insects gleaned from leaves and twigs with their slender bills. Members of this family abound in any Ohio woodland or brushy area during the spring and fall migration seasons. In spring their buzzlike songs (not warbling) fill the air with a delightful chorus.

One of the largest bird species in Ohio, populations of the great blue heron are widely distributed throughout the state. Native to Ohio, there was a time when heron numbers dwindled as these birds' feathers were a favorite of the millinery trade during the 1800s. The great blue heron is often observed motionless, as it pursues its prey while standing in a stream, river or wetland. Unlike numerous other predators that actively stalk on foot or wing, the great blue heron takes the complete opposite approach-it stands still, watching the water for a fish. Then in the blink of an eye, in a sharp and seamless movement it will snare its prey.

Attracting & Feeding Wild Birds: Quick And Easy Attracting And Feeding Wild Birds