Most birds are a reddish-orange, some can be yellow, but the underlying pattern is the same. Habitat, range & behavior: Common in oak and oak-pine woodlands, wooded towns. Tufted Duck: Medium-sized duck has long black crest, black back and tail, white underparts and sides, black head, neck and breast with purple sheen, black wings with dark-edged, white stripes visible in flight, yellow eyes and gray legs and feet. And you can listen to recordings of bird songs and calls. Cave Swallow: Small swallow (Southwest pelodoma), with steel-blue upperparts, white underparts, rufous wash on breast and sides. Crown has two dark stripes. Wings are dark with two white bars. Bill is pink with a brown tip and base. Gray coloured birds are found in most families of bird species, including gnatcatchers, thrushes, vireos, chickadees, nuthatches and so on. Curved neck is often stained with pigments from iron or algae. Loggerhead Shrike: Medium shrike with gray upperparts and paler gray underparts. Habitat, range & behavior: Lives in deciduous forests with heavy canopy, parks. About same size as Northern Flicker. Wings are white with black primary and secondary feathers. Wings are gray with two white bars. That way, for unusual birds, I can see the plumage. In winter they can form into flocks of ten's of thousands. No doubt that is because the state is quite small and has a similar habitat throughout. Introduced in South America, Africa, Australia--nearly anywhere there are people and cities. Wings are black with large white patches. Black-backed Woodpecker: Small woodpecker with black back, black wings with white spots on flight feathers, barred flanks, white underparts. Smaller than ravens. Strong steady flight with deep wing beats. Direct and hovering flight with rapid wing beats. Black legs and feet. The diet includes aquatic insects and plants. That large conical bill is made for chewing seeds. That will let me know exactly what I am looking for when I am out in the field. Diet is heavy in seeds and cultivated grains. My review: Celestron Nature DX ED binoculars for birding Is the Celestron Nature DX ED 8x42 binocular any good for bird watching? Alternates rapid wing beats with short glides. There is a list of the top 100 hotspots in each state. Clings to tree trunk on strong short legs propped up with short stiff tail. Forages on ground and in trees and bushes. Smaller than a Red-winged Blackbird. Black Guillemot Adult: Medium-sized seabird, black body with a large white wing patch and a dark, pointed bill. Alternates rapid wing beats with glides. Light buff-yellow wash on crown of head extending down nape may be visible. Feeds on aquatic plants, cultivated grains, seeds. In summer moves north to the Canada border. Legs are short. The inside of their mouth is bright orange. Legs are yellow with very long toes. They tend to be messy... and have a good appetite, and may occur in large noisy chirping flocks. Outer tail feathers are white. Feeds primarily on insects. Vent and wing stripe visible in flight. Some people feed jays peanuts, perhaps away from the seed feeders. Underparts are orange-brown with strongly barred black, white flanks. In 2016 the American Ornithologist Union split the Clapper Rail into three species, the Clapper Rail, Ridgway's Rail and Mangrove Rail (not in North America). The female (shown in foreground) and winter adult have brown streaked upperparts and no black bib. Farther below I've also added a list of other common birds not typically found in backyards. Consider the gray catbird: the tropical long-distance migrant that may well be nesting in your backyard this summer. Bouyant, silent flight with flicking wing beats. Baird's Sandpiper: This medium-sized bird has scaled gray-brown upperparts, white underparts and a dark-spotted gray-brown breast. White morph is white with dark spots and markings on wings, nape, and sides. Not all birds can be found in backyards. North America's smallest goose. Orange air sacs on both sides of the neck inflate during courtship display; long feathers on back of neck also raised during displays. The sexes are similar; males are slightly larger. It has a rufous crown, white eye ring and dark brown wings. Larger than Red-winged Blackbird. Bill: Longer than head, pointed, but stouter than other blackbirds. I conclude with a list comparing the birds of Bridgeport with the birds of the state as a whole. https://backyardbirdingblog.com/backyard-bird-identification-guide Great Shearwater: Large shearwater, scaled, gray-brown upperparts, white underparts, brown markings on belly. Black bill is slender and long. The following list uses eBird data to compare the birds of Bridgeport with the birds of the state as a whole. Black tips on the primary feathers are only seen in flight. Winters widely. You may like my in-depth article on attracting Black-capped Chickadees. Bill: Black, long and stout. Female is brown-scaled overall with dull blue shoulder patch, dark eyes and pale edged upper mandible. Bill, legs are bright orange, upper bill develops a fibrous keel during breeding season. Bookmark this page to come back. Arctic Warbler: Medium-sized, active warbler with stout bill, olive-green back, olive-brown sides, and white throat and belly. The song is a simple trill. Undertail coverts are white. Diet includes insects, fish, shellfish and crabs. Dark red belly patch. Larger than hummingbirds. Bill, legs, and feet are black. Feet and legs are dull yellow. These birds usually travel in flocks outside of the breeding season. Suet blocks. Black-throated Gray Warbler: Small warbler, black-marked, slate-gray upperparts, black streaks on flanks, white underparts. Swift flight with shallow wing beats. As an Amazon Associate I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. Colloquially called "snow birds," they often arrive in backyards in winter from nearby mountain forests or more northern climes. Round head on short neck. Best identified by its relatively slow, languid flight compared to other shearwaters. There is room for 52 lines, or bars, in each chart. Larger than American Robin. In fact, 10,000 of them. Check out our blog for more sightings of intriguing, uncommon, or otherwise notable birds. Mute Swan: Aggressive bird, entirely white, orange bill with large black basal knob and naked black lores. Habitat, range & behavior: They prefer open areas with trees, fields, farms, cities. Underwing coverts are white. It mainly feeds on fish, squid and shrimp. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats. Gray Kingbird: Large flycatcher with gray upperparts, black mask, inconspicuous red crown patch, and mostly white underparts with pale yellow wash on belly and undertail coverts. American Goldfinch. From the eBird home page, select the tab for Explore (https://ebird.org/explore). Bill, legs, and feet are black. Different ones in every location. They have weak feet and do not perch well on tube feeders. Split in 2016 by the American Ornithologist Union. It feeds on small fish, crustaceans and insects. The flight is labored and slow with dangling legs. Forages on ground, never far from low cover to which they fly if startled. Its broad, bushy tail is about the length of its head and body combined. Habitat, range & behavior: You'll find small flocks on wires, in short tree tops and in bushes. Soars on thermals and updrafts. Shape: Rounded body, long full tail, big head, long legs. A fairly common bird of northern forests that visits backyards across much of the US. Shape: Stocky with large head and short stiff tail. They can quickly empty your feeder! Name changed in 2017 from Le Conte's Sparrow to LeConte's Sparrow. Found in small flocks on ground near brush into which they can flee. Strong flight, alternates shallow wing beats with brief periods of wings pulled to sides. Harlequin Duck: Small diving duck, blue-gray upperparts and underparts, rust-brown flanks. Feeds on insects, snails, grains, seeds and fruits. Bird books for each individual state in the US, 34 of the most common birds in the United States (with photos), Best budget birding binoculars: Celestron Nature DX ED. The back and sides of its coat are silver-gray in color and the underparts are white. Underparts are white; upper breast is rust-brown and spotted. Townsend's Solitaire: Small thrush, gray overall and slightly darker above. Thank you so much for visiting! My perso... Song Sparrow is a common bird in Bridgeport. First, I'm sending you to eBird (www.ebird.org). Feeds on caterpillars, insects, fruits, seeds and grains. You saw a striking bird with a red head, did you? Bill: Medium-length, pointed. Select your county and state from the drop-down list. It feeds on squid and fish. Oddly enough, the male Connecticut Warblers defend their nesting territory by singing. Shape: Long, with long full keel-shaped tail, long legs, flat crown. White-tipped wings, held horizontal in flight. Feeds primarily on insects. Colloquially called a "wild canary.". Shape: Round body, short neck, round head, fairly long square-ended tail. Rapid direct flight with strong wing beats. Bill, legs and feet are black. European Starlings, introduced in the U.S. about 150 years ago, have thrived and often join birds in the yard in flocks--much to the dismay of backyard hosts.Note that starlings in breeding plumage (left) are mostly black but upon closer look, quite iridescent. Eyes are yellow. They love black oil sunflower seeds and suet. It has a dark bill, yellow eyes and black legs and feet. Identification: Size: Small birds about the size of a House Finch. A thin line indicates a rare bird. The book called "The Complete Birds of North America", is a book recommended to be part of any birders library. Breast is orange-brown and belly is yellow. It was first recorded on the Lewis and Clark expedition. It has a long, dark forked tail, and a black bill, legs and feet. Strong direct flight with steady wing beats. Crawls over tree branches and head-first down tree trunks searching for insects. Mew Gull: Medium-sized gull with gray back and upperwings, and white head, neck, breast, and belly. Bar-tailed Godwit: This large shorebird has a long upcurved bill, scaled brown, black and gray mottled upperparts and pale red-brown underparts. Identification: Size: About chickadee-sized in length. Swift flight, alternates rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides. Forages on shore; sometimes probes mud. In flight has rounded wing tips with each primary feather separated from others forming "fingers." It has a slow flight with deep wing beats and soars on updrafts. They have a bit of difficulty eating from tube feeders. Color: Pale brown-pink body, darker wings and tail. The wings and tail are dark gray. Last sighted in Canada in 1982. Great Gray Owl: Large owl, dark gray body interspersed with bars and flecks of brown, pale gray, and white. The feet extend past the tail in flight. Tail is gray with faint bars, dark terminal band, and white trailing edge. To discourage them, use tube feeders, rather than hopper or tray feeders. Wings have white stripes visible in flight. It was named for the state where it was first discovered, where it is an uncommon migrant. White eye-ring is broken and slate gray hood extends to upper breast where it darkens to black. Their mournful cooing is a familiar spring birdsong. Eastern race has gray-green upperparts and distinct yellow wash on underparts. Forages in low vegetation and on the ground. Food and feeder preference: Black oil sunflower seeds. Sandhill Crane: This large wading bird has a gray body, white cheeks, chin, and upper throat, and a bright red cap. If so, you'll want to check this out. The juvenile is brown and streaked. The gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), also spelled grey catbird, is a medium-sized North American and Central American perching bird of the mimid family. Black-bellied Plover: This medium-sized shorebird has black upperparts vividly marked with a white spot on each feather. Identification: Size: A smaller bird, similar in size to House Finch and juncos. Yellow eyes surrounded by orange eye-rings. White under parts. It mainly feeds on insects and other small invertebrates. Head and underparts are buff to cinnamon with white throat and vent. Sometimes called Swamp Warbler. If you are only feeding birds birdseed, suet and nectar you are missing out! Browse through available african grey parrots for sale and adoption in connecticut by aviaries, breeders and bird rescues. Black feathers around eye accentuates its size. Absent from treeless grasslands, deserts in the west. They monopolize feeders and are bullies toward other birds. Winters in the eastern US, southern central US, and rare but regular along the West Coast. Once called the Golden Swamp Warbler. It has a black face, throat and belly and white forehead and crown that extends over the eye, down the back and sides of the neck. Ash-throated Flycatcher: Medium flycatcher with gray-brown upperparts, pale gray throat and breast, and gray-brown tail with rufous highlights. Black bill is very short; legs, feet are orange-red. Food and feeder preference: Insects, seeds, acorns and other nuts. Say's Phoebe: Medium-sized, active flycatcher with gray-brown upperparts and head, paler gray throat and upper breast, and pale rufous belly and undertail coverts. Underparts are white, and buff-brown wash on throat. Photos and identification are next. Right now, the world is mostly white, black and gray. This is one of the most common and popular backyard birds in the eastern half of the United States. Bill: Short, conical, pink. The upperparts are very pale gray, nearly white, and the underparts are white. Fast direct flight with rapid wing beats. Wings are brown with two white bars. Winter birds are pale grayish-yellow with tan and brown wings and tail. Bill is heavy and slightly hooked. It flies low over the water with rapid wing beats. Our most common mostly gray-colored yard bird is the Tufted Titmouse. You may be interested: Bird books for each individual state in the US, Related: 34 of the most common birds in the United States (with photos). The female is larger than the male with a longer bill and has a little red-brown color. I live in Connecticut, and I’ve never seen ANY of these species. You wonder what it is. LeConte's Sparrow: Small sparrow, brown-streaked back, brown-streaked gray nape, pale gray underparts with streaks on sides, pale yellow breast. It has pink legs and feet, yellow eyes with red orbital ring and a yellow bill with red spot near tip. Tail is long and black with white corners. Common Eider: Large diving duck (v-nigrum), with distinctive sloping forehead, black body, white breast and back. Black tail with white outer tail feathers with black bars or spots. Hood is solid black and eye-ring is dark red. Wings are long and narrow. Food and feeder preference: Worms and other invertebrates in the lawn. It is a professional looking checklist, too. Graceful, bouyant flight. Chestnut-collared Longspur: Small, sparrow-like bird with brown-streaked upperparts, black breast and flanks, some have chestnut on underparts, pale gray belly. Bill: Long, chisel-shaped. Tail is forked; legs and feet are dark gray. The birds in Bridgeport are very similar in abundance to the birds of Connecticut as a whole. Bridgeport is in Fairfield County. Wings are dark with two white bars. Other hotspots are very rarely visited by birders. Feeds on insects, frogs, fruits and berries. Yellow eyes are relatively small. It feeds mostly on insects. The Checklist of the Birds of Connecticut. Head has stark black crown, face, and throat. Mountain Bluebird: Small thrush with brilliant blue back, head, and wings. Color: Highly variable in darkness and color saturation across its range (dark rusty to pale gray). Legs and feet are pink. The legs and feet are black. Sexes are similar. The neck, breast and belly are white. Field guides, illustrations, and database Copyright © 2004 - 2013. Soars on fixed wings if wind is up. Formerly found in the western United States and Mexico. White edges on wing feathers. Black bill is short, wide, and slightly decurved and forked tail is short to medium in length. At your hopper or tray feeder they like black oil sunflower seeds and suet. This is one of the most common species in the eastern half of the United States. It has a swift direct flight with rapid wing beats. Soars on thermals and updrafts. Tail is slightly forked when folded. It has a long black bill that is slightly decurved, and black legs and feet. Tan-striped form with tan and brown striped head. Weak fluttering flight with shallow wing beats. In your feeder will eat mixed seeds on a platform feeder and on the ground. Northern Mockingbird: This medium-sized bird has gray upperparts, paler gray underparts and a faint eye line. Feeds on insects and spiders. This sparrow is commonly found in cities and farmlands. This article tells you what ... As an Amazon Associate I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. As a beginner in the birdwatching world, look for some of these common Connecticut birds to get started on your checklist. White-winged Dove: Medium-sized, stout dove with gray-brown upperparts, gray underparts, and small, black crescent below eye. Wings have large white stripes visible in flight; tail has dark central stripe above and is white below. Bill is heavy and dark. Boreal Owl: Medium owl, white-spotted, brown upperparts and thick brown-streaked, white underparts. Food and feeder preference: Insects and seeds. Male is iridescent blue-black with yellow or brown eyes. This tiny woodpecker is found across the United States. I've put this resource together for you to answer the question: What birds are in my backyard in Virginia? Spend much of their time hopping and feeding on the ground. Habitat, range & behavior: Cities and farms. The Gray Catbird breeds over nearly all of the United States and southern Canada. Wings and notched tail are dark. It hovers before dipping for prey. The most common backyard birds in Connecticut in winter (December to February) are these:Black-capped Chickadee (41% frequency)Dark-eyed Junco (40%)Northern Cardinal (37%)Blue Jay (36%)Tufted Titmouse (34%)Downy Woodpecker (34%)Mourning Dove (32%)American Crow (32%)White-throated Sparrow (31%)White-breasted Nuthatch (30%)House Sparrow (27%)Song Sparrow (25%)Red-bellied Woodpecker (24%)European Starling (24%)American Goldfinch (24%)House Finch (20%), The most common backyard birds in Connecticut in summer (June to July) are these:American Robin (59% frequency)Mourning Dove (49%)Gray Catbird (49%)Northern Cardinal (45%)Song Sparrow (45%)American Goldfinch (41%)Common Grackle (39%)Blue Jay (39%)House Sparrow (36%)American Crow (32%)Tufted Titmouse (29%)Chipping Sparrow (29%)Black-capped Chickadee (29%)Downy Woodpecker (28%)European Starling (27%)Barn Swallow (27%)Cedar Waxwing (25%)Red-eyed Vireo (24%)House Finch (23%)White-breasted Nuthatch (23%)Red-bellied Woodpecker (22%)House Wren (21%). Male with small red spot at back of head. Western Grebe: Large, long-necked grebe with dark gray upperparts, white underparts, gray sides and flanks. Whatbird parametric search. Smaller than a Mourning Dove. You may like my in-depth article on attracting Northern Cardinals. Swift, graceful flight, alternates several rapid, deep wing beats with long curving glides. Then you're on your way to exploring the wildlife in a larger world. Bill: Short, chisel-shaped. Fluttering direct flight on shallow wing beats. Between a Starling and American Robin in size. Smaller than juncos and House Finches. Hawks from perch, hovers. In flight it shows long pointed wings with black flight feathers and white wing linings. That's enough for several lifetimes of joy just to see them once! Black bill is long and stout. Rusty feathers under tail. Color: Gray-brown upperparts, rusty orange breast. Yellow-orange eye combs. Legs and feet are gray black. Some males show green on back and head. A cage mesh around smaller hopper feeders may keep them out. Bill is dark with a yellow base and slightly decurved. Varied Thrush: Large thrush, dark gray upperparts, rust-brown throat, breast, sides, eyebrows, black breast band, and white belly and undertail. Females lack the black and are tan and brown with a pale line back from the eye. Resident in most of the United States (lower 48). Sharp-tailed Sandpiper: This medium-sized sandpiper has dark brown upperparts and white underparts with faint olive-brown streaks on breast and sides. Color: Males are brown and gray with a black mask. Dark gray legs and feet. I've put this resource together for you to answer the question: What birds are in my backyard in Connecticut? Head has a slate-gray hood and bold white eye-ring. One feature that I like on the county page is the Illustrated Checklist. Hawks from perch, hovers. The flight is highly undulating, rising and falling as they flap in short bursts. White overall with black primaries and long pointed wings. White wing patches are visible in flight. Gray morph is a mix. Bullock's Oriole: Medium oriole, mostly bright orange with black crown, eye-line, throat stripe, back, and central tail. Burrowing Owl: Small ground-dwelling owl, mostly brown with numerous white spots and no ear tufts. Female is brown overall, dark breast, pale sides, white belly and gray bill. The female is more brightly colored than the male. Black wings with white spots. American Robin The American Robin is the state bird of Connecticut, so of course, you’ll be seeing them around! They may eat peanuts from a tray feeder and eat from a suet block. Alternates rapid, shallow wing beats with stiff-winged glides. Black Vulture: Large raptor, black overall, short, featherless neck, pale bill, short and squared tail, long, pale gray legs and feet. Sexes are similar. Legs and feet are red. Black tail is notched. Head has black hood and throat, sharply contrasting white eyebrow and cheek stripe, and yellow spot in front of eye. There are birds everywhere you go. Gray legs, feet. Nape is chestnut-brown, crown is black, and throat is white. Wings are black with white patches. May bully smaller birds. You may like my in-depth article on attracting American Goldfinches. Wings have white-spotted black tips; tail is white. Sexes similar, but male is smaller with a brighter bill base. Rural areas and towns are where they're now most common. Strong flight with shallow wing beats. Wings have conspicuous white patches. Feeds primarily on mosquito larvae but also takes mollusks and crustaceans. Townsend's Warbler: Olive-green upperparts, black throat and upper breast. It is a familiar yard bird in North Carolina, though it is a bit particular. The thickness of the line (bar) indicates how frequently a bird is seen. Shape: Chunkier than native North American sparrows with large head, barrel chest, short neck, medium tail, short legs. Rusty under tail coverts. Legs and feet are black.Feeds on nectar and insects. Diet includes fish, crustaceans and insects. Flies in V formation. Eats mostly insects in the summer. Resident in western United States, western Canada, coastal southern Alaska, northeastern US. Thank you for your support. Wings and tail are olive-green. Tropical Kingbird: Large flycatcher with olive-gray upperparts, gray head, inconspicuous orange crown patch, pale throat, dark eye patch, and dark upper breast. Tail is square. Purple Gallinule: Medium, chicken-like marsh bird with purple-blue upperparts washed with iridescent green, deep blue underparts. Readily feed at backyard feeders on mixed seeds on hopper or tray feeders and ground.