Written by: Bren Parker
Middle Tennessee, with its unique combination of woodlands, wetlands, and rolling hills, hosts a rich variety of birds that make their home in the region. While many are year-round residents, others visit our state only during the winter months. Whether you’re a casual birdwatcher or an avid enthusiast, you can spot many of these species in your own backyard this season. And with a just a few easy steps you can attract these birds to your yard while providing them with much needed subsistence and protection.
Year-Round Residents
Many species of birds call Middle TN home year-round. Those birds that stay the entire year here are well adapted to the temperate climate of the area and add a great deal of avian diversity to the state’s natural landscape. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common birds that hang around with us for all seasons.
Northern Mockingbird
Description: One of the two official birds of TN, this fella is the only mockingbird native to the U.S. They can mimic not only other birds but man-made noises as well. But beware: they can be very territorial and have even been known to swoop at people who get to close to their nests.
Habitat: Urban dwellers, this bird can be found in neighborhoods and city parks, though they prefer open ground and low shrubs.
Carolina Chickadee
Description: The Carolina Chickadee is a small, non-migratory bird distinguished by its black cap and white cheeks. He is also known for his friendly demeanor. These birds are highly adaptable and are often spotted frequenting backyards or visiting feeders. Their signature “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call will float through the air when they are in the vicinity.
American Robin
Description: The American robin is one of the most common birds seen in city and country alike. They are very territorial and solitary. Interestingly, they do not have their signature orangish chests when young.
Habitat: Adapted to a wide range of habitats, you’ll find this bird in urban areas, forests, mountains and in your own backyard.
Northern Cardinal
Description: Known for their signature red plumage (warm brown color for females) Northern Cardinals are one of the most recognizable birds in America. Their loud, melodious songs are often heard in wooded areas and suburban backyards in Middle TN.
Habitat: Forests, gardens, and urban areas. You’ll see cardinals visiting backyard bird feeders, especially during the winter months.
Mourning Dove
Description: Mourning Doves are slender, graceful birds with soft gray-brown feathers and long tails. Their “cooing” sound, is a sign of their presence. They are a common sight in open fields, on roadsides, and in urban areas and neighborhoods.
Habitat: Woodlands, fields, and urban settings. Mourning Doves can often be seen in pairs perched on telephone wires or foraging for seeds on the ground.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Description: With its red cap and nape, the Red-bellied Woodpecker is easy to identify. While its belly is not as red as its name suggests, this bird’s loud drumming and distinctive “kwirr” call make it a familiar presence in Middle Tennessee.
Habitat: Forests and woodlands, particularly those with mature trees. They are also found in suburban areas where trees and wooded edges are present.
Downy Woodpecker
Description: The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in North America, with a white underside, black wings, and a signature white stripe down the back. Males are distinguished by a small red patch on the back of their heads. These birds are active little guys and often spend their day drilling on tree trunks in search of insects.
Habitat: Wooded areas, especially forests of deciduous trees. They also frequent backyard feeders, favoring those offering suet.
Habitat: Wooded areas, especially deciduous forests, and urban backyards.
Blue Jay
Description: Gorgeous blue feathers with white markings are the trademark of this popular species. Blue Jays are a common sighting in Middle Tennessee. These intelligent birds are known for their complex vocalizations, which include a strong “jay!” call.
Habitat: Forests, suburban areas, parks, and neighborhood backyards.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Description: The White-breasted Nuthatch is a little agile bird with a distinctive black cap, white face, and bluish-gray body. Known for its peculiar habit of creeping headfirst down tree trunks, the nuthatch is a common visitor to backyard feeders in Middle TN.
Habitat: Woodlands and forests, particularly near oak and pine trees. They are found in both rural and suburban areas.
Carolina Wren
Description: The Carolina Wren is a small, energetic bird with a loud, distinctive “teakettle-teakettle-teakettle” song. Its rusty brown feathers and white eyebrows make it easy to identify to even the casual birdwatcher.
Habitat: Woodlands, thickets, and suburban areas with dense shrubs. Carolina Wrens are often found near brush piles and birdhouses.
Tufted Titmouse
Description: The Tufted Titmouse is a small, gray songbird with a distinctive crest on its head. It has a white belly, a black patch around the eyes, and a call that sounds like “peter-peter-peter.” This species is often found in pairs or small groups.
Habitat: Forests and woodlands, especially those with oak and hickory trees. They will also visit bird feeders, especially those offering seeds.
Eastern Bluebird
Description: The Eastern Bluebird is a small songbird known for its vibrant blue plumage and orangey breast. Males are a brighter color, while females are more subdued in color. Their cheerful songs are a sign of spring, but they remain in Middle Tennessee year-round.
Habitat: Open fields, rural areas, and gardens with perches for hunting insects. Bluebirds are often seen perched on fences, power lines, or tree branches.
Northern Flicker
Description: A large, ground-foraging woodpecker, the Northern Flicker has a unique appearance with its brown, spotted feathers and bright yellow or red under-wings. Unlike other woodpeckers, Northern Flickers often forage on the ground for ants and beetles making them easier for birdwatchers to spot.
Habitat: Woodlands, forests, and suburban areas with open ground. They are also common in parks and gardens.
Common Grackle
Description: The Common Grackle is a large, iridescent blackbird with distinctive yellow eyes and long tail. They are found in large numbers in America. These birds are highly social and are often seen in large flocks, especially during the winter months.
Habitat: Urban areas, farmlands, and wetlands. Grackles are often found in parks or near bird feeders, where they look for food
Seasonal Visitors
During the cold months, some bird species make their way from the north to our more temperate region, adding to the local avian diversity. These “winter birds” migrate south to take advantage of the better weather plus abundant food resources that Middle Tennessee offers. From hawks to sparrows, here’s a look at the birds you’ll only get a chance to see during the winter.
Northern Harrier
Description: The Northern Harrier is a sleek, medium-sized hawk that migrates to our region for the winter. These birds are often spotted hunting in open fields and wetlands and their distinctive “hovering” flight style, plus their striking appearance, with a white rump and a face shaped like an owl’s, makes them easy to spot.
Habitat: Northern Harriers are migratory, so they only come to Middle Tennessee during the colder months before returning to their northern breeding grounds in the spring. You’ ll see them around grasslands, wetlands, and other open habitats.
White-throated Sparrow
Description: The White-throated Sparrow is another regular visitor to Middle Tennessee during the winter months. Recognized by its striking white throat patch, yellow-tinted face, and bold black-and-white striped head, this sparrow is a beautiful addition to any backyard or bird-watching spot. A social species, you’ll hear their melodious song during the colder months, making them a familiar presence in the region.
Habitat: They are most commonly found in weedy fields, along roadsides, and in brushy areas.
Dark-eyed Junco
Description: Often referred to as the “snowbird,” the Dark-eyed Junco is one of the most common winter visitors to Middle Tennessee. These small, sparrow-like birds are identifiable by their grayish plumage and white underside. They flock to feeders and search for seeds in the leaf litter under trees, especially in suburban areas. Most often they are found in the eastern U.S. during the colder months. Their active nature and their unique calls make them a favorite among local birdwatchers.
Habitat: Juncos thrive in Middle Tennessee’s woodlands and gardens, where they can find the food they need during the winter.
Common Redpoll
Description: Contrary to their name, the Common Redpoll is not really so common in Middle TN though they are sometimes spotted during particularly cold winters. These small finches, with their distinctive red cap on the head and streaked brown plumage, migrate from northern areas such as Canada and Alaska and occasionally make their way to our state.
Habitat: When they do make an appearance, Common Redpolls tend to travel in small flocks, often feeding on birch, alder, and other small seeds. They are primarily seen in fields, brush areas, and near weedy gardens where seeds are abundant.
American Tree Sparrow
Description: A small, often elusive bird that is recognized by its rusty-brown cap, streaked chest, and a dark spot on the center of their white breast, they are typically seen in small flocks above Middle TN. Though these sparrows are not as common as other winter residents, they can be attracted to bird feeders stocked with millet and sunflower seeds. They have a distinctive “chewee” call.
Habitat: These birds are most commonly found in weedy fields, along roadsides, and in brushy areas.
Rusty Blackbird
Description: Another less frequently seen winter bird is the Rusty Blackbird which migrates from its breeding grounds in the northern U.S. and Canada. With its iridescent “rusty” brown plumage, they are easily distinguished from other blackbirds.
Habitat: Due to habitat loss, they are considered at-risk. You’re most likely to find them in the middle to western part of the state near wetlands, river groves, wood swamps, and forests.
Pine Siskin
Description: The Pine Siskin, a small finch species, is a common winter visitor to Middle Tennessee. These birds are typically seen in large flocks and are attracted to feeders offering sunflower seeds or millet. Pine Siskins have streaky, brownish plumage with yellow highlights on their wings and tails, making them easy to identify when they flock together.Their erratic flight pattern and high-pitched calls are distinctive characteristics.
Habitat:Common in coniferous forests, Pine Siskins are also seen in woodlands during the cold season
Attract Wintering Birds to Your Yard
Attracting birds to your yard during winter in Middle Tennessee can be a rewarding way to enjoy nature and help out the wildlife during the harshest weather of the cold months. Here are some strategies tailored to this region’s winter conditions:
1. Provide Food
Birds need extra energy to survive winter, and a steady food supply will attract them.
- Suet: Suet is high in fat and is especially attractive to woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice. You can buy suet cakes or make your own with some simple recipes found online.
- Seed Mixes: An abundant variety is available on the market. Black oil sunflower seeds are popular with many species, including cardinals, finches, and sparrows. A mix of sunflower, millet, safflower, and cracked corn will attract a wide range of birds.
- Nyjer (Thistle) Seed: Goldfinches and other small songbirds are particularly attracted to nyjer seed, which is great for their nutrition in winter.
- Peanuts: Unsalted peanuts in the shell or shelled are loved by woodpeckers, titmice, and blue jays.
- Fruit: Offer fruit such as apples, berries, or orange halves to attract cedar waxwings, robins, and mockingbirds.
- Birdseed Platforms: Use platform feeders or hopper feeders to provide these foods in easy-to-reach locations.
- *Do take care to regularly clean up under feeders or remove picked over fruit, especially if near your home as they can attract mice and other vermin.
2. Water Source
Yes, birds need water for drinking and bathing, even in the cold weather.
- Heated Birdbath: A heated birdbath will keep water from freezing in the colder months, making it more accessible to birds. Many bird species, including robins and sparrows, will stop by for a drink or bath.
- Shallow Containers: If a heated birdbath isn’t an option, ensure shallow containers are placed in areas that get sun, where the water may not freeze as quickly. Change often to keep fresh.
3. Create Shelter
Birds need shelter from the cold winds and predators.
- Evergreen Shrubs and Trees: Planting or maintaining evergreen shrubs and trees, like pines or holly, provides birds with natural cover from winter winds and snow. Many birds, including sparrows and chickadees, will roost in these throughout the winter.
- Birdhouses: Provide birdhouses or nesting boxes, which can offer shelter from the cold winds and snow. Ensure the entrance hole is appropriately sized for the species you want to attract.
- Brush Piles: Leaving piles of brush or twigs in your yard can create a great hiding place for birds to take shelter, particularly for ground-feeding birds like juncos.
4. Plant Winter-Resilient Plants
Not only will many of them stay green through the cold months, but plants that produce berries or seeds can provide birds with a food source during the winter.
- Native Plants: Native shrubs and trees like holly, sumac, dogwood, and beautyberry provide berries that birds like to eat in the winter.
- Seed-bearing Flowers: Even in winter, dried seed s from flowers like sunflowers, coneflowers, and black-eyed Susans will offer food for sparrows and finches.
5. Avoid Harsh Chemicals
- Limit Pesticides: Try to avoid using pesticides or herbicides in your yard, as these chemicals can harm the insects birds rely on for food, and they also can have a negative impact on our environment.
6. Place Feeders Strategically
- Location: Position feeders near trees or bushes to offer birds cover from predators, while ensuring that they are easy to reach. Ideally, they should be placed 3–5 feet off the ground. Use shepherd hooks for heavier feeders.
- Distance from Windows: Avoid placing feeders too close to windows to prevent birds from flying into them.
7. Offer Natural Insect Sources
Even in winter, some insects will be available to birds, especially on warmer days. You can help by leaving old seed heads or dried plant stems standing, as they often harbor insects that birds will enjoy.
Middle Tennessee’s winters bring a wonderful opportunity for spotting not only year- round birds, but a chance to seen other species that use the region as a temporary haven during their migration. For those only “wintering” in TN it offers an exciting opportunity to engage in the incredible journey of migratory birds often not seen in the state. Whether you’re spotting sparrows in your backyard or observing a harrier in flight, winter in Middle Tennessee is a wonderful time for bird-watching. And by providing food and habitat, you can help support these birds during the colder months, ensuring that they remain a part of Middle Tennessee’s wildlife community year-round.
If you want to lean more about the birds of TN or get bird-watching tips, here are some great places to get started:
Tennessee Backyard Birds
