Beginning birdwatchers are often surprised by the large number of species that inhabit residential areas of the Midwest. They are most familiar with the common, year-round residents such as robins, cardinals, blue jays, flickers, starlings, crows, mourning doves, chickadees and house sparrows. If they use feeders, they may also be aware of other permanent residents such as house finches, tufted titmice, downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, American goldfinches, Carolina wrens and song sparrows. Those who live in semi-rural areas may see eastern bluebirds, northern mockingbirds and field sparrows and nocturnal birders may turn up an eastern screech owl, barred owl or great horned owl.
Summer birds begin to arrive in mid April and, since most feed on insects and nectar, will depart for southern climes by early October. Gray catbirds, northern orioles, brown thrashers, house wrens, common grackles, yellow warblers, indigo buntings and ruby-throated hummingbirds are among the most common of these summer residents. Less widespread but fairly common are rose-breasted grosbeaks, great crested flycatchers, eastern wood pewees, rufous-sided towhees, chipping sparrows and blue-gray gnatcatchers. Birders who search the skies over residential areas should see chimney swifts, barn and tree swallows, purple finches, common nighthawks, turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks; the latter two species are permanent residents through most of the Midwest. Finally, cedar waxwings, nomads of the bird world, may turn up during any season.
