Learn 30 Winter Common Backyard Bird Songs and Calls (Eastern North America)

Do you want to learn what birds you're hearing in your backyard this winter? Learn 30 common backyard bird songs and calls that you may hear if you live in Eastern North America. Note that many of these vocalizations are variable and that birds have more than one vocalization. In winter, birds will also likely not be vocalizing as often as they would be in the spring.
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Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera
Used for most bird videos) - check credits as we do source some photos/videos elsewhere which is noted in the description
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Cayer FP2450 Fluid Head Tripod, 75 inches Aluminium Tripod
Derek's lighter tripod
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Andoer Video Tripod Aluminum Alloy 67 Inch
Derek's heavier tripod
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Nikon D5300
Derek's vlogging and macro camera
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Rode VideoMicPro Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone
Derek's external microphone for Nikon D5300
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Most of the songs and calls are from Xeno Canto! (Used under CC by 4.0)
xeno-canto.org/
Black-capped Chickadee song by Jonathon Jongmsa (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC132861
Photo by Ryan Sallmann
Dark-eyed Junco song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC254480
Photo by Ryan Sallmann
Mourning Dove song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC128006
Northern Cardinal first song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC121458
Photo by N. Lewis (Public Domain, edited)(Also in Backyard bird call slide)
Northern Cardinal second song by Derek Sallmann
Ruby-crowned Kinglet song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC175095
Photo by Andy Bridges (Public Domain, edited)
Yellow-rumped Warbler song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC138635
Photo by Lorri Howski (Used with permission)
White-throated Sparrow song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC77875
Photo by Ryan Sallmann
Pine Siskin song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC70423
Photo by N. Lewis (Public Domain, edited)
Common Redpoll song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC118265
Photo by Derek Sallmann
Evening Grosbeak song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC77883
Photo by Jacob W. Frank (Public Domain, edited)
Red Crossbill song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC254481
Photo by US. Forest Service - PNW region (Public Domain, edited)
American Crow song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC112829
Photo by Alan Schmierer (Public Domain, edited)
Great Horned Owl call by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC428421
Photo by Ryan Sallmann
Euoprean Starling song by Marie-Lan Tay Pamart (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC516954
Photo by N. Lewis (Public Domain, edited)
Red-breasted Nuthatch song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC104518
Photo by Ryan Sallmann
Cedar Waxwing song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC142622
Photo by William Powell (Public Domain, edited)
Tufted Titmouse song by Derek Sallmann
Photo by N. Lewis (Public Domain, edited)
Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Tree Sparrow, and House Sparrow songs by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
Photos by Derek/Ryan Sallmann
Northern Mockingbird song and photo by Ryan Sallmann
Purple Finch song by Brad Bumgardner (used with permission)
Photo by N. Lewis (Public Domain)
Great Horned Owl by Michael and Katie LaTour CC by 4.0, edited
Carolina Wren and Barred Owl by Matthias Sirch CC by 4.0, edited
All other songs not mentioned above by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann
CC by 4.0 license: creativecommon....
CC by 2.0 license: creativecommon....
Birds in cover image by N. Lewis (Public Domain, edited)
#Birding #BirdWatching #BadgerlandBirding

[@lukeswain1752]

We had a deck with a bird feeder on it growing up. I would sit at the big glass sliding door and watch the birds all day. Sometimes they would hit the window and get stunned. So I'd go out and hold them in my hands until they flew away. The red headed woodpecker would sometimes harrass the smaller birds and eat a LOT of the bird seed. Birds are amazing

[@reed7048]

Beautiful! ❤ Thank you for sharing this with us. We live in North Western PA and we have heard many of these birds. My long time favorite is the Cardinal. My husband's favorite are the hummingbirds and the bold lil' chick-a-dee.❤

[@rayettajones6441]

Thank you, Derrick. I have heard some of these bird sounds. I'm going to try and identify the bird with the sound now.

[@FlowerChyld143]

This was very helpful- Thank you!

[@NikkoWildBirds]

Thank you for sharing the video of the types of wild birds that I have never seen. I really enjoyed it.

[@peterjohnson617]

Thank you ! I have heard them all and I love them all.

[@Oltoir]

Great video with a very helpful collation of the common sounds for half of the US! Keep up the great work :)

[@NathanWebb-c5h]

I've heard most of these bird songs except for the evening grosbeak and common redpoll. I hope you have a merry Christmas!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Thanks! Merry Christmas to you as well!

[@noellittle9257]

This video is great. Thank you very much.

[@workingbulldogs]

Excellent video! Thank you for sharing this! Lisa, from Ontario, Canada.

[@susanbrown4891]

Thanks for these.😊

[@garymeredith2441]

While watching this epibode I didn't see you guys see any shore birds did you guys have any shore birds . As usual guys great show and lots of great birds you showed us viewer's thank you .

[@jasonrad9332]

Heard most of them. Only a few I haven’t.

[@jessiesemer8194]

Chicka dee dee dee 😊

[@JLowe1964]

Merry Christmas fellas!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Thanks! Merry Christmas to you, too!

[@lisamorrowpeculiar]

The junco reminds me of a rotary phone being dialed.

[@Jeremy-ek1qw]

Thank you for the videos. I have listened to dozens of different bird calls and havenyet to identify a bird I recently heard here in the upstate of South Carolina. It sounds kinda like "oh wow, oh wow, oh wow" but a little "growly" at the same time. I listened to eleben different crow calls, but none came close. This is definitely not a song bird nor any species of owl or hawk. Any help will be much appreciated.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Have you listened to the different Northern Cardinal songs? Or Carolina Wren?

[@Shrock568]

I have trouble telling the difference between the Greater Scaup and Lesser scaup and the differences between the Tundra and Trumpeter swan. Can you give me some tips?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Sure! These probably warrant specific videos in the future, but essentially, some things to look for on Lesser Scaup is thinner bill nail, slimmer looking head with peak on the back of the head which will be more rounded in Greater. More info here: www.audubon.org/news/greater-or-lesser-scaup-here-are-biggest-differences-between-two#:~:text=Greater%20Scaup%20tend%20to%20choose,in%20freshwater%20zones%20further%20inland. For swans, Trumpeter head shape is more bell-shaped and more of a line between the eye and bill. Tundra will often have yellow on the bill but Trumpeter can as well. Head will look more slim. There are a few things with bill shape where it meets the forehead as well. Here’s a thorough guide: www.sibleyguides.com/2006/02/distinguishing-trumpeter-and-tundra-swans/

[@Shrock568]

@@BadgerlandBirding Thank you so much!

[@poeplex1190]

What camera do you use regularly?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Panasonic Lumix FZ-80, mostly for videos, but unfortunately I think they discontinued it :/

[@radishsoup]

2:25 I heard a bird call with the exact same melody as the 2nd cardinal call. But instead of the “cheer cheer cheer cheer” being a tweet sound, it sounded like a “caw caw caw caw” or “ka ka ka ka.” Any idea on what bird this could be? I travel to and from Indiana and Ohio often and I’ve only heard it in those two states

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Not American Crow though?

[@radishsoup]

@@BadgerlandBirdingnope not really. it starts the same as the cardinal with the “wacheer wacheer” and ends with the 4 “ka’s” except each ka sound had sort of a click

[@senormooklei8675]

I heard a call I've never recognized recently, and I've been searching like crazy because I can't find anything on it. I'm in Indiana, and it's a C minor 123 123 (pause) 123 123. Couldn't find the bird for shit, either. Can someone help me?😂

[@pearspeedruns]

If it’s slower, I heard exactly that last year here in Virginia. I also couldn’t find any recording that sounded exactly like it. The best guess I could come up with is a variation of the “cheeseburger” song of a chickadee.

[@senormooklei8675]

@@pearspeedruns Almost like a chickadee, but on coke.