There are many different species of birds that you may see in your backyard or while out on a hike. Some of these birds are very colorful, and some are drabber. But one thing that many of these birds have in common is that they have red heads! Let’s find out what that bird with a red head is:
Table of Contents
Acorn Woodpecker (2% chance)
The Acorn Woodpecker is a small to medium-sized bird with a black and white body and a red head. These woodpeckers are found in North and South America and prefer to live in wooded areas where there are plenty of acorns for them to eat. You can find them in any forest that has oak trees, including pine-oak woodlands.
These birds usually live in large family groups and can often be seen working together to gather food or build their nests. Acorn woodpeckers are excellent climbers and often hang upside down from tree branches while they search for food.
They usually store their acorns tightly in the bark of trees, which they use as a food cache during times of scarcity. Acorn woodpeckers will often mate for life and can live up to 20 years in the wild.
The noise they make sounds like a “chuk-chuk” or a “pik-pik” sound. In other words, they are very sociable birds that are rather noisy!
Anna’s Hummingbird (5.8% chance)
Anna’s Hummingbird is a small bird that is found in North and South America. These hummingbirds are greenish-black with a pinkish wash on their throats and chests. The males have iridescent feathers on their heads that often appear to be purple or red.
Anna’s Hummingbirds do not mate for life. They are also very protective of their territory and will chase away any other bird that tries to enter it, including other hummingbirds!
These birds build nests out of plant down and spider webs. The female lays two eggs per clutch and incubates them for about two weeks before they hatch.
Anna’s Hummingbird is named after Anna Massena, Duchess of Rivoli and Piedmont. These birds are often seen in urban areas, as they are attracted to the flowers that people have in their gardens.
Barn Swallow (11.1% chance)
The Barn Swallow is a small bird that is found in the Americas and Africa. These swallows are black with white underparts and have long, forked tails. The males also have a blue-gray throat and forehead.
Barn Swallows mate for life and often return to the same nesting site year after year. They build their nests out of mud and grass, which they line with feathers. The female Barn Swallow will lay three to seven eggs per clutch. The mother incubates the eggs for about two weeks before they hatch.
These birds are insectivores and eat mostly flying insects. They often hunt in flocks and can be seen swooping down from the sky. You can bring more Barn Swallows to your backyard with a platform feeder using ground-up eggshells, or by leaving an outbuilding door open for them to nest.
Cassin’s Finch (0.5% chance)
Cassin’s Finches have red crowns and rosy pink heads and breasts with whiteish bellies and brown backs and wings. They reside in mountain forests in western states where they forage for seeds in flocks.
In the summer, they move to higher elevations to breed. The female Cassin’s Finch builds a nest of grass, bark, and plants down in a tree cavity or on a ledge. She incubates 3-5 eggs for 12-13 days.
Adding sunflower seed feeders to your backyard, or planting fruiting shrubs like cotoneaster, mulberries, firethorn, grape and apple will help attract Cassin’s Finches and also House Finches and Purple Finches.
Common Redpoll (0.5% chance)
The Common Redpoll is a small finch with a red cap and black chin. These birds are found in North America and Europe. In the winter, they often migrate south to escape the cold weather.
To stay warm at night during winter, they sometimes tunnel into the snow. The Common Redpoll feeds on seeds and insects. In the summer, they eat mostly insects.
Common redpolls can be found in Northern Nebraska during winter, and sometimes they even travel as far south as Kansas. These birds are small, about the size of a goldfinch, and they usually hang out near weedy fields, road edges, or birch trees.
Downy Woodpecker (23.6% chance)
The Downy Woodpecker is a small bird that is found in North America. These woodpeckers are black with white spots on their wings and backs. The males have a red patch on the back of their heads, while the females have a white patch.
Downy Woodpeckers mate for life and often stay close to their nesting sites. They nest in tree cavities or nest boxes. The female will lay four to eight eggs per clutch. The mother incubates the eggs for about 12 days before they hatch.
These birds are insectivores and eat mostly beetles, ants, and caterpillars. They also eat some fruits and nuts. To attract Downy Woodpeckers to your backyard, you can put up a birdhouse or feeder with suet.
Hairy Woodpecker (8% chance)
The Hairy Woodpecker is a bird species native to North America. They are black and white with a red spot on their head. The males have longer bills than the females.
The Hairy Woodpecker builds its nest in a tree cavity. The female will lay three to eight eggs per clutch. The mother incubates the eggs for about two weeks before they hatch.
These birds are insectivores and eat mostly ants, beetles, and caterpillars. They also eat some fruits and nuts. You can attract Hairy Woodpeckers to your backyard by putting up a birdhouse or feeder with suet or peanut butter.
House Finch (23.8% chance)
The House Finch is a bird that is found in North America. These birds are brown and red with streaked breasts. The males are usually brighter than the females.
You will usually find house finches in residential areas, towns, and farmland all throughout different parts of the United States. The only place you won’t find them is the grasslands of the Great Plains and all throughout most of Florida. Usually, House finches don’t even reach southern Canada. And what does this mean? Essentially, they are residents meaning they don’t migrate very often and stay in the same place all year round.
They communicate by chirping and singing year-round, with a sharp warble that ends on scratchy notes.
Northern Cardinal (35% chance)
The Northern Cardinal is a bird that is found in North America. These birds are red with black masks around their eyes. The males are usually brighter than the females.
The Northern Cardinal is one of the more commonly known feeder birds in the Eastern United States, from Texas to Arizona, and as far south as Mexico. They are found in woodlands, gardens, and backyards. Cardinals are monogamous and mate for a season although some pairs stick together for life. The female will lay two to five eggs per clutch. The mother incubates the eggs for 11-13 days before they hatch.
These birds are omnivores and eat mostly insects, seeds, and fruits. You can attract Northern Cardinals to your backyard by putting out a bird feeder with sunflower seeds or safflower seeds. You can also plant fruit-bearing trees and shrubs like dogwood, mulberry, serviceberry, crabapple, orcherry.
Palm Warbler (3.5% chance)
The Palm Warbler is a small songbird that is found in North America. These birds are yellow-brown with streaked breasts. The males and females look alike.
Palm Warblers migrate to the southern United States and the Caribbean in the winter. In the spring, they return to their breeding grounds in Canada and the northern United States. These birds nest in tree cavities or on the ground. The female will lay three to seven eggs per clutch. The mother incubates the eggs for 12 days before they hatch.
These birds eat mostly insects, especially caterpillars. You can attract Palm Warblers to your backyard by planting trees and shrubs that produce berries. You can also put out a bird feeder with mealworms.
Pine Grosbeak (0.2% chance)
The Pine Grosbeak is a bird that is found in North America. These birds are red with streaked breasts. The males are usually brighter than the females.
They can be found in parts of the West during summer in open spruce and pine forests, and in the North during winter where they will mostly reside in evergreen forests. The Pine Grosbeak is known to be a nomadic feeder, so it’s hard to predict where exactly they will end up. They mainly eat berries, buds, and seeds; however, insects make up a good portion of their diet as well
To attract them, put out bird feeders with sunflower seeds or thistle. You can also plant fruit-bearing trees and shrubs like serviceberry, crabapple, orcherry, dogwood, or mulberry.
Pileated Woodpecker (6.3% chance)
The Pileated Woodpecker is a black bird with white stripes and a distinctive red head. It is native to Eastern states and the coast of the northwest United States. These woodpeckers are the largest of their kind in North America, and they are known for their loud drumming on trees.
The Pileated Woodpecker is a relatively large bird, approximately the size of a crow. It feeds primarily on carpenter ants found in dead wood. To attract more Pileated Woodpeckers to your property, consider installing suet feeders. You can also leave piles of woodchips or dead trees on your property, as these will provide a food source and nesting materials for these birds.
Purple Finch (2.9% chance)
The Purple Finch is a bird that is found in North America. These birds are red with streaked breasts with brown on their back and wings. The males are usually brighter than the females.
These finches breed in the forested areas of Canada and the Northern United States. They nest in tree cavities or on the ground. The female will lay three to seven eggs per clutch. The mother incubates the eggs for 12 days before they hatch.
These birds eat mostly insects, especially caterpillars. You can attract Purple Finches to your backyard by planting trees and shrubs that produce berries. You can also put out a bird feeder with mealworms.
Pyrrhuloxia (0.4% chance)
Pyrrhuloxia is a bird that is found in North America. These birds are gray with streaked breasts and a red crest on their head. The males and females look alike.
Pyrrhuloxias breed in the desert regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. They nest in cacti, bushes, or trees. The female will lay two to four eggs per clutch. The mother incubates the eggs for 14 days before they hatch.
The pyrrhuloxia is a seed-eating bird, but it will also eat insects. It can be found at feeders with sunflower seeds, but it prefers to find its food scattered on the ground.
Redhead (1.9% chance)
The Redhead is a duck that is found in North America. These birds are brown with a red head and neck. The males and females look alike.
Redheads breed in the northern United States and Canada. They nest on the ground, usually in marshy areas. The female will lay six to twelve eggs per clutch. The mother incubates the eggs for 22-28 days before they hatch.
These birds eat mostly aquatic plants. You can attract Red heads to your backyard by planting native wetland plants or putting out a bird bath. You can also put out a bird feeder with duck pellets or cracked corn.
Red-breasted Sapsucker (0.5% chance)
The Red-breasted Sapsucker is a bird that is found in North America. These birds are black with white stripes on their back and wings. They have a red head which stands out.
Red-breasted Sapsuckers breed in the forests of the Northernly United States and Canada. They nest in trees, usually near the trunk. The female will lay three to seven eggs per clutch. The mother incubates the eggs for 12 days before they hatch.
These birds eat sap from trees as well as insects. You can attract Red-breasted Sapsuckers to your backyard by planting fruit trees or putting out a sugar-water feeder.
Red-bellied Woodpecker (21.2% chance)
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a black bird with white stripes on its back and wings. It has a red head, which is where it gets its name. These woodpeckers are found in the eastern United States.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker feeds on insects, especially ants and beetles. It will also eat fruits and nuts. To attract these woodpeckers to your backyard, consider planting trees that bear fruit or putting out a suet feeder. You can also leave dead trees or woodpiles on your property, as these provide food and shelter for these birds.
Red Crossbill (0.6% chance)
You can spot Red Crossbill males by their brick red coloring across their bodies, wings, and tails. They are commonly found year-round in northern and western states but can also be seen in eastern states during the winter months.
They eat mostly pine seeds but will also eat other types of seeds, including those from spruce trees and fir trees. You can attract Red Crossbills to your backyard by planting evergreen trees or putting out a bird feeder with sunflower seeds. You can also put out a water source, as these birds enjoy bathing.
Red-headed Woodpecker (2% chance)
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a black bird with white stripes on its back and wings. It has a red head, which is where it gets its name. These woodpeckers are found in the eastern United States.
The Red-headed Woodpecker feeds on insects, especially ants and beetles. It will also eat fruits and nuts. To attract these woodpeckers to your backyard, consider planting trees that bear fruit or putting out a suet feeder. You can also leave dead trees or woodpiles on your property, as these provide food and shelter for these birds.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (5.4% chance)
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird that is found in the eastern United States. These birds are green with a white belly and a red throat. The males have a ruby-red throat, while the females have a white throat with some red streaks.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds breed in the eastern United States and Canada. They nest in trees, usually near the trunk. The female will lay two eggs per clutch. The mother incubates the eggs for 12-14 days before they hatch.
These birds eat insects and nectar from flowers. You can attract Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to your backyard by planting native flowers or putting out a sugar-water feeder.
Scarlet Tanager (2.3% chance)
The Scarlet Tanager is a red bird with black wings. These birds are found in the eastern United States but do migrate to South America
The Scarlet Tanager feeds on insects, especially ants and beetles. It will also eat fruits, berries, and nuts. To attract these tanagers to your backyard, consider planting trees that bear fruit or putting out a suet feeder. You can also leave dead trees or woodpiles on your property, as these provide food and shelter for these birds.
Summer Tanager (1.7% chance)
The Summer Tanager is a red bird with black striped wings. These birds are found in the eastern United States and migrate to South America for winter.
These types of birds live in forests and open woodlands. They eat bees and wasps that they’ve caught in mid-flight by repeatedly hitting them against a branch until the stinger falls off.
By planting berry bushes and fruit trees, you can bring Summer Tanagers to your backyard in larger numbers.
Vermilion Flycatcher (0.7% chance)
Vermilion Flycatchers are small, red birds with black wings. They are found in the southwestern United States.
The Vermilion Flycatcher eats insects, especially ants and beetles. It will also eat fruits, berries, and nuts.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (3% chance)
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a small, black bird with white stripes on its back and wings. It has a yellow belly, which is where it gets its name, and have a red-colored head. These sapsuckers are found in the eastern United States.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker feeds on the sap of trees, especially maples. It will also eat insects, fruits, and berries. To attract these sapsuckers to your backyard, consider planting maples or putting out a suet feeder. You can also leave dead trees or woodpiles on your property, as these provide food and shelter for these birds.
Western Tanager (1.5% chance)
Western tanagers are a beautiful bird that have an orange-red head, yellow body and black wings. You can find them all over western states during the breeding season towards the north and then they migrate south for winter.
Brightly colored and often found in conifer forests, Western Tanagers are unique creatures. Their red coloring is a result of their diet which consists mainly of insects that produce a pigment.
Western Tanagers are attracted to dried fruit, cut oranges and other fruits found at bird feeders.
