House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) House Finches nest in a variety of deciduous and coniferous trees as well as on cacti, rock ledges, and building ledges.
WHEN TO LOOK WHERE TO FIND IT Habitats
Desert Open Shrub Town Woodland
Substrates
Cliff or Live Tree In/On Rock Branch Building Source: Birds of North America Online Source: Birds of North America Online
WHAT YOU’LL FIND NESTING STATISTICS Nest Type Chick Clutch Size Nest Height Incubation Period Brooding Period
15 ft 13–14 12–19 days days 23 1010 ftft CupCup AltricialAltricial 65
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) The male and female mockingbird construct their nest together; the male usually begins the nest by building the outer foundation while the female finishes up the inner lining.
WHEN TO LOOK WHERE TO FIND IT Habitats
Shrub Town
Substrates
Live Tree Bush or Vine or Branch Shrub Tangle Source: Birds of North America Online Source: Birds of North America Online
WHAT YOU’LL FIND NESTING STATISTICS Nest Type Chick Clutch Size Nest Height Incubation Period Brooding Period
10 ft 12–13 12–13 days days 2 3ft Cup Altricial 6
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Females build their nests from the inside out, pressing dead grass and twigs into a layer of mud, forming a cup shape using the wrist of one wing.
WHEN TO LOOK WHERE TO FIND IT Habitats
Forest Open Shrub Town Woodland
Substrates
Ground Post, Pole, Live Tree or Platform Branch Source: Birds of North America Online Source: Birds of North America Online
WHAT YOU’LL FIND NESTING STATISTICS Nest Type Chick Clutch Size Nest Height Incubation Period Brooding Period
25 ft 12–14 13 days days 3 10 ft Cup Altricial 5
159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 www.birds.cornell.edu
Pocket Guide to Common Nesting Birds
NestWatch.org What is NestWatch? Nest Monitoring Protocol NestWatch is a citizen-science project that monitors status • Find bird nests using the information in this guide and at and trends in the reproductive biology of birds across the NestWatch.org. United States, including when nesting occurs, number of • Add new nest sites to your online NestWatch account. eggs laid, and how many nestlings survive. • Visit nests every 3–4 days and record what you see. Why is participating important? • DO NOT visit nests: Researchers need your observations to study how environ- ✗✗ Early in the morning or at night mental disturbances, such as climate change, are affecting ✗✗ During inclement weather breeding birds. Help contribute valuable information to sci- ✗ ence, while learning firsthand about the fascinating world ✗ During the first few days of incubation of birds. ✗✗ When young are close to fledging How can you help? • Record nest summary information after nesting attempts have been completed. Participating is easy and just about anyone can do it! Visit NestWatch.org, learn our Code of Conduct, become a Certi- fied NestWatcher, and follow our Nest Monitoring Protocol. Paintings by Caitlin Turner, Bartels Science Illustration Intern. Learn more at www.birds.cornell.edu/artinterns
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Cardinals do not migrate and often begin the nest-building process as early as late February.
WHEN TO LOOK WHERE TO FIND IT Habitats
Open Shrub Town Woodland
Substrates
Live Tree Bush or Vine or Branch Shrub Tangle Source: Birds of North America Online Source: Birds of North America Online
WHAT YOU’LL FIND NESTING STATISTICS Nest Type Chick Clutch Size Nest Height Incubation Period Brooding Period
15 ft 11–13 7–13 days days 2 1 ft Cup Altricial 5
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Mourning Doves often build nests in hanging flower pots and other human-made structures. They also sometimes reuse old nests from other species.
WHEN TO LOOK WHERE TO FIND IT Habitats
? ? ? Forest Grassland Open Town Woodland
Substrates
Ground Live Tree Vine or In/On Branch Tangle Building Source: Birds of North America Online Source: Birds of North America Online
WHAT YOU’LL FIND NESTING STATISTICS Nest Type Chick Clutch Size Nest Height Incubation Period Brooding Period
250 ft 14 13–15 days days 1 0 ft Platform Altricial 2
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Barn Swallows once nested in caves throughout North America, but now build their mud nests almost exclusively on human-made structures.
WHEN TO LOOK WHERE TO FIND IT Habitats
Grassland Lake Shore Town
Substrates
Cliff or In/On Rock Building Source: Birds of North America Online Source: Birds of North America Online
WHAT YOU’LL FIND NESTING STATISTICS Nest Type Chick Clutch Size Nest Height Incubation Period Brooding Period
40 ft 12–17 15–17 days days 3 7 6 ft Cup Altricial
Why Be a Citizen Scientist? The only way to get the “big picture” about changes in the movements, distributions, and numbers of birds over time is to gather the observations of people who watch birds. People like you! More than 200,000 people contribute to the Cornell Lab’s citizen-science projects each year, gathering data on a vast scale once unimaginable. Scientists use these data to determine how birds are affected by habitat loss, pollution, and disease. The results have been used to create management guidelines for birds, investigate the effects of acid rain and climate change, and advocate for the protection of declining species. We need your help! Find the right citizen-science project for you and become a part of our community today. Project FeederWatch • www.feederwatch.org and favorite birding spots using this innovative tool. Help scientists track bird movements and monitor long-term eBird • www.ebird.org trends in the distribution and abundance of birds in winter. Keep track of your bird sightings year round and share what Celebrate Urban Birds • www.celebrateurbanbirds.org you’ve seen with scientists and other bird watchers. Connect to nature through science and the arts, and raise Great Backyard Bird Count • www.birdcount.org awareness of city birds and urban greening. Take part in this free, annual event that compiles bird counts YardMap • www.yardmap.org from across the world to create a winter snapshot of bird Tell us about the habitat available to birds in your backyard populations in February.