The 15 Greatest Songbirds Found in America

Northern Mockingbird pair (Mimus polyglottos) perched on a branch against the bright blue sky.
Chris Klonowski/Shutterstock.com

Written by Patrick MacFarland

Published: July 23, 2024

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America may be the land of the free and the home of the brave, but it is also home to many gorgeous animals. Whether you spot animals on land or in the sky, each one is as unique and different as another. There are birds called songbirds, which belong to the suborder Passeri (perching birds). You can most often spot them on land and typically they are smaller than other types of birds.

They are called songbirds because they sing and those sweet melodies can warm your heart. These melodic birds have even been featured in films like Mary Poppins or Snow White. Songbirds can even put a smile on your face once you hear them. Although they exist all over the world, let’s take a look at the 15 greatest songbirds found in America.

Mockingbird

Mockingbirds have been featured in songs and stories because of their melodic abilities.

Mockingbirds are some of the most melodic birds out there. It also has the ability to mimic other birds, hence the name. These birds are usually slim, have long tails, and are a pale gray color.

Oriole

The baseball team Baltimore Orioles named themselves after the melodic bird.

Orioles have a melodic type of whistle that almost sounds like a flute. There are various types of orioles but they all have black heads and wings with yellow, orange, or mustard bodies.

Finch

Interestingly enough, finches are non-migratory birds and live in various habitats.

Known for the warbled songs, there are many finches around America. The most common one is the American goldfinch. These birds come in a variety of colors and are usually medium-sized.

Starling

Some species of starlings include the common starling and the spotless starling.

There are around 128 species of starlings that exist in the world. Many of them live in the United States, where you can spot them in various types of habitats. Starlings are known for making mechanical type of noises.

Sparrow

White-crowned sparrow

You can identify a sparrow through their very distinctive head patterns.

The sparrow exists throughout the world, but those in America are commonly called New World sparrows. There are many more, however. These songbirds have great melodic whistles. These birds are commonly gray or brown.

American Robin

Male robins are known for their cheerful songs.

The American robin is a medium-sized bird that is easily identifiable because of its large belly. They usually have black or gray heads. Their bodies come in a variety of colors including yellow, orange, and brown.

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal Mates Perched

The Northern Cardinal usually chirps and whistles throughout the day.

Coming in a variety of colors including gray, black, red, and others, the Northern Cardinal is mostly found in the eastern parts of the United States. Moreover, these birds live in woodlands, suburban areas, and even desert washes.

Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia brissonii - Ultramarine Grosbeak

Grosbeaks have very identifiable beaks that make them unique.

The bird sounds like a robin and can sometimes be confused with a cardinal. There are many types of Grosbeaks out there, and they usually make whistling sounds when singing.

Wren

Pacific wren

There are 88 species of wrens throughout the world.

Wrens are loud and beautiful singers that will make every morning lively. These birds are usually bland looking — sporting brown feathers — than their colorful counterparts. You can spot wrens flying about in woods, gardens, and even towns.

Kirtland’s Warbler

A kirtland's warbler perches in a jack pine, an endangered species that is losing habit due to overdevelopment and deforestation in north central Michigan.

There are around 4,500 of these birds in existence today.

The Kirtland’s Warbler is one of the rarest songbirds in nature today. It was on the endangered species list for 50 years. Furthermore, the bird is a gray and yellow one and is originally from the forests of Michigan and Wisconsin.

Tanager

Male summer tanager perched on a vertical branch

These birds are small to medium-sized, including the Summer Tanager which is native to the Americas.

Tanagers are colorful birds that sound like other birds — mainly robins and cardinals. Tanagers birds are the second-largest family of birds, coming in a variety of colors. Moreover, they usually inhabit neo-tropical areas.

Thrush

Blue bird, male Blue Rock-Thrush (Monticola solitarius), standing on the log, side profile

Thrushes make beautiful songs, which can be commonly mistaken for a robin’s sounds. They love to fly and roam around while they sing, too. The population of thrushes has declined significantly in recent years.

Eastern Bluebird

Male Eastern Bluebird eating a mealworm on a china plate bird feeder.

This colorful blue bird is part of the thrush family.

The eastern bluebird is a small bird with a large belly. They usually have a blue head and blue back with a brown or orange belly. Furthermore, the eastern bluebird can be found in several places including orchards, farmlands, and woodlands.

Common Nightingale

Nightingale in tree singing

This bird is doing quite well when it comes to its population.

The nightingale is one bird known for its powerful voice. Their melodic songs are just beautiful to hear. Moreover, the bird is plain looking — usually a brown or gray color. These birds are mainly found in Europe but have been sighted in the US.

Black-Capped Chickadee

A very close shot (selective focus) of a Black-capped Chickadee in its habitat

You can easily spot a black-capped chickadee because of its distinct black head.

The black-capped chickadee is a small bird with is usually gray with a black head. They are non-migratory. Lastly, these birds love to live in various types of forests including mixed and deciduous.


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About the Author

Patrick Macfarland is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering travel, geography, and history. Patrick has been writing for more than 10 years. In the past, he has been a teacher and a political candidate. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from SDSU and a Master's Degree in European Union Studies from CIFE. From San Diego, California, Patrick loves to travel and try new recipes to cook.

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