Robin, Cardinal, and Blue Jay
Let us meet three backyard birds you might see near your home!
The American Robin has a bright orange-red breast (chest) and a dark gray-brown back. Robins are often seen hopping across lawns, tilting their heads to listen for earthworms underground. When they hear one, they grab it with their yellow beak! Robins are one of the first birds to sing in the morning — their cheerful song sounds like "cheerily, cheer-up, cheerily."
The Northern Cardinal is one of the easiest birds to spot because the male is bright RED all over, with a pointed crest (like a crown) on his head and a black mask around his orange beak. Female cardinals are more brownish with hints of red. Cardinals do not migrate — they stay in the same area all year, even in winter.
The Blue Jay is a bold, noisy bird with bright blue, white, and black feathers and a blue crest on its head. Blue jays are very smart! They can mimic the calls of hawks to scare other birds away from a bird feeder. They love acorns and will hide hundreds of them for later.
**Birdwatcher Tip:** The easiest way to start birdwatching is to look out a window! Hang a bird feeder and see who comes to visit.