Backyard Bird Life: October
October marks the departure of most migratory birds, but not all take to the skies. Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, and Blue Jays—plus other hardy species—stay with us year-round. Keep feeders full and water available, and they’ll reward you with color, movement, and song even as winter approaches.
The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in North America. In the fall they often join mixed flocks with chickadees and nuthatches, which helps finding food more efficient. Keeping feeders stocked with suet in autumn not only supports their seasonal diet but also encourages regular backyard visits.
The Northern Cardinal is one of New York’s most striking year-round residents, known for the male’s vivid red plumage. Cardinals are songbirds with both males and females singing, often in duet. Keep feeders full of black oil sunflower seeds to keep cardinals happy and well-fed all year long.
The Black-capped Chickadee’s “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call is a familiar sound in New York. These agile birds often hang upside down to reach seeds and insects. Safflower seeds are ideal in fall and winter—high in fat and protein for cold nights, easy to crack, and less appealing to squirrels and larger birds, allowing chickadees to feed in peace.
Blue Jays bring bold color and personality to New York backyards all year long. Intelligent and peanut-loving, they use their strong bills to crack open shells or hold peanuts in their feet to break them apart—often stashing their treasures for later. Known for their cleverness, Blue Jays can even mimic the calls of hawks to scatter other birds from feeders.
Mourning Doves are gentle, year-round residents often seen perched on wires or feeding on the ground. Their soft “coo-oo” call is commonly mistaken for an owl’s hoot. They love small seeds, especially white millet, which provides easy energy through colder months. Offering millet in tray feeders or scattered on the ground also attracts other ground-feeding birds like sparrows and juncos.
We’re giving you a new reason to love Tuesdays:
Buy two, get one free on wild bird seed! Every week is a new, money-saving deal that not only gets you more seed for your feeders, but also more Max Rewards points.
In-store sales. Max Rewards members only.
No rainchecks. Buy two at regular price, get free bag of same size and SKU.