Birds in Spring: What to Watch For

The return of the migrants

Spring's great event is the return of migrating birds. Robins, hummingbirds, orioles, and waves of warblers head north to their breeding grounds, filling yards and parks with new arrivals. Each week of spring brings a different cast of birds. Watching the parade of returners is one of spring's great pleasures.

The dawn chorus

In spring, birdsong reaches its peak, and the dawn chorus becomes a daily concert. Males sing furiously to attract mates and defend territory, and the result is a wall of sound at first light. Spring mornings are the best time of year to simply listen. It's nature's most joyful alarm clock.

Nesting begins

Spring is when nesting starts in earnest. Watch for birds carrying twigs, grass, and other material as they build their nests. Robins build on ledges, chickadees use cavities, and hummingbirds weave tiny cups. Observing nest building — from a respectful distance — is a spring highlight.

Birds in breeding plumage

In spring, birds are at their most colorful. Males molt into bright breeding plumage — goldfinches turn brilliant yellow, and many species show their most vivid colors. Spring is the season to appreciate birds at their most beautiful.

Feed the nesting parents

Spring is a demanding time for birds, especially once eggs hatch and hungry chicks need feeding. Keeping feeders full, offering mealworms for insect-eaters, and providing clean water all help. A reliable food source supports the busy work of raising young.

Watch for courtship

Spring brings courtship displays — males singing, showing off, and chasing rivals. You might see cardinals feeding each other, or watch a male bird displaying to a female. These behaviors are fascinating to observe, and they're on full display in spring.

Keep cats indoors

Spring is a vulnerable time for birds, especially young ones, and outdoor cats are a serious threat. Keeping cats indoors — or supervising their time outside — protects nesting birds and fledglings. It's one of the most important ways to help your spring birds.

Welcome the season

Spring bird watching is a joy — the return of migrants, the explosion of song, the first nesting activity. Take time to notice the changes unfolding in your own yard, and keep a record of the season's firsts. Spring rewards those who pay attention.

Fresh water welcomes everyone

Spring birds need water as much as food, and a clean bird bath is a magnet for migrants and residents alike. Keep it filled and fresh, and you'll see birds drinking and bathing that never visit a feeder. Moving water — a dripper or small fountain — attracts even more.

A well-maintained bath is one of the simplest ways to welcome spring's returning birds and give them what they need after a long journey.

Put up your birdhouse early

Spring is the time to put up birdhouses, and earlier is better. Cavity-nesting birds like bluebirds and chickadees start scouting for nest sites in late winter and early spring, so having a box ready gives them time to find it. Mount it before the season's rush begins.

A well-placed, clean birdhouse, put up in time, has the best chance of being chosen. Then you can watch the whole nesting season unfold from your own window.

Spring mornings are worth waking for

If there's one habit to adopt as a birder, it's getting outside early on a spring morning. The combination of the dawn chorus, fresh arrivals, and active feeding makes the first hours after sunrise the richest of the whole year. It's worth setting the alarm for.

Each week brings something new

One of the joys of spring is how quickly it changes — the birds you see in early March differ from those in late May, as waves of migrants arrive and pass through. Checking in regularly through the season is like following a story that unfolds week by week.