Birding 101: Tips for beginners
- Listen first then follow the sounds.
- Start your search in spring before the trees are in full bloom.
- Look at all levels from the ground to eye-level shrubs and high into trees
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Best Location to View: Blueberry Pond, Buckeye Bud Bird Feeding Station, Buttonbush Bog, Thayer feeders
Color: Males: bright red body and head, with an orange red bill and black face around the bill. Females: Pale brown gray body with reddish tinges in the wings, tail, and crest and black face and red-orange bill.
Range: Eastern United States down south through Mexico and Central America.
Size: 8-9″
Wingspan: 9-12″
American Goldfinch
Carduelis Tristis
Best Location to View: Buckeye Bud Bird Feeding Station, Myrtal S. Holden Wildflower Garden
Color: Yellow
Range: Summer range across North America from coast to coast; winter range includes southern Canada and stretches south to parts of Mexico.
Wingspan: Small
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Best Location to View: Bole Woods, Buckeye Bud Bird Feeding Station, Helen Layer Rhododendron Garden, Woodland Trail
Color: Bright blue crest and back; with bars on wings, white under parts, dark strips on blue tail, black bill; black necklace on face which starts above the eye
Range: Southern Canada and in the United States, east of the Rocky Mountain
Size: 9-12″
Wingspan: 16″
Here’s more to explore
July 25, 2023
Bird Banding at the Holden Arboretum
By Mike Watson, Conservation Biologist
Biologists use many tools to study birds and their behavior – binoculars, cameras, automatic recorders – but one of the simplest tools is the leg band. Leg bands have been... more
March 19, 2025
Dabblers & Divers: Birding for Spring Waterfowl and Similar Species
By Albert Jackson, Conservation Technician
With spring just ahead temperatures are rising, days are getting longer, and ice is melting. For the various species of waterbirds in northeast Ohio this means access to important resources... more
September 16, 2024
Best Practices of Backyard Bird Feeding
By Kenzie Morris, Conservation Intern
Backyard bird feeding is a popular and enjoyable activity for many nature enthusiasts. It offers a chance to observe and appreciate local wildlife up close. However, while bird feeding can... more
February 24, 2022
Eagles in Town
By Matt Edwards, Animal Care Specialist
As many people know, Ohio’s bald eagle population has seen a dramatic increase over the past several decades. From a low of 4 breeding pairs in 1979 they had increased... more
January 20, 2022
Birds and Berries
By: Alyssa Zearley, Nursery Technician Berries are an important winter food source for animals. This is especially true for songbirds. While some birds like cedar waxwings eat fruit all year... more
December 30, 2021
Winter Birding at the Arboretum
The forests and gardens transition into a pristine, white canvas in winter- an ideal backdrop for spotting many types of birds that spend the winter season on the property. Here are... more
May 5, 2025
How Data-Driven Conservation Fledged 30,000+ Native Birds at Holden Arboretum
By Mike Watson, Conservation Biologist
The bluebird program at Holden reached a milestone in 2024: 60 years of continuous conservation and data collection. This history is marked by clear successes in the effort to support... more
July 17, 2024
Save the Hymenopterans (Bees, Wasps and more!)
By M Onion, Nursery Plant Propagator Grower
Hymenopterans are the group of insects including bees, wasps, ants, and sawflies. “Sawfly” is the name applied to all but one group within the hymenopterans, making this group paraphyletic –... more
June 3, 2024
An Update on our Feathered Friends
By Matt Edwards, Animal Care Specialist
Within the next few weeks our male red bishop weaver birds will have their breeding plumage completely grown in and be ready to begin their summer courtship displays. Their display... more
