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Sphyrapicus varius
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Voice: Nasal, catlike meowing; drumming sound like Morse code. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers are primarily forest dwelling birds but they tend to favor young woodlands and riparian habitats. They are the only... more

Sitta carolinensis
White-breasted Nuthatch
Voice: Males late winter and spring low-pitched wha-wha-wha. Year round, both sexes loud, nasal yank repeated a few times in a row. White-breasted nuthatches are common feeder birds found year... more

Agelaius phoeniceus
Red-winged Blackbird
Voice: Call gurgling “oak-a-lee.” a dry “chek” and “cheer.” Song starts with an abrupt note that turns into a musical trill often includes raspy “conk-a-ree.” Red-winged blackbirds are one of... more

Buteo lineatus
Red-shouldered Hawk
Voice: Fast, high pitch scream, “Keeyer, Keeyer, Keeyer.” Red-shouldered Hawk’s robust body, broad wings, short tail and soaring flight make is a perfect fit for the Buteo family. This crow... more

Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-headed Woodpecker
Voice: “kweer , kweer, kweer” While the red-headed woodpecker is not one of the most common birds at The Holden Arboretum, it is one of the most noteworthy. According to... more

Melanerpes carolinus
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Voice: Harsh rolling churr by both sexes or a cha, cha, cha by mates In early spring red-bellied woodpeckers in forests, woodlands, and wooded suburbs tap on trees, gutters, roofs... more

Dryocopus pileatus
Pileated Woodpecker
Voice: “cuk-cuk-cuk-cuk-cuk” This crow size bird is the largest woodpecker in Ohio. Although despite is size in large tracts of mature forest the Pileated Woodpecker is heard more often then... more

Bubo virginianus
Great Horned Owl
Voice: hoo- hoohoohoo—-hoo-hoo. Females produce higher pitched hoots. Great Horned Owls are the largest and most powerful of the common owls in Northeastern Ohio. They are found year round in... more

Dumetella carolinensis
Gray Catbird
Just as their common name implies, gray catbirds are gray in color and have a call which sounds like a cat’s mew. They belong to the genus Dumetella, which means... more

Regulus satrapa
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Voice: Song: high pitch tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee varies in number Call: thin tsee note Barely larger than a hummingbird, golden-crowned kinglets have a remarkable ability to endure cold climates. They can survive extreme temperature of -40 degrees. During nesting season, they can be seen high... more

Dryobates pubescens
Downy Woodpecker
Voice: Call: pik note and descending whinny Drum: a soft roll- about 17 beats a second Downy woodpeckers are the smallest, most widespread, woodpecker in North America. In winter they often join mixed species flocks of chickadees,... more

Dendroica cerulea
Cerulean Warbler
Voice: Buzzy notes ending in a higher pitched trill, “zee zee zee zizizizi eee.” The Cerulean Warbler gets its name from the vivid blue coloration of the male warbler’s back... more


Vireo solitarius
Blue-headed Vireo
Voice: Males: song can be rendered as “here I am, where are you, over here.” It is a bit slower than a Red-eyed Vireo. Blue–headed vireos are the only vireo that makes use of mixed forests, where conifers and deciduous trees grow... more

Poecile atricapillus
Black-capped chickadee
Voice: Song: two note whistle with the second note slightly lower. Call: Says its own name chick-a-dee-dee-dee Black-capped chickadees are one of the most commonly recognized backyards bird in Northern... more

Spizelloides arborea
American Tree Sparrow
Voice: High whistled tseet tseet followed by short whistles. Strictly winter visitors, American tree sparrows, can be commonly seen in old fields, grassy meadows and at bird feeders. Despite their name, American tree sparrows, are not associated with trees, instead foraging and nesting on... more


Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Crow
Voice: Most common loud repeated caw-caw-caw American crows are highly adaptable, very intelligent birds. They are one of only a few species of bird that has been observed modifying and... more

Fulica Americana
American Coot
Voice: Loud variety of harsh cackles, grunts, and croaks. The most common sound is a loud “kuk, kuk, kuk.” Frequently found in open marshes, wetlands, ponds, lakes, american coots are... more