Common Chicago-area Birds & Their Calls

Ever wondered what bird you’re hearing in the trees around Chicago? Wonder no more!

Here are some of the more common birds around Chicago and what they sound like — courtesy of the little feathered creatures themselves!

Chicago backyard birds and what they sound like

American crow

With a wingspan of up to 36 inches across, crows are large, black birds that are common in urban areas across the country. American crows are intelligent birds and are known for their ability to mimic human speech, Though their vocalizations are still easy to pick out among a crowd. 

American goldfinch

American goldfinches are known for their bright yellow feathers and black cap.

American robin

These medium-sized, red-breasted birds are common in parks and yards across the Eastern United States. They are more vocally active in the spring as they search for mates and build nests!

Baltimore oriole

With similar coloring to the American Robin, the Baltimore oriole is identifiable by its white and orange stripes across its black wings (as well as its larger size). 

Barn swallow

Barn swallows are known for their long, pointed wings and their acrobatic flying skills. You can usually see them flying near water, and their forked tail makes them easy to spot from afar! 

Black-capped chickadee

These sweet little birds measure only 5 inches in length and just 7 inches in wingspan. They’re particularly active around bird feeders in urban areas since they spend all year storing food for the winter months. 

Blue jay

Blue jays are known for their loud jay-jay calls and brilliant blue plumage. They’re fairly common backyard birds, but they prefer fruits, nuts and insects found in woodlands and parks over windowsill bird seed. 

Carolina wren

Carolina wrens are common in the Great Lakes’ wooded areas, where they cling to the sides of tree trunks in search of  spiders, bugs and other creepy crawlies to munch on. They’re easier to recognize by sound than most other birds as their song is loud and repetitive. 

Common grackle

With the face and neck of a starling and the body of a, well, less-blue starling, the grackle is a common gripe among backyard gardeners who consistently lose their veggies to these mischievous birds. 

Dark eyed junco

Barely larger than a tennis ball and just about as round and fluffy as one, these sparrow-like creatures are a little more soft-spoken than other backyard birds. Keep an ear out for their gentle chirps next time you’re in a quiet park!

Downy woodpecker

With a boldly-spotted back, the characteristic drilling sound and a high-pitched whinny, downy woodpeckers certainly make themselves known to their neighbors! 

Eastern bluebird

There’s a reason postcards are adorned with these sweet bluebirds, and it’s all to do with their gentle song, bright colors and sweet appearance. Keep an eye out for these birds around bird boxes, as they, too, appreciate a well-built luxury Chicago apartment for rent. 

European starling

You’ll often find these larger blackbirds in big flocks, especially in the evening when they gather in trees to yell at each other nonstop. 

Great horned owl

Who? 

The great horned owl, of course!

This solitary creature of the night is less commonly spotted and certainly less present in urban areas — though you’ll have a better chance hearing them than seeing them if you head out into the suburbs! Keep an ear out for a deep, hooting call after darkness falls. 

House finch

House finches have a light red face, gray-ish red bellies and brown wings, and they’ll almost always be near their favorite snack — sunflower seeds!

House sparrow

Common all over the continent and in most parts of the world, the house sparrow is a talkative bird and will often alert others with its harsh twittering call if predators (i.e. you, me, the cat, your dog, etc.) are near. 

Indigo bunting

With shiny, bright blue feathers on its head and neck, the indigo bunting is easily visible in the meadows and fields in which it resides. Pair its distinct look with its recognizable series of high-pitched whistles, and you'll have no problem identifying this common North American bird.

Killdeer

This common, long-legged bird can often be seen running along the ground around marshes, grassy areas and wetlands throughout the United States. The killdeer, like other members of the plover family, is loud and boisterous when it comes to protecting its grassy nests on the ground, and it will screech, flap its wings and chase potential predators away from its eggs if it senses danger. 

Mourning dove

The mourning dove’s soft coo is an easily recognizable sound in suburban gardens. 

Northern cardinal

Easy to sight thanks to its bold red coloring and its penchant for dominating bird feeders, the northern cardinal’s shrill voice is also easy to recognize.

Northern mockingbird

As the name implies, this bird is all about mimicking other birds (and machines!), so unless you’ve got eyes on this gray and white bird, then you might have a hard time identifying its song. 

Red bellied woodpecker

You’re likely to hear the red-bellied woodpecker long before you see it, both through its repetitive knock-knock-knocking and through its loud, sharp whinny. 

Red tailed hawk

As one of the few birds of prey on this list, it shouldn’t be too tricky to identify this bird’s call. Rather than gentle coos and soft songs of its smaller prey, the red tailed hawk’s call is the stuff of nightmares — if you’re a small bird, that is.

Red winged blackbird

Is it a frog? Is it the red-winged blackbird? It’s hard to tell, especially since both creatures reside in the marshlands, riversides and meadows all over the Great Lakes. 

Song sparrow

With a name like that, it’s no wonder that the song sparrow is known for its sweet tones. They’re hard to spot, though, so you’re more likely to hear them before spotting them hiding in the trees!

White-breasted nuthatch

Teeny-tiny and abundantly cute, this small, round bird the size of a lemon has a pretty impressive set of vocal chords for its size!

Wood thrush

Finally, the wood thrush is a common sight in more wooded areas around urban metro areas, and its brown-spotted white belly makes it one of the easier birds to identify on your walk. Its musical song makes any patch of trees feel like the middle of the deep, dark mystical woods of old!

Keep your ears and eyes peeled for these common backyard birds next time you’re out and about in Chicago. Chances are you’ll see and hear at least a few of them in the city, especially around the rooftop gardens at our Chicago Ave apartments near River North. 

Happy birding!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/tdfugere