Cardinals and tanagers are often confused because both can be bright red. The confusion is strongest with male Northern Cardinals, male Summer Tanagers, and male Scarlet Tanagers. The simple difference is this: cardinals have a crest, thick orange-red bill, and black face mask, while tanagers usually have smooth heads, different bill shapes, and no cardinal-style … Read more

Cardinals and robins are two of the most familiar backyard birds in North America, but they are easy to separate once you know what to look for. A Northern Cardinal is a crested songbird with a thick seed-cracking bill. Males are bright red with a black face mask, while females are warm brown with reddish … Read more

Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals are two of the most recognizable backyard birds in North America. Both have crests, strong bills, loud voices, and bold personalities. They also visit many of the same yards, feeders, parks, and wooded edges. But they are very easy to separate once you know what to check. A Blue Jay … Read more

A hummingbird and a kingfisher are both eye-catching birds with specialized bills, fast movement, and strong hunting or feeding skills. But they are not closely similar in lifestyle. A hummingbird is tiny, nectar-loving, and built for hovering around flowers. Cornell describes Ruby-throated Hummingbirds as very small birds with long, thin bills that hover with great … Read more

Yellow Warblers and American Goldfinches are two small yellow birds that many people confuse, especially in spring and summer. Both can look bright yellow, both are small, and both may appear around trees, shrubs, or backyards. The fastest way to tell them apart is this: American Goldfinches have thick seed-eating bills and bold black wings, … Read more

The American Robin is one of the most familiar birds in North America. It has a gray-brown back, dark head, yellow bill, white eye marks, and a warm orange or rusty-red breast. Cornell describes adult male American Robins as large, round-bellied thrushes with a dark head, yellow bill, black throat streaks, and rusty belly. But … Read more

A Blue Jay is one of the easiest backyard birds to notice. It has a raised crest, blue wings and tail, white underparts, black markings around the neck and face, and a loud call. Cornell describes the Blue Jay as a large crested songbird with blue, white, and black plumage and noisy calls. But not … Read more

Cardinals are easy to love and easy to recognize at first glance. A male Northern Cardinal has bright red feathers, a raised crest, a thick seed-cracking bill, and a black mask around the face. The female is softer brown with warm red tones, the same crest, and a large pinkish bill. Audubon notes that the … Read more