7 Birds To Watch For This Summer
If you’ve never paid much attention to birds before, summer’s a great time to dip your toes into a little birdwatching. Because in summer, birds are everywhere! And once you start looking for them, and actually finding them, it’s hard to stop. Plus, you don’t need any fancy gear, besides maybe a pair of binoculars and your morning coffee. If you’re new to the hobby, you’re in luck. We’ve put together this list of seven birds worth watching for this summer to help you get started. You might not see all of them but, after reading this list, you’ll know what to look for.
The Killdeer
The Killdeer is a bird that you’ll likely hear before you see it. Its sharp, high-pitched “kill-deer” cry can carry across large spaces like parking lots or open fields. What’s wild about them is how they nest right on the ground, even in driveways. If you get too close, they’ll pull a fake “broken wing” routine, limping away dramatically to draw you away from their eggs. You can find Killdeer all across the continental U.S. in summer, from coast to coast. They love open spaces, so look in schoolyards, farm fields, and maybe even your front lawn.
The Common Nighthawk
Despite its name, the Common Nighthawk isn’t common to spot unless you know when to look. Right around dusk on warm evenings they swoop and dive through the sky, chasing insects for their dinner. Their wings are long and narrow, and they flash a white bar when they turn. What’s extra neat is their call, which sounds like a buzzing, nasal “peent,” or something you’d expect to hear more from a bug than a bird. They’re found in nearly every state during summer, especially over cities, open country, and river valleys. Just look up at the sky around sunset.
The Green Heron
Green Herons are small, secretive birds often found at the edges of ponds or slow-moving streams. They crouch low, waiting silently, and then—snap—they’ve got a fish. What’s truly fascinating is their ability to use tools. Some have been seen dropping insects or twigs on the water to lure fish in. It’s rare to see in the bird world and downright brilliant. In summer, they’re mostly found in the eastern two-thirds of the U.S., including the Midwest, Southeast, and East Coast. Look around wetlands, shaded creeks, and quiet lake edges.
The Indigo Bunting
These little birds are the most colorful on this list. Males are an electric blue that catches the sunlight in a way that feels almost unreal. They like to live at the edges of fields, woods, and roads, and they sing from high perches like wires or treetops. You might not notice them until they’re right in front of you, but their colorful appearance makes them super fun to watch as they zip by. In summer, they’re found throughout the eastern U.S. and parts of the central Plains. If you’re east of the Rockies, especially in rural or semi-rural areas, you can probably hear them singing right now.
The Brown Thrasher
Brown Thrashers are a bit under appreciated, maybe because they’re not as flashy as other birds on this list. But their song more than makes us for it. They have one of the largest repertoires of any North American songbird, with over a thousand different phrases. They tend to sing in pairs, with each phrase repeated once before moving on. Look for them in dense shrubs or low trees, belting their tunes out like they’re putting on a concert. In summer, they’re easily found in the eastern and southeastern U.S., often turning up in backyard thickets and wooded edges.
The American Kestrel
The American Kestrel is North America’s smallest falcon, but don’t let that fool you. They’ve got the sharp gaze and bold hunting moves of a much larger bird. You’ll sometimes see them hovering in mid-air over open fields, hunting small prey. Males are rusty colored with blue-gray wings, and females have subtle stripes to tell them apart. They often perch on telephone wires, bobbing their heads with interest. Kestrels nest in most of the continental U.S. during summer, especially in open areas like farmland, grasslands, and even highway medians.
The Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwings are sleek, social birds that look like they're almost too smooth to be real, as if they were airbrushed. They have soft gray feathers, black mask, and bright yellow tail tips. In summer, they show up where the berries are. They move in flocks and pass fruit from beak to beak, which is charming to watch. Their call is a soft, high-pitched whistle that sounds more like a whisper than a song. They’re found across most of the U.S. during summer, especially where trees or shrubs are fruiting. Suburban yards, riverbanks, and parks are all fair game.
You don't need to be a "birder" to enjoy birdwatching. Just step outside and take a look around. Watch the trees, the fences, the skies. Listen more than you usually do. Maybe even jot down what you see. You might be surprised by how many birds you recognize. And who knows? This might be the first step of your new birdwatching adventure.