Six Birds You Will Find in the State of Georgia

Georgia has many beautiful wild animals including birds. Here is a short list describing some of the birds you might find in your own backyard.

The Bald Eagle was once an Endangered Species but on June 28, 2007 the Interior Department took it off the list. The bird is still protected however its numbers had increased so much that the threat of the extinction of their species was no longer an issue. It has been the national bird and symbol of the United States since 1782. The wing span of the bald eagle can reach 6 to 8 feet. They weigh between 8 and 15 lbs and can live to be over 40 years old. Bald eagles in captivity usually live longer than the ones that live in the wild.

The Blue Jay is a member of the Crow family. It is very recognizable because of its blue color. The eyeline and breastband is black and sometimes the throat area can be grayish white. Blue jays migrate during the day in small groups. These birds love to chatter and make noises.

The Brown Thrasher is Georgia's official state bird. It is a large bird with brown on its wings and back and white or beige on its underside with black streaking. Its tail is long and normally the same color as the wings. This bird loves to sing and makes a "smacking kiss" noise. Brown thrasher's also mimic the sounds and songs of other birds.

The Purple Finch is another one of Georgia's beautiful birds. The males have the most color with almost their entire bodies being purplish red. The females are brown with pale streaks. The purple finch is the state bird of New Hampshire but they still wonder into Georgia's backyards. Their favorite food is sunflower seeds and berries.

The Red-Tailed Hawk can be recognized by its brick-colored tall however not all of them have this trait. There are actually 14 subspecies of this bird. They are efficient hunters usually stalking prey like squirrels, rabbits, reptiles and mice. Telephone poles and roadsides are favorite spots they use for hunting. You can also find them perched in trees overlooking an open meadow.

The Robin has a brown back with a reddish orange breast. They can be seen running across your yard while stopping every once in a while to search for prey. Their diet consist of fruit, berries and worms. Robins sing all day long and will usually be the first and last birds to sing every morning and night. Their song is continuous and often repeated with brief pauses in between.