NestWatch accepts data on all North American breeding birds. However, you are likely to encounter many of these species nesting in your backyards, neighborhoods, and parks. We are seeking nesting data on these species in particular because they are common, widely-distributed, convenient to monitor, and tolerant of nest checking. If you find a nest, use the filters to help discover what species could have made it. Or, click on a bird to learn more about its nesting habits.
Filter Common Nesting Birds
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Region
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Nest Type
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Habitat
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Substrate
- East
- West
- Scrape
- Cup
- Saucer
- Platform
- Cavity
- Burrow
- Pendant
- Sphere/Dome
- Desert
- Forest
- Grassland
- Lake
- Marsh
- Mountain
- Ocean
- Open Woodland
- River
- Shore
- Shrub
- Town
- Scrape
- Ground
- Floating Vegetation
- Cliff/Rock
- Post, Pole, or Platform
- Nest Box/Birdhouse
- Live Tree Branch
- Bush/Shrub
- Dead Tree Branch
- Vine/Tangle
- In/On Building
- Live Tree Cavity
- Dead Tree Cavity/Snag
- Reeds
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American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
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American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
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American Robin
Turdus migratorius
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Ash-throated Flycatcher
Myiarchus cinerascens
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Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
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Bewick’s Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
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Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
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Black-headed Grosbeak
Pheucticus melanocephalus
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Blue Grosbeak
Passerina caerulea
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Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
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California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
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Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
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Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
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Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Poecile rufescens
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Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
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Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
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Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
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Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
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Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
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Great Crested Flycatcher
Myiarchus crinitus
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House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
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House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
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Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
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Juniper Titmouse
Baeolophus griseus
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Lazuli Bunting
Passerina amoena
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Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
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Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
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Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli
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Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
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Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
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Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
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Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus
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Purple Martin
Progne subis
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Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
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Say’s Phoebe
Sayornis saya
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Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
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Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
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Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
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Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
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Violet-green Swallow
Tachycineta thalassina
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Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
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Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
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Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma woodhouseii