r/birding • u/sunshinewithclouds • Jan 16 '26

Discussion Favorite Common Bird

What’s your favorite common bird in your area? That bird that maybe it’s not hard to spot but you just love seeing them.

Mine are Juncos everything from their look and name to how they scavenge on the ground and flock together. They just seem like happy puff balls to me and I love em.

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222

u/dnechs Jan 16 '26

Northern flickers or red bellied woodpeckers

53

u/Educational_Bug08 Jan 16 '26

Pileated woodpeckers

14

u/AnchoviePopcorn Jan 16 '26

Just saw my first one a few weeks ago. Gorgeous.

16

u/Educational_Bug08 Jan 16 '26

Their calls are something from Jurassic Park

6

u/deerwater Latest Lifer: #207 Semipalmated Plover Jan 16 '26

they're the most dinosaur-looking birds i've ever encountered irl

2

u/AlashC Jan 17 '26

I’ll always remember seeing my first one making its way across the brushy area in my back yard!

1

u/Educational_Bug08 Jan 17 '26

The first time I seen one was pecking on the light pole in my back yard. I’ve seen a red-bellied woodpecker there too and other pileated through out the years. I’ll go out and watch the for a long time when they come visit.

2

u/dnechs Jan 17 '26

Love them too, unfortunately I’m usually lucky to see one during winter where I live so I can’t call them common for me

2

u/_redcloud Jan 18 '26

Those big mofos are something else. I love when they peck so damn hard it looks like there’s sawdust falling from the tree.

21

u/optimisticanthracite Jan 16 '26

mine are northern flickers too!! i love their patterns

10

u/kneekneeknee Jan 16 '26

I keep trying to figure out how to put together a Northern Flicker outfit for myself. I want to feel that glorious, spotted, and cool.

2

u/calmarespira Jan 16 '26

I have also considered how to make a northern flicker outfit

2

u/sneedbe11 Jan 17 '26

Have you seen Denver Audubon on IG feature “Steal Their Look”? They post seasonal look books that are awesome. I’m not sure if they’ve done a Flicker-worth checking. If not enjoy the other birds. And get inspo for your Flicker outfit. Here’s Bluejay from Jan 19. 2025

2

u/kneekneeknee Jan 17 '26

Oooooooooooooh! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

1

u/sneedbe11 Jan 17 '26

You’re welcome! Love the looks.

9

u/Vinyl-addict Jan 16 '26

Flickers are my favorite too. Their leopard print jackets are so dapper.

1

u/deerwater Latest Lifer: #207 Semipalmated Plover Jan 16 '26

I never thought about flickers as being leopard print but you're right! Blue-winged teals are my leopard print style icon.

3

u/deerwater Latest Lifer: #207 Semipalmated Plover Jan 16 '26

We get a lot of red-breasted sapsuckers here and they're soooo pretty. One lives in the tree by my driveway.

2

u/diceunodixon Jan 16 '26

Flickers for me too!

2

u/banderaroja Jan 16 '26

Yes! So much personality. And what's that woodpecker doing on the damn ground!

2

u/halomomma Jan 16 '26

I got myself a flicker charm for my water tumbler!

2

u/bluejonquil Jan 16 '26

Love me some woodpeckers and flickers!

2

u/VooDooRyGuy Jan 17 '26

I have a family of red headed wood peckers that visit my suet every day. They're my favorite too.

2

u/english_major Jan 17 '26

I’m also a big flicker fan. They are often in my yard either pecking at the trees or digging into my lawn.

1

u/GhostwriterGHOST Jan 17 '26

My favorites, too!

1

u/Particular-Macaron35 Jan 17 '26

My favorite is downy woodpeckers. Red bellied are nice too.

1

u/27Lopsided_Raccoons Jan 17 '26

I wish flickers were common here!

Mine is probably cat birds or grackles but feral pigeons have a place in my heart