Attracting rare birds to your garden is an exciting and rewarding challenge! It takes more than simply scattering bird seed, you’ll need to create the right habitat, offer the best food, and understand the needs of different species. By doing so, you can increase your chances of spotting elusive visitors. For example, the Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysopeplus), typically found in Central Mexico, made several unexpected appearances in Arizona throughout 2024—proof that the right environment can draw in even the most uncommon birds!
Know Your Birds
Start by researching which rare bird species are found in your area. This will help you tailor your garden to their specific needs. There are a couple of ways you can do this. Staying in the loop is crucial to seeing rare birds.
eBird
eBird is a massive, online database of bird observations. It’s a global platform where all birdwatchers can record where and when they see different bird species. This information is then used by researchers, conservationists, and other bird enthusiasts to track bird populations, understand their distribution, and identify important habitats.
This citizen science project provides up-to-the-minute information on bird sightings around the world. You can search for a specific species and see where it has been recently observed. This is incredibly helpful for finding rare birds because you can see if anyone has reported seeing one in your area or a place you plan to visit.
You can set up alerts for specific species or regions. This means you’ll receive an email or notification whenever someone reports seeing a rare bird in your area of interest. This is like having a personal birding assistant that keeps you informed about rare bird sightings.
You can also access a vast archive of bird observations going back many years. This allows you to research where and when rare birds have been seen in the past. This can help you identify potential locations and times to look for them.
Redwings (Turdus iliacus) should only be found in Eurasia but occasionally appear in New England and Washington!
eBird also identifies hotspots, which are locations with a high diversity of bird species. These hotspots are often excellent places to find rare birds.
Tips for Using eBird to Find Rare Birds
- The Explore section allows you to search for specific species, regions, or time periods.
- Set up Alerts for the species or regions you’re interested in.
- Check the Recent Sightings page. It shows the most recent bird sightings reported to eBird.
- Explore the Hotspots in your area or in places you plan to visit.
- Contribute your own sightings. By adding your own bird observations to eBird, you’ll be helping others find rare birds as well.
Local Groups
There is nothing like local knowledge in bird watching. If you build a network of local bird enthusiasts, then you are much more likely to get the inside word if a rare bird is around your neighborhood. Here are our tips for getting involved locally.
- A quick online search for bird watching groups or clubs in your city or region can yield a list of potential groups in your area.
- Many national and regional birding organizations have local chapters or affiliated groups. Check the websites of organizations like the American Birding Association and the National Audubon Society.
- Search for bird watching groups on social media platforms like Facebook. Platforms like this often have groups dedicated to local birding communities.
- Nature centers, botanic gardens, and parks often host bird walks and other events, and they may also be able to connect you with local birding groups. Volunteers are usually local and are often very helpful with recent sightings.
- Libraries, bookstores, and even pet stores sometimes have bulletin boards or community information where you can find local bird watching groups.
- Attending local birding festivals and events is a great way to meet other birders and learn about local groups.
If there isn’t a local birding group for you to join, then start one yourself! You would be surprised how many people you can attract very easily.
The Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) is a western bird but is uncommonly seen in the west from Florida up to Maine!
Create the Right Habitat
Attracting rare birds is all about creating a haven. If you can get the basics right and the common birds come regularly to your bird feeders and baths, then you are much more likely to see a rare bird there too.
Firstly, it is crucial to have native plants in your garden. These provide the natural food sources (insects, fruits, seeds) and shelter that rare birds have evolved to rely on. Once you have an idea of what plants to use, you need to ensure there is a variety with different heights, textures, and growth habits to create a diverse habitat that caters to different species.
Birds will only come to your garden if they feel safe. There is no use coming to a lovely feeder, only to be picked off by a hungry hawk! Include trees, shrubs, and ground cover to provide different levels of shelter and foraging areas.
Water is also key. Provide a clean and reliable water source, such as a birdbath, pond, or even a small fountain. Moving water is especially attractive to birds and might be particularly important for a rare bird out of their range.
Food, Glorious Food
When planning your garden, consider the specific foods that the more uncommon birds. Offer specialized feeders with specific types of food that appeal to rare birds. For example, tube feeders with Nyjer seed attract finches, while platform feeders with mealworms attract insect-eating birds. Lots of bird species love suet, so put that out to attract nuthatches and woodpeckers. If you know certain birds are passing through your area on migration or need more support in colder months, then act accordingly.
You can also encourage insects by planting flowers that attract them. Leave some areas of your garden a bit wild to provide habitat for insects and other small creatures that birds eat. Plant fruit-bearing trees and shrubs to provide a natural source of food.
This Rufous-backed Robin (Turdus rufopalliatus) is a Mexican bird but is sometimes seen in gardens of the southwest.
Shelter and Nesting Sites
Rare birds are often that because they are out of their normal range. This often happens because birds are lost. They might have been blown off course because of bad weather or be young and inexperienced, no one really knows. But if they are off course, then they are likely to be tired and hungry, so as well as planting good food sources, think about shelter. Plant dense shrubs and trees to provide shelter from predators and the elements. You can also provide nest boxes of appropriate sizes and types for the rare birds you are trying to attract.
Keep it Safe
All birds are likely to give your backyard a wide berth if there is a perceived danger in it. Take steps to minimize the presence of predators like cats. Keep pets indoors or provide them with supervised outdoor time.
Another issue is window collisions. Prevent birds from hitting windows by placing decals on the outside of the glass or providing screens or plants near windows.
Lastly, when making your garden a haven for all birds, avoid using pesticides and herbicides in your garden, as these can harm birds and their food sources.
The Crimson-collared Grosbeak (Periporphyrus celaeno) lives in eastern Mexico along the gulf but sometimes strays across the border into Texas.
Be Patient and Observant
It may take time for rare birds to discover your garden. Be patient and continue to provide the resources they need. It is likely that the more common sparrows, jays and chickadees will visit you first but as your garden becomes established throughout the year as somewhere safe for the birds where they can feed and drink, you will start to see more uncommon species visit.
A family project that supports your efforts is to keep a record of the birds you see in your garden. This will help you track your progress and make adjustments to your habitat as needed. It also keeps everyone involved and ensures that if a rare bird does turn up, someone is actually mindful enough to spot it!
Case Study
The Lawrence’s Goldfinch (Spinus lawrencei) is considered quite rare. It has a very limited range, primarily in California and parts of Arizona. They are known for their nomadic behavior, making their presence unpredictable even within their range. However, they are known to visit bird feeders.
The range map above from eBird shows all the historical reports across the United States. You can immediately see they are concentrated in the southwest but at times are seen as far north as Canada and as far east as Oklahoma.
If I happened to live in Arrey, New Mexico in January of 2025 and had a rare bird alert set up, it would tell me that there had been sightings at Percha Dam (see image below). I can then look at this area and see that it was witnessed by 3 birders, over 10 days. This indicates that the bird may still be around. I would then do 2 things:
- Make sure my bird feeder is set up to attract finches. I would fill my hoppers with Nyjer seeds that finches love. Then I would monitor my garden as often as possible.
- I would next make contact with local birding groups to see if anyone else has seen it. Remember, not everyone posts their sightings to eBird or Facebook. Having a network of fellow bird watchers in your area is crucial. The more eyes out for this bird, the better.
Final Thoughts
Seeing rare birds in your garden is a birder’s dream. However, just as that bird is rare, sightings in domestic settings are also likely to be rare. Our advice is to focus on attracting the birds that you know are local to you. If you can encourage them to visit you, then you are well set up to attract that pesky Lawrence’s Goldfinch as it passes through. Good luck!
