Grosbeaks, Buntings, Finches, & Sparrows
|
All visit feeders but none use nest boxes. Buntings prefer the security of nearby shrubbery. Song Sparrows are more likely to visit open platform feeders than other types. Juncos usually feed on the ground below feeders. The number of Painted Buntings continues to decline. If you live in northeast Florida, you can help. Two of Florida's resident sparrows are endangered, the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow and the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow. The Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, once found in many locations, is now found in limited numbers in the dry prairies in a few southcentral counties. The Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow inhabits freshwater and brackish marshes in Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. Scott's Seaside Sparrow and Wakulla Seaside Sparrow, which inhabit Gulf coastal marshes, are species of special concern. When mangroves overrun the grassy vegetation in these areas, the sparrows move on. |
| name | area | season | diet/native food plants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indigo Bunting | NC S | SpSu-B SpFW-M | seeds*, insects, fruit composites, elderberry, grasses |
| Painted Bunting | N | SpSuFW-B | seeds*, insects grasses, turk's cap |
| Northern Cardinal | NCS | SpSuFW-B | seeds*, fruit*, insects beautyberry, blackberry, blue porterweed, dogwood, elderberry, elm, fig, grasses, hackberry, hawthorn, Hercules club, holly, honeysuckle, marlberry, mulberry, pine, tuliptree, tupelo, viburnum, wild cherry |
| Goldfinch | NCS | SpFW | seeds*, insects composites, honeysuckle, maple, oak, pine |
| Purple Finch | NC | FW | fruit*, seeds*, insects ash, beautyberry, tuliptree, tupelo |
| Blue Grosbeak | N CS | SpSuF-B SpFW-M | insects, seeds elm, grasses |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | NCS | SpF-M | insects*, seeds, fruit elderberry, grape, hawthorn, mulberry |
| Dark-eyed Junco | NCS | SpSuF | seeds*, insects grasses, pine |
| Pine Siskin | N | SpFW | seeds*, insects, fruit alder, goldenrod, honeysuckle, maple, pine, red cedar, sunflower |
| Chipping Sparrow | N CS | SpSuFW-B FW | seeds*, insects grasses |
| Field Sparrow | N CS | SpSuFW-B SpFW | seeds*, insects grasses |
| Song Sparrow | NC | FW | seeds*, insects, fruit blackberry, elderberry, grasses, highbush blueberry, maple, sunflower, Virginia creeper, wild cherry |
| White-throated Sparrow | NC | FW | seeds*, insects, fruit elderberry, holly, honeysuckle, maple, oak, red cedar, wild cherry |
| Eastern Towhee | NCS | SpSuFW-B | seeds, fruit, nuts, insects bayberry, beautyberry, blackberry, blueberry, dogwood, grasses, hackberry, hickory, holly, magnolia, oak, pine, serviceberry, wild cherry |
Sp=spring Su=summer F=fall W=winter B=breeds in Florida during season(s) underlined M=Migrant | |||