Birds Over Tennessee

Just A Few Of Our Tennessee Birds

Tennessee is not only a beautiful state, but has some very colorful and interesting birds.  Get familiar with some of our Tennessee birds and maybe even learn something.  The Tennessee state bird is the Mockingbird.  

Planning a vacation?  Why not come to beautiful Tennessee?

Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau

It is important to note from the very beginning that you aren't trying to make something pretty, but a place for bluebirds to build a nest and raise thier young.

Buying new lumber material is perfectly OK, but most people may have the necessary materials lying arond the garage or workshop.  A single 1" x 6" board 5 ft. long will be enough material to build one bluebird house.

You will need:

• Saw (just about any type of saw will work)
• Hammer
• Drill with a 1 1/2" wood drill bit
• 5 penny nails with heads (don't use finishing nails)
• Small hinge

We are going to cut six pieces of wood.

#1 & #2 - Sides - 10 3/4" x 9 3/4".

#3 - Back - 16 1/2" x 5 1/2"

#4 - Front - 9 7/8" x 5 1/2"

#5 - Roof - 6 1/2" x 5 1/2"

#6 - Bottom - 4" x 5 1/2"

You should now have 6 pieces that look like this and now the hardest part is over, you are ready to assemble the bluebird house.

Note:  The house is going to need some drainage, so you have a couple of options.  You can either cut 1/4" of all four corners of the bottom (#6) or you can drill 1/4"  holes.

Drill a 1 1/2" (size is very important) hole 2 3/4" down from the top of the front panel (#4)

• Nail the sides to the back and front panels ( Leave 2 1/2" from the top of the back panel.) 
• Nail the bottom to all panels.
• Hinge the back side of the top panel and insert a small screw to attach the top to the front panel.

You now have completed your bluebird house and it's probably best for the birds that you not paint it.

There are some things to consider when mounting your bluebird house.  These birds are annoyed by wrens and must deal with predators like snakes, raccoons, squirrels and cats.  So, whatever you can do to protect the nest and the young birds will be helpful.

• Probably the easiest way to mount the bluebird house would be to nail it to a fence post or a tree, but this makes it easier for predators to climb and get the eggs or young birds.
• The bluebird house can be mounted on PVC pipe, which might discourage some predators.
• The bluebird house can be mountd on a smooth round pipe which could also discourage predators.

Just make sure the bluebird house is mounted from four to six feet high on the post.

Watch your bluebird house for a few days and if you see wrens try to take it over, which they probably will, tear out their nesting material and keep watching it until a bluebird makes it home.

Even though bluebirds in some areas will use the same nest year after year,  there could be a problem with parasites and diseases.  It might be best to  clean your bluebird houses after each brood has left.  Discard the old nest away from the bluebird house and scrub the house with a 10% bleach solution and let completely dry before re-mounting.

Hawk

The Red-Tailed Hawk is commonly seen all over Tennessee just sitting on fence posts waiting for some rodent to make a mistake.

Both sexes look alike, however, the females are larger.  The Red-Tailed Hawk is a large bird with a wide wing span.  It has a pale chest with a dark band across its belly and, of course, a broad red tail.

Bluebirds

In Tennessee bluebirds begin nesting usually during the first two weeks of March.  They lay from three to six eggs and the incubation period is about 14 days.

Bluebird houses should be mounted from four to six feet high on a post.  If you put up more than one bluebird house, they should be at least 100 yards apart.

North American Bluebird Society

Goldfinch

The goldfinch is probably one of Tennessee's most beautiful birds.  In the summer the males are a bright yellow with a black cap, while the females are a drab olive.

The goldfinch does not start nesting in Tennessee until late June or early July, when all the other birds are finished.  Since goldfinches thrive on thistle seeds, the reason for late nesting might be the availability of food and nesting material.  Thistle blooms in the summer in Tennessee.

American Goldfinch-Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Mockingbird-Tennessee's State Bird

The mockingbird is the state bird of Tennessee and is known for its long, complex songs that sometimes imitates other birds.

The mockingbird can be seen flashing its wings and showing off the big white patches.   No one really knows why they do it.

Northern Mockingbird-Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Oriole

In Tennessee, the oriole is well known for its brilliant orange and black plumage.  Orioles prefer open areas with tall trees.  The males are brightly colored with a black hood, while the females are duller without the solid black hood.

Baltimore Oriole-Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Wren

The wren is a common sight in all Tennessee backyards.  The wren is a little brown bird that likes to take over all the birdhouses in its general vicinity.

When a male wren captures a cavity for nesting, he immediately starts bringing in sticks.  When a female pairs up with the male, she finishes the nest.

How many birdhouses should you put up in your backyard?

Hummingbird

The Ruby throated hummingbird shows up in Tennessee in April.  I have watched my feeders for the past several years and every year there is a hummingbird feeding on April 15th.

The Hummingbird Society

Perfect Place To Watch Tennessee Birds