Did you see a PINK bird in Georgia?

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#1. House Finch

• Haemorhous mexicanus

Identifying Characteristics:

• Males are pinkish around their heads and upper breasts. They have brown streaks on their back, tail, and belly.
• Females are brown with streaks on their back, tail, and belly.
• Both sexes have notched tails and conical beaks designed to eat seeds.

It’s common to see these pink birds in Georgia near people.

Look for them around buildings, backyards, parks, and other urban and suburban areas. As you can see, only males have pinkish-red coloring.

House Finch Range Map

House Finches are often the first birds to discover new bird feeders. These birds are intensely curious and rarely travel alone, so their arrival often helps other birds find your feeders, too! I see them eating sunflower, Nyjer, and safflower seeds in my yard.

• RELATED: Bird Seed 101: The 10 Best Types For Wild Birds!

House Finches have an enjoyable song, which can be heard year-round. Listen below to a series of jumbled, warbled notes.

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#2. Purple Finch

• Haemorhous purpureus

Identifying Characteristics:

• Small, with a conical seed-eating bill.
• Males have a raspberry red or pink head, breast, and back.
• Females have prominent streaks of white and brown below, with strong facial markings, including a whitish eyebrow and a dark line down the side of the throat.

Male Purple Finches are described as looking like they were dipped in raspberry juice.

Look for these beautiful pink birds visiting feeders in Georgia, especially during winter. Your best chance to attract them is using black-oil sunflower seeds. Having conifer trees in your yard is also a great way to encourage them to visit.

Purple Finch Range Map

Purple Finches can be challenging to identify because they look incredibly similar to the more common House Finch. I’ve made this mistake many times, believing that I saw a Purple Finch when it was, in fact, just another House Finch. To tell them apart, look at their back. The Purple Finch’s back has pink or red coloring, while the back of a House Finch has none.

Males sing a rich, musical warble. Listen below!

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#3. Mourning Dove

• Zenaida macroura

Identifying Characteristics:

• A mostly grayish dove with large black spots on the wings and a long, thin tail.
• Look for pinkish legs, a black bill, and a distinctive blue eye ring.
• Males and females look the same.

This species is one of the most common birds in Georgia.

But at first glance, it’s hard to see any pink coloring on them. But look closer, and you will notice that Mourning Doves have PINK legs! 🙂

Mourning Dove Range Map

Mourning Doves are common visitors to bird feeding stations. They need a flat place to feed, so the best feeders for them are trays or platforms. They are most comfortable feeding on the ground, so throw a bunch of food there, too.

• RELATED: The 15 Best Bird Feeders In MY Backyard! (UPDATED)

It’s common to hear these pink-legged birds in Georgia.

Listen for a low “coo-ah, coo, coo, coo.” In fact, this mournful sound is how the dove got its name! Many people commonly mistake this sound for an owl. (Press PLAY below!)

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#4. Common Ground Dove

• Columbina passerina

Identifying Characteristics:

• These doves are small, being only slightly larger than a sparrow!
• They have a plain grey-brown back. The underparts have a pinkish tint to them.
• Small heads with a scaled pattern on their breast and neck. Dark spots on the wings.

These pinkish birds are typically easy to find in Georgia. Look for them feeding on the ground beneath bird feeders, cleaning up the grains and other seeds that fall from above.

Common Ground Doves primarily nest on the ground! Simple nests are built lined with a few types of grass, weeds, and other plant matter. Being on the ground, they can make an easy meal for many different predators. Their primary defense is to blend into their surroundings or hide in thick vegetation.

Common Ground Dove Range Map

Common Ground Doves are relatively vocal. They can be heard at all times of the day and at any time of the year. Listen for a repeated, soft, high-pitched coo with a rising inflection.

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#5. Roseate Spoonbill

• Platalea ajaja

Identifying Characteristics:

• Large and pink with bright pink on their shoulders and tail and a yellowish-green head
• Eyes are red, and their bill is long and wide with a spoonlike shape.
• Often confused with a flamingo.

Look for this large PINK bird in Georgia in shallow freshwater marshes, bays, wetlands, and forested swamps. As Roseate Spoonbills wade in shallow water, they swing their bills back and forth, searching for food. Their pink coloring comes from crustaceans that eat red algae.

These pink birds primarily eat shrimp, aquatic insects, prawns, and fish. They sway their bill in the water to find their prey and then clamp their bill shut to swallow it whole.

An interesting fact about the Roseate Spoonbill is as it gets older, it loses the feathers on top of its head. I guess they have a lot in common with many men! 🙂

Surprisingly, the Roseate Spoonbill is a silent bird. Occasionally, they’ll make grunting noises when startled or greeting a mate.

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Learn more about other birds in Georgia!

• The 33 MOST Common Birds in Georgia!

• Birds that are Orange in Georgia (8 Species)           

• Grey Birds in Georgia! (10 Species)

• 7 Purple Birds found in Georgia

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Which of these pink birds have you seen in Georgia?

Let us know in the comments!