Do you want to learn about the SMALLEST birds found in Mississippi?

Well, you have come to the right place. 🙂

Below, you are going to learn about the tiniest birds around. Incredibly, most of these birds weigh less than an ounce (28 grams)! To put that into perspective, a pencil weighs roughly an ounce.

18 SMALL BIRDS THAT LIVE IN Mississippi:

#1. Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

Length: 5.5 to 7.1 in / 14 to 18 cm
Weight: 0.71 to 1.16 oz / 20 to 33 g

Downy Woodpeckers are the smallest woodpecker found in Mississippi!

You probably recognize them, as they are seen in many yards visiting bird feeders.

Downy Woodpecker Range Map

This woodpecker species is easy to attract. The best foods to use are suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts (including peanut butter). You may even spot them drinking sugar water from your hummingbird feeders! If you use suet products, make sure to use a specialized suet bird feeder.

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

Once you know what to listen for, my guess is that you will start hearing Downy Woodpeckers everywhere you go. Their calls resemble a high-pitched whinnying sound that descends in pitch towards the end.

And if you’re really good, you can try to identify this species by how they drum on trees, which they do when looking for a mate or establishing a territory. The drumming is so fast it almost sounds like one uninterrupted sound!

Press PLAY above to hear a Downy Woodpecker!

#2. American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

Length: 4.3–5.5 in / 11–14 cm
Weight: 0.39–0.71 oz / 11–20 g

These colorful and small birds are common in Mississippi.

And the best news is they are relatively easy to attract to your backyard. American Goldfinches love feeding on sunflower seeds and Nyjer seeds.

It’s helpful to include bird feeders specially designed for goldfinches. These small birds are easily scared off by larger “bullies.” They will appreciate having places that only they can use!

American Goldfinch Range Map

American Goldfinches are strict vegetarians. Their diet is exclusively made of seeds with no insects, which is rare in the bird world.

Because of their diet, American Goldfinches breed later than other birds. They wait until June or July, when most plants are in full seed production, ensuring there is enough food for them to feed their babies.

To identify them by sound, listen for a pretty series of musical trills and warbles.

#3. House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Length: 6.3 in / 16 cm
Weight: 0.85 to 1.39 oz / 24 to 39.5 g

House Sparrows are an invasive species that originated from the Middle East. But now they are one of the most widespread small birds in Mississippi (and the world)!

Range Map – House Sparrow

House Sparrows owe their success to their ability to adapt and live near humans. Because of this, they are almost always found in urban and suburban areas.

House Sparrows can be heard across the entire planet. Pay attention the next time you’re watching the news in another country. Listen for a simple song that includes lots of “cheep” notes.

#4. Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia

Length: 4.3 to 7.1 in / 11 to 18 cm
Weight: ~ 1.1 oz / 32 g

These small birds are common in Mississippi, especially in wet & shrubby open areas.

But sparrows, in general, are difficult to identify due to their abundance and how similar they all tend to look. Until you take a closer look, they all appear “small and brown.”

Song Sparrow Range Map

The easiest way to confirm you have seen a Song Sparrow is to listen for their beautiful songs. The most common one they sing, which you can listen to below, consists of three short notes followed by a pretty trill. The song varies depending on location and the individual bird.

#5. House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

Length: 4.3 to 5.1 in / 11 to 13 cm
Weight: 0.35 to 0.42 oz / 10 to 12 g

The House Wren is a common small bird found in Mississippi.

RELATED: 5 Wren Species in Mississippi! (ID Guide)

Even though they rarely visit bird feeders, they are often seen zipping through backyards while hunting insects. A great way to draw these wrens to your yard is to create brush piles, which offer cover and places for insects to gather.

House Wren Range Map

House Wrens are commonly encountered by people when their nests are found in odd places.

For example, as a kid, we found a nest in a clothespin bag hanging outside. Before my mom could access her clothespins, she had to wait until the wrens had raised their young and abandoned the twig nest! Other weird spots for nests include boots, cans, or boxes.

One of the best ways to locate a House Wren is to listen for their distinctive song. The best way to describe it is a beautiful, energetic, flutelike melody consisting of rapid squeaky chatters and rattles.

#6. White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

Length: 6.1 in / 15.5 cm
Weight: 0.63–1.06 oz / 18–30 g

White-breasted Nuthatches are compact birds with no neck, a short tail, and a long pointy bill. Color-wise, they have distinctive white cheeks, chest, and a blue-gray back.

White-breasted Nuthatch Range Map

Look for these small birds in Mississippi in deciduous forests. But they adapt well to the presence of humans and are often seen at parks, cemeteries, and wooded yards visiting bird feeders.

To attract nuthatches, use sunflower seeds, peanuts, suet, safflower seeds, and mealworms. Choose high-quality food and avoid mixes containing milo or other grains, which most songbirds won’t eat.

These birds are incredibly vocal AND make distinctive noises that are relatively easy to identify! You are most likely to hear a “yank” call, which is given at any time of year. This loud and distinctive noise is often repeated several times in a row. (Press PLAY to listen below)

#7. House Finch

Haemorhous mexicanus

Length: 5 to 6 in / 12.5 to 15 cm
Weight: 0.56 to .94 oz / 16 to 27 g

It’s common to see these small birds in Mississippi near people. Look for House Finches around buildings, backyards, parks, and other urban and suburban areas.

RELATED: 7 Types of Finches Found in Mississippi!

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 seeds and safflower seeds the most in my backyard.

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

#8. Dark-eyed Junco

Junco hyemalis

Length: 5.1 to 6.9 in / 13 to 17.5 cm
Weight: 0.63 to 1.06 oz / 18 to 30 g

Dark-eyed Juncos are one of the most common small birds in Mississippi. You can easily identify them by how smooth their feathers look. Or look for a white flash from their tail feathers as they fly away.

RELATED: 5 Easy Ways to Attract Juncos to Your Yard!

Dark-eyed Junco Range Map

This species is found in pine and mixed-coniferous forests when they breed, but in winter, they are seen in fields, parks, woodlands, and backyards. Dark-eyed Juncos have earned the nickname “Snowbirds” or “Winter birds” because they only appear in winter in many parts of their range.

Dark-eyed Juncos like to visit bird feeders, but ONLY ON THE GROUND, where they consume fallen seeds.

Males sing a two-second loud, trilling song that can carry hundreds of feet away. In addition, both sexes also sing softer songs that are a mixture of warbles, trills, and whistles.

#9. Pine Siskin

Spinus pinus

Length: 4.3–5.5 in / 11–14 cm
Weight: 0.42–0.63 oz / 12–18 g

Pine Siskins are typically found in Mississippi in mixed evergreen or deciduous forests, but they will move to a new place in search of food, like weedy fields, backyards, or gardens.

These energetic birds can be seen visiting bird feeders during the winter. They prefer to eat smaller seeds without tough shells, such as sunflower or Nyjer seeds.

Pine Siskin Range Map

These small birds are very social and search for food in flocks while chirping nonstop to each other. They don’t even stop chattering when flying!

#10. White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Length: 5.9-6.3 in (15-16 cm)
Weight: 0.9-1.0 oz (25-28 g)

During the breeding season, White-crowned Sparrows are found in shrubbery habitats with open grassy areas. In winter, they prefer weedy fields, thickets, and backyards.

RELATED: 20 Types of Sparrows Found In Mississippi

White-crowned Sparrow Range Map

If you want to attract these small birds to your feeding station, use sunflower seeds. Just make sure the food is placed on the ground, as they won’t fly up to feeders. And having a brush pile will entice them to stay by giving them places to hide and feel safe.

White-crowned Sparrows are known for their long migration journeys. This sparrow has been known to travel over 300 miles (483 km) in one night!

Males primarily sing, but on occasion, so will females. Their song lasts only a few seconds. Listen below:

#11. White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Length: 5.9 to 7.5 in / 15 to 19 cm
Weight: 0.78 to 1.13 oz / 22 to 32 g

Look for these small birds in Mississippi along the edge of forests. They enjoy scratching at the ground under leaves or picking leaves up and moving them out of the way with their bill.

White-throated Sparrow Range Map

White-throated Sparrows readily visit bird feeders. You can attract them by offering sunflower seeds or millet and making sure some of the food ends up on the ground, as they won’t fly up to feeders. And having a place for them to hide and find shelter will entice them to stay.

White-throated Sparrows sing a high-pitched whistle that is easy to learn. Just listen for “Oh-sweet-Canada-Canada.”

#12. Red-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta canadensis

Length: 4.5 in (11 cm)
Weight: 0.35 oz (9.9 g)

Red-breasted Nuthatches are active little songbirds in Mississippi that have beautiful coloring. Look for compact birds with almost no neck and a short tail.

These small birds breed in northern North America, the western mountains, and the upper northeast. But during winter, they can truly show up almost anywhere.

These birds travel where needed to make sure they have enough food. In some years, they have been seen as far south as the Gulf of Mexico and Northern Mexico!

Red-breasted Nuthatch Range Map

Red-breasted Nuthatches are mostly found in Mississippi in coniferous forests. Their preferred habitat contrasts sharply with White-breasted Nuthatches, who prefer living in deciduous forests.

These small birds make a fast series of nasally “yank-yank-yank” sounds, which have been compared to the sound that a toy tin horn makes. These calls are typically made by males who are looking for a mate.

#13. Carolina Wren

Thryothorus ludovicianus

Length: 4.9 to 5.5 in / 12.5 to 14 cm
Weight: 0.63 to 0.81 oz / 18 to 23 g

Carolina Wrens are a colorful reddish-brown with a distinct white throat and eye line. The edges of their wings and tails are darkly barred, and the bill is long and thin. Both males and females appear similar.

Even though these small birds are common in Mississippi, due to their secretive nature, they can be hard to see. Look for them in shrubby and bushy areas that provide lots of hiding places.

Carolina Wren Range Map

One of the BEST ways to observe Carolina Wrens is by attracting them to your feeders, especially during the colder winter months. I see them feasting on suet the most, but they also eat peanuts, shelled sunflower seeds, and mealworms. Carolina Wrens rarely visit bird feeders during the summer since plenty of insects are around for them to eat.

Carolina Wrens are often heard before being seen! Their song, which is only sung by males, is usually three-parted and sounds like they are saying “tea-kettle tea-kettle tea-kettle.“ These birds are impressive singers, and individuals can make many variations of this song, so you never know exactly what you will hear.

#14. Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis

Length: 4.5–5.1 in / 11.5–13 cm
Weight: 0.32–0.42 oz / 9–12 g

Carolina Chickadees are small with a distinctive black cap and bib, pale white cheeks, a gray back, and white underparts. Both males and females look the same.

You should be able to spot these tiny birds in Mississippi in deciduous and mixed woodlands and swampy areas. Carolina Chickadees also adapt well to humans and are extremely common in parks and suburban and urban backyards!

Carolina Chickadee Range Map

Like most chickadees, they are intensely curious and intelligent. Try attracting them by offering sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet. Because of their small size and acrobatic abilities, they can use almost every type of bird feeder.

#15. Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

Length: 5.5–6.3 in (14–16 cm)
Weight: 0.6–0.9 oz (17–26 g)

These small birds are commonly seen in Mississippi in deciduous forests, backyards, and city parks. They often flit from tree to tree, looking for food while hanging from branches upside down or sideways.

Tufted Titmouse Range Map

Tufted Titmice visit bird feeders regularly, especially in winter. They are shyer than other birds, and they typically fly in quickly, grab a seed, and then fly somewhere else to eat in private. The best food to attract them is sunflower seeds, but they also readily eat peanuts, safflower seeds, and suet.

These birds are very vocal, and my guess is that you will recognize their sounds after listening below. Their song is a fast, repeated whistle that sounds like “peter-peter-peter.”

#16. Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Length: 2.8 to 3.5 in / 7 to 9 cm
Weight: 0.071 to 0.212 oz / 2 to 6 g

These small birds are common in Mississippi during warm summer months.

Once cooler temperatures start to arrive, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds birds migrate to Mexico. Amazingly, most individuals travel ACROSS the Gulf of Mexico to reach their wintering grounds. Remember, they must make this incredibly long journey in a single flight, as there is nowhere to stop and rest. 🙂

RELATED: How To Attract Hummingbirds! (25 Simple Tips)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Range Map

Believe it or not, these hummingbirds make distinctive noises. The sounds I hear most often are a series of calls that seem to be given as individuals chase each other around. It resembles a chattering “chee-dit.” Press PLAY below to hear what they sound like!

Press PLAY above to hear the sound these birds make!

#17. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

Length: 3.9–5.1 in / 10–13 cm
Weight: 0.18–0.25 oz / 5–7 g

Because of their small size, the easiest way to see one of these birds in Mississippi might be to listen for it! Keep your ears open for a thin, musical warble. In addition, they have a call note that sounds like a nasally, whining “pzzzzz.“

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Range Map

Interestingly, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher’s breeding range keeps expanding northward. Since records have been kept, they have shifted about 200 miles, consistent with increasing temperatures.

Believe it or not, even though these birds eat many small insects and invertebrates, they don’t eat that many gnats. 🙂

#18. Brown-headed Nuthatch

Sitta pusilla

Length: 3.5–4.3 in / 9–11 cm
Weight: 0.35–0.42 oz / 10–12 g

As the name suggests, these tiny birds have a distinctive brown cap on their head. Also, look for a chisel-like bill, blue-gray upperparts, and white underparts. Both males and females look the same!

You will find Brown-headed Nuthatches in Mississippi living in pine forests. The best habitat has an open understory with mature Loblolly, Shortleaf, Longleaf, and Slash pine trees.

Brown-headed Nuthatch Range Map

Brown-headed Nuthatches are social birds, and they are often seen together with members of their family. It’s common for hatchlings from the previous season, especially young males, to stick around and help their parents raise the next brood! These helpers are known to do everything from nest construction to territory defense to feeding nestlings.

Listen for 2-syllable squeaks, which have been compared to a toy rubber ducky being squeezed. These sounds can be repeated up to 12 times and are heard year-round!

Lastly, Brown-headed Nuthatches are one of the few birds that use tools! They sometimes use small pieces of bark to scrape away flakes of bark still attached to the tree, which reveals insects hidden below.

Learn more about other birds in Mississippi!

Which of these small birds have you seen in Mississippi?

Let us know in the comments!

18 SMALL Birds that live in Mississippi (2025)