25 Birds that Feed on the Ground (with Photos & Details)

Do you know which birds feed on the ground? In this article, we’ll look at 25 of the most common birds that can be found feeding on the ground. I have provided photos, and details about each bird for easy identification.

Common Chaffinch

The Common Chaffinch is known to feed on the ground in both arid and temperate regions; it has been observed digging through fallen leaves, leaf litter or snow to find food. It’s not unusual to see them feeding along roadsides, where they may also be seen taking dust baths.

Length: 5.5 – 6.0″ in.
Weight: 20 – 24 g.
Wingspan: 10.0 – 11.0″ in.
Range: Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia.
Habitat: Woodland to open country, and urban areas such as parks and gardens.
Diet: Mainly insects, seeds and berries in the winter.

Eurasian-collared Dove

The Eurasian-collared dove is a bird that’s found in southern and central Texas, including urban areas. They are often seen around livestock and will eat seeds from weeds or grasses when food is scarce. The birds can also be found feeding on insects like beetles, ants, wasps, caterpillars, and butterflies which they pick up off of the ground while walking slowly back and forth across an area to find them.

Length: 11.4-11.8 in (29-30 cm)
Weight: 4.9-6.3 oz (140-180 g)
Wingspan: 13.8 in (35 cm)
Range: Central America, the Caribbean, North Africa, South Asia to Southeast Asia.
Habitat: Deserts, grasslands, dry scrubland, wet rainforest, moist savanna and forests.
Diet: Seeds, fruits, and grains.

Related Post: Birds That Look Like Pigeons

Dunnock

Dunnocks are ground feeders. They will search for worms, slugs, and other invertebrates in the leaf litter on the forest floor. Dunnocks have a diet that consists mainly of insects such as ants, beetles, flies, and spiders, which they find by probing under fallen leaves or digging into rotten logs.

Length: 5.3–5.5″ in. (13.5–14 cm)
Weight: 0.74 oz. (21 g.)
Wingspan: 7.9″ in (20 cm)
Range: Europe, Asia and parts of Africa.
Habitat: Forest edges to thickets near open woodland or agricultural land.
Diet: Insects, fruits, berries, seeds and even eggs.

House Sparrow

House sparrows are ground feeders and primarily eat seeds, grains, and other plant matter. They typically forage on the ground, but will also fly up to feed on seed heads. House sparrows can be found in most areas of North America as well as parts of South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Length: 5.7-7.1 in (14.5-18 cm)
Weight: 0.92-1.1 oz (26-31 g)
Wingspan: 7.9-10.0 in (20-25.5 cm)
Range: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America.
Habitat: Open areas such as fields and parks.
Diet: Insects, seeds, and food scraps.

Related Post: How to Attract Sparrows to your yard

Mistle Thrush

Mistle thrushes are medium-sized songbirds with distinctive grayish-brown plumage that lives in North America, Europe, and Asia. Mistle Thrush is a type of bird that feeds on the ground. These birds have been known to eat seeds, berries, snails, and other insects found on the ground. Mistle Thrush will even be seen eating small worms and larvae from decomposing leaves.

Length: 10.5-11.0″ in (26.7-27.9 cm)
Weight: 91 to 168 g (3.2 to 5.9 oz)
Wingspan: 17-18″ in (43.2-45 cm)
Range: Europe, United States and Canada.
Habitat: Farmland, meadows, orchards, parks and gardens.
Diet: Mostly insects such as beetles, flies, ants, spiders, moths and caterpillars.

American Robin

Robins are medium-sized birds that can be found throughout North America. The American Robin is a well-known bird that is often seen hopping around on the ground in search of food. These birds will feed on seeds, berries, worms, and insects which they typically find on the ground.

Length: 8.3-11.2 in (21-28.5 cm)
Weight: 2.8-3.0 oz (78-86 g)
Wingspan: 11.8-15.7 in (30-40 cm)
Range: North-eastern United States to southern Canada and south to Central America.
Habitat: Open woodlands, suburbs, parks, agricultural fields and brushy hillsides with scattered trees.
Diet: Mainly insects, berries and other fruit.

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Song Thrush

The song thrush is a type of bird that lives in North America. The song thrush is a ground feeder, which means it forages on the ground to find food. The song thrush eats worms, snails, insects such as grasshoppers and beetles; seeds such as juniper berries; fruit such as cherries or crab apples that have fallen from trees.

Length: 7.8-9.3″ in (19.8-23.6 cm)
Weight: 1.8-3.8 oz (52-109 g)
Wingspan: 12.6-13.4 in (32-34 cm)
Range: North America, South America, Europe and Asia.
Habitat: Woodland edges and clearings with bushes for nesting sites.
Diet: Insects, earthworms, slugs, snails, seeds and berries as well as small birds’ eggs.

Related Post: How to Attract Thrushes to your yard?

European Starling

European starlings are ground-feeding birds, that feed on the ground in groups at dawn and dusk. They will search for insects, and other small invertebrates in the soil, but they also eat fruit that has fallen to the ground from trees above them. They typically nest on the ground and live in grasslands, pastures, parks, cemeteries, and golf courses.

Length: 8.0-9.0 in (20.3-22.8 cm)
Weight: 2.1-3.4 oz (59-97 g)
Wingspan: 12.1-15.9 in (30.7-40.4 cm)
Range: North America as well as Europe, Africa and Asia.
Habitat: Urban areas, coastal marshes, farmlands, mountainsides, and forests.
Diet: Seeds, fruits, insects, small animals like mice or voles, earthworms and snails.

Wood Pigeon

Wood pigeons live all over the world and can be found throughout North America. Wood Pigeons are birds that have adapted to living in urban areas. They eat grain, bread crumbs, and birdseed which they find on the ground of an area. Wood pigeons are also attracted to food placed out for them by humans and can often be seen feeding alongside crows, sparrows, blackbirds, jays, magpies, and grackles.

Length: 14.6-17.3 in (37–44 cm)
Weight: 11.0-21.8 oz (300-617 g)
Wingspan: 29.1-31.1″ in (74-79 cm)
Range: Mostly found in Europe and Asia and some parts of North Africa.
Habitat: Forests, agricultural fields, parks, and urban areas.
Diet: Mainly of berries, seeds, grains and leaves from plants.

Carolina Wren

Carolina Wrens are small songbirds that spend their time on the ground or close to it. These birds feed on insects, fruit, and other small invertebrates. One of the most notable features of Carolina Wrens is how they feed in a manner similar to chickens. The wren uses its long beak to poke around in grasses and under logs for food like ants or grubs.

Length: 4.3-5.7 in (11-14.5 cm)
Weight: 0.6-0.8 oz (17-23 g)
Wingspan: 11.0-11.4 in (28-29 cm)
Range: Eastern North America, South-eastern United States, Southern Canada, and Mexico.
Habitat: Brushy areas like forests, thickets, hedges along field edges, shrubs, urban areas.
Diet: Insects, spiders, berries and other fruit.

House Wren

House Wrens are found in the Americas and on Caribbean islands. They have been known to be ground feeders, so they will eat seeds and insects that live close to the ground or vegetation. In addition, they also eat other small animals such as earthworms, millipedes, slugs, snails, and more. In fact, they feed on the ground much more than other wren species.

Length: 4.0-5.3 in (10-13.5 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.5oz (9.5-13 g)
Wingspan: 5.3-5.9 in (13.5-15 cm)
Range: Eastern United States, southern Canada, central Mexico, northern South America, and Cuba.
Habitat: Meadows, fields, parks and gardens with trees or shrubs for nesting sites and shelter.
Diet: Insects, spiders, berries and other fruit.

Common Blackbird

Blackbirds are a popular species in the United States. They can be found all over the country, and they don’t seem to mind what kind of habitat they live in. Are blackbirds ground feeders? Yes, in a sense. Blackbirds will often forage on the ground and under shrubs, looking for insects or other food items. However, most of their time is spent perched on trees eating fruit and berries from the branches.

Length: 7.9-10.2 in (20-26 cm)
Weight: 2.1-3.1 oz (59-87 g)
Wingspan: 13.8-14.6 in (35-37 cm)
Range: North America, Europe, and Asia.
Habitat: Parks, on buildings, gardens, or even near farms.
Diet: Insects, seeds, berries, fruit and worms.

Dark-eyed Junco

The Dark-eyed Junco is a ground feeder, and its diet consists of insects, seeds, and berries. They are found in open woodlands and scrubby areas near water sources such as streams or lakes. Juncos breed throughout the United States during springtime, often building nests under shrubs or in grassy areas near low bushes.

Length: 5.3-6.5 in (13.5-16.5 cm)
Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz (17.5-31 g)
Wingspan: 6.7-10.2 in (17-26 cm)
Range: Common and found throughout most of North America except parts of central Canada and Alaska.
Habitat: Forests, meadows, and other open habitats with brushy undergrowth.
Diet: Insects, spiders, berries, seeds and nuts.

Related Post: Interesting Dark-eyed Junco Fun Facts

White-throated Sparrow

The White-throated Sparrow is a small songbird that can be found throughout North America. They are very active birds and will feed on the ground as well as in trees. In general, White-throated sparrows have an omnivorous diet consisting of seeds, insects, eggs, and other small animals. When they are feeding on the ground, they use their bill to flip leaves overlooking for food underneath.

Length: 6.0-7.5 in (15-19 cm)
Weight: 0.7-1.2 oz (21-33 g)
Wingspan: 7.9-9.3 in (20-23.5 cm)
Range: Eastern United States to Canada.
Habitat: Open woodlands, fields, and suburban yards.
Diet: Mostly insects but also seeds and berries when available.

Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhees are small birds that often spend their time foraging on the ground. They have a variety of techniques to help them find food, including pecking at plants, digging with their bills, flipping leaves over, and looking underneath. Spotted Towhees are very adept foragers, which is why they spend so much time searching on the ground. They will eat everything from seeds to bugs but also enjoy invertebrates like snails and slugs.

Length: 6.5-8.7 in (16.5-22 cm)
Weight: 1.1-1.7 oz (32-49.5g)
Wingspan: 10.6-11.2 in (27-28.5 cm)
Range: Eastern Canada to the western U.S., Mexico, and Central America.
Habitat: Shrubs or brushy areas along forest edges or clearings near streams.
Diet: Seeds, berries, invertebrates (insects), small reptiles, amphibians, and eggs of other birds.

Mourning Dove

Mourning doves are one of the most common birds in North America. They feed mostly on seeds, grains, and nuts found on the ground. The mourning dove’s diet is also supplemented by eating worms and insects that they find in the soil near where they’re feeding. Mourning doves can be seen all over your backyard garden or any place with large amounts of plants growing close to the ground for them to eat from, as well as a constant supply of fresh water nearby.

Length: 8.3-13.8 in (21-35 cm)
Weight: 3.3-6.0 oz (94-170 g)
Wingspan: 16.1-17.7 in (41-45 cm)
Range: North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Habitat: Forest edges, fields near woodlands, pastures near open areas.
Diet: Insects, seeds, grains, fruits and berries

Related Posts: 10 Facts about Mourning Doves

White-crowned Sparrow

The White-crowned Sparrow is a small bird that can be found in North America. They are migratory birds and usually travel from the north to the south, and vice versa. One of their main habitats is on top of or near trees; they can also be seen feeding on seeds on the ground or foraging for food.

Length: 5.5-6.3 in (14-16.5 cm)
Weight: 0.9-1.0 oz (24-28 g)
Wingspan: 7.9-9.4 in (20-24 cm)
Range: United States and Canada, except for some parts of the western states.
Habitat: Meadows, grasslands, forest edges, brushy areas near water, willow thickets, farm fields.
Diet: Consists mostly of seeds, but they also eat berries, grains, nuts, insects and even small lizards.

Red-winged Blackbird

The Red-winged Blackbird is a species of bird that prefers to feed on the ground. The blackbird is usually found wandering around fields, lawns and sidewalks looking for its next meal. They typically like sunflower seeds or insects as their food source but can also eat worms or crickets if they need too.

Length: 6.3-9.4 in (16-24 cm)
Weight: 1.2-2.8 oz (33-78 g)
Wingspan: 11.8-15.7 in (30-40 cm)
Range: Southern United States, eastern Canada, and the Western US.
Habitat: Woodlands and wetlands.
Diet: Insects and fruit, with some seeds being eaten as well.

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhees, are native to the eastern United States and southern Canada. They are one of many species that rely on food sources from plants and insects for survival. The Eastern Towhee prefers eating ants, beetles, and spiders, which it finds on the ground, by pecking at loose soil with its bill. The Eastern Towhee is not picky about what type of ant or beetle it eats; they will eat any small insect that comes their way.

Length: 6.7-8.3 in (17-21 cm)
Weight: 1.1-1.9 oz (31-53 g)
Wingspan: 7.9-11.2 in (20-28.5 cm)
Range: Eastern United States, Northeastern United States, and Southwestern Canada.
Habitat: Fields, forest edges, open woodlands, and near streams.
Diet: Mostly insects, seeds from weed plants, berries and small animals.

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinals are ground feeding birds that live in North America. They have a friendly personality and can be found in gardens, parks, forests, meadows and wetlands. The Northern Cardinal is not migratory and will stay in the same area year round. Their diet consists of seeds from weeds or grasses as well as insects such as spiders, crickets and caterpillars. If you see one foraging on the ground, it means they’re hungry because their food sources are low or scarce.

Length: 7.9-9.1 in (20-23 cm)
Weight: 1.45-1.7 oz (41-48 g)
Wingspan: 9.8-12.4 in (25-31.5 cm)
Range: Eastern United States, Canada and Mexico.
Habitat: Deciduous forests, coniferous forests, mixed woodlands, prairies, chaparral areas (shrubs), savannas (grassland with scattered trees), semi-deserts or deserts with scrubby vegetation and shrubs, and even sagebrush plains.
Diet: Seeds, fruits, berries, insects and other small animals.

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Brown Thrasher

The Brown Thrasher is a type of bird that loves to feed on the ground. The Thrashers can be found in North America, and are mostly seen on the coastlines and other moist habitats. They eat insects, worms, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, snails as well as small reptiles such as lizards and snakes. A lot of times they will feed from the ground by flipping leaves over with their feet to find food hiding underneath them.

Length: 8.8-11.8 in (22.5-30 cm)
Weight: 2.1-3.1 oz (60-89 g)
Wingspan: 11.4-12.8 in (29-32.5 cm)
Range: North America, Central America, South America, and parts of Europe.
Habitat: Deciduous forests, suburban areas.
Diet: Insects, seeds, berries and fruit.

Song Sparrow

Song sparrows are ground foraging birds that live in a variety of habitats including woodlands, grasslands, marshes and brushy areas. They nest on the ground under shrubs or other cover close to the water’s edge. The song sparrow is an opportunistic feeder, which means it will eat what is available to them in their habitat. Insects such as beetles, ants and flies make up about one-third of its diet, while fruits make up about 12%.

Length: 4.5-6.9 in (11.5-17.5 cm)
Weight: 0.4-1.9 oz (11-54 g)
Wingspan: 6.7-9.4 in (17-24 cm)
Range: Most of the United States and Canada except for Florida and parts of the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Grasslands, wetlands, orchards, parks and gardens.
Diet: Small invertebrates, seeds, and berries.

American Tree Sparrow

American Tree Sparrows are ground foraging birds. They use their short, round bills to search the forest floor for seeds and insects. They eat many types of seeds from trees such as maples, oaks, and beech trees. Additionally they will eat grasses, weed seeds, and berries that have fallen on the ground or have been eaten by other animals before them.

Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
Weight: 0.47-1.0 oz (13-29 g)
Wingspan: 9.1-9.4 in (23-24 cm)
Range: North America south to Mexico.
Habitat: Open fields, farmland, and meadows.
Diet: Insects and seeds from grasses, herbs, shrubs, trees or vines, berries.

California Quail

The California Quail is a ground feeding bird, and it prefers to eat seeds, berries, and insects. This quail has adapted to live in open areas with little or no vegetation on the surface. This habitat may be arid or semi-arid grasslands; rocky hillsides; deserts; or brushy fields with scattered trees. They have also adapted to urban areas, where they eat food from residential lawns and other people’s yards. They also may feed on grains or seed from human consumption left behind after picnics or sporting events.

Length: 9.4-11.0 in (24-28 cm)
Weight: 5.0-8.2 oz (141-232 g)
Wingspan: 12.2-15.0 in (31-38 cm)
Range: North America from central Canada to northern Mexico.
Habitat: Near water sources, as well as shrubland or grasslands.
Diet: Mainly of seeds, insects, fruit and berries.

Bobwhite Quail

Bobwhite Quail are ground feeding birds that can be found in North America, where they live in parts of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi. These small animals live in family groups of 4-6 and are often seen in open fields or grasslands. There are many types of food they can eat including grass, insects, worms and seeds. These quails usually stay in the same area throughout their life which is why they don’t migrate like other birds do.

Length: 9.1-11.4 in (23-29 cm)
Weight: 6.0 to 6.1 oz (170-174 g)
Wingspan: 12.6-15.2 in (32-38.5 cm)
Range: North America and in the Southern regions of Europe.
Habitat: Prairies, grasslands, open woodlands, scrubby fields, thickets and brushy forests.
Diet: Grasses, grains, seeds, berries and invertebrates such as worms and insects.