Dads provide for us, care for us, teach us and guide us. Bird Dads are no different! In honor of Father’s Day and dads everywhere, here are some of our favorite Bird Dads.

Have you ever seen birds kissing? Northern Cardinals and Western Scrub-Jays do this. The male feeds his mate seeds during courtship and it appears they are kissing. You can often see this near your bird feeding stations. He does this to show he can be a good provider to raise a family.

Chickadee and nuthatch dads provide in a different way. They feed Mom while she sits brooding their eggs. Once the babies hatch, this Bird Dad tirelessly helps feed them, constantly running out to get more food.

But, the Father-of-the-Year Award goes to the Downy Woodpecker. He provides for the family by sharing daytime nest duties with Mom; but, he is the one that incubates the eggs at night. Once the babies hatch, he roosts at night in the nest-cavity with the young until they fledge. And then, he teaches the young where to find food. Now that is a dedicated provider!

Want to learn more about how you can attract bird families to your yard? Visit your local WBU store for more information.