Does Your Birth Month Bird Match Your Personality?
Updated: Jan. 11, 2023
What bird matches your birth month? Take a look to see which of the birth month birds aligns with your birthday and your character traits.
You’ve probably heard of birth month gemstones and birth month flowers, but have you heard of birth month birds? It might come as a surprise to learn every month of the year has not only a representative jewel and flower, but also a bird. From owls to ravens, here are the birds that represent everyone’s birthdays.
January: Owl
Wise and formidable, owls preside over the woods at night. They’re commonly seen as a symbol of smarts, with great horned owls showing up on many a graduation card. Identify these January birth month birds by their large eyes, rounded heads and hooked beak. Listen for their hooting when the skies grow dark.
“There are few things as thrilling as having a great horned owl visit your backyard. In winter we heard this owl and its mate singing to each other under the stars almost every night. Occasionally, they graced us with a nap in the evergreen trees in the daytime, which allowed me to capture this image,” says Lin Mcgrew.
Shopping for a January birthday present? Check out 22 unique owl gifts.
February: Parrot
Spunky, smart, colorful and filled to the brim with personality, parrots always inspire smiles. While they’re perhaps most recognizable for sitting on pirates’ shoulders, there are more than 350 types of parrots in the world—and plenty of them live in the wild.
“I love this this bird because every single time my shutter would snap, he would pose. I took this picture at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska,” says Katelyn Cheek.
Shop the February birth flower gift guide.
March: Robin
Fans of warm weather, brightly colored flowers and returning migrating birds adore the American robin. After all, many view it as the first sign of spring. To identify the March birth month bird, look for a medium-sized songbird with a red breast, gray upperparts and a yellow beak. Their sweet cheerily, cheer-up, cheerio song rings out on spring mornings.
“My husband and I were walking through the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden in Greensboro, North Carolina, in June. I saw this little birdbath with what I thought was a fake bird… but then I heard it singing! I love the colors of this American robin, and I absolutely love photographing these beautiful birds!” says Teri Quintal.
Psst–if you see a robin bird, here’s what it means.
April: Canary
Perhaps it’s fitting that the bird for the month of Peeps candy is the canary. Some canaries live in the wild, but others, such as the domestic canary, are kept as pets. They’re not all yellow, either; some are red, while others are yellow and black. As part of the finch family, they are cheerful birds with a delightful song. To find them in the wild, you’d need to go to the Canary, Madeira or Azores Islands.
Like canaries? Discover more small yellow birds you should know.
May: Nightingale
It can be hard to spot a common nightingale, especially if you live in North America (their range stretches through much of Europe). They’re elusive birds that keep to themselves, content to remain out of sight in brush or thickets. Belonging to the same family as the American robin, these May birth month birds give a wide variety of calls and songs.
Meet the most musical songbirds in America.
June: Dove
Symbols of peace and tranquility, birders everywhere love doves—and in North America, especially the mourning dove. They’re not the most graceful fliers, but they make up for it in song. Listen for their calming call, which comprises a set of cooing notes. You’ll usually find them feeding on the ground, or at a ground or platform feeder.
“This mourning dove let me get close to it in my backyard in Michigan. This bird was certainly comfortable and content. It kept preening and ruffling its feathers even as I kept getting closer and closer,” says Martin Torres.
These 15 photos of mourning doves will make you adore them (if you don’t already!).
July: Eagle
Eagles are regal birds. They’re fierce in flight and stunning to see, with hooked beaks and wide wingspans. In the United States especially, a bald eagle is a prized sight. Watch for white feathers on the head and brown plumage on the rest of the body, as well as yellow talons.
“It was a drizzly fall day on the Potomac Eagle train ride in Romney, West Virginia. I didn’t have high hopes for good photos, but I got lucky,” says Robin Bell.
Check out the July birth flower gift guide.
August: Kingfisher
If you’re drawn to water, the kingfisher represents you well. The August birth month birds don’t stray far from water of some kind: rivers, lakes, streams or even swamps. You can find them throughout most of the United States, either year-round or during breeding or migration seasons.
“This is one of my favorite birds, the belted kingfisher. I was thrilled to catch this one perched on this branch. They are hard to catch up with as they are always on the move, but this one sat there for awhile and posed for us. They have such a distinctive call, and watching one dive into the water to catch a fish is quite a sight!” says Pauline Medori.
Don’t forget to add a card to your bird month gift. We found the best bird cards.
September: Hawk
They’re not always a welcome sight around feeders, but there’s plenty to admire about hawks. Resourceful and powerful, they’re striking as they hover in the skies or scan fields for prey. These birds of prey aren’t particularly hard to find, but since many look alike, it can be tricky to identify hawks.
“I heard the undeniable screech of a red-tailed hawk (above) while I was out watering my flowers one early summer morning. It didn’t take me long to locate this beautiful, noisy creature. Majestically, it perched on the highest peak of my neighbor’s roof. It was communicating with its mate, which was perched in a nearby tree. I was lucky to see their interaction and snap a shot as it took off and flew away,” says Carol Holliday.
Can you guess the September birth flower?
October: Swan
Long seen as symbols of romance and grace, swans are beautiful birds. Swans mate for life and only seek a new one if their previous mate dies. These October birth month birds also have a fiercely protective streak; they’ve been known to attack anyone who gets too close to their nest! Three types of swans live in the United States; the trumpeter swan, the tundra swan and the (non-native) mute swan.
“This beautiful swan was stretching its wings out. The thing that stands out to me in the photo is how beautifully and elegantly the swan was posing,” says Kaitlyn Ryder.
Don’t miss our favorite gifts for butterfly lovers.
November: Rooster
If you’re a morning person with a November birthday, it makes sense that your birth month bird is a rooster. After all, the rooster’s loud crowing often marks a new day. It might surprise some to learn that roosters are capable of flight, but not for sustained periods of time or across long distances.
“This brightly colored rooster (above) watches over his farm with vigilance and bravery. He scans the sky for any potential danger that may be lurking around and crows at the crack of dawn to let us know another day has begun. The rooster proudly struts around the farmyard as he protects his flock,” says Crystal Blank.
Can you guess the official state bird of all 50 states?
December: Raven
A staple of stories and legends, ravens have inspired humans for centuries. Although they’re often written as tricksters or even omens of impending tragedy, ravens don’t deserve the reputation—in fact, they’re brilliant birds that know how to use tools and can even mimic human speech.
“Although a flock of ravens is called an ‘unkindness,’ these birds appear to be anything but. They’re super friendly, in fact. Did you know that ravens mate for life? I didn’t, either! It seems these two birds (above) are a couple and are sharing a seed they’ve found. Now, that’s true love!” says Jill Conner.
Next, don’t miss nature and bird Christmas ornaments to flock your tree.
Originally Published: October 19, 2022
