Summit Metro Parks We're Your Back Yard

Birds

Common Birds in the Metro Parks

Some birds live in the Metro Parks year-round, and some can be seen as they pass through the area during migration. Here are just a few of the birds you could find in Summit Metro Parks:

Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus

The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in Summit County. This crow-sized bird has a black body, and its head has white stripes and a bright red crest.

When & Where to See it

This bird can be seen throughout the year in mature forests with plenty of dead trees and logs. Although they can be seen at any of our parks, Sand Run, Liberty Park and Cascade Valley Metro Parks are great places to find these birds.

Fun Fact

Pileated woodpeckers have a long, barbed tongue that they use to extract larvae from within trees.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Buteo lineatus

This medium sized raptor has dark brown and white mottled wings, with a rusty red breast and shoulders. Its tail has white and dark brown bands that can be seen easily when in flight.

When & Where to See it

This bird can be seen year-round in deciduous forests and wetlands. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Wood Hollow Metro Park and Liberty Park are good places to view these birds.

Fun Fact

Occasionally, crows and red-shouldered hawks team up to chase great horned owls out of the hawk’s territory.

Barred Owl

Strix varia

The barred owl has brown and white mottling over its body and lacks ear tufts. Brown and white vertical bars are found on its breast and belly.

When & Where to See it

This bird can be seen or heard at night year-round in Summit County. It prefers mature, mixed forests with nearby water.

Fun Fact

The barred owl got its name from the brown and white bars on its breast and belly.

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

The great blue herons is a large bird with bluish-gray feathers covering most of its body. It has a black stripe over its eyes and black shoulders. When in flight, it positions its neck into an “S” shape, which aids in identification.

When & Where to See it

This bird can be seen year-round near water. The heronry on Bath Road is an excellent place to view it from late February to May.

Fun Fact

Although these birds are large, they only weigh about 5 to 6 pounds due to their hollow bones.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

The white-breasted nuthatch is a small bird with a mixture of blue-gray, black, white and chestnut colors. The bird creeps along tree trunks with its head pointed toward the ground, which can help in identification.

When & Where to See it

This bird can be seen year-round in all forested Metro Parks. It also frequents the bird feeders at both the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm visitors center and Liberty Park nature center.

Fun Fact

In winter, the white-breasted nuthatch will store seeds in tree bark crevices for later retrieval.

There are hundreds of other birds to find when you visit. Learn more by calling a Summit Metro Parks naturalist at 330-865-8065.