Backyard birds in Independence, Missouri
Which birds visit Independence yards, when they nest at this latitude, and when to be out for the dawn chorus, all worked out from Independence's own coordinates.
- Coordinates
- 39.091°, -94.416°
- Population
- 117,255
- June 21 daylight
- 14 h 55 min
- December 21 daylight
- 9 h 25 min
- Sunrise mid-April / late June
- 6:42 AM / 5:51 AM
- Nesting vs state average
- about the same time as the state-wide average
- Hardiness zones (state)
- USDA 5b–7b
Nesting timing in Independence
The state guides give nesting windows for Missouri as a whole, weighted toward where most people live (about 38.6°N). Independence is at 39.1°N. Going by Hopkins' bioclimatic law, spring events move about four days per degree of latitude, so breeding here starts about the same time as the state-wide average. Elevation and nearby water also play a part.
Daylight triggers breeding. Independence goes from 9 h 25 min of daylight at the winter solstice to 14 h 55 min in June, a 5 h 30 min swing.
- Northern Cardinal — state window April–August
- Eastern Bluebird — state window April–August; box hole 1 1/2 in round (1 9/16 in for Mountain/Western overlap)
- Black-capped Chickadee — state window April–July; box hole 1 1/8 in round
- Carolina Chickadee — state window April–June; box hole 1 1/8 in round
- Purple Martin — state window May–July; box hole 1 3/4–2 1/8 in round, or starling-resistant crescent (3 × 1 3/16 in)
- Downy Woodpecker — state window April–June; box hole 1 1/4 in round
- Hairy Woodpecker — state window April–June; box hole 1 1/2 in round
- American Goldfinch — state window July–September
- Tufted Titmouse — state window April–June; box hole 1 1/4 in round
- White-breasted Nuthatch — state window April–June; box hole 1 1/4 in round
Birds you can expect in Independence
Year-round residents (28)
Northern Cardinals, Eastern Bluebirds, Black-capped Chickadees, Carolina Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, American Goldfinchs, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatchs, Blue Jays, House Finchs, Carolina Wrens, Mourning Doves, American Robins, Song Sparrows, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Eastern Towhees, Northern Mockingbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Screech-Owls, House Sparrows, European Starlings, Eurasian Collared-Doves
Summer breeders (17)
Purple Martins, House Wrens, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Chipping Sparrows, Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, Eastern Phoebes, Chimney Swifts, Wood Thrushs, Great Crested Flycatchers, Eastern Kingbirds
Winter visitors (11)
Purple Finchs, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Red-breasted Nuthatchs, Brown Creepers, Pine Siskins, Yellow-rumped Warblers, American Tree Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Fox Sparrows
Cold winters with variable snow; ice storms can shut down natural food for days.
When to watch: dawn chorus in Independence
Songbirds sing hardest in the 30–60 minutes before sunrise, and most of all in spring. In Independence, sunrise is around 6:42 AM in mid-April, 5:51 AM at the June solstice and 7:32 AM in late December (local time, America/Chicago). Fill feeders the evening before so the first birds find food.
Native plants for Independence yards
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Nearby cities in Missouri
- Raytown — 6 mi away, nesting about the same time as Independence
- Kansas City — 9 mi away, nesting about the same time as Independence
- Blue Springs — 9 mi away, nesting about the same time as Independence
- Liberty — 11 mi away, nesting about the same time as Independence
- Gladstone — 11 mi away, nesting about the same time as Independence
- Lee's Summit — 13 mi away, nesting about the same time as Independence
Frequently asked
What birds live in Independence all year?
Year-round residents across Missouri include Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker. All of them visit backyard feeders in Independence.
When do birds start nesting in Independence?
Independence sits at a different latitude from Missouri's population centre, so nesting runs about the same time as the state-wide average, going by the rule of about 4 days per degree of latitude.
What time does the dawn chorus start in Independence?
Songbirds start singing about 30–60 minutes before sunrise. In Independence, sunrise is around 6:42 AM in mid-April and 5:51 AM in late June.
Sources
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Missouri
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- GeoNames gazetteer (city coordinates & population)
- NOAA Solar Calculator methodology
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.