When it comes to birdwatching, it’s easy to get dazzled by the showy reds of a Northern Cardinal or the electric blues of a Mountain Bluebird. But don’t let the gray birds fool you—they’re not dull, just understated. In fact, North America is home to a surprisingly rich array of gray-toned birds, each with its own charm, behavior, and ecological role.
From the sleek silhouette of a Northern Mockingbird belting out borrowed tunes, to the quiet elegance of a Gray Catbird skulking in dense shrubs, these birds prove that subtlety can be stunning. Some gray birds are year-round residents; others are long-distance migrants navigating impressive seasonal journeys.
We’ll dive into the world of Alaska’s gray birds: how to identify them, where to find them, and what makes each one special. Whether you’re a backyard birder or a seasoned lister with mud on your boots and binos at the ready, there’s something here for you. These gray birds are listed in order of how common they are in Alaska, according to bird watcher lists for the state.
Because when you learn to appreciate the grays, you realize the bird world is anything but black and white.
1. Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Juncos can be seen in Alaska all year and are recorded in 23% of summer checklists and 21% of winter checklists submitted by bird watchers for the state.
Dark-eyed Juncos are sparrows that are a different color depending on the state. They are generally slate-colored in the east and black, white, and brown in the west.
- Junco hyemalis
- Length: 5.5-6.3 in (14-16 cm)
- Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz (18-30 g)
- Wingspan: 7.1-9.8 in (18-25 cm)
Dark-eyed Juncos remain resident all year in the northeastern and western US states and the Appalachian Mountains. Those that breed in Canada and Alaska migrate south in winter to the United States.
You can find Dark-eyed Junco in open and partially wooded areas, often on the ground, and they are common across the continent. They mainly feed on seeds but will also eat some insects.
Attract Dark-eyed Juncos to backyard feeders with a variety of seeds such as black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, millet, and peanuts. Platform feeders or seeds scattered on the ground are best.
2. Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadees can be spotted in Alaska all year, but their numbers increase from October to April. They appear in 11% of summer checklists and 32% of winter checklists.
The Black-capped Chickadee is a cute bird with a big round head and tiny body. These birds will happily feed at backyard feeders and investigate everything, including you!
They have black caps and beaks, white cheeks, and are gray on the back, wings, and tail.
- Poecile atricapillus
- Length: 4.7-5.9 in (12-15 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-14 g)
- Wingspan: 6.3-8.3 in (16-21 cm)
Black-capped Chickadees do not migrate and can be spotted in the northern half of the US and Canada.
You can find them in forests, open woods, and parks. Black-capped Chickadees eat seeds, berries and insects, spiders, and suet.
Attract Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard with suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts or peanut butter. They will even feed from your hand and are often one of the first birds to discover new feeders. They will also use nest boxes, especially if you fill them with wood shavings.
3. Rock Pigeon
Rock Pigeons can be found all year in Alaska, mainly in the southeast of the state. They are spotted in 3% of summer checklists and 9% of winter checklists.
Rock Pigeons are blueish gray with two black bands on the wing and black on the tail tip. They have iridescent throat feathers and orange eyes.
- Columba livia
- Length: 11.8-14.2 in (30-36 cm)
- Weight: 9.3-13.4 oz (265-380 g)
- Wingspan: 19.7-26.4 in (50-67 cm)
Rock Pigeons do not migrate and can be found in all US states, southern Canada, and the Pacific Coast to Alaska.
They are common in cities and visit backyards, especially for birdseed on the ground. Some cities have ordinances against feeding pigeons as they are considered pests.
4. Eurasian Collared-Dove
Eurasian Collared-Doves are an introduced species in Alaska but they can be spotted in the southeast of the state all year. They occur in around 1% of summer and winter checklists.
Eurasian Collared-Doves are light brownish-gray, with white patches in the tail, and look very similar to Mourning Doves, but with a black half collar at the nape of the neck. They are also larger and with a square tail rather than pointed.
- Streptopelia decaocto
- Length: 11.4-11.8 in (29-30 cm)
- Weight: 4.9-6.3 oz (140-180 g)
- Wingspan: 13.8 in (35 cm)
Eurasian Collared-Doves are an introduced species that only arrived in the 1980s but now live across most of the United States.
You can find Eurasian Collared-Doves in most areas, including rural and suburban and they eat a wide variety of seeds and grain but also eat some berries and insects.
5. Warbling Vireo
Warbling Vireos are not very common in Alaska but they spend the breeding season from May to October around the southeast of the state.
The Warbling Vireo may not be flashy, but its cheerful, rolling song gives it away long before you spot it. This small, olive-gray songbird has a plain face with a white eyebrow and faint grayish crown stripe, giving it a subtly endearing look. Its underparts are whitish to pale yellow, and its back and wings are soft grayish-olive.
- Vireo gilvus
- Length: 4.7–5.1 in (12–13 cm)
- Weight: 0.3–0.5 oz (10–14 g)
- Wingspan: 8.7 in (22 cm)
These vireos are summer residents throughout much of the US and southern Canada, where they breed in deciduous woods, riverside groves, parks, and suburban shade trees. Despite their inconspicuous appearance, they’re common and widespread in the right habitat during the warmer months.
Warbling Vireos primarily eat insects and other small invertebrates, which they glean from foliage high in the canopy. They’ll also take berries and some fruit, especially later in the season.Warbling Vireos are not typically feeder birds, so attracting them to your backyard can be tricky. Your best bet is to maintain tall, mature trees, especially near water, to mimic their natural breeding habitat.
6. Say’s Phoebe
Say’s Phoebes usually breed in Alaska from May to September but they are not very common here.
Say’s Phoebes are slender, long-tailed flycatchers that are brownish-gray above and with a cinnamon belly, gray breast, and blackish tail.
- Sayornis saya
- Length: 6.7 in (17 cm)
- Weight: 0.7-0.8 oz (21-22 g)
Say’s Phoebes breed in Alaska, northwestern Canada, and the northern U.S before migrating south to southwestern states and Mexico. Those in southern states remain all year.
You can find Say’s Phoebes in open country, including badlands, canyons, and desert borders.
Say’s Phoebe’s are flycatchers, and their diet is mostly insects such as beetles, crickets, bees, and flies. They often nest on buildings and can be seen perched on fence posts and around buildings or in their nests under an eave.
Attract Say’s Phoebes to your yard by putting up a nest box or a shelf attached to a building to encourage nesting and plant native trees and shrubs.
