For the Birds
Author's posts
Sep 24 2026
Owls and Halloween: How These Birds Became Symbols of the Spooky Season
Picture an October night: a nearly full moon, bare branches moving in the wind, and somewhere beyond the porch light, the unmistakable call of an owl. It is easy to understand why people have spent centuries turning these remarkable birds into creatures of mystery. Owls appear on Halloween cards, decorations, witch illustrations, haunted forests, party …
Jul 03 2026
Gray Jays: Meet the Clever Canada Jay of North America’s Northern Forests
If you have ever hiked through a quiet evergreen forest in the Rocky Mountains, Alaska, or Canada’s vast boreal wilderness, you may have encountered a fluffy gray bird that seemed remarkably interested in what you were doing. It may have followed you from tree to tree, watched you unpack your lunch, or boldly approached your …
Jul 03 2026
Peregrine Falcons
Few birds command the sky quite like the Peregrine Falcon. Powerful, agile, and extraordinarily fast, this remarkable raptor is famous for its breathtaking hunting dives and its ability to thrive in environments ranging from remote sea cliffs to the tops of downtown skyscrapers. The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is found across much of the world …
Jun 19 2026
Clark’s Nutcracker: The Remarkable Seed-Planting Bird of Western Mountains
High among the conifer forests and windswept ridges of western North America lives one of the continent’s most remarkable birds. The Clark’s Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) may look understated in its gray, black, and white plumage, but behind that modest appearance is an extraordinarily intelligent member of the crow family with a memory capable of keeping …
Jun 19 2026
Mountain Bluebird: A Bright Symbol of Open Skies in the West
The Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is one of North America’s most striking songbirds. With the male’s brilliant sky-blue plumage and the female’s softer blend of blue and gray-brown, this species brings a splash of color to open country across the western part of the continent. Often associated with grasslands, sagebrush flats, mountain meadows, and fence-lined …
Jun 13 2026
Sparrows: Identification, Species, Behavior & Backyard Guide
Sparrows are among the most familiar birds in the world. They hop beneath backyard feeders, disappear into roadside grasses, sing from fence posts, and gather in lively flocks around farms, gardens, parks, and city streets. Their brown and gray plumage can make them seem ordinary at first glance, but sparrows are remarkably diverse birds with …
Jun 13 2026
🐦 Wrens: Tiny Birds with Remarkably Big Personalities
Small, energetic, and often surprisingly loud, wrens are among the most charismatic little birds found in gardens, forests, deserts, wetlands, and rocky landscapes. They may spend much of their time concealed among tangled vegetation, but once a wren begins singing, its presence can be difficult to miss. Wrens belong to the bird family Troglodytidae, a …
Jun 09 2026
Hummingbirds: Species, Identification, Feeding & Backyard Guide
Hummingbirds seem almost impossible the first time you watch one closely. A bird scarcely larger than a thumb can stop in midair, dart backward, defend a flower patch from rivals, and disappear across the yard before your eyes can follow it. These tiny birds belong to the hummingbird family, Trochilidae, and occur naturally only in …
Jun 03 2026
Steller’s Jays
The flash of a deep blue wing between towering evergreens is often the first clue that a Steller’s Jay is nearby. A moment later, a dark-crested bird may land on a branch, cock its head inquisitively, and announce itself with a rough series of rattles, squawks, or scolding calls. The Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is …
May 21 2026
Bird Feeders 101: How to Choose the Perfect Feeder for Your Backyard
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no expense to you. A bird feeder can completely change the way you experience your backyard. Hang the right feeder in the right place, fill it with food the local birds actually want, and suddenly that quiet corner outside your window can become a gathering …
