Jul 01 2023
Deep in a mature forest, long after daylight has faded from the treetops, a booming series of hoots breaks the silence. To many people, the rhythm sounds remarkably like the phrase, “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” This unforgettable call belongs to the Barred Owl (Strix varia), one of the most recognizable owls …
Jun 29 2023
Few backyard birding experiences are quite as delightful as seeing a brilliant red cardinal, sunny yellow goldfinch, or bold Blue Jay appear just inches from your window. A window bird feeder makes those encounters possible without requiring a large yard, elaborate feeding station, or even much outdoor space. Mounted directly to the glass with suction …
Jun 24 2023
Birdsong is one of the most familiar sounds in nature, yet the way birds experience that sound is remarkably different from what we might imagine. A robin singing before sunrise, a chickadee sounding an alarm, an owl tracking prey in darkness, and a flock calling to one another overhead all depend on sophisticated auditory systems. …
Jun 11 2023
Birdsong is one of nature’s most familiar soundtracks. A sparrow repeats a bright phrase from a fence post, a chickadee gives a sharp alarm note from the trees, and a mockingbird pours out an astonishing sequence of whistles, trills, and borrowed sounds. To human ears, these voices can sound like music, conversation, or simply part …
Jun 04 2023
Few birds announce the arrival of warm weather quite like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). A flash of metallic green beside the garden, the soft buzz of rapidly beating wings, and suddenly one of North America’s smallest birds is hovering almost motionless in front of a flower. For much of eastern North America, the Ruby-throated …
Jun 02 2023
The Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) is one of North America’s most striking—and most secretive—quail species. A male dressed in bold black-and-white facial markings, chestnut plumage, and white-spotted flanks looks almost too elaborate to disappear into a grassy hillside. Yet disappearing is exactly what this bird does best. Found primarily in the mountains of Mexico, with …
Jun 02 2023
A tiny songbird lies stunned beneath a window. A young owl is discovered beside a road. A pelican arrives tangled in fishing line, while a nestling is brought in after a storm tears apart its nest. Every day, situations like these bring wild birds into wildlife rehabilitation centers, where trained professionals and volunteers work to …
May 31 2023
The Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) may not be one of North America’s most colorful birds, but for birdwatchers, it presents one of the continent’s classic identification challenges. Small, olive-brown, and subtly marked, it belongs to the notoriously difficult Empidonax group of flycatchers, several of which can look almost identical in the field. Fortunately, the Willow …
May 30 2023
Few backyard birds feel quite as familiar as the American Robin (Turdus migratorius). With its warm orange breast, cheerful spring song, and unmistakable habit of running across lawns in search of food, the robin is often one of the first birds people learn to recognize. The good news is that robins are relatively easy to …
May 28 2023
A garden can provide birds with far more than flowers and greenery. With the addition of one simple feature—a dependable source of fresh water—it can become a genuine gathering place for wildlife. Bird baths are among the easiest ways to make a yard more welcoming to birds. While feeders tend to attract species interested in …
