Juncos are one of the most common songbirds in North America. Yet often when I show a twittering flock of juncos to new bird watchers, they look at me with confused faces and say, “What the heck is a junco?” For being one of the most common backyard songbirds, these small gray sparrow-sized birds are incredibly easy to overlook! So today I’d like to share some secrets from the life … [Read more...] about 12 Essential Facts About Juncos That Everyone Should Know
Learn Bird Language
This page contains information about bird language. This is a skill that I've put a lot of energy and practice into. It's one of my passions and I'm very excited to share it with you.
Robin Nesting Habits: How to Find Nests & 5 Nest Behaviors To Observe
Sometimes the most commonly seen birds are also the best teachers of bird behavior. This is why American Robins are truly one of my favorite birds to watch during the spring nesting season. Pretty much every home in North America with a lawn & some nearby trees will have robins nesting within view. It’s amazing how much we can learn from observing such a common bird that so often gets … [Read more...] about Robin Nesting Habits: How to Find Nests & 5 Nest Behaviors To Observe
How To Approach Birds Without Scaring Them (tips & body language to build trust with birds…)
One of my favorite things in nature is getting up close and personal to birds in the wild. Most birds are incredibly shy about being approached, but with the right techniques, it’s possible to earn their trust and have some truly amazing close encounters! If you want to get closer to birds, the most important thing is moving slowly enough that you don’t make them nervous. Birds will … [Read more...] about How To Approach Birds Without Scaring Them (tips & body language to build trust with birds…)
Why Do Crows Attack Owls? (Chasing & Mobbing Behaviors)
Have you ever noticed when you hear a group of crows cawing & making an awful racket in the woods, there’s often an owl at the center of those mobbing birds? It’s a pretty amazing thing to see! In fact, if you know to listen for these crow mobbing calls, it’s one of the easiest ways to find owls in the woods. But it also brings up the question of why crows attack them so … [Read more...] about Why Do Crows Attack Owls? (Chasing & Mobbing Behaviors)
Do Squirrels Eat Bird Eggs? (Squirrels As Predators)
One year during the spring nesting season, I noticed a sparrow making soft alarm calls and following a squirrel around the forest. Of course, I became instantly fascinated as to why this was happening, and it got me wondering whether squirrels ever steal and eat bird eggs. As it turns out, squirrels do eat bird eggs when they have the opportunity. If a squirrel locates an active nest, they … [Read more...] about Do Squirrels Eat Bird Eggs? (Squirrels As Predators)
Why Do Birds Fight? (Causes, meanings & levels of aggression)
One spring morning I was sitting outside watching robins eat worms on the lawn when suddenly the birds all started fighting like an angry mob. After a brief burst of flapping wings and loud chirping sounds, they suddenly calmed back down and everything returned to normal. If you’ve ever seen birds fighting like this, you might wonder why they get so crazy and aggressive. What does … [Read more...] about Why Do Birds Fight? (Causes, meanings & levels of aggression)
Why Do Sparrows Chirp? (five sparrow calls & what they mean)
Why is that sparrow chirping so much? It’s not uncommon for sparrows to have frequent outbursts of chirping that make people stop and wonder what’s going on. Luckily, the language of sparrows is actually quite simple to understand once you know how it works. There are five main reasons why sparrows chirp, and the cause of this behavior can be identified by paying attention to the speed … [Read more...] about Why Do Sparrows Chirp? (five sparrow calls & what they mean)
Why Are Chickadees So Friendly? (4 simple reasons…)
Have you ever had a chickadee land on you while walking in the woods? Well, you wouldn’t be alone! Chickadees have gained a reputation among songbirds for being some of the most friendly creatures in the forest. But have you ever wondered why? Chickadees who have regular contact with humans in parks and on hiking trails become less fearful of our presence and sometimes even … [Read more...] about Why Are Chickadees So Friendly? (4 simple reasons…)
Why Do Crows Gather At Sunset?
Woa, look at all those crazy crows! Why are they swarming like that? One of the most striking displays of crow behavior is when crows gather together in massive groups at the end of the day. These flocks can grow to as many as hundreds or even thousands of crows, which really makes them stand out in the environment. So if you’ve ever seen this massive influx of noisy black corvids, you … [Read more...] about Why Do Crows Gather At Sunset?
How Do Hawks Hunt? (7 different methods & how to observe)
One of the amazing things about hawks is their huge variety of different strategies for hunting and catching prey. Some hawks hunt by soaring high over open landscapes as they watch for unsuspecting prey animals below. Others will choose a silent perch at the edge of a meadow, then swoop down at just the right moment. There are even hawks that specialize in hunting birds on the fly, … [Read more...] about How Do Hawks Hunt? (7 different methods & how to observe)