Do Chickadees Migrate? Resident and Irruptive Movements
Most North American chickadees are residents, but young Black-capped Chickadees may irrupt, Mountain Chickadees may move downslope and Boreal Chickadees sometimes move south.
5 min read
The Backyard Field Guide
Know every bird at your feeder.
Plain-English guides to attracting backyard birds, feeding them well, telling them apart, and watching them up close.
Older guides
Do Blue Jays Migrate? The Fall Flocks Explained
Some blue jays fly south in fall and many stay all winter, and even scientists can't predict which will go. Here is what is known, and what it means at your feeder.
5 min read
Gifts for Bird Watchers: Gear They Will Actually Use
The best gifts for bird watchers end up in a pocket or by the window, not in a closet. Ideas for beginners, keen birders and avid ones, and what to find out first.
6 min read
Do Bluebirds Migrate? Winter Flocks and Regional Movement
Bluebird migration depends on species, latitude and elevation. Northern Eastern Bluebirds migrate, some Western Bluebirds move or descend, and Mountain Bluebirds migrate.
5 min read
Homemade Bird Seed Cakes and Cylinders You Can Hang
Seed cakes and cylinders are easy to make in a kitchen and last longer outside than loose seed. The binders that work, the molds to use, and how long to let them dry.
6 min read
Can Wild Birds Eat Raisins and Dried Fruit?
Some fruit-eating birds will take plain soaked raisins. Learn how to soften, portion and remove dried fruit—and why dog access changes the answer.
5 min read
Can Wild Birds Eat Peanut Butter Safely?
Wild birds can eat a small amount of firm peanut butter in cool weather. Learn which product, feeder and hygiene rules keep this treat safer.
5 min read
How Do Birds Survive Winter? Feathers, Fat and Shelter
A chickadee weighs less than half an ounce, yet it gets through nights far below freezing. Here is how small birds pull it off, and what helps them most.
6 min read
Do Cardinals Migrate? Range and Winter Movements
Northern Cardinals are year-round residents, not seasonal long-distance migrants. Winter flocks, local foraging and juvenile dispersal explain most movement.
5 min read
How to Feed Birds in Bear Country Safely
Bird feeders are one of the easiest meals a bear can find. Here is when to feed, when to stop, and how to keep birds in your yard without drawing bears in.
8 min read
Bird Migration and Light Pollution: Lights Out at Home
Most songbirds migrate at night, and bright lights pull them into buildings and windows. Here is when the risk peaks and a simple lights-out checklist for your own home.
6 min read
When to Start Feeding Birds in Fall (and What First)
Have feeders up before the winter birds arrive: September in the North, October in the middle of the country, later in the South. Here is what to hang first.
5 min read