Bird Identification App: What They Do and How to Use One
Photo, sound and question-based bird ID apps explained in plain terms, with tips for better photos and recordings and a quick way to catch a wrong answer.
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
Why Do Starlings Form Murmurations? Flocks Explained
Those swirling clouds of starlings at dusk are about safety and gathering for the night. Here is how the flock moves without a leader, and where to see one in the US.
5 min read
Gifts for Bird Lovers: Ideas for Every Kind of Birder
Practical, well-chosen gift ideas for bird lovers, from squirrel baffles and binoculars to native shrubs and guided bird walks, plus the popular gifts that don't help birds.
6 min read
Backyard Birds of Florida: Painted Buntings, Jays and Doves
Which birds visit Florida yards, and when? A season-by-season guide to Florida's feeder birds, from year-round mockingbirds and cardinals to winter Painted Buntings.
5 min read
Sunflower Hearts vs Whole Sunflower Seeds for Birds
Black oil, striped or hulled hearts? A plain comparison of the three sunflower seeds by who eats them, how much mess they leave, and which feeder each one suits.
5 min read
Zinnias for Goldfinches: Seeds Birds Eat in Fall
Goldfinches tear into aging zinnias for the seeds at the base of each petal. Here is which birds eat zinnia seeds, when the heads ripen, and how to plan a fall seed garden.
5 min read
Bird Feeder Camera for Elderly Parents: What to Check First
A feeder camera can bring the birds right to an older parent's chair. Here is how to tell if it will fit their home and habits, and how to set it up in one visit.
6 min read
Do Goldfinches Eat Coneflower Seeds? Seedheads for Birds
Goldfinches love coneflower seeds. Here is when the seedheads ripen, which other garden flowers they strip in fall, and why you should wait until late winter to cut back.
6 min read
Is a Bird Feeder Camera a Good Gift? Who It Suits Best
A feeder camera delights the right person and gathers dust with the wrong one. Use this quick checklist, see who it suits best, and find alternatives if it is not a fit.
5 min read
Blue Jay Male vs Female: Can You Tell the Difference?
Male and female Blue Jays look exactly alike. Here are the courtship and nesting behaviors that reveal who is who, and the easy way to spot a juvenile.
5 min read
Bird Feeder Camera SD Card or Cloud Storage: Which to Use
Compare supported SD and cloud storage, included or paid features, remote access and privacy. Neither retained history replaces independently saved clips.
4 min read
Tube vs Hopper Bird Feeder: Which Suits Your Birds?
Tube feeders suit chickadees and finches; hoppers suit cardinals and jays. A side-by-side comparison, cleaning steps for each, and how to set up both together.
5 min read