Hummingbird Nectar Recipe: The 4-to-1 Ratio, No Red Dye
The only hummingbird nectar recipe you need is plain white sugar and water, 1 to 4. Here are batch sizes, what never to add, and how often to change it.
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
Does a Bird Feeder Camera Need WiFi? The Offline Answer
Alerts and live view need WiFi; a memory card can cover the rest on some models. Here is what you lose offline and how to check the signal at your feeder.
5 min read
How to Attract Goldfinches With Finch Feeders and Flowers
Goldfinches want fresh seed, a feeder they can cling to, and flowers left to go to seed. Here is what they eat through the year and how to bring them in.
5 min read
Male vs Female Cardinal: How to Tell Them Apart
Males are red with a black mask; females are tan-brown with red accents. Here is how to tell them apart, and how to spot juveniles and molting young males.
5 min read
How to Clean a Bird Feeder: Steps, Schedule and Solutions
A dirty feeder can spread disease between birds. Here is the scrub, soak, rinse and dry routine, the right cleaning mixes, and a schedule that fits each type of feeder.
7 min read
Backyard Bird Watching for Beginners: Start This Week
No experience or gear needed. A one-week plan to start watching birds from your window: where to put a feeder, how to identify what comes, and the five birds to learn first.
6 min read
How to Set Up a Bird Cam at Your Feeder, Step by Step
Do the tech part indoors, then the outdoor part. A step-by-step first-day checklist for a new bird feeder camera, from charging and pairing to mounting, aiming and alerts.
6 min read
How to Attract Blue Jays: Peanuts, Acorns and Open Feeders
Blue jays come quickly to the right food in the right feeder. What they eat, which feeders suit a bird their size, and why fall is the best time to win them over.
5 min read
Types of Bird Seed and the Birds Each One Attracts
Which seed brings which birds? A master chart of the common types of bird seed, the feeders they work in, and the filler seeds most birds leave on the ground.
5 min read
When Do Birds Migrate in the Fall? A Month-by-Month Guide
Fall migration runs from late summer into December. Here is which backyard birds move in August, September, October and November, and what you will notice at home.
5 min read
Bird Feeder Camera Mounting Ideas for Poles and Posts
Pole, post, tree, deck or window? How each mount affects the solar panel, squirrels, your WiFi signal and the clips you get, with setup tips for each one.
5 min read
How to Attract Chickadees: Seeds, Suet and Nest Boxes
Chickadees are among the easiest birds to bring to a feeder. What they eat, where to hang the feeder, why they hide seeds, and the nest box sizes they use.
5 min read