migratory birds

Western tanager in Jackson, Wyoming

Photo of the Day: Western Tanager

Photogenic Passerines Check out more great photos in the “Birds” category of the 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest. Share images, vote for your favorites and enter your own pics for a … Read more

Osprey catching fish

Invite an Osprey into your Family

  I read to my kids each night, but this week, we read a book that really made a difference to us. Wild Wings by Gill Lewis The book is about … Read more

Male rose-breasted grosbeak by Michelle Wisniewski

Bird of the Week: Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Glancing out the window at my feeder last weekend, I noticed something unusual: a streaky, buff-breasted, brown bird that was larger—and had a much bigger bill—than the dozen or so … Read more

Gray Catbird by Robert Strickland

Bird of the Week: Gray Catbird

Of all the wonderful birds that visit my Washington, DC, Certified Wildlife Habitat® site each summer, my very favorite species is the gray catbird. Mostly slate gray—with a small black … Read more

Canada warber by Darlene Friedman

Bird of the Week: Canada Warbler

Across the United States, tens of thousands of birds that have wintered in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean are on the move this month, making their way toward breeding grounds in North … Read more

Male ruby-throated hummingbird by William Heban

Bird of the Week: Ruby-throated Hummingbird

If you live anywhere within the eastern or midwestern part of the country, you already may have spotted your first ruby-throated hummingbird of the season—or maybe not. These tiny jewels … Read more

Arctic Tern by Amber Barger

Bird of the Week: Arctic Tern

The Arctic tern is a “migratory marvel.” In the current issue of National Wildlife,  science writer Jessica Snyder Sachs reports that last year an international team of researchers employed geolocators—tiny … Read more

American Redstart by Darlene Friedman

Declining Rainfall in Tropics Affects Migratory Birds

Scientists have long believed that changes in day length are the trigger that signals migratory birds wintering in the Tropics to begin flying north for the breeding season. But now … Read more

For Beginners: Four Can’t-Miss Ways to Attract Birds to Your Yard or Deck

Sometimes those who would like to attract birds to their home will ask if there are any special “tricks” to success other than putting out a bird feeder or birdbath. The … Read more

Blue-winged teal by David Heritsch

Gulf Coast Birds–And Ours–Doing Alright (for now)

On a recent chilly morning in southwestern Louisiana’s White Lake Wetland Conservation Area, Kim Trahan, a rice farmer who leases land in the state-owned area, surveyed the scene around him … Read more