Purple Finch: Identification and How to Tell It From a House Finch
How to tell a purple finch from the far more common house finch, plus its diet, range, and seasonal movements.
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Northern Harrier: Marsh Hunter Guide
The Northern Harrier hunts low over open marsh and grassland with a distinctive owl-like face and a flashing white rump patch, unlike any other North American hawk.
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Cedar Waxwing: Identification and Behavior Guide
How to identify a cedar waxwing by its sleek crest and red wingtips, and why flocks sometimes get visibly drunk on fermented berries.
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Rough-Legged Hawk: Arctic Visitor
The Rough-Legged Hawk breeds on the Arctic tundra and visits the Lower 48 only in winter, recognized by its feathered legs and habit of hovering in place while hunting.
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Bird Poop on You: What It Means (Superstition vs Reality)
Why bird poop landing on you is considered good luck in many cultures, and what’s actually going on biologically when it happens.
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Broad-Winged Hawk: Migration Specialist
The Broad-Winged Hawk is a small forest buteo famous for migrating in massive, swirling flocks called kettles that can number in the thousands.
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Red-Winged Blackbird: Identification and Behavior Guide
How to identify male and female red-winged blackbirds, which look almost nothing alike, and why males are so aggressive near their nests.
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Red-Shouldered Hawk: Identification Guide
The Red-Shouldered Hawk is a vocal, forest-loving buteo known for its reddish shoulders, translucent wingtip patches, and its habit of calling loudly year round.
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Pileated Woodpecker: Identification, Sound, and Behavior Guide
How to identify a pileated woodpecker by size, its flaming red crest, and its loud jungle-like call, plus what its rectangular excavation holes mean.
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Sharp-Shinned Hawk: Identification Guide
North America’s smallest accipiter, the Sharp-Shinned Hawk is a lightning-fast songbird hunter easily confused with its larger relative, the Cooper’s Hawk.
