Reina Esser

Commonly called the “Mexican eagle,” the Crested Caracara is an all-around fascinating bird that I hope to see during my upcoming travel to Baja California Sur, Mexico. It’s the natural bird of Mexico, after all! The Crested Caracara is a member of the order Falconiformes and the family Falconidae, along with falcons and kestrels, but […]

I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to write the following sentence, but here it goes: I’m spending the month in France birdwatching and eating fresh pain au chocolat. It’s a tough life, as you can imagine, but I’m considering delaying my return to the U.S. Over the past month spent in the Loire Valley, I’ve

The Red-headed Woodpecker is gorgeous without a doubt, and it’s not hard to imagine where it gets its name from. Stunning scarlet heads contrast dramatically against black and white checkerboard bodies. This bird has a generous year-round range in the United States that has allowed me to enjoy many sightings. My first sighting was in

I am always impressed by how much there is to learn about even the most familiar birds. The Eastern Bluebird is no different. Although those who have spent time east of the Rocky Mountains are acquainted with the small blue flashes of feathers that grace our backyards, the details of their exciting lives are still

I used to think that the western United States was a dull desert landscape, with beige and brown hues and the occasional hint of green every now and then. I wasn’t totally wrong because some parts of Texas were just a long beige blur, but after living out west most of this year, I realized

The brilliant and unmistakable Hyacinth Macaw is the largest macaw and largest flying parrot in the world. It is native to semi-open habitats across central and eastern South America. Not only is this bird’s massive size a treasure to behold, but its beautiful rich marine blue feathers are another sight entirely. The Hyacinth Macaw belongs

While seated on a patio near a lovely local park in southern Maine, I was greeted by an astonishingly cute bird with a little hat atop its head. It was a little chickadee hopping around collecting crumbs that had fallen around the table. I headed into the park to find many small birds, exactly like

Often described by birdwatchers as elusive, the Boreal Chickadee is a quiet and somewhat secretive bird that thrives in Canada’s Boreal forest. As birdwatchers venture out to catch a glimpse of this cute and inconspicuous bird, they must be prepared to endure the cold and wet temperatures. This bird’s reputation for being elusive is also

Woodpeckers are perplexing and fascinating birds. They have abrupt expressions, stark bills, and look a bit prehistoric with blocky heads and long stiff tails. I used to acknowledge them and move on casually, but after dedicating some time to observe them intentionally, I couldn’t believe I had overlooked this entertaining and resourceful bird. Never again!