Wild Birds

Whether you’re a full-time resident of the sunshine state, a seasonal snowbird, or an annual vacationer, you already know that there are many reasons to love Florida. As if we needed another reason to visit, birdwatching is Flordia’s second most popular outdoor activity. That’s pretty impressive considering the number of activities and attractions the large […]

I recently had the pleasure of spending eight weeks driving across the state of Texas in my camper during spring migration. While there, I saw numerous birds for the first time. The Vermilion Flycatcher, Gold-fronted Woodpecker, and Green Heron, to name a few. I also visited multiple state and national parks throughout the Lone Star

Introduction / Taxonomy The Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a species within the genus Accipiter. Accipiter is a group of raptors that includes 51 species found all around the world. Members of this genus are generally slender birds that have short, rounded wings and a long tail that serves as a rudder to help them

Few North American birds inspire the mix of hope, sadness, and awe quite like the magnificent Ivory-billed Woodpecker, which once inspired people to yell out “Lord God, what a bird!” when it flew overhead – a sight that most of us will never get the chance to see. To talk about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is

Have you ever experienced that quintessential moment when you’re out for a walk or bike ride and hear the loud screeching “kree-aar” of a Red-tailed Hawk? It feels like something out of a movie or television show. Funny enough, this popular call can be heard on TV and in film regularly, but you will rarely see

Whenever I hear that “tonk, tonk, tonk” sound, I break my neck looking up — in and around every single tree. I must find the woodpecker! Whether you’re a lover of the sounds like me or are easily driven mad by the repetitive clunking, learning more about individual species of woodpeckers will improve your birdwatching game

The Harpy Eagle’s name is incredibly fitting since it appears to be nothing short of a mythical creature. Bizarre doesn’t cover it when you scroll through photos of this insanely unique-looking bird. Harpies in Greek mythology are half-bird, half-human creatures that were the hounds of Zeus. They were initially described as beautiful, youthful winged maidens

I was on a hike in the Coconino Nation Forrest in Flagstaff, Arizona, when suddenly, I saw a quick dash of vibrant blue feathers dart through the sky. I knew it wasn’t a Blue Jay, and it looked different than the Eastern Bluebird I’m accustomed to seeing. I used my Audobon identification app to narrow

The first time I saw a Gila Woodpecker, I was doing the dishes at my kitchen sink. Looking out my window, I suddenly saw this small-but-mighty bird hopping up the trunk of a palm tree.  I didn’t know what it was at first. But then it started jabbing the trunk with its beak, bits of

Eastern Screech Owls are incredibly common throughout their range but due to their small size and excellent camouflage abilities, you’ve probably never seen one! If you live anywhere near trees in eastern North America, you’ve likely heard one, though. In folklore, people thought the descending whinnying call of the Eastern Screech Owl sounded like a