Birds

As an avid bird watcher and someone who spends a great deal of time outdoors, it was only natural that I would personally meet a few birds along the way. Over the several years that I have been feeding the birds with a variety of feeders, I have been fortunate enough to have many close encounters with my avian visitors. For years now, while refilling my feeders, I have had a black-capped chickadee or two, land on my hand, arm, or shoulder. This past fall, I began hand-feeding the birds and it has now evolved into part of my daily routine. Being that I spend so much time outdoors, my experiences with hand-feeding have evolved quite naturally. In this post, I will share my extraordinary experiences and some information and tips for how you can hand-feed birds, too.

Is it Okay to Hand-Feed Wild Birds?

First, before we get into discussing helpful tips for hand-feeding wild birds, it is important to acknowledge that feeding any wild animals can be a controversial topic for individuals. It is a very important point to remember that we as humans, although mean well, can have the potential to cause more harm than good. The same goes for feeding wild birds. Hand-feeding for some can be viewed as potentially disruptive to their natural behavior. First, you should find out if it is legal to feed the birds in your area, especially in public areas this may cause undesired effects such as attracting other animals.

Second, I found this informative article on the Audubon Society site pertaining to this very subject, entitled “When It’s Okay (or Not) to Feed Birds.” Please take a few moments and read this and then answer these three questions accordingly before proceeding with feeding wild birds. It is now up to you if you decide to proceed or not.

My Daily Routine with Feeding the Birds

I spend a lot of time outdoors throughout all of the seasons, so naturally, I have seen a great deal of wildlife. Whether I’m doing things like gardening or photography, many of the birds will stop by for a visit. I’m very happy to live in this wonderful playground called Maine. I also have a great deal of property with many resident birds. As I mentioned above, this past fall, I really started getting into hand-feeding the birds in the backyard. I began with the black-capped chickadees that were perching in the apple trees. Now if you know anything about these birds, you know that these birds are curious by nature and may approach humans, especially humans offering them food. I also had white-breasted nuthatches and red-breasted nuthatches that have shown an interest in feeding from my hand.

We now have a new routine. Every morning, rain or shine, my partner and I go for a nice walk through the backyard and back into the woods. Our routine includes bringing out our morning coffee in travel mugs and of course, food for the birds. I started out by bringing a small container of black sunflower seeds and peanut suet nuggets. Most recently, for my birthday, I received a sixteen-pound bag of Feathered Friend Chickadee’s Choice. This is a premium blend of bird food that attracts a variety of birds including chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice, juncos, and wrens. The mix includes sunflower kernels, tree nut pieces, peanuts, black oil sunflower, grey striped sunflower, and safflower. I don’t know who was more excited, me or the birds. Every couple of days, I’ll add a small amount of this food to the black sunflowers seeds. This food is a bit expensive, so I will have to make it last.

I now have an increasing amount of birds and have been carrying a much larger container. We usually spend about an hour or so outside with the birds and I found that I don’t run out of food as quickly with the larger container. I have also made a point of not offering the birds any food in front of the house because I noticed they were following me up the driveway to the road. This is not the type of behavior I would like to promote with the dangers for them involved with being out near the road. Also, I don’t want the birds approaching our visitors, the mailwoman, or the UPS guy in the front of the house. I don’t want people to freak out and think they just arrived on the set of Hitchcock’s The Birds while being in the front yard. It is much safer in the backyard for my avian friends, so I always make a point of opening the food container in the back there. On occasion, I will have a couple of chickadees greet me at the front door, but I won’t open the food container until we are in the back of the house.

Did I mention, that the birds follow us around for our entire walk! I don’t know who else has experienced this, but it has become our new normal. With the addition of so many birds, the large container has helped to free up at least one of my hands. I carry the container in one hand and my coffee in the other. As we walk around the woods, the birds come and take what they want. If we stop to do something else, like take photographs or whatever, I simply put the container on the ground.

After doing this for months, I have really gotten to know some of the birds pretty well along with their individual personalities and many quirks. As you can imagine, it can be quite difficult to tell the black-capped chickadees apart as well as their sexes. Chickadees are sexually monomorphic, meaning both sexes look nearly identical, except for their sexual organs. I noticed back in October, that I could tell which birds were females because I was able to spot their brood patches. This is a featherless area that females develop seasonally so that first their eggs and then secondly, their young can be warmed against the mother’s skin. There is one female in particular that has a small amount of white near her right eye, so I always know it is her. I think if she ever loses these white feathers, I will still know it is her because she usually takes two seeds every time she comes to me. The nuthatches have been quite comical, too. A few of them were a bit shyer at first, but they are now coming to visit me regularly. I can tell the sexes apart, being the males have darker-colored caps in both types of nuthatches. It has been a real joy getting to know these birds and believe me if I walk too fast, they all let me know and that I have to stop to make sure everyone gets a seed and leaves a satisfied customer. Believe me, no bird is left hungry.

A Few Tips for Helping You to Hand-Feed Birds

These are a few helpful tips for you and your birds if you are starting from scratch with no prior experience with hand feeding. The best time of year to try feeding your birds is from the middle/late fall to early spring, when the weather is on the cooler side and food sources are scarcer. I will have to see how things go but I have a feeling my birds by the middle of spring will be focusing on other things like breeding. Also, I think we will have fewer feeding sessions when there will be an abundance of insects available. It will be interesting to see if I will be able to hand-feed new bird species, such as the ruby-throated hummingbirds. I do have a couple of handheld nectar feeders and I will have to give these a try over the summer.

What Types of Birds Will Eat Out of Your Hand?

First, let’s find out what types of birds will eat from your hands once they get to know and trust you. Some of the more inquisitive, less timid, bird species that are easiest to attract, include the following: chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice, sparrows, redpolls, grosbeaks, downy woodpeckers, blue jays, goldfinches, bluebirds, and hummingbirds.

Create a Bird-Friendly Habitat

Having a variety of dense foliage with plenty of places for birds to perch and feel safe will help to create a welcoming environment. You can also plant trees that produce fruits and berry bushes as well as flowers and flowering bushes that appeal to a variety of birds. Also, you will want to provide a variety of feeders with different types of food. Here is some more information for further information on bird-friendly habitats.

Offer High-Quality Treats

Add some treats to your regular bird food such as peanuts, chopped walnuts, almonds, or pecans. This way, your birds will associate you with these treats and you will be on your way to successful hand-feeding sessions. Once you find that they become comfortable with you, you will use these treats to entice them into eating straight from your hand. Again, I can not recommend Chickadee’s Choice enough. My birds go crazy over this food and the birds will simply not be able to resist eating from your hand.

Introduce Yourself Gradually

Once the birds get used to seeing you while they are eating, stand a little closer to the bird feeder(s) each day and stay around as long as you can. You can stand at least ten to fifteen feet away at first a few times, then get slowly closer and stay as long as you can. At this point, you want to blend into the natural environment and you are not causing any stress to the birds. Keep as still as you can and avoid making any sudden movements or loud sounds.

Start to talk to Your New Bird Friends

Although you might feel silly talking to the birds, this will help in allowing the birds to further acclimate to you. Make sure to speak in a soft and relaxing tone. The more you do this, it will just come naturally.

Be Consistent

The more time you spend time in your yard, the better the birds will get to know you. As I mentioned above, I think this is why the birds have voluntarily landed on me or followed me around the yard. It is like some of us have become old friends at this point. I think that’s why I’ve had so many birds voluntarily land on me and let me come so close in the backyard and the woods. Also, make sure to never follow them, when they move or fly away, let them go. You don’t want to do anything that seems predatory in nature.

Start to Offer Your Hand

Once your birds become more comfortable with you standing nearby, while they are at the feeders, start holding your hand out while you watch them. After a few days in a row and the birds are used to eating near your hand, you are now ready to start feeding them yourself. When they are used to eating near you, place a few of their favorite treats in the palm of your hand.

Keep calm and still and wait for them to eat the treats from your hand. This can take some time, depending on the relationship you have established. If they don’t engage with you right away and get into your hand, don’t worry, after a few times of grabbing treats, they will start to become bolder and hop right into your hand.

Get ready for the experience. It will feel strange to have bird feet gripping onto your hands. Make sure not to jump, so you don’t startle them. I guarantee you, it is one of the most incredible experiences to feel these sweet little creatures gripping your skin.

Try to do this at the same time of day as birds have their own schedules. Your bird friends have places to go and other feeders to visit in the area.

As time goes by and as they get to be completely comfortable with you, they may choose to perch elsewhere on your body. My daily experiences with my birds include them perching anywhere on my body. For example, I have had birds perching everywhere from the top of my head to my shoes. I have had three or more black-capped chickadees waiting in line on my arm to get to the food in my hand or the food container. It is normal behavior for chickadees to grab a seed and fly off and consume it elsewhere. I have had a few chickadees so comfortable with my way of feeding, that they stay and break sunflower seeds open right on the edge of the container. I have one in particular that keeps its back to me, while it eats. Now that is trust. Also, if I hide any of the real tasty treats in my hands for a later time, they will gently peck at my fingers to get to the goodies. Nothing gets past these guys. Once, I even had a brazen chickadee go into my jacket pocket for food! Apparently, nothing is off-limits anymore.

Avoid Any Sudden Movements

Make sure to behave consistently around your birds, that means no sudden movements or noises. Remember, it is their nature to flee for their own self-preservation.

Most of All, Be Patient with Your New Friends

Building trust takes time with any relationship, so don’t treat the birds any differently. Be patient and be kind to your new little friends and your dedication will pay off!

I look forward to every day with my birds and I think this experience is a nice way to start the morning and helps to get me centered for my day ahead. When we have visitors come over, they now, too, are feeding the birds. It is nice to see how happy it makes people and it is nice to know the birds are enjoying their treats as well. I often joke that we should charge admission for feeding the birds. I think everyone would get a real kick out of it. Of course, the cost of admission would only be to bring really good bird food!

Being that my American red squirrel buddies didn’t want to be excluded, I now have a squirrel enjoying my bringing bird food into the woods, too. He comes to visit us in the same area of the woods every morning. Well, word has spread and now there are two squirrels joining in on the fun. I put the container on the ground for everyone to enjoy. I put food in the top and bottom of the container because the birds prefer not to share with the squirrels. I think this helps the birds that are still too shy to eat from my hand but will eat from the container. With my hands being free, I can then comfortably hand-feed some of the other birds, too, and then everyone gets something to eat.

As a side note, in order to decrease any sort of disease transmission, I wash my hands really well afterward. Just like my bird feeders, I also wash my feeding containers at least once a week with white vinegar and hot water to minimize any problems. From the habits of my vet tech days, I make an effort to make sure the birds are looking healthy. For example, their eyes look bright and clear and their feathers, legs, and toes look great as well. Also, I make sure to never wear any hand creams or perfume before setting out to feed the birds as I’m sure it can’t be good for their health.

This has been such a wonderful experience and I’m particularly fond of my male red-breasted nuthatch. Just the other day, after all of the other birds, had left, he stayed behind and actually stayed on my hand and ate a few seeds and nuts. Usually, the nuthatches will take a seed or nut and take it to store in the crevices of the bark of the trees. After he ate his food, he simply stayed on my hand and he then proceeded to give me several eye kisses, and of course, I reciprocated. This guy is so sweet sometimes and he just melts my heart.

I may be competing for his attention though. I noticed the male has been a bit more peculiar than usual and now I know why. Yesterday, a new female red-breasted nuthatch started feeding from my hand. They were quite vocal with each other and developed some sort of interesting relationship. I think she may be even quirkier than he is. She acts as though the food I was offering was just for her. She chased the male nuthatch away as well as several of the chickadees. She also likes to use the top of my head as a perch as she talks to the other birds. It will be interesting getting to know her better in the near future. I look forward to even more comical occurrences with my regular birds as well as new visitors.

It is such an incredible honor to have the trust of a wild bird as well as true a gift from nature. I hope you enjoyed my stories as well as these tips. You will be well on your way to enjoying your birds even more and you will have new avian friends feeding from your hands in no time, too.

If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you. Thank you for reading.

Last fall, I had the opportunity to view a variety of migrating bird species come through the property. Of the several species of birds I observed, many were some that I was quite familiar with, but a few were new to me. One such bird was my frequent observation of a male ruby-crowned kinglet, a very small songbird in the kinglet family.

If you are a photographer and familiar with this species of bird, you know that the ruby-crowned kinglet is considered to be a frustrating species for bird photographers. Even though I am very patient when out in the field, believe me, my experiences with this bird were no exception. Although they are one of the few bird species that are fearless enough to come close to humans, they are extremely active birds. Just as I thought I had a nice shot, he was off to another branch or had flown off to a totally different tree and disappeared. A few times due to his curious nature, he would come and perch pretty close to me, but I would have to say the majority of his energy was spent searching for food. He was taking full advantage of the availability of insects on the warm and mild fall days in order to fuel up for his journey down south for the winter months. However, I was delighted to observe this interesting and entertaining bird forage swiftly and lightly through the foliage as well as get the chance to take at least a few photographs.

I would like to share a few interesting facts about the ruby-crowned kinglet Regulus calendula, as well as a few photographs from my weeks, spent with this energetic bird. Of the several blurry or empty shots from my sessions, these are the best photographs that made the final cut. I hope you enjoy.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Size & Shape

Kinglets are very small songbirds with relatively large heads, almost no neck, and rather thin and stubby tails. Their bills are very small in size, thin and straight.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Colors & Pattern

Ruby-crowned kinglets are olive-green in color with a prominent broken white eye-ring and white wingbar. This wingbar contrasts with an adjacent blackish color bar located on the wing.

The “ruby crown” is only found on the male and is only occasionally visible as it is usually concealed by the surrounding feathers. The red crest is raised when a bird is agitated or in display. Immature birds are similar to adult females since young males lack a crown patch. In the photograph above, this is the closest I had come to seeing this scarlet-red crown patch.

As they say, good things come to those who wait. It is now the spring of 2022 and I spotted at least three of these birds on this particular day. This male wasn’t shy at all and I was able to take a few shots with a better view of his scarlet-red crown patch.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Habitat

During the summer, these birds are commonly found in spruce-fir forests in the northwestern United States and across Canada. They also live in mixed woods, as well as isolated trees in meadows, coniferous and deciduous forests, mountain-shrub habitats, and floodplain forests of oak, pine, spruce, or aspen. These birds nest high in trees and tend to prefer older, taller, and denser stands to younger ones. During migration and winter, they are commonly found in woods and thickets across most of the continent.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Feeding Behavior & Diet

These kinglets are very quick, restless, and acrobatic while moving through foliage. Their flight can be described as swift, jerky, and unpredictable as they flick their wings constantly as they go.

These birds forage actively at all levels, from treetops to low brush, as they examine foliage, twigs, and major limbs for sources of food. They often hover while taking items from foliage, and will sometimes fly out to catch insects in mid-air.

They feed mostly on insects during all seasons. These birds focus on whatever is available such as many small beetles, flies, leafhoppers, true bugs, caterpillars as well as many others. They also eat spiders and pseudoscorpions; their diets include the eggs of insects and spiders. During the winter months, these birds will eat some types of berries and seeds as well as suet. They will sometimes consume tree oozing sap or visits flowers, possibly for their nectar.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Song & Calls

The song of the ruby-crowned kinglet male is a jumbled but distinctive song that builds to an incredibly loud ending, especially when you take into consideration how small these birds are. The song lasts about five seconds. It will start with soft, high notes that accelerate into a musical twittering, and then abruptly shifts into a loud series of two or three-parted notes.

The call is a harsh, fast, two-parted scold. They may also give a long, chattering series of short notes. Females sometimes do this as the male sings; females may also use it as an alarm call.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Nesting, Eggs, and Young

During courtship, males will crouch horizontally, flutter their wings and raise their scarlet-red crown feathers while singing. The nest will usually be constructed in spruce or another type of conifer. The average height is forty feet above the ground, can also be up to ninety feet, as well as very low in far northern forests where trees can be short. The nest is attached to hanging twigs below a horizontal branch that is protected by the foliage above. The female builds a deep hanging cup of moss, lichen, bark strips, spiderwebs, twigs, rootlets, and conifer needles, lined with feathers, plant down, and animal fur.

In the Pacific Northwest, they will have nine to ten eggs, sometimes seven to twelve, quite an incredibly large clutch for such a small-sized bird. Eggs are whitish to pale buff in color, with brown spots often concentrated at the larger end. Incubation is done by the female only, for about thirteen to fourteen days. The male may feed the female during incubation.

In order to draw predators away from their nests, kinglets will often perform a “broken-wing” act also known as distraction display or diversionary display. This is an anti-predator behavior used to attract the attention of an enemy away from nests. These birds will defend their nests fearlessly, mobbing an intruder such as a cat squirrel, or human.

Both parents will feed the nestlings. Young leave the nest about sixteen days after hatching and they will have one brood per year.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Migration

The ruby-crowned kinglet is considered to be a short-distance migrant. These birds breed across far northern North America as well as the western mountains. Most of these birds migrate to the southern and southwestern United States and Mexico for the winter, but some mountain populations in the West will move to lower elevations during the colder months.

Although not an easy feat, hopefully, when these birds return this spring, I will have another chance to photograph these lively birds again and catch a better glimpse of that beautiful ruby crown.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed learning about the ruby-crowned kinglet. If you have anything to share, such as your photographs and experiences with these tiny and fearless-spirited birds, please feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.

Resources used for this post:

allaboutbirds.org & audubon.org

A black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) perching on a young spruce tree.

As summer turns into fall, many birds will begin to leave from their spring and summer areas to migrate to their winter residences. You can do your part in helping to ensure these birds have successful journeys. It is also important to remember that not all species of birds migrate because they can rely on food sources in their home ranges in order to thrive during the winter months. Here are some helpful ways you can assist birds in your area and see to their survival.

A perching red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) in the fall.

Should I feed the birds during the fall?

As the seasons change, feeding birds in the autumn can be a rewarding experience. Bird watchers have the chance to view the changing of different flocks of birds coming through as well as bird visitors that will be taking residence in their yards. Feeding the birds during this time of year will also attract a wider range of birds and thus aiding in the return of migrants to your yard the following spring.

First of all, let us dismiss one of the biggest misconceptions about feeding birds in the fall. It is a myth if birds have a steady food source during the fall, they won’t migrate and during the times when feeders are empty, birds will then starve. Another myth that is simply untrue is that birds rely less on feeders because of an abundance of other natural food sources. Although there will be a change in the number of birds you see at your feeders, you are providing your birds with a reliable food source as well as necessary calories. The food you provide does not prevent migration, it helps it.

Migrating birds require a significant number of calories for the energy necessary for their journeys, and feeders with a variety of foods can provide an energy boost to passing migrants as well as help resident birds build up fat reserves in order to survive during falling temperatures.

A pine siskin (Spinus pinus) feeding on nyjer.

In order to provide migrating birds with the most nutritious and abundant energy for their journeys, you can offer your feathered friends a variety of high-fat and calorie-dense foods. Top fall foods include black oil sunflower seeds, nuts, millet, suet, nyjer, cracked corn, and nectar. With a fair amount of observation, birders can then adjust the amount of food that is required to meet the needs of their birds.

You can also scatter mixed seeds to help the birds that are sometimes too shy to come to the feeders. This includes some species of sparrows, catbirds, towhees, and other species of birds that may choose to feed on the ground. Seeds can also be tossed under sources of natural protection such as shrubbery and brush-piles.

Keep hummingbird feeders out for migrants

Please don’t take your hummingbird feeders down in the fall. Do not believe the myth that hummingbirds will forget to migrate if provided with nectar in feeders. These birds in fact know when to migrate and have the instinct to tell them when it’s time to leave. Hummingbirds will appreciate this supplemental source of energy. Late migrants will also appreciate an extra late-fall food source. Leaving your feeders out will do no harm, and might even do some good. Another point to consider is hummingbirds tend to revisit familiar feeders and your backyard may prove to be a favorite hotspot for the following year.

Add a water feature

Birdbaths and bird fountains are excellent ways to attract birds. During fall migration, you may find a variety of bird species that are not normally found in your area passing through will in fact appreciate a clean and fresh source of water. We had an especially dry fall this year in Maine and I found both several migrating and resident birds enjoyed a place to stop for easy drinking and bathing.

Take inventory of your feeders

The fall is a good time for checking over your feeders that have been used during the summer months as well as ones that have been stored away. Things to consider: Are they in need of a good cleaning? Are there any broken parts? Are they fit for the winter months? If everything looks okay, you can go ahead and put out a variety of feeders and be on your way to enjoying your avian visitors. If not, you can do your research and find which feeders and foods you think will benefit birds in your area.

Tidy-up nesting boxes

A bluebird box located under an apple tree.

By the end of the breeding season, the insides of nesting boxes, as you can imagine, are quite messy. The fall is a great time to clean and replace your boxes with fresh and clean nesting materials. Also, many species of birds such as chickadees and nuthatches would sure appreciate somewhere to seek shelter with a clean and warm box on cold and frigid nights during the winter.

Make sure your windows are safe

With an increase in migrant activity, windows can have tragic results with flying birds striking glass. In order to decrease the chances of unnecessary bird collisions due to problematic windows around your house, you may want to consider applying bird repellent tape.

Another point to consider in regard to windows is how light attracts and disorients migrating birds at night. As you may know, many birds migrate at night. Light from windows confuses and exhausts them, causing them to become vulnerable to collide with structures. Turning off your lights and covering windows can dramatically reduce these hazards and allow birds to safely continue on their journeys. If you are interested and want to learn more about how artificial light sources harm migratory birds you can check out Cornell’s Lights Out to Protect Migratory Birds. I had the chance to see listen to this webinar and I found it to be rather informative.

Keep cats indoors

Cats are one of the leading causes of bird deaths in urban areas. If you are a cat owner, do the responsible thing and consider making it an indoor pet. You can also consider solutions such as keeping your cat in a confined area, having supervised outdoor visits, or leashing your cat. Did you know the expected life span of an outdoor cat is significantly shorter than that of an indoor cat? On average, cats that are allowed to roam freely outdoors often don’t live to see the age of five. Indoor cats can live to be eighteen to twenty years old.

When I was working as a licensed veterinarian technician, I saw firsthand the outcome of pet owners’ cavalier attitudes toward this issue. One of the most awful parts of my job was taking part in the euthanizing of countless cats hit by cars, attacked by wild animals, etc. It is heartbreaking for all parties involved. Why not do your part and protect your cats and the birds from senseless tragedies.

A domesticated orange and white tabby enjoying nature from indoors.

I have also had my own experiences with taking in several stray cats and domesticating them. The last one we had taken in was a lot tougher than the others, but after getting him neutered and with a little time and patience, I think he is now living the good life. He didn’t help out the local bird population much as I witnessed his killing of several birds. At the time, he was feral and needed to do what was necessary in order to survive, but that is no longer the case. I also know for a fact, between diseases and internal parasites as well as the dangers of cars and wild animals, he wouldn’t have survived outdoors too much longer. It is just a simple fact and you can do your part in helping bird populations thrive naturally in regard to this issue.

A tabby cat taking a nap in the sun.

Let your lawn grow

Tallgrass covered in fall leaves.

By late summer, consider stopping mowing a section of your lawn, allowing the long grass to go to seed. Many passing bird species will take advantage of this natural bird food. Tall grasses can also provide to be a beneficial place to rest. Different species of birds will also find this habitat appealing during the winter and may prove to be critical for survivability.

Wildflowers growing in the grass.

Leave the leaves on the ground

Fall leaves on the lawn.

Instead of removing the leaves from your lawn, you may want to consider leaving fallen leaves. Undisturbed leaf litter and soil will provide a variety of insects and in return, will provide a crucial food source for both migrating and resident birds.

An American robin (Turdus migratorius) in the grass.

A juvenile common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) in the grass.

Let your gardens go

A variety of flowers in the garden.

A song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) in the garden.

Although you may feel inclined to cut down the stems of your perennial gardens, you may want to reconsider. The seed heads of flowers such as coneflowers (Echinacea), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta), and other native wildflower species can provide a nutritious and supportive food source for birds during the fall. The seeds of plants can also provide protein sources throughout the winter months as well, by housing insect larvae.

Bee balm (Monarda) in the fall.

An American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) in a fall garden.

By following these tips, it is possible to attract a wide variety of bird species during fall migration and ensure birds will thrive throughout the seasons. I hope you found this information useful and thank you for reading.

A yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) in the grass.

It isn’t very difficult to realize when you hear the distinctive chickadee-dee-dee of the black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus, you will soon have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of one of these engaging birds. Usually, after one shows up, several others will soon follow. These birds are curious by nature and it is as though this call by the first chickadee is saying, “Hey guys, look what I found,” and before you know it, you are soon to be in the presence of several of these charming and delightful birds.

Since moving to the beautiful state of Maine, I have been fortunate enough to explore the natural world further than I have ever done before. I have also really honed in on my skills as a photographer. I am thoroughly interested in other types of photography, such as landscape, still-life, architecture, and food, but I always find myself drawn back to photographing the avian world. I especially enjoy photographing black-capped chickadees. I spend several hours throughout the seasons observing their behavior and capturing them in their natural habitat. While in college, I majored in biology with a concentration in animal behavior and ornithology. I also studied several types of art and art history. Both of these majors required a great deal of observation and intensive writing. I believe these two aspects of my education have prepared me for my photography skills and blogging pertaining to birds today.

While photographing black-capped chickadees, I not only feel as though I am an observer, but a participant in the small ecosystem that they have created here on my property. These birds are a bold and inquisitive species of songbird, as well as our state bird. They are considered a permanent resident species and can be found in several types of habitats such as deciduous and mixed forests in North America. Habitats include areas with trees or woody shrubs, from woods to residential neighborhoods and parks, and sometimes areas with weedy fields and cattail marshes. Chickadees will frequently nest in birch or alder trees and nesting boxes if provided. They can be found from the state of Alaska through the southern half of Canada as well as far south as the northern half of the U.S. Even though they are considered permanent residents, they will sometimes move south within their range, and even outside of it, during the fall or winter.

These birds are tiny and considered universally adorable, with a short neck and large head, giving it a globular shape. They have long, narrow tails and short bills. They have a black cap and bib and cheeks that are white. The back is a soft gray, the wing feathers are also gray, edged with white. The underparts are a soft buff color on the sides leading to white beneath. The black cap extends down just below their expression-filled black eyes, often making them difficult to see. Unless that is if you can capture them in optimal lighting.

One of my favorite times of the year for observing these birds is during the winter. I will spend several hours getting to learn about their behavior and the hierarchies they form. Within flocks, there have been noted dominance hierarchies. Some chickadees are considered “winter floaters” and don’t belong to a particular flock. These individuals may in fact have a different rank within each flock they choose to spend their time with. Small flocks of these birds liven up the woods as they fly from tree to tree, vocalizing their active and cheery sounds. It has been observed that flocks have several highly complex calls with specific meanings. It is also said they have some of the same characteristics similar to that of human language. The voice of the black-capped chickadee is a clear chick-a-dee-dee-dee or dee-dee-dee. Their song is a clear two or three-note whistle, fee-bee or hey, sweetie. The first note will be higher. The males will begin singing in mid-January and the song will increase in frequency as winter progresses. The females may also sing occasionally. Their contact call is a sharp chik or tsik, often leading into the chick-a-dee call. If threatened by a predator, these birds will make a high-pitched and high-intensity alarm call. When chickadees hear this, they will freeze in position until they hear the “all is clear” chickadee-dee call. These calls are often given by the males.

During the colder months, while observing these birds and their behavior, I will bundle up, gather all of my camera gear, and set out for a couple of hours or even longer. If I don’t have anywhere, in particular, to be or something to do, I will completely lose track of time and remain outdoors most of the day. I am currently shooting with a Canon Rebel T6i and a Canon 55-250mm lens. Due to the curious and cheerful nature of this bird, it isn’t very difficult to capture beautiful photographs. I believe they look especially majestic juxtaposed in scenes with snow, but I enjoy spending time with them overall, regardless of what time of year it is. While out in the field, I patiently wait for their arrival. I pick an area to sit and watch these birds and within a short amount of time, sometimes even minutes, I will hear them and anticipate their arrival. They arrive one by one, watching them displaying their acrobatic flying skills, while they seem to bounce easily from one branch to the next. I believe the chickadees fancy having their photographs taken during these sessions and almost seem to enjoy posing for the camera.

Black-capped chickadees are also a welcomed sight at my bird feeders. They will often take a black sunflower seed, one at a time, and fly away to stuff them into the crevice of tree bark, or eat elsewhere, only to start the whole cycle again. With their friendly nature, they can make a habit of investigating humans and everything else about their territory. I have had the pleasure of hand-feeding these birds close to my feeders as well as farther into the woods on my property. I have several black-capped chickadees that I have come to know during our hand-feeding sessions. Although these birds look very much alike, I have come to know the characteristics of some individuals and I look forward to our frequent interactions.

Whether I’m near my bird feeders or deeper in the woods, I look forward to my time spent with my black-capped chickadee visitors. I am both flattered and honored that they trust me enough to want to spend time with me. Black-capped chickadees are a complete joy to observe in their natural surroundings and as I mentioned, charming, delightful, and of course, quite photogenic.

It is September already and fall is just around the corner. The signs of the seasons changing are here, as the hot and humid weather has been replaced with cooler temperatures and crisp days here in Western Maine. The sun is also sitting lower in the sky throughout the day, making for dramatic lighting and shadows out in the woods. The area is full of late summer blooms such as goldenrod and asters, indicating the end of summer is almost here. These are some of the favorite flowering plants enjoyed by the last of our bumblebees that will be leaving eventually, along with several other insects. Some of the leaves have already started to change a couple of weeks ago and the state will soon be under a blanket of vibrant foliage.

The woods during the late summer.

Goldenrod Asteraceae

A bunch of white asters Asteraceae

Purple Aster

A bumblebee Bombus visiting asters.

Red maples Acer leaves changing.

Leaves changing in the woods.

Another sign that fall is on the way, is my having to bid farewell to the ruby-throated hummingbirds Archilochus colubris. I had the pleasure of observing quite a few of these fascinating birds this spring and summer and I will sure miss their amusing antics. My hummingbirds started to leave on the fifth of this month and I saw the last of my regulars on the eleventh. I made sure they had access to plenty of homemade nectar and a variety of flowers that I have planted for them to feed from. I have been very busy this summer growing and planting all sorts of flowers and bushes and I can’t wait for next year’s blooms. When the hummingbirds come back in the spring, they will be in for a real treat. Until then, these birds will have quite a journey ahead of them and I hope they were well-fed before they left. It is very important to keep your feeders out at this time for hummingbirds passing by. You can think of your feeders as a pit stop for hummingbirds to refuel so they can continue on and have a successful journey down south for the winter. In this post, I would like to share some information about hummingbird migration and ways you can help to ensure their success. Also, I would like to share just a few photographs that I have taken of my ruby-throated hummingbird visitors. I have of course taken several and these made the final cut. I hope you enjoy.

Hummingbird Migration Facts

Ornithologists believe that hummingbirds migrate at a roughly estimated twenty-five miles per hour. These little birds will migrate an incredible twenty-three miles a day to get to their destinations. To make this flight, hummingbirds must beat their wings an astonishing 2.7 million times. Most ruby-throated hummingbirds will spend the winter season in Central America, and most will get there by flying across the Gulf of Mexico.

How Hummingbirds Prepare for Migration

There are several factors that affect ruby-throated hummingbird migration and exactly when these birds will begin their long journeys. Daylight is the most important factor in regard to the timing of hummingbird migration. As the levels of light change seasonally, hummingbirds will consume more food and increase their weight by 25 to 40 percent. This is called hyperphagia, meaning their hormones will change and then urge them to gain weight. This extra fat will provide valuable energy for their upcoming long flight.

Hummingbirds Leave Back Yards in Late Summer

The farther hummingbirds have to migrate, the sooner they start their journey. As I mentioned, I saw the last of my ruby-throated hummingbirds had left on the eleventh of this month. You may it interested to learn that there is a natural order to things as hummingbirds leave for migration. Adult males are the first to leave, followed by the females, and then the immature birds. There of course is a natural logic to this practice. This way, males do not have to compete for dwindling natural food sources. This allows the immature birds to have enough time to gain the necessary fat stores before they begin their great journey south for their very first time. This practice also allows for more food accessibility in a staggered fashion for more food accessibility along their migration route.

How You Can Help Migrating Hummingbirds

A ruby-throated hummingbird drinking from a feeder.

You can help migrating ruby-throated hummingbirds during their migration in several ways. In addition to providing your hummingbirds with homemade nectar, make sure to plant native species of flowers and flowering plants that compliment your feeders. Homemade, as well as natural nectar, provide a crucial role in helping to ensure the survival of these birds during migration. These nutrients provide a vital source of the food needed for fat stores. Make sure to keep your feeders clean as well in order to prevent the spread of disease. Also, make sure to keep your feeders available until the late fall. In colder temperatures, you will have to make sure to take proper steps to keep hummingbird nectar from freezing in the late fall in order to keep it available to late-migrating hummingbirds. Even though the last of your regular visitors have left, you may be providing energy for a few stragglers on their migration journey. It is likely that your hummingbirds are indeed migrating prior to the start of fall, but you may run the risk of them finding another feeder and they may not return to yours the following year. I would hate for this to happen at my feeders. Next spring, you will be ready for these birds to come back to your yard once again and you will appreciate knowing what an amazing trip they have endured to get back to visit you again.

Here are a few photographs that I have taken this summer. I have taken so many and I had to narrow it down to these few.

(f/5.6, 1/2500 sec., ISO 1250)

(f/5.6, 1/2500 sec., ISO 1600)

(f/5.6, 1/2500 sec., ISO 2500)

(f/6.3, 1/2500 sec., ISO 2000)

(f/6.3, 1/2500 sec., ISO 1600)

(f/5.6, 1/2500 sec., ISO 1600)

(f/5.6, 1/2500 sec., ISO 1000)

(f/5.6, 1/3200 sec., ISO 1600)

(f/5.6, 1/2500 sec., ISO 2000)

Since my hummingbirds have left, I have been busy spending my days photographing several of our other migrating birds. I have observed quite a few frequent visitors to the area, as well as many new species. I have been focusing mostly on warblers and these birds can prove to be quite tough to identify, especially the immature birds. I suppose that I am up for this challenge. I will have to see how this goes. I have also been watching several informative Cornell Lab of Ornithology webinars. If you are interested in bird migration, you may want to check out this birdcast webinar.

I hope you have found this information useful and you enjoyed the photographs. I also hope you have picked up a few helpful tips to help these extraordinary little birds back to your yard and hummingbird feeders for years to come.

A juvenile male ruby-throated hummingbird in flight.

Every spring, I look forward to my new spring arrivals, but I especially can’t wait for the first glimpse of my red-breasted grosbeak visitors. The males are the first to arrive in May, followed by the females a few weeks later. This year I have three males and two females coming to my feeders. They are quite a pleasure to observe. I find the females to be a lot more territorial at the feeders than the males. They are always chasing the males away and claiming the feeders for their own. Also, every year, I have at least one male out of the bunch, that will let me get just close enough to take photographs. I also find it amusing that when the males are at the feeders, they talk or sing softly while chewing. I find that even though they sometimes display territorial behavior, these birds also have a sweet nature about them.

Even better than watching these birds, I especially enjoy hearing their calls and songs. Other than the beautiful flute-like song of the wood thrush Hylocichla mustelina, the song of the rose-breasted grosbeak is my favorite bird song to hear during the spring and summer. Sometimes they really get going and their song gets really loud. It seems to overtake the songs of other species of birds in the yard. Even though these grosbeaks have quite a presence during the later part of spring they don’t often stay very long. I seem to observe fewer of them as spring turns into summer. This year, I’m hoping they stick around a little longer than years past because I will be sorry to see them go. At least I can look forward to their arrival again next year.

The following photographs are a collection that I have taken around the yard this month and I will also share a few interesting facts about the rose-breasted grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Size & Shape

Rose-breasted grosbeaks are stocky, medium-sized songbirds with very large triangular-shaped bills. They have broad chests, with short necks and a medium-length, square-shaped tail.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Colors & Pattern

Adult males are black and white with a bright red triangle extending from a black throat down the middle of the breast. Females and immature rose-breasted grosbeaks are brown and heavily streaked, with a bold whitish-color stripe over the eye. Males flash pink-red under the wings, while in flight. Females flash a yellowish color. Both sexes show white patches on their wings and tail. At all stages of life in both sexes, the beak is a dusky horn color.

An immature male rose-breasted grosbeak developing his adult plumage.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Habitat

Rose-breasted grosbeaks breed in eastern woods. They can be found in both deciduous trees and conifers. These birds are most commonly found in regenerating woodlands, along the edges of woods, and in parks. During their migration, they will frequent fruiting trees to help fuel their flights to Central and South America.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Feeding Behavior & Diet

Rose-breasted grosbeaks feed mostly on insects, seeds, and berries. About half of their yearly diets can consist of insects, including beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, true bugs, and others, as well as spiders and snails. They eat many seeds, this includes seeds from trees such as elms. These birds will also sometimes eat from buds and flowers. They may also heavily feed on fruits during the late summer into the fall. The young are mostly fed insects. Rose-breasted grosbeaks often visit bird feeders, where they eat sunflower seeds as well as safflower seeds, raw peanuts, and suet.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Song & Calls

Both the males and females sing a rich, sweetly whistled song, composed of many notes that alternately rise and fall. This pattern of this song is similar to that of the American robin but mellower. Most birders describe the song of the grosbeak to be sweeter and have more melody than that of the robin. Songs can last six seconds and consist of twenty notes or syllables. Rose-breasted grosbeaks are one of few bird species reported to sing while sitting in the nest. The female sings while building the nest, incubating, and brooding. The males will often sing quietly from the nest and loudly from other high perches.

Rose-breasted grosbeaks give short, sharp, penetrating chink calls, sometimes compared to the sound of a sneaker on a gym floor. They also give harsh, repeated squawks when alarmed.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Nesting

Male red-breasted grosbeaks will sing in order to defend nesting territory. They may also fight with intruding males. During courtship, males may partly spread wings and tails, draw their heads back, and approach females while singing.

The nest is constructed in a deciduous tree or large shrub and sometimes in a conifer. It is located five to twenty feet above the ground and sometimes even higher. Nests are built mostly by the female. It consists of an open cup, built rather loosely and made of twigs, weeds, lined with finer twigs, rootlets, and sometimes animal hair. This loose and flimsy design may leave eggs visible through the nest below.

There are three to five, typically four pale greenish-blue colored eggs with reddish-brown markings. They are incubated by both parents for thirteen to fourteen days. Both parents feed the nestlings. Young leave the nest about nine to twelve days after hatching. They have one to two broods per year and the male will feed the fledglings, while the female builds a new nest.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Migration

The rose-breasted grosbeak is a long-distance migrant. They are the first birds to leave their breeding grounds as early as August. These birds migrate south in late September or October and return in late April or early May. Most of them fly from their North American breeding grounds to Central and northern South America. Most of them will fly across the Gulf of Mexico in a single night. While some will fly overland around the Gulf. Grosbeaks that winter in Panama and northern South America will tend to be from eastern parts of the breeding range, while those that winter in Mexico and Central America tend to be from western parts.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed learning about the rose-breasted grosbeak. If you have anything to share, such as your photographs and experiences with these beautiful birds, please feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.

Resources used for this post:

allaboutbirds.org & audubon.org