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In our area of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the arrival of the Dark Eyed Junco is a sure sign that winter is on its way. Identification: The Dark Eyed Junco is a striking little sparrow. They are easy to recognize by their clear sharp coloring, and white tail feathers that are flashed … Continue reading the story "Dark Eyed Junco"

  The cute little Carolina Wren is one of the loudest songbirds. The familiar “tea kettle” call is common in urban areas across the eastern half of the US. Identification: The Carolina Wren is a fairly large wren. The upper parts are a striking chestnut brown and the underparts … Continue reading the story "Carolina Wren"

  The Blue Jay is one of the most familiar backyard songbirds. Even non-birders can easily identify them by their size and gorgeous blue, black, and white markings. Identification: The Blue Jay is a large songbird with a wide rounded tail. They are white or light gray underneath with different … Continue reading the story "Blue Jay"

  The Cooper's Hawk is a highly skilled flier. They are common woodland hawks that rip through dense tree canopies with the precision of an F-16 fighter pilot in pursuit of prey. Identification: The Cooper's Hawk is a medium size hawk with broad rounded wings and a very long tail. Adu … Continue reading the story "Cooper’s Hawk"

The beautiful Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America. Its loud unmistakable call clearly announces its presence in forests and backyards across the continent. Identification: The Pileated is mostly black with a prominent red crest. The face is marked with white stripes that extend down the neck. … Continue reading the story "Pileated Woodpecker"

The beautiful deep red color of the male Northern Cardinal is a breath taking sight against a snow covered background. Cardinals do not molt into a duller color. Their gorgeous red color remains year round. Identification: The Cardinal is a fairly large song bird with a thick bill and a prominent … Continue reading the story "Northern Cardinal"

The American Robin is a common sight on lawns across North America. Robins make an early spring appearance, and to some folks they are a sure sign of spring. Identification: Robins are a fairly large songbird with long legs and a long tail. Robins are a gray-brown, … Continue reading the story "American Robin"

The friendly little Tufted Titmouse is common in eastern deciduous forests. It is a frequent visitor to backyards and feeders. Identification: The Titmouse is a soft silvery gray above and white underneath. The flanks are washed with a peach or rusty color. They have a small … Continue reading the story "Tufted Titmouse"

The tiny Red Breasted Nuthatch is an active bundle of energy. They are beautiful friendly little birds that are year round residents in many areas of Canada, and are a welcome fall-winter visitor to much of the US. Identification and Field Marks: The Red Breasted Nuthatch is a small … Continue reading the story "Red Breasted Nuthatch"

The Yellow Rumped Warbler is one of the most familiar warblers of North America. It is one of the first warblers to arrive in the spring, and the last to leave in the fall. Yellow Rumps were once classified as two species. The Audubon variation is more … Continue reading the story "Yellow Rumped Warbler"