Cedar Waxwing

I'm invariably excited to see a Cedar Waxwing. I love their bandit mask and white eyeliner, and their dramatic touches of red and yellow are unique in the bird world. Depending on location, I can expect to see certain birds, but the Cedar Waxwing is always a surprise.

Male American Redstart

One of my favorite birds is the American Redstart. I love finding one near sundown when the light is as warm and soft as the orange markings and comes in sideways, filtered by foliage and branches. I found him looking back at me most curious, and it made my day.

Male American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch has one of the most exciting and dramatic molting patterns. Their relatively drab but striking winter plumage gives way to the bright yellow of summer. That first fleeting glimpse of the male is always a special joy.

Male Phainopepla

The male Phainopepla is a shiny black and bluish bird of Mexico and the southwest. Perhaps challenged in pronouncing its name, some people have given it the nickname of Goth Cardinal due to its erect crest, but they are flycatchers, unrelated to Cardinals.

Snowy Egret

Egrets are showy and often elegant in their behavior. An example is this Snowy Egret coming in for a landing near a Laughing Gull. The egret's outstreatched wings are full of grace and purpose with every landing.

Clark's Nutcracker

Clark's Nutcrackers store thousands of pine seeds for winter miles apart and remember where most were hidden. They eat cached seeds in colder months and feed them to their chicks, allowing them to breed as early as January in harsh conditions.

Male Scarlet Tanager

This male Scarlet Tanager had been calling in the area, so I went looking for him. This is another bird that prefers the higher canopy, but I found him on a lower branch. This closeup can be deceiving because it's a small bird and can be challenging to find.

Wood Thrush

I consider every photo I have of the Wood Thrush a personal treasure. These reclusive birds of the eastern US can be easier to find by sound than sight. I love their alluring and haunting call, which you can listen to here. https://bit.ly/44iw731

Yellow-throated Warbler

Yellow-throated Warblers have undoubtedly caused several cases of "warbler neck" as birders strain to see them in the tops of trees. It's considered a southeastern bird but is expanding its range northward and is often seen in northern states.

Male Blue Grosbeak

The Blue Grosbeak shows best in overcast light or shade as direct sunlight washes out its deep blue color. It can be challenging to find unless you hear it calling first. You can listen to their calls here. https://bit.ly/3Npb2MU

Male Golden-fronted Woodpecker

The Golden-fronted Woodpecker is named for that little patch above its beak. I found him in Texas when he flew from the trees to a picnic shelter, almost asking me to make him famous. I love the color touches and black and white pattern under the tail.

Barn Swallow

Some of the most exciting pics of swallows capture them in flight, but a portrait, such as this Barn Swallow, can be compelling in the right light. I repeatedly watched him return to this perch, then waited for the afternoon sun to perfect the scene.

Magnolia Warbler

If you live in the eastern half of the US, you may have seen the Magnolia Warbler on its spring or fall migration. They migrate through the eastern US to breed throughout Canada and our most northeastern states before returning south for the winter.

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker

Even if you could see the reddish belly of the Red-bellied Woodpecker, it is usually quite faint. This bird is year-round throughout the eastern half of the US. I usually hear them before I see them. You can listen to their loud calls here. https://bit.ly/42fNeR6

It takes just the right light to reveal the iridescent-green shimmer on the feathers of the Greater Roadrunner. The comb raises in alert when it is alarmed or on the hunt. This resident of the southwest pauses frequently, then streaks through the undergrowth.

Greater Roadrunner

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is known not only for its distinctive plumage but also for its calls. Both the male and female sing a lovely song. You can listen to their calls here and learn more about them. https://bit.ly/42YMEbK

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

The Buff-bellied Hummingbird is primarily a bird of the Mexican Gulf Coast and barely enters the US to breed in southernmost Texas. While many birds move south after the breeding season, this hummer moves north into Louisiana and other coastal states.

Blue-winged Warbler

Warblers are some of our most popular birds due to their lilting voices and colorful plumage flashing through trees and undergrowth. I vividly remember the joy I felt when I saw this Blue-winged Warbler emerge from the interior of an Eastern Hemlock.

SmugMug

Laszuli Bunting

Although I am blessed to see a lot of beautiful birds, my favorite is the Lazuli Bunting, named for the fantastic color on his head. I found this one in Arizona, but they can be found in several western states. I had to stay quite still to keep from scaring him off.

Pyrrhuloxia

This Pyrrhuloxia seemed to hide behind these small limbs but stood out in the soft morning light, early enough to avoid deep shadows. The angle revealed his eye and unique crimson highlights. It may be one of my best photos of the male.

Great Horned Owl

While the Great Horned Owl can be found throughout North America, I rarely see them. These beautiful birds are also powerful and can take prey larger than they are. They are active during the day and night. I found this one by following its call.

Male Vermilion Flycatcher

The male Vermilion Flycatcher is charming and colorful. When you enter his territory, he often flies near you and looks straight at you as if to say, "What are you doing here?" This one was happy to give me the stare-down and show off his cute hairdo.

Male Painted Bunting

The male Painted Bunting has such a dazzling array of colors that I doubt we could ever all agree on what they are, but blue, greens, and orangish-red are among them. I caught this one calling in lower light which is often more flattering than sunshine.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Many birds move quickly, but the Red-breasted Nuthatch is a ball of energy that never seems to stop. This one was so active it was challenging to get a photo, but patience and persistence finally paid off.

Male Summer Tanager

This Summer Tanager has debris in his beak from his last meal of a bee or wasp, their favorite food. I've watched these birds catch wasps on the fly or that have landed on something. They are experts at removing the stinger to make one a meal. Yum!

Female Summer Tanager

This beautiful bird is the female Summer Tanager. It fascinates me that her mate is a reddish color. A bird's color is often challenging to describe because we perceive colors differently based on light, distance, etc. What color would you call her? Tomorrow I'll post the male.

Male Indigo Bunting

The male Indigo Bunting color is an intense blue, but otherwise hard to describe. The male is one of our most distinctive birds, contrasting sharply with the brown hues of the female. Her advantage is she blends into the environment, attracting fewer predators.

Western Kingbird

This capture of the Western Kingbird is a favorite for its setting and background. This bird's lemon-yellow underparts stand out from its black-and-white eastern cousin. While predominately a western bird, they tend to wander and may be found in the east.

Male Western Tanager

Your chances of seeing the Western Tanager increase as you travel deeper into the western half of the US and Canada. Your first sighting will be memorable as this bird contrasts brightly against green foliage. You can hear their calls here. http://bit.ly/3JUzTIa

Ladderback Woodpecker

I watched this Ladder-backed Woodpecker fly between trees, looking for insects. I was excited when she landed nearby and even more excited that she landed in flattering light. Note how she uses her tail to help stabilize against the tree.

Steller's Jay

Steller's Jay is one of nine species we have with "Jay" in the name, and it is one of the most beautiful. It's a western bird, and I love how it shows in lush environments. I photographed this one in a forest along the Oregon Coast.

Red-headed Woodpecker

We are blessed with several beautiful Woodpeckers, including the Red-headed Woodpecker. It stands out with its bold, crisp markings when perched or flying. Once a family of these birds settles on an area, they defend it fiercely, often driving out other birds.

Bobolink

The Bobolink stands out with white, black, and tan plumage as they migrate through southern and middle states to breed in northern states and Canada. They stop to gorge on tall spring grass along the way, bending stalks and bobbing in the breeze.

Female Broad-tailed Hummingbird

This Broad-tailed Hummingbird is showing off her bright emerald plumage and the length of her tongue as she samples the air, perhaps looking for her next source of nectar. This species breeds in the higher elevations, up to 10,500 feet, of western states.

Field Sparrow

The Field Sparrow is a common bird in steep decline as it will not nest in developed areas. This fascinating bird is often discounted because it has warm brown tones, but if you enjoy learning about birds, you can do so with a two-minute read here. http://bit.ly/3KN2NL5

Yellow-throated Warbler

"Warbler Neck" is a real thing that bird watchers can experience, and the Yellow-throated Warbler has undoubtedly caused a lot of neck pain to those who love to watch warblers. It prefers the top of trees but will come down if the foraging is better lower in the canopy.

Band-tailed Pigeon

I like pigeons and spent hours roaming forest trails and roads looking for this Band-tailed variety. They are often confused with the introduced Rock Pigeon, but this one is native to West Coast forests and mountains of the southwest.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

This Black-bellied Whistling Duck was moving from one part of the lake to another, allowing me to get this photo. Ducks in flight are such a joy because it shows off their plumage differently. Groups of them can be noisy because of their whistling call.

Green Jay

The Green Jay is relatively easy to find in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and is a delight to see. They are noisy and smart like other corvids, foraging on anything they can catch. I captured this one through a narrow opening in the shrubs just before it took off.

Red-tailed Hawk

This Red-tailed Hawk was hunting, soaring high overhead with outstretched wings catching uplifting thermals. I caught it as it adjusted its wings to dive toward the ground and watched as it picked up speed. It landed out of sight, but I'm sure dinner was served.

Black-headed Grosbeak

Although this Black-headed Grosbeak was on an open branch, it was under a dense overarching canopy which gives everything a greenish tint. His beak looks fierce, but he's a sweetie, helping to incubate the eggs and care for the young.

Brown Pelican

While this Brown Pelican dominates the photo, it is an excellent example of how shorebirds congregate and usually get along. Occasionally, there is too much "closeness," and disputes break out.