Fresh from the feeder
50 guides
Scruffy Birds and Quiet Feeders: What Late Summer Actually Means
Feeder traffic drops in July and August, and your birds look ragged. Here's why that's completely normal, and what to do about it.
July 4, 2026
Nesting Season: How to Help Birds in Spring
A practical guide to nesting season tips: when it runs, how to support breeding birds, what to do with a fledgling on the ground, and more.
June 30, 2026
How to Help Nesting Birds With Nesting Material
Learn what nesting material for birds is safe to put out, what to avoid, and how to offer it so backyard birds can find and use it.
June 26, 2026
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Identifying Corvids in Your Backyard
Learn to identify American Crow, Common Raven, Blue Jay, Steller's Jay, and Black-billed Magpie by size, tail, bill, and voice, with range notes for each.
June 22, 2026
Confusing Lookalike Birds and How to Tell Them Apart
Four classic lookalike bird pairs that trip up backyard birders, plus the exact field marks you need to sort them out for good.
June 19, 2026
Berry Bushes and Trees That Feed Birds Year-Round
The best native berry bushes for birds, from serviceberry and elderberry to winterberry and viburnum, plus trees that keep birds fed through winter.
June 15, 2026
Is Backyard Birding Expensive? The Real Costs
A realistic breakdown of birding costs: binoculars, feeders, seed, and optional gear, with honest price ranges and tips to start for free.
June 11, 2026
How to Tell Backyard Hawks and Birds of Prey Apart
Learn to identify the most common backyard hawks: Cooper's, Sharp-shinned, Red-tailed, and American Kestrel, with field marks beginners can use.
June 7, 2026
How to Keep Squirrels Off Your Bird Feeder
Practical, tested strategies to keep squirrels off your bird feeder: baffles, caged feeders, seed choices, and placement tricks that actually work.
June 3, 2026
How to Store Bird Seed and Keep Pests Out
Learn how to store bird seed so it stays fresh, discourages pantry moths, and keeps rodents away. Practical tips for backyard birders.
June 3, 2026
How to Keep a Backyard Bird Journal and Life List
Learn how to keep a bird watching journal and life list that actually helps you learn faster, spot patterns, and remember every bird you've seen.
June 1, 2026
How to Keep a Bird Bath From Freezing in Winter
Practical ways to keep a bird bath from freezing so birds have open water all winter long, from heated bird baths to simple DIY tricks.
May 30, 2026
Summer Bird Feeding: What Changes
Summer bird feeding works differently than winter. Learn what foods to offer, what to skip, and how to keep feeders safe when temperatures climb.
May 29, 2026
How to Keep Predators Off a Nest Box
Learn how to protect nest box from predators using baffles, hardware cloth, extended roofs, and smart placement. Practical tips for bluebirds, wrens, and
May 27, 2026
How to Attract Cardinals to Your Yard
Learn how to attract cardinals with the right feeder, food, and habitat. This practical guide covers what cardinals eat and how to keep them coming back.
May 26, 2026
Bird Baths: How to Attract Birds With Water
Practical bird bath tips for placement, depth, movement, and cleaning to bring more birds to your yard year-round.
May 25, 2026
Birdhouse Mistakes That Keep Birds Away
Find out the most common birdhouse mistakes that stop birds from nesting, and learn simple fixes to make your nest box irresistible.
May 22, 2026
Woodpeckers at Your Feeder: A Field Guide
Learn to identify the backyard woodpeckers most likely to visit your yard, from tiny Downies to bold Red-bellieds, with tips on food and feeders that bring
May 22, 2026
Why Birds Aren't Coming to Your Feeder, and How to Fix It
No birds at your feeder? Discover the most common reasons birds ignore feeders and get practical fixes to bring them back fast.
May 20, 2026
What to Do If You Find a Bird Nest
Found a bird nest in your yard? Learn what to check, what the law says, and the few situations where acting is actually okay.
May 19, 2026
Birdwatching Etiquette and Ethics for Beginners
Learn the practical birding ethics every beginner should know, from keeping a respectful distance to protecting nesting birds and shared spaces.
May 18, 2026
Spring Migration: What to Watch For
A practical guide to spring bird migration — when waves arrive, which species to expect, and how to get the most out of migration birdwatching at home.
May 15, 2026
Suet, Nyjer, and Mealworms: Specialty Bird Foods
Learn what suet is for birds, how nyjer seed works, and why mealworms attract bluebirds. A practical guide to specialty bird foods for your backyard.
May 15, 2026
Nest Box Hole Sizes for Different Birds
Get the right birdhouse hole size for bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, and more. A species-by-species chart with interior dimensions and mounting heights.
May 13, 2026
How to Make a Bird-Friendly Garden
Turn your yard into a bird habitat garden with native plants, water, shelter, and the right food. Practical steps for any garden size.
May 11, 2026
Should You Take Feeders Down in Bear Season?
Bird feeders and bears are a real conflict in many regions. Here's when to pull your feeders, what makes them attractive to bears, and how to keep feeding go...
May 11, 2026
Identifying Backyard Finches: Goldfinch, House, and Purple
Learn to tell apart the three most common backyard finches (American Goldfinch, House Finch, and Purple Finch) by plumage, size, bill shape, and song.
May 8, 2026
Male vs Female Birds: How Plumage Differs
Learn how to tell male and female birds apart using plumage, color, and pattern clues. A practical backyard birder's guide to bird sexual dimorphism.
May 7, 2026
Tube, Hopper, Platform, and Suet: Feeder Types Explained
Learn the four main types of bird feeders, which birds each one attracts, and how to pick the right style for your yard.
May 6, 2026
How to Choose Binoculars for Birdwatching
Find the right binoculars for bird watching with this practical guide covering magnification, objective lens size, optical coatings, and budget tiers.
May 4, 2026
How to Attract Bluebirds
Learn how to attract bluebirds with the right nest box placement, mealworm feeders, and habitat tips that bring these striking birds back season after season.
May 3, 2026
Helping Birds Survive Cold Snaps and Snow
Learn how to help birds in winter with the right foods, water, and shelter. Practical tips for cold snaps, ice storms, and deep freezes.
May 1, 2026
Common Backyard Birding Mistakes Beginners Make
Avoid these common backyard birding mistakes that keep birds away. Practical beginner tips on feeders, placement, seed, and habitat that actually work.
April 29, 2026
Where to Place a Nest Box for the Best Results
Learn the best nest box placement by species, height, direction, and habitat so cavity-nesting birds actually move in this season.
April 29, 2026
Native Plants That Attract Birds
Discover which native plants bring the most birds to your yard, from seed-producing grasses to berry shrubs and insect-rich oaks.
April 27, 2026
When and How to Clean Out a Nest Box
Learn exactly when and how to clean a birdhouse, what supplies to use, and how routine nest box maintenance keeps cavity-nesting birds coming back.
April 25, 2026
How to Tell Common Sparrows Apart
Sparrow identification made practical: learn the field marks that distinguish House, Song, White-throated, Chipping, and other common backyard sparrows.
April 24, 2026
How to Choose the Right Bird Feeder
A practical bird feeder buying guide covering feeder types, seed compatibility, squirrel resistance, and capacity to match your yard and target birds.
April 22, 2026
How to Use eBird and Merlin to Identify and Log Birds
Learn how to use eBird and Merlin to identify backyard birds, log your sightings, and get more out of every birdwatching session.
April 21, 2026
The Beginner Birder's Starter Kit: What You Actually Need
Backyard birding equipment doesn't need to be expensive. Here's what actually matters for beginners, and what you can skip.
April 20, 2026
How to Identify Birds by Their Songs and Calls
Learn to identify birds by sound with this practical guide to bird songs, calls, and birding by ear techniques for backyard birders.
April 18, 2026
How to Feed Birds in Winter
Learn which high-energy foods keep backyard birds fed through cold months, how to set up feeders for winter, and what really matters when temperatures drop.
April 17, 2026
How to Build a Birdhouse: Plans and Tips
Learn how to build a birdhouse with simple plans, species-specific dimensions, and practical tips that give cavity-nesting birds a safe place to raise their
April 15, 2026
How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard
Practical tips on how to attract hummingbirds using feeders, nectar, and plants. A beginner-friendly guide to bringing these tiny birds to your backyard.
April 14, 2026
How to Attract More Birds to Your Yard
Practical steps to get more wild birds visiting your yard, covering food, water, shelter, and plants that actually work for your region.
April 13, 2026
How Often to Clean a Bird Feeder, and How to Do It
Learn how to clean a bird feeder properly, how often to do it, and which supplies to use to keep your backyard birds healthy.
April 10, 2026
How to Identify Common Backyard Birds
Learn to identify the most common backyard birds by size, color, beak shape, and behavior. A practical bird identification guide for beginners.
April 10, 2026
The Best Bird Seed Types and What Each One Attracts
A practical guide to bird seed types — from black-oil sunflower to nyjer — so you know exactly which seeds bring which birds to your feeder.
April 8, 2026
Fall Migration and Preparing Your Yard
Learn how fall bird migration works, which species pass through backyards in autumn, and practical steps to prepare your yard for fall migrants.
April 6, 2026
How to Start Backyard Birding: A Beginner's Guide
Learn how to start backyard birding with simple steps: what gear you need, how to set up feeders, and which birds to expect first.
April 6, 2026