The fall leaf colors created a wonderful reflection on the serene water at Sterne Park in Littleton, Colorado. I captured the scene, along with a male wood duck, with my Canon 5D Mark IV.
Robert Magee DENVER, COLORADO
CALM WATERS
Look for wood ducks in small lakes, slow-moving rivers, and ponds created by beavers. The ducks are less likely to be found in open water.
I heard about red-breasted nuthatch sightings in the area, and I was thrilled to find the bird on my new sunflower feeder. I'm not sure if it was attracted to the new feeder specifically, but I'm glad it came!
Nancy Tully EAST STROUDSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
When I first saw this bird, I had no idea what it was. It wasn't one that we commonly see around our backyard in the foothills of North Carolina. I was surprised and delighted to learn it was a yellow-billed cuckoo. I haven't seen it since, although I've heard its call from the woods surrounding our home a couple of times.
Sandra Adams BOONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
IN THE TREES
Yellow-billed cuckoos are seen in most of the eastern United States, but the fliers are often overlooked in their dense forest homes.
This story is from the October/November 2022 edition of Birds & Blooms.
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This story is from the October/November 2022 edition of Birds & Blooms.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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Sense or Nonsense? - Why some birds can taste and smell - but others can't
Does a porcelain berry taste like a blueberry to a gray catbird? Does a block of lard smell like frying bacon to a northern flicker? The short answer is no. While some avian species do have a well-adapted sense of taste or smell, they can't distinguish between flavors and odors the way humans can. They're not picking up every ingredient in the suet you put out, says José Ramírez-Garofalo, an ornithology researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey and the director of Freshkills Biological Station in Staten Island, New York.
Maple Mania - Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Food-Focused and Fierce - Meet Canada jays and learn why they eat almost anything they can find
Even if you haven't heard of Canada jays, you've heard of their relatives. Members of the corvid family, they belong to the same group as American crows, blackbilled magpies, and jays including blue, Steller's and scrub. "Unlike many of the other jays, a Canada jay doesn't have a crest of any kind; it just has a rounded head," says Dale Gentry, director of conservation for Audubon Upper Mississippi River.In 2018, the Canada jay's name was changed from gray jay, but Dale thinks the former adjective was fitting. "Most of its body is shades of gray with some white," he says. "There are different subspecies that have different physical traits, but most of them have some lighter coloring on their foreheads, upper breasts and throats, each with a darker streak that starts at each eye and goes back."
IN GOOD COMPANY
BIRDS OF A FEATHER MAY FLOCK TOGETHER, but what about other collectives of critters-and what do you call them when they do?
YOUR OWN Perfect Prairie
Learn how to cultivate an oasis of grassland flora in your backyard
ON THE MOVE
Birds approach the challenges of migration in surprising ways. Learn about how they walk, swim or take the scenic route during their travels.
Autumn Wonders
Fall colors offer befitting backdrops for these stunning reader photos
Sparrow Look-Alikes
Distinct sounds help separate these similar species
Embracing the Darkness
From black plants to moody decor, Gothic garden elements can offer a unique outlet to express your dark side
Red-Hot Plants
Scarlet-hued berries add a pop of color to any garden
