We’re delighted to announce that these three amazing videos were chosen as the winners of the 2024 Building for the Birds Video Contest. Congratulations to the winners! Want to be a winner? Check out our current contests and promotions and submit your best photos and videos! First Place Mark Lee of Garner, North Carolina, won first place for a video showing how he crafted the Wonder Feeder for his wife, who enjoys feeding the backyard birds. Second Place Paula Eliasek of Charlottesville, Virginia, won second place for a video that showcases a clever elevated method for feeding birds ..read more

What Does an Eastern Kingbird Look Like? The eastern kingbird has a broad white tip on its tail For birders looking to add more flycatchers to their life list, the eastern kingbird is a good place to start. According to Dale Gentry, Director of Conservation for Audubon Upper Mississippi, it’s one of the easiest flycatchers to identify—and its behavioral patterns combined with its appearance make it a relatively quick ID. “There are a couple of good clues [to identifying an eastern kingbird],” Dale says, noting that the birds are black-gray on their backs, the back of their heads, and most of t ..read more

What Does a Lincoln’s Sparrow Look Like? A striped Lincoln’s sparrow hops along the ground. Birds & Blooms reader Colleen Gibbs of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, wrote to birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman after seeing a mysterious sparrow in her yard. They explained how to identify a Lincoln’s sparrow. Colleen says of the new visitor, “This bird is similar to several other types of sparrows, but it doesn’t seem to match any exactly. What is it?” Kenn and Kimberly say, “With a beautiful, clear photo such as yours, we have plenty of clues to check. This bird is a Lincoln’s sparrow, an uncom ..read more

 What Does a Dark-Eyed Junco Look Like? Birders always know winter is coming when the dark-eyed juncos start showing up. Scientific Name: Junco hyemalis Family: Sparrow Length: 6 inches Wingspan: 9 inches Markings: Coloration varies regionally. Common characteristics are dark eyes, pink beaks, white-edged tails and black, brown or gray hoods. The name “dark-eyed junco” applies to several populations, each with slightly different coloring. The slate-colored is the only junco in the East. The Oregon subspecies is the most widespread in the West; others with smaller ranges are the pink-sided ..read more

What Does a Summer Tanager Look Like? Despite their bold color, summer tanagers are not always easy birds to find. Male summer tanagers are unmistakable. They’re the only entirely red birds found in the United States and Canada. You’d think that it would make them stand out in green treetops, but they can be surprisingly difficult to spot. Unlike a scarlet tanager that is red only in spring and summer, a male summer tanager keeps his bright colors in all seasons. Tanagers also have a distinctive bill shape. Moderately thick, it’s ideal for feeding on large insects and small fruits. Roughly the ..read more

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Turn mismatched plates, bowls or candleholders into beautiful, showstopping glass flowers and add a splash of color to your backyard decor. Use any style of glass plates or bowls you have on hand and paint them any colors you want. Best of all, these glass plate flowers require no watering! While the directions below are for one flower, they look best in small groups of three or four. Gather up several glass plates, bowls and candleholders the next time you’re at a rummage sale, flea market or secondhand store. Clean out your clutter with more recycled garden ideas. Glass Plate Flower Materia ..read more

What Does a Brown Thrasher Look Like? The yellow eyes on this bird can help you determine its identity. For a fairly large bird (nearly 12 inches), a brown thrasher is not that easy to spot. The adult brown thrasher’s most striking feature is its glowing yellow eyes. The bill is distinctive, too—long, with a slight downturn. Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “The brown thrasher is a distant relative of the northern mockingbird and the gray catbird. Like those birds, the brown thrasher has a fairly long tail, thin bill and interesting voice, but its color pattern is completely diff ..read more

Great Horned Owl Identification Those “horns” on top of the great horned’s head aren’t ears at all, but feather tufts called plumicorns. Scientists theorize that owls use them to recognize each other. The great horned owl is a big bird, one of the largest owl species in North America, measuring around 2 feet long, and weighing around 3 pounds with a wingspan of 4½ feet! The bird’s anatomy is adapted to its habitat and behavior. It has a sharp beak for eating meat, talons for gripping prey and fringed wing feathers for silent flight. You won’t want to miss these outstanding pictures of owls. Wh ..read more

What Does a Male and Female Indigo Bunting Look Like? Male indigo buntingFemale or juvenile indigo bunting Indigo buntings are about the size of sparrows, but more finch-like in appearance. You can usually pick them out by their short tails and bills. Both males and females are 5 inches long with an 8-inch wingspan. From a distance males can look black, but as you get closer or see them from a different angle, you’ll see vibrant blue feathers. Females and baby indigo buntings are plain brown with buff-colored streaks, a whitish throat and a hint of blue in the wings. The male is completely blu ..read more