10,000 Birds

Product Review: Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2 Pro

Peter — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 12:00:18 +0000

The World’s First 4K Auto-Focus Bird Feeder. And the people at Kiwibit trusted me to write a review of their high-tech machine. Me. In their wisdom, they had also asked Mary Alice Howard, so check out her review too. With anticipation, and some dread, I opened the box. What if this electronic marvel exceeded my capabilities and competence? I should not have been afraid. The instruction manual was very clear (words and pictures, IKEA please note) and I had the feeder assembled in no time, hooked up to my home internet and making short videos. OK, the first videos featured yours truly while assembling the feeder, so for actual birds the feeder needed to be placed strategically. This placement did require some thinking as the feeder is solar-powered so tying it to a leafy tree will not do. However, there are several ways of placing the feeder in an appropriate place, each manner explained in a multitude of languages. This friendly cousin of The Terminator can be bought for just under 280 dollars from the Kiwibit website. There are different AI subscription plans available that may influence this price both up and down. Do your own due diligence to make sure you have the option that fits you (and your garden birds) best. The question is of course: is it worth its money? My answer: a resounding “yes, it is!” Not only is the feeder itself well-built, sturdy and likely to survive even the harshest cleaning regime but the camera is a technical marvel too. The images are sharp and cover a wide angle, so any bird on or near this feeder will be captured crisply (my screenshots do not do it justice). The videos can be viewed on your phone through a special application. There are two containers for different seed and a nectar feeding device for sunbirds. Hummingbirds would do too, of course. Living in the northern hemisphere I left this contraption in the box but maybe I will install it to see if the Chiffchaffs can be enticed to drink from it. If they do, I will let you know. My only “improvement suggestion” would be to add a feature to keep the big birds out. Our feeder attracted a lot of Jackdaws and Woodpigeons which may not be to everyone’s liking. Minor comment for what is truly an excellent piece of equipment.

Chasing Chats: Birding the Spitzkoppe, Namibia

Luca — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Spitzkoppe is often called the “Matterhorn of Namibia”. The comparison is not flattering for either mountain: the Matterhorn has no Herero Chats, and Spitzkoppe has no queue of mountaineers at the top. I don’t know, maybe they were referring to the cluster of granite peaks rising about 700 metres out of an otherwise flat plain. But even there, the glowing orange that the cliffs and boulders emit at either end of the day can surely not be compared to any other mountain, regardless how iconic. The Spitzkoppe is easily one of my favourite places in southern Africa, and I was desperate to visit again on a recent research trip to the country. Fortunately, I managed to squeeze in one night at the Spitzkoppe, with ‘squeezing’ being the appropriate term for how I spent the night, sleeping in the back of my rented Hilux between spare tyre and supplies. Rock outcrops at the Spitzkoppe If you go looking for a chat at Spitzkoppe, chats will find you first. Mountain Wheatears (or Mountain Chats) are everywhere: on the boulders, in the bushes, on the campsite toilet block. The males’ smart black-and-white plumage and grey cap make them handsome birds, and on any other trip I would have given them their due. Here, I’m afraid, every one of them was mostly a reminder that it was not the chat I wanted. Mountain Wheatear The chats appeared very well organised, however. Several times, I raised my binoculars to a distant bird that had just alighted on their perch with a grasshopper, hoping to have the desired chat in view. It was a chat, but invariably the Karoo Chat. In fact, the birds were so well aware of birders’ desire to see some chat, that they were desperate to be seen. This phenomenon even crossed taxonomic boundaries, as the evidence of several Chat Flycatchers demonstrated. These birds were perched suspiciously exposed, in a manner that could only be interpreted as an act of deception. Chat Flycatcher As many birders will know, the chat I wanted was the Herero Chat. It is a near-endemic of western Namibia and south-western Angola, and one of Namibia’s most highly-desired, and hard-to-see, birds. While it initially appears plain grey-brown, it has an intricately streaked chest and clean facial markings, if I may allow myself a description that is clearly indicates a birders’ affection toward a rare little brown job. Unlike its brash relatives, it sits quietly inside shrubs on rocky slopes and can easily go unnoticed even. I had hoped to see one for ages, ever since having unsuccessfully searched for them 10 years ago, also at the Spitzkoppe. This time, I came across a group in my first evening and again the next morning, and was awarded excellent views. Herero Chat Above the cliffs, a Verreaux’s Eagle patrolled the ridgelines. These huge, mostly black eagles have a white V on the back that flashes as they bank, hunting hyraxes. I didn’t see them hunt, but given the abundance of hyraxes on the Spitzkoppe, they shouldn’t run out of options – though I’m still impressed how it’s possible to hunt a hyrax, given that they always notice you from what feels like a kilometre away. Verreaux’s Eagle Spitzkoppe is also a great place to watch the night sky. With no town for many kilometres, the Milky Way shines very brightly over the granite domes, and the whole sky is covered in stars. Spitzkoppe at night I left Spitzkoppe very satisfied by the bird sightings and the solitude of the desert and majestic mountain. This place definitely shouldn’t be missing from any birder’s itinerary to the country!

The American Coot – One of the Least Appreciated Birds in North America

Larry — Sat, 14 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000

This post is republished in our “From the Archives” series, featuring highlights of our vast back catalogue of more than 10,000 birding-related posts published over the last 15 years or so. Originally published on November 29, 2018. Maybe it’s because the American Coot (Fulica americana) is the most abundant and widely distributed species of rail in North America that it gets no respect? I mean we see them everywhere, in almost any of a broad variety of wetlands, including freshwater lakes, ponds, marshes, roadside ditches, and industrial-waste impoundments, as well as in coastal marine habitats. As we come upon winter, we often find Coots in rafts of thousands! Even if you don’t appreciate the American Coot adult, you have to love their hatchlings like the one in the featured image above and these little guys being fed by their parent at Lassen Volcanic National Park. But I think the adult Coot is a cool bird in its own right. Just look at that cool red iris… and the very cool lobed green feet! They are somewhat awkward on land… and they must make a long running start on the water surface to get airborne… but all in all, I think they are a very handsome bird, from head… to tail. Plus, American Coots may be smarter than you think. Following is a video I shot of some Coots picking up the morsels brought to the surface by a few Ring-necked Ducks as the ducks dove for their meal.

Species Spotlight: Black Woodpecker

Kai Pflug — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 21:20:17 +0000

Location, location, location – yes, we all know that. But what does it mean for the Black Woodpecker? In French temperate forests, the species preferably excavates trees in beech-dominated sites, particularly in those areas with fewer small-diameter trees (source). Real estate agents focusing specifically on Black Woodpeckers are well aware of this and price their offerings accordingly. Somewhat surprisingly, the real estate value of cavities does not seem to depend on how easily predators can detect them (source). Admittedly, the same finding sounds a bit more impressive in its German original: “Hieraus schließen wir, dass die Potentiale zur Prädationsvermeidung, die sich für den Schwarzspecht durch die Auswahl von Höhlenstandorten ergeben, unter den in unseren Untersuchungsgebieten herrschenden Habitatbedingungen nicht weiter gesteigert werden können.” One paper – probably submitted by a frustrated real estate agent – specifically criticizes the shoddy quality of some Black Woodpecker cavities, making it very difficult to find second-hand buyers for them. In particular, many holes are regarded as poor quality due to shallow depth, low height, or narrow entrance (source). Generally, second-hand buyers, particularly Jackdaws, prefer nest holes in the vicinity of farmland (location, location, location!), but the height in the tree and depth of the hole are also important selection criteria (source). The competition for these second-hand holes is not fair. Jackdaws usually get the best nest holes, while other subordinate species have to use inferior holes near fields or nest holes in areas with less competition, deeper in the forest (source). Despite these stringent criteria, Black Woodpecker nest holes are not ideal homes for breeding Jackdaws – one study found that only 56% of breeding attempts in them were successful. Apparently, the woodpecker holes are not optimized to prevent nest predation, particularly by Pine Marten (source). And what if you are a species in need of Black Woodpecker holes – such as the rare Boreal Owl – but there are no Black Woodpeckers around? Well, one option is for conservationists to subsidize the housing market by providing nest boxes. Photos taken in Northern Xinjiang in August 2026.

Falcons: some close encounters

David T — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 16:59:00 +0000

Birders love lists, and I’m not an exception. In 1986 I listed just over 1000 species in a year, thanks to trips to Australia, Kenya and various European countries. Sadly, in the 40 years since I’ve never come even remotely close to such a total again, and for several years I didn’t even add up how many I had seen. However, I’ve reverted to keeping an annual list, as it’s not only quite fun to do so, but it also acts as an incentive to get out looking for more birds (not that I really need much inducement). I’m writing this in early November, happy with the fact that I have passed comfortably both my listing targets for 2026: my British target was 200 species, my Western Palearctic target 300. My British list for the year is currently on 205, and all but two of those were seen in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, so close to home. This reflects the fact that in the UK I haven’t travelled far outside East Anglia this year, with the most notable exception a recent visit to North Wales. This wasn’t a birding trip as I was stewarding at a tennis tournament, but it did give me the opportunity to tick off Red Grouse on a nearby moor. It’s always good to see a Red Grouse (above), especially as this splendid bird is once again recognised as being a British endemic, having suffered for many years the indignity of being lumped with the much more widespread Willow Grouse. Red Grouse are birds of the uplands, favouring heather moorland, a habitat we don’t have in East Anglia, so a little effort is required for me to see them. Portrait of a juvenile Merlin My most recent tick was a Merlin, another bird that in Britain favours heather moorland for nesting. However, unlike the sedentary Red Grouse, it’s a bird that leaves the moors in the winter, so it’s one that I can expect to see here in East Anglia. These small, dashing falcons are second only to the Peregrine Falcon as the most widespread of all the members of the Falconidae, with a circumpolar breeding distribution. That this was the first one I’d seen this year reflects the fact that they are scarce visitors to this part of the world. I saw my bird at Welney, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve in Norfolk. Male Kestrel: by far the most numerous falcon in Britain I don’t often manage a three-falcon day, but the Merlin was my third species that day. The second species was Kestrel (nearly 20 individuals seen), while the first was a Peregrine, viewed on a church tower in the small Suffolk town of Mildenhall. Peregrines are the most religious of birds, as here in the UK the most reliable sites to see them are cathedrals and church towers – there’s hardly a cathedral which doesn’t have a resident pair. Most of the cathedral-nesting Peregrines are covered by CCTV so they can be viewed as they lay their eggs and rear their chicks. As the numbers of Peregrines increases, so they seek new breeding sites, and church towers are the closest we have to cliffs in many parts of this country. The Peregrine on St Mary’s church, Mildenhall, Suffolk, November 2026 As far as I am aware, the Peregrines on St Mary’s, Mildenhall, have yet to nest, but they clearly like the church, as they are seen there almost daily. Urban Peregrines are intriguing, as they become used to people walking around below them, and invariably become quite approachable. My photograph – taken early on a grey November morning – isn’t very good, so I have the incentive to go back again on a sunny day when, with luck, I might even see one flying. Adult Peregrine Remaining with falcons, I enjoyed some close encounters with these impressive birds last month. Every four years the British Falconers’ Club (the largest and oldest falconry club in the world) holds an international field meet at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire, based at the historic Petwood Hotel. It attracts falconers and austringers (the technical term for those who fly shortwings, such as Goshawks) from all over the country, and as the word international suggests, from overseas too. At the very first International Meet, in October 1969, guests came from as far afield as Czechoslovakia, Hungary, France and Germany. Concerns about bird flu meant no overseas falconers brought their hawks this year, but the event was, as usual, well supported. This was the fifth time that I have attended it. Hooded and ready to go: a Peregrine with (right) a Peregrine x Gyr hybrid The meet is held over three days, and each morning the lawns of the hotel are dotted with hawks on their weathering blocks. Identifying them is a challenge, as there are always a number of hybrids that are tricky to name. I’m quite good on Peregrines, and pure Gyrs, but crosses between the two are more of a challenge. Falconers like hybrids because of their hybrid vigour. Legislation against taking raptors from the wild means that all the hawks used in falconry today are captive bred, which makes producing hybrids much easier. The ultimate falconer’s bird? A Greenland Gyr Falcon Few sports have as rich a vocabulary as falconry: many words traditionally used by falconers have crept into modern usage, though their spelling might have changed over the centuries. My favourite is booze, which comes from the word bowse or boose, which is what a hawk does when it drinks. It is also important to note that a hawk in never a bird – a bird is what it might catch – while the word hawk is used generally for both falcons and hawks. Allowing something to weather has its origins in the practice of placing a hawk to weather on a block in the open air. The hawk is normally unhooded, so it can preen and enjoy the fresh air. This falcon is...

Eight Birds Named After Other Birds

Kai Pflug — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000

When not aiming to honor fellow ornithologists, those giving names to new bird species have an easy option: find an animal that looks similar to your new species. And end up with a name such as Zebra Finch. However, this can get a bit confusing when the name-giving animal is a bird itself – which one is the “real” bird, and which one just got roped in for its appearance? The table below gives examples. Bird nameFirst bird familySecond bird familyWhat they really areCuckoo-shrikeCuculidae — cuckoosLaniidae — shrikesCampephagidae — cuckoo-shrikesCuckoo-doveCuculidae — cuckoosColumbidae — pigeons and dovesColumbidae — pigeons and dovesCuckoo-finchCuculidae — cuckoosFringillidae — true finchesViduidae — indigobirds and whydahsCuckoo-bee-eaterCuculidae — cuckoosMeropidae — bee-eatersMeropidae — bee-eatersHawk-cuckooAccipitridae — hawks and eaglesCuculidae — cuckoosCuculidae — cuckoosEagle-owlAccipitridae — eagles and hawksStrigidae — typical owlsStrigidae — typical owlsOwl-finchStrigidae — typical owlsEstrildidae — estrildid finchesEstrildidae — estrildid finchesOwl-parrotStrigidae — typical owlsPsittacidae — parrotsStrigopidae — New Zealand parrots As a general rule (feel free to call it Kai’s rule in my honor), the first name in these compounds seems to describe what the bird resembles, while the second tells us what kind of bird it is. However, there are exceptions. One is the Cuckoo-finch. Given its looks, it might be taken for a finch, but it belongs to a different family, the indigobirds and whydahs. And the cuckoo part of its name comes from its habit of parasitizing the nests of other birds rather than bothering with childcare itself. In other words, unlike the other “Cuckoo-xx” birds listed above, the cuckoo reference here is about behaviour rather than appearance. The Cuckoo-shrike is possibly even more interesting. It is neither a cuckoo nor a shrike, though one might say it looks a bit like both of those. Instead, it is a member of its own family, which – you can guess – is named Cuckoo-shrikes. So next time someone tells you they have found a cuckoo, an owl, or a shrike, ask for the full name first. Photo: Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike

Demotivational Posters for Birds (LVI)

Kai Pflug — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 12:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce that Demotivational Posters for Birds has won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Avian Demotivation. We were subsequently informed that the award had been awarded in error and was intended for another series. We pointed out that there is no other series. The committee has now confirmed that this was also an error. Anyway, here are some more.

Source

The Naturalist’s Field Journal: A Review

Erika Zambello — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 22:37:05 +0000

If you’re a birder, you probably already keep lists. A life list, region list, year list, speciality list – let’s face it, we’re a community that that likes to record things. Why not expand our written and sketched musings into nature journaling? The Naturalist’s Field Journal by Amphibian Publishing is the perfect way to immerse yourself in nature journaling for the first time or expand the notes you already take. The journal has a beautifully soft cover and is thin and light enough to easily take birding (it can even be curled up and stuffed in a back pocket). There are daily field guide templates, ideas for activities, photos of commonly seen birds, insects, footprints, and more, as well as long sections for notes. Do you have to be an artist to be a great field journaler? Nope! That’s why I love the width and breadth of activities included. I especially enjoyed looking at the pond in my backyard and filling out the “colours of the day.” Each square represents something I spotted, from man-made items like an archery target and bird feeder to shadows on the grass and the water. My daughter and I also collected leaves to make live oak pencil leaf rubbings – perfect for the “specimen plate” page. One note: I started in marker but then noticed the ink bleeds through the page a bit. Switching to colored pencils and crayons worked perfectly! Check out the website for the best location to buy the journal, and download/print the many free resources available to augment your practice. Have fun!