10,000 Birds

Demotivational Posters for Birds (XLVI)

Kai Pflug — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The future belongs to birds who believe in themselves. And birds who study our posters.

Bird Species and Number of Subspecies

Kai Pflug — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In a recent post, we looked at those bird species that try to impress taxonomists – and confuse birders – by having a large number of subspecies. Fortunately, most species know better. In fact, about 55% of bird species have no subspecies at all – a clear victory for common sense. Even for those species that think they need some intra-species diversification, the ambition is usually quite modest (based on the current AviList): Almost three-quarters have no more than two recognized subspecies More than nine out of ten have five or fewer Fewer than 2% have more than ten Only nine species (0.08%) have 30 or more. Maximum number of recognized subspeciesSpecies% of all species16,13755.1%28,15073.2%39,22482.9%49,84788.5%510,25092.1%610,50694.4%710,66595.8%810,76796.7%910,86197.6%1010,92498.1%1511,06299.4%2011,11599.9%3011,12899.97%4211,131100.0% So, while birders complain about dealing with pesky subspecies, we should keep in mind that only a tiny minority of bird species is responsible for the vast majority of these unfortunate occurrences. Most species behave perfectly responsibly. It’s just a handful of repeat offenders that give the entire class a bad name. Cover Illustration: Distribution of bird species by number of recognized subspecies (AviList taxonomy).

The Osprey

Leslie Kinrys — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:00:18 +0000

As the calendar approaches September, my thoughts turn to raptor watching and the birds I will see, as I described in a previous blog. Over the coming weeks, I will share profiles of some of these magnificent birds that pass over Toronto. One of our early migrants is the Osprey. Many of them have spent the summer in Northern Ontario and Quebec. People enjoy seeing the adults raising young around their cottages, which are located along lakes and rivers. The Osprey is a fish-eating specialist. This large raptor is specialized for catching fish, as it dives into water after them. It has dense oily plumage; long legs; large, long-taloned feet; and a reversible outer toe, which forms a four-cornered net of talons for holding onto its slippery prey The Osprey has a “crooked” wing, which may help absorb the impact of plunging into water. Also, that shape helps it lift out of the water. I love to see them rise out of the water, shaking themselves off like a dog does. The wings of gulls are similarly shaped, since they launch themselves from the water, too. The Osprey is a narrow-winged, boldly patterned bird. It is all dark above except for a white crown, and mainly white below except for a dark necklace on the upper breast, which is heavier on females. (Girls should always have the best bling!) The bird is between the sizes of a large buteo and a Bald Eagle. The Osprey’s fall migration mainly takes place between mid-August and mid-October. They typically migrate alone, although they may join Broad-winged Hawk in thermals, rising quickly through the smaller raptors. When someone yells “Osprey” at the hawk watch that I attend, people’s heads swivel, bins go up and the cameras click. As I watch them go, I feel lucky that I will see them again soon in Florida, as we join them in being snowbirds. Note: All photos are from Wikipedia Commons, an online source of copyright-free photos: Top picture by NASA (taken at Kennedy Space Center); Osprey on nest by Jules Verne Times Two; Osprey carrying fish by Sumeet Moghe.

Ask a Birder: What do your non-birder family and friends like you to share from birding?

Editor — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

We asked several of our writers the same questions. Here are the answers to the one above. — I think I have created at least a casual interest in birds among some Facebook friends through my birding posts, because at some point they started posting bird pictures too (and tagged me in them) (Peter Hinow). — The pursuit of birds has taken me (and, on occasions, my wife and friends) to many beautiful and remote places (David Tomlinson). — They generally wish for me to be quiet about it, but some people like to hear about near-death experiences. My wife checks my will every time I go to a place with snakes and crocodiles (Peter Penning). — I only have friends who are also interested in nature and birds. My immediate family shares my passion (Rolf Nessing). — The blackberries I bring home in summer! (Jochen Roeder) — I often think they glaze over when I start talking about birds, but I find sharing a photo of a great-looking bird helps engage them (John Hague). — They enjoy the photographs and the occasional funny story. They are less enthusiastic about receiving a detailed explanation of why two nearly identical brown birds are completely different species (Fitzroy Rampersand). — In regular life, I am a children’s author, with an upcoming nonfiction picture book on bird conservation (THE DAWN CHORUS: Protecting Birdsong Around the World, which releases with Holiday House Publishers on 2/16/27). My friends have loved hearing about the variety of ways that people have come together to try to save birds—from house building to habitat preservation to protecting migratory pathways. One of my favorite story involves habitat for the Greater Sage Grouse, where a pasta machine is used to mix mud balls that give sage seeds a better chance at germination (Susan Wroble). — If I am out looking for a rarity and they happen to be with me, they really love it when I find it and they get to see it too. My enthusiasm for that and the hunt seems to infect them too. Also, they like the photographs I share with them of the bird. However, they seem bored by the stories of how I got the bird or what I observed (Mary Alice Hayward). — The photographs, but even more, the stories behind them. Every image has an adventure attached (Kelly Isley). — Everyone seems to enjoy a photo of a chicken, taken from a slightly different angle – obviously, groundbreaking content. Occasionally, they will also share a photo of a bird: “look, it reminded me of you” (Rhea Alaudra) Photo: Little Ringed Plover, Chongming Dongtan, July 2026

Turning Field Guides into Works of Art

Erika Zambello — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 19:38:37 +0000

If you’re like me, you have a lot of field guides lying around. And I mean a lot. I have, of course, the guide that I still use regularly of the eastern birds of North America, but I also have field guides to Costa Rica (where I hope to go), Australia (where I’ve never been), the Caribbean (where I did actually check off a few species), and many outdated North American guides gifted to me by anyone who knows I like birding and is getting rid of things. That’s not even counting the field guides I have for butterflies, coral, wildflowers, and more. Do I love these field guides? Yes. But the truth is I often use the Audubon online guide or mobile app, the Merlin listening app, or iNaturalist to identify species, augmenting these sources with additional databases. My field guides are beautiful, but they sure do take up a lot of shelf space. What to do with them? Turn them into art of course! To see two examples, see below. For a full tutorial, click here to see Audubon Florida’s website article! Ladder-backed Woodpecker: Male Red tufts. stripes black on back. Barred Barred feathers. Red-bellied Woodpecker: Female head with red forehead. Barred parts. Plain parts.

Caracaras: Falcons That Didn’t Read the Rulebook

Fitzroy Rampersad — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Though caracaras are members of the falcon family, their behaviour can sometimes make you wonder. When I think of a falcon, I picture speed, sharp turns and a bird that seems built for the chase. Yet one of the caracara scenes I see fairly often is the other way around. I hear a commotion overhead, look up, and there is a Yellow-headed Caracara being chased by birds a fraction of its size. Falcons get mobbed too, of course, so this is hardly something unique to caracaras, but there is still something amusing about seeing a member of the falcon family so firmly encouraged to move along. The differences do not stop there. Caracaras are perfectly capable hunters, but many spend a surprising amount of time on the ground. They walk, run, scavenge and investigate whatever might provide a meal. Speed is useful, apparently, but so is checking to see what everyone else has left behind. There are nine living species of caracara, all found in the Americas. There was another until relatively recently: the Guadalupe Caracara, found only on Guadalupe Island off Mexico, but it is now extinct. Here in Panamá we have three, the Yellow-headed Caracara , Crested Caracara, and Red-throated Caracara. So far, the Red-throated has managed to avoid me, or I it, which leaves the other two as the subjects of this article. The Yellow-headed Caracara is the smaller and less imposing of the two. With its pale cream-coloured head and breast, dark wings and narrow dark stripe behind the eye, it does not have quite the fierce appearance expected of a bird of prey. I often see them sitting quietly on a branch, fence post or other convenient lookout, apparently doing very little. Of course, that does not mean they are not paying attention. Yellow-headed Caracaras are wonderfully opportunistic when it comes to food. They eat insects and other small animals, scavenge carrion and roadkill, and spend a good deal of time foraging on or close to the ground. They are birds of open country, so pastures, roadsides and agricultural areas suit them well, they are even at home within the city limits. They apparently also have an interesting association with cattle. A Yellow-headed Caracara may perch on an animal and pick off ticks and other invertebrates. They have even been recorded doing the same thing on tapirs, capybaras and, rather unexpectedly, iguanas. It is certainly a different approach from chasing prey through the sky at high speed like any self respecting Falcon. Perhaps that adaptability helps explain why I encounter them so often. They don’t need pristine forest or some distant patch of wilderness. A pasture, roadside, fence post even a high rise balcony in the city or open field can provide everything they need. The Crested Caracara is altogether more substantial. It is a striking bird: black cap, pale neck, dark body, long yellowish legs and a large hooked bill. The bare skin on the face can vary in colour, but on an adult it is often a vivid orange-red. Put everything together and this is a bird that certainly looks capable of taking care of itself. Then you see one walking. Crested Caracaras spend a remarkable amount of time on the ground and will regularly walk or even run while searching for food. Those long legs suddenly make a lot more sense when one is striding across a pasture. Their menu is equally practical. Carrion is an important part of it, and they often join vultures at carcasses, but they also eat insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and small mammals. They turn over debris looking for insects, dig for turtle eggs, wade into shallow water after fish and take advantage of animals disturbed by fires or farming activity. In short, if there is a possible meal involved, a Crested Caracara seems willing to investigate. I often find them perched somewhere open, a post, a bare branch or another convenient lookout, watching what is happening around them. Despite their rather commanding appearance, they are mostly silent. When they do call, they can throw the head backwards and produce a strange rattling sound, but most of the birds I encounter seem content to sit quietly. There is another interesting departure from the usual falcon routine. Most falcons don’t build what we would think of as a conventional nest. Crested Caracaras do, collecting sticks and other plant material to construct their own. The more I watch caracaras, the less surprising any of this becomes. A caracara can look thoroughly imposing one minute and oddly casual the next. It may be hunting, scavenging, walking through a pasture or simply sitting on a post doing very little at all. Whatever it is doing, it rarely seems particularly interested in behaving the way I expect a falcon to behave.

Birdbrains–A Review of a Book of Poetry, Art of Birds of Washington State

Donna — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:00:58 +0000

How to celebrate birds? Let us count the ways. We watch them; count them; talk about them; Discord, WhatsApp, and GroupMe their presence; plan special days and festivals around them. We write songs about birds, we photograph birds (sometimes to the point where they are barely recognizable in an attempt to capture their beauty); we draw and journal, paint, and sculpt birds. And we write many words about them–guides, handbooks, histories, mysteries, and poetry. In Birdbrains: A Lyrical Guide to Washington State Birds, editor and poet Susan Rich seeks to celebrate birds combining three of these processes–poetry, art, and written nonfiction. This is a lovely anthology, organized with thought and the enthusiasm of a creative mind first learning to know her birds. There is a strong sense of place–this is a book focused on the birds of one singular Pacific Northwest state–but the strength of the book is that this specificity becomes a gateway to the universal. Birdbrains: A Lyrical Guide to Washington State Birds presents visual, textual, and poetic portraits of 105 birds, residents and migrants, of Washington State. For each species, we get an exquisite ink wash painting by artist Hiroko Seki; a factual “Bird Note” by Dr. Stephanie Delaney, college administrator and avid birder; and a poem offering a lyrical, sometimes spiritual, sometimes anecdotal, sometimes even opinionated image of the bird. Editor Susan Rich has solicited poetic contributions from 97 writers (98 if you include a group of five children at Seattle Children’s Hospital). Most of these poems are appearing in print for the first time, and of the 18 poems that have been previously published all but one (an excerpt from Lyanda Haupt’s Mozart’s Starling) were published in small and university press poetry books and journals. It’s a stellar group of writers. Three are Pulitzer Prize winners (Rae Armantrout, Ted Kooser, and Diane Seuss), four are Washington State Poet Laureates (Elizabeth Austen, Claudia Castro Luna, Kathleen Flenniken, and Derek Sheffield), others are local poet laureates, winners and finalists of prestigious writing awards, beginning poets, MacArthur fellows, teachers, and–in several cases–birders! Backgrounds are also diverse, including members of Washington’s Native-American tribes. Most of the contributors have a connection with Washington State and the Pacific Northwest; place names like Puget Sound, Bainbridge Island, Olympic Peninsula, Bellingham, Tacoma and of course Seattle echo throughout the poet biographies at the back of the book. The poems, most no more than one page in length, are wonderful reading. They offer the essence of each species–a fleeting glimpse of a flock of Bushtits (“that glitch in my vision”); the frenzy of a Pigeon Guillemot as he catches a fish to share with his mate (“He shakes and shakes/ it, and in a burst of joy, splashes his wings/ on the water…”); a Common Nighthawk catching insects at dusk (“A boomerang that you could never catch/Misnamed, voracious, cheerful in his cry”). Some of the poetry touches on the intersection of humans and birds. Risa Denenberg laments “the dwindling numbers” of the Tufted Puffins she sees from her desk, one couple now nesting in Discovery Bay. In a very different piece, one that editor Susan Rich calls “flash fiction,” Harold Taw presents the voice of the Stellar’s Jay arguing against the ‘handle’ of @stellarsjay. Couched in social media abbreviations and odd spellings, the Jay asks, “But who was German naturalist Georg Wilhem Steller 2 us? Mr. Steller did not “discovR” us in 1741. Our kind arrived alongside the indigenous peoples of the Americas as the ice shEts reCded….” It’s funny, touching, and sad, striking the mind and senses in a way that a more factual article could not. © 2025 Raven Chronicles Press, “Bufflehead,” illustration by Hiroko Seki, Notes by Stephanie Delaney, poem by Sandra Yannone. Birds range from species seem across the United States (Bufflehead, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, American Kestrel, Belted Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, American Robin, American Goldfinch–state bird of WA, Song Sparrow) to species iconic to the Pacific Northwest: Snow Goose, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Vaux’s Swift, Common Raven, Stellar’s Jay, Mountain Bluebird, Varied Thrush, Wilson’s Warbler, Sagebrush Sparrow, Western Tanager and more. (Yes, Snow Goose migrates through central and Easter U.S., but there is nothing more emblematic of Washington state birds than the massive flocks of Skagit Valley in winter.) It’s a relatively small proportion of total number of birds commonly seen in Washington State–the ABA Field Guide to Birds of Washington (Paulson, 2020) lists 308 species–and the persnickety eye might comment on the omission of favorites like Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Red Crossbill, and MacGillivray’s Warbler, but this is, I think, a very good representation of Washington’s bird families. Birds were chosen by the poets contacted by editor Susan Rich, and I’m sure there was more of an effort to achieve this diversity than she lets on in her introduction (I wonder how many writers wanted to wax lyrical about those Snow Geese flocks?). The Bird Notes by Stephanie Delaney give brief, chatty introductions to each species, listing Common and Scientific Names, Description, Voice, Habitat, Intriguing Tidbit, and an open-ended section for Date And Location Seen. By “chatty,” I mean that the section uses whole sentences, making the descriptions easier for the beginning birder to read than the abrupt notes of a typical field guide. Descriptions include size, plumage, most notable field marks, and notes on behavior such as social grouping or typical movement. Habitat sections are oriented towards Washington State and often includes the state areas and parks where the bird is typically found. Though there is no section for distribution and status, the notes often comment on whether the species is seen year-round or in a specific season. The Intriguing Tidbit section is, of course, the best, offering fun and educational facts on feeding, nesting, and ecology not often found in field guides. Overall, I was very impressed with these Notes, they complement and enhance the artistic creations of the book. The art by Hiroko Seki is a perfect match for the poetry. Hiroko Seki, who...

Jeju, South Korea – Profile for Birders

Editor — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Highlights Jeju Island (Jeju-do) is the southernmost region of South Korea. Given its geographic location, it has a unique mixture of temperate and subtropical plants, which support a variety of bird species along the coast, forests, and mountainous areas. The island is a shield volcano, Hallasan, with a peak of 1950m at the centre of the island. The slopes of Hallasan are heavily forest and access is generally restricted outside of designated hiking trails. This part of the mountain supports a wide variety of birdlife, especially in summer when many species nest and raise young. Midway down is a mixture of forest (local word is gotjawal) and agricultural areas, which is excellent for buntings, corvids, and other songbirds. This midmountain area is also where the majority of Fairy Pitta and Black Paradise Flycatcher breed on the island in summer. The coastline is mainly black volcanic rock, with some beaches and a few tidal flats, which makes it excellent for gulls, egrets, herons, and shorebirds. The entire island is covered with smaller parasitic volcanic cones (360+), the local name being oreum, and they basically function as small mountains or hills. Most of these are forested, with some partly used for agriculture. For birders, Jeju is an excellent place for ducks, raptors, and gulls in winter, a wide diversity of migrants in spring and fall, and regional specialties such as Fairy Pitta, Black Paradise Flycatcher, and Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler in summer. Fairy Pitta Key Bird Species and Families Fairy Pitta: this species breeds on Jeju and can be found in many forests and oreums from the end of May through until early September. The species is extremely challenging to find once they stop singing by the end of June. Black Paradise Flycatcher: incredibly numerous in forests and oreums from late May through til September. Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler: this species breeds on Mara Island, where it is relatively easy to find from May through until July. Streaked Shearwater and Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel: Very common in offshore waters from May through until September, with Swinhoe’s being more regular in the seas north of Jeju. Black-faced Spoonbill: Jeju is the furthest north this species can be regularly found in winter, making the coastal areas they inhabit very important nationally. Gulls: very numerous along the coast from October through until April. Tend to aggregate near fish farms and harbours. The most common species are Black-tailed, Vega, Taimyr (Lesser Black-backed ssp.), and Slaty-backed. Ducks: very numerous along the coast and wetlands from November until March, with smaller numbers in October and April. The most common species are Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed, Gadwall, Falcated, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Tufted, Common Pochard, Common Shelduck, as well as mergansers and grebes. Winter songbirds: Chinese Grosbeak and Eurasian Siskin can be found in good numbers in winter months. Japanese Waxwing in some years on the slopes of Hallasan. Chinese Grosbeak Best Regions for Birding 1. Mara Island: One of the best spots to find spring migrants in all of Korea from April to May. Located on the far southwest of the island, it is accessible by two ferry terminals: Unjin Harbour in Moseulpo, and Songaksan Harbour near Sagye Beach. Also an excellent place to find Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler in summer, and seabirds such as Japanese Murrelet and Streaked Shearwater in the right season. East coast 2. Hado-ri Wetland: Large brackish lagoon on the east coast of the island. This site is excellent for wintering ducks, raptors, and songbirds in the wetland. Accessible by public bus 201. 3. Jongdal Bay and Coast: The largest tidal flat in Jeju, this is the best location to find shorebirds, gulls, egrets, and herons throughout various seasons. Accessible by bus 201 but requires a long walk. Black-tailed Gull Grey Heron 4. Ojo-ri Wetland: A very large coastal lagoon that can be fantastic for wintering ducks, raptors, herons, egrets, and songbirds. Very easy access via various buses, and close to popular tourist sites such as Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak). West Coast 5. Aldreu Airfield: The easiest place in the country to find Eurasian Skylark, Zitting Cisticola, and Ring-necked Pheasant. Can be amazing during spring migration with regular sightings of Little Whimbrel, Oriental Pratincole, and various snipes, pipits, and raptors. Accessible by bus but requires a walk from the bus terminal in Unjin Harbour. 6. Yongsu Reservoir: An artificial reservoir on the west side of the island, very productive throughout most of the year. Good for ducks, raptors, terns, and songbirds, depending on the season. Resident White-cheeked and Red-billed Starlings in the area. Easy access via bus 202. White-cheeked Starling Jeju City Parks 7. Halla Arboretum: Free admission, curated botanical garden with a wide variety of resident birds. Can be good during spring and fall migration. A good place to look for owls at night in spring and summer. Can have many wintering songbirds in winter months. 8. Sarabong Park: A large park featuring two oreums, a seaside cliff on the north side, and a stream on the southeast side. This park can be exceptional for migrants, but it’s so large and varied that it can take some time to really figure it out. 9. Tapdong Plaza: Excellent for gulls in winter; there is a breakwater that can have hundreds resting if you’re there at the right time. Migration can have the occasional tern or jaeger. The pier with the lighthouse is a good place for seawatching, and you can easily see Streaked Shearwater if watching with a scope, and sometimes Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel if lucky. Seogwipo City Parks 10. Cheonjiyeon Waterfall: Paid admission, short forested valley trail leading to a waterfall. Excellent for Mandarin Ducks in winter, and many migrants during spring and fall migration. Mandarin Duck 11. Seogwipo Harbour: Great place for gulls, cormorants, ducks, and the occasional rarity. Very excellent during winter, with close views of these species. There is a small island park, Saeseom attached by a bridge that was good for migrants, but bird activity as of 2026 has decreased due to recent...