How the North American bird list is changing in 2020
Mexican Duck is in, Northwestern Crow is out, and more changes to your checklist.
Matt Mendenhall
Matt Mendenhall is the editor of BirdWatching magazine and BirdWatchingDaily.com. He joined the staff of BirdWatching (formerly Birder’s World) in 2000 and has worn many hats over the years: reporter, story wrangler, photo editor, managing editor, and now editor. Originally from Omaha, he lives with his wife and two daughters in Milwaukee and holds a Bachelor’s in journalism from Marquette University. You can reach Matt at (617) 706-9098 and [email protected].
Matt Mendenhall on social media
Book tells the story of ornithologist James Bond
We interview Jim Wright, the author of a new biography of the real-life James Bond, an ornithologist and expert on birds of the Caribbean.
Ornithological groups offer free memberships to Black ornithologists
Three leading ornithological societies have announced plans to offer free memberships for Black ornithologists. The moves follow the Memorial Day incident in Central Park between … Read More “Ornithological groups offer free memberships to Black ornithologists”
Audubon, AOS leaders speak out against racism, discrimination
They also called for more inclusion and awareness and opportunities for minorities.
Border wall construction accelerates, harming wildlife and habitat
Conservation groups sue administration in hopes of stopping wall.
Native oak trees available from Costco
Four varieties certified by Audubon available until June 21.
Central Park incident highlights ‘daily dangers in outdoor spaces’ for African Americans
Birding groups issue statements of support for African American birder in Central Park case.
Birders shattered records on Global Big Day
More than 50,000 people took part, submitting 121,000 checklists from around the world.
Migratory birds in our backyards
Enjoy this selection of images of recently spotted migratory species.
Rare yellow cardinal spotted after girls set out homemade feeder
The Florida sighting is at least the 17th yellow Northern Cardinal in the U.S. in recent years.
New Jersey photographer posts cardinal photos for COVID-19 victims
‘Every shot is different just as every human that was lost is different.’
5 questions for David Sibley about his latest book
The artist and author describe how his new book came to be, what he learned while writing it, and more.
Tips for native-plant gardening while sheltering in place
Naturalist David Mizejewski offers advice for attracting birds with native plants while we shelter in place.
American birding couple nearing three weeks stuck in Peru
Minnesota birders traveling on their own were not allowed on a flight home that other birders were on.
Readers’ photos of their backyard birds
Images from hunkered-down birders of Red-bellied Woodpecker, Painted Bunting, Cedar Waxwing, and more.
It’s time to close public lands and bird from home
If your state and local officials don’t close parks, it’s up to you to stay home.
Canceled birding festivals, conservation groups need your support
How birders can help canceled festivals come back strong next year.
BirdWatching reader doubles reward in crane shooting
Reward is now $10,000 in November 2019 Louisiana case.
American birders stuck in Peru after borders closed
A group of birders can’t leave Peru due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
Birds we’re watching while hunkered down
We wondered what birds people are seeing while they’re home due to the pandemic, and we received photos from around the country.
Birding festivals and events canceled due to COVID-19 outbreak
Events called off in hopes of slowing the spread of the pandemic.
Should spring birding festivals be canceled due to coronavirus?
Large gatherings of people are being curtailed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Should birding events follow suit?
Birding tours in China, Israel canceled, postponed due to coronavirus travel constraints
At least 15 tours in China canceled or postponed so far.
2019 Bird Portrait Contest finalists
One dozen extraordinary portraits of birds named as finalists in our latest contest.
2019 Bird Portrait Contest honorable mentions
15 great images of birds from our recent Bird Portrait Contest.
$5,000 reward offered in latest Whooping Crane shooting
The bird was the 10th Whooping Crane shot and killed in Louisiana since 2011.
Birds in the news in mid-February
Restoration of nesting habitat in Virginia, a Whooping Crane tragedy in Louisiana, and more.
Researchers discover 10 new bird taxa in little-explored Asian islands
The findings mark a quantum leap in bird discoveries.
New York bird photographer deported to war-torn Yemen
Anwar Alomaisi has lived in the New York City area for 22 years and has been an avid bird photographer since 2008.
Rescuing Snowy Owls from airport runways
When Snowy Owls show up near airport runways, these heroes go to work to move them to safety.
Australia’s bushfires: An ‘unprecedented’ wildlife emergency
Conservationists express considerable concern for bird species with small ranges and small pre-fire-season populations.
Searchable birding-tour directory now available
Use our guide to find tours to birding hotspots around the world.
Birds and climate change in the 2010s
What we’ve learned about the climate crisis and its impact on birds in the last decade.
How the birding community expanded in the 2010s
The last 10 years has seen an increasing interest in birding from young people and nontraditional audiences.
How birdwatching changed in the 2010s
5 trends in birding that stand out from the last decade.
Red List changes: Hope and heartbreak for the world’s birds
Changes range from genuine improvements to declarations of extinction.
Thousands of gannets nested on New Zealand’s White Island
This year’s young birds had not fledged when the volcano erupted.
Big winter for Snowy Owls unlikely, expert says
We are far off the pace of an irruption year for the big white birds.
Yellow cardinal still visiting Florida backyard
Stunning bird has rare genetic mutation.
CBS Sunday Morning profiles David Sibley
The field guide author talks about his life as a bird artist.
North American birds featured in international photo competition
Bird Photographer of the Year, an annual international photo competition based in the U.K., is accepting entries for its 2020 competition through November 30. BirdWatching … Read More “North American birds featured in international photo competition”
Netflix documentary ‘Dancing with the Birds’ celebrates stunning avian breeding displays
Watch amazing closeups of the breeding behaviors of birds-of-paradise, manakins, and other tropical birds.
New flowerpecker species described from Borneo
It was first spotted 10 years ago and now has an official name.
Hundreds of Chimney Swifts strike NASCAR building in Charlotte
Rehab facility in ‘desperate need’ of donations and volunteers to care for the surviving birds.
Audubon report: Climate change threatens nearly two-thirds of our birds
The Audubon report includes a new zip code-based tool you can use to see how climate change will affect birds where you live.
Coverage of alarming bird study may ‘jar people into paying attention’
Was last week’s news about 3 billion lost birds a game-changer for conservation?
The Whooping Crane’s cloudy future
The big white birds have made a steady return from the brink of extinction, but sea-level rise due to climate change poses a serious coming threat.
Whooping Crane flock in Texas remains stable
504 wild Whoopers estimated near the Texas coast.
After Dorian, ‘grave concern’ for birds in the northern Bahamas
Bahama Warbler, Bahama Parrot, and other species were likely severely impacted by the category 5 hurricane.
37 young Whooping Cranes fledged this year
Canadian wildlife officials counted the youngsters during aerial surveys.
Top 10 takeaways from the 2019 Audubon Convention
A commitment to diversity, straight talk from Winona LaDuke, and other highlights of the biennial Audubon meeting.
Presidential politics meets birdwatching in New Hampshire
Granite State birders host Republican candidate Bill Weld, aim for more walks with White House contenders.
Feds considering status changes for Endangered birds
Conservationists push back on proposals for birds that still need protections.
Milwaukee County Parks receive Important Bird Area status
Wisconsin’s most populous county is an important area for birds.
Three Piping Plover chicks hatch in Chicago, forcing cancellation of concert
A two-day concert was called off after the Windy City’s first plover chicks in 64 years emerged from their nest.
Amazing birds and other wildlife from South Africa
Editor Matt Mendenhall shares photos of the birds and other animals he saw while in South Africa.
St. Louis heron rookery has more than 230 nests — and counting
Local birders praised for saving ‘a whole community of rare and beautiful birds.’
Tree trimmers damage St. Louis heron rookery, birders act to save the birds
The rookery on a residential street grew tremendously this year after flooding in the region forced the birds to move.
How the North American bird checklist is changing in 2019
Blue-throated Hummingbird has a new name, Peterson’s Sparrow is rejected, and more.
Piping Plovers, concert conflicts, and rising waters
Piping Plover nesting season is in full swing, and the endangered shorebird is generating its fair share of headlines this spring. Here’s a summary. New … Read More “Piping Plovers, concert conflicts, and rising waters”
Three tragic losses for the birding world
On Saturday, May 25, the North American birding community lost two remarkable, important women: Elsa Thompson, the co-founder of Bird Watcher’s Digest magazine, and Mary Jo … Read More “Three tragic losses for the birding world”
News about birds and birding in mid-June
Updates about pygmy-owls hatching in Arizona, a reward in the Ontario Whooping Crane shooting, a campaign to replace vandalized nest boxes, and more.
Feds honor heroes for endangered and threatened birds
2018 Recovery Champions include those who helped recovery of Black-capped Vireo, California Condor
Researcher Terry Rich launches survey of American birders
Longtime contributor hopes to help ‘improve public policies for bird conservation.’
Whooping Crane killed in Ontario, raptors found slain in California
Two recent cases of crimes against birds.
Study: Ortolan Bunting hunting is unsustainable
The Ortolan Bunting is a 6-inch-long, beautiful songbird that breeds in Europe and Asia and winters in parts of Africa. Its unfortunate claim to fame, … Read More “Study: Ortolan Bunting hunting is unsustainable”
3 questions for Mike Parr about ‘Bringing Back the Birds’
The American Bird Conservancy president explains how the stunning book came to be.
The screech-owl that hatched a duckling now has owlets
An update on a notable Eastern Screech-Owl nest in a Florida backyard.
Scientists describe two new white-eye species
Wakatobi and Wangi-wangi White-eyes occur on islands offshore of Sulawesi, a large Indonesian island.
8 ways birders can help birds on Earth Day
Tips for making life easier for birds — on Earth Day and every day.
Young Wood Duck emerges from a screech-owl’s nest box
The unusual scene appeared in a Florida woman’s backyard.
News about birds and birding from March and early April
A reintroduction plan for California Condor, new films about penguins and prairie birds, and more.
Pro sports teams named for birds
Birds have inspired many team nicknames, including the names of pro sports teams in baseball, football, basketball, and hockey.
In memoriam: Bill Thompson III
Tributes pour in for the late editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest.
Great Backyard Bird Count sets records for species, checklists, participants
Northern Cardinal was the most frequently reported species in this year’s count, which more than 224,000 birders took part in.
A dozen sparrow photos for #WorldSparrowDay
Readers’ pictures of Vesper, Bell’s, Seaside, and Black-throated Sparrows, as well as towhees and juncos.
Wayward hawk to become museum specimen
Maine’s Great Black Hawk, which died in January, will be displayed in state museum.
Birds win with sweeping new public-lands bill
UPDATE, MARCH 13: President Donald Trump signed the bill described below into law. Some observers noted that the new law contradicts the budget proposal he … Read More “Birds win with sweeping new public-lands bill”
Red List updates a mixed bag for North American birds
The listings for two rosy-finch species, Evening Grosbeak, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, and other species have been changed.
Conservationists speak out against use of weed killer dicamba
When the chemical drifts, it damages trees, flowers, shrubs, and other vegetation that birds and other wildlife rely on.
Birder gets married — at well-known Las Vegas bird preserve
A BirdWatching subscriber and her new husband tied the knot at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve.
Half-male, half-female cardinal is cool, but it’s not drawing a crowd
This cardinal is amazing, but it appears that our interest in it and atypical animals in general only goes so far.
Short film highlights migratory birds and their champions
A new independent short film highlights the spring and fall migrations of birds through the Great Lakes region and tells stories of people who interact … Read More “Short film highlights migratory birds and their champions”
Five books about birding adventures
A father-son Big Year, a master’s hummingbird art, an up-close look at ravens, and more compelling new titles.
Five books on birds and science
These recently published titles explore birds and nature.
Birds of South Africa’s pristine Lowveld landscape
Photos of 14 incredible birds from the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, in eastern South Africa’s stunning Lowveld region.
New York’s Mandarin Duck ‘is bringing many new people to birding’
The vibrant, vividly colored duck has become a “spark bird” for many people — the bird that piques their interest in birds and birding.
15 great gift ideas for birdwatchers
These field guides, bird feeders, binoculars, and more items will be perfect for the birders on your holiday-shopping list!
10 photos of incredible birds from South Africa’s Western Cape
Images from our recent visit, including African Penguin, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Blue Crane, Rock Kestrel, and more great birds!
Researchers unravel origins of world’s smallest flightless bird
The South Atlantic’s Inaccessible Island Rail split from a relative that lives on mainland South America 1.5 million years ago.
Nine top cameras for birders
Here are nine cameras that we like and suggest birders explore for their photography needs.
BirdWatching experts help explain ‘drunk birds’ phenomenon to America
In the last few days, national and local media have carried stories about “drunk birds” — a topic we covered as long ago as 1987.
Feds propose to list Eastern Black Rail as threatened
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to protect the Eastern Black Rail, a bird that has been lost from major portions of its range.
Welcome to the new and improved BirdWatchingDaily
Editor Matt Mendenhall invites you to check out the new look for BirdWatchingDaily.com, your resource for becoming a better birder.
New books about bird feeding, art, and crime
Reviews of three new bird books that we like: The Birds at My Table, Maria’s Martin’s World, and The Feather Thief.
3 inspiring, essential books for birders
Reviews of new books about sage-grouse, Rachel Carson’s writings, and evolution and extinction among Hawaii’s native birds.
The new faces of birding: Young, urban, more diverse
New to BirdWatching? Subscribe now to North America’s premier magazine about wild birds and birding. A spate of articles published recently by the New York … Read More “The new faces of birding: Young, urban, more diverse”
New guides to help birders get started
Reviews of “The Naturalist’s Notebook” and “Peterson Guide to Bird Identification—In 12 Steps”
Fascinating new memoirs by two birding legends
Reviews of George Archibald’s “My Life with Cranes” and Victor Emanuel’s “One More Warbler”
Interview: Co-authors describe new seventh edition of National Geographic bird guide
What’s not to love about a fully updated, thicker Nat Geo guide? The new seventh edition of the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds … Read More “Interview: Co-authors describe new seventh edition of National Geographic bird guide”
Pete Dunne publishes the ‘director’s cut’ of his guide for beginners
A review of Pete Dunne on Bird Watching: Second Edition: A Beginner’s Guide to Finding, Identifying and Enjoying Birds, by Pete Dunne.
In ‘Nextinction,’ gonzo artist illustrates birds that can still be saved
A review of Nextinction, by Ralph Steadman and Ceri Levy.
A valuable new ID guide from a founder of the Hummingbird Monitoring Network
A review of North American Hummingbirds: An Identification Guide, by George C. West.
ABA adds books about California and Pennsylvania to its series of state birding guides
Reviews of field guides to birds of California and Pennsylvania
Book from PBS Kids host explains how to become a nature mentor
A review of How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature, by Scott D. Sampson.
For very young readers, a beautifully illustrated tale about a family of Chimney Swifts
A review of Spit and Sticks: A Chimney Full of Swifts, by Marilyn Grohoske Evans and Nicole Gsell.
Author Deborah Cramer dives deep into the Red Knot’s complex story in ‘The Narrow Edge’
A review of The Narrow Edge: A Tiny Bird, an Ancient Crab, and an Epic Journey, by Deborah Cramer
‘Project Puffin’ tells how a kid from Ohio brought puffins back to the coast of central Maine
A review of Project Puffin: The Improbable Quest to Bring a Beloved Seabird Back to Egg Rock, by Stephen W. Kress and Derrick Z. Jackson
New Kaufman guide essential for nature lovers
A review of Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of the Midwest, by Kenn Kaufman, Jeff Sayre, and Kimberly Kaufman
Book tells fascinating history of the feeders, seeds, and suet in our backyards
A review of Feeding Wild Birds in America: Culture, Commerce and Conservation, by Paul J. Baicich, Margaret A. Barker, and Carrol L. Henderson
In new book, Tony Angell presents personal stories and stunning drawings of owls
A review of The House of Owls, by Tony Angell
A guide to Minnesota’s bird-rich state parks
A review of Birds of Minnesota State Parks, by Robert B. Janssen
A yard like no other
The special ingredients that made a one-time cattle pen attract more birds than any other yard in North America
Historic ranges and 22 reported sightings of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers since 1944
Possible sightings between 1950 and 2008
Ultimate guide to penguins gathers 15 years of intimate glimpses by photographer Tui De Roy
A review of Penguins: The Ultimate Guide, by Tui De Roy, Mark Jones, and Julie Cornthwaite
Two smart books to share about the Passenger Pigeon
Reviews of A Message from Martha: The Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon and Its Relevance Today, by Mark Avery, and One Came Home, by Amy Timberlake
Dictionary offers a who’s who of people who lent names to birds
A review of The Eponym Dictionary of Birds, by Bo Beolens, Michael Watkins, and Michael Grayson
Two volumes present challenges from artists not to forget lost birds
Reviews of Ghosts of Gone Birds: Resurrecting Lost Species through Art, by Chris Alehouse, and The Lost Bird Project, by Todd McGrain
Book assembles best essays by popular Massachusetts birder
A review of Reflections on a Golden-winged Warbler: The Joys and Aesthetics of Birding, by Douglas E. Chickering
New on our bookshelf: Books about extinction, birding on both sides of the ocean, and the world’s birds
Reviews of Facing Extinction, Birds of a Feather, and The World of Birds
Five backyards that birds love
How the owners of five very different properties turned their yards into rich habitats for birds
Purple Martins in Omaha: A chaotic, thrilling scene
Birders everywhere know about the spring spectacle of hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes on Nebraska’s Platte River, but do you know about the Cornhusker … Read More “Purple Martins in Omaha: A chaotic, thrilling scene”
The 10 most-wanted birds in North America
Our readers want to see these species more than any others
Film to tell the story of our once most abundant land bird: the Passenger Pigeon
Next year will mark the centennial of the Passenger Pigeon’s extinction, and you can help tell the world about it. Author and birder Joel Greenberg … Read More “Film to tell the story of our once most abundant land bird: the Passenger Pigeon”
Inspiring backyards
How birdwatchers in five states turned their yards into sanctuaries for birds — and how you can, too
Ivory-billed Woodpecker is extinct, say two teams of researchers
Studies of specimens and sightings published in 2012 reach same conclusion as earlier research
Artist Jonathan Alderfer describes National Geographic’s Field Guide to the Birds of North America
The guide’s lead illustrator tells us about its 300 new illustrations, new range maps for subspecies, and the process of creating the book
David Sibley describes the Sibley eGuide iPhone app
The author of the Sibley Guide to Birds explains the development of the app and how it works
Species profile: Winter wanderer, Varied Thrush
If the Varied Thrush is a bird of the Pacific Northwest, then why does it show up so often as far east as Maine?
Species profile: Red wonder, Northern Cardinal
Why the cardinal, a bird Audubon knew from the South, is thriving in winters in the North
Interview with David Allen Sibley, author of The Sibley Guide to Birds
In a 2001 interview, Contributing Editor David Sibley, author of our column “ID Toolkit,” tells how his field guide came to be and that its success surprised him
Wisconsin’s Necedah NWR, summer home of the Whooping Crane reintroduction project
On an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour, our editors find thriving white birds, courting pairs, and one lucky chick
Where to find the 20 birds birdwatchers want to see most
Grab your binoculars! Let’s hit the road to find the 20 birds our readers say they want to see most
Description, range, habits, and credible sightings of the Imperial Woodpecker
Is the larger, grander cousin of our Ivory-billed Woodpecker – the Imperial Woodpecker – still flying in western Mexico?
Birdwatchers’ 15 favorite birding destinations in the U.S. and Canada
15 years – 15 hotspots