The Golden Pendulum - Montezuma Oropendola

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In a clearing where an ancient Mayan city once stood, the Montezuma Oropendola perches and sings. His courtship display is astonishing: he swings by his feet and sings, his tail describing a golden pendulum – the very source of his name in Spanish – oropendola.
Learn more about the Montezuma Oropendola at RainForest.org.

Robins and Berries in Winter

It’s mid-winter, and a passing flock of robins suddenly drops out of the sky. A moment ago, the yard was empty of birds, but now it’s full. They settle in a bush laden with fruits. When the robins pass over a fruiting shrub, those red berries signal like a neon sign on a restaurant. Time to stop for a meal! Learn more about the American Robin Cornell's AllAboutBirds.
Learn more about gardening for life — and for wildlife — at AudubonAtHome.org.

A Treasure Chest

Hummingbirds’ names evoke their exquisite qualities and variety, from sabrewings to woodstars to sunangels—to this Green Violet-ear. Central and South America are home to well over 300 species of hummingbirds! Find out more about hummingbird migration -- and what hummingbirds might be coming your way -- at HummingbirdWorld. Learn how to attract hummingbirds to your yard at Hummingbirds.net.
Browse this lovely gallery of photos by William Zittrich and Jon Gallagher.

Flicker Attack

In early spring, a male flicker may drum on a metal stovepipe or other resonant surface to attract a mate and proclaim his territory. This doesn’t damage your house. If your flicker is drilling for food, you’d better check for carpenter ants or other insects! A flicker may also be excavating a nest cavity. If so, you can put up a nestbox nearby. The pair that adopts it will keep other flickers away. If it’s late spring or summer and you discover a big hole, there’s probably a brood inside, and it’s illegal to disturb them. Find out how to live with flickers, without conflicts.

Rufous Hummingbirds Are on the Way

It’s March, and - following a winter sojourn in Mexico - thousands of fiery-orange male Rufous Hummingbirds are migrating northward, ahead of the females. Many pass through California on their way to breeding sites in the Northwest. To learn more about how to attract Rufous Hummingbirds to your yard, visit Hummingbirds.net.
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