Feeders, field marks, and backyard habitat

Bring more birds to your yard — and know who's visiting.

A practical guide to feeding and attracting wild birds in your own backyard. We cover the feeders worth buying, the seed mixes that actually draw birds in, how to identify who's visiting, and how to make your yard the kind of place birds return to season after season — written by people who keep binoculars on the windowsill.

Fresh from the feeder

26 guides
Feeders & Seed

How to Keep Squirrels Off Your Bird Feeder

Practical, tested strategies to keep squirrels off your bird feeder: baffles, caged feeders, seed choices, and placement tricks that actually work.

June 3, 2026
Getting Started

How to Keep a Backyard Bird Journal and Life List

Learn how to keep a bird watching journal and life list that actually helps you learn faster, spot patterns, and remember every bird you've seen.

June 1, 2026
Seasonal Birding

Summer Bird Feeding: What Changes

Summer bird feeding works differently than winter. Learn what foods to offer, what to skip, and how to keep feeders safe when temperatures climb.

May 29, 2026
Nest Boxes & Nesting

How to Keep Predators Off a Nest Box

Learn how to protect nest box from predators using baffles, hardware cloth, extended roofs, and smart placement. Practical tips for bluebirds, wrens, and

May 27, 2026
Attracting Birds

Bird Baths: How to Attract Birds With Water

Practical bird bath tips for placement, depth, movement, and cleaning to bring more birds to your yard year-round.

May 25, 2026
Identifying Birds

Woodpeckers at Your Feeder: A Field Guide

Learn to identify the backyard woodpeckers most likely to visit your yard, from tiny Downies to bold Red-bellieds, with tips on food and feeders that bring

May 22, 2026
Feeders & Seed

Why Birds Aren't Coming to Your Feeder, and How to Fix It

No birds at your feeder? Discover the most common reasons birds ignore feeders and get practical fixes to bring them back fast.

May 20, 2026
Getting Started

Birdwatching Etiquette and Ethics for Beginners

Learn the practical birding ethics every beginner should know, from keeping a respectful distance to protecting nesting birds and shared spaces.

May 18, 2026
Seasonal Birding

Spring Migration: What to Watch For

A practical guide to spring bird migration — when waves arrive, which species to expect, and how to get the most out of migration birdwatching at home.

May 15, 2026
Nest Boxes & Nesting

Nest Box Hole Sizes for Different Birds

Get the right birdhouse hole size for bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, and more. A species-by-species chart with interior dimensions and mounting heights.

May 13, 2026
Attracting Birds

How to Make a Bird-Friendly Garden

Turn your yard into a bird habitat garden with native plants, water, shelter, and the right food. Practical steps for any garden size.

May 11, 2026
Identifying Birds

Identifying Backyard Finches: Goldfinch, House, and Purple

Learn to tell apart the three most common backyard finches (American Goldfinch, House Finch, and Purple Finch) by plumage, size, bill shape, and song.

May 8, 2026
Feeders & Seed

Tube, Hopper, Platform, and Suet: Feeder Types Explained

Learn the four main types of bird feeders, which birds each one attracts, and how to pick the right style for your yard.

May 6, 2026
Getting Started

How to Choose Binoculars for Birdwatching

Find the right binoculars for bird watching with this practical guide covering magnification, objective lens size, optical coatings, and budget tiers.

May 4, 2026
Seasonal Birding

Helping Birds Survive Cold Snaps and Snow

Learn how to help birds in winter with the right foods, water, and shelter. Practical tips for cold snaps, ice storms, and deep freezes.

May 1, 2026
Nest Boxes & Nesting

Where to Place a Nest Box for the Best Results

Learn the best nest box placement by species, height, direction, and habitat so cavity-nesting birds actually move in this season.

April 29, 2026
Attracting Birds

Native Plants That Attract Birds

Discover which native plants bring the most birds to your yard, from seed-producing grasses to berry shrubs and insect-rich oaks.

April 27, 2026
Identifying Birds

How to Tell Common Sparrows Apart

Sparrow identification made practical: learn the field marks that distinguish House, Song, White-throated, Chipping, and other common backyard sparrows.

April 24, 2026
Feeders & Seed

How to Choose the Right Bird Feeder

A practical bird feeder buying guide covering feeder types, seed compatibility, squirrel resistance, and capacity to match your yard and target birds.

April 22, 2026
Getting Started

The Beginner Birder's Starter Kit: What You Actually Need

Backyard birding equipment doesn't need to be expensive. Here's what actually matters for beginners, and what you can skip.

April 20, 2026
Seasonal Birding

How to Feed Birds in Winter

Learn which high-energy foods keep backyard birds fed through cold months, how to set up feeders for winter, and what really matters when temperatures drop.

April 17, 2026
Nest Boxes & Nesting

How to Build a Birdhouse: Plans and Tips

Learn how to build a birdhouse with simple plans, species-specific dimensions, and practical tips that give cavity-nesting birds a safe place to raise their

April 15, 2026
Attracting Birds

How to Attract More Birds to Your Yard

Practical steps to get more wild birds visiting your yard, covering food, water, shelter, and plants that actually work for your region.

April 13, 2026
Identifying Birds

How to Identify Common Backyard Birds

Learn to identify the most common backyard birds by size, color, beak shape, and behavior. A practical bird identification guide for beginners.

April 10, 2026
Feeders & Seed

The Best Bird Seed Types and What Each One Attracts

A practical guide to bird seed types — from black-oil sunflower to nyjer — so you know exactly which seeds bring which birds to your feeder.

April 8, 2026
Getting Started

How to Start Backyard Birding: A Beginner's Guide

Learn how to start backyard birding with simple steps: what gear you need, how to set up feeders, and which birds to expect first.

April 6, 2026

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