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Another Cooper’s Hawk attack around our bird feeders on November 22, 2016. This time by a juvenile, probably female hawk (due to large size) that swooped in on our birds and then chased them into a nearby leaf and brush pile I have made for sparrows and other birds to hide in for just this kind of circumstance among other reasons the little feathered friends need a place to hide!

We have several juvenile Northern Cardinals hanging out this fall at our backyard feeders! They’re very entertaining trying to get their turn at the seed feeders – mainly the sunflower seed tray. They hiss like a snake at smaller birds that try to cut in, but peep loud and fly off when a bigger or more dominant bird comes crashing in!

And on our feeders. These Northern forest dwellers, the Pine Siskins, had never stopped by our urban backyard feeders before two seasons ago when 2 of the cute little birds showed up. They’re about the same size as a large Goldfinch, so one of the smallest birds visiting our back yard feeders. They came in peeping up a storm and apparently very hungry because they didn’t fly off while I was outside filling things up. As soon as I went inside they went after the Nijer seed feeders with a vengeance. These little visitors also hit up our finch seed feeder. The sometimes seem to have a preference for one over the other unless a bigger flock comes. Then they spread out.

I keep watching the vast array of House Finches looking for a Purple Finch among them to no avail so far. But some of the male House Finches are somewhat beautiful though common as House Sparrows almost. Here are some pictures of male House Finches that almost have the raspberry of the Purple Finch.

Sometimes it is easy to tell the difference between a smaller Downy and larger Hairy Woodpecker but here are some woodpecker pictures showing how to tell the difference easily between the two woodpeckers without going just by size. A large Downy Woodpecker can sometimes be mistaken for a young, smaller Hairy Woodpecker.

The easiest markers are bill length compared to skull length. The bill on the Downy Woodpecker is much shorter than the skull length while the Hairy Woodpecker bill equal in length to the Downy Woodpecker. Also, the underside marker feathers on the Downy Woodpecker have black stripes while the Hairy Woodpecker has no black stripes.

The little Dark-eyed Juncos show up each fall to announce fall is officially here and winter, their time is coming! Here’s some fall Dark-eyed Juncos from fall of 2014 because they haven’t showed up this year yet. Too warm a summer and early fall so far I think. But they’ll be here soon!

Juvenile Chipping Sparrow pictures.