The third week of March is the peak of migration for Horned Grebes in the Susquehanna Valley. Horned Grebes have lots of cool nicknames, like "Water Witch."

Our local blackbirds spend most of the winter in farm fields. The flocks can number in the tens of thousands, primarily a mix of three native blackbird species.

There are only seven species of swans in the world, and two of them are native to North America. By far the most common is the Tundra Swan.

I am often asked which bird I like best, but I love them all and find it difficult to pick a single favorite.

Northern Cardinals are one of our most beloved backyard birds. They're known by many nicknames, including red-bird and Virginia Nightingale.

Winter is the best time of year to see American Tree Sparrows in Pennsylvania. I came across a flock of over 60 last week in some weedy fields north of Pittsburgh.

I photographed the Downy Woodpecker in the photo above in the white oak in my backyard on New Year's Day. From that picture, someone unfamiliar with Downy Woodpeckers might think they're mostly black.

Winter is the best time of year to see my wife's favorite bird, the Brown Creeper.  I found one in my backyard on the morning of New Year's Day.

My sons and I were taking care of some last-minute Christmas shopping last week when we came across a flock of Cedar Waxwings eating some cherries in trees bordering the parking lot of the mall in Lancaster.

Just last week when I wrote about Song Sparrows, I mentioned that other common backyard sparrows like Chipping Sparrows aren't here in the Susquehanna Valley all year long.