Bird identification can be challenging, but few birds are trickier to identify than flycatchers in the genus Empidonax - the genus is often called the "bane of birdwatchers."

This Savannah Sparrow posed nicely for me last week.  They're fairly common across most of North America, but I don't usually get so close to them with my camera.

I found a grebe nest a few weeks ago, which was a first for me, and it reminded me of how weird grebes are.  The most common grebe in Pennsylvania is the Pied-billed Grebe.

Yellow Warblers are such a bright yellow that they seem to glow.  I've been seeing a lot of them this week. 

I've been enjoying some time this year watching birds in western Pennsylvania near one of the only places in the state where cranes nest, including Sandhill Cranes.

Many birds are returning to our area this time of year, including flycatchers, warblers, vireos, and this Blue-gray Gnatcatcher I photographed last week. 

Warbler migration peaks in early May, but some earlier migrants are common in April, including this Palm Warbler I found in Lebanon County last week.

I enjoyed watching some aerial acrobatics above the York store a few weeks ago. An American Crow was dive-bombing a much larger Common Raven.

I came across a juvenile Mourning Dove this week in my yard.  It had only been a day or two since it left the nest. 

Every encounter I've had with the Pileated Woodpecker has been special. I saw them somewhat regularly in my forested backyard where I grew up, just south of Pittsburgh.