Project FeederWatch

It's finally here! The 2025-2026 Project FeederWatch season begins tomorrow, November 1st. Are you ready to start counting your birds and mammals?

If you have not yet signed up for this season, feel free to do so online on our website here:https://buff.ly/pMV0HTq

Happy FeederWatching!

Join, Renew, or Donate - FeederWatch Observe the birds and mammals outside your windows and contribute to science by joining Project FeederWatch. Join now for the next FeederWatch season, which begins November 1 and runs through April 30. Please join the project for the country in which you reside. If you opt to receive our double-side...

The 2025 Paul C. Mundinger Distinguished Lectureship will be given by Mike Webster, Robert G. Engel Professor of Ornithology and Director of the Macaulay Library!

Time: October 16th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Location: B25, Warren Hall & Online
Link to Register: https://buff.ly/0eaYT7J

Feathers Down Under: Exploring the Evolution of Sexual Signals in Australian Fairywrens

Birds are colorful and birds are loud. In large part this is because they use their plumage and voices to communicate with each other. In particular, males of many species use their bright plumage signals and voices to attract mates and repel rivals. Decades of research have revealed a lot about the evolutionary processes that have led to the diversity of avian colors and songs that we see today, yet many puzzles remain. If bright colors attract females, why do some males adopt less attractive drab plumage? What is the role of these sexual signals in the process of speciation? And why do bright colors and elaborate song evolve in females of some species and not just males? Dr. Webster will give a broad overview of his long-term research on Australian fairywrens, all aimed at better understanding the evolution and function of their stunning plumage and songs.

This lectureship was established in honor of the late Paul Mundinger, who received his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University.

Due to popular demand, we are extending our deadline! Those who join or renew their Project FeederWatch membership by October 8th will receive our special sparrow poster offer! Join or Renew on our new and improved website here: https://buff.ly/ED8gGBo

Poster Credit: Bartel's Science Illustrator | Lauren Richelieu

Big news: Project FeederWatch has a new and improved look to our website! We updated our online space to improve our look and navigational ease! Check out our new look here: https://buff.ly/VyfWtIZ

Later this fall, we will be hosting a webinar to take a tour of the new website and show folks how to enter their data. Stay tuned for more information!

Homepage - FeederWatch Turn your love of observing wildlife into new discoveries FeederWatch engages people in observing birds and mammals that visit backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. You choose the location, when to count, and how much time to observe. Joining....

Happy October! There's only one month left until the start of the Project FeederWatch season and we can't wait to start FeederWatching with you again. Remember that anyone can participate, no feeders necessary!

📷: Blue Jay by Texas Bird Family

Reminder: Only one day left to take advantage of our limited time offer!

Are you ready for the upcoming FeederWatch season? Good news - when you sign up in September, we'll send you our gorgeous new sparrow identification poster. Join or Renew today here: https://buff.ly/3tS2ujU

Sparrows can be especially tricky to identify, with their muted brown and chestnut coloration, various streaks and spots, and similar sizes and behaviors. This poster is a great tool to help FeederWatchers distinguish these little brown birds.

This is a limited time offer that is only available in the U.S. Offer ends September 30th, 2025.

Poster Credit: Bartel's Science Illustrator | Lauren Richelieu

Did you know you can attract American Goldfinches with nyjer? Eastern Meadowlarks with cracked corn? Eastern Bluebird with mealworms?

Our Common Feeder Birds Interactive is a tool that helps you figure out which birds prefer which type of food, type of feeder, and what region you may find them in.

Check out or Common Feeder Birds Interactive tool here: https://buff.ly/WW4zId9

📷: Eastern Bluebird with mealworm | Bob Vuxinic

Have you seen a bald bird at your feeder? In most of the cases observed in late summer and fall, the affected birds have dropped their head feathers simultaneously during their seasonal molting, resulting in individuals being nearly bald for about a week. Learn more here:

Unusual Birds - FeederWatch Among the most difficult birds to identify are the birds that have abnormal plumage or other characteristics, whether it be color variation, a bill deformity, or missing head feathers. These variations aren’t in any field guides, and sometimes the abnormality removes key field marks. If you see a ...

There's only one more week left to take advantage of our special sparrow poster offer!

When you sign up for Project FeederWatch this September, we'll send you our gorgeous new sparrow poster depicting the sparrows that most commonly visit your bird feeders. Join or Renew today here to receive this offer: https://buff.ly/3tS2ujU

Sparrow species can be hard to tell apart, with their muted brown and chestnut coloration, various streaks and spots, and similar sizes and behaviors This poster is the perfect tool to help you identify sparrows this FeederWatch season!

***This offer is only available for participants in the U.S. Offer ends September 30th

📷: Fox Sparrow and Golden-crowned Sparrow |

ML78993941 - Golden-crowned Sparrow - Macaulay Library Macaulay Library ML78993941; © Isaac Denzer; Benton, Oregon, United States

The California Quail, the state bird of California, can be found along the Pacific Coast. They may come to platform feeders or the ground below feeders for fallen seed, especially if sunflower seeds, cracked corn, nyjer, oats, and more is offered. Have you even seen California Quail?

📷: Sheila Chambers