SF Bayflower

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

It’s National Bird Feeding Month!

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| Joy of Birds February 2026

Two Brown Noddies sit on a Brown Pelican in water.

Gallery: 14 Fascinating Bird Behaviors

Every year our Audubon Photography Awards result in a bounty of incredible images showcasing fascinating avian behaviors. Take a peek into the always entertaining lives of birds, from intimate moments with mates to fierce fights for territory. Check out this gallery of fascinating bird behaviors submitted to last year's awards.

And don't forget: Entry for the 2026 awards is now open! Learn more about how you can submit your best bird photos and videos.

Brown Pelican and Brown Noddies. Photo: David Hartley/Audubon Photography Awards

A silhouette of a bird singing while perched on a tree branch.

Can You Guess the Bird?

Who's that charming bird? Guess this mystery bird using the silhouetted image above and the three hints below!

Clue #1: These human-tolerant birds might be your neighbor! You can spot this species across the contiguous United States.
Clue #2: Our mystery bird is a cavity nester that will make a home in just about anything, from boots and shoes to watering cans and drain pipes.
Clue #3: During mating season, this noisy bird trills around the clock. Tireless males can sing up to 600 songs in an hour.

Here's a bonus hint: This bird's four-letter banding code, which researchers often use as shorthand for species names, is NHWR. Click here to learn more about this bird and reveal the answer.

Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon

A Blue-winged Macaw bites a pepper they're holding in their claw.

How Spicy is Too Spicy for Birds?

Conventional knowledge says squirrels don't like spicy seeds and birds are immune to heat. That's why many squirrel-deterring birdseed blends have a little kick to it. Now, emerging research suggests that birds might actually have a limit when it comes to spice. Keep reading for more on birds' spice tolerance.

Blue-winged Macaw. Photo: Sabbir Abeir/Wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0

A White-breasted Nuthatch snacks on nearby Zick Dough.

A Homemade Suet to Keep Winter Birds Fed

February is National Birdfeeding Month. Support birds during one of North America's coldest months with an energy-rich treat: Zick Dough! Made by nature writer Julie Zickefoose, Zick Dough is a nutritious and delicious form of suet that will keep birds coming back for more. Get the suet recipe here.

White-breasted Nuthatch. Photo: Julie Zickefoose

Give This Northern Cardinal Plush a Home!

It's never too late to let someone you love know you're thinking of them. We'll send a Northern Cardinal plush to you or a loved one of your choice when you start an annual gift today. Donate now.

Photo: Luke Franke/Audubon

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225 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014 USA
(844) 428-3826 | www.audubon.org

© 2026 National Audubon Society

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Tuesday, February 24, 2026

See beautiful birds every month, no feeder required

Claim your free Audubon calendar with an annual gift today.

As the seasons change, so do the birds that fill our skies, forests, and backyards. Audubon's calendar captures these seasonal transformations through stunning photography that celebrates birds in all their natural glory. Each month offers a new glimpse into the species we're working tirelessly to protect.

When you start your annual donation today, you’ll help provide the dependable resources our teams need to safeguard birds throughout every season. And as an added bonus, you’ll get our beautiful calendar delivered straight to your home as a token of our appreciation! Claim your free Audubon calendar with an annual gift today »

Protect birds and get the Audubon Calendar year after year

With more than 120 years of expertise under our wing, we know what it takes to protect beloved species. Using our proven combination of committed advocacy, empowering education, and expert on-the-ground conservation—all guided by research and grounded in our shared love for birds—we’ve been able to help many bird populations recover. It comes down to this: Where we work—and when you help—birds are better off. But with so much at stake, we can and must do more while there’s still time.

So please, start your annual gift right away—and when you do, you’ll receive our latest Audubon calendar as our thanks.

Sincerely,

National Audubon Society

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Top photos clockwise from top left: Shining Sunbeams, Shivam Rajdev; Common Raven, Christopher Grau; Pileated Woodpecker, Ewa Golebiowska; Tree Swallows, Jinchao Lyu. Middle: White-breasted Nuthatch, Steven Biegler; Red-shouldered Hawks, Peter Hamner; Black Phoebe, Sandrine Biziaux-Scherson; American Avocets, Todd Nelson; Nashville Warbler, Rowland Willis; Cactus Wren, Krisztina Scheeff; Snowy Egret, Tyler Badilla; Northern Saw-whet Owl, Randy Green; Wood Duck, Simon d’Entremont. All Audubon Photography Awards.