https://christopherpryan.com/2024/10/21/the-birds-of-discovery-dark-eyed-junco/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/dark-eyedjunco.jpgA,Male,Dark-eyed,Junco,,Perched,On,A,Tree,Branch2025-07-09T20:38:37+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/12/23/the-birds-of-discovery-great-horned-owl/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/greathornedowl.jpgGreat,Horned,Owl,Adult,(bubo,Virginianus),Flying,Towards,Camera,From2025-04-17T19:07:32+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/12/16/the-birds-of-discovery-turkey-vulture/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/turkeyvulture.jpgTurkey,Vulture,Soaring,Above,The,Coastline,Of,Oregon2025-04-17T19:07:08+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/12/09/the-birds-of-discovery-violet-green-swallow/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/violet-greenswallow.jpgViolet,Green,Swallow,Spring,Side,View,Perched,On,A,Branch2025-04-17T19:06:44+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/12/03/the-birds-of-discovery-golden-crowned-sparrow/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/golden-crownedspoarrow.jpgGolden-crowned,Sparrow,(zonotrichia,Atricapilla),At,Chowiet,Island,,Semidi,Islands,,Alaska,2025-04-17T19:05:23+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/11/25/the-birds-of-discovery-white-crowned-sparrow/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/shutterstock_2245302035.jpgWhite-crowned,Sparrow,Standing,On,A,Branch,With,Green,Background2025-04-17T19:05:00+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/11/18/the-birds-of-discovery-red-breasted-nuthatch/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/red-breastednuthatch.jpgRed-breasted,Nuthatch,(sitta,Canadensis),Song,Bird,Climbing,Down,A,Tree2025-04-17T19:04:11+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/11/12/the-birds-of-discovery-american-dipper/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/americandipper.jpgAn,American,Dipper,Searches,For,Food,Along,A,Stream,In2025-04-17T19:03:27+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/11/06/the-birds-of-discovery-common-raven/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/shutterstock_759981433.jpgRaven,(corvus,Corax)2025-04-17T19:02:19+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/10/29/the-birds-of-discovery-clarks-nutcracker/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/shutterstock_1580436499.jpgClark's,Nutcracker,Flying,Low,Over,The,Tree,Tops2025-04-17T19:01:50+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/10/14/the-birds-of-discovery-stellers-jay/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/stellersjay.jpgSteller's,Jay,(cyanocitta,Stelleri),Sitting,On,A,Tree2025-04-17T18:58:45+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/10/07/the-birds-of-discovery-black-billed-magpie/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/magpie-1.jpgBlack,Billed,Magpie,Flying2025-04-17T18:57:49+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/10/01/the-birds-of-discovery-mountain-chickadee/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/black-cappedchickadee.jpgClose,Up,Portrait,Of,A,Black-capped,Chickadee,(poecile,Atricapillus),Perchedhttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/mountainchickadee.jpgMountain,Chickadee,On,A,Branch2025-04-17T18:56:45+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2025/04/17/a-rite-of-spring-the-cranes-in-nebraska/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/sandhillcranegroup.jpgUsa,,Nebraska.,Sandhill,Cranes,(antigone,Canadensis),Stop,Along,The,Cornfields2025-04-17T18:48:25+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/09/11/__trashed/2024-09-11T23:10:56+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2018/01/30/a-sojourn-south-yields-an-avian-treasure-trove/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/p1010170.jpgP1010170https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/sandhillcraneterry.jpgSandhillCraneTerryhttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/tropicalkingbirdchris.jpgTropicalKingbirdChrishttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/p101tropicalkingbirdchris0193.jpgP101TropicalKingbirdChris0193https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/lessonsmotmotphil.jpgLesson'sMotmotPhilhttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hoffmanswoodpeckerphil.jpgHoffman'sWoodpeckerPhil2024-07-05T17:33:10+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2024/06/06/in-the-case-of-the-people-vs-peeps-the-prosecution-rests/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/leastsandpiperphil-e1569435143255.jpgLeastSandpiperPhilThe notorious peep known as Least Sandpiper in its natural habitat--muck and stench. 2024-06-06T19:31:32+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2018/01/12/were-reminded-that-life-isnt-always-pretty/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/coopershawkphil2.jpgCooper'sHawkPhilCooper's Hawk. Photo by Phil Ryan.https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/coopershawkphil1.jpgCooper'sHawkPhilhttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/coopershawkphil-e1515698643776.jpgCooper'sHawkPhilCooper's Hawk. Photo courtesy of Phil Ryan.2018-01-12T17:54:18+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2017/03/28/we-watch-cranes-dance-beside-the-platte/2017-03-28T23:27:28+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2017/03/15/we-set-off-to-celebrate-a-spring-rite/2017-03-15T22:00:03+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2017/02/25/okay-once-more-into-the-breach/2017-02-25T22:57:13+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2016/01/13/we-see-more-birds-in-2015-so-on-to-2016/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/photo-1-e1452715278553.jpgphoto (1)I'm interpreting this as Lucy's "I'm upset because the sidewalks are icy" look. But I'll consider other opinions.2017-02-25T22:55:54+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/10/30/we-meet-the-worlds-ugliest-pigeons/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/img_0036-1.jpgIMG_0036 (1)These Black Vultures are waiting for pumpkin spice armadillo in the Everglades.2015-10-30T20:09:04+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/09/18/warblers-find-a-late-summer-rest-stop/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/canadawarbler-1.jpgCanadaWarbler (1)This Canada Warbler is just one of the disturbingly wide variety of warblers showing up in brother Phil's backyard this year. Photo courtesy of Phil Ryan.https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/p1030430.jpgP1030430This Canada Warbler is just one of the disturbingly wide variety of warblers showing up in brother Phil's backyard this year.2015-09-18T16:19:54+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/08/14/our-tiny-side-yard-becomes-an-aviary/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2008-0600-rubythroatedhummingbirdexcellentca.jpg2008-0600-RubyThroatedHummingbirdEXCELLENTcaMy friend Colin Andrews made these photos and put together this mug shot of a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. 2015-08-14T15:33:47+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/07/31/birding-is-less-fun-with-sweat-in-your-eyes-and-a-heat-rash-on-your-ass/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/p2260272.jpgOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAYes, he's gorgeous. He's sweet and loving, too. He's also hot as hell when he snuggles in your lap on an August evening. This is Ace. He alone is responsible for 20 percent of our summer air-conditioning expenditure.2015-07-31T16:27:35+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/07/09/brother-terry-plays-landlord-to-bluebirds/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/mountainbluebirdterry.jpgMountainBluebirdTerryOne of Terry's Mountain Bluebirds perches atop its nesting box near Montrose, Colorado.2015-07-09T19:00:32+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/06/26/we-add-a-hard-to-spell-silly-name-but-pretty-cool-bird-to-the-big-year-list/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/dickcisselphil.jpgDickcisselPhilPhil apologizes for the quality of this shot, but it certainly shows the Meadowlark-like markings on a Dickcissel.2015-06-26T19:47:39+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/06/02/this-warbler-shouldnt-be-here-but-it-is/2015-06-02T17:29:36+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/05/27/we-look-for-help-identifying-a-warbler-even-though-i-know-what-it-is/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2015-05-26-18-45-02-2.jpg2015-05-26 18.45.02-2You decide. Is it a Canada Warbler or a first spring Magnolia Warbler? Let us know.2015-05-27T16:02:23+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/05/13/we-have-a-pretty-good-season-of-warbling/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/audubongcflycatcher.jpgAudubonGCFlycatcherThis is John James Audubon's take on the Great-crested Flycatcher. I could have used a photo of some kind of warbler but, frankly, I don't want to give the hyperactive little twerps any more space.2015-05-13T22:02:00+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/04/26/the-time-of-the-warblers-arrives/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/blackandwhitewarbler.jpgBlackandWhiteWarblerJohn James Audubon called it a Black-and-white Creeper. We know it as the Black-and-white Warbler. It might not have the bright colors of other warblers, but it's striking in its own right.2015-04-26T20:38:44+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/04/17/an-early-spring-warbler-search-yields-sparrows/2015-04-26T18:59:51+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/04/03/allergies-arrive-with-the-warblers-and-we-itch-to-go-birding/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/plate-20-blue-winged-yellow-warbler-final1.jpgPlate-20,-Blue-winged-Yellow-Warbler-finalJohn James Audubon called it the Blue-winged Yellow Warbler. Brevity is the way today. After all, it's the Twitter Age.https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/plate-20-blue-winged-yellow-warbler-final.jpgPlate-20,-Blue-winged-Yellow-Warbler-finalJohn James Audubon called them Blue-winged Yellow Warblers, but that was a long time ago. Brevity is the way today. It's the Twitter Age.2015-04-03T18:18:39+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/03/27/the-sandhill-cranes-have-a-party-and-we-go-home-happy/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/1sandhillcrane360.jpg1sandhillcrane360Sandhill Cranes dance as part of their mating ritual. They also mate for life. Not that the two are related, but maybe we could learn something anyway. People should dance more. It could be good for their relationships.2015-03-27T19:47:15+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/03/06/birders-should-leave-pride-behind-and-submit-to-eternal-truths/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/snowy_owl.jpgsnowy_owlIf nothing else about a Snowy Owl grabs your attention and imagination, try gazing into those yellow eyes for a while. Photo by Petr Kratochvil.2015-03-06T17:14:33+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/02/27/bird-watchers-face-an-uphill-climb-in-the-quest-for-dignity/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/the_lil_robin_204816.jpgthe_lil_robin_204816Turdus migratorius.Do yourself a favor and just call it a Robin – American Robin if you want to sound more knowledgable.2015-02-27T18:29:24+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/02/20/interchangeable-accipiters-should-move-out-of-each-others-territories/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/p1010529northerngoshawkcrop.jpgP1010529NorthernGoshawkCropHow we mistook this Northern Goshawk for a Cooper's Hawk is an embarrassing mystery. It's a Northern Goshawk, right? Tell me it is. Please. Photo by Terence Ryan.2015-02-20T18:19:45+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/02/13/why-are-country-birds-moving-to-the-city/2015-02-13T21:08:12+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/02/06/the-gulls-gull-us-and-a-duck-ducks-us/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/carolinawrenbyphil-e1423248592564.jpgCarolinaWrenbyPhilThis Carolina Wren isn't as irrelevant to the current post as an earlier photo showing my dog, but it's still a bit out there. My brother was trying his new camera when he snapped this picture. Nobody's sure what the wren was so mad about.2015-02-06T19:00:09+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/01/30/the-goldfinches-pull-a-disappearing-act/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/goldfinch.jpgGoldfinchColin Andrews, who made this photo, says, "This American Goldfinch is, of course, in its summer plumage. It makes for a prettier picture, although I think goldfinches look rather elegant in the winter, too."2015-01-30T18:43:46+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/01/16/lets-try-this-again-a-new-big-year-birding-adventure-in-2015/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/dsc07264_osprey_stonycreek_verygood2_byca2007_03281.jpgDSC07264_Osprey_StonyCreek_VERYGOOD2_ByCA2007_0328Ospreys are quite common in southern Florida. It's good to see so many because use of DDT was a serious threat to them not long ago. Photo by Colin Andrews.https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/dsc07264_osprey_stonycreek_verygood2_byca2007_0328-e1421439992924.jpgDSC07264_Osprey_StonyCreek_VERYGOOD2_ByCA2007_0328Ospreys are quite common in southern Florida. It's good to see so many because they were disappearing a few decades ago. Photo by Colin Andrews.2015-01-23T16:39:41+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2015/01/23/we-find-unusual-and-inebriated-birds/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/photo.jpgphotoYes, this blog is supposed to be about birds and birding. But come on. Is Lucy not an adorable animal?https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/p2130260.jpgOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA2015-01-23T16:34:46+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2014/04/02/an-annual-pilgrimage-takes-us-to-nebraska/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/img_2522-bald-eagle-farm-2014-0202ca.jpgIMG_2522-Bald-Eagle-Farm-2014-0202CAhttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/img_3125-bald-eagle-2014-0202ca2.jpgIMG_3125-Bald-Eagle-2014-0202CA2https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/img_8159-hammonasset-unknown-birdlowres.jpgIMG_8159-Hammonasset-Unknown-BirdLowReshttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/img_8186-hammonasset-unknown-bird-lowres1.jpgIMG_8186-Hammonasset-Unknown-Bird-LowResRed-tailed hawks have nested on the roof of a three-story building in a shopping area near our home. The family could be noisy, but nobody tried to get the birds evicted.https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/img_8186-hammonasset-unknown-bird-lowres.jpgIMG_8186-Hammonasset-Unknown-Bird-LowReshttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/img_8184-hammonasset-unknown-birdlowres2.jpgIMG_8184-Hammonasset-Unknown-BirdLowReshttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/img_8184-hammonasset-unknown-birdlowres1.jpgIMG_8184-Hammonasset-Unknown-BirdLowReshttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/img_8184-hammonasset-unknown-birdlowres.jpgIMG_8184-Hammonasset-Unknown-BirdLowReshttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/img_2847-bald-eagle-farm-2014-0202ca.jpgIMG_2847-Bald-Eagle-Farm-2014-0202CAhttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/crane_sandhill_crane_waterfowl.jpgcrane_sandhill_crane_waterfowlIt's the wrong season, and seeing one isn't like seeing 500,000, but here's a Sanhill Crane. They are magnificent birds, both on the ground and in flight.2014-04-02T19:32:50+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2014/03/05/california-day-three-monterey-and-pelagic-cormorants/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/id-1001508.jpgID-1001508Like Western Gulls, Herring Gulls have pink legs. The two gulls are also the same size.2014-03-05T21:04:39+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2014/02/23/california-day-one-fog-few-birds-nice-wine-one-son/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/westerngull.jpgWesternGull2014-02-23T20:42:23+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2014/02/07/california-here-we-come-birds-please-cooperate/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/256px-peregrine_falcon_head_shot.jpg256px-Peregrine_Falcon_head_shot2014-02-07T20:33:14+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2014/01/21/we-pass-a-couple-of-milestones-and-learn-to-live-with-disappointment/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/photo-2.jpgphoto (2)Number 53 on the Big Year list, a Northern Flicker somehow got into this photo of the dog's ear.2014-01-21T20:19:56+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2014/01/14/we-have-met-the-big-year-birders-enemy-and-its-a-warm-bed/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/swan_swans_bird.jpgswan_swans_birdMute Swans are the easiest of the swans to identify because of their orange bill.2014-01-14T17:04:48+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2014/01/02/and-so-the-big-year-begins-with-high-hopes-and-plenty-of-sleep/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/blue_jay_bird_nature.jpgblue_jay_bird_natureOne of the many nice things about birding is that even the most common of species, like the Blue Jay, can dress elegantly.2014-01-03T00:11:20+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2013/12/24/crows-know-if-youre-naughty-or-nice/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/one_black_crow.jpgone_black_crowAmerican Crows make themselves comfortable just about anywhere. Image courtesy of Junior Libby/all-free-download.com2013-12-24T17:16:19+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2013/10/29/were-ready-to-fulfill-a-birders-dream-sort-of/2013-10-29T21:37:46+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2013/09/16/house-sparrows-suffer-from-a-poor-self-image/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/p91603771.jpgOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAhttps://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/p9160377.jpgOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA2013-09-16T21:42:10+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2013/08/28/its-time-to-set-the-record-straight-on-this-harbinger-of-spring-stuff/https://christopherpryan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/p6290344.jpgCommon GrackleThe tail's the thing for Common Grackles2013-08-29T00:36:46+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/2012/06/07/hello-world/2012-06-07T18:27:07+00:00monthlyhttps://christopherpryan.com/about/2012-06-07T18:27:07+00:00weekly0.6https://christopherpryan.comdaily1.02025-07-09T20:38:37+00:00