Seasons have come and gone since we got into birding. We have learned to attract birds using feeders, baths, and bird-loving native plants. We think we can recognize their calls, know where to look for them, and tell all-year ones from migrants. Still, birds surprise us with unpredictability and subtle changes in looks, calls, and behavior. Such variations sustain our interest in birding.

Birds vary in how they look, feed, take baths, move, and call. Northern Cardinal or House Finch expertly discards the husk when munching a seed. Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Chickadee, or Black-crested Titmouse, on the other hand, holds the seed with its legs, breaks it open by arduous persistent pecking, eats it, and repeats this process with the next seed. Blue Jays take a splashy bath, while the Carolina Wren takes a tiny dip. Red-bellied Woodpeckers have distinct gliding and vertical moves. When perching on our electric poles as usual, one’s feathers flutter uncontrollably on a blustery cold day and another bends to preen itself, rendering different looks. Black Vulture typically perches on a rooftop, but one instead sits there like a duck. Carolina Wren makes a call we have never heard before.

Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Even all-year birds show behavioral variations. Northern Cardinals romantically court in spring, stay together in summer, but are by themselves in fall. White-winged Doves are absent one winter, but two dozen visit next winter. Too big to perch on our seed feeder, they forage on discarded seeds, but not in the fall. Red-shouldered Hawk worries me by resting on our patio oak for four hours, but eventually takes flight much to my relief. A juvenile one takes a bath, a first sight. Carolina Wren snacks on a worm infesting our roses. A dozen Common Grackles hop between trees calling for an hour once, but sometimes just one comes by – is it lost? Blue Jay and White-winged Dove sip together at our bath, unlike their past feisty skirmish over it. The usually boisterous Northern Mockingbird perches quietly one fall morning.

Red-shouldered hawk.

Unpredictable migrant sights are another variation. Six Ruby-throated Hummingbirds don’t compete but simultaneously sip from our nectar feeder. Cedar Waxwing and American Goldfinch cheer us up during a winter freeze power outage. Numerous Chipping Sparrows crowd our seed feeder. Dark-eyed Juncos forage near our roses. Northern Parula hops on our patio oak. Like clockwork, Black-chinned Hummingbirds disappear when Ruby-throated ones arrive in fall. Baltimore Oriole visits after two years and this time sips from our nectar feeders. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, usually found in water-based habitats, surprise us one morning. Eastern Phoebe comes by with its distinct flapping tail. We wonder which migrating Warblers we would spot.

Baltimore Oriole.

When we observe birds, we also watch garden friends such as armadillos, rabbits, foxes, and pollinators, and even notice a green anole ignoring a Ruby-throated Hummingbird shooing it away from its nectar food source. This varied wildlife inspires us to grow plants to nurture them. Birds thus foster an expansive and enriching nature experience.

Black-throated Green Warbler.

Composed by Jaya Ramanathan. Reviewed by Sarita Yeola. Photos courtesy of Jaya Ramanathan.