Perching Birds

A Northern Cardinal perching on a branch in early morning light

Spring Perch
Northern Cardinal partially concealed behind fresh spring leaves

Seen Through Spring
Male Red-winged Blackbird perched at close range with its red shoulder patch raised

Close Range
Between Bud and Needle

Between Bud and Needle
Close view of a male Red-winged Blackbird showing the shoulder patch and layered wing feathers

Shoulder and Wing Detail
Wing Lift

Wing Lift — stillness breaking into motion
Between Leaves and Light

Between Leaves and Light
First Spring Snow

First Spring Snow
Male Red-winged Blackbird looking directly toward the camera from a bare branch

Direct Gaze
Calling from the Branch

Calling from the Branch
Two Eastern Kingbirds perched on a diagonal branch, the upper bird spreading its right wing and tail against a blue sky

Curve of the Wing
Song Sparrow in side profile perched on a dried seed stalk

Standing Watch
A Song Sparrow settles on a thorny branch, pausing between moments of activity.

Moment of Stillness
Damp Sedge Wren in side profile with a bright eye and sharply detailed feet

Morning Light in the Eye
Blue Jay flying across a bright sky with blue wing and tail markings visible - animals/birds/assets/perching/blue-jay/E21A4792.jpg

Blue Across the Open Sky
Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak partially framed by overlapping green leaves

Framed in Summer Leaves
Male Common Yellowthroat carrying an insect on an open branch

Prey in the Morning Light
American Goldfinch perched on a thistle while feeding

Thistle Feeding
American Robin perched upright on a weathered wooden post against a softly blurred spring background.

Perched in Spring
Eastern Bluebird pushing away from a branch as its wings begin to open

Bluebird Launch
Cedar Waxwing perched on an open branch against blue sky

Clear View Through the Branches
Song Sparrow perched among dried stems

Pointing Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird balancing on a bare branch

Balancing Act
Eastern Bluebird perched near the top of a pine tree

Pine-Top Lookout
Male Northern Yellow Warbler perched in a leafy treetop with angled shadow emphasizing rusty breast streaks.

Angled Light in the Canopy
Eastern Bluebird perched in open light

Eastern Bluebird in open light
Black-capped Chickadee in side profile with wind-lifted feathers and a slightly open bill on a curved metal perch.

Windblown Profile

Passeriformes

Portfolio

Northern Cardinal Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged Blackbird perched on a bare branch Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Wing Lift Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
Song Sparrow perched on a dried stem Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia

Natural History

American Goldfinch American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
Blue Jay perched near the top of a pine against a pale sky Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Male Common Yellowthroat carrying an insect on an open branch Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Eastern Bluebird Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
Cedar Waxwing Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Sedge Wren Sedge Wren
Cistothorus stellaris

Encounters

Barn Swallow Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Eastern Kingbird perched on a diagonal branch with its tail partly spread Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Northern Yellow Warbler perched on a branch with bright yellow plumage Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
American Robin American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Field Sparrow Field Sparrow
Spizella pusilla
Black-capped Chickadee Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
Indigo Bunting Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea