Recent content from Val Cunningham
When a hawk and owl face off, who wins? Sometimes neither.
Plus: How do birds keep their feet from freezing? How do bird beaks change color?
Chickadees find a creative way to keep feathers in top condition — a snow bath
What's that not-so-gold finch? Where do hawks sleep? These and more reader birding questions answered.
Avoid birdcicles: Heated birdbaths may tempt birds to bathe when it's too cold.
Plus: What kind of nests do great horned owls build? What's a good recipe for suet?
Robins are doing just fine in our winters
Often associated with spring, these migratory birds are a not uncommon sight year-round.
What's a woodpecker doing on a prairie?
Look for round knobs on tall plant stems for signs that birds have been visiting.
Do cardinals speak 'robin'? Do chickadees talk to finches?
Readers' questions answered about Minnesota birds.
Robins get a 'jump' on invasive worms
Also: Reader questions about suburban swans, nectar thieves and "blue vultures."
Why do some birds spend the winter in Minnesota?
While many birds head south, even as far as South America, some birds stick around, and some northern birds move in to replace our "summer" birds.
Danger lurks for young birds as hawk snags unwary flicker from nest
Broad-wings more often focus on catching rodents.
This bird has one of the prettiest and longest songs, with a catchy way to remember it.
Unusual mnemonic device used to recognize its call, one of the longest bird songs.
Exotic pet birds are winding up out in nature where they don't belong
Budgies have a population problem after some pandemic pet purchases were later regretted. Do your research before buying these birds, which are fairly high-maintenance.
Ducklings starting life on a second-story deck
No need to fret: They usually can survive a drop to the ground.
When red-winged blackbirds attack
Breeding season brings out the worst in red-winged blackbirds and these two-ounce tyrants rule the marsh.
University of Minnesota Raptor Center nursery gives injured baby birds a second chance
Life can be hard on young birds of prey.
When to be on the lookout for peak bird migration
Check radar maps to learn your best chances for seeing spring and fall migrants.
Whoo can name the new owls at the Raptor Center?
Two injured owlets will become bird ambassadors. But they need names to go with their titles. You can help.
Birds are busy bees as nesting season opens
Grass, bark strips, mud, feathers or fur go into making soft beds for nestlings.
Do robins see worms or hear them? What's behind that head tilting?
Readers' birding questions answered: robins, wood ducks and cardinal pairs, safe nesting materials and seed gone bad, and more.
Birdhouses don't attract most birds
It's nesting season, and as much as we'd like to help, most birds will never use any kind of birdhouse.
Take the group birding challenge: Find a Female Bird Day
How many female birds can you find in a day? Can you tell males from female birds? Some are easy, some are tricky, some are nearly impossible.
Osprey are the medium-sized raptors with the 'W' wings
Elegant fishing hawks becoming a familiar sight again in the metro area.
Look for eagle eggs to hatch in March
Readers write: Do bird feeders really help birds? Is there such a thing as too many goldfinches?
Whoa! What that geese tuck and roll is all about
Canada geese "whiffle" as they come in for a landing so they can slow down more quickly.
Learn the secrets of bird nests
Ducks and songbirds make sure their young all hatch on the same day.
Cardinals stick together at the end of nesting season
Plus: Where to see eagles on camera, and overwintering bluebirds.
Hurricane winds battered Florida's birds
Plus cardinals and pea vines, owl migration, loons in winter and more.
Do migrants or resident birds live longer?
It's tough on the migration trail, but winter is a challenge, too.
Curious young herons hang out on deck
Young birds are still learning about their world and might show up in odd places as they explore.
Bird migration is a hazardous business
We can help migrating birds by offering places to feed and rest in our own backyards.
Do birds feel grief?
The issue of birds having emotions has been controversial, but many say they do mourn the loss of a partner.
Can young birds bake inside nest boxes?
Midsummer heat can be lethal to young birds in "inside" nests.
In nectar wars, orioles can outmatch feisty hummingbirds
Orioles sometimes bully hummingbirds to drive them away from sugar water feeders.
Some orioles are being dyed a brilliant red by the food they eat
We're more familiar with the bright orange color of the typical male oriole.
When it's time to fly the nest, some birds may be reluctant to leave
Parent birds push their young to disperse to get ready for the next round.
Herons and egrets sometimes share a rookery
Herons and egrets — and other species, too — can often be found nesting in the same stand of trees.
Large, vocal red-bellied woodpeckers take residence in Minnesota
A recent addition to our region stakes out its claim in forests and backyards.
If hummingbirds were no-shows at feeder, it's worth trying again
Learn about birds battling windows, telling eagles apart and chickadees seeming to bathe in snow clumps.
A glimpse of what's going on in those huge eagle nests
Eagle nests are huge, but youngsters use only a small part of it.
Birds flood into Minnesota during spring migration
Billions of birds are on the move in our hemisphere.
Some of spring's migrant birds are here already
Larks, cranes and even turkey vultures are sure signs that spring is on its way.
Some bluebirds stick around Minnesota in the winter
If you think you see a bluebird in the dead of winter or a hummingbird in autumn, you can believe your eyes.
How to tell which owl is hooting — or hiding — in your neighborhood
A guide to the owls you can see Minnesota — if you look carefully.
Solving the mystery of the tiny holes in goldenrod plants
Woodpeckers are the culprits behind those holes in the round balls (called galls) on goldenrod plants.
Think fast: Birds do, and they're smarter than we've given them credit for
Birds not only can think, they even may think faster than mammals do.
Birding Q&A: Can birds taste their food?
Cardinals almost surely taste the food they eat, and in fact, are big fans of black-oil sunflower seeds.
Minnesota birders hope for a rare, good snowy owl winter
Could this be one of those years when versions of Harry Potter's Hedwig turn up everywhere?
Short days, cold nights make winter tough on birds. But you can help.
Imagine eating 35% of your body weight each day. That's what it takes to get a chickadee through winter.
Want more blue jays in your yard? Leave a treat for these peanut-crazy birds
If you want to make these big, handsome birds happy, set out some peanuts every day.
U's Raptor Center uses 'feather extensions' to help a hurt owl fly again
Raptor got replacement tail feathers in an age-old process called "imping" after being injured in a soccer net.
Bird antics abound in Minnesota: Readers share their favorite stories
Riding the rapids or ripping off hearing aids are just some of the bird shenanigans Minnesotans report.
Some birds hoard food in autumn
Blue jays and chickadees prepare for the coming winter by hiding food around their territories.
Young screech owls make themselves at home in urban backyards, but you might not notice
Pint-size owls, just 8 1/2 inches tall, might have nested right in your own backyard.
Birds and bees are not a good mix at feeders
Bees and wasps can drive hummingbirds away from feeders, but there's a work-around for that.
6 great places for fall bird-watching in Minnesota
So many parks and preserves featuring autumn's migrants are free and easy to get around in.
