A Classic Pose Of A Nuthatch

November 20, 2025

A White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) in a pose I often see. Quickly going up and down a tree trunk. Surprisingly, going down like this, head first. Searching, hunting for insects.

The White-breasted Nuthatch has strong feet that enable it to grip tree bark without using its tail for support, a technique that some other birds use. This allows it to navigate on the tree trunk and branches as it searches for insects in crevices. They also use this talent to wedge seeds into cracks in the bark, hiding them from other birds.

This Nuthatch is a bird that is easy to find at my feeders. Peanuts, sunflower seeds, suet all attract them, and definitely the birdbath too.

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Juncos

November 19, 2025

Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) are generally migratory winter birds here in Virginia, though I’ve been up in Shenandoah National Park during the summer and have seen that there is a population of Juncos up there both in breeding season and the winter months as well. Doing a bit of research I see that indeed there are some that do their own thing, residing in the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains year round, rather than migrating.

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My Buddy The Phoebe

November 18, 2025

Their breeding and wintering ranges overlap here in Virginia, so I’m fortunate that I’ve got Eastern Phoebes (Sayornis phoebe) year round. Flipping tail. Often coming back to the same nest year after year. The independent sort. Eating berries when insects can’t be found.

My buddy the Phoebe. 

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Relying On Wind Dispersal

November 17, 2025

Seeds of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).

We’ve had such big winds these past few days, these particular seeds probably have blown long distances thanks to their silken threads. Those silken threads, called floss, act like parachutes taking the seeds to new places to grow. These plants, and other species of Milkweed, help Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) that use those many species of Milkweed as their host plants.

The seeds develop in pods that are 2 to 4 inches in length. Each pod contains on average 200 to 250 seeds. When the seeds are mature the pod will burst open revealing those many seeds in perfect tight rows waiting to be blown away.

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These Are Not Cherry Tomatoes

November 16, 2025

Carolina Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense). Goes from this in June —

— to this in November.

Berries that look very much like they ought to be delicious, much like a cherry tomato. But beware. This fruit of the Carolina Horsenettle has a common name of Devil’s Tomato, which you should take as a warning. Every part of this plant is poisonous to humans as well as livestock.

Horsenettle is in the genus Solanum, which is part of the Solanaceae (or nighshade) family. There are many familiar plants in this family including food that we eat, potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant, and another that we don’t eat, Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna).

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Two Color Morphs Of White-throated Sparrows

November 15, 2025

The white-striped morph of the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). This morph has a bold black and white cap, along with bright yellow lores (area between and just above the eye and bill), crisp pale gray breast, and a pure snow white throat.

Males and females of this morph sing more frequently, are more aggressive, and are more territorial than tan-striped morphs. White-striped females mate with tan-striped males, and white-striped males mate with tan-striped females. The white-striped morphs give less care and attention to their young than those of the tan-striped morphs.

The tan-striped morph of the White-throated Sparrow. This morph has a dark chocolate brown and tan cap, along with small dull yellow lores, a breast that is pale tan with medium brown speckles, and a whitish throat that has some small speckles.

Both males and females of this morph are quiet and not aggressive. Males of the white-striped morph mate with tan-striped females. Males of the tan-striped morph mate with white-striped females. The tan-striped morph of both sexes give more care and attention to their young than those of the white-striped morph.

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An Aggressive Non-Native

November 14, 2025

An exquisite colorway for this time of year. Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is an aggressive invasive non-native, originating in China, Japan, and Korea.

A surprising characteristic is this plant’s roots which are bright orange. Another surprise, it can cause a rash like Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) since, like Poison Ivy, Oriental Bittersweet contains urushiol. Also, all parts of the plant are poisonous to humans.

The red-orange berries emerge from a yellow casing, creating a lovely warm look. If you feel compelled to bring in some of these vines for autumn decorations be very careful to dispose of the vines and berries in a place where they will not have an opportunity to regrow! This Bittersweet grows as a vine that destroys other plants, and uproots trees due to its weight.

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Striking A Pose

November 13, 2025

A Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), striking a pose for my camera.

Gregarious little birds gathering, sometimes with many together, to hunt for food. Going from one source of seeds to another with their undulating flight, singing their soft, sweet, “po-ta-to-chip” song as they go.

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Scarlet Berries On Leafless Branches

November 12, 2025

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), a species of Holly. Native to eastern North America in the United States and southeast Canada. By mid to late summer presenting a lovely contrast of rich green leaves with red berries sprinkled throughout.

In mid autumn the leaves have fallen like so many others, leaving just the scarlet reminders of summer. Red against the warm color of tan against the nearly black and white landscape that will soon be winter.

Scarlet treats for the birds of the forest.

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Another Bird Species Here For The Winter

November 11, 2025

White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis), often the most abundant birds here at the feeders during the winter months. They spend the breeding season in northern North America and their winters in the southern United States. Making the migration with other Sparrows, traveling at night.

There are studies that suggest the White-throated Sparrows may use the stars to help with their migration, using the stars closest to the celestial poles for guidance and perhaps the use of other cues, like magnetic fields.

Ah nature, so cool!

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