Songbirds

The birds in the pictures on the
left are Cardinals.  The male Cardinal is bright red.  But, as you can see, the female is kind of brown and gray.

During a rainstorm, Mama Cardinal kept the babies warm, while Daddy Cardinal searched for food.
When Daddy Cardinal came to the nest with the food he had found, he gave some to Mama Cardinal.  Then, they both stood on the side of the nest and fed their babies.

Cardinals, like many other kinds of songbirds,
like to live near people's homes.  If you put up
a birdfeeder, you will very likely have
Cardinals come to your feeder to eat seeds.

During the spring and early summer,
songbirds build nests and raise their babies.

The birds on the right are Orchard Orioles.
The mama bird is about to feed her hungry
babies a grasshopper.

(For a better look, click on the picture.)

The Bluejay built her nest in a fork of a tree.
When her babies, called nestlings, hear her
coming, they open their mouths wide to get
the food she has brought them.
These babies will stay in the nest for about 10 days.  They will grow very fast.  By the time they leave the
nest, they will be almost as big as their mother.  They will have feathers, and they will be able to fly short distances.

Bluebirds like to build their nests in holes. 
Sometimes they will find a hole in a tree and build a nest there.  However, bluebirds really
like birdhouses in people's yards. 
This daddy bluebird is getting ready to feed his babies a little caterpillar.

Have you ever found a bird nest in a bush or a tree?

Different kinds of birds like to build different kinds of nests.
Some birds, like the Orchard Orioles and the Bluejays like to build nests in trees.  Other birds, like Cardinals, prefer to build nests lower to the ground, in bushes.
And still other birds, such as the Bluebirds, would rather build their nests in holes--known as cavities.

If you want to have lots of pretty songbirds in your yard,
you need to have trees, bushes, and birdhouses. 
That way  each bird will have just the kind of place it
wants to make its nest.

Putting out bird feeders is another way to get
songbirds to come into your yard.
Many birds like sunflower seeds. 
Some other birds like to eat pieces of fruit.
Catbirds are very fond of boiled raisins.

For a list of birds and what they like to eat, click here.

butterflies