A lone Tufted Titmouse braved the windy, cloudy afternoon, making the wait worthwhile. Captured near my backyard feeder with the Sony A1 and 600mm lens.
Bird photography isn’t always about traveling far to capture a bird in the wild. In fact, some of the best shots happen much closer to home—often right in your backyard. Feeder bird photography is a unique art that blends patience and persistence with an appreciation for everyday nature. Over time, my own backyard has become a studio where I consistently capture stunning images of the songbirds that visit my feeders year-round.
Embracing Man-made Elements in Your Photos
Interestingly, I’ve learned that there’s no need to hide the man-made elements birds interact with daily. Feeders are, after all, part of their environment—just like trees or the sky. When a bird perches on a feeder, I don’t rush to crop out the object. Instead, I embrace it as part of the scene, offering an authentic glimpse of their habitat. Consequently, these man-made items often add context to the story I’m telling through the photograph.
Patience and Weather Challenges in Bird Photography
Bird photography requires a great deal of patience, especially when the weather isn’t ideal. For instance, I recently spent hours waiting in windy, cloudy conditions, thinking the day would be a bust. However, just as I was about to pack up and leave, a single Tufted Titmouse appeared on the feeder. That one shot made the wait worthwhile. Therefore, sometimes bird photography is about being patient and capturing those rare, fleeting moments that nature offers.
Choosing the Right Camera Gear for Bird Photography
Of course, using the right gear helps me capture crisp and detailed images. I rely on my Sony A1 paired with a Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS lens. This setup allows me to shoot from a distance without disturbing the birds. For example, when photographing the Tufted Titmouse, I used an f/4 aperture, a 1/400 second shutter speed, and an ISO of 500 to freeze the bird’s subtle movements in low light. Ultimately, having the right equipment makes a significant difference in image quality.
Practice Makes Perfect: Improving Your Feeder Bird Photography
No matter how advanced your gear is, bird photography is all about practice. Feeder birds offer a great opportunity to refine your skills because they visit regularly, giving you plenty of chances to improve. As a result, each session teaches something new, from reading light to anticipating bird behavior. In the end, bird photography is about persistence, patience, and a love for the subject. Even when the conditions aren’t ideal, there’s always something to learn and improve upon.
Captured in June 2023, this house wren brings a spider back to its nest to feed a hungry chick in a wooden birdhouse in Chester County, PA.
House wrens are small but mighty birds that fill the air with their bubbly songs and tireless energy. These cavity-nesting birds are a common sight in Chester County during the summer, busily raising their young and foraging for insects. In June 2023, I captured this moment of a house wren bringing a spider back to its nest, a testament to their relentless dedication as parents.
In this post, we’ll explore the life of these wrens, their nesting habits, and how you can attract them to your own backyard.
Identification: What Does a House Wren Look Like?
House wrens (Troglodytes aedon) are small, brown birds with short tails often held upright. They have thin, slightly curved bills and lack the bold markings seen on many other small songbirds. While they may appear unassuming at first glance, house wrens are anything but dull. Their energetic behavior and constant movement make them fun to watch, and their bubbly, complex song is unmistakable.
Adults are around 4.3 to 5.1 inches in length with a wingspan of about 5.9 inches. Their brownish-gray plumage blends well with their surroundings, but their lively movements often give them away.
Like house wrens, white-breasted nuthatches are small, active birds that often forage for insects and build their nests in tree cavities. Learn more about their fascinating behaviors here: https://www.mrbirdmanphotography.com/white-breasted-nuthatch/.
Nesting Habits: A Family Affair
House wrens are cavity nesters, meaning they seek out small openings in trees, man-made birdhouses, or other nooks and crannies to build their nests. They’re highly territorial and aggressive when defending their chosen nesting spot, often chasing off much larger birds to ensure the safety of their young.
In the image above, I captured a parent wren returning to the nest with a spider, ready to feed its eager chick. This is a common sight during the summer months, as house wrens are dedicated parents, making countless trips each day to feed their young.
These wrens typically lay between 4 and 8 eggs, which hatch after about two weeks of incubation. Both parents are involved in feeding the chicks, and the young will fledge the nest after around 15-17 days. Even after fledging, the parents may continue to feed their offspring for a short period.
Feeding and Foraging: The Search for Spiders
House wrens primarily eat insects and spiders, making them a beneficial bird to have around your garden. In this photo, the parent bird has caught a spider, a common prey item, to feed its chick. Their diet includes beetles, caterpillars, ants, flies, and other small invertebrates, which they forage for on the ground or in vegetation.
They’re also known for their habit of inspecting crevices, under leaves, and along tree bark to find hidden food. Their small size and agility allow them to reach areas that larger birds may not.
Attracting House Wrens to Your Backyard
If you’d like to attract house wrens to your backyard, providing suitable nesting sites is key. Here are a few tips to make your space more inviting to these busy birds:
Birdhouses: Install a wren house with an entrance hole about 1 inch in diameter. Wrens are known to use man-made birdhouses, so placing one in your yard may attract a nesting pair.
Native Plants: Planting native shrubs and trees provides cover and food sources for house wrens and other birds.
Insect-Friendly Garden: Since wrens rely on insects for food, avoiding pesticides and planting insect-attracting plants can create a wren-friendly environment.
Keep Nest Boxes Clean: After the breeding season, clean out birdhouses to prevent the spread of parasites and make the space ready for future nesting.
Why House Wrens Are Perfect Summer Companions
These birds may be small, but they play a big role in keeping garden pests in check. Their relentless pursuit of insects helps to control pest populations naturally, and their active presence brings life and song to any yard. These birds are particularly enjoyable to watch during the breeding season, as they zip around, tirelessly gathering food for their young.
Final Thoughts
House wrens are one of the most fascinating birds to observe during the summer months in Chester County. Their dedication to their young, lively behavior, and constant song make them a welcome addition to any backyard. By providing nesting sites and maintaining an insect-friendly garden, you can enjoy the company of these tireless little birds all summer long.
If you enjoyed this post and want to learn more about local birds, follow along on my blog and Instagram at @Mrbirdmanphotography for more birdwatching tips, stories, and behind-the-scenes insights!
Species: White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) Habitat: Chester County Woodlands, Gardens, and Backyards
There’s something captivating about the white-breasted nuthatch. This small, agile bird is a familiar sight in Chester County and beyond, often seen spiraling headfirst down tree trunks or hopping between branches. Their bold black, white, and gray plumage, paired with their quirky movements, makes them an instant favorite for birdwatchers and photographers alike.
In this post, we’ll dive into the life and behavior of the white-breasted nuthatch, its habitat preferences, and tips for attracting these fascinating birds to your own backyard.
Identification: What Does a White-Breasted Nuthatch Look Like?
The white-breasted nuthatch is easily recognized by its compact, stocky body and sharp, slightly upturned bill. Measuring about 5-6 inches in length, they sport clean white underparts, a bluish-gray back, and a distinctive black cap. Their black eyes stand out against the bright white of their face, giving them a bold, striking appearance.
But what really sets them apart is their unique behavior: nuthatches are one of the few birds that can move headfirst down trees, thanks to their strong feet and sharp claws. You’ll often see them navigating tree trunks, exploring bark crevices for insects.
Habitat: Where to Find Them in Chester County
White-breasted nuthatches are non-migratory birds, meaning you can spot them throughout the year in Chester County. They thrive in mature deciduous woodlands but are also frequent visitors to suburban gardens and backyards, especially where trees like oak and maple are abundant.
In my own backyard, this nuthatch made an appearance on a well-worn perch, highlighting its curious nature and acrobatic prowess. If you’re patient, these birds will reward you with a range of entertaining behaviors, from their foraging techniques to their bold calls.
A Song That Echoes Through the Trees
One of the white-breasted nuthatch’s most recognizable features is its distinctive call. Their loud, nasal “yank-yank” sounds can be heard echoing through the trees, often before you even catch a glimpse of the bird itself. Males and females use a variety of calls to communicate, defend their territory, and during courtship.
In addition to their calls, nuthatches are known for drumming on tree trunks and branches, using their bills to hammer away at insects hidden within the bark. This behavior, similar to woodpeckers, is one of their main feeding strategies.
Diet and Feeding: Attracting Nuthatches to Your Backyard
White-breasted nuthatches are primarily insectivores, feeding on beetles, caterpillars, ants, and spiders. However, they also enjoy seeds, nuts, and suet, especially in the colder months when insects become harder to find.
To attract white-breasted nuthatches to your backyard, consider offering:
Suet Feeders: A great source of fat and energy, especially in winter.
Sunflower Seeds: These are a favorite for many backyard birds, including nuthatches.
Peanuts: Shelled or unshelled, they’re a high-protein snack that nuthatches love.
Trees and Shrubs: Providing natural foraging opportunities with native trees and shrubs is key to making your yard a bird-friendly habitat.
Nuthatch Behavior: A Backyard Acrobat
What makes white-breasted nuthatches so fascinating is their ability to scale trees and move in any direction—whether it’s sideways, up, or down. Their name, “nuthatch,” comes from their habit of wedging nuts into tree bark and then using their strong bill to “hatch” the seed out.
In my recent photo of this white-breasted nuthatch, you can see the bird’s sharp claws gripping the metal perch, a perfect display of its balance and agility. These birds are constantly in motion, making them both a challenge and a delight to photograph.
Fun Fact: Nuthatches are Caching Birds
White-breasted nuthatches are known to cache food, particularly during the fall and winter months. They’ll store seeds and nuts in crevices of tree bark to eat later, ensuring they have enough to sustain them through the cold season. You might catch a glimpse of this behavior in your own backyard if you watch closely enough!
Why White-Breasted Nuthatches Thrive in Chester County
Chester County offers the perfect blend of habitats for white-breasted nuthatches, with its combination of forests, suburban gardens, and old-growth trees. As year-round residents, they bring energy and song to our yards no matter the season. Their adaptability and bold nature make them a bird you can enjoy in all kinds of weather and throughout the year.
Final Thoughts
The white-breasted nuthatch may be small, but it’s a bird full of character and charm. Whether you’re watching them forage for insects or enjoying their bold calls from a distance, these birds bring life and movement to Chester County’s natural spaces. With a bit of patience and the right food, you can easily attract these acrobatic birds to your backyard.
If you’re interested in learning more about backyard birding or discovering other birds common to Chester County, follow along with my blog and Instagram at @Mrbirdmanphotography for more tips, stories, and behind-the-scenes insights!
