Cormorants often stand in the sun with their wings spread out to dry. They have less preen oil than other birds, so their feathers can get soaked rather than shedding water like a duck’s. Though this seems like a problem for a bird that spends its life in water, wet feathers probably make it easier for cormorants to hunt underwater with agility and speed.

Tags:   Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum Pennsylvania bird bird watching birding birds bird photography bird in flight nature nikon af-s 500mm f/5.6e pf Nikon Z9 Wildlife

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The Yellow-rumped Warbler is the only warbler able to digest the waxes found in bayberries and wax myrtles. Its ability to use these fruits allows it to winter farther north than other warblers, sometimes as far north as Newfoundland.

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That time of year again.

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North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out.

Tags:   Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia Pennsylvania bird bird watching birding birds bird photography nature nikon af-s 500mm f/5.6e pf Nikon Z9 Wildlife

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Handsome aerialists with deep-blue iridescent backs and clean white fronts, Tree Swallows are a familiar sight in summer fields and wetlands across northern North America. They chase after flying insects with acrobatic twists and turns, their steely blue-green feathers flashing in the sunlight. Tree Swallows nest in tree cavities; they also readily take up residence in nest boxes. This habit has allowed scientists to study their breeding biology in detail, and makes them a great addition to many a homeowner’s yard or field.

Tags:   Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Pennsylvania bird bird watching birding birds bird photography bird in flight nature nikon af-s 500mm f/5.6e pf Nikon Z9 Wildlife

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