These dead branches are characteristic perches of the Eastern Wood-Pewee. In traditional flycatcher fashion, it sallies out from these perches, catching insects midair. They breed in the eastern half of the US and can be found at forest edges. #birds #nature #wildlife

The Crimson-collared Grosbeak is native to eastern Mexico, but occasionally strays north into southern Texas. This vagrant female drinks from a puddle of water before retreating into the dense brush. #birds #nature

The Loggerhead Shrike is a predator that skewers its prey on thorns or barbed wire spikes, often for consumption later. This behavior earned it the nickname "butcherbird." Yikes! #birds #nature #wildlife

One of North America's most colorful birds, the male Painted Bunting sports blue, red, and green. They are often shy, but their vibrant colors give them away as they flit through dense vegetation. #birds #colorful #NaturePhotography #wildlife

Lucy's Warbler is a small gray bird that breeds in the Desert Southwest. Its rusty rump and crown provide subtle beauty. Pairs forage in riparian areas, where they dine on insects. This one looks like it's getting a drink or finding a small morsel in the shallow water. #birds

Nuttall's Woodpecker is almost entirely limited to California, where it is a year-round resident. As the seasons change, it adapts its diet from insects to some nuts and berries. #birds #nature #wildlife #California

The male Indigo Bunting's brilliant blue feathers are not from a pigment, but a trick of light. The feather's structure reflects blue light, similar to how we perceive a blue sky. #birds #nature #wildlife

The Purple Gallinule's iridescent blue and green feathers are dazzling in sunlit marshes. Its long toes enable it to navigate dense marsh vegetation and even walk on lily pads. #birds #nature #marsh

Can't find your keys? Clark's Nutcracker is a brainy corvid that lives year-round in western North America's high elevations (3,000-12,000 feet). It caches tens of thousands of pine seeds up to 20 miles away and remembers most locations for winter. #birds #nature #corvid

While there are many shades of red, the male Vermilion Flycatcher sports one of the most compelling. I underexposed this shot to preserve the detail in his vibrant red head, which was in a bright spot above a deep shadow. What do you think of the result? #birds #nature #wildlife

This White-crowned Sparrow clearly has something to say. Breeding in Alaska and Canada, they visit feeders across much of North America during at least one season. Have they stopped by your feeder or crossed your path in the wild?

Male Eastern Towhees are dazzling with their jet-black heads and rich rufous sides. They sing "drink-your-tea" to claim territory. Look for them in shrubby edges and low branches in the eastern half of the US. #birds #wildlife #nature

I was lucky to find a window in the dense mangroves, just as sunset lit up this Roseate Spoonbill. That brilliant pink is not genetic. The color comes from its diet of carotenoid-rich organisms like shrimp and intensifies as it matures. #birds #nature #wildlife

Most hummingbirds are flying south by now, including this Ruby-throated. There is always a debate about leaving the feeders up for the stragglers or putting them away to encourage migration. What do you do? #birds #nature #wildlife

This flycatcher, the Great Kiskadee, is a permanent resident in South Texas. The bright yellow belly and bold black-and-white head stripes make it easy to spot in its habitat. #birds #nature #wildlife

The Gila Woodpecker's most exceptional characteristic is its symbiotic relationship with the saguaro cactus. After months of curing to harden, these nesting cavities become essential homes for other species unable to create their own. #birds #nature #wildlife

That incredible red and black plumage is for the breeding season. The male Scarlet Tanager molts into a more subtle olive-green for migration and flies thousands of miles to its wintering grounds in South America, often traveling at night. #birds #nature #wildlife