Beginning birders in the Midwest and Great Plains are surrounded by beautiful summer birds that are surprisingly easy to identify. Learn how to recognize meadowlarks, goldfinches, kingbirds, and more while improving your birding skills all summer long.

Summer birding can feel quieter and more challenging, but some birds practically beg to be identified. Learn 5 colorful, beginner-friendly summer birds in eastern North America and discover how they can help sharpen your birding skills all season long.

Meet the jay family of birds—from Blue and Steller’s Jays to Green, Gray, Mexican, and Pinyon Jays. Diet, behavior, nesting, and backyard tips.

Purple Martins now rely almost entirely on human-provided housing. Learn their habitat needs, house dimensions, and how to monitor and protect thriving colonies.

Brilliantly blue and remarkably intelligent, the Blue Jay is one of North America’s most charismatic backyard birds. From caching acorns that grow new forests to warning other species of predators, this bold and vocal bird brings both color and purpose to every landscape it inhabits.