Autumn Bird Scavenger Hunt

There is no better clue that autumn has arrived than to see that baby birds have grown and departed their nests. Look for an abandoned nest and study the materials the bird used to build the structure, and you might even be able to identify the species.

Learn More: Removing Bird Nests

Molting birds are another sign of the change of seasons. You might see this in your backyard birds, but finding a duck in eclipse plumage can be a special treat to see. These ducks – typically molting males – are more camouflaged and flightless while they molt.

Learn More: Bird Plumages

As migration gets underway, even your backyard bird flock will change with new arrivals. These might be winter residents who will stay for months or just migrants passing through, but they will appreciate the fall foods you provide just as much.

Learn More: Attracting Birds in Autumn

Birds travel predictable paths during migration because of easier flight patterns, available food sources and where they need to go for the winter. Where is your closest migration flyway, and what new birds does it bring into your region?

Learn More: North America Migration Flyways Map

As leaves begin to fall, they bring with them a bounty of insects, ripe nuts and soft fruits. Many sparrows, thrushes, game birds and other birds will forage in those leaves to pick out tasty morsels, and if you want to avoid raking, providing the leaves for the birds is a great excuse!

Learn More: Use Leaf Litter to Attract Birds

Whenever birds are on the move, there is the chance of one bird getting lost and ending up far from where it is expected. Check in with bird email lists or news updates about migrating birds to learn about these rare birds, and add them to your life list.

Learn More: Unexpected Birds

Autumn birds often gather in tremendous flocks, and even birds that are normally solitary may be found in great flocks during migration. But can you find a kettle, charm, raft, murder, gaggle or flight? Try joining in a hawkwatch event to see what flocks will fly your way.

Learn More: Names of Flocks of Birds

Autumn flowers are lovely to see, and black oil sunflowers in particular offer a bountiful banquet for birds. The large sunflowers grown for agriculture can be stunning, but equally lovely and still a staple for birds are the spectacular flocks of wild sunflowers, all of which may attract many migrating birds.

Learn More: Saving Sunflower Seeds

Migration is an ideal time to sharpen your bird identification skills by learning how to identify birds by their wings, wing beat patterns, flight body shape and other clues. Identifying hawks, eagles and other raptors can be easiest, but try the same techniques with other birds as well.

Learn More: How to Identify Birds in Flight

Bright colors attract birds, and turning a pumpkin into an easy bird feeder is a great way to use fall produce for migrating birds. If you can't find birds enjoying a pumpkin naturally, there are fun projects you can use to make pumpkin bird feeders, and don't forget to save the seeds for feeding birds!

Learn More: 3 Easy Pumpkin Bird Feeder Projects

Even endangered birds need to migrate, and because their movements can be predictable, autumn is a great time to add these threatened species to your life list. Just be sure not to stress the birds or otherwise hurt their chances to continue their journey.

Learn More: Threats to Migrating Birds

No other birds are more associated than the ultimate autumn holiday – Halloween – than owls. As leaves fall and these birds hunt, it can be easier to see owls in fall than many other times of year, and if you're lucky, you might even be able to attract owls to your backyard for easy owling.

Learn More: How to Go Owling