Val Cunningham

Latest from Val Cunningham

Young cardinals are brown but will molt into red feathers

Why are big flocks of geese flying north in late spring after migration?
July 3, 2025
A bright red male cardinal perches on a white fence with a seed in its beak to feed one of the two brownish young cardinals waiting to be fed. They are mostly brown with hints of rust color on their body.

Canada geese often provide day care for other parents

Plus: Why did the robin try to keep up two nests?
June 19, 2025

What’s that redder-than-red bird?

Scarlet tanagers are most likely to be seen in the north central part of Minnesota.
June 5, 2025
A bright red male tanager with black wings perches in a tree branch.

How to attract more feisty little hummingbirds

Plus, birds’ building plans, foiling window attacks, spying on crows and more.
May 15, 2025
As one hummingbird approaches a red hummingbird feeder, another flies away.

Orioles are returning to Minnesota, and here’s what to feed them

Missing the eagle cam action? Try the peregrine falcon cam instead. And it turns out the Merlin app can detect a merlin.
May 1, 2025
An oriole perched in a tree has some dried plant material in its beak for making a nest.

Birds are migrating back to Minnesota and waterfowl are out in front

Loons and the striking wood ducks are among the early birds to watch for.
April 17, 2025
A common loon on a lake looks backward.

Why do cardinals ‘wha-cheer’ so early in the year?

Plus, readers ask about goldfinches nesting and eating, starlings making holes in lawns and swans appearing in local waters.
April 3, 2025
In the foreground, a male cardinal is perched on a rung of a tube bird feeder with a female perched on the far side on a snowy day.

Handsome and lethal, bird-eating hawks live among us

Cooper’s hawks make themselves at home in the cities and suburbs.
March 6, 2025
A closeup of the head of a young Cooper's hawk in profile.

Orioles are returning to Minnesota, and here’s what to feed them

Missing the eagle cam action? Try the peregrine falcon cam instead. And it turns out the Merlin app can detect a merlin.
May 1, 2025
An oriole perched in a tree has some dried plant material in its beak for making a nest.

Birds are migrating back to Minnesota and waterfowl are out in front

Loons and the striking wood ducks are among the early birds to watch for.
April 17, 2025
A common loon on a lake looks backward.

Why do cardinals ‘wha-cheer’ so early in the year?

Plus, readers ask about goldfinches nesting and eating, starlings making holes in lawns and swans appearing in local waters.
April 3, 2025
In the foreground, a male cardinal is perched on a rung of a tube bird feeder with a female perched on the far side on a snowy day.

Handsome and lethal, bird-eating hawks live among us

Cooper’s hawks make themselves at home in the cities and suburbs.
March 6, 2025
A closeup of the head of a young Cooper's hawk in profile.
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