Val Cunningham

Latest from Val Cunningham

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.

Tips for spotting elusive screech owls: Listen at night and look for holes

Plus: What do cardinals eat when they’re not at feeders? Why do people bird-watch in winter?
February 27, 2025
A screech owl peers out of a circular hole in a tree with a wintry backdrop.

When a hawk and owl face off, who wins? Sometimes neither.

Plus: How do birds keep their feet from freezing? How do bird beaks change color?
February 13, 2025
A short-eared owl on a snowy field looking skyward.

Chickadees find a creative way to keep feathers in top condition — a snow bath

What’s that not-so-gold finch? Where do hawks sleep? These and more reader birding questions answered.
January 30, 2025
A black-capped chickadee perches on a branch.

Avoid birdcicles: Heated birdbaths may tempt birds to bathe when it’s too cold.

Plus: What kind of nests do great horned owls build? What’s a good recipe for suet?
January 9, 2025

Robins are doing just fine in our winters

Often associated with spring, these migratory birds are a not uncommon sight year-round.
January 2, 2025

What’s a woodpecker doing on a prairie?

Look for round knobs on tall plant stems for signs that birds have been visiting.
December 12, 2024
A downy woodpecker perches at a feeder filled with sunflowers.

Do cardinals speak ‘robin’? Do chickadees talk to finches?

Readers’ questions answered about Minnesota birds.
December 5, 2024

Avoid birdcicles: Heated birdbaths may tempt birds to bathe when it’s too cold.

Plus: What kind of nests do great horned owls build? What’s a good recipe for suet?
January 9, 2025

Robins are doing just fine in our winters

Often associated with spring, these migratory birds are a not uncommon sight year-round.
January 2, 2025

What’s a woodpecker doing on a prairie?

Look for round knobs on tall plant stems for signs that birds have been visiting.
December 12, 2024
A downy woodpecker perches at a feeder filled with sunflowers.

Do cardinals speak ‘robin’? Do chickadees talk to finches?

Readers’ questions answered about Minnesota birds.
December 5, 2024
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