Every winter, as darkness and cold surround the northern latitudes, many birds that nest in the great boreal forest—including hawks, owls, and songbirds—head south to find more abundant food sources. And each fall, a team of ornithologists combines reports of northern tree production (such as pinecones and bugs) and rodent populations, and combines this information with bird watchers' recent observations to forecast irruptions and other bird movements in the months to come. This winter looks promising for those who feed birds.

Looking for the best ways to attract hummingbirds? BWD editor Bill Thompson, III, lists the most effective ways to make your hard a hummingbird haven.

Sunflower seed may be the hamburger of the bird world, but don't you sometimes get bored scooping the same old seed out of those 50-pound bags? We'll never know if the birds get bored, too. But just in case they are yawning at your feeder offerings, BWD editor Bill Thompson, III, has a few suggestions to help you break out of the old feeder routine.

What bird is that? Consult our bird identification guide to ID mystery birds in the backyard and beyond. We have photos, song recordings, in-depth entries, and more to help bird watchers correctly identify the birds they spot.