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- Bird Watcher's Digest
September/October 2017

The obscure Philadelphia vireo is a fascinating but often-overlooked bird, explains Scott K. Robinson, a world expert on our cover species and author of its species profile, "A Profile in Deception." Columnist Scott Weidensaul recounts 20 years of research on the northern saw-whet owl, a species once thought to be rare, but proven to be common, widespread, and secretive. Julie Zickefoose looks at Bird Life: A Guide to the Study of Our Common Birds, written 100 years ago by Frank M. Chapman. How things have changed! The Spotlight column is on Michigan in this issue, and Far Afield takes you to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where you might find sharp-tailed and spruce grouse!
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Our Cover Species: Philadelphia Vireo by Scott K. Robinson
Eurasian Collared-Dove: Sea to Shining Sea March Is Complete by Mel Carriere
A Bird by Any Other Name by Evault Boswell
Slaty-Backed Floater by John Sill
Busted in Palatka for Spying a Kite by Kathleen Siebert
The Agony and Ecstasy of Birding by Jerry Uhlman
Musings from Managua by Howard Youth

In the Backyard
I Sat Through the Big Sit by Hank Weber
Bearing Through the Bird Feeder Blues by Eli Knapp
Pete's Tips: Buying Up by Pete Dunne

Columns & Departments
Letters from Readers
Quick Takes by Paul J. Baicich
Migrations: Shining Light on a Nocturnal Mystery by Scott Weidensaul
ID Yourself: Getting It Wrong by Alvaro Jaramillo
I Don't Know Who Let the Dogs Out, But I Let the Bird In by Al Batt
Spotlight on Michigan
Birders Question Mark by Mark S. Garland
True Nature: The 100-Year Perspective of Frank M. Chapman by Julie Zickefoose
Far Afield: Birding Michigan's Upper Peninsula by Jerry Uhlman
Watching Bird Behavior: Seven Good Questions by David M. Bird
Book Notes
The Well-Equipped Birder: Bino Bandit by Cheryl Smith
