2025 Feeder Watch: May

For Mays’ post I want to do things a little different. Instead of showing every species I saw, I want to focus on the new things that are here for the spring and summer seasons. The feeder is really colorful right now, and it’s definitely my favorite time of year to watch. Orioles have made their return in a big way, and I’m so glad I got a second feeder to accommodate them. I’ve had both Baltimore and Orchard come to visit, with both types visiting frequently. My other big time favorite return is the Indigo Bunting. This tiny bird is so incredibly blue, it looks like it should be living somewhere more tropical. I’ve had my hummingbird feeders out as long as my oriole feeders, and did see two hovering around but they quickly left. But much to my delight, they did finally come to feed, and it made me so incredibly happy !

American Goldfinch technically can be seen year round, but they really frequent my feeder more in the spring and summer. I love the bright yellow plumage of the males so much. While not exactly bright and colorful, I did get a Brown Thrasher foraging on the ground under my feeder for the first time. He didn’t hang around long, but enough for me to get a pretty photo.

Sort of along the lines of the Brown Thrasher, the Gray Catbird is a rather drab colored bird, but I feel like the all over color of the gray is really striking and so beautiful. These birds seem to be a little more shy and elusive, and I do want to point out, they really sound like a cat!