My Missouri Backyard Bird Photography “HALmanac” – 2nd Qtr 2025

Spring Migration and Breeding Season

Introduction

I have photos of many of the listed birds here in my 2 Qtr 2025 page.

From April to June, Missouri’s backyards become a seasonal theater of color, song, and movement. Spring migration peaks in May, with warblers, vireos, and flycatchers sweeping through in waves. Others arrive to stay, raising young in nearby hedgerows or tree cavities. For the backyard bird photographer, this is the richest time of year—though it requires patience, sharp eyes, and fast shutter speeds to keep up with these flitting guests.

This almanac records photographic highlights and tips for 48 species observed during the second quarter of 2025.

Species Almanac

American Redstart

• Photo Tip: Use burst mode to capture their signature tail fanning.
• Behavior Noted: Constantly moving through mid-level branches.
• Best Time: Mid–late May.
• Notes: Young males show variable orange; great subjects for molt comparison.

Baltimore Oriole

• Photo Tip: Photograph at orange halves or in flowering trees.
• Behavior Noted: Highly vocal, arriving in early May.
• Best Time: Early morning.
• Notes: Females show subtle variation—great for color grading practice.

Bell’s Vireo

• Photo Tip: Look for low perches; background blur helps highlight their pale plumage.
• Behavior Noted: Prefers shrubby edges and brush piles.
• Best Time: Late May.
• Notes: Shy but curious—returns to same perch repeatedly.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

• Photo Tip: Small, fast—pre-focus on areas of high activity.
• Behavior Noted: Foraged in pairs; built cup nests.
• Best Time: All day, especially warm mornings.
• Notes: Capture their long tail and expressive posture.

Blue Grosbeak

• Photo Tip: Expose for rich blues—best in soft light.
• Behavior Noted: Sang from exposed wires and trees.
• Best Time: Midday and early afternoon.
• Notes: Pairs sometimes visited feeders for millet.

Carolina Chickadee

• Photo Tip: Feeder and branch setups work well.
• Behavior Noted: Nesting activity increased in April.
• Best Time: Mornings.
• Notes: Vocal and cooperative—ideal for beginners.

Cedar Waxwing

• Photo Tip: Position near fruiting trees or birdbath.
• Behavior Noted: Flock behavior through May; paired off in June.
• Best Time: Early morning, overcast days.
• Notes: Easily startled—use longer focal length.

Common Yellowthroat

• Photo Tip: Catch males as they pop up to sing.
• Behavior Noted: Stayed near low wetland brush.
• Best Time: Early mornings.
• Notes: Females harder to photograph but worth the effort.

Dickcissel

• Photo Tip: Photograph on tall grasses or fencing.
• Behavior Noted: Singing loudly from June onward.
• Best Time: Mid-morning to afternoon.
• Notes: Excellent subject for action shots.

Eastern Kingbird

• Photo Tip: Flight shots possible with fast shutter as they sally for insects.
• Behavior Noted: Aggressive territory defense observed.
• Best Time: All day, especially clear days.
• Notes: Strong contrast—watch histogram.

Eastern Meadowlark

• Photo Tip: Capture mid-song on fenceposts.
• Behavior Noted: Seen mainly in adjacent fields.
• Best Time: Morning.
• Notes: Great light opportunities after early rains.

Eastern Phoebe

• Photo Tip: Excellent portrait subject.
• Behavior Noted: Nested under eaves.
• Best Time: Early–mid April.
• Notes: Catch feeding behavior in soft light.

Eastern Wood Pewee

• Photo Tip: Use audio lure sparingly for better perching shots.
• Behavior Noted: Began singing in May.
• Best Time: Late morning.
• Notes: Soft silhouette against leafy backdrops.

Golden-crowned Kinglet

• Photo Tip: Bright crown catches sun—use burst mode.
• Behavior Noted: Brief lingerer in early April.
• Best Time: Morning.
• Notes: Mostly gone by mid-April.

Golden-winged Warbler

• Photo Tip: Dream shot—high ISO and patience needed.
• Behavior Noted: Brief migrant in May.
• Best Time: Cloudy mornings.
• Notes: Only 2 sightings; both fleeting.

Gray Catbird

• Photo Tip: Capture vocalization or fruit feeding.
• Behavior Noted: Very active by June.
• Best Time: Morning and dusk.
• Notes: Great subject for expressive photos.

Great Crested Flycatcher

• Photo Tip: Large size makes flight shots possible.
• Behavior Noted: Used nest box in May.
• Best Time: Early morning.
• Notes: Caught carrying snakeskin—unique photo moment.

Hairy Woodpecker

• Photo Tip: Suet setups work well.
• Behavior Noted: Active year-round.
• Best Time: All day.
• Notes: Often confused with Downy—zoom helps.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

• Photo Tip: Use sugar water feeders and native flowers.
• Behavior Noted: Males arrived mid-April; females followed.
• Best Time: Morning and late evening.
• Notes: Use high shutter (1/2000+) for wing blur freeze.

Indigo Bunting

• Photo Tip: Blue saturation best during golden hour.
• Behavior Noted: Singing from power lines and treetops.
• Best Time: Early and late day.
• Notes: One of the season’s most photogenic.

Kentucky Warbler

• Photo Tip: Focus low and wide—often foraging on ground.
• Behavior Noted: Skulking behavior in thickets.
• Best Time: Dusk and dawn.
• Notes: Rarely stayed still.

Louisiana Waterthrush

• Photo Tip: Shoot near water’s edge with fast shutter.
• Behavior Noted: Early migrant—mid-April.
• Best Time: Midday sun filtering through trees.
• Notes: Only one sighting near creek bed.

Magnolia Warbler

• Photo Tip: Vivid coloring—shoot in dappled shade.
• Behavior Noted: Brief visitor in early May.
• Best Time: Cloudy mornings.
• Notes: Males highly photogenic.

Nashville Warbler

• Photo Tip: Bright yellow underside—try low-angle shots.
• Behavior Noted: Foraged close to ground in dogwood thickets.
• Best Time: Mid–late April.
• Notes: Brief but predictable visit during cool mornings.

Northern Parula

• Photo Tip: High canopy dweller—use telephoto with backlight.
• Behavior Noted: Fed in blooming oaks and sycamores.
• Best Time: Mid-May mornings.
• Notes: Captured mid-song during courtship flights.

Orchard Oriole

• Photo Tip: Look for them feeding on grape jelly or caterpillars.
• Behavior Noted: Smaller and quicker than Baltimore Orioles.
• Best Time: Early May.
• Notes: Pairs nested in nearby elm.

Ovenbird

• Photo Tip: Ground forager—shoot low and watch leaf litter.
• Behavior Noted: Loud “teacher-teacher” call gave away presence.
• Best Time: Overcast mornings.
• Notes: Excellent camo—hard to spot but worth the effort.

Palm Warbler

• Photo Tip: Tail bobbing adds motion—burst shots capture behavior.
• Behavior Noted: Ground-feeding migrant in April.
• Best Time: Early–mid April.
• Notes: Present only for a few days.

Pine Warbler

• Photo Tip: Likes suet—set up natural-looking perch nearby.
• Behavior Noted: Foraged in pines and at feeders.
• Best Time: April.
• Notes: Stayed longer than expected—until early May.

Prairie Warbler

• Photo Tip: Open brush makes them great for clean backgrounds.
• Behavior Noted: Tail bobbing, singing males visible in early June.
• Best Time: Morning sun after storms.
• Notes: Perches for several seconds—great for portraits.

Prothonotary Warbler

• Photo Tip: Vivid yellow glows in shaded settings—ideal contrast.
• Behavior Noted: Frequented edge of pond and nest box.
• Best Time: Late May through June.
• Notes: Eye-level photo opportunities with patience.

Red-eyed Vireo

• Photo Tip: Look for the red eye in bright sun or slight side light.
• Behavior Noted: Sang persistently from May onward.
• Best Time: Mid-morning.
• Notes: Subtle coloring—use texture and background creatively.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

• Photo Tip: Catch them descending tree trunks head-first.
• Behavior Noted: Late lingerer—gone by late April.
• Best Time: Cool mornings.
• Notes: Fast and erratic—burst mode helps.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

• Photo Tip: Feeders offer consistent perching—ideal for portrait shots.
• Behavior Noted: Arrived late April; stayed through mid-May.
• Best Time: Overcast mornings.
• Notes: Females subtly beautiful—great for comparison shots.

Song Sparrow

• Photo Tip: Ground-level shots work well—watch for singing posture.
• Behavior Noted: Territorial singing ramped up in April.
• Best Time: Early and late day.
• Notes: Reliable and photogenic.

Scarlet Tanager

• Photo Tip: Red and black pop in filtered forest light.
• Behavior Noted: Males foraged high; brief low visits to birdbath.
• Best Time: Late May.
• Notes: Easily overexposed—underexpose slightly to preserve red.

Summer Tanager

• Photo Tip: Capture in full sun to showcase red hues.
• Behavior Noted: Frequent visitor to oak and mulberry trees.
• Best Time: Mid-morning through June.
• Notes: Slower than Scarlet Tanager—easier to track.

Tennessee Warbler

• Photo Tip: Fast and nervous—shoot when they pause in shrubs.
• Behavior Noted: High numbers mid-May.
• Best Time: Mornings.
• Notes: Excellent warbler for practice—often lingered.

Veery

• Photo Tip: Low light subject—manual settings key.
• Behavior Noted: Foraged in damp leaf litter.
• Best Time: Dusk and dawn.
• Notes: Soft coloring creates moody, beautiful images.

Warbling Vireo

• Photo Tip: Catch open-mouth song shots mid-branch.
• Behavior Noted: Active around creek-side willows.
• Best Time: Early June.
• Notes: Expression and posture are main draws.

White-eyed Vireo

• Photo Tip: Bright eyes make for expressive portraits—wait for side profile.
• Behavior Noted: Skulking but vocal—easy to find if patient.
• Best Time: Early morning.
• Notes: Bounces in and out of view—burst mode useful.

Wood Thrush

• Photo Tip: Best in low light, wide aperture for forest ambiance.
• Behavior Noted: Sang from deep woods in May.
• Best Time: Late afternoon.
• Notes: Melodic voice helped locate—visually elusive.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

• Photo Tip: Perches horizontally—perfect for horizontal framing.
• Behavior Noted: Appeared after heavy caterpillar hatch.
• Best Time: Late May and June.
• Notes: Large and shy—need distance or a blind.

Yellow-breasted Chat

• Photo Tip: Great for dynamic shots—wing flicking and calling.
• Behavior Noted: Frequently displayed in June.
• Best Time: Midday.
• Notes: Often sings from open perches—very photogenic.

Yellow-breasted Vireo (Note: Possibly a typo—likely meant Yellow-throated Vireo)

• Photo Tip: Use sunlight to enhance yellow throat.
• Behavior Noted: Foraged high in canopy.
• Best Time: Morning.
• Notes: Contrast with White-eyed Vireo notable.

Yellow-throated Vireo

• Photo Tip: Bright yellow face stands out—use blue sky for contrast.
• Behavior Noted: Sang persistently from mid-May.
• Best Time: Early morning.
• Notes: One of the most striking vireos.

Yellow Warbler

• Photo Tip: Poses well in shrubs—frame with new green growth.
• Behavior Noted: Nesting by early June.
• Best Time: All morning.
• Notes: Very responsive to pishing or audio.

Seasonal Summary – Q2 2025

• April: Early migrants like Pine, Palm, and Louisiana Waterthrush arrived. Great opportunities for ground-level and suet feeder shots.
• May: Peak migration—warblers, orioles, and vireos in full display. Best time for photographing song, courtship, and color diversity.
• June: Many migrants transitioned to nesting. Buntings, chats, cuckoos, and grosbeaks provided more deliberate, photographic behaviors.