A Winter Birdseed Guide, Our New Brand Store, and Who’s That Bird?

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National Audubon Society
|  Joy of Birds  December 2025
Various birds (from left to right, Red-breasted Nuthatch, House Finches, Blue Jay, and Northern Cardinal) near feeders feasting on birdseed.

Let the Winter Feeder Feast Begin

Did you know that birds rely most heavily on feeders during winter when food is scarce? More than a hundred bird species supplement their natural diets with foods offered at feeders. Help birds push through these harsh, cold months with some quality birdseed! Learn who likes what and how to attract backyard regulars and rarities to your own feeders.
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Photos from left: Red-breasted Nuthatch, Betsy Bass/Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC); House Finches, Jennifer Lint/GBBC; Blue Jay, Nancy Tully/GBBC; Northern Cardinal, Laura Stafford/Audubon Photography Awards

 
Audubon Brand Store items from left to right: A 120th Anniversary sticker, a Let's Go Birding Together t-shirt, a Share the Shore tote bag, Audubon hoodie and hat, and a gift card.

The Audubon Brand Store is Back!

Add more birds to your life with our new Audubon Brand Store! From fresh logo wear to cozy 126th Christmas Bird Count apparel—and now our special 120th Anniversary Collection—each line is filled with fun, educational, and birdy illustrations celebrating the joy of birds and nature. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a loved one, find all things birds at the Audubon Brand Store.

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Illustration: Emily Renaud/Audubon

 
A silhouette of a bird and its reflection in the water.

Guess the Bird with 3 Clues!

It’s the last “Who’s That Bird?” of 2025! Using the silhouetted image above and the three hints below, can you name this bird?

  • Clue #1: From marsh to parking lot, these adaptable and resourceful birds thrive in a wide variety of habitats. But recently, the birds are disappearing—and no one knows why.
  • Clue #2: This bird is known for their harsh, high-pitched readle-eak song often likened to the sound of a rusty gate.
  • Clue #3: Far from simply black, this bird’s feathers have a colorful iridescent cast that is particularly striking in direct sun.

Here’s a bonus hint: This bird’s four-letter banding code, which researchers often use as shorthand for species names, is COGR. Click here to learn more about this bird and reveal the answer

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Photo: Caroline Samson/Audubon Photography Awards

 
A bird-shaped chocolate cake on a plate rests on a table topped with a patterned tablecloth.

A Sweet Treat for You and the Planet

While you’re whipping up holiday treats, try your hand at a planet-friendly recipe. Sustainable baking won’t solve our planetary crisis, but a spoonful of sugar can help break the ice when it comes to talking about climate. Get some tips and tricks on how you can start your sustainable baking journey, plus a recipe for delectable Chocolate-Tahini Mini Cakes!

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Chocolate Tahini Mini Cakes. Photo: Sydney Walsh/Audubon

 
Sandhill Cranes fly together during sunset.

Thanks for Sharing Your Bird Journeys

From spark bird moments to instances that made you passionate to protect birds, we rounded up video stories you shared showing that the connections we have with birds connect all of us. Join us in celebrating our 120th anniversary and migratory birds by watching a compilation of your bird journeys. And don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more inspiring bird content.

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Sandhill Cranes. Photo: Sydney Walsh/Audubon

 

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120th Anniversary Seal

National Audubon Society
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New York, NY 10014 USA
(844) 428-3826 | www.audubon.org

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