How to Grow Lungwort Flowers

Spot On lungwort plant with pink and blue flowers.
‘Spot On’ lungwort plant
  • Common name: Lungwort, spotted dog, Bethlehem sage
  • Scientific name: Pulmonaria spp.
  • Hardiness zones: 3 to 8
  • Light needs: partial shade, shade
  • Watering needs: moderate
  • Preferred soil: consistently moist, well-drained, nutrient rich
  • Size: clumps 6 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches high
  • Attracts: hummingbirds, bees, butterflies

An energetic plant with a tragically unpleasant name, lungworts and their delicate multicolored flowers are coveted by gardeners for their ability to thrive in shady spaces.

“Colorful choices for a shade garden can be limiting, so any splash of color is a welcome addition,” says Spencer Campbell, Arboretum Plant Clinic Manager at The Morton Arboretum. “They can also be planted as ground cover to fill in areas of the garden where other plants may have a hard time getting established.”

Lungwort is one of the best shade garden plants for your shady areas.

Lungwort Foliage and Flowers

Pwpulmonaria Pink A Blue
Pulmonaria ‘Pink-a-Blue’

While pollinators love their flowers — which bloom early in the season and vary from blue and pink to purple, red and white — gardeners often choose them for their bushy, decorative leaves.

“Lungwort’s foliage is often adorned with white or silver spots once thought to resemble human lungs,” says Laura Root, a horticulturist at Park Seed. “This lead to their historical use in treating respiratory ailments and earned it the name Pulmonaria.”

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Where to Plant Lungwort

Lungwort
Plant lungwort in partial sun to shade

When planted in the right conditions, Pulmonaria are a low-maintenance perennial — but finding that perfect happy place can be a bit of a task.

Their forever home should be in a shady area or one with dappled sunlight. They’re also particular about having moist, well-drained (but not soggy) soil. They love being under the shade of a tree canopy, but sometimes trees outcompete them for moisture, so in that case they may need supplemental water.

“Also, be mindful if you are planning to plant them around trees so you do not disturb their established surface roots,” says Spencer.

Psst—we found the perfect ground cover plants for every landscape.

How and When to Plant Lungwort

Pulmonaria and hellebore
Pulmonaria with Lenten rose blooming in spring

Most people plant Pulmonaria from potted plants or plugs, as they’re both difficult and slow to germinate by seed. While that raises the upfront costs a bit, they make up for it with value down the road.

“They are a great plant for division, making it valuable to the money saving gardener,” says Laura. “The best time to divide is after flowering. But they are slow spreaders so it is not advised to do this every year.”

Once you find your perfect Pulmonaria location, plant them in the spring, after the last frost. Early autumn is also a good time, as it allows the roots to get established before winter. Make sure to also fertilize them lightly with compost each spring.

Learn how to grow and care for hostas.

Lungwort Wildlife Benefits

While Pulmonaria is not native to North America, it is often considered a good addition to pollinator gardens anyway. As an early bloomer, it provides an important spring food source for bumblebees, plus its clump-forming growth creates habitat for beneficial insects like beetles and spiders, says Laura. It’s also rare to find a shade plant that’s good for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.

Lungwort Cultivars to Grow

Pulmonaria comes in a wide variety of cultivars and hybrids. An especially noteworthy variety is Raspberry Splash, which is highly resistant to slugs and mildew infections, plus known for its vivid, large pink-and-purple bloom clusters.

Plant Brunnera Jack Frost in a shady spot.

Lungwort Pitfalls, Pests and Problems

One of the biggest complaints about Pulmonaria is that it wilts and dies back in hot weather. But, they usually perk up once the weather cools. To help them bounce back, trim off dead sections and keep them watered, but not soggy. Once they are done flowering, it’s also helpful to prune off the stems and tattered leaves to encourage new growth.

Other common problems and concerns include:

  • Planting areas that are too wet, or soil that remains soggy for a prolonged period, both of which can cause leaf spots and crown and root rot.
  • Planting areas that are too dry, which can cause dormancy.
  • Soils that are too alkaline or too acidic. Lungwort does best within the 7.0 to 8.0 pH range.
  • Slugs, which can damage foliage.
  • Powdery mildew accumulation, which can affect aesthetics.
  • Toxicity to humans and pets, which occurs in some, but not all, species of Pulmonaria.

Next, learn how to grow foolproof ferns in your shade garden.

About the Experts

Laura Root is a horticulturist at Park Seed. She earned her degree in environmental horticulture from Virginia Tech and loves helping gardeners of all experience levels create vibrant, sustainable landscapes.

Spencer Campbell is the Arboretum Plant Clinic Manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. The Plant Clinic is a free nationwide service providing home gardeners and green professionals with plant and growing advice.

Why Trust Us

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brandhas been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.

Are Ruby-Crowned and Golden-Crowned Kinglets Related?

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Ruby-crowned kinglet

Summer residents of boreal and temperate montane forests, the ruby-crowned kinglet and golden-crowned kinglet share many similarities in behavior and appearance.

“They’re both really tiny,” explains ornithologist Ed Pandolfino, PhD. And both birds have small, sharp black bills. However, due to a taxonomic revision, the two are not as closely related as they once were thought to be.

Couypc20 Gary Botello 022
Golden-crowned kinglet

“The ruby-crowned is in its own genus,” explains Ed, noting it was removed from Regulus and put into the newly created Corthylio. While the kinglets are still distantly connected, it’s also interesting to note that the golden-crowned kinglet is more closely related to the Goldcrest, an Old World species.

Despite this new designation, it helps to understand their physical characteristics and habits to appreciate these vivacious little insect-eaters.

Meet 20 stunning warblers to look for in spring.

What Does a Golden-Crowned Kinglet Look Like?

13 Hank Ohme Bbxsep23
Look for a strip of bright orange on a male’s crown

Ed notes that the male and female have the emblematic golden crown, but the male’s crown has fiery orange in the middle of the gold. Both are olive green on top and gray on the bottom with a white wing stripe. Measuring shy of 4-inches long and weighing a mere 0.1 to 0.3 ounces, they’re often difficult to spot when they’re high in the treetops.

Learn how to identify a blue-gray gnatcatcher.

Golden-Crowned Kinglet Range and Habitat

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These birds can survive extremely cold temperatures.

Golden-crowned kinglets prefer conifer forests, especially old growth areas, as well as along the northeastern mountains of the U.S. Ed says even though they are very tiny, they are surprisingly cold tolerant. “They will often winter where they breed,” he says, noting that while many migrate to lower elevations or more southerly locations, there are populations that over-winter as far north as Maine, where temperatures plunge to -40F.

There is speculation on how they survive these extreme conditions, although they’ve been observed seeking shelter in a tree cavity and huddling together.

Nesting Habits of Golden-Crowned Kinglets

A Pair of Golden Crowned Kinglets on an Oak Tree
Females and males help each other at nesting time.

As monogamous pairs, the male stakes out their territory by flaring his crown, singing, and giving rapid “tseee” vocalizations. The nest is situated up to 60-feet high in a conifer treetop, typically close to the trunk. Both parents aid in the construction of the 3-inch high and 3-inch wide nest formed of mosses, lichens and soft materials, and raise two broods of three to 11 whitish eggs with light brown and lavender speckles.

During incubation and nesting the female remains on the nest while the male provides food for her and the brood, which fledge between 17 and 19 days.

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What Do Golden-Crowned Kinglets Eat?

The golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa) on the feeder
These birds might visit suet feeders in backyards

“They’re tiny birds with tiny bills, so they’re not really going to focus on seeds,” says Ed. “If you want to attract them to your garden, they are insectivores.” Growing native plants and not using pesticides helps create a conducive habitat. He also recommends a suet feeder or placing mealworms on a tray for a treat.

Insect-eating birds: do birds eat bees, mosquitoes and butterflies?

Golden-Crowned Kinglet Songs and Calls

Bird songs courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

With a series high-pitched notes within their vocal repertoire, the song golden-crowned kinglets is sometimes one of the first birds missed as people lose their hearing. There are approximately 14 different calls and songs ranging from a series of “tsee-tsee-tsees” to high, thread-like notes.

What Does a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet Look Like?

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The red crown is visible on males

The male and female are both olive-green with white eye rings and white wing bars, but only the males sport the distinctive red crown. “They are feisty little birds,” says Ed, who notes that when they’re agitated the males flare their bright ruby crest.

These kinglets are easily spotted because of their frenetic behavior, including constantly flicking their wings.

Meet more small red bird species you should know.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Range and Habitat

Bnbbyc19 Tom Soetaert
These small birds breed in forests

During the summer breeding months, the ruby-crowned kinglets occupy boreal forests from Alaska to the Atlantic coast and the forests of the Western mountains. The ruby-crowned tends to prefer more open forests than the golden-crowned, though both species prefer to be near water.

In the winter, ruby-crowned kinglets vacate the higher elevations and northern latitudes. Ed says, “They migrate to lower elevations of the Western and Southern half of the U.S. and into Mexico.

Nesting Habits of Ruby-Crowned Kinglets

When it comes to building the nest, the female chooses the site, which is often high up in the tree, and constructs the dual-layered structure using moss, twigs, spiderwebs, feathers and plant materials. The end result is a globe-shaped nest measuring 4-inches across and up to 6-inches long.

Instead of fighting, they use their loud vocalizations to ward off unwanted intruders into their territory, and the pair remains together for two months, long enough to send the young from the nest.

Learn how to identify and attract a bushtit bird.

What Do Ruby-Crowned Kinglets Eat?

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These birds are primarily insect-eaters but they occasionally feed on berries.

Ruby-crowned kinglets will hover and pluck aphids, ants and other insects off of leaves and branches. When insects aren’t as abundant, they’ll sometimes feed upon seeds and fruit, such as poison oak berries.

In the backyard, they also visit suet feeders. “If you’re going to put up suet, look for ones of the cages that have small openings,” says Ed, recommending this as a good way to discourage jays.

Nuthatch vs chickadee: here’s how to tell the difference.

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet Songs and Calls

Bird songs courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

“They tend to be very vocal,” says Ed. Their calls lean towards more of a harsh, two-part chatter, and their musical songs start off with soft, high-pitched notes, then increase in volume and complexity. Though each individual male sings only one song, those songs vary from place to place throughout their range.

Next, meet 6 types of wrens you should know.

About the Expert

Devoted to birds for over 30 years, Ed Pandolfino‘s accomplishments include publishing dozens of peer-reviewed scientific articles, two books, and serving as president of Western Field Ornithologists, vice-president of San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, along with a myriad of other bird-related organizations.

Sources

Why Trust Us

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brandhas been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.

Common Foxglove Plant Care Tips

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Foxglove in bloom
  • Common name: Common foxglove
  • Scientific name: Digitalis purpurea
  • Hardiness zones: Zones 4 to 9
  • Light needs: Full sun
  • Water needs: Does best with regular watering and moist soil
  • Size: 1 to 3 feet high
  • Attracts: hummingbirds, bees and butterflies

If you’ve ever seen this plant’s otherwordly stalks of tubular purple flowers, you can probably get a sense of why it’s earned a few fairy-tale nicknames, from fairy fingers and ladies’ thimble to fairy bells. Its scientific name, Digitalis purpurea, literally means ‘purple fingers.’

Are Foxglove Plants Invasive?

Common foxglove isn’t native to the U.S. and was brought here from western European countries where it’s still a popular choice in gardens across the United Kingdom. Depending on where you live, it could be a lovely addition to your own garden, as well.

Allen Pyle, a horticulture expert and outreach specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Extension, says, “Its large flowers are very showy, make interesting cut flowers, and are attractive to hummingbirds and bumble bees.”

Before you decide to introduce it to your garden, do a little homework first and make sure it won’t wreck havoc on native plants. Allen says, “Digitalis is considered invasive in some mild climate areas including California and Oregon due to potential for reseeding. I haven’t found it an overly aggressive reseeder in the Midwest, however, and cutting flowering stems off after flowers fade and before seed is produced will prevent reseeding.”

Discover surprising flowers you never knew are invasive.

When and How to Plant Foxglove

Bnbbyc17 Jennifer Cleary

You’ll find some varieties that are perennials and bloom every year of their lifespans, but for the most part, this plant is a biennial and blooms once over two years. That means if you start from seed, it will establish its root system and produce leaves in its first spring, then bloom in its second. Its second year is also when it will attempt to reseed for future seasons.

Allen’s advice for continuous blooms? “Planting Digitalis yearly for several years will ensure that some plants are blooming each year,” he says.

It’s easy to start directly from seed instead of buying an already established plant. To start from seed, you can sow them indoors or directly into the ground. “I typically prefer to start Digitalis indoors in a soilless seed-starting medium,” Allen says. “I sow the seeds about nine to 12 weeks before the last expected spring frost.”

Whichever approach you take, it’s important to remember that light is required for the seeds to germinate, so you don’t want to cover the seeds up with soil. Also be sure to keep soil moist.

Check out the top 10 bushes with pretty purple flowers.

Where to Plant Foxglove

Digitalis Purpurea Sugar Plum foxglove
‘Sugar Plum’ common foxglove

What makes this plant so captivating is not just its vibrant color but also how tall it can grow. Take full advantage of its height and use it in the backs of mixed borders to add visual structure.

You can also plant it in containers — it makes a great thriller centerpiece. Most varieties will grow well in containers, but there are some dwarf varieties available that make it even easier like Dalmatian Peach. Although he says he personally prefers growing this plant in garden beds, for containers, Allen suggests choosing varieties that will flower in their first year, such as the Camelot series or Foxy foxglove. That way, you’ll get major visual impact sooner in its growth cycle.

Native Plant Alternatives

Shutterstock 1269394990
Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)

If you’d rather stick to native plants in your garden but still want something reminiscent of Digitalis purpurea, you can try foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis). Although not the same as foxglove, it reaches similar heights and shares the same growing conditions. It’s a magnet for important pollinators, like bumblebees.

Does Foxglove Attract Hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds and other pollinators like bees and butterflies love the eye-popping colors. The tubular blossoms are an especially ideal flower shape for hummingbirds to drink out of because of their long, curved bills. You can attract hummingbirds with any color of foxglove.

Are Foxglove Plants Poisonous?

Yes, all parts of the plant (flower, stem, seeds, etc.) are poisonous to humans and curious pets when eaten. The Digitalis part of its scientific name (Digitalis purpurea) is also the name of a once-common heart stimulant medication which gets its key ingredient from the plant.

Side-effects of consuming it include nausea and headache at the mildest and potentially fatal heart problems at the worst. Allen advises, “Gardeners with small children or pets may want to avoid planting Digitalis altogether.”

The upside, however, is that its toxicity is what makes it rabbit- and deer-resistant. (Just don’t use it to brew your tea!)

About the Expert

Allen Pyle is a horticulture expert and outreach specialist at University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Extension. He earned a bachelor of science in horticulture and a master of science in entomology, both from Michigan State University.

Sources

  • Walters Gardens
  • Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Why Trust Us

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brandhas been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.

Bougainvillea Care and Growing Tips

Ruby-throated hummingbird at bougainvillea plant
Ruby-throated hummingbird at bougainvillea flowers
  • Scientific name: Bougainvillea spp.
  • Zones: 9 to 11 or Annual
  • Light needs: Full sun
  • Water needs: Low
  • Soil: Well-drained
  • Size: 2 to 40 feet tall, 6 to 40 feet wide
  • Attracts: Birds, bees, and butterflies

This thorny tropical beauty provides brilliant color year-round in the south, and all summer long up north. “These plants are incredibly showy because of the way they flower all along new shoots that can be trellised or left cascading,” explains Tracy Harrison, Nursery Production Planning Manager at Monrovia. “Some varieties even have colorful foliage as a backdrop to the vibrant colors of the bracts which makes the plant more eye-catching.”

The white or yellow flowers of this vibrant vine are themselves quite small, though they do attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The real stars of the show are the bracts, the colorful modified leaves that surround each flower. They provide the color, in shades of pink, purple, red, yellow, orange, or white, against a backdrop of green foliage that’s often almost completely hidden.

Is Bougainvillea an Annual or Perennial?

Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea in bloom

Bougainvillea loves sun, so plant it where it will receive at least 6 hours of direct light each day. It needs well-drained soil, and is very drought-hardy once established. Give it a fence or trellis to clamber up, or plant it where it can trail over a fence or railing.

This heat-loving native of the tropics can’t take freezing temperatures, but many northern gardeners grow it as an annual. “Summers up north are plenty warm enough to grow bougainvillea, and most varieties grow fast enough to get the full cascading, running, or trellised effect they are known for,” Tracy promises. He notes that you can cover them with a light blanket in case of frost. “These are tough plants, and it would take a solid freeze to kill them completely.”

Check out the top 10 vines to grow for hummingbirds.

Bougainvillea as a Container Plant

White Bougainvillea
White flowering bougainvillea

Wondering whether you can grow this plant in pots? Tracy says, “Absolutely! Containers are one of the best options for bougainvillea. In fact, root bound plants tend to flower very well. Make sure to use a rich but well-drained soil media.”

This vine makes a lovely spiller in hanging pots. You can also use it as a thriller in combo arrangements by trimming the new growth to maintain an upright shape.

“Bougainvillea can take hard prunings, so don’t be afraid to keep these in bounds or refresh them by taking off large sections of shoots,” shares Tracy. “They will return and flower again. I’ve seen very old plants in containers grown like bonsai.”

Grow mandevilla (rocktrumpet) for easy summer color.

Bougainvillea Pests, Problems and Diseases

Bnbbyc17 Chris Gunther
Female hummingbird sitting on a thorny bougainvillea branch

It’s important to note that this is a very thorny plant, so wear heavy gloves and other protection when planting and pruning. Keep this plant away from young kids and pets who might get a little too close for comfort.

Thorns aside, this is a pretty easy-care choice, as long as you avoid overwatering. If the leaves begin to yellow, cut back on irrigation or find a way to improve soil drainage.

“Aphids can be an issue, but can easily be controlled with oils or soaps or by hand if you have only a few,” Tracy advises. “Just look for them on the most tender new growth.”

Grow trumpet honeysuckle for hummingbirds.

Top Bougainvillea Varieties to Try

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Bougainvillea ‘Burgundy Queen’

Tracy recommends a brand-new variety he personally discovered, Monrovia’s Burgundy Queen. The new growth leaves are a showy, deep wine-red, while the bracts are an even more dramatic burgundy. Bengal Orange is another real show-stopper, with variegated foliage and bracts in shades of hot pink and orange.

For containers or hedges, Torch Glow‘s unique upright, stiff branches are the perfect fit. These branches are topped by reddish pink blooms and bracts, giving it a torch-like appearance. Dwarf variety Oo-La-La is another container or border gem.

Next, learn how to grow fragrant, tropical plumeria flowers.

About the Expert

Tracy Harrison is the Nursery Production Planning Manager at Monrovia’s Cairo, Georgia, nursery location. He studied horticulture at the University of Georgia, and has been a Monrovia Craftsman for 30 years. In 2014, Tracy discovered Burgundy Queen, a new variety of bougainvillea recently made available to home growers.

Sources

Lantana Flower Care and Growing Tips

lantana flower
Common buckeye butterfly on lantana flower
  • Scientific name: Lantana camara
  • Common names: Lantana, Bush lantana, West Indian lantana
  • Growing zones: Perennial in zones 9a to 11b, tender perennial in Zones 7a to 8b, annual elsewhere
  • Native to: Central and South America
  • Size: 1 to 6 feet high, 3 to 5 feet wide
  • Light needs: Full sun
  • Water needs: Average, prefers even moisture; somewhat drought tolerant once established
  • Soil needs: Rich, well-drained soil

Coming in a dazzling array of saturated sunset hues, a lantana flower (Lantana camera) is a no-fuss, easy-care plant that blooms nearly non-stop in full sun.

Is Lantana an Annual or Perennial?

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Gulf fritillary butterfly on lantana

“In mild winter climates, they will grow year-round outdoors,” says horticulturist Noelle Johnson, author of “Dry Climate Gardening.” In these cases, they can reach shrub proportions up to 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide.

“For cooler climates, they make an excellent, warm-season, flowering annual,” she says. As an annual, they usually hover around 1 foot tall and can be used to edge garden beds or as container accents.

It’s possible to overwinter your lantanas as houseplants, too–usher them indoors before temperatures near 28 degrees Fahrenheit, and place near a window in a cool unheated room. The plants will go dormant, so water sparingly, and return them outside when temperatures are reliably over 55 degrees.

If they are perennial in your area, you can multiply your plants with hardwood cuttings in the fall.

Wildlife Benefits

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Painted bunting at a bird feeder near lantana flowers

Hummingbirds love their nectar, bees and other beneficial insects adore their pollen, while other birds nibble on their berries. Deer avoid them, and they have few pest or disease issues.

Check out the top colorful hummingbird flowers for your garden.

Lantana Varieties to Grow

SunDance™ Pink Lantana
‘SunDance Pink’ lantana

The lantana family keeps growing as breeders add dazzling color combinations to the flowers, boosting qualities like drought tolerance, low seed set, compact habit, and bloom count. There are upright, trailing, and mounding shapes for every garden situation.

‘Bandolista Red Chili,’ with a slightly trailing habit that makes it a natural for hanging baskets or containers has been a favorite in several recent plant trials, according to Greenhouse Product News. ‘Evita Red’ offers a party of red, yellow, orange, and magenta in each blossom while ‘SunDance Pink’ brings out the softer side in sweet pastels.

Seek out certified sterile varieties like ‘Luscious Marmalade’ and ‘Royale Red Zone’ if you live in humid/wet areas where lantana can be invasive. Noelle also notes the hybrid ‘New Gold’ is largely sterile. As a bonus, without setting seed, they plants will also bloom longer without needing deadheading.

Where and When to Plant Lantana

Stunning Swallowtail In Our Yellow Lantana.
Lantana will thrive when planted in full sun

Save your sunniest spot for lantana, which flowers most profusely in full sun, says Noelle.

Lantana are slow to flower from seed, so most gardeners start growing them from small transplants. In warm areas, you can plant lantana in spring. Gardeners in cooler climates should watch for them at nurseries in early to midsummer when temperatures are reliably warm enough.

Pruning and Fertilizing Lantana

hummingbird at lantana
Lantana flowers attract hummingbirds

If your lantana grows too lanky, pinch off the top growing points to encourage more lantana flowers and fuller growth. At shrub size, you can even take a hedge shear to them. Pruning can be done anytime, according to Proven Winners.

In-ground plants shouldn’t need fertilizer, but container-grown plants may benefit from a slow-release fertilizer at planting time. Overdoing fertilizer can hamper flower production. Deadheading can encourage new blooms and stop seed-set in non-sterile cultivars.

While unfussy about soil types, their favorite situation is well-drained and rich soil. Lantana prefer to be kept evenly moist but can be drought-tolerant once established where they are perennial. Take care not to let your plants stay overly wet.

Is Lantana an Invasive Plant?

Lucious Marmalade lantana
Choose sterile varieties such as ‘Luscious Marmalade’

According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, lantana is considered an invasive weed in Hawaii, Florida, Texas, eastern Australia, the Galapagos Islands, and other islands and tropical areas.

Lantana camara can self-seed where moisture is present, such as in irrigated gardens,” says Noelle. “In more tropical and humid regions, (the plants) can spread unchecked, spreading by seed. They spread more aggressively in wet, humid and warm locations.”

Noelle says in dry sites, lantana is less likely to roam where unwanted.

If you are concerned about keeping lantana contained within your garden, especially if you live near an open green space, stick with sterile cultivars.

Are Lantana Plants Toxic?

Although birds snack on the berries, lantana’s leaves and berries are toxic if ingested in large amounts and can be fatal for livestock. Among humans, they typically cause symptoms like digestive upset. Noelle also notes, “The foliage of lantana can be mildly irritating to the skin.”

About the Expert

Noelle Johnson, horticulturist and author of “Dry Climate Gardening,” gardens and consults on landscape design in Phoenix, Arizona, and has taught at the Desert Botanical Garden and Tuscon Botanical Garden.

Sources

Why Trust Us

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brandhas been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.

Growing Tips for Hollyhocks

hollyhocks flowers care
Hollyhocks are relatively easy to grow from seed
  • Common name: Hollyhocks
  • Scientific name: Alcea spp.
  • Zones: Zone 3 to 9 or Annual (some varieties are hardy to Zone 2)
  • Light: Full sun
  • Water: Moderate and drought tolerant when established
  • Preferred soil: Rich, well-drained
  • Mature Size: 4 to 8 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
  • Attracts: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, birds

Hollyhocks are old-fashioned, summer-flowering plants, typical of the “cottage garden” style. Flowers open at the base of the flower stalk and continue up, remaining open for several days. Tall spires—4 to 6 feet tall—of many blossoms make it look like the entire plant blooms for months.

“I’m a huge hollyhock fan!” says author and horticulturalist Joseph Tychonievich. “They’re so easy to grow from seed, which makes them a very affordable way to fill up a garden, and the flowers are always a huge hit with bees and other pollinators.”

Are Hollyhocks Annuals or Perennials?

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Hollyhock ‘Fiesta Time’

Most plants we grow are hybrids of Alcea rosea, which are short lived perennials or biennials. Biennial plants produce foliage in the first year; flower and set seed in the second year. These plants readily self-seed, so they appear to be perennials because new plants grow each year.

There are also dwarf forms, which bloom in the first year and are treated like annuals. A few species are true perennials.

When and Where to Plant Hollyhocks

hollyhocks in bloom
Plant tall hollyhocks in a group for a garden focal point

Direct sow seeds outdoors in the beginning of summer or a few weeks after the average last frost. In a full sun area with well drained soil high in organic matter, press a few seeds on moist soil, about 2 feet apart. As they grow, thin the seedlings to have one plant per 2 feet. Usually, the plants do not need staking. They look especially attractive when planted in groups at the back of the perennial border, or along walls or fences.

The blossoms do not need to be deadheaded but the flower stalk can be removed once all flowers have bloomed. The plants should be fertilized in the beginning of the growing season but not during the summer.

Each year, after autumn’s first frost, gardeners should cut the growth down to the ground, bag, and throw it away. Bagging instead of putting plant material in the compost pile prevents fungal spores from overwintering in the garden.

Do Hollyhocks Attract Pollinators?

hummingbird and hollyhock flower
Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers

Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Birds eat the seed and deer are not interested in these plants.

Pests and Diseases

Rust is a common fungal disease especially in hot, humid places. Rust initially appears as orange and yellow spots on the top of the lower leaves. As the disease progresses, brown to red raised bumps appear on the leaves’ undersides. This is unsightly and can stunt growth but usually does not kill the plant. However, rust can spread to other plants.

“The one downside, in my experience, is rust,” says Joseph. “Unfortunately, every species I’ve tried, even those marketed as rust resistant, do get rust. My solution is just to grow them in the back of a bed with other plants in front of them to hide the rust.”

To help prevent fungal diseases, use good gardening practices such as adequate spacing, good air circulation, not watering overhead or in the evening, and removing infected leaves immediately. The performance of rust-resistant varieties depends on the local environment. There are preventive fungicides that you can try, but once the rust appears, fungicide will not eradicate the infection.

The plants also attract a variety of “foliage eaters,” including Japanese beetles, weevils, and sawflies. All three will feed on the foliage but can be picked off by hand and dumped into a bucket of soapy water.

Varieties of Hollyhocks to Grow

Alcea 'Las Vegas'
Alcea ‘Las Vegas’

Flower colors range from red, pink, purple, yellow, and white to “black” (dark purple) in single or double flowered forms. The most common strain was developed by English horticulturist William Chater in the 1800s. Chater’s are double flowered in a range of colors. These are biennials or short-lived perennials.

Jelitto Perennial Seeds breeders developed the single-bloomed, Spotlight series: Blacknight (appears black but is dark purple); Mars Magic (bright red); Polarstar (white with a yellow eye); and Sunshine (bright yellow).

Thompson & Morgan created the Halo series which has large, single flowers and contrasting centers in a variety of colors. Both series are perennials that will flower in the first year.

Two species touted as rust resistant are fig-leaf (A. ficifolia) and Russian (A. rugosa). Fig-leaf has been bred with A. rosea to produce a wider color range; however, those plants may not be as rust resistant as the species. Still, consider growing Happy Lights (yellow, red, purple, salmon) and Las Vegas (brown to red, pink to white and yellow to copper). The Russian hollyhock produces only yellow flowers.

Dwarf forms, reaching 2 to 3 feet tall, have double flowers and include the Queeny series, the Spring Celebrities Mix, and the Majorette Mix.

Sources

About the Expert

Joseph Tychonievich is a horticulturist, speaker, plant breeder, and author of Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener (in which he talks about hollyhocks), Rock Gardening: Reimagining a Classic Style, and most recently The Comic Book Guide to Growing Food.

Why Trust Us

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brandhas been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.

Snow Goose, Chen Caerulescens, migratory birds
Snow geese summer in the Arctic tundra in the far tip of North America. They often migrate to Southern and Western states to spend winter. Keep an eye out for them flying in fall.

Migratory birds fly south for the winter. It sounds simple enough, right? But have you ever thought about what this means, exactly? “South” embraces a lot of territory, and different kinds of birds go to different places. In fact, the birds that nest in your neighborhood or that migrate over your backyard in fall could be going practically anywhere, from just down the street to the southern tip of South America.

We’ve always been fascinated by the journeys of our migratory birds. Some of their winter homes seem logical while others are surprising, but they’re all essential to the survival of these tough little travelers. To help you gain a little bit of understanding of what birds go where, we put together summaries by region. When you think about how far some of these little songbirds go, it’s pretty amazing.

Do robins migrate and return in the spring?

Birds That Migrate to the Southern United States

eastern phoebe
Eastern phoebe

For birds that can survive the occasional cold snap, the easiest option is just to fly to the Southern states. They can make the trip in a series of short flights, without risking long journeys across open water. Many ducks and geese will fly to the southern U.S. for winter. For instance, the snow geese spend all summer in the Arctic tundra, then winter in southern pockets like Texas, California, Louisiana, Arkansas and the Carolinas.

Tree swallows, eastern phoebes and yellow-rumped warblers are all insect eaters that can survive on berries when insects are scarce. These migratory birds are common in the southern U.S. in winter, even though most of their relatives fly to the tropics. Other birds from northern backyards, including house wrens, gray catbirds and brown thrashers, also stay through the winter in the American South.

Birds That Migrate to Mexico and Central America

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A wood thrush might migrate from Ontario to Mexico.

Birds don’t notice international boundaries, so a migrant flying south has no reason to stop at the Mexican border. Most of the winter birds of the Southern or Southwestern U.S. are also found in northern Mexico. But many more continue farther south, to the tropical climates of southern Mexico or the nations of Central America. In fact, this region provides a winter home for more than half the migratory bird species that leave us for the season.

Go to Central America in winter and you’ll see flocks of birds from all over the U.S. and Canada: western tanagers mixing with Philadelphia vireos, for example, or western kingbirds in the same trees as Baltimore orioles. A wide variety of U.S. birds, from wood thrushes to ruby-throated hummingbirds, spend at least half the year in this region. Some cross the Gulf of Mexico to get there, but many play it safe by just traveling down the coast of Texas and around the Gulf.

Birds That Migrate to the Caribbean

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The black-throated blue warbler migrates from Michigan to Jamaica.

Winter vacation in the Caribbean—why not? The Caribbean Sea stretches more than a thousand miles from Florida to South America, with four large islands (Jamaica, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico) and scores of smaller ones, from the Bahamas to the Lesser Antilles. Humans may go there for the beautiful beaches, but migratory birds go for the woods, marshes and thickets.

Some wide-ranging species, like indigo buntings and American redstarts, can be found wintering here and in several other places as well. But others are loyal fans of the Caribbean. Most of the world’s black-throated blue warblers and Cape May warblers, for instance, fly to these islands for the winter. Some palm warbler and prairie warblers can be found in winter in the Southeastern U.S., but many of them go on to the Caribbean.

Vast numbers of migrants fly from North America to the Caribbean every fall, but they don’t all go by the same route. Some move south to Florida and then eastward, but many fly straight to the islands from points farther north on our Atlantic Coast. These birds may fly over open water for two days or even longer.

Where do woodpeckers migrate in winter?

Birds That Migrate to South America

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The scarlet tanager might migrate from Pennsylvania to Brazil.

Surprising numbers of migratory birds fly all the way to South America. For some, the continent is just the edge of a broad winter range. Some rose-breasted grosbeaks, for instance, spend the winter in Mexico, while others go all the way to Ecuador.

But in some species, the entire population picks up and flies to the southern continent. For scarlet tanagers, eastern kingbirds, bobolinks and chimney swifts, South America is the place to be for the holidays. All purple martins go to the Amazon basin, although not for long; some start north again by the middle of January.

Among the birds that migrate farthest are certain shorebirds, like the American golden-plover, that travel from Arctic Alaska and Canada to the southern tip of South America.

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American golden-plovers migrate from far northern Alaska to far southern Argentina.

Some migrants take an overland route, following the twists and turns of Central America. This is true of some raptors, such as Swainson’s hawks, which sweep through Panama in huge numbers every fall en route to the southern continent.

But the most direct routes to South America are across the water, and most birds travel that way. Many may pause on islands in the Caribbean on the way, but others will fly directly to their destination.

Did you know: The tiny blackpoll warbler, weighing less than an ounce, may fly nonstop from eastern Canada to northern South America, a flight that can take more than 80 hours!

Why do some birds migrate while others don’t?

Northern Birds That Migrate to Your Yard

common redpoll
Common redpoll

Unless you live on the Arctic edge of Alaska or Canada, your neighborhood will be a winter destination for some birds coming from farther north. Which ones? That depends on where you are. In the Northern states or southern Canada, you might find common redpolls or American tree sparrows. In many areas, dark-eyed juncos are the snowbirds you’ll see.

Wherever you are, seasonal changes add to the delights and rewards of watching birds.

Do bluebirds migrate in winter?

Bird Migration Routes

Western Tanager,piranga migratory birds Ludoviciana
The western tanager could migrate from Oregon to Costa Rica.

The concept of specific flyways for birds is popular, but, honestly, they don’t really exist. Sure, some areas are more heavily traveled than others, but there are not specific routes with large gaps in between. Migratory birds pass over every square mile of land in the Western Hemisphere.

Here’s a good way to look at it: Pretend that you’re looking down from space and you can see every individual bird route. In this scenario, it would look like an extraordinarily tangled plate of spaghetti, with strands going in all directions. You wouldn’t be able to pick out separate flyways from the mess.

Here are a few samples of routes that birds might take during migration, but remember—these are just examples.

  • Scarlet tanager: Pennsylvania to Brazil
  • Western tanager: Oregon to Costa Rica
  • Black-throated blue warbler: Michigan to Jamaica
  • Wood thrush: Ontario to Mexico
  • American golden-plover: Northern Alaska to southern Argentina
  • Blackpoll warbler: Eastern Canada to northern South America

Behavior of Migrating Birds

Eastern Kingbird Masl4292, migratory birds
Eastern kingbird

For some people, a tropical vacation means a chance to do things they could never do at home. What about birds? When they fly south, do they take on different lifestyles? Certainly, their habitats change. The yellow-bellied flycatcher spends the summer in the shady undergrowth of Canadian spruce bogs. In its winter range in Central America, it lives in the undergrowth of the rain forest.

Many other birds make this sort of shift, but some switch habitats in a more dramatic way. For example, the graceful black tern spends the summer around marshes and lakes, but in winter it may wander far out to sea.

Some birds that are solitary in summer form flocks in winter. And some even change their diet with the season.

Here’s an extreme example: The eastern kingbird is usually seen alone or in pairs during the summer, perching low in open country, eating insects. In winter, these same birds gather in flocks in the Amazon basin, wandering through the treetops of the rain forest and eating berries.

Next, discover bird migration patterns that have changed.

Why Trust Us

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brandhas been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.

Birds of a Feather Work Together

western bluebirds, juvenile, western bluebird
Juvenile western bluebirds may stick close to their parents and help raise the next generation.

Avid bird-watchers probably notice that some birds are solitary, like the lone hawk perching along the highway. And some are social, like the goldfinches and cedar waxwings that flock to our gardens. We could say that their degree of social bird behavior is part of the personality of each species. But when birds gather, it isn’t just because they enjoy each other’s company. There are practical reasons that explain why some birds flock together and even work together.

Group Nest Building Bird Behavior

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Some males, including great blue herons, bring nesting materials to their mates.

For a pair of birds to successfully raise young, building a nest is an important step. Unfortunately for many species, there’s no attempt at teamwork: Female robins, cardinals and hummingbirds all build nests with no help from their mates. Even the intricate woven nests of orioles are all the mothers’ doing.

But the news about the guys isn’t all bad. Some males—including red-eyed vireos, mourning doves, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles and great blue herons—bring building supplies like twigs, grasses and plant fibers for the female to shape into a nest. Among some wrens, the male builds the main structure and the female adds the nest lining.

sociable weaver nest, bird behavior
Sociable weavers are communal nesters in Africa. They build an amazing nest together that looks like a haystack.

For one African bird, the sociable weaver, nest building is a task for an entire flock. A sociable weaver nest may look like a gigantic haystack draped over a short, sturdy tree. But up close, you can see dozens of small entrances on the underside, leading to individual nesting chambers. Sometimes more than a hundred pairs may help to build a single group nest—an almost unbelievable example of cooperative bird behavior.

Cooperating to Find Food

American White Pelican, Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos
White pelicans will swim together toward the shore, driving fish ahead of them to shallow waters where they can be snapped up.

Even a flocking bird, when it comes time to eat, must look out for number one. But in some cases, birds will work together to find or catch their food. In the deserts of the Southwest, a family group of Harris’s hawks may hunt together. One or two swoop in to scare a rabbit out of a bush, while another waits to grab it as it dashes away. If their hunt is successful, the hawks will share the meal, with the dominant bird eating first and the others getting the leftovers.

Another fascinating example is the cooperative fishing of American white pelicans. These huge birds will line up side by side on the water and swim together toward the shore, dipping their bills in the water and driving fish ahead of them into the shallows, where they can be scooped up easily.

Winter Survival: Follow the Leader

Black-capped chickadee on tree in snow
Black-capped chickadees are often the brave leaders of a mixed winter flock.

Here’s a wintertime wonder you might see in any neighborhood with plenty of trees: a roving mixed flock of five or six kinds of birds making its way through the woods together. The leaders of the pack will be a flock of chickadees, flitting like acrobats in the outer twigs. Often there will be one or two nuthatches, a downy woodpecker and perhaps a brown creeper following along, clambering up tree trunks. A few titmice, a kinglet or two and sometimes a yellow-rumped warbler may join the flock.

These mixed flocks form because other birds like to follow chickadees around. Chickadees are active, alert birds, always on the lookout in every direction. They are quick to spot any hawk or other predator that comes near.

Birds like nuthatches or creepers, moving along with their faces next to tree bark, may be less likely to notice the approach of danger. But they can simply listen to the chickadees and fly to safety when the usual chatter of the little birds turns to alarm calls.

Learn about another fascinating bird behavior: caching food.

Bird Mobbing Behavior

why do crows chase hawks
Crows mobbing a red-shouldered hawk

The concept of safety in numbers gets cranked up another notch when birds engage in mobbing behavior. If songbirds discover an owl roosting in the daytime, they gather around and badger it with alarm calls, sometimes flying at it and even pecking at the back of its head.

Small predators like screech-owls are usually mobbed by small songbirds. Big ones like great horned owls are more likely to be mobbed by crows or other larger birds. The owls are seldom driven away by this harassment, so it might seem that the mobbing behavior doesn’t work. But it does mean that all the birds in the neighborhood know the owl’s location, so they won’t be taken by surprise.

Bird mating behavior: who’s the boss?

Sharing Child Care Duties as a Flock

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Acorn woodpeckers work as a group to harvest acorns and store them in holes in trees, to help the flock live through the winter.

If you ever watch a nesting pair of American crows, you might get the impression that more than just two adults are bringing food to the young birds in the nest. And you’d be right. Pairs of crows very often have assistants, usually their own offspring from previous years, bringing food and helping to guard the nest. Some crow nests have five or more helpers in addition to the parents. The same kinds of helpers have been observed in many other species, from purple gallinules to western bluebirds.

Some birds take group nesting behavior to an even higher level. Among the groove-billed ani, an odd tropical cuckoo that gets as far north as Texas, up to four pairs of adults cooperate to build one big nest, where all the females lay their eggs. All the adults in the group help with incubating the eggs and feeding the young.

The ultimate example of cooperative bird behavior may be the acorn woodpecker. In western oak woods, these gaudy birds live in colonies of a dozen or more. One, two or three females may lay eggs in a single nest; after the eggs hatch, all the adults in the group feed the young birds. But the woodpeckers don’t cooperate just at nesting. They also work as a group every fall to harvest acorns and store them in dead trees riddled with holes, saving up enough food to help the flock live through the winter.

Watch Birds to Observe Their Behavior

cedar waxwings, cooperative bird behavior
Cedar waxwings search for food in groups.

These are just a few examples of the ways birds can work together. If you watch carefully, you may discover something new about the birds right outside your window. Even the most common of them can still surprise us with their bird behavior.

Why Trust Us

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brandhas been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.

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Red-tailed hawk in flight

Do hawks migate? The answer is yes, and often in large groups. In certain places where land meets water or where mountain ridges create geographic funnels, migrating raptors gather in huge numbers every autumn. Many birds of prey look for thermals, which are rising columns of air that form when the sun heats the earth, to help them soar as high as 3,000 feet. “Riding the thermals helps raptors conserve energy as they head south for the winter,” says Step Wilson, Hawkwatch program manager at the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory in San Francisco. 

Bird-watchers and scientists observe hawk migration in the U.S. from late August to mid-December, with species numbers and types changing as the season progresses. At hot spots across the country, researchers safely capture and band hawks, and volunteers perform daylong counts as the birds fly over. Here are a few places to witness high-flying migrants.

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Hawk Migration Watching Tips

Follow these tips when you set off to watch hawks migrate.

  1. When to Go: A sunny day with some clouds and northwest winds about 15-20 mph is best for raptor watching. Hawks typically fly from about 10 a.m. to late afternoon.
  2. What to Bring: Pack layers of clothing, water, binoculars and snacks. Don’t forget to wear sturdy hiking boots.
  3. What to Expect: Be prepared for an uphill climb at some observatories. Hawk-watching requires a little patience, but expect the unexpected.

Check out essential hawk identification tips for birders.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Pennsylvania

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
Early October is your best opportunity to see Cooper’s hawks migrate at North Lookout.

An annual hawk watch occurs daily at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, a 2,600-acre scenic preserve, from Aug. 15 to Dec. 15. Check out North Lookout, only a mile from the visitor center, where an average of 18,000 hawks, eagles and falcons are counted each season.

Highlights include large numbers of broad-winged hawks in September. Plus, spotters have seen more than 1,000 sharp-shinned hawks in a single day in October and more than 1,000 red-tailed hawks a day in late October and early November.

Hawk Mountain was the first refuge for birds of prey in the world. It was protected in 1934 in order to stop the hunting of birds of prey for sport and opened to the public the following year so that people could observe these amazing birds. This site is now one of the most popular hawk watch location in the eastern U.S.

Smith Point Hawk Watch, Texas

Hawkwatch Tower
A tower at Smith Point Hawk Watch brings visitors closer to the action.

At some hawk watches, raptors are too high for beginners to identify, but at Smith Point Hawk Watch, visitors take spectacular photos and get close looks as birds fly over a tower set up for counting.

Raptors congregate when they reach Galveston Bay and must decide whether to cross it or choose another route. Some 50,000 to 100,000 individuals, such as broad-winged hawks, Mississippi kites and sharp-shinned hawks, pass through each season, along with black and turkey vultures.

About an hour from Smith Point, the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and HawkWatch International conduct a watch at the Candy Abshier Wildlife Management Area in Port Arthur, Texas, where up to 19 hawk species show up at different times during the season.

Check out birding hotspots for spring sandhill crane migration.

Corpus Christi HawkWatch, Texas

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=Mississippi kites migrate through Texas on their way to their wintering grounds in South America.

More than 1 million migratory raptors were counted in a single season along the Nueces River by Corpus Christi HawkWatch. Researchers and visitors see broad-winged hawks and sharp-shinned hawks as well as Mississippi kites, turkey vultures and some rare finds, including zone-tailed hawks and swallow-tailed kites. It’s one of the best places in the U.S. to view the largest concentration of migrating raptors each fall.

Visit early August through November and join researchers at the covered platform on a bluff at Hazel Bazemore County Park.

Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, Minnesota

Bald eagles soar through Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, do hawks migrate?
Bald eagles soar through Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory.

Hawk Ridge attracts visitors from more than 40 countries to witness raptor migration. Owned by the city of Duluth and managed by the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, the site features a main overlook on Skyline Parkway at the western tip of Lake Superior.

Most raptors avoid large bodies of water, so when they reach Lake Superior, they congregate along the lakeshore and outlying bluffs. As the birds of prey come around the lake, they fly right past Hawk Ridge, making this an ideal location for a hawk watch. Like many of the hawk migration watches in the eastern US, this site gets an incredible number of broad-winged hawks! Researchers count an average of 76,000 birds of prey each season and band about 3,000 of them annually.

Twenty species, including owls, are spotted here during autumn. Sharp-shinned hawks and broad-winged hawks come through in September. Red-tailed hawks, rough-legged hawks and bald eagles, sometimes hundreds in one day, are present into December. Visitors might see barred, long-eared and other owls in small numbers. The best time to visit is Sept. 1 to Oct. 31. Naturalists are also on hand to answer questions and present live bird demonstrations.

Cape May Bird Observatory, New Jersey

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Northern harriers are seen regularly at Cape May Bird Observatory.

Cape May, a peninsula bordered by Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, serves as a natural funnel for migrating raptors. An average of 17 species are counted here from September through November. After a cold front passes, spotters may see large flights of sharp-shinned hawks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds to thousands. Other stars here include red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons, osprey and northern harriers.

Scientists have counted birds here for 40 years. Researchers and visitors congregate at the hawk migration watch platform near the parking lot at Cape May Point State Park from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 to observe the spectacle. A festival sponsored by New Jersey Audubon takes place in late October.

Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, California

do hawks migrate? golden gate hawk watch
A red-tailed hawk takes off at the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory.

Researchers have been spotting hawk migration at various vantage points here from mid-August until mid-December for 33 years.  Some birds come quite close, and 800 or more sharp-shinned hawks might fly by in one day. Specialties include large numbers of turkey vultures and different morphs of red-tailed hawks, all the way from typical pale birds to dark morph individuals that look almost black.

The best and most accessible place for viewing is Hawk Hill, along Conzelman Road in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. From September through November, visitors can view up to 19 species of raptors while enjoying views of the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands.

Discover the top warbler hotspots to visit in spring.

Florida Keys Hawkwatch

Eye contact with a low flying osprey, hawks migrate
Low-flying osprey

This hawk migration hotspot is a little different than the others in this list. Most birds of prey avoid going over large bodies of water, but a few species such as peregrine falcon and osprey don’t seem to mind. In 2012, this location set the world record for the total number of peregrine falcons (3,836) during a single migration season.

Learn more on the hawk watch’s official blog.

Detroit River, Michigan

hawk migration
Sharp-shinned hawk at the Detroit River Hawk Watch

The Detroit River Hawk Watch is located on the west end of Lake Erie and thousands of broad-winged hawks migrate over this spot. Be sure to visit during the middle of September to have the best chance to see a huge movement of birds of prey.

Check out more Great Lakes birding hotspots.

About the Expert

Step Wilson is the Hawkwatch program manager at the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory in San Francisco, California. He has been studying and working with raptor since he started as a volunteer bander in 1995.

Sources

Why Trust Us

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brandhas been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.