Look for hummingbirds feeding on Trumpet Creeper and Jewelweed flowers.
Hummingbird on Trumpet Creeper
First brood of immature hummingbirds begin to show up at nectar feeders early in the month.
Immature Ruby-throated Hummingbird on nectar feeder
Thistle plants begin to seed; goldfinches gather thistledown for nesting material and begin nesting.
Goldfinch on thistle
Many species (robins, cardinals, bluebirds, etc.) may be in their second nesting.
Nesting Robin
Cardinals on nest
Nesting Bluebird
Mallards and Wood Ducks molt into "eclipse" plumage and are unable to fly for several weeks.
Molting Mallard Duck
Wood Duck with eclipse plumage
(Eclipse plumage is temporary or transition plumage. Ducks are peculiar in that they loose all their flight feathers; the long, wing feathers; at once.)
Katydids and Cicadas are in full chorus by late-month.
Missouri Katydid
Cicada
Listen for the feeding screeches of young Barred and Great Horned Owls.
Immature Barred Owl
Immature Great Horned Owl
Many songbirds go into heavy molt.
Molting Cardinal
Molting Finch
Great Blue Herons fledge.
Immature Great Blue Heron
Fall migration starts this month with shorebirds returning later in month.
