The real photographs behind the guides

Editorial portraits

Portraits illustrate our editorial pen names. The people photographed are not presented as contributors, testers, or endorsers of this publication.

Emily Hart profile: photo by Valerie Elash on Unsplash. Unsplash License. Cropped, gently color-adjusted, and resized.
Daniel Brooks profile: photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash. Unsplash License. Cropped, gently color-adjusted, and resized.
Maya Bennett profile: photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash. Unsplash License. Cropped, gently color-adjusted, and resized.

Real photography in the practical guides

The guides use wildlife and equipment photographs sourced from Wikimedia Commons. Each credit links to the original image and its license. Images may be cropped, lightly adjusted for color and contrast, resized, and compressed to WebP. These changes adapt the photograph for the page; the original photographer retains the credited work.

Each photograph is credited beside its use. Cropped photo adaptations keep the license stated below. Original text-and-diagram animations incorporating these photographs are provided under CC BY-SA 4.0, with source credits beside the players. The diagrams are our editorial visual aids, not evidence of hands-on product testing.

Photo: Slakshmin · A Northern Cardinal using a seed feeder. · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Rhododendrites · House finch (33687)2.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized from the credited adaptation.
Photo: Sanzzu · Bird feeder in a forest.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Joe Myers · Cardinal at Bird Feeder.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Rhododendrites · Black-capped chickadee (31171).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Sheila Sund from Salem, United States · Squirrel at bird feeder (8412202406).jpg · CC BY 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Hari Krishnan · The male Northern Cardinal: notice the crest, stout bill, and dark face around the bill. · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Rhododendrites · Female northern cardinal in Central Park (86755).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Paul Danese · 20240327 female northern cardinal casa PD206238.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Paul Danese · 20240718 american goldfinch pleasant valley PD206284 01.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Paul Danese · 20241110 american goldfinch bolton notch sp PD203062.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Cephas · Echinacea purpurea Spinus tristis JRVdH 05.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized from the credited adaptation.
Photo: Paul Danese · 20240316 black capped chickadee casa PD204431.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Paul Danese · 202403141019 black capped chickadee earle park PD203897.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Frank Schulenburg · Anna’s Hummingbird at a bird feeder in Sea Ranch, California.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: ELTORO.VET · Fresa1.jpg · CC0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Dorian Wallender from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA · Hummingbird Feeder (27721019784).jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: MsFrazzle · Hummingbird at feeder, sky background.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: ELTORO.VET · Fresa3.jpg · CC0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: ELTORO.VET · Fresa2.jpg · CC0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Dmitry Makeev · Sunflower seeds. img 001.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Dmitry Makeev · Sunflower seeds. img 005.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Kritzolina · Sunflower with seeds 01.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: CNEcija12345 · Bird seed (canary).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Andy Li · Wood pigeon drinking from a bird bath - Nymans 2026-07-31.jpg · CC0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Forest & Kim Starr · Starr 080215-2865 Lonchura oryzivora.jpg · CC BY 3.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Roger Bellver · Bird hanging feeder 001.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Robin Drayton · Grey Squirrel on a bird feeder - geograph.org.uk - 6438234.jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Sikander Iqbal · Bird feeder and lamp covered in snow - 20230113.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Robert Taylor from Stirling, ON, Canada · Downy Woodpecker at the Suet Feeder in a Snow Flurry 5738 (6354126213).jpg · CC BY 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Rhododendrites · Downy woodpecker at a suet feeder (84724).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: GregOberski · Hairy Woodpecker Tree.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Rhododendrites · White-breasted nuthatch at a suet feeder (84756).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Rhododendrites · Hairy woodpecker (44546).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Simplex~enwiki · Downy Woodpecker male, Hattiesburg, Mississippi.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Rhododendrites · Blue jay in PP (30960).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Clarise Samuels · Blue Jay In The Trees (166879159).jpeg · CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Rhododendrites · Blue jay fledgling (53513).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: AVDLCZ · Bird feeder with two suet cakes.jpg · CC0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Courtney Celley/USFWS · Horicon NWR native pollinator garden.png · Public domain. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: USFWSmidwest · Prairie coneflowers are in the sunflower tribe of the daisy family. A great native to add to your garden! (19477986051).jpg · Public domain. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: vastateparksstaff · Birdwatching with grandpa Claytor Lake State Park Virginia (16589750059).jpg · CC BY 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: King of Hearts · Man with binoculars birdwatching at Higbee Beach Cape May October 2020 (cropped).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: USFWS Headquarters · Boy birdwatching by Steve Hillebrand USFWS (54180800037).jpg · Public domain. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: TheAdderAndRemover · Eero 6+ Image.jpg: original January 2025 photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Panek · Dotted glass bird collision deterrent wwf poland.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized from the credited adaptation.
Photo: Ted · Bird Imprint on Window 0073.jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: USFWS Headquarters · Mourning dove bird perched on a bird feeder on a window with young girl watching inside (54182122110).jpg · Public domain. Resized from the credited adaptation.
Photo: David Ratledge · Bird Bath in Snow - Knoxville, Tennessee - February 13, 2014.jpg · CC BY 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Ruth Hartnup from Vancouver, Canada · Ice in a bird bath (8398245183).jpg · CC BY 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · American Robin (42253318841).jpg · Public domain. Resized from the credited adaptation.
Photo: Robert Taylor from Stirling, ON, Canada · Male Purple Finch 3812 (5126903664).jpg · CC BY 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Shenandoah National Park from Virginia · House Finch (male) (33709417694).jpg · Public domain. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Mathieu Landretti · Female Purple Finch.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Michele Dorsey Walfred · House finches at bird feeder.jpg · CC BY 2.0. Resized from the credited adaptation.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · House finch (50057806123).jpg · Public domain. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Dark-eyed junco (50510431537).jpg · Public domain. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Ruby-throated hummingbird (50036597378).jpg · Public domain. Resized from the credited adaptation.
Photo: Jack Nevitt · Ruby-Throated hummingbird on red flower.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized from the credited adaptation.
Photo: SpringWild · Juvinile Rufous Hummingbird sitting on a hummingbird feeder.jpg · CC0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Jack Nevitt · Ruby-Throated hummingbird on red flower.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Ruby-throated hummingbird (49938069306).jpg · Public domain. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Ruby-throated hummingbird (50036621428).jpg · Public domain. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Acroterion · Eastern Bluebird MD1.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized from the credited adaptation.
Photo: Kevin Cole · Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana).jpg · CC BY 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Dominic Sherony · Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) (8732009207).jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: William H. Majoros · Eastern bluebird at nest box.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Rhododendrites · Tree swallow male on nest box (94329).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Jshamgochian · Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) excavating a nest cavity in Waterville, Maine.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Explodingcreepsr · Ruby Throated Hummingbird at a feeder.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: John Severns ( Severnjc ) · European honey bee extracts nectar.jpg · Public domain. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Ryan Hodnett · Common Aerial Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula arenaria) - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 2014-08-23.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Rhododendrites · Baltimore oriole in GWC (21861).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Kevin Cole from Pacific Coast, USA ( en:User:Kevinlcole ) · Bullock's Oriole.jpg · CC BY 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Dan Pancamo · Orchard Oriole by Dan Pancamo 2.jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped, gently adjusted, and resized for this guide.
Photo: Rawaha Alam · American Robin parent with Fledgling in a tree.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: ImagePerson · American Robin Turdus migratorius fledgling 8485.jpg · CC BY 4.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: Dominic Sherony · Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) (3483334485).jpg · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: Kilarin · Zenaida macroura -chick and adult in nest-8c.jpg · CC BY 2.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: Rhododendrites · House sparrow male in Prospect Park (53532).jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: Nevit Dilmen ( talk ) · Passer domesticus female 02831-nevit.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: Cephas · Melospiza melodia JRVdH 03.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: Cephas · Zonotrichia albicollis CT1.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: Raimond Spekking · Mealworms as food-2389.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: ImagePerson · Mealworm BeetleTenebrio molitor larvae, pupae, molted skin 02.jpg · CC BY 4.0. Resized for this guide.
Video still: Mardeg · Solar-powered bird bath fountain.webm · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: NatJLN · Sturnus vulgaris -four bathing in birdbath -London-8.gif · CC BY 2.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: Barnes, Dr. Thomas G. · Lobelia cardinalis - Cardinal Flower.jpg · Public domain. Resized for this guide.
Photo: Ragesoss · Wild Columbine.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: Jinn Bug · Male American Robin feeding fledgling robin.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for this guide.
Photo: Hugh Sansom · Yellow-rumped Warbler During Autumn Migration.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for this guide.

These are real wildlife photographs, not photographs of products tested by this publication. Images have been resized, recompressed to WebP, and may be cropped in the layout. Adapted photographs retain the licenses below.

Northern Cardinal

Photo: Hari Krishnan. Original and source details. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Photo: Gareth Rasberry. Original and source details. CC BY-SA 3.0.

American Goldfinch

Photo: Andrew C / Andrew Cannizzaro. Original and source details. CC BY 2.0.

Black-capped Chickadee

Photo: Rhododendrites. Original and source details. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Northern Cardinal at a feeder

Photo: Slakshmin. Original and source details. CC BY-SA 4.0.