Roger J. Lederer, PhD
Ornithologist
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Co-authored Articles (50)
3 Ways to Tell If a Duckling Is Male or Female
Learn to identify a duckling's gender at various stages of development It can be difficult to tell the sex of a baby duck visually, as both male and female ducklings tend to look similar. Luckily, there are several easy ...
How to Identify a Male or Female Duck using Appearance and Behavior
Sorting the drakes from the hens in Mallard and other duck species Whether you’re spying them through binoculars or pairing them up to brood, sorting the males ducks (or “drakes”) from the females (often called “...
How to Tell the Difference Between Male and Female Robins
Identify male & female American, Australian, & European robins The robin is a beautiful migratory songbird that many believe brings tidings of the spring season. Robins are quite common throughout Europe and North Americ...
How to Tell the Age of a Parakeet (Budgie): A Step-by-Step Guide
Determine how old your budgie is with these methodsBudgies, or common parakeets, don’t show obvious signs of aging the way mammals do, so it can sometimes be tricky to figure out exactly how old your bird is. Luckily, ...
How to
Attract Crows
Crows are very bright creatures, one of the most intelligent animal species, and a group of crows, called a "flock" or a "murder," can be a useful addition to your yard. A small flock can keep plants free of insects and ...
How to
Make a Bird Nest
A bird's nest makes a wonderful mantelpiece decoration, and can make use of almost anything you find along a nature hike, or in your front yard. Wild birds usually prefer to make their own nests, but you can lure many sp...
How to Tell If a Parrot is Male or Female
The most accurate ways to check your parrot’s gender Telling the sex of parrots can be difficult, as some species have no visible differences between males and females (monomorphic). For these breeds, the only way to d...
Does My Bird Have Mites? Common Signs, & What to Do
Learn to spot mites on parrots, parakeets, cockatiels, and other birds Certain bird species, like parakeets, parrots, and finches, are more likely to contract mites. Bird mites feed on your bird's blood, can live and thr...
Nighttime Chirping: Why Do Birds Do It?
All the reasons why you're hearing birdsong after darkBirds are famous for chirping at sunrise, but they sleep during the night—right? Hearing midnight chirping can be a little unnerving since most of us don't expect i...
How to
Tell if Duck Eggs Are Dead or Alive
Maybe you are raising duck eggs in an incubator so they can develop into baby ducklings, but you are not sure if your eggs are dead or alive. Or perhaps you stumbled upon duck eggs in the wild and are wondering whether t...
How to Tell the Sex of a Lovebird
Learn the difference between male and female lovebird sexes Whether you want to find the perfect name for your lovebird, or are trying to breed them (or keep them from breeding), you’re probably interested in finding ...
How to
Calibrate Binoculars
Seeing detail from a far distance is almost impossible without a good set of binoculars. If you’re trying to birdwatch or see something from far away, you’ll need to make sure your binoculars are correctly calibrated...
How to
Care For a Bird That Has Hit a Window
According to the Bird Conservation Network more than 100 million North American birds die every year from window collisions. These accidents are most common during spring mating season. It is illegal to keep a wild bird ...
How to
Feed a Baby Sparrow
If you find a baby sparrow that appears abandoned, you can take it into your home and feed it. Many wildlife refuges and concerned people care for injured and orphaned sparrows until they are old enough to fly. Before at...
How to
Fix Double Vision in Binoculars
If you look through your binoculars and see 2 copies of the same image, then this is probably a problem with your collimation. Collimation is the position of the prisms within the binoculars, and if they’re not centere...
How to
Tell if a Bird Egg Is Infertile
Whether you're looking to ensure your bird eggs are viable for breeding or you're just curious, checking to see if an egg is infertile can be quite easy. In most cases, it's possible to ensure your eggs do not grow into ...
How to Buy Binoculars for Your Favorite Outdoor Hobby
Pick the best size, magnification, and features for your price range Binoculars are fantastic tools that make activities like bird-watching, star-gazing, concerts, and sports more enjoyable. However, not all binoculars a...
How to
Create an Egg Incubator for Wild Bird Eggs
If you want to hatch some wild bird eggs that you've found but don't have the money for a professional incubator, you can easily create one from household items. Once you've assembled the incubator, you'll be ready to pr...
How to
Deter Squirrels from Bird Feeders
Squirrels can make themselves a real pain when it comes to birdseed and suet. They will also destroy plastic and wooden feeders. Stop these rascals from being regular guests at your feeders with a few simple changes and ...
How to
Spot Signs of Disease in Conures
You think your conure might be sick, but you’re not sure what to look for. Generally speaking, you can check for changes in their appearance, odd behavior, or digestive problems. These symptoms could indicate a number ...
