Vol. 31 // Meet the very grumpy Goldcrest

Native to Africa, also found in Europe and North America

Hear Their Calls

The beautiful Egyptian Goose can be found everywhere from its native African shores to wandering the watering holes of Texas. Their unique coloring, with brown circles around their fair eyes (they may just look into your soul) and dramatic wing patterns, have made them popular pets; escapees eventually led to wild flocks in the US, Europe, and New Zealand. Egyptian Geese have been on Europe’s list of "Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern" since 2017.

Egyptian Geese stay close to the ground, eating on grass and seeds near waterways and nesting in tree holes or among tree roots. Pairs will often mate for life, and parents can be very protective of their young, chasing off predators in the air.

Fun fact: These “geese” are actually more closely related to shelducks than geese. However, their loud, honking calls will remind most people of the geese they’re familiar with.

Give a Hoot

Birding bits you should know about this week

🐦 Learn
How bird collecting evolved into birdwatching
Ornithologists once killed birds to study them, but bird appreciation (and the invention of binoculars) helped shift public attitudes toward flying friends.

🐍 Look out
Nat Geo: Weaver home security
Can your home security keep out snakes? The Weaverbird’s can!

⚔️ Pick wisely
Choose your character!
Do you agree with these birds’ audacity ratings?

Give the gift that any bird-lover will adore: Flying Colors’ premium organic wild bird food, now available in a beautiful three-gallon carton.

Choose from three custom blends — Pine Plains, Woodstock, and Millbrook — all made with 100% USDA certified organic ingredients like sunflower hearts and safflower, and hand-mixed with love in New York's Hudson Valley.

Your Shot

An amazing bird photo taken by one of our community members. Submit yours to hello@flyingcolors.co to be considered for an upcoming edition!

The Swallow is a summer bird;

He in our chimneys, when the weather

Is fine and warm, may then be heard

Chirping his notes for weeks together.

Come there but one cold wintry day,

Away will fly our guest the Swallow:

And much like him we find the way

Which many a gay young friend will follow.

– "Summer Friends" by Mary Lamb

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Questions? Ideas? Epic bird photos? Reach out at hello@flyingcolors.co

About Us

Flying Colors makes premium organic wild bird food, offering ethically sourced, toxin-free seeds and nuts of the highest quality to nourish wild birds of all types and inspire birders of all ages. Each specialty blend and single origin creation is rigorously sourced & researched, and every jar is produced with love & packaged by hand in small batches in New York's Hudson Valley and tested in our own backyards.