Vol. 8 // Woodcocks take Manhattan, and what's going on with this dinosaur-like "stinkbird"? 🦖

Found in the northern areas of South America

The Hoatzin kind of looks like it’s always having a bad hair day. Beyond that, they smell!

Hoatzins earn the nickname “stinkbird” because they eat only leaves, produce methane, and belch often—and their burps smell like manure. They’re not a bird you’d invite to dinner. 

Hoatzins seem to be about one step removed from dinosaurs; babies are born with claws protruding from their wings, which can be used to climb back up to their nest in a tree if they are forced to jump out to evade a predator. They’re about the size of a pheasant and clumsily wander around the forest floor looking for food. 

Fun fact: If you can believe it, these funky-looking birds are most closely related to cranes and plovers.

Give a Hoot

Three birding bits you should know about this week

🏙️ Sunday in the park with birds
Bryant Park is Woodcock central right now
New Yorkers, get thee to Bryant Park! Learn about why the American Woodcock seems to love Bryant Park during breeding season, and why this species is particularly vulnerable to crashing into skyscrapers.

🕊️ International bird of mystery
Mega-rare turtle dove in Palo Alto has birders flocking from far and wide
The Oriental Turtle Dove, native to Siberia and Japan, sets down in Silicon Valley.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Birding is for everyone
How you can help make birding more inclusive
Keep in mind these pointers from the Audubon Society to help create an intentionally welcoming birding community.

A Product We Love

Unique and worthy products from the wide world of birding you might enjoy

Bird Buddy is a smart bird feeder that lets you see your backyard birds up close and personal and alerts you when birds are visiting. This “cool concept and super clever Kickstarter video” is recommended by Flying Colors cofounder Stetson Hundgen. You can pre-order now! From $199

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!

Last chance to get $50 off 
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Choose from three varieties — all made with 100% USDA certified organic ingredients and hand-mixed with love in New York's Hudson Valley.

We are offering The Flyer subscribers a special friends & fam discount: $50 off the purchase of any carton with the discount code FRIENDOFTHEFLYER, valid until March 18. And if you subscribe for regular FREE shipments, you receive an additional 10% off. There’s no commitment, and you can cancel at any time. ✨

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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.