Field Journal
One species a day. Birds, plants, insects, animals, and fish you might meet on your next walk, written so a kid can repeat it at dinner.
Plants1 min readBirdsfoot Trefoil, the little yellow flower with bird-toe seeds
A low yellow pea-family flower spreading across roadsides and lawns, named for seed pods shaped like a bird's clawed foot.
Birds1 min readWhite-breasted Nuthatch, the bird that walks down tree trunks
A small blue-gray bird with a white belly that climbs headfirst down trees. Common at backyard feeders across eastern North America.
Plants2 min readRed Clover, the pink pom-pom in every roadside meadow
Round pink flower heads on a tall stem, with three leaflets marked by a pale V. The bumblebee magnet of summer meadows.
Birds1 min readTufted Titmouse, the gray bird with a tiny mohawk
Soft gray back, peach flanks, big black eyes, and a pointy crest. The friendliest feeder visitor in eastern North America.
Fish2 min readYellow Perch, the striped panfish you catch from any dock
Bright yellow body with bold vertical black bars. One of the easiest first fish for kids on lakes and ponds across the north.
Animals2 min readWoodchuck, the chubby brown groundhog that owns the meadow
A stocky ground-dwelling rodent often seen standing tall in fields and field edges in daylight.
Insects1 min readSeven-spotted Ladybug, the classic red-and-black beetle from Europe
Bright red wing covers with exactly seven black spots. An introduced species that has become one of the most familiar ladybugs in North America.
Plants2 min readQueen Anne's Lace, the wild carrot with a tiny purple secret
White lacy flower clusters on roadside edges all summer. Look for one dark red floret in the center, the queen's drop of blood.
Birds1 min readSong Sparrow, the streaky brown bird with a brave melody
A small streaky brown sparrow with a long musical song, common in backyards and brushy edges.
Plants1 min readCommon Mullein, the soft fuzzy giant of roadside fields
A towering yellow flower spike with leaves so soft kids call it the toilet paper plant.
Birds1 min readAmerican Goldfinch, the bright yellow bird of summer thistles
A tiny, brilliantly yellow songbird that bounces through summer fields and loves thistle seeds.
Fish2 min readBlack Crappie, the silvery speckled panfish of summer ponds
A flat-sided silver fish with dark blotches, beloved by pond fishers and easy to spot near docks.
Animals1 min readWhite-tailed Deer, the big mammal hiding at every trail edge
Tan body, white belly, and a flag of white tail. The most common large mammal on US family walks.
Insects2 min readCommon Eastern Firefly, the summer evening light show in your backyard
A small beetle that flashes yellow-green light in summer dusk. The single most magical bug of childhood.
Plants1 min readCanada Goldenrod, the late summer field that turns pure yellow
Tall arching yellow plumes that take over open fields in August, feeding hundreds of pollinators.
Birds2 min readNorthern Cardinal, the bright red bird every backyard knows
Bright red male, crested head, and a sharp "birdy-birdy-birdy" call. The easiest backyard bird card in eastern North America.
Plants2 min readLarge White Trillium, the three-petaled spring flower of the forest floor
Three white petals over three leaves, blooming in deciduous forests in May. A patient bloom that takes seven years to flower.
Birds1 min readDowny Woodpecker, the tiniest woodpecker in your backyard
Black and white pattern with a small red patch on the males. The smallest woodpecker in North America and the easiest to meet.
Fish2 min readPumpkinseed, the most colorful fish in your local pond
Orange belly, turquoise stripes on the face, and a red spot on the gill cover. The fish that turns kids into anglers.
Animals2 min readEastern Cottontail, the brown rabbit with the fluffy white tail
Common backyard rabbit across eastern North America. Freezes when startled, then explodes into a zigzag sprint.
Insects1 min readMonarch Butterfly, the orange traveler that flies to Mexico every year
Bright orange wings with black veins and white spots. The most famous migrating butterfly in North America.
Plants2 min readCommon Chicory, the sky-blue flower that closes by noon
Bright sky-blue flowers along roadsides in summer, open only in the morning. The roots have been roasted as a coffee substitute for centuries.
Birds1 min readMourning Dove, the soft cooing bird on every wire
Sandy gray, slim, with a long pointed tail. Their slow cooing is the soundtrack of summer mornings across the US.
Plants1 min readCommon Yarrow, the feathery white wildflower of summer roadsides
Flat-topped clusters of tiny white flowers above feathery fern-like leaves. Tough, drought-proof, and full of pollinators.
Birds2 min readEastern Bluebird, the postcard bird sitting on the fence post
Bright blue back, rusty orange chest, and a habit of hunting from low perches. Often the most colorful bird at the trail edge.
Fish2 min readLargemouth Bass, the green ambush hunter of every pond
Olive green back, dark side stripe, and a mouth that opens past its eye. The defining fish of US ponds and lakes.
Animals2 min readRaccoon, the masked nighttime visitor with very clever hands
Black mask, ringed tail, and hands so dexterous they can open latches. The most common backyard mammal after dark.
Insects2 min readCommon Green Darner, the giant dragonfly that migrates like a bird
Bright green thorax, blue or purple abdomen, and wings as wide as your hand. The biggest pond dragonfly in North America.
Plants1 min readCommon Milkweed, the plant that feeds every monarch caterpillar
Tall stalks with pink dome-shaped flower clusters along roadsides. The only food a monarch caterpillar will eat.
Birds2 min readBlue Jay, the bold blue bird that bosses every backyard
Bright blue back, black necklace, white belly, and a piercing "jay! jay!" call. Hard to miss in eastern parks.
Plants1 min readCommon Dandelion, the yellow weed every kid already knows
Bright yellow head, deeply notched leaves, and a famous puffball seed clock. The first plant card every child can find.
Birds1 min readBlack-capped Chickadee, the tiny bird that says its own name
Black cap, white cheeks, soft gray back, and the famous "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" call. Friendliest feeder bird in the north.
Fish1 min readBluegill, the pan-shaped fish every kid catches first
Flat body, blue gill flap, orange chest. The classic first-catch sunfish at every pond and lake.
Animals2 min readEastern Gray Squirrel, the city park acrobat everyone knows
Soft gray fur, white belly, and a giant fluffy tail. The most-watched mammal in every eastern American park.
Insects1 min readEastern Tiger Swallowtail, the giant yellow butterfly of summer
Big yellow wings with bold black tiger stripes. The most recognizable butterfly in the eastern US backyard.
Plants1 min readBlack-eyed Susan, the bright yellow flower that owns summer fields
Golden-yellow petals around a dark brown center. The classic roadside flower of an American summer.
Birds1 min readBlue Jay, the loudest blue bird at every feeder
Bright cobalt back, white belly, and a black necklace. Smart, noisy, and impossible to miss in the eastern US.
Plants1 min readCommon Blue Violet, the tiny purple flower hiding in your lawn
Heart-shaped leaves and small purple flowers in early spring. The easiest violet to find on a family walk.
Birds1 min readBlack-capped Chickadee, the bird that says its own name
Tiny, round, with a black cap and bib. The "chickadee-dee-dee" call is the easiest bird ID for kids in the northern US.
Fish2 min readBluegill, the first fish every American kid catches
Palm-sized sunfish with a bright blue cheek and a dark "ear" flap. The most beginner-friendly fish in North American ponds.
Animals2 min readAmerican Red Squirrel, the loudest small mammal in the northern woods
Small, reddish, and absurdly loud. The American red squirrel will scold you from a branch in any northern forest.
Insects2 min readCommon Eastern Bumble Bee, the fuzzy yellow-and-black backyard pollinator
Big, slow, fuzzy bee with black and yellow stripes. The most common bumble bee in eastern North American backyards.
Plants2 min readWild Lupine, the blue spike that lights up May roadsides
Tall purple-blue flower spires in sandy soil along trails and roadsides. An easy May card for the family field guide.
Animals1 min readEastern Chipmunk, the cheek-pouched sprinter of every backyard
Tiny, striped, and almost too quick to photograph. The eastern chipmunk is the easiest mammal card to add this weekend.
Birds1 min readAmerican Robin — The Backyard Bird You'll Spot First
An orange-breasted thrush you'll meet on most morning walks. The perfect first card in your family's field guide.