New York is home to a varied group of red and reddish birds found across habitats ranging from suburban gardens and city parks to deciduous woodlands, northern conifer forests, and the Adirondack Mountains. These include familiar year-round residents such as the Northern Cardinal and House Finch, alongside forest breeders like the Scarlet Tanager and Purple Finch, and irregular northern visitors such as redpolls and crossbills. Their plumage ranges from brilliant scarlet and deep raspberry-red to softer rosy pink and brick red, with some species showing red only on the head, breast, or wings. While several are widespread across the state, others are seasonal, highly localized, or rarely encountered, particularly in New York City and Long Island. This guide highlights New York’s red birds, focusing on plumage, field recognition, habitat preferences, and seasonal occurrence to help distinguish them in the field.
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
- Identification: Medium-sized songbird with a prominent crest and heavy conical bill; adult males are vivid red with a black face mask; females are grayish tan with red accents on the wings, tail, and crest.
- Field recognition: Often noticed by its saturated red color at feeders or in shrubs, a slightly hunched posture with the tail angled downward, and sharp, metallic “chip” calls.
- Where found: Widespread year-round across most of New York, especially in lower-elevation woodlands, thickets, parks, and residential areas; less common in the Adirondack interior.
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); abundant and well-established across much of New York following a major northward range expansion during the past century.
The Northern Cardinal is the most familiar and conspicuous red bird in New York, frequently seen at backyard feeders, in parks, and around residential neighborhoods throughout the year. This medium-sized songbird measures 21 to 24 centimeters (8.3 to 9.4 inches) in length and has a long tail, prominent crest, and thick, seed-crushing bill. Adult males are brilliant red across the body, wings, and tail, with a sharply contrasting black face mask surrounding the bill. Females are primarily grayish tan but show distinct red accents on the wings, tail, and crest, giving them a softer, red-tinged appearance. Juveniles resemble females but are duller and browner, with less red and a darker bill.
Northern Cardinals are most easily recognized when males perch in exposed shrubs, hop across the ground, or visit feeders, where their saturated red plumage stands out against green foliage or winter snow. They move deliberately, hopping rather than walking, and often adopt a slightly hunched posture with the tail angled downward. Their flight is short and undulating, usually between nearby trees or patches of dense cover. Both sexes give sharp, metallic “chip” calls that often reveal their presence before they are seen. Cardinals forage on the ground and among low branches for seeds, fruits, and insects, and they frequently use dense hedges, vines, and garden shrubs for shelter and nesting.
The Northern Cardinal is a widespread, year-round resident and established breeder across most of New York State. Breeding records are especially extensive throughout the Great Lakes Plain, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, and Hudson Valley, as well as across New York City and Long Island, including much of Suffolk County. The species also occupies the Catskills and lower elevations of eastern New York but becomes more localized in northern areas, particularly across the mountainous Adirondack interior, where breeding records remain scattered or absent. It favors forest edges, open woods, hedgerows, streamside thickets, parks, gardens, and suburban neighborhoods with dense shrubs and small trees. Once a rare visitor to much of the state, the Northern Cardinal expanded dramatically northward during the 20th century, benefiting from suburban development, regenerating woodland edges, milder winters, and backyard bird feeding. It is now abundant and firmly established across most of New York, although its breeding distribution remains less continuous at higher elevations and in the far north.
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
- Identification: Small songbird with a short conical bill and fairly long tail; adult males show rosy red on the face, upper breast, and rump against a brown, heavily streaked body; females are gray-brown with blurry streaking and no red.
- Field recognition: Often seen in noisy groups at feeders, on the ground, or perched in nearby trees, with bouncy, undulating flight, frequent “cheep” calls, and the male’s red face and breast.
- Where found: Widespread year-round across New York, especially in cities, suburbs, parks, and farmland; most numerous in developed lowlands and less frequent in the Adirondack Mountains.
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); common and well-established across much of New York following rapid range expansion, though eastern populations have been affected by mycoplasmal conjunctivitis.
The House Finch is one of the most familiar small red-tinged birds in New York, frequently encountered at backyard feeders, in city parks, and around residential neighborhoods. This species measures 13 to 14 centimeters (5.1 to 5.5 inches) in length and has a compact body, a fairly large conical bill, a somewhat flat head, and a relatively long, shallowly notched tail. Adult males are mostly gray-brown with heavy streaking below but show rosy to bright red on the face, crown, upper breast, and rump, creating a distinctly red appearance from the front. The amount and shade of red vary considerably, and some males appear orange or yellowish instead. Females are plain grayish brown with thick, blurry streaking and no red, making them less conspicuous than males.
House Finches are most often noticed in noisy groups around feeders, on lawns, or perched in shrubs and treetops near houses and other developed areas. Their flight is bouncy and undulating, and the red rump of males can become particularly visible as they take off or fly between perches. Both sexes give frequent sharp “cheep” calls, while males deliver a hoarse, variable warbling song that often ends with a down-slurred note. They forage on the ground, cling to weed stalks, and visit feeders for seeds, while also eating buds, flowers, leaves, and fruits. The red coloration of males comes from carotenoid pigments obtained through food during molt, which accounts for the variation in color intensity among individuals.
The House Finch is a widespread, largely year-round resident and established breeder across much of New York State, with its strongest breeding concentrations in developed and lower-elevation landscapes. It is particularly well established along the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario plains, around Buffalo and Rochester, through the Finger Lakes and Mohawk Valley, and across the Hudson Valley and southeastern lowlands. Breeding is also widespread throughout New York City and Long Island, including Nassau and Suffolk counties, while records become more scattered across the Southern Tier and much of northern New York, especially in the Adirondack Mountains. The species favors cities, suburbs, parks, farms, and residential neighborhoods, where it readily nests on buildings, ledges, eaves, and other artificial structures. Originally introduced to the New York City area through released captive birds around 1940, the House Finch spread rapidly across the state during the following decades and became a familiar backyard species. It remains common and adaptable, although eastern populations have experienced significant impacts from mycoplasmal conjunctivitis since the 1990s.
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
- Identification: Medium-sized songbird with a thick, rounded bill; breeding males are vivid scarlet red with jet-black wings and tail; females are olive green above with yellowish underparts.
- Field recognition: Most often detected high in the forest canopy by flashes of red as males change perches, a burry, robin-like song, and a distinctive “chick-burr” call.
- Where found: Widespread during summer across New York in mature deciduous and mixed forests, especially in the Southern Tier, Catskills, and central regions; more localized as a breeder in New York City and Long Island.
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); a common forest breeder across much of New York, though vulnerable to forest fragmentation and brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds.
The Scarlet Tanager is one of New York’s most striking red birds during spring and summer, when breeding males bring vivid scarlet color to the canopy of mature forests. This medium-sized songbird measures 16 to 17 centimeters (6.3 to 6.7 inches) in length and has a fairly stocky body, large head, and thick, rounded bill. Adult males in breeding plumage are brilliant scarlet red across the head, body, and underparts, sharply contrasting with jet-black wings and tail. Females are olive green above with yellowish underparts and darker olive wings and tail, making them considerably less conspicuous among foliage. The male’s bold red-and-black plumage is particularly distinctive among New York’s woodland birds.
Scarlet Tanagers are often more easily heard than seen because they spend much of their time high in the leafy canopy of mature trees. Males are most conspicuous when singing from exposed branches or moving between perches, briefly revealing flashes of brilliant red against the surrounding greenery. Their song resembles that of an American Robin but has a noticeably hoarse, buzzy quality, while both sexes give a distinctive two-part “chick-burr” or “chip-burr” call that frequently reveals their presence. They forage mainly in the middle and upper canopy, gleaning insects from leaves and branches or making short aerial sallies to capture flying prey. Large insects and caterpillars form an important part of their diet, although they also consume fruit, particularly during migration.
The Scarlet Tanager is a widespread summer resident and breeding species across New York, with particularly extensive breeding evidence throughout the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, central New York, Catskills, and Hudson Valley. It also occurs across the Adirondacks, Tug Hill, and St. Lawrence Valley, although confirmed breeding records are less continuous in northern regions, particularly in extensive spruce-fir forests. The species favors mature deciduous and mixed woodlands, especially large, continuous forest tracts, and is less frequent in heavily agricultural landscapes and urban areas. In New York City and Long Island, breeding is scattered and localized, with relatively few confirmed records and a stronger concentration toward the western part of the region. Scarlet Tanagers migrate to New York in spring and depart in late summer or fall to winter in South America. The species remains a common forest breeder across much of the state, but forest fragmentation can increase its vulnerability to Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism and reduce the suitability of breeding habitat.
Purple Finch
Haemorhous purpureus
- Identification: Medium-small, chunky songbird with a thick conical bill and notched tail; adult males show raspberry-red across the head, breast, and upperparts; females are heavily streaked brown and gray with a bold pale eyebrow.
- Field recognition: Often noticed at feeders or high in conifers, where the male’s reddish wash stands out as birds move through branches; an undulating flight and sharp “tick” calls help confirm identification.
- Where found: Occurs year-round in New York, breeds mainly in cool, forested uplands, especially the Adirondacks, Tug Hill, and Southern Tier; more widespread but irregular in winter, including at feeders in lower-elevation areas.
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); widespread but unevenly distributed as a breeder in New York, with long-term declines reported in eastern North America.
The Purple Finch is a distinctive raspberry-red bird of New York’s forests, particularly in northern and upland regions, and an irregular winter visitor to backyard feeders across the state. It measures 12 to 16 centimeters (4.7 to 6.3 inches) in length and has a stocky body, short, powerful bill, and distinctly notched tail. Adult males show a rich raspberry-red wash across the head, neck, breast, sides, and upperparts, contrasting with brown wings and a cloudy white lower belly and undertail coverts. Unlike the more familiar House Finch, the red extends broadly across the back rather than being concentrated mainly on the face and upper breast. Females and immatures are gray-brown with heavy dark streaking, a bright whitish belly, and a prominent pale eyebrow that contrasts with a dark ear patch.
Purple Finches are most often detected at feeders, in treetops, or among conifers, where males reveal their soft, wine-red coloration as they move through branches. They hop and flit between perches, sometimes moving sideways along twigs, and their flight between trees is strongly undulating. Males deliver a rich, warbling song from elevated perches during the breeding season, while sharp “tick” calls frequently reveal birds moving overhead or between trees. Purple Finches forage mainly on seeds, buds, blossoms, and other plant material, often feeding high in the canopy, but they occasionally capture insects in short aerial sallies. In winter, they readily visit feeders offering black oil sunflower seeds, sometimes appearing in flocks that vary considerably in size and frequency from year to year.
The Purple Finch is a widespread but unevenly distributed breeder across New York, favoring cool, forested landscapes with coniferous trees, especially in the Adirondack Mountains, Tug Hill, and the uplands of the Southern Tier and Appalachian Plateau. Breeding evidence also extends across the Finger Lakes, central New York, and eastern uplands, but becomes more scattered through the Catskills, lower Hudson Valley, and southeastern lowlands. In New York City and Long Island, breeding is rare and localized, with most recent atlas records indicating only possible breeding rather than confirmed nesting. The species uses coniferous and mixed forests, evergreen plantations, wooded edges, and parks with mature conifers, showing a preference for cooler, higher-elevation habitats. Outside the breeding season, Purple Finches range more widely into lower elevations, suburban areas, and feeding stations, although winter numbers fluctuate considerably between years. The species remains well established in suitable upstate forests, but long-term declines in eastern North America and possible competition with the introduced House Finch remain conservation concerns.
Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
- Identification: Small songbird with a short, pointed bill, notched tail, two pale wingbars, a red forehead patch, and a black bib; adult males of the widespread “Common” form also show rosy-red on the breast and upper flanks.
- Field recognition: Usually noticed in restless winter flocks feeding acrobatically in birches, weedy fields, or at feeders, with undulating flight, rapid movements, and sharp buzzy calls.
- Where found: Occurs irregularly during winter across New York, especially in the Lake Ontario plain, Finger Lakes, and western and central regions; less frequently recorded in the Adirondacks, New York City, and Long Island.
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); an irregular non-breeding visitor to New York, with numbers fluctuating greatly between winters and a substantial long-term decline reported for the former Common Redpoll population.
The Redpoll is a small northern finch that brings flashes of red to New York’s winter landscapes, appearing irregularly in flocks that sometimes gather around birches, weedy fields, and backyard feeders. This species measures 11 to 14 centimeters (4.3 to 5.5 inches) in length and has a small head, short pointed bill, notched tail, and two pale wingbars. Adult males of the widespread “Common” form show a bright red forehead and rosy-red coloration across the breast, upper flanks, cheeks, and sometimes the rump, contrasting with a brownish, heavily streaked body and a small black bib. Females usually show red only on the forehead, with brown-and-white streaked plumage, while juveniles initially lack the red forehead patch. The paler “Hoary” form appears whiter and grayer overall, although intermediate birds can be difficult to assign confidently to either form.
Redpolls are most often detected in active winter flocks moving between birch trees, shrubs, weedy fields, and feeding stations. They hop along branches, cling to fine twigs, and frequently hang upside down while extracting small seeds from catkins or seed heads. Their flight is undulating, and flocks often rise suddenly in a swirl of chattering birds before settling again nearby. Sharp buzzy calls, rising whistles, and rapid rattling notes frequently reveal their presence before individual birds can be examined. Redpolls feed primarily on small seeds, buds, catkins, and other plant material, making birch stands and seed-rich weedy areas especially productive places to watch for them. Compared with the more familiar House Finch, they are smaller and finer-billed, with a limited red forehead patch rather than extensive red across the face and upper breast.
The Redpoll is an irregular winter visitor to New York State, with numbers varying considerably between years depending on food availability farther north. Observations are most widely distributed across western and central New York, particularly along the Lake Ontario plain, Finger Lakes, and portions of the Southern Tier, with additional scattered records through the Mohawk Valley, Capital Region, and Hudson Valley. The species is less frequently reported across the Adirondacks and St. Lawrence Valley, while New York City and Long Island receive irregular winter visits, mainly around the metropolitan area and western Long Island, with occasional records farther east. Redpolls breed in northern Canada and Alaska and move south during some winters, occasionally reaching New York in substantial flocks during irruption years. They favor open birch woods, weedy fields, shrubby areas, and residential feeders during these visits. The species does not breed in New York, and its occurrence remains unpredictable, with some winters producing numerous sightings and others very few.
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra
- Identification: Medium-sized, stocky songbird with a distinctive crossed bill and deeply notched tail; adult males are brick red to reddish overall with darker wings and tail; females are olive to yellowish green.
- Field recognition: Usually detected by sharp, metallic calls from chattering flocks high in conifers, with red males visible as they cling to cones, hang upside down, or fly between treetops.
- Where found: Occurs locally and irregularly across New York, breeding mainly in coniferous forests of the Adirondacks, Tug Hill, and central and southern uplands; occasional in New York City and Long Island.
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); an irregular and nomadic breeder in New York, with abundance and nesting activity fluctuating strongly according to conifer seed availability.
The Red Crossbill is one of New York’s most distinctive reddish finches, appearing unpredictably in coniferous forests where flocks gather to exploit abundant cone crops. This stocky songbird measures 14 to 20 centimeters (5.5 to 7.9 inches) in length and has a short, deeply notched tail and a specialized bill with mandibles that cross at the tips. Adult males range from deep brick red to dull reddish or occasionally yellowish tones, with the strongest color across the head and body, contrasting with darker brown wings and tail. Females are predominantly olive to grayish with greenish or yellow-green tones on the breast and rump, while immatures are browner and more heavily streaked. The crossed bill is the species’ most distinctive feature and separates it from other red or reddish finches found in New York.
Red Crossbills are usually detected by their sharp, metallic contact calls as flocks move through coniferous treetops or fly between feeding areas. Males reveal flashes of brick-red plumage while clinging to cones, sometimes hanging sideways or upside down as they use their crossed bills to pry apart cone scales and extract seeds. Their movements are active and deliberate, and flocks often travel together in rapid, occasionally undulating flight while maintaining frequent vocal contact. Although they usually remain high in trees, Red Crossbills sometimes descend to roadsides or open ground to gather grit, providing opportunities for closer views of their unusual bills and variable plumage. They feed primarily on conifer seeds, especially from spruce, pine, hemlock, and other cone-bearing trees, and their local abundance closely follows the availability of these food sources.
The Red Crossbill is a localized and highly irregular resident and breeding species in New York, with its strongest concentration in the Adirondack Mountains, particularly around the High Peaks, Lake Placid, and surrounding coniferous forests. Additional breeding evidence occurs across Tug Hill and the western Adirondacks, as well as in upland forests of central New York and the eastern Finger Lakes and Southern Tier region, including areas around Cortland and Ithaca. Records are much more scattered across western New York, the Lake Ontario plain, and the Hudson Valley. In New York City and Long Island, the species is an occasional and irregular visitor, although historical nesting records and limited recent breeding evidence show that breeding can occur during favorable conditions. Red Crossbills favor spruce-fir forests, hemlock-hardwood woodlands, and conifer plantations, and their movements and nesting schedules depend heavily on cone production rather than a fixed seasonal pattern. During major irruption years, such as the well-documented 1984-1985 invasion, large numbers can spread across the state and breed far beyond their usual concentrations, while in other years the species remains scarce and localized.
White-winged Crossbill
Loxia leucoptera
- Identification: Medium-sized, stocky finch with a distinctive crossed bill; adult males are pink to rose-red with black wings and tail marked by two bold white wingbars; females are yellowish olive with the same wing pattern.
- Field recognition: Usually detected in chattering flocks high in conifers, with white wingbars flashing during undulating flight and birds clinging acrobatically to cones while giving dry, metallic calls.
- Where found: Occurs locally in New York, breeding mainly in the Adirondack Mountains, especially in spruce-fir forests; occasionally occurs elsewhere during irruptions but is extremely rare in New York City and Long Island.
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); a rare and nomadic breeder in New York, with local abundance fluctuating dramatically according to conifer seed availability.
The White-winged Crossbill is one of New York’s most distinctive red-toned finches, occurring primarily in the Adirondack Mountains, where flocks sometimes gather in large numbers during years of abundant spruce cones. This stocky songbird measures 14 to 17 centimeters (5.5 to 6.7 inches) in length and has a slightly forked tail and a specialized bill with crossed mandibles adapted for extracting seeds from cones. Adult males range from bright pink in fall and winter to deeper rose-red in spring and summer, with the strongest color across the head, back, and rump, contrasting sharply with black wings and tail. Two bold white wingbars distinguish the species from the similarly shaped Red Crossbill. Females are greenish yellow to olive with paler underparts and the same prominent white wingbars, while immatures are browner with streaked underparts and pale-edged flight feathers.
White-winged Crossbills are usually detected by their calls and active flock movements rather than by individual birds perched in the open. They travel between coniferous treetops in rapid, undulating flight, with their contrasting white wingbars flashing as flocks wheel and change direction. When feeding, they cling sideways or upside down to spruce and tamarack cones, using their crossed bills to pry apart scales and extract seeds, sometimes gripping branches with the bill in a parrot-like manner. Their dry, metallic flight calls, often rendered as “chut-chut-chut,” frequently reveal their presence before the birds are seen. Males may sing from treetops or in flight during breeding activity, which can occur outside the usual spring and summer nesting season. Crossbills occasionally descend to roadsides to gather grit or salt, offering closer views but also exposing them to vehicle collisions.
The White-winged Crossbill is a rare, localized, and highly nomadic breeding species in New York, with its strongest concentration in the Adirondack Mountains, particularly around the High Peaks, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, and surrounding spruce-fir forests. Breeding evidence becomes more scattered toward the western and southern Adirondacks, while occasional records occur across Tug Hill, central New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. Outside the Adirondacks, confirmed breeding has occurred during major irruption years, including in conifer plantations on the Appalachian Plateau near Otselic in Chenango County. The species is extremely rare and irregular in New York City and Long Island, where no established breeding population is indicated, although historical winter irruptions have reached as far east as Montauk Point. It favors spruce, balsam-fir, tamarack, and mixed coniferous forests, as well as plantations of Norway spruce and European larch. Its movements and nesting activity depend heavily on cone production, with some years bringing large flocks and widespread breeding, while others produce very few records. The species remains an irregular breeder across the state, and winter concentrations along salted roads can suffer significant losses from vehicle collisions.
Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra
- Identification: Medium-sized, chunky songbird with a thick, blunt-tipped bill; adult males are uniformly rosy red across the body, wings, and tail; females are yellow to yellow-green.
- Field recognition: Often detected by flashes of red high in the forest canopy, a sweet, robin-like song, and a distinctive clicking “pit-ti-tuck” call; males lack the black wings of Scarlet Tanagers.
- Where found: Occurs rarely and irregularly in New York, with scattered records in the Great Lakes lowlands, Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island, primarily in wooded habitats.
- Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); an occasional visitor to New York with no established breeding population, although the species is fairly common farther south within its regular range.
The Summer Tanager is the reddest bird in North America but is only occasionally encountered in New York, where its appearance is an unusual event for birders outside the species’ regular breeding range. It measures 17 to 19 centimeters (6.7 to 7.5 inches) in length and has a chunky body, large head, and thick, blunt-tipped bill. Adult males are uniformly rosy red across the head, body, wings, and tail, giving them a smooth, saturated appearance without contrasting markings. Unlike the more familiar Scarlet Tanager, males lack black wings and tail, making their entirely red plumage particularly distinctive. Females are yellow to yellow-green, sometimes appearing mustard yellow, while immature males may show irregular patches of red and yellow during molt.
Summer Tanagers are often difficult to locate despite the male’s vivid coloration because they spend much of their time high among the leaves of deciduous trees. Observers are most likely to notice males when they move between exposed branches or sing from elevated perches, briefly revealing flashes of bright red against the canopy. Their song is sweet and robin-like, while both sexes give a distinctive clicking “pit-ti-tuck” call that can reveal their presence before they are seen. They forage deliberately through the canopy, often remaining still before making short aerial sallies to capture flying insects, particularly bees and wasps. They also glean insects from leaves and bark, making open woodlands, forest edges, and streamside trees suitable places to watch for this uncommon visitor.
The Summer Tanager is a rare and irregular visitor to New York State, occurring well north of its principal breeding range in the eastern and southern United States. Scattered observations have been recorded across western New York, particularly around Buffalo and Rochester, as well as in the Finger Lakes, central Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, Capital Region, and Hudson Valley. Records are much less frequent across the Adirondacks, St. Lawrence Valley, and Catskills. In New York City and Long Island, the species is an uncommon and irregular visitor, with scattered sightings from the metropolitan area eastward through Suffolk County. It favors open deciduous and mixed woodlands, forest edges, and wooded stream corridors within its regular range, although New York records do not indicate a consistent local habitat pattern. Most observations across the state lack breeding evidence, and occasional possible breeding indications have not established a regular nesting population. The Summer Tanager remains an exceptional red bird sighting in New York rather than a predictable breeding-season species.
Identifying Red Birds in New York
Identifying the red birds of New York becomes easier when plumage patterns are considered alongside habitat and season. Northern Cardinals and House Finches are familiar sights around feeders and residential areas, while Scarlet Tanagers bring brilliant red to summer forest canopies and Purple Finches favor cooler, wooded landscapes. Redpolls and crossbills appear irregularly, often in winter flocks or northern conifer forests, while the Summer Tanager remains a rare visitor. Look for differences in red coloration, wing markings, bill shape, calls, and feeding behavior, and consider where and when each bird appears to narrow down the identification.
For a broader perspective, explore our guide to red birds across North America, and visit the Birds of New York and Birds of the United States pages for additional regional and national bird guides.
Raeesah Habib is a South African conservationist and freelance writer. She completed a diploma in nature conservation in 2016 through the University of South Africa (UNISA). During her internship, she spent a year working with wattled cranes on the Wattled Crane Recovery Programme (WCRP).
The program aims to prevent the local extinction of the wattled crane in Southern Africa through the release of captive-reared individuals into critically endangered wild populations across the country. During her time at the research facility, she was also responsible for the general monitoring and husbandry of other magnificent species, including blue cranes and secretary birds.
Following her internship, she was fortunate to have worked in some spectacular wilderness areas across the country, including the Cradle of Humankind, the Kruger National Park, and the northern Zululand. As a wildlife monitor, her responsibilities included conducting bird point counts. Birds surveys are a useful means to collect data on the avian populations in an area. The data helps researchers gain an understanding of population trends and ecosystem health.
When not in the field, Rae enjoys writing to share her passion, knowledge, and experiences with others.