Earlier in the spring I found myself searching endlessly for things like “how do you find wildlife in the Chicago area?” or “Is there any wildlife in the Midwest?” or even “how far from Chicago do you have to drive to find good wildlife?” Clearly, I was rage-searching because of a long winter without getting out and taking pictures of anything. But, I came across a few articles that explained that Chicago is right in the middle of one of the largest avian migration corridors in the United States. Every year millions of birds of all types fly through here and - to my surprise - people from outside Chicago actually come here for the migrations!

So, I decided to try a little experiment and get ready for fall migration and whatever opportunities arose by dipping my toe into some backyard songbird photography. It is deceptively simple - a clean separation from the background, a perch and good light - and magic should just happen.

2026/07/20260718-0841-NZ1_7060
A small house sparrow (Passer domesticus) perches on a slender branch, its beak open as if calling, surrounded by fresh green leaves against a soft, blurred background.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/4 • 1/640s • ISO 1800
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My first stab at this was actually on our front porch. We have a tree that is looking worse and worse by the month, but it makes for an amazing perch. If you sit still enough and hang a bird feeder in it, eventually birds will show up.

2026/07/20260723-0715-NZ1_7239
A male house sparrow (Passer domesticus) perches on the rim of a stone basin filled with smooth pebbles, its chestnut crown and back contrasting against a soft, blurred green backdrop.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/4 • 1/1000s • ISO 7200
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2026/07/20260723-0722-NZ1_7261
A small brown finch with a conical beak and streaked plumage perches on the rim of a stone bird bath filled with smooth pebbles, set against a soft green foliage background.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/4 • 1/1600s • ISO 8000
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2026/07/20260723-0723-NZ1_7284
A small brown sparrow perches on a cluster of smooth gray stones, set against a softly blurred background of green foliage.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/4 • 1/1600s • ISO 9000
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And then for Father’s Day my family bought me a little birdbath for the backyard - it turns out water is another great feature to put on the songbird stage. At this point, I was having moderate success. I did not realize just how much setup songbird photography took. It is more like studio photography in many ways than wildlife photography.

And then, these guys started showing up! The chipmunks, birds and squirrels really did not play well together!

2026/07/20260723-0737-NZ1_7308_raw-denoise
A striped chipmunk (Tamias striatus) pauses on a weathered, paint-peeling wooden plank, its bushy tail trailing behind as it surveys the area with bright, alert eyes.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/4.5 • 1/1250s • ISO 2000
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And here are a few more of my favorite shots from this little summer experiment.

2026/07/20260723-0738-NZ1_7331_raw-denoise
A male House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) perches on a slender branch, its red head and breast contrasting with a streaked brown back and pale belly.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/5 • 1/1000s • ISO 4000
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2026/07/20260723-0738-NZ1_7344
A male House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) in breeding plumage, with a vivid red head and breast and streaked brown body, stands on sandy, pebbled ground against a soft green grassy background.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/5 • 1/1000s • ISO 4000
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2026/07/20260723-0801-NZ1_7407
A sparrow (*Passer domesticus*) with a rufous nape and streaked back perches on the rim of a weathered stone bird bath, set against a soft, blurred green backdrop.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/4.5 • 1/1000s • ISO 5000
Download Wallpaper ⓘ


2026/07/20260723-0826-NZ1_7499
A small brown sparrow (*Passer domesticus*) perches on a lichen-flecked branch, its soft buffy plumage and pale face set against a dark, blurred green background.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/4.5 • 1/1600s • ISO 500
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2026/07/20260723-0828-NZ1_7543
A male House Sparrow (*Passer domesticus*) perches on a slender branch, its chestnut nape and black throat bib standing out against a soft, blurred green background.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/4.5 • 1/1600s • ISO 250
Download Wallpaper ⓘ


2026/07/20260723-0829-NZ1_7565
A small brown sparrow perches on a bare branch, its pale conical beak and soft buffy plumage set against a softly blurred green backdrop of foliage.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/4.5 • 1/1600s • ISO 220
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2026/07/20260723-0829-NZ1_7573
A small, plain brown sparrow perches on the rim of a stone birdbath filled with smooth gray pebbles, set against a dark, leafy green background.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/4.5 • 1/1600s • ISO 360
Download Wallpaper ⓘ


2026/07/20260723-0830-NZ1_7638
A female Northern Cardinal (*Cardinalis cardinalis*) with a slender crest and orange bill stands on a seed-scattered stone, set against a soft green grassy background.
Nikon Z6iii • 500mm • f/4.5 • 1/1600s • ISO 180
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Was it an adventure? Maybe - it was certainly a lot less work getting out to my backyard than going on hikes around here. But I did have to learn some new fieldcraft. It turns out - no matter how still or quiet you are, birds just do not want to be around movement or a human form at the distances (~11 feet) needed to fill a frame. I learned I had to use some type of cover to hide my movement.

I was also able to capture my first cardinal - a species I have wanted to capture for a long time!

So, I’m definitely ready for fall migration and counting down the days until the weather turns a little bit — until mornings get chilly and I can spend an hour or two sitting quietly in my backyard with my camera and my thoughts. And then getting bored and taking pictures of the fall flowers in our garden!