UNIVERSITY PARK — Nothing beats the heat of an August day quite like a stroll through a shaded wood. Birding on hot summer days isn’t as popular as during early spring migration; however, many species are still active — and even breeding — in the summertime woods.

Most Pennsylvania bird species breed in the spring months from March through June. However, some species choose to delay their breeding season compared to most, timing their broods with the maturity and abundance of late summer nuts and berries. American goldfinch and cedar waxwing are two such delayed breeders. August continues to be a great time to observe adults of these species gathering food for their growing chicks. Goldfinches often target thistles and sunflowers while waxwings are largely fruit eaters.

Late summer nesting behavior is also the result of species raising multiple broods per year. Easily recognizable species like American robins, eastern Phoebes, and mourning doves are among those known to raise multiple broods over the course of the breeding season. New fledglings of these species can be seen in late July and even into August. Rearing multiple broods a year helps to offset reproductive failures such as low survival rate, short lifespans and nesting failure.

It can be quite difficult at times to identify young birds by species, as their plumage and distinguishing characteristics often are not fully developed until several weeks or months after leaving the nest. Fledglings still rely on their parents for food and protection, so the easiest way to identify them is to observe the adults that come to their aid. When the fledglings progress to the juvenile stage and no longer require parental oversight, identification can get tricky. Cornell Lab’s All About Birds has a guide that is particularly helpful in learning how to identify juvenile birds.

Not only does August host the tail end of the breeding season, but looking ahead, it will soon include the beginning of fall migration. As soon as late August, some migrants will begin their trek through Pennsylvania on their way to warmer locations to spend the winter. Tree swallows and Louisiana waterthrushes are among the earliest migrants. Peak migration is September and October. By November, migration activity gradually tapers off, leaving behind the hardier species that will remain in Pennsylvania through the colder months.

Though the flurry of springtime migration and nesting may have passed, late summer continues to be a rewarding time for birders. In fact, a recent wood-edge stroll yielded several lively and colorful species within just a few minutes of active observation: American goldfinch, dark-eyed junco, scarlet tanager, northern cardinal, indigo bunting, downy woodpecker, black-capped chickadee, and various LBBs (little brown birds) that evaded identification.

What species will you find in your late-summer woodland?

(Rachel Yoder is a Forest Stewardship program assistant at the James C. Finley Center for Private Forests at Penn State.)