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On the cover: An adult male Pine Grosbeak of the subspecies leucura. In the online issue, Melissa Groo and Peter Pyle showcase grosbeaks of different plumages and how to age & sex them. Photo by © Melissa Groo.

Happy holidays! We hope you have been enjoying a winter season of good food, good people, and good birds. 

December’s cover features a beautiful Pine Grosbeak, captured by photographer Melissa Groo. In an online piece available to ABA members, Melissa shares the story of the cover image and, more broadly, how birds revealed “a whole dimension of life I’d never considered before.” Peter Pyle dissects a series of Melissa’s photos to discuss the molt, ages, and sexes of the grosbeaks pictured. And don’t miss the December Birding interview, also with Melissa Groo.

We are proud to present our celebration of the 2025 Young Birder of the Year Mentoring Program. This collection is always a joy to create. We try to select entries that showcase the wide diversity of skills the young birders demonstrate. Their work is amazing, and the mentor team is always deeply impressed by what the young birders achieve. The 2026 mentoring program is currently underway, so stay tuned for updates!

Speaking of young birders going on to do incredible things: Zealon Wight-Maier, whose photo “Puddle Phalarope” is featured in the YBYMP collection, brings us a deep dive into Appalachian subspecies. Zealon describes six passerines with interesting variations in the ABA Area’s oldest mountain range.

As 2025 comes to a close, Common Loons leave the vaunted spot of ABA Bird of the Year – although I’m sure they will remain in all of our hearts. Robbie Lisa Freeman writes about Maine’s efforts to restore and protect Common Loons. This piece is full of gorgeous loon photos, people hard at work, and stories of the gains that have been made – as well as the work that remains.

You can also read about the gnarly puzzle that is identifying Alder and Willow flycatchers, the recent split of Brown Boobies, and an exploration of avian “deep phylogeny.”

As always, the Book & Media Reviews take their full, extended form online. In this issue:

  • Greg Lawrence reviews “Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep” by Roger F. Pasquier
  • Carrie-Edmund Laben reviews “Starlings: The Curious Odyssey of a Most Hated Bird” by Mike Stark
  • Julian Hough reviews “Listers: A Glimpse into Extreme Birdwatching” by Owen Reiser

Happy holidays, happy birding, and see you soon – for the reveal of the 2026 Bird of the Year!