Wildlife, Animal Biology and Animal Behavior
In wildlife photography, insight into biology of animals, their preferences and their behavior is of significant importance.
Special Topics
- Identifying Whales in Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park
- Bird Watching in Montreal
- Endemic, Native, Introduced Species
Species in Focus:
I created podcasts about a selection of species. In each episode, you’ll learn more about a particular species—from its biology and behavior to its distribution and ecological role.
Snapshots:
Explore
Wildlife States & Transitions
The table below divides the year into practical windows for planning time outdoors — each phase links animal activity, habitat change, and how easily species can be found and photographed.
| Phase | Period | Field Signals |
|---|---|---|
| The Opening | Mar 20 - Apr 20 | Ice retreats; open water expands; early migrants arrive; mammals re-emerge |
| The Waking | Apr 20 - May 20 | Leaf-out begins; rapid species variety rises; insects emerge |
| The Rush | May 20 - Jul 10 | Nesting peaks; young dependent; feeding rates high |
| The Hidden | Jul 10 - Aug 20 | Closed canopy; dense cover; insect peak; visibility sharply reduced |
| The Departure | Aug 20 - Oct 20 | Migration pulses; staging flocks; mixed species groups |
| The Fading | Oct 20 - Dec 15 | Late migrants pass; freeze-up begins; northern visitors appear |
| The Silence | Dec 15 - Mar 20 | Low activity; tracks reveal presence; resident species dominate |
Phases and dates reflect the Montréal region (southern Québec). Adjust for latitude, elevation, and year-to-year weather.
Animal Behavior and Functions
Animal behaviours can be classified by observable actions and their functional context across species — from birds to mammals and beyond. The list below outlines these behaviours and their possible functions. You can also explore them interactively: MUUUH Animal Behavior Videos
Physiology & Maintenance
- Surfacing — respiration, orientation, social interaction
- Hunting — predation, food acquisition
- Exploring — locomotion, exploration
- Foraging — food acquisition, exploration, survival
- Feeding — nutrition, energy intake, survival
- Drinking — hydration
- Preening, grooming — hygiene
- Gular fluttering, panting — thermoregulation
- Resting, sleeping — recovery, energy conservation
- Flying, landing — locomotion
- Shedding, moulting — maintenance
- Swimming — locomotion, exploration
Territory & Defence
- Song display — territory advertisement, courtship, communication
- Advertisement call — courtship, communication
- Vigilance behavior — predator awareness, safety
- Territorial behavior, marking, defence — dominance, resource protection
- Aggression, fighting — competition, communication, social bonding
- Threat display, submission display (agonistic displays) — conflict resolution, dominance hierarchy
- Cryptic behavior — predator avoidance, camouflage
Courtship, Reproduction & Social Behavior
- Feeding (juvenile) — parental care, nutrition, survival
- Fencing — communication, social bonding
- Calling (juvenile) — food solicitation, parental care, communication
- Mutual grooming, allogrooming — hygiene, social bonding, courtship
- Mutual preening — hygiene, social bonding, courtship
- Nest building, burrowing — reproduction, parental care
- Incubating, brooding — reproduction, parental care
- Synchronized display — reproduction, pair bonding
- Play behavior — learning, motor skills, social interaction
- Communication, vocalizations — information exchange, group cohesion
All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz
Last updated: 2026-04-10