Grouping of three metal bear prints in simple black frames
CategoriesLifestyle by

Bringing the Wild Indoors: Enhancing Home Decor with Wildlife Prints

For nature lovers and photography enthusiasts, decorating your home with stunning landscape prints of the Smoky Mountains is a natural choice. The rolling peaks, misty valleys, and vibrant sunrises captured in these images bring a sense of peace and timeless beauty to any space. But what about those smaller corners, accent walls, or cozy nooks that need a little extra charm? Or that landscape centerpiece that needs complementary pictures? That’s where wildlife prints come in—perfect companions to your landscapes. Think of an adorable black bear cub in a tree, your favorite owl perched on a branch, or a graceful deer in a meadow—these smaller-scale prints can tie your love for the Smokies into every room of your home.

Why Wildlife Prints Work with Landscape Photography

Wildlife prints are more than just decorative fillers; they tell a story. Pairing a Smoky Mountain vista with a close-up of a mammal or a favorite bird creates a cohesive narrative. The landscapes set the scene, while the wildlife brings it to life, reflecting the vibrant ecosystem. For those who find joy in the sights of birds, bears, deer, and other wildlife, these prints offer a way to showcase your favorite creatures in a sophisticated style.

Smaller wildlife prints are ideal for filling spaces where a large landscape might overwhelm—like above a side table, in a hallway, or as part of a gallery wall. Their scale allows for flexibility, letting you mix and match species and scenes to suit your taste. Imagine a metal print of a foggy Cades Cove morning as the centerpiece over your living room couch, flanked by smaller metal prints of bear cubs and a whitetail deer. The result? A balanced, nature-inspired look.

Living room couch with sunrise image flanked by two wildlife images behind it
The Magic of Metal Prints: Float Mounts and Beyond

When it comes to displaying your wildlife and landscape photography, metal prints offer a modern, sleek solution. At our online store, we specialize in two standout options: metal prints with float mounts and standalone metal prints. Both bring unique advantages to your decor, especially for those seeking a polished, ready-to-display look without the fuss of traditional framing.

Metal Prints with Float Mounts

Our metal prints with float mounts are a game-changer for effortless elegance. These prints are infused directly onto a lightweight aluminum sheet that has a white base coat. They are finished with a float mount on the back, meaning they arrive ready to hang straight out of the box. No mat, no frame, no hassle. The float mount creates a subtle shadow effect, making the print appear to hover off the wall, adding depth and a contemporary flair to your space. This option is perfect for a bold wildlife shot like a bald eagle where the vivid colors and fine details pop against the metallic surface. Plus, the larger image area (no mat or frame to shrink the picture) ensures your favorite wildlife takes center stage.

Metal print with float mount handing above a shelf
Standalone Metal Prints

If you prefer a bit more customization, our standalone metal prints are just as impressive. These glossy, durable prints can be easily slipped into a simple frame of your choosing—no glass or mat required. The lack of glass eliminates distortion, letting the full depth and clarity of the image shine through uninterrupted. Like their float-mounted counterparts, standalone metal prints offer a larger image size compared to traditional matted prints, maximizing the impact of every detail. They’re a great choice for smaller wildlife images you want to frame and cluster together, creating a dynamic display that complements your larger landscapes.

Grouping of three metal bear prints in simple black frames
Benefits of Metal Prints Over Traditional Options

Why choose metal over classic paper prints with mats and frames? For starters, metal prints are built to last. The aluminum surface resists fading, moisture, and wear—perfect for homes where nature-inspired decor needs to stand the test of time. The absence of glass means no worrying about distortion or breakage, and the clean, frameless look feels fresh and modern.

The larger image size is another major perk. Traditional prints often lose valuable space to mats and frames, shrinking the artwork itself. With metal prints, you get more of what you love—whether it’s the mysterious eyes of an owl or the expanse of a Smoky Mountain sunrise. This makes them especially striking for wildlife shots, where every detail counts, and for landscapes, where the full scope of the scene can breathe.

Inspiration for Your Space

Picture this: In your bedroom, a metal print of a Cades Cove foggy morning brightening the space above your bed. Smaller float-mounted metal prints of a sleeping mother bear and her curious cubs flank each side completing the story of your Smoky Mountains.

Metal print of a foggy meadow in Cades Cove over the headboard of a bed with black bear prints on each side
Hallway with grouping of three wildlife metal prints in simple wood frames

In the hallway, a trio of standalone metal prints—a deer, a fox, and an owl—framed in simple wood frames, creates a mini gallery that draws the eye without overcrowding the narrow space.

In your cozy reading nook, a single float-mounted print of an indigo bunting on sunflowers ties the area’s cheery tone together.

Metal print with float mount hanging over chair in a reading nook

These wildlife accents don’t just fill gaps—they elevate your decor, making it feel intentional and alive. They’re conversation starters, too, perfect for when guests who share your love of the Smokies visit.

Bring the Smokies Home

Incorporating wildlife prints into your home decor is a celebration of the natural world you adore. Whether you opt for the ready-to-hang float-mount or the flexibility of the standalone metal print, you’re choosing a durable, vibrant way to showcase the wildlife you enjoy. Pair them with your favorite landscape photography, and you’ve got a design scheme that’s as timeless as the wilderness itself.

Ready to transform your space? Explore our collection of Smoky Mountain wildlife and landscape metal prints today, and let the beauty of nature find its place in your home. Plus, our April featured images are black bear cubs! So, begin your collection of Smoky Mountain wildlife with our featured image “Twins”. Available in both a vertical and horizontal format to fit any space, these amazing photographs capture two black bear cubs peaking curiously between the crouch of a large tree. A perfect print to bring the Smokies into your home with a special April discount! Apply code APRILBEARS at check-out to receive 10% off.

Smoky Mountain Wildlife Photos, Photographer Barry Spruce, Prints available at Cades Cove Gallery in Townsend TN.
Smoky Mountain Wildlife Photos, Photographer Barry Spruce, Prints available at Cades Cove Gallery in Townsend TN.
Learn More and Join Us in the Smoky Mountains

Want to learn more about the amazing life cycle of American Black Bears in the Smoky Mountains? Read our latest blog “The Fascinating Lives of American Black Bears” on our Spruce Photo Tours website.

Interested in photographing black bears with an experienced local photographer and guide? Join our Smoky Mountain Black Bear Workshop in May or book a private guided tour for an unforgettable one-on-one experience.

Common Merganser female swimming in river surrounded by chicks
CategoriesWildlife by

Spring Bird Photography in the Great Smoky Mountains

Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains is a season of renewal, where the forests awaken with vibrant wildflowers, rushing streams, and—most importantly for us—the songs and sights of countless birds. Straddling the Tennessee-North Carolina border, this national park is a biodiversity hotspot, hosting over 240 bird species across its varied elevations and habitats. Nearly 120 species breed in the park, including 52 Neotropical migrants.  The elevation gradient—from 840 feet at Abrams Creek to 5,500 feet at Newfound Gap—creates microclimates hosting lowland songbirds and highland boreal species alike. Add blooming wildflowers and milder weather, and it’s a birder’s and photographer’s dream.

Spring (March through May) is prime time to witness both resident and migratory birds, including some rare gems that make the Smokies a must-visit destination. Whether you’re aiming to capture a stunning photo or add a new species to your life list, here’s a guide to 15 standout birds frequenting the Smokies in spring.

Male Hooded Warbler perched in tree singing

Hooded Warbler

  • Interesting Fact: The male Hooded Warbler’s striking black hood, framing a bright yellow face, isn’t just for show—it’s a signal of dominance. Studies show that males with larger hoods often hold better territories.
  • Tip: Listen for its clear, ringing “ta-wit ta-wit ta-wit tee-yo” song in dense undergrowth along trails like the Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail.
Male turkey fanning in a field of yellow flowers

Wild Turkey

  • Interesting Fact: One of North America’s largest birds, the Wild Turkey struts through open fields and forest edges in spring, with males fanning iridescent tails in courtship displays. Conservation efforts, like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, revived their numbers after near collapse.
  • Birding Tip: The males’ echoing gobble is a spring hallmark—April is peak display season. Scan open areas early and capture their strut in a field of flowers in Cades Cove.
Male Indigo Bunting perched on branch singing

Indigo Bunting

  • Interesting Fact: The male’s vibrant blue isn’t pigment—it’s light diffraction through feather structures, glowing brightest in direct sun.
  • Birding Tip: Spot them in open woodlands or along Cades Cove Loop Road, singing from exposed perches.
Tree Swallow flying in to feed chicks who are perched on a branch

Tree Swallow

  • Interesting Fact: These iridescent beauties are aerial acrobats, catching insects mid-flight. The fledglings lack the adults’ blue color on their backs.
  • Birding Tip: Watch for them swooping over fields near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
Louisiana Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush

  • Interesting Fact: Its loud, cascading song mimics the rushing streams it inhabits—one of spring’s earliest warbler arrivals.
  • Birding Tip: Seek it along streams like Little River, where it bobs its tail incessantly.
Male and female Common Merganser standing on a rock in the river

Common Merganser

  • Interesting Fact: This diving duck’s serrated bill, dubbed a “sawbill,” snags fish with ease. Females lead ducklings out of the nest into the river within 24 hours of hatching.
  • Birding Tip: Look for them in the Little River Gorge.
Yellow-breasted Chat perched on blackberry briar

Yellow-breasted Chat

  • Interesting Fact: Once classified as a warbler, this mimic’s wild repertoire includes whistles, cackles, and meows—think avian jazz.
  • Birding Tip: Find it in thickets near Newfound Gap Road; its ventriloquist-like calls confuse direction.
Male Common Yellowthroat perched on branch singing

Common Yellowthroat

  • Interesting Fact: The male’s black mask and “witchety-witchety” song make it a marsh maestro. It’s one of the most widespread warblers in North America.
  • Birding Tip: Check wetlands near Cades Cove; listen for its distinctive call.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird sipping nectar from a Jewelweed

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

  • Interesting Fact: Weighing less than a nickel, this tiny marvel beats its wings 53 times per second and migrates 500 miles nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Birding Tip: Look for them in areas with Jewelweed and other flowers.
Barn Swallow adult feeding chick

Barn Swallow

  • Interesting Fact: Barn Swallows are endurance fliers, capable of traveling up to 11,000 miles round-trip during migration between North America and their South American wintering grounds. They’ve been clocked flying at speeds up to 24 mph while snagging insects mid-air.
  • Birding Tip: Watch them skim fields near historic barns in Cades Cove.
Eastern Kingbird chasing a Red-Tailed Hawk from its territory

Eastern Kingbird

  • Interesting Fact: This feisty flycatcher defends its territory by chasing off hawks—its hidden red crown flares in aggression.
  • Birding Tip: Look in open areas like along Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane; its “dzeet” call stands out.
Pileated Woodpecker feeding chicks in a nesting hole in a tree

Pileated Woodpecker

  • Interesting Fact: This crow-sized bird’s rectangular holes and Woody Woodpecker-like laugh echo through the forest. It’s a keystone species, creating homes for others.
  • Birding Tip: Listen for drumming in wooded areas, and look for them on downed logs and standing dead trees.
Barred Owl hunting in a creek in the Smoky Mountains

Barred Owl

  • Interesting Fact: Its “who cooks for you” hoot is a Smokies classic. It can catch prey in total darkness using sound alone.
  • Birding Tip: Barred Owls are most vocal and active during twilight hours. Their deep, rhythmic calls carry far in the Smokies’ dense woods. Stand still in hardwood forests near streams or swamps—prime habitat—and let the sound guide you.
Male Wood Duck

Wood Duck

  • Interesting Fact: North America’s most colorful duck, males sport a psychedelic palette. Ducklings leap from nests up to 50 feet high within a day of hatching.
  • Birding Tip: They favor wooded swamps, so check ponds in wetland areas.
Easter Phoebe perched on a branch

Eastern Phoebe

  • Interesting Fact: The first bird named by Audubon, it tail-wags like a metronome and was a pioneer in bird-banding studies.
  • Birding Tip: Listen for its distinctive raspy “fee-bee” call. Phoebes are sit-and-wait hunters, returning to the same low perch after short flycatching sorties. Find a spot with a clear view of a favorite perch and wait for it to return.
Getting the Shot

With quick moving subjects, variable lighting, and long distances, bird photography challenges the best wildlife photographers. Here are some tips to help ensure a successful bird photography venture in the Smokies.

  • Bring the right gear. A good pair of binoculars is a must have to spot birds. Bring a long lens to capture birds at a distance. Pack rain gear for the unpredictable Spring weather. Use a harness such as Rapid Strap or Cotton Carrier for your camera so that you can quickly go back and forth between your binoculars and camera.
  • Be in the right place at the right time. The prime time for bird photography is dusk and dawn (the first and last two hours of the day). The right place will depend on the bird species you are targeting. For example, many warblers will be found in the tree canopy where they are feeding on insects, while Swallows, can be found flying over open fields. Eastern Kingbird and Eastern Phoebe will be found hawking insects from a favorite tree branch.
  • Pay attention to the direction of lighting in open areas such as along roads. For example, the crossroads in Cades Cove run north and south. So in the morning you want to be shooting to the west. In the afternoon you want to be shooting to the east.
  • Male birds are typically easier to photograph, because they are perched singing declaring their territory and attracting females. Look for them atop bushes and small trees. They will also take advantage of fence posts alongside the road.
  • A rainy day offers great opportunities. After a rain look for puddles on dirt roads to capture birds bathing and drinking. 
  • When photographing birds in ponds or rivers, get low at eye-level with the subject to enhance the composition of your image.
Final Thoughts

The Great Smoky Mountains in spring are a symphony of feathers and song. For photographers, it’s a canvas of color and motion; for birders, it’s a checklist begging to grow. So, grab your gear, tune your ears, and step into this avian wonderland. In the Smokies, spring isn’t just a season, it’s a spectacle. These tips are a great starting point for birders and photographers. If you would like hands on private instruction from an expert to capture the spectacle, book a private tour with me. Or to take your bird photography a step further, join a small group of like-minded photographers April 15-18 for our Smoky Mountain Birds Workshop.

References:

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All About Birds. www.allaboutbirds.org.

National Audubon Society. Audubon Field Guide. www.audubon.org.

National Park Service. Birds Checklist – Great Smoky Mountains. www.nps.gov/grsm.

“Birding in the Great Smoky Mountains,” Smoky Mountain Living, 2018.

“Your Guide to Viewing the Birds of the Smoky Mountains,” Visit My Smokies, 2017.

“40 Birds You Can See in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” Avian Report, 2020.

“Birds,” Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Park Service, 2024.