Signs of Autumn: Subtle Clues that Fall is Near or Here

Search for signs of autumn! With this fun nature scavenger hunt idea, children and adults of all ages can learn to notice the universal sensory cues that indicate fall is near, has arrived, or is approaching.

Autumn rarely arrives with a grand announcement. It slips in quietly. The light softens, shadows lengthen, seeds ripen, birds begin migrating, and mornings feel a little cooler. When we slow down and pay attention, these subtle changes reveal that the season is already turning. Learning to recognize autumn’s signs helps children and adults connect what they see outdoors to the broader rhythms of the natural world.

This helpful guide highlights the first signs of fall and the seasonal signs you might notice depending on where you live. One of the most interesting details about these subtle seasonal signs is that they aren’t always the same everywhere; that’s why it’s important to pay attention to the nuances you notice throughout your lifetime. As well as what you experience in other parts of the world that are different from yours, as the seasons pass. Holding this nature-focused perspective and finding your place within it can turn an ordinary walk into an opportunity to wonder, explore, ask questions, and discover what is changing right where you live and why right outside your door every day.

Seasonal Clues That Signal the Arrival of Fall

Learn more about autumn phenology and how to identify the universal sensory cues that indicate fall is near, has arrived, or is approaching in this informative guide. Afterward, encourage kids and adults of all ages to look for the signs of autumn by becoming more aware of subtle sensory clues as each day turns into the next, with a seasonal scavenger hunt. In a hurry? Skip straight to the list of fall scavenger hunt ideas!

First published on August 15, 2015, this post about the common signs of fall or autumn, along with the accompanying scavenger hunt printables, is regularly updated to keep the content fresh and relevant. You may also enjoy these fun fall activity ideas with a printable bucket list.

What are the First Signs of Autumn?

The first subtle signs of autumn often appear long before the leaves reach their peak color. Instead, sometimes the first sign of a new season is simply a shift in the light. Sunlight strikes the ground at a lower angle and may take on a warm golden hue. Days typically grow shorter, seed heads dry, certain fruits and nuts ripen, and wildlife behavior slowly shifts.

As the summer heat subsides and cooler temperatures become the norm in late August and early September, many people in more temperate climates can begin to see, hear, feel, smell, and even taste the unmistakable signs of fall. From falling leaves and migrating birds to flannels, boots, and the cozy feeling of cashmere and a hot latte on a chilly day after a long, hot summer, the seasonal sensations and stunning autumn colors make fall a great time to get outside and enjoy nature’s beauty.

Below is a brief overview of some of the most common universal signs that autumn is either approaching or has already arrived. Explore a more detailed explanation of the seasonal clues that signal the change of seasons from summer to fall, and learn about the Signs of Autumn Scavenger Hunt in the sections that follow the quick list of universal fall signs below.

A Few Typical Signs of Autumn or Fall You Might Notice:

The earliest signs of fall may include:

• Softening light.
• Longer afternoon shadows.
• Later sunrises and earlier sunsets.
• Cooler mornings.
• Ripening seeds, fruits, and nuts.
• Changes in birdsong or bird activity.
• Fewer summer insects.
• Dry grasses and fading summer flowers.
• The first leaves changing color.
• Dew, mist, or frost in cooler regions.
• Changes in familiar daily and family rhythms.

How do you know when fall has arrived?

Once fall, or autumn, fully arrives, a variety of sensory cues often appear, including vibrant autumn colors, fall foliage, and other telltale signs, as shown in the photograph below. But fall doesn’t necessarily look the same everywhere, any more than the temperature or time is the same worldwide at any moment. Other parts of the world have entirely different clues that signal the shift from summer to fall.

Autumn Does Not Look the Same Everywhere

The same autumn clues don’t show up everywhere, and the fall signs you notice may be completely different from the vibrant oranges you see in the photo above. Ultimately, the seasonal changes you experience depend on your climate, elevation, latitude, and local ecosystem.

There is no single picture of autumn that fits the whole world. Some places glow with red and golden leaves as shown in the fall photo above, while others experience rainy, dry, or second-growth seasons. Rainfall changes near the equator may be more noticeable than changes in daylight. In warmer climates, autumn may appear in ripening crops instead of falling leaves. In others, animal movement, softer light, or a slight drop in temperature signals autumn’s arrival.

A wooded grove full of autumn colored descidous trees losing their leaves in the fall, as shown in the images above and below, might be an entirely foreign sight to you, because you might not see a single leaf turn where you live. That’s why it’s important to learn about the autumn signals to look for around you!

Autumn also occurs at different times in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. While the Northern Hemisphere enters autumn around September, the Southern Hemisphere enters autumn around March. Instead of looking only for familiar fall symbols, notice how the living world changes where you are and note these changes accordingly.

Why Learn to Recognize the Signs of Autumn?

When children learn to recognize seasonal clues, autumn becomes more than an arbitrary date on the calendar. They come to understand that the living world responds to changes in sunlight, temperature, water, and food availability. A ripening acorn, a quieter garden, and a passing flock of birds become interconnected elements of the same seasonal story.

Close observation also strengthens attention, curiosity, and a sense of belonging. Children come to know their home landscape and the land they live on in a much more intimate way than merely passing through it. This reflects a central living principle of the Rhythms of Play philosophy: everything, including learning, begins with connection and belonging.

This fall-themed learning activity is ideal for parents, teachers, outdoor programs, homeschooling families, and curious adults who want to learn more about the subtle seasonal changes that occur as summer slowly transitions into fall. Another fun way to teach children about fall and the changing seasons is sharing autumn stories. Here’s an excellent list of fall books for kids that you can use for this purpose.

Signs that autumn or fall is near, on the way, or has arrived:

This educational outdoor activity can help children and adults of all ages develop a deeper connection to nature and the land around them, sharpen their observational skills, and learn to recognize the small changes that occur every day and their significance.

Although the calendar divides the year into four distinct seasons — spring, summer, fall, and winter — subtle changes happen every day. Because these changes don’t happen overnight and instead appear gradually throughout the season, they create a sensory tapestry that signals autumn’s arrival.

As each day passes into the next, these small shifts gradually lead to the upcoming season. Each minor change flows into the next. However, when you look back, you realize how much has actually changed. Typically, the signs of fall begin in late summer, long before the autumnal equinox, and continue well after it, until one day winter arrives and you realize it’s gone.

Noticing Autumn with All Five Senses:

Most lists of autumn signs focus on what we can see, but the changing season can also be heard, felt, smelled, and tasted. Engaging all five senses helps children notice the subtle changes they might otherwise miss.

What Does Autumn Look Like?

Autumn isn’t limited to red and orange leaves. Look for the soft gold of dry grass, dark seed heads, ripe berries, shifting skies, and a warm light of late afternoon that makes it feel like happy hour all day. Even evergreen landscapes reveal autumn through subtle changes in the plants growing beneath and around the trees. In fall, look for:

• Changing leaves.
• Dry grasses and seed heads.
• Ripening fruits, nuts, and berries.
• Lower sunlight and longer shadows.
• Migrating or gathering animals.
• Dewy spiderwebs.
• Fading summer flowers.
• New seasonal blooms.

What Does Autumn Sound Like?

Close your eyes and listen. Does the landscape sound busier, quieter, or simply different? You may hear dry leaves scrape across the ground, seeds tapping against stems, or birds calling to defend their territory. The sounds you hear will vary by location, but changes in the soundscape can be among the earliest signs of a new season. In fall, listen for:

• Leaves rustling or crunching.
• Changing birdsong.
• Migrating flocks of birds calling overhead.
• Wind blowing in dry grasses.
• Nuts or seeds falling from dry stems.
• Rain pattering on leaves.
• Quieter insect activity.

What Does Autumn Feel Like?

Close your eyes and notice how autumn feels against your skin. Crisp mornings, warm afternoons, and cool nights greet many people as fall arrives. Even the sunlight feels less intense at midday than it does in summer. You might feel a light breeze, or a full-blown wind greeting you when you open the door. In fall, notice:

• Cooler mornings.
• Changing variable winds.
• Damp grass or heavy dew.
• Drier air in some regions.
• Rainier conditions in others.
• Warm afternoons followed by cool evenings.
• Different textures underfoot.

What Does Autumn Smell Like?

Autumn brings a mix of changing scents wafting in across the landscape. In fall, notice:

• Damp soil.
• Fallen leaves.
• Rain.
• Ripening fruit.
• Dry grass.
• Wood smoke from chimneys.
• Seasonal foods cooking at home.

What Does Autumn Taste Like?

Autumn can be tasted through the food ripening where you live. Apples, pears, pumpkins, squash, grapes, nuts, root vegetables, and late-season berries are common in many temperate regions. Other climates have completely different autumn harvests.

Visit a garden, farm stand, or market and ask, “What’s ripe here now?” The fall harvest season typically offers a fresh cornucopia of seasonal delights, including corn, pumpkin, and root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots, as well as fresh fruits like apples, pears, grapes, and citrus fruits, as shown in the photo below.

Related: Heart Shape Nature Scavenger Hunt

Signs of Fall to Hunt for:

The signs of fall you see are based on the geography of the area and the climate and biome in which you live, or rather, are at the moment, should you be traveling. Therefore, what you see, feel, hear, or experience may differ from what is listed in the signs to look for below.

Of course, different parts of the world will experience signs and characteristics of fall that aren’t on this list. For example, people who live near the equator or the North or South Poles will not notice many of the changes that occur in more temperate regions, but there are still plenty of signs to notice that tell you it is fall.

For most people, fall is the season when many people bid farewell to the sweltering summer heat and welcome the brisk, refreshing air of fall, whether (pun not intended) you welcome autumn in September or March. The season’s cool temperatures are typically ideal for outdoor activities, such as hiking through forests with autumn colors or enjoying a cozy evening around a bonfire.

As the days grow shorter, the nights become longer, and beautiful starlit skies become the perfect backdrop for stargazing. This makes the fall a great time to break out your telescope and learn about astronomy and the celestial wonders above.

I’d love to hear all about the seasonal sights you notice appearing around you! Please share any unique, familiar sights, sounds, and sensations of fall you experience where you live in the comments below.

Signs of Autumn in Sunlight (Daylight):

The most dependable sign of autumn is the changing amount and angle of sunlight. Earth’s tilted axis causes each hemisphere to receive different amounts of direct sunlight throughout the year. During autumn, daylight decreases in that hemisphere, the Sun appears lower in the sky, and shadows grow longer. NOAA explains how Earth’s tilt relates to the seasons.

Sunlight Clues or Changes in Autumn That Tell You Fall is Near:

• Later sunrise: In autumn, the sun rises later in the morning, and in many areas it continues to rise later throughout the season.
• Earlier sunset: In many parts of the world, the sun sets a bit earlier each day.
• Shorter days: Daylight hours steadily decrease as the season progresses. Learn more about these changes at the NOAA link above, or in this informative post about the fall equinox.
• Longer nights: Because the sun rises later each morning and sets earlier each night, each day is noticeably shorter and each night is longer as we head towards the longest night of the year on the winter solstice.
• Longer shadows: Shadows fall long upon the ground in autumn because the sun descends to a lower angle in the sky.
• Lower sun angle in the sky: As the sun’s angle changes, sunlight comes from a lower angle, creating longer shadows. Because the sun sits lower in the sky, many days take on a warm, golden hue.
• Softer afternoon light: Daylight softens, and the strength and quality of the afternoon sunlight change.
• Golden Hour: More pronounced warm hues during sunrise and sunset create a magic hour that seems to last longer at sunset than at other times of the year.

Weather and Climate Signs of Autumn:

Weather signs, however, are less universal than the changes in sunlight that occur in fall. Some regions become cooler, windier, or rainier, while others enter a dry season or stay warm. Compare current conditions where you live with the typical seasonal pattern in your area to determine the changes that happen around you in autumn. Here are a few more weather and climate changes that become more likely in many climates, but not all, in the fall:

Possible Weather Changes in the Fall:

• Cooling Temperatures: As summer ends, temperatures typically drop (decrease) from late summer into autumn. The days become crisper and cooler, especially in the morning and evening.
• Larger shifts between daytime and nighttime temperatures: Longer nights give the ground and nearby air more time to cool in autumn, while sunny afternoons can still feel warm. This creates a noticeable contrast between warm daytime temperatures and chilly nights or early mornings. As a result, people wear layers until winter’s cold begs us to keep our coats on.
• Seasonal Weather Patterns Return: In autumn, weather typically becomes more variable. These seasonal patterns are often marked by warm and cold fronts depending on location and climate.
• Changes in Wind: Wind patterns change in many locations, and variable winds become more common. Conditions become breezier, wind direction can shift, and windy days and seasonally variable weather become more common in certain areas.
• Some Climates Get More Rain (Increased Precipitation): Precipitation increases in many areas, and results in more rain. In colder climates, rain eventually turns to snow as fall transitions into winter.
• More Stormy Weather Is Possible: With diminishing sunlight and changing temperatures, some climates see more rain, thunder, and lightning. Hurricanes and tropical storms become more likely in specific parts of the world.
• Morning Dew: In the early morning, many areas will have dew on grass and spiderwebs, giving the landscape a glistening, fresh feel.
• Some Areas Develop Frost: Occasional frost may appear in certain climates, especially in the early mornings.
• Cloudy Days, Fog, and Overcast Skies Become Increasingly Common: Fog, clouds, and overcast skies tend to increase in some climates as storms approach in the fall. Many coastal areas and places near large bodies of water can also develop clouds, overcast skies, or fog.
• The First Snow at High Elevations or Northern Latitudes: The first snowfall typically descends on high elevations and northern latitudes, blanketing the ground with snow.

Related: The Best Fall Art Projects for Kids

Plant Life Signals that Autumn is Approaching:

Fall is a time of great contrast. While it may seem like the world is dying around you, a significant transformation is taking place. Most flowers wither and lose their petals in autumn. But others bloom and ripen, taking the place of earlier-blooming plants that go dormant or die.

Autumn is not merely a season when plants die. It is also a time of ripening, seed dispersal, and preparation. Seeds mature, fruits ripen, grasses dry out, and many summer plants slow their growth. Some deciduous trees change color and lose their leaves. At the same time, autumn flowers begin to bloom, and fungi appear after seasonal rain.

Late-blooming fall flowers, such as chrysanthemums, and autumn-ripening produce slowly become more prominent. Gardens, farms, orchards, and forests become abundant with seasonal produce and other treats ripe for humans and wild animals, as shown in the fall harvest cornucopia a few photos above.

As mentioned in the section on sunlight changes in fall, daylight hours become shorter, and nights become longer in Autumn. This shift in daylight triggers various natural processes, including the fascinating ways plants and animals prepare for winter. (Autumn clues in the animal kingdom can be found in the next section.) Along with the changing angle of the sun, one of the most visible signs of fall in more temperate climates is leaves changing from vibrant green to shades of red, orange, and yellow.

Plant Life Changes in Fall:

Plants respond to changes in daylight, temperature, moisture, and local growing conditions. In other words, these seasonal clues signal changes ahead so plants, animals, and humans can prepare for winter. It’s literally a sign that tells you to “Stop” and pay attention, like that stop sign you just rolled through. It’s red for a reason. It is designed to make you stop and take notice.

In other words, if you didn’t notice the changing sunlight, this seasonal clue tells plants and animals, “Winter is Coming,” like a big red stop sign, and signals that it’s time to stop and prepare for winter. Just in case you didn’t notice already. It’s really a last-ditch effort to let everyone know in temperate areas that their warm, sunny days are about to get a lot colder.

Our ancestors didn’t understand many of the things we do today, so paying attention to these signals helped them survive the cold, hard winter ahead. It works the same way a red traffic light is designed to stop you from rolling into the intersection and getting into an accident. Our ancestors could get hit hard by winter if they weren’t ready. Changes in plant life were just one of the many signs they learned to watch.

Can you find a leaf with all three colors? Looking for autumn leaves displaying at least three colors is one of my family’s favorite fall activities. It’s even a clue you can check off on one of our printable fall scavenger hunts.

Why do leaves change color in the fall or Autumn?

Leaves change color from vibrant green to yellow, orange, and sometimes red when they stop making chlorophyll due to reduced sunlight and cooler temperatures. Leaves contain a substance called chlorophyll, which allows trees to make their own food from sunlight and gives them their vibrant green color. Chlorophyll is a natural green pigment that helps plants use sunlight to make food, one of their most unique qualities.

The strong summer sun signals leaves to make more chlorophyll. But as days grow shorter in the fall, chlorophyll production slows and stops because there is less sunlight. This change signals leaves to stop producing chlorophyll and instead break it down to store it for winter. As chlorophyll breaks down in response to the changing sunlight, it reveals the hidden natural pigments in the leaves that weren’t visible. Once this happens, the green color fades, and the yellows, oranges, and reds become more visible.

The fading summer sun and cooling temperatures signal trees to prepare for dormancy; chlorophyll production slows, the green color fades, and the natural yellow and orange pigments already present in the leaves become easier to see. These natural fall colors were always present but were hidden by chlorophyll and its bright green hue. Once chlorophyll production declines and stops, these colors can emerge and shine through.

Soon, any remaining chlorophyll in deciduous trees and bushes breaks down, allowing the naturally occurring carotenoids and anthocyanins in the leaves to show their colors. The landscape fills with yellows, oranges, and sometimes vibrant reds, making the fall a visually stunning time of year in temperate zones. Weather conditions, tree species, moisture levels, and temperature can all affect the timing and strength of autumn color. NOAA and the U.S. Forest Service also offer helpful explanations of this beautiful autumn phenomenon.

Signs of fall in the plant kingdom: Seasonal Changes in Plant Life:

Here’s a more detailed look at some of the common signs of autumn in the plant kingdom:

• Leaves Change Color: In the autumn, the leaves of deciduous trees change color and fall to the ground. Evergreen trees, however, retain their green color throughout fall and winter.
• The Landscape Changes Color: Autumn colors, such as vibrant yellows, oranges, reds, and dull browns, dot the landscape in temperate areas, making the landscape look gorgeous.
• Deciduous Trees Shed Their Leaves (Leaf Drop): In autumn, as days grow shorter and temperatures drop, leaves change color and fall to the ground.
• Fall Leaves Cover the Ground: The falling autumn leaves create a vibrant carpet of colors on the ground in forests, woods, and neighborhoods, making for picturesque landscapes.
• Dried Seed Pods: Many plants go to seed and dry up.
• Grass Slows Its Growth or Dries Up: Grass grows more slowly in the fall and gets dried out.
• Plants Enter Dormancy or Perish: Many plants enter dormancy in autumn to survive the coming winter. Summer flowers and plants slow their energy production, wilt, and lose their petals and leaves in response to decreased sunlight and colder temperatures. Some trees, plants, flowers, and produce enter dormancy, while others die in response to the colder fall air.

Garden and Plant Life That Bursts Forth, Blooms, or Ripens in Autumn:

• Seasonal Fall Flowers and Plants Bloom: Autumn flowers such as Asters, Marguerites, Goldenrods, Chrysanthemums, and spider lilies bloom in the fall. You can also spot flowering ivy growing in the autumn.
• Seasonal Produce and Fruits are Ready for Harvest: Fall vegetables, fruits, and other produce such as pumpkins, apples, corn, winter squash, and root vegetables are ready for home gardeners and farmers to harvest, while other food sources go dormant or perish.
• Berries Ripen: Berries that ripen in the fall, such as blackberries, wild raspberries, and elderberries, are ripe and ready for picking in many areas.
• Seeds and Nuts Ripen and Fall: In the autumn, almonds, walnuts, and pecans, acorns, pinecones, Sycamore “helicopters,” and other nuts and seeds ripen and fall to the ground whether there is a farmer around to collect them or not.
• Seeds Blowing: Some plants, like coneflowers and milkweed, produce spiky seed pods that burst open in the fall, scattering seeds for the wind to carry, ensuring propagation in the next growing season.
• Mushrooms and Fungi Grow: In the fall, many varieties of fungi emerge from the forest floor, and mushrooms appear everywhere following a rain.
• Fall Harvesting: In autumn, seasonal produce and other treats like nuts and seeds are ripe and ready to pick. If you live in an area where any of these are farmed, you may notice harvest equipment and work happening on local farms. For example, we have several almond and walnut orchards where we live, so when farmers shake the trees and collect nuts, we can hear the machines working, notice dust in the air, and afterward can find a few stray walnuts on the borders of neighboring farms that were missed during collection (with permission) to eat and use for crafts.

Related: Homemade Pumpkin Cranberry Bread Recipe

Wildlife Signs that Autumn is Approaching: Birds, Animals, Insects, ETC. in the Fall:

Animals respond to seasonal changes in many ways. Some migrate. Others gather or store food, grow thicker coats, change their feeding habits, seek shelter, or prepare for dormancy. The signs you notice will depend on the species in your area and where you live when it comes to migration patterns.

One of the most spectacular signs of fall is bird migration. As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, many bird species begin their journey to escape the harsh winter. Birdwatchers eagerly await this seasonal event, and citizen birdwatching events like Project Feeder Watch make it an ideal time to spot a diverse range of migratory species and contribute your data to science.

Another common sign of autumn in the animal kingdom is the frenzied nut-gathering behavior of squirrels. In the fall, squirrels scurry around the forest, parks, and even your backyard, collecting and burying acorns, walnuts, and other nuts. This behavior, known as caching, helps them prepare for the winter when food is scarce. So, watch for squirrels busily stashing away their winter supplies because it is a sure sign of fall.

Likewise, the remaining signs of fall in the animal kingdom help illustrate the intricate ways wildlife responds to the changing seasons. Observing these behaviors and interactions can deepen your connection and understanding of the natural world and help you appreciate the beauty of the changing seasons.

Wildlife Signs of Autumn in the animal kingdom:

• Animals Gather and Store Food: Rodents such as Squirrels, and many other animals go on a gathering frenzy as they collect, build, and stash winter food stores in food caches.
• Animals Prepare for Hibernation and Seek Winter Shelters: Mammals that hibernate for the winter, such as bears and hedgehogs, often eat to build fat stores for hibernation and may seek or build winter shelters to survive winter’s cold.
• Increased Feeding Behavior Before Winter: Birds and animals typically increase their feeding behavior in the fall. For example, bears enter a phase known as hyperphagia, during which they consume massive amounts of food to build up fat reserves. This increased bear activity can lead to more frequent bear sightings, especially near food sources such as berry patches and salmon streams.
• Changes in Mating or Calling behavior: Many animals engage in courtship rituals by calling to attract mates. Bats, deer, elk, and wild boar, for example, seek mates and engage in mating behaviors.
• Singing Bats: Bats sing for their mates around the entrances to caves and tunnels.
• Bugling Elk: You might hear the bugling of the bull elk looking for a mate in Autumn.
• Male Wildlife fighting: Male deer and wild boar fight other males for a mate. Fall is the mating season for deer, known as the rut. During this time, male deer, or bucks, become more aggressive as they compete for females’ attention. So, you might hear the echoing sounds of antlers clashing as they battle for dominance.
• Animals Grow Thicker Coats: Pets and local wildlife begin to shed less and grow thicker fur coats to prepare for the cold winter months. By the end of fall, animals in colder climates often have a completely different winter coat than in the summer to help them stay camouflaged. 

Signs of Fall in the Bird Kingdom:

• Birds Gathering in Flocks: In autumn, many types of birds gather in flocks.
• Migrating Birds Departing, Passing Through, or Arriving: Flocks of birds migrate (geese, swallows, hawks, warblers, hummingbirds, etc.). Look, or listen, for V-shaped formations of geese (as shown in the fall photos above and below). You can see or hear flocks of birds departing colder climates, flying through or stopping to feed and rest along the way, or arriving in warmer climates. I usually hear them passing through before I see them, then stop to look around for them once I do. Sometimes they are high in the sky, and it takes me a while to find them, riding on the wind above to get to their wintering grounds. My daughter often out-birded me as a toddler, because she often heard them long before I did. For the full story, please visit our birdwatching guide.
• Changes in Mating or Calling Behavior: Birds typically change their mating patterns and calls to match their seasonal needs.
• Changing Plumage: Some birds change their plumage in the fall, especially those that winter over in colder climates, to help them survive.

Fall Clues for Insects, Invertebrates, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Arachnids:

• Insects Reduce Activity: You may notice less insect activity and fewer sounds during the cooler months of the year.
• Butterfly migration: Some butterflies, such as the Monarch Butterfly, migrate to warmer climates where they can survive until spring.
• Other butterflies don’t migrate or hibernate: Instead, they lay eggs or leave behind pupae (chrysalises) before dying, which hatch when temperatures warm up in spring.
• Some Invertebrates and Reptiles Prepare for Hibernation: During the cooler months, certain butterfly species (such as the Mourning Cloak and the Question Mark Butterfly), ladybugs, and other invertebrates and reptiles seek shelter to hibernate.
• Croaking Frogs and Toads: You can often hear the distinctive calls of frogs and toads around water, such as ponds and wetlands.
• Spiders and Webs Become More Noticeable: Fall is when orb-weaving spiders are typically more active, weaving their beautiful round spiderweb masterpieces, making it more likely to see intricate spiderwebs.

Related: Nature Sensory Bin Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Changes in Community Life: Urban Signs that Fall is on Its Way:

Except in warmer climates near the equator, fall for many people, including my family, means it’s time to slip into your coziest sweaters and scarves, dust off your favorite boots, sip a warm cup of pumpkin spice latte, a freshly brewed tea, or hot chocolate, and bake pumpkin bread. Here are a few more random signs, including human activities, that show us autumn has arrived:

Random signs of fall:

• Lower Energy Bill: Your energy bill is lower because most people don’t need their air conditioner running as often.
• People Doing Yardwork: Neighbors and landscapers can be spotted raking and cleaning leaves, and pruning plants and trees, in preparation for winter. Lawn mowers are heard less often as grass growth slows, and leaf blowers become a common urban sound in areas with lots of deciduous trees that lose their leaves in autumn.
• Football Games: Football season begins, and you can hear games echoing from grandstands and living room television sets.
• Fewer People Outside: Fewer people are on beaches, at pools, and enjoying outdoor activities.
• Autumn Decor: Fall decor begins to appear.
• Halloween Decorations: Some people decorate for Halloween in the fall, so spooky and fun decorations like giant orb spiderwebs pop up all over the neighborhood. Stores carry Halloween costumes and decorations.
• People Wearing More Layers of Clothing: Lower temperatures and colder mornings than afternoons make people layer up, putting on more clothes in the morning and peeling layers off on warmer autumn days.
• Boot, Flannel, and Cashmere Season Begins: Yay! I love the change in seasons, no matter which one it is; all year I have something to look forward to.

What is Autumn Phenology?

Phenology is the study of when seasonal events occur in the lives of plants and animals. (Please note these don’t include the random fall signs listed above; those are just for fun.) Instead, phenologists track changes in the natural world, such as sunlight, weather, plant life, and the wildlife signs highlighted previously. Examples of phenological events in the fall include leaf color, fruit ripening, migration, flowering, and hibernation patterns.

The timing of these events links interdependent species. In autumn, for example, oak trees drop mature acorns rich in fats and nutrients. The squirrel depends on the oak tree’s autumn mast for food, while the oak tree depends on the squirrel to disperse its seeds far from the parent tree’s shadow.

Some of these acorns eventually sprout into new oak trees because squirrels often forget or fail to recover some buried acorns. If one perished or failed to play its role, the other would be at risk. This, along with tracking changes for climate change research, illustrates the importance of this field of study.

The USA National Phenology Network describes phenology as nature’s calendar. It helps us understand not only what changes happen in fall and throughout the year, but also when and why those changes typically occur. Learn more from the USA National Phenology Network.

You can practice phenology by recording the first yellow leaf, the first acorn to fall, or the arrival or departure of a familiar bird. Returning to the same place each week helps turn scattered observations into a living record of the season. Use a nature journal to record the events you notice occurring around you throughout autumn and the remainder of the year.

Become an Autumn Phenologist:

• Choose one nearby tree, plant, garden, or outdoor place.
• Visit it once a week.
• Record the date.
• Draw or photograph what has changed.
• Note weather, wildlife, color, and sound.
• Compare your observations from week to week.

Become a Nature Detective:

Here’s a fun nature observation activity for kids of all ages. You do not need to identify every tree, bird, or mushroom you notice in autumn. Start with what you can observe. Ask simple questions such as:

• What is different from last week?
• What is ripening?
• What has disappeared?
• What has arrived?
• What sounds louder or quieter?

Allow children to lead the investigation whenever possible. Their barrage of questions matters more than rushing to provide every answer. In fact, it’s best if you answer with an open-ended question, if you answer at all, to inspire their own thinking. A curious mind grows in intelligence by looking, wondering, exploring, comparing, and returning to see what happens next. Not by telling it what to think or how to think, or by giving it all the answers.

Instead, teach children to learn by guiding them to discover the answers on their own, just like your favorite teacher did. For example, if a child asks, “What is that bird doing on the ground?” Answer with a question, “What do you think that bird is doing?” If children struggle to answer, guide them with more questions and simple prompts to get them thinking.

Turn Your Observations Into a Fall Scavenger Hunt:

Ready to put your observation skills into practice? Get outside to explore the beauty of the fall season with this fun outdoor activity idea. Search for the signs that autumn has arrived with your favorite fall scavenger hunt printable. A picture-based hunt with fall-themed icons designed for younger children is followed by the more detailed Signs of Fall printable, which encourages older children and adults to look for subtler seasonal clues.

Look for the signs that fall is here or on its way with either of these printables:

• Try the Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids
• Get the Signs of Fall Printable Scavenger Hunt.

Record the Signs Of Autumn in a Nature Journal:

A nature journal turns a seasonal walk into a living record you can revisit and learn from again and again. Children can draw a tree as it changes, make a leaf-color chart, record sunset times and leaf drop, write down unfamiliar bird calls, note when birds depart, pass by, or arrive, or compare the same outdoor place over several weeks.

Young children who have not yet learned to write can draw what they notice or dictate their thoughts to an adult. But please don’t edit what they say; this is their journal. Children, especially toddlers and preschoolers, sometimes say the funniest things, and recording them may be worth more to you than gold in the future. 

A few things my daughter said that I wrote down in her nature journal over the years brought me so much joy and laughter in the moment. Recording these early thoughts about the natural world lets us revisit fun memories we might otherwise lose again and again. 

This homeschool activity brings us joy, helps her see how much she has learned since early childhood, and shows her that she is more than capable of learning more about whatever interests her in the future. Older children and adults can add dates, measurements, weather notes, and species names; conduct simple science experiments (like this human sundial shadow experiment); and include questions they want to research.

Questions to Ask Children About Autumn?

Here are a few observation prompts you can ask children while out in the field in the fall:

• What has changed since we were last here?
• Which changes do you think happened first?
• What is ripening or releasing seeds?
• Which plants still look the same?
• Have any birds arrived or left?
• How has the sunlight changed?
• What does this place sound like today?
• What might animals be preparing for?
• Which sign of autumn surprised you?
• What would you like to return to observe again?

Autumn Signs Around the World:

The changes that occur in Autumn and the signs you see are shaped by place. For example, a child in New England may notice softer light, ripening native plants, returning birds, or the first rain after a long dry summer. In tropical regions, wet and dry cycles may shape the landscape more than the four distinct temperature-based seasons that occur elsewhere.

Invite children to learn from their local environment rather than measuring their season against a checklist created elsewhere. The most meaningful signs of autumn are the ones unfolding outside your own door. Get outside and connect!

The fall scavenger hunts my daughter and I created are fantastic, but they are not designed to be perfect for everyone. However, you can use the clues to highlight the differences in your own environment and other parts of the world, which is a great lesson for anyone of any age.

Likewise, fall in the Northern Hemisphere will look slightly different from fall in the Southern Hemisphere, and the seasons occur in opposition to one another. In other words, when people in the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing fall, those in the Southern Hemisphere are experiencing their version of spring, and vice versa.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Fall or Autumn:

Here are a few more frequently asked questions (FAQs) that people often have about the fall or autumn season. I’m sharing them here to help you answer the many questions children usually ask in the fall about the changes they notice around them. But remember, when helping our children find the answers they seek, it’s best to help them discover them on their own.

In other words, when they start asking questions like those below, answer them with follow-up questions that encourage them to think about the answer independently. If you are unsure of how to do that, repeat the question they asked you with a tone that enables them to consider what the answer might be. Then, continue guiding them to the solution without revealing the answer. This form of instruction is an art; teachers are everyday heroes in a child’s world.

Are autumn and fall the same season?

Yes, “autumn” and “fall” are two names for the season between “summer” and “winter,” so you’ll see them used interchangeably throughout this informative guide about the signs of fall. “Fall” is more common in North America, where I live, while “autumn” is widely used in other English-speaking regions, including the United Kingdom. Both names describe the year’s third season, when the angle of sunlight changes and the temperatures typically begin to decrease. In some areas, this season was also traditionally called “harvest.” 

What months are considered the fall season?

The meteorological season of fall, or autumn, typically occurs in September, October, and November.

When does autumn begin?

There is more than one way to mark the beginning of autumn. In fact, people have marked it in several ways since the beginning of time. Meteorological autumn begins on September 1 in the Northern Hemisphere and on March 1 in the Southern Hemisphere.

Is the autumn equinox the first day of fall?

The autumn equinox marks the beginning of astronomical autumn, according to the Gregorian Calendar. Traditional calendars, however, may mark the start of fall earlier. Meteorologists and some traditional calendars use different dates. The Celtic Calendar, for example, traditionally considered the first harvest the beginning of autumn. These cultures viewed the fall equinox as the season’s midpoint, while today, most people view it as the first day of fall.

But really, fall is when the signs of autumn appear everywhere around you, because they are so place-based. I typically start to notice the change in the sunlight in mid to late August. Once the weather finally starts to cool and I observe a few other key signs, I call it fall. In Northern California, where I currently live, that’s usually late August to early September.

What is usually the first sign of autumn?

There isn’t a single first sign that is universal and appears everywhere. Shifting daylight is the most reliable large-scale indicator. Local signs may include cooler mornings, ripening seeds and fruit, changes in bird activity, dry grasses, or the first colorful leaves.

What is the season of fall known for?

One of the most iconic signs of fall is the transformation of the foliage as leaves change color in temperate regions. In autumn, the lush greens of summer give way to a stunning display of yellows, oranges, and reds. But this striking change doesn’t happen everywhere, so many people travel to see autumn colors dot the landscape. Our relatives in Phoenix, Arizona sure do! Luckily, they have family in a beautiful location they can come visit to see the gorgeous array of yellows, oranges, and reds shown in the photographs of this informative guide.

Once the fall colors paint the sky with their crimson hues, it’s only a matter of time before the trees shed their vibrant autumn leaves. Soon, the most deciduous trees shed their leaves, creating a golden carpet of lush autumn foliage wherever they stand. So, leaf drop is another natural event autumn is known for. Until someone cleans up these autumn leaves, which, for my family, is a sign the season will soon come to a close, and winter will be arriving soon. You might also enjoy these Outdoor Learning and Nature Activities for Kids.

Why do some trees stay green in autumn?

Deciduous trees shed their leaves as they prepare for colder or drier conditions. Most evergreens retain their leaves or needles for more than one growing season, though they still shed older foliage gradually.

Does autumn happen everywhere?

Every place experiences annual changes in sunlight, but autumn does not look or feel the same everywhere. Tropical, polar, coastal, desert, mountain, and temperate regions each have distinct seasonal patterns. Become a nature detective to observe the most common signs of fall around you!

Notice the Season Where You Live:

As summer wanes and fall approaches, it is the perfect time to get outside and observe universal seasonal changes. For some, fall is a season of transition and transformation, where nature puts on a spectacular show for all to see. Others experience a more subtle transition in the fall. Autumn is more than just red leaves, pumpkins, or calendar dates.

It is a living transition revealed in shifting light, ripening seeds, migrating animals, changing weather patterns, and the rhythms of our daily lives. Step outside and look closely around you. You do not need to find every sign on a list. That’s ridiculous! Our autumn scavenger hunts are designed to help you start noticing the signs around you.

Use them as guides with a list of observations you might notice, or point out that a particular sign might occur in the fall elsewhere, but not where you live, to illustrate contrast and deepen understanding of Earth’s cycles. Notice what is changing where you live, return often, and let the season tell its own story.

Embrace the beauty of autumn, and let the signs of fall inspire you to make the most of this magical season. Mother Nature always has secrets to share. Whether you’re enjoying the crisp air, exploring the outdoors, or collecting natural treasures to turn into autumn nature crafts, fall offers something for everyone.

You may also like this fantastic collection of outdoor learning ideas and nature activities for kids or these fall activities with a printable fall bucket list.

Please visit our About page to learn more about Rhythms of Play. For more information about this website and the author of The Signs of Autumn and this creative seasonal scavenger hunt, please visit the Rhythms of Play home page or the author page, Nell Regan Kartychok.

Other Seasonal Signs To Look For:

Search for the signs of each season with children throughout the year.

• Signs of Winter
• Signs of Spring
• Signs of Summer

SCAVENGER HUNT IDEAS FOR KIDS

• Fall Scavenger Hunt
• Winter Scavenger Hunt
• Spring Scavenger Hunt
• Summer Scavenger Hunt
• Nature Sensory Bin Scavenger Hunt
• Seasonal Nature Scavenger Hunt Ideas
• Sensory Card Nature Scavenger Hunt
• Bird Scavenger Hunt Ideas (Included in Birding for Kids)

If you appreciated this fall scavenger hunt idea, you might also enjoy:

• Nature Arts & Crafts Printable Activity Pack
• Top 10 Fall Nature Crafts
• Apple Orchard Field Trip Ideas for Kids
• Pumpkin Patch Family Field Trip Ideas
• Thanksgiving Gratitude Activities and Crafts