Topics Explore Birds About Birds

Bird Science

A photo of A Black-throated Blue Warbler nest. The nest is a cup shape and made out of twigs, nestled among green leaves. One nestling rests in the nest, pink with no feathers.
Forest Bird Communities
June 26, 2024 — Learn how different species of birds seek out specific areas of forest that meet their unique nesting and foraging needs.
VERMONT
A large, drab-colored hummingbird perches on the spike of a cactus.
Scientists Discover World's Largest Hummingbird Hiding in Plain Sight
June 07, 2024 — Groundbreaking research has resulted in a surprising split of the species known as the Giant Hummingbird, and one of the birds just happens to be slightly bigger than the other.
Bird News
A crow stands on an out-of-focus man-made surface with its beak open, presumably cawing.
Crows Can Count Aloud Much Like Toddlers, New Study Finds
May 28, 2024 — How smart are corvids? We can count the ways—and so can they.
Woodcocks Don’t Let Migration Mess With Their Sex Lives
April 24, 2024 — A new study finds the first proof that timberdoodles mate as they migrate, an extremely rare behavior known as itinerant breeding.
A flock of pigeons eating seeds on a sidewalk.
Cities Are Testing Birth Control to Solve Pigeon Problems
April 16, 2024 — Booming populations of these familiar urban birds are causing complaints. Can contraception help?
A flock of birds flies across a red sky with a crescent-shaped sun.
A Total Solar Eclipse Is Coming. How Will Birds and Other Wildlife React?
March 15, 2024 — When the moon covers the sun, animals get weird. April’s eclipse gives scientists—and you—a chance to learn more about their responses. Here's how and where you can take part.
Bird Behavior
Close-up portrait of a hawk with bright, all-white feathers with its mouth open and tongue sticking out.
This White Red-tailed Hawk Isn't Just Gorgeous—It's Also a Rare Scientific Opportunity
March 12, 2024 — The stunning raptor was recently trapped in Oklahoma by an awestruck group of researchers, who affixed the bird with a GPS transmitter for further study.
Bird Feathers and Colors
A Black-throated Blue Warbler stands on a branch looking at the camera in front of an out-of-focus green background.
As Spring Shifts Earlier, Many Migrating Birds Are Struggling to Keep Up
March 07, 2024 — With the climate warming, leaves and blooms are popping out ahead of schedule. A wide-ranging new study shows why this trend is troubling for a variety of bird species.
Bird Migration
A round, fluffy-looking owl sits in a tree hollow in the falling snow.
How Do Birds Cope With Cold Winter Weather?
January 24, 2024 — From fluffing up to hunkering down, birds rely on these survival strategies when the temperature dips.
Bird Questions and Facts
Profile of iridescent bird
New Study Shows European Starlings to Be Crazy Smart; Anchoragites Probably Aren’t Surprised
October 10, 2023 — And how to combat the invasive European Starling at the home level for the good of Alaska’s native birds.
ALASKA