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Explore Birds

A Northern Mockingbird hovers around a Crested Caracara perched on a fence post.
What Type of Bird Is That? Start With These Basic Bird Groups
January 14, 2026 — The first step to identifying a bird is knowing the different types of common birds you can see.
light orange and brown bird perches on some barbed wire
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Great Plains Announces Bird of the Year Contest
January 13, 2026 — Follow us on social media and vote for your favorite species!
This Roaming Raptor Has Been Surprising U.S. Birders—and More Could Be on the Way
January 07, 2026 — Limited to Central and South America until a few short years ago, Yellow-headed Caracaras are turning heads from California to Delaware as their range expands northward.
A macaw eating a green chili pepper its holding in its claw.
Hot Take—Seems Like Birds Can Taste Spice After All
December 23, 2025 — Peppers in the wild grow only so spicy, and new research suggests that may be to satisfy avian palates.
A drone photograph shows the winding, wooden walkway as it stretches through the fall-colored marsh land.
A Stunning Photo Project Shows a Year in the Life of a Local Lake
December 19, 2025 — In a city park just 15 minutes from home, a photojournalist found a meaningful new focus by watching closely, season after season.
Two owl chicks sit in a nest as their much larger mother, with a rodent in her beak, comes in for a landing atop a broken tree snag.
Dead Trees Support a Bounty of Birdlife, but Preserving Them Isn’t Always Clear Cut
December 18, 2025 — By studying Great Gray Owls, scientists hope to help more people see that snags offer vital habitat.
Red-winged Blackbird
History of the Land
December 18, 2025 — Trinity River ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Center History
Get to Know the Ancient Birds That Lived During the Age of Dinosaurs
December 18, 2025 — Tens of millions of years ago, a diverse array of bird species soared, swam, and thrived amid their scaly reptile cousins—and set the stage for modern birdlife.
How Street-Smart Birds Are Hacking Human Infrastructure
December 17, 2025 — Recent studies have uncovered some of the clever ways our avian neighbors are making the most of the urban environment.
With a lab coat and gloves on Maria Ortega inspects multiple trays of nest materials in her lab.
Scientists Are Now Finding Microplastics in Backyard Birds
December 17, 2025 — The tiny particles are widespread in waterbirds around the world. New research is finding them in neighborhood songbirds, too.