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About Birds

Do Magpies Like Stealing Shiny Things?
April 15, 2019 — An experiment put the bird's thieving reputation to the test.
Bird Questions and Facts
Watch a Black Heron Fool Fish by Turning Into an Umbrella
January 17, 2019 — The behavior, called canopy feeding, is an especially effective way to hunt.
Bird Behavior
What's Up With the Weird Mouths of These Finch Chicks?
January 08, 2019 — Coming in many shapes, colors, and sizes, strange mouth markings might aid in chick survival.
Bird Questions and Facts
7 Hummingbirds That Wear Pants With Flair (Plus One Bonus)
December 14, 2018 — Meet the "puffleg” birds of the Latin American tropics, covered in feathers all the way down.
Bird Science
Get to Know the Bee Hummingbird, the World’s Smallest Bird
September 17, 2018 — Only found in Cuba, these birds lay their eggs in nests the size of a quarter.
Bird Questions and Facts
Shrikes Have an Absolutely Brutal Way of Killing Large Prey
September 06, 2018 — Famous for impaling their victims, these songbirds first use a special maneuver to break the necks of small rodents.
Bird Behavior
Better Know a Bird: The American Coot and Its Wonderfully Weird Feet
August 13, 2018 — The odd-looking foot is perfectly built for getting around on land or water. It's not bad for a little wrestling, either.
The Origins of Hummingbirds Are Still a Major Mystery
July 12, 2018 — There is a dazzling diversity of the tiny birds in the Americas, but recent discoveries trace their evolution back to Europe—where today there are no nectar-feeding species.
Bird Science
Is It Okay to Remove Cowbird Eggs From Host Nests?
June 06, 2018 — It can be tempting to interfere with these brood parasites. But there are many reasons—legal and behavioral—to leave tampering to the pros.
Bird Nests and Breeding
Research Reveals Exactly Why Peregrine Falcons Are so Deadly
April 13, 2018 — Cameras and simulations are finally enabling scientists to study the nuances of the raptors' extreme hunting techniques.
Bird Science