Explore Birds

Portrait of a mottled brown Rock Ptarmigan looking straight on at the camera.
It’s One of the Biggest Events in a Bird’s Life. Scientists Can’t Agree How to Talk About It.
September 12, 2024 — Every species replaces its feathers by molting, but a passionate debate among ornithologists about what to call the plumage swaps spans oceans and generations.
Bird Science
Two Bald Eagles stand on a branch looking down at a juvenile hawk who is looking up at them with its mouth open.
A Teen Photographer Captured a Raptor Rarity: Bald Eagles Raising a Red-tailed Hawk Chick
September 03, 2024 — Fresh off a win in the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Photography Awards, Parham Pourahmad shares how his fast-growing passion for photographing wildlife led him to document the unusual avian adoption.
Bird Behavior
Two warblers stand in shallow water next to logs and rocks.
A New Study Reveals Migration Isn’t a Solo Affair—It’s the Social Event of the Season
August 26, 2024 — Migrants face myriad challenges. That's why certain songbird species choose to travel (and possibly even work) together, according to research drawing on a trove of bird banding records.
Bird Migration
Backlit silhouette of a swallow flying to its nest box, out of which another swallow is poking its head.
How to Keep Nest Boxes From Turning Lethal in Extreme Heat
August 22, 2024 — As soaring temperatures during the breeding season become more severe and widespread, here’s how you can make nest boxes cooler homes for baby birds and their parents.
Bird Houses
Two hummingbirds on a small branch fighting with each other.
Why Do Hummingbirds Fight So Much?
August 21, 2024 — For hungry hummers in need of nectar to fuel their high-speed lives, territorial disputes can get ugly.
Bird Questions and Facts
A small dead bird lying on its back on the pavement.
Window Strikes Are Even Deadlier for Birds Than We Thought
August 14, 2024 — A new study suggests the true avian toll of building collisions in the United States reaches well over 1 billion deaths annually.
Conservation News
A Red Knot walking on a rocky coast with water splashing around it.
These 5 Birds Are All Winners in the Migration Olympics
August 08, 2024 — The world’s best athletes impress us with their prowess every two years. But have you heard about the 50,000 mile annual marathon of the Arctic Tern or the 100-mile-per hour sprint of a Whimbrel?
Bird Migration
A Redpoll perches on a pink plant eating its fuzzy white flowers.
Lumping Redpolls and Splitting Seabirds: This Year's Updates to North American Bird Names
August 07, 2024 — The American Ornithological Society recently announced its checklist changes for 2024—and there’s quite a bit for birders to catch up on.
Bird Names & Taxonomy
A hummingbird hovers with its long beak in a bright pink flower.
Birds Saved Melissa Hafting in a Time of Grief. She Wants to Save Them in Return.
July 30, 2024 — In her debut book, ‘Dare to Bird,’ the photographer and ecologist shares how the beauty of the avian world helped her cope with the loss of her parents.
Books
Three crows stand on a branch inside a screen enclosure.
The World’s Rarest Crow Will Soon Fly Free on Maui
July 23, 2024 — Hoping to succeed where past attempts have failed, scientists will reintroduce the clever corvid to the wild on a new island—a high-stakes conservation effort that requires a careful balancing act.
Conservation News