Miscellaneous Birds

Did you know that it's the possession of feathers, not the ability to fly, that distinguishes birds from other animals? Take a view of these bird pictures to see how many you recognize.

By Marie Bobel

Penguins and puffins might love formal wear and waddling, but the similarities end there. These fish-loving birds don't see eye to eye on issues like transportation and real estate.

By Cristen Conger

Flamingos can stand on one spindly leg for hours. But why do they do it? Are they posing as a tree to trick prey, or simply avoiding a bathtub prune-foot?

By Julia Layton

Hummingbirds almost never stop moving is and their legs are small and weak. So do hummingbirds do everything in midair -- even mate?

By Julia Layton

While the ostrich might look like an avian punch line, it's actually a nutritious source of red meat. Why do ostriches produce meat that's more like that of a cow than a chicken?

By Julia Layton

A large, flightless bird that lives in the dry grasslands of Africa, the ostrich is raised for its feathers and skin in South Africa, Egypt and California. Ostriches form the single remaining species in an ancient, primitive order of birds.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

As Hitchcock's 1963 horror classic "The Birds" taught us, it's a good idea to respect our avian friends. Before you accidentally let any bad luck take wing, peck away at these bird-related superstitions.

By Bambi Turner