Birds

Birds are often envied for their ability to fly, but not all of them can. Learn how birds can manipulate feathers, bone and wing structure to soar through the air and even dive-bomb into the water for food.

Topics to Explore

Downy Woodpecker

How do ducks float?

Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand?

Rufous Hummingbird

Learn More

The Harpy Eagle: Terrifying Apex Predator or Creepy Halloween Costume?

The largest eagle in the world has a claw the size of a grizzly bear's, a leg the size of a human's and a very disapproving gaze.

By Jesslyn Shields Oct 23, 2019 Birds / Birds of Prey

If a Peacock Loses His Tail Feathers, Do They Grow Back?

Whether used in fashion or complicated mating rituals, peacock feathers drive the ladies crazy. But, what happens when a peacock loses his last feather? Will he become a fashion-don't?

By Cristen Conger Birds / Fowl

Why Are We So Fascinated With Owls?

From ancient times until today, people have been captivated by these iconic, mysterious birds. What is it about owls that makes them the enduring subject of myth and superstition?

By Jesslyn Shields Oct 2, 2019 Birds / Birds of Prey

The Secrets and Science Behind Starling Murmurations

Starlings are short and thick, with dark feathers and long, pointy bills. Collectively, however, they transform into something else entirely.

By John Donovan Aug 9, 2019 Birds / Perching Birds

Where Did San Francisco's Wild Parrots Come From?

The parrots of the Telegraph Hill neighborhood of San Francisco are legendary, but how did they get there?

By Jesslyn Shields Jun 24, 2019 Birds / Miscellaneous Birds

Hummingbirds: What to Feed Them and a Springtime Q&A

There's a lot of conversation around what we should be feeding our backyard hummingbird visitors, so we threw the question, along with others, to an expert.

By Jamie Allen Apr 2, 2019 Birds / Miscellaneous Birds

Meet the World's Smallest, Toughest Owl

The smallest owls in the world have mad survival skills, like killing poisonous scorpions and playing dead.

By Loraine Fick Feb 12, 2019 Birds / Birds of Prey

Wisdom, the World's Oldest-known Bird, Lays Another Egg

Wisdom the Laysan albatross is pushing 70, but laid another egg this year.

By Jesslyn Shields Dec 21, 2018 Birds / Miscellaneous Birds

How Birds Get Berry, Berry Drunk

Berries are a great food source for birds, but this diet can backfire when the fruit starts to ferment.

By Jesslyn Shields Oct 15, 2018 Birds / Perching Birds

Only Birds Have a Syrinx and That's Why They Sing

Only birds have a special voice box — the syrinx — and it's what they use to sing. But what's so unique about the syrinx is that it's actually an evolutionary anomaly.

By Jesslyn Shields Oct 12, 2018 Birds / Perching Birds

Oh, Birds! Please Don't Fly Into Our Windows

Why do birds do that? A global citizen science project wants you to help them find out.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler Sep 25, 2018 Birds / Perching Birds

French Rooks Trained as Park Janitors

A French theme park has trained a crew of six rooks to pick up after its messy guests.

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 29, 2018 Birds / Miscellaneous Birds

Not All Birds Fly South for Winter: Partial Migration Is on the Rise

Partial migration — where some animals or birds in the same species migrate regularly and others don't — is more common than you'd think. But what explains that behavior?

By Mark Mancini Aug 13, 2018 Birds / Perching Birds

Swamp Sparrow: Singing the Same Tune for Generations

The American swamp sparrow has created an oral tradition that's lasted more than a millennium.

By Laurie L. Dove Jul 2, 2018 Birds / Perching Birds

Why Mockingbirds Mock

What benefit does one bird get from copying another bird's calls?

By Mark Mancini Jun 20, 2018 Birds / Perching Birds

American Crows and Ravens: What's the Difference?

It's easy to mistake a crow for a raven or vice versa. But the two birds are actually pretty different.

By Mark Mancini May 29, 2018 Birds / Perching Birds

What the Cluck? How a Hen Turned Into a Rooster

Spontaneous sex reversal in chickens is pretty rare, but it does happen. Find out how Miss Lucille became Mr. Lucille.

By Alia Hoyt May 23, 2018 Birds / Fowl

We Need to Know Why the Female Bird Sings

Most of the scientific attention to birdsong has been paid to the male of the species. But many female birds sing too — and scientists are starting to understand how important it is to study them as well.

By Alia Hoyt Mar 27, 2018 Birds / Perching Birds

Can Different Bird Species 'Talk' with Each Other?

Does your parakeet understand the cardinal chirping outside its window? Can a pigeon's noises mean anything to a crow? Yes, it can.

By Mark Mancini Jan 12, 2018 Birds / Perching Birds

Urban Birds Oust Bugs With Butts

Certain urban-dwelling bird species use cigarette butts in building their nests.

By Carrie Tatro Jan 8, 2018 Birds / Miscellaneous Birds

Male Cockatoos Woo Their Ladies With Impressive Drum Solos

Aside from humans, these birds are the only ones who make drumsticks for musical purposes.

By Alia Hoyt Jul 11, 2017 Birds / Miscellaneous Birds

These Little Sparrows Judge Potential Mates on Dance Moves, Not Song

Sure, your voice is great. But can you move? That's what female Java sparrows want to know before they get busy, a new study finds.

By Chris Opfer Apr 19, 2017 Birds / Perching Birds

Watch Cockatoos Make Tiny Tools to Get Food

Cockatoos aren't just excellent dancers — they're also excellent toolmakers.

By Alia Hoyt Nov 28, 2016 Birds / Miscellaneous Birds

There's a Stinky Reason Seabirds Eat Plastic

A recent study has identified why some seabirds mistake the plastic dumped in the ocean for food. The nose knows why.

By Karen Kirkpatrick Nov 9, 2016 Birds / Miscellaneous Birds

This Tiny Bird Can Fly for 10 Months Without Landing, Biologists Discover

Thanks to new technology, researchers have discovered that the common swift flies 10 months a year without landing, setting a world record for uninterrupted time aloft.

By Jesslyn Shields Nov 2, 2016 Birds / Miscellaneous Birds