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.

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There are three types of ducks: dabbling, diving and perching. Wild ducks are classified based on their habitat and behavior.

By Sascha Bos

Owls are captivating birds known for their nocturnal habits, distinctive hooting calls and remarkable ability to hunt in near silence. With about 200 species found worldwide, these birds of prey come in various sizes and colors. Here, we dig in to 10 types of owls.

By Yara Simón

What do ducks eat? Not bread — or at least they shouldn't be nibbling on the carb-heavy food. Tossing stale bread into your local pond to feed wild ducks does more harm than good. Learn why you should avoid it entirely and what options are better for these aquatic animals.

By Yara Simón

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You spot a bird of prey, and your friend says it's a peregrine falcon but her partner says it's a hawk. Can you resolve the great hawk vs. falcon debate?

By Sascha Bos

Wingspan isn't the only way to measure the largest eagles in the world. We also looked at weight and height.

By Yara Simón

Whether you're a chicken keeper looking to increase egg production or just curious about the largest chicken breed, here's a list of the giants by weight.

By Yara Simón

Hummingbird feeders are a great way to help those little fliers, but to feed them responsibly, you need to keep your feeders clean and fill them correctly.

By Jesslyn Shields

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They are all huge, but does it surprise you that none of the nine biggest birds can fly?

By Jesslyn Shields

During the fall months, you may see unfamiliar birds in your area as those from the north begin to fly south. But how do they know when it's time to migrate and where to go?

By Alia Hoyt

Today, technological advances are providing new insights into bird migration and showing that it is more complex and wonderful than scientists ever imagined.

By Tom Langen

Budgies are the same species as parakeets and make fabulous pets – and, yes, they love to talk!

By Laurie L. Dove

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There are 126 species of birds that don't have the ability to fly, for various evolutionary reasons. Let's meet seven of them.

By Katie Carman

Flamingos use a secretion from a gland near their rear end to touch up their feathers when they've been bleached by the sun.

By Jesslyn Shields

Migrating birds are dying by the billions as they lose their way and smash into lit buildings at night. Big cities like Philadelphia are turning out the lights to try and help save them.

By Stephanie Parker

Magpies are much-maligned as harbingers of doom, thieves of shiny objects and songbird eggs, but they're smart, monogamous for life and actually hold funerals for one another.

By Patty Rasmussen

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Finches can live for five to 10 years and make great companion pets as long as they are given enough space to fly around.

By Laurie L. Dove

The cartoon Roadrunner beep-beeped his way through the desert, outfoxing Wile E. Coyote every time, but the real bird can run up to 27 mph and, in some Native American traditions, offers protection from evil spirits.

By Jesslyn Shields

The blue-footed booby is known as much for its comical mating dance as for its intensely colored blue feet.

By Laurie L. Dove

From the fictional Hedwig in the Harry Potter series, to those that live wild and free, the snowy owl is one of the most captivating species of owl in the world.

By Wendy Bowman

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There's more to Australia's kookaburra than the cheery song you learned as a kid, but what is it that makes the kookaburra laugh?

By Patty Rasmussen

Macaws mate for life, can speak human words and have even been known to blush when delighted.

By Laurie L. Dove

While the cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, the peregrine falcon, a large predatory raptor, is by far the fastest bird on planet Earth.

By Wendy Bowman

Biochemically like a heron and anatomically similar to a pelican, the shoebill stork has been called "Monsterface" and even "Death Pelican." But wait until you hear the staccato rat-a-tat-tat of its booming machine-gun call.

By Carrie Tatro

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Generations of cereal eaters grew up sharing the breakfast table with Toucan Sam, famous for following his long, colorful nose — but what's that bill for besides hawking cereal?

By Jesslyn Shields

The energy efficiency of the Andean condor is the avian embodiment of the phrase "work smarter, not harder."

By Jesslyn Shields