Miscellaneous Birds
Biodiversity if an amazing and wonderful thing. But it also means that there are many types of birds that don't fit into a specific categories. Read about all types of strange but beautiful birds in this section.
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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.
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.
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?
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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
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?
A remarkable partnership has formed over centuries between honeyguide birds and humans — and both species benefit when the honey is found and the comb is cracked.
This exotic bird could seriously injure or kill a person or a dog in an instant with its deadly claws.
By Wendy Bowman
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When a half-full plate of dinner sits before you and your overstuffed tummy, have you ever been told your eyes are too big for your stomach? The pelican's got a similar problem.
The parrots of the Telegraph Hill neighborhood of San Francisco are legendary, but how did they get there?
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
Wisdom, the Laysan albatross, is 70 years young and STILL birthing babies. What is the secret of her fertility?
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A French theme park has trained a crew of six rooks to pick up after its messy guests.
Certain urban-dwelling bird species use cigarette butts in building their nests.
By Carrie Tatro
Aside from humans, these birds are the only ones who make drumsticks for musical purposes.
By Alia Hoyt
Cockatoos aren't just excellent dancers — they're also excellent toolmakers.
By Alia Hoyt
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A recent study has identified why some seabirds mistake the plastic dumped in the ocean for food. The nose knows why.
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.
Even the frozen continent isn't safe from bird flu.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate annually from the U.S. all the way to Central America. How often would one need to stop? A new study reveals amazing abilities.
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Have you ever had to shout to make yourself heard at a loud restaurant? Turns out we noisy humans are doing that to birds, and it's making it hard to mate.
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
When a friend decides to ignore their problems, you might liken them to an ostrich. But ostriches are much more likely to face a problem head-on than hide it in the sand.
By Bambi Turner
This woodpecker can be found in forests, city parks and even your own back yard. Read on to learn more about this bird.
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A large, grayish bird with an elegant long neck, the great blue heron can be mistaken for similar-looking birds, such as the sandhill crane. Read on to learn more about this bird.
You are an avid birdwatcher and would like to know how to identify birds. This article will tell you all about how to identify birds.