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.
Osprey vs. Eagle: Distinguishing Between Birds of Prey
Eagle vs. Hawk: A Sharp Eye to Differentiate Birds of Prey
The Largest Bird of Prey: Tallest, Heaviest and Widest Wingspan
Goose vs. Duck Identification: Size, Bills and Neck Length
What Do Turkeys Eat in the Wild and on Farms?
9 of the Largest Chicken Breeds
Heron vs. Crane: A Comparison of Long-legged Birds
Black Vulture vs. Turkey Vulture: Seeing vs. Smelling Differences
4 Smartest Birds Prove That 'Bird Brain' Shouldn't Be an Insult
How Do Birds Know When to Fly South and Where to Go?
Finches Are Tiny Twitterers That Make Great Pets
A Macaw Will Mate for Life and Swear Like a Sailor
The 3 Types of Ducks Every Birdwatcher Should Know
The Blue-footed Booby Dance Gets the Girl Every Time
Penguins: The Monogamous Tuxedoed Birds That 'Fly' Underwater
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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.
They are all huge, but does it surprise you that none of the nine biggest birds can fly?
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
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Budgies are the same species as parakeets and make fabulous pets - and, yes, they love to talk!
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
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.
Finches can live for five to 10 years and make great companion pets as long as they are given enough space to fly around.
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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.
The blue-footed booby is known as much for its comical mating dance as for its intensely colored blue feet.
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 & Talon Homer
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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Macaws mate for life, can speak human words and have even been known to blush when delighted.
By Laurie L. Dove & Zach Taras
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 & Zach Taras
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?
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This exotic bird could seriously injure or kill a person or a dog in an instant with its deadly claws.
By Wendy Bowman & Marie Look
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.
There are up to 26 species of penguins in the world, most of whom mate for life, and while none of them can fly, they swim like Olympic champs.
The national bird of the United States has taken on iconic status as the avian avatar of freedom, but its wingspan and steely gaze guarantee its status in the pecking order of prey birds as a symbol of strength.
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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.
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?
Starlings are short and thick, with dark feathers and long, pointy bills. Collectively, however, they transform into something else entirely.
By John Donovan
The parrots of the Telegraph Hill neighborhood of San Francisco are legendary, but how did they get there?
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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
The smallest owls in the world have mad survival skills, like killing poisonous scorpions and playing dead.
By Loraine Fick