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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Wisdom, the Laysan albatross, is 70 years young and STILL birthing babies. What is the secret of her fertility?
Berries are a great food source for birds, but this diet can backfire when the fruit starts to ferment.
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.
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Why do birds do that? A global citizen science project wants you to help them find out.
A French theme park has trained a crew of six rooks to pick up after its messy guests.
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
The American swamp sparrow has created an oral tradition that's lasted more than a millennium.
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What benefit does one bird get from copying another bird's calls?
By Mark Mancini
It's easy to mistake a crow for a raven or vice versa. But the two birds are actually pretty different.
By Mark Mancini
Spontaneous sex reversal in chickens is pretty rare, but it does happen. Find out how Miss Lucille became Mr. Lucille.
By Alia Hoyt
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
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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
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
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
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Cockatoos aren't just excellent dancers — they're also excellent toolmakers.
By Alia Hoyt
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.
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A South African winery is employing a band of feathered guards to protect from invaders, and these runner ducks are eating up the enemy.
Compared to nearby coastal Asian regions, North Korea's shoreline is relatively underdeveloped. That's been a boon for migratory birds — and the humans who watch them.
By Chris Opfer
Japanese video shows a chicken developing and hatching without an eggshell.
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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The #SuperbOwl is one of our favorites animals. Every day of the week we love owls, from Monday to #SuperbOwlSunday. Check out these cool owl images learn more.
Black kites are drawn to fires, chasing down prey as it flees the flames. And some believe they may even start fires in order to have more menu options.