Matt Soniak is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. 

Articles by Matt Soniak

News

The Origins of Our Misguided Hatred for Pigeons

November 14, 2016 — Perhaps the problem with those “rats with wings” lies with us, not them.
The leader of a pigeon flock usually flies in front—until it’s demoted by its flockmates. Zsuzsa Ákos
News

In Homing Pigeon Flocks, Bad Bosses Quickly Get Demoted

September 14, 2016 — New research shows how the birds keep flock leaders with bad information from throwing them off course.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a contorted beak, a symptom of avian keratin disorder, in Homer, Alaska. Martin Renner
News

What’s Got Bird Beaks in a Twist?

July 27, 2016 — Thanks to a major lead, scientists are hot on the trail of a never-seen disease, which could help them crack a cold case wide open.
A female Black Lark on the nest in Kazakhstan.. Note the large dung pieces in the foreground that were carried to the nest. Johannes Kamp
News

Why Black Larks Build Poop Fortresses
April 8, 2016 — Female larks borrow dung from grazing animals to create a force field around their nests.
News

New Details Emerge on a Notorious Bird-Killing Bacteria
March 28, 2016 — Research shows that climate change and invasive species are spreading a toxin that causes paralysis in birds.
A Wilson's Warbler is dwarfed by the Brown-headed Cowbird chick that it's trying to raise. Despite the mismatch with their "adoptive" parents, these parasitic chicks still retain their cowbird instincts. Beth Hamel
Birds In The News

How Does a Cowbird Learn To Be a Cowbird?
February 25, 2016 — New research explains how these brood parasites—who are raised by other species—still manage to become cowbirds.

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