Every bird has a story. Drawings by Jason Polan.

The Sketch

Every bird has a story. Drawings by Jason Polan.

The Hoatzin
The Hoatzin

This South American misfit tries hard to fit in, but just can't help being weird.

The Southern Giant Petrel
The Southern Giant Petrel

When this seabird isn't projectile-vomiting on its enemies, it's probably burying its head in rotting seal guts.

The American Dipper
The American Dipper

This pudgy little bird may not look like anything special, but beneath its underwhelming exterior beats the heart of a champion.

The Bar-Tailed Godwit
The Bar-Tailed Godwit

While you struggle to get your 10,000 steps a day, this wading bird covers thousands of miles without stopping once.

The Cattle Egret
The Cattle Egret

This long-stemmed and long-sighted wader gets all the good stuff: sex, real estate, and plenty of insects.

The Hoopoe
The Hoopoe

An emissary of kings and inspirer of poets, once it’s home, this bird is all kinds of nasty.

The House Finch
The House Finch

Thanks to an undercover Audubon sting, this bird is more of a backyard staple than a celebrity.

The Lammergeier
The Lammergeier

This bone eater may seem sinister, but you just need some time to get to know it.

The Monk Parakeet
The Monk Parakeet

These South American birds made it north by escaping from a broken shipping crate… Maybe.

The Oilbird
The Oilbird

This bird's what you might get if you combined a bat, a dolphin, and a mouse, added just a soupçon of frat boy, and put a beak on it.