Science

News

Drab but Fab: Woodcocks Wear the Whitest Whites in the Avian Wardrobe

By Kharishar Kahfi
April 28, 2023 — Though mostly camouflaged, Eurasian Woodcocks have brilliant patches much whiter than any feathers previously measured, a recent study finds.
A close up portrait of a small, streaky, brown and white bird looking at the camera.
News

Migrating Birds Change Their Scenery—and Their Gut Bacteria

By Zoe Grueskin
April 20, 2023 — A new study using birds killed in window collisions finds avian microbiomes, unlike those of mammals including humans, vary as they travel, changing with the surrounding environments.
Climate

Using Science to Craft Conservation Policy that Emphasizes Biodiversity in a Changing Climate

By Sarah Saunders and Mariah Meek
April 18, 2023 — As the Biden Administration implements the America the Beautiful initiative, a new study identifies areas most likely to provide refuge for plants and wildlife as temperatures warm.
A flock of Sandhill Cranes fly in a line against a blue sky, the moon in the background.
Books

‘Flight Paths’ Unfurls the Wondrous History of Migration Science

By Philip Kiefer
March 10, 2023 — A new book details how amateur birders and bird-loving scientists pieced together the true story of avian migration.
Seas & Shores

Mangroves, much more than meeting points of land and sea

By Julio Montes de Oca
March 08, 2023 — During the 8th Our Ocean Conference, Audubon Americas, and Conservation International showcased two leading projects in Panama and Colombia, supported by the UK-Blue Carbon Fund, and administered by the Inter-American Development Bank.
News

This Wave Theory of Spring Migration Will Prepare You for Your Next Birding Outing

By Hannah Waters
March 06, 2023 — Songbirds don’t leave their wintering grounds all together. Here’s when to expect different species as they cross the eastern United States.
A male and female Canvasback duck face each other in the water, the male looking back with a vibrant red eye.
Science

Bird Eyes Come In an Amazing Array of Colors—but Why Is a Mystery

By Meghan Bartels
February 07, 2023 — A recent study analyzing what scientists know about avian eye color finds that there are numerous questions left to solve.
Climate

Migrating Male Birds Race Ahead to Keep Up with Spring’s Early Arrival

By Rebecca Heisman
January 26, 2023 — New research finds females are lagging behind males as they try and keep up with earlier springs driven by climate change.
News

In the Rockies, Human Activity Paves the Way for a Hybrid Bird Boom

By Margo Rosenbaum
January 12, 2023 — Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees mate more often than previously believed, research shows—especially where people disturb their habitat.
William Blake sits on the ground next to a Motus antenna, itself sitting in a green field that slopes into a river valley.
From Audubon Magazine

A Global Antenna Network Is the Next Frontier of Migration Science

By Alex Tey
September 21, 2022 — Motus stations across the landscape pick up ‘pings’ from any radio-tagged birds that fly past. The data, open to everyone, are painting a fuller picture of the journeys the creatures make.