About Birds

A plain, gray bird perches on a thin, curvy branch.
New Analysis Reveals That ‘Beautiful' Birds Are Studied Much More Than ‘Drab’ Species
April 25, 2025 — A study reviewing 50 years of scientific literature shows that familiar, visually appealing avians are the subject of three times more research than their plainer cousins.
Clear liquid trickles out of a hummingbird hovering in midair.
Do Birds Pee? Hummingbirds Do—a Lot
April 23, 2025 — Unlike most other avians, hummers urinate in a stream much like mammals, releasing liquid waste often and out of necessity.
A dock with birds on it in a lake with people on a walkway behind
Spotting Banded Black Skimmers in an Unusual Winter Location
April 04, 2025 — The skimmers recorded in North Central Florida are migrants from northeastern states.
More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Heron Necks
April 03, 2025 — From how they work to why they're so long, we’ve got answers to all your (maybe?) burning questions.
Ask Kenn: How Do Birds Keep Themselves Clean?
March 24, 2025 — Staying fresh is a matter of survival in a bird’s life—and a treat for birders to observe.
A hummingbird perched on a snowy, mossy branch flutters its wings.
Where Do Hummingbirds Go in the Winter? Do They Migrate?
January 17, 2025 — Some species migrate to far-off places while others keep it local. Here's a rundown of who goes where.
Two hummingbirds on a small branch fighting with each other.
Why Do Hummingbirds Fight So Much?
August 21, 2024 — For hungry hummers in need of nectar to fuel their high-speed lives, territorial disputes can get ugly.
An illustration of a bird flying between brightly and dimly lit cities.
How to Make Your Outdoor Home Lighting Bird-Friendly
May 31, 2022 — Learn about shielding lights and other ways to make your outdoor lighting more bird-friendly.
A female Wilson’s Phalarope swims in a shallow wetland.
Funneling Phalaropes
May 13, 2022 — Follow the hemispheric migration of the Wilson’s Phalarope.
Yellow Warbler perched on a branch.
5 Birds that Migrate to the Rockies
April 29, 2022 — How to identify five common migratory birds in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah.