About Birds

How Well Do We Really Know Cardinals?

December 20, 2018 — New research provides support for splitting the Northern Cardinal into multiple species.

Bird Science

7 Hummingbirds That Wear Pants With Flair (Plus One Bonus)

December 14, 2018 — Meet the "puffleg” birds of the Latin American tropics, covered in feathers all the way down.

Bird Science

Get to Know the Bee Hummingbird, the World’s Smallest Bird

September 17, 2018 — Only found in Cuba, these birds lay their eggs in nests the size of a quarter.

Bird Questions and Facts

Shrikes Have an Absolutely Brutal Way of Killing Large Prey

September 06, 2018 — Famous for impaling their victims, these songbirds first use a special maneuver to break the necks of small rodents.

Bird Behavior

No, That's Not an Owl Outside Your Window

August 31, 2018 — It's probably a Mourning Dove. Here's the difference between their calls.

Bird Questions and Facts

Better Know a Bird: The American Coot and Its Wonderfully Weird Feet

August 13, 2018 — The odd-looking foot is perfectly built for getting around on land or water. It's not bad for a little wrestling, either.

The Origins of Hummingbirds Are Still a Major Mystery

July 12, 2018 — There is a dazzling diversity of the tiny birds in the Americas, but recent discoveries trace their evolution back to Europe—where today there are no nectar-feeding species.

Bird Science

Is It Okay to Remove Cowbird Eggs From Host Nests?

June 06, 2018 — It can be tempting to interfere with these brood parasites. But there are many reasons—legal and behavioral—to leave tampering to the pros.

Bird Nests and Breeding