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Bird Behavior

A Pileated Woodpecker sticks its head out of a hole in a fungus-covered tree., throwing bits of bark from its beak.
Wait—Do Woodpeckers Kill Trees?
July 16, 2026 — The charismatic chiselers are built to chip away bark and hollow out holes. Here's why this behavior isn't typically harmful to a tree and can even be beneficial.
Bird Questions and Facts
Are Crows Really Our Friends?
June 23, 2026 — An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations.
A flock of geese flying overhead in a V-shaped formation.
Why Do Birds Fly in a V Formation? Breaking Down a Brilliant Migration Hack
May 01, 2026 — From geese and pelicans to cranes and cormorants, many birds use a V-shaped flock to master the aerodynamics of long-distance flight. Here is the science behind this clever energy-saving strategy.
Bird Migration
A Ruffed Grouse stands on a mossy rock at dawn flapping his wings, evident by motion blur.
Here’s How Ruffed Grouse Make That Wild Drumming Sound—and How to Hear it for Yourself
March 27, 2026 — The secretive game bird’s unique courtship display is a treat for birders and a boon for science.
Two featherless baby birds in a nest beg for food with their heads back and mouths open. One of them is bigger and is stretching its neck higher.
Necks Built for Begging Help Cowbird Chicks Outcompete Their Nestmates for Food
March 26, 2026 — Brown-headed Cowbirds have evolved extra-strong neck muscles to steal meals from their host species' chicks, new research finds.
Bird Science
A Northern Cardinal hovering in front of a window fighting its reflection.
Why Birds Attack Windows and Mirrors—and How You Can Stop Them
March 10, 2026 — Have an aggressive bird obsessed with its own reflection? Protect it and your property with these simple tips.
Bird Questions and Facts
What’s a Northern Cardinal Doing at a Pile of Deer Guts? Chowing Down.
March 02, 2026 — A research project enlisting hunters as partners has revealed that the roll call of birds willing to feast on some organ meat is surprisingly diverse.
Bird Science
Close view of a hawk with avocado bits on its open beak.
Red-shouldered Hawks With a Taste for Avocado Join a Growing List of Fruit-Eating Raptors
February 05, 2026 — Until now the behavior had been undocumented in the species, but recent research has revealed that more birds of prey consume plants than we realized.
Mark Hauber inspects a nest in a tree using a telescopic mirror.
Got Beef With Cowbirds? This Researcher Wants to Change Your Mind
January 15, 2026 — The brood parasites get a bad rap for making other birds raise their young, but study by study, Mark Hauber and his “Cowbird Lab” have revealed a species worthy of respect.
Bird Science
This Roaming Raptor Has Been Surprising U.S. Birders—and More Could Be on the Way
January 07, 2026 — Limited to Central and South America until a few short years ago, Yellow-headed Caracaras are turning heads from California to Delaware as their range expands northward.
Bird News