Bird Behavior

Two water birds rise up out of the water close together, a long reed held in one of the bird's beak wraps around their long necks as they twirl.
Our Favorite Fascinating Bird Behaviors From the 2023 Audubon Photo Awards
February 22, 2024 — From an extra hungry Great Blue Heron to a very determined Verdin, this year's selections once again provide a vivid glimpse into the lives of birds.
Audubon Photography Awards
A round, fluffy-looking owl sits in a tree hollow in the falling snow.
How Do Birds Cope With Cold Winter Weather?
January 24, 2024 — From fluffing up to hunkering down, birds rely on these survival strategies when the temperature dips.
Bird Questions and Facts
A bird nest made with hundreds of metal spikes in the fork of a tree branch.
Apparently Magpies and Crows Are Using "Anti-Bird Spikes" to Make Their Nests
July 13, 2023 — Birds often incorporate human-made materials while nest building, but a new study shows European corvids are taking the idea to the extreme.
Bird Nests and Breeding
A brown and white eagle with a large yellow beak flies past the tops of pine trees.
When Birds Get Lost, Space Storms May Be to Blame
June 05, 2023 — New analysis of 60 years of bird banding data shows that vagrancy increases during periods of geomagnetic disturbance.
Bird Science
The 2022 Audubon Photography Awards: Top 12 Videos
January 25, 2023 — Check out this fantastic footage of birds in the wild, and discover the backstory behind each video.
Audubon Photography Awards
Injury or Illusion? Why a Bird With a Broken Wing May Not Be What It Appears
April 28, 2022 — Some species feign injuries to protect their nests from predators—a more common behavior than previously thought, new research shows.
A Lunar Eclipse Sheds Light On a Fascinating Behavior In Birds
April 11, 2022 — Recent research reveals that Black Swifts ascend to remarkable heights when the moon is full. Why they do so is more of a mystery.
Bird Science
These Early Nesters Get a Head Start on Breeding Season
March 17, 2022 — Not every bird species waits for spring to lay eggs and raise chicks.
Bird Nests and Breeding
The ‘Big Boom Theory’ That Could Help Conserve Common Nighthawks
January 14, 2022 — New research confirms that males’ wing-boom sound marks hard-to-find nesting sites—a boon for efforts to save these mysterious, declining birds.
Bird Science
Warmer Oceans Raise the ‘Divorce’ Rate Among Typically Loyal Albatross Pairs
November 24, 2021 — A new study of Black-browed Albatrosses provides a reminder that climate change can affect birds in unexpected ways.
Bird Science