May 07 2023
Few North American birds make an entrance quite like the Pileated Woodpecker. Nearly as large as a crow, this striking forest bird combines a mostly black body, bold white facial stripes, and a brilliant red crest that rises dramatically from the back of its head. Its appearance is only part of the story. A Pileated …
May 06 2023
Scattered across the volcanic islands of the Galápagos, a group of small, mostly brown or black birds has transformed how scientists understand life on Earth. They are not especially flashy. They do not possess the brilliant colors of parrots or the dramatic silhouettes of eagles. Yet their extraordinary variety of beaks, diets, behaviors, and habitats …
May 06 2023
A robin singing before sunrise, a cardinal whistling from a backyard tree, and a tiny wren delivering a surprisingly powerful performance from inside a hedge all belong to one of the most diverse and familiar groups of birds on Earth: the songbirds. Songbirds inhabit forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, mountains, gardens, and cities. Some travel thousands …
May 04 2023
A soft, wistful coo drifts across the backyard just after sunrise. A moment later, a slender gray-brown bird settles onto a fence, its long tail tapering behind it. When it suddenly takes flight, its wings produce a surprising whistle that seems almost too loud for such a gentle-looking bird. This familiar visitor is the Mourning …
May 04 2023
A flash of orange against a backyard tree, fence post, or woodland trail can make an unfamiliar bird surprisingly memorable. But an orange chest alone does not always reveal its identity. American Robins, bluebirds, orioles, grosbeaks, thrushes, and several smaller songbirds can all display shades ranging from pale peach and cinnamon to brilliant pumpkin orange. …
May 04 2023
What Bird Eggs Are Blue? A small blue egg in a backyard nest can immediately raise an intriguing question: What kind of bird laid it? American Robins are famous for their unmistakable blue eggs, but they are far from the only birds that produce them. Bluebirds, Gray Catbirds, House Finches, Blue Jays, Northern Mockingbirds, and …
