Jan 27 2024
The Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) is one of the most spectacular birds of the Americas. Famous for its shimmering emerald plumage, brilliant red breast, and the extraordinary flowing feathers of adult males, this cloud-forest bird has fascinated people for centuries. Resplendent Quetzals live in the cool, humid mountain forests of southern Mexico and Central America, …
Jan 27 2024
The Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi), also known as the Bali Starling, is one of the most striking and endangered birds in the world. With brilliant white plumage, a sweeping crest, black-tipped wings and tail, and patches of vivid blue skin around its eyes, this unusual member of the starling family is instantly recognizable. What makes …
Jan 27 2024
Few tropical birds are as instantly recognizable as the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao). With brilliant red plumage, golden-yellow wings, flashes of blue, and an enormous curved bill, this spectacular parrot is one of the most colorful birds of the American tropics. Scarlet Macaws live in forests stretching from parts of Mexico and Central America into …
Jan 01 2024
Birds and blooms have a special connection that goes beyond just aesthetics. Explore the science behind this relationship and how you can create a bird-friendly garden in your backyard.
Dec 16 2023
Few small birds seem as perfectly matched to the mountains as the White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis). This hardy alpine bird lives among rocky slopes, high meadows, lingering snowfields, mountain passes, and windswept peaks where winters are long and conditions can change in minutes. Despite the word “finch” in its name, the White-winged Snowfinch is not …
Dec 16 2023
The Himalayan Rubythroat (Calliope pectoralis) is a striking mountain songbird found across the Himalayas and parts of Central Asia. Males are especially memorable, combining slate-gray plumage with a brilliant ruby-red throat, black breast, bold white eyebrow, and flashes of white in the tail. Despite those dramatic markings, the Himalayan Rubythroat can be surprisingly difficult to …
Dec 16 2023
High above the windswept valleys and rocky plateaus of the Himalayas, an enormous bird circles almost effortlessly on broad wings. This is the Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis), one of the largest vultures in Asia and one of the most impressive soaring birds in the world. Also known simply as the Himalayan Vulture, this powerful …
Dec 14 2023
The Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) is a hardy grouse of Arctic tundra and high mountain landscapes. Famous for changing its plumage with the seasons, this remarkable bird can blend into snow-covered ground in winter and rocky tundra during the warmer months. Rock Ptarmigan live in some of the coldest bird habitats on Earth. Thick plumage, …
Dec 14 2023
Finches are small, lively songbirds known for their seed-cracking bills, cheerful calls, colorful plumage, and tendency to gather in active flocks. They are among the most familiar birds at backyard feeders, where species such as the House Finch, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin can sometimes appear in surprising numbers. True finches belong to …
Dec 14 2023
Vultures are among the most recognizable—and misunderstood—birds in the world. With enormous wings, hooked bills, bare or sparsely feathered heads, and an extraordinary ability to locate carrion, these birds are perfectly adapted to a life spent searching for animals that have already died. That may not sound glamorous, but vultures perform one of nature’s most …
