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About Birds

light orange and brown bird perches on some barbed wire
51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Great Plains Announces Bird of the Year Contest
January 13, 2026 — Follow us on social media and vote for your favorite species!
GREAT PLAINS
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
A macaw eating a green chili pepper its holding in its claw.
Hot Take—Seems Like Birds Can Taste Spice After All
December 23, 2025 — Peppers in the wild grow only so spicy, and new research suggests that may be to satisfy avian palates.
Bird Science
Two owl chicks sit in a nest as their much larger mother, with a rodent in her beak, comes in for a landing atop a broken tree snag.
Dead Trees Support a Bounty of Birdlife, but Preserving Them Isn’t Always Clear Cut
December 18, 2025 — By studying Great Gray Owls, scientists hope to help more people see that snags offer vital habitat.
Conservation News
Red-winged Blackbird
History of the Land
December 18, 2025 — Trinity River 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Center History
TEXAS Trinity River
Get to Know the Ancient Birds That Lived During the Age of Dinosaurs
December 18, 2025 — Tens of millions of years ago, a diverse array of bird species soared, swam, and thrived amid their scaly reptile cousins—and set the stage for modern birdlife.
Dino Birds
How Street-Smart Birds Are Hacking Human Infrastructure
December 17, 2025 — Recent studies have uncovered some of the clever ways our avian neighbors are making the most of the urban environment.
Bird Behavior
With a lab coat and gloves on Maria Ortega inspects multiple trays of nest materials in her lab.
Scientists Are Now Finding Microplastics in Backyard Birds
December 17, 2025 — The tiny particles are widespread in waterbirds around the world. New research is finding them in neighborhood songbirds, too.
Bird Science
A flock of Snow Buntings camouflaged in white plumage fly over a snowy field.
Farm Fields Hold a Wonderful Winter Secret: Visiting Arctic Songbirds
December 17, 2025 — Need a nudge to get outdoors when the mercury drops? Take inspiration from these hardy travelers and hit some backroads for a comfy birding adventure.
Birding Advice
Great Kiskadee
The Importance of Birding for the Eco-Tourism Economy in San Antonio
December 17, 2025 — Nature tourism in San Antonio is an economic opportunity in which we are finally investing.
TEXAS Birds and History