Topics

Explore Birds

An aerial view of a snowy St. Matthew Island with a tiny spec of a human in the distance.
The Search for One of North America's Rarest Birds
March 31, 2025 — Scientists must journey to remote islands in the middle of the Bering Sea, braving uncertain conditions, to reach the breeding grounds of McKay's Buntings.
Photo Essay
An aerial landscape dotted with small bodies of water.
Birding Bucket List: Tour America's ‘Duck Factory' in the Bird-Packed Prairie Pothole Region
March 25, 2025 — Glacier-carved fields and ephemeral wetlands provide a crucial stopover for long-distance migrants and prolific breeding grounds for a wide variety of duck species and other waterfowl.
Destinations
A group of people sitting in lawn chairs in a park, some holding binoculars.
How (and Why) to Host a Bird Sit
March 24, 2025 — Casual or competitive, stationary birding events provide a refreshingly different outdoor experience.
Birding Advice
Christopher Joe speaks to a group of people outside, many of whom have binoculars.
You Have What It Takes to Lead Bird Outings
March 24, 2025 — Not a bird expert? Not a problem. To guide a group you need enthusiasm and a welcoming attitude, not perfect ID skills.
Birding Advice
Ask Kenn: How Do Birds Keep Themselves Clean?
March 24, 2025 — Staying fresh is a matter of survival in a bird’s life—and a treat for birders to observe.
Bird Questions and Facts
Three watercolor paintings depicting close ups of the wings of a Blue Jay, Northern Flicker, and Northern Cardinal.
A Close-Up Look at the Beauty of Backyard Birds
March 24, 2025 — In her watercolor triptych, Rosalie Haizlett celebrates the vibrant colors and details found in the feathers of common—and commonly overlooked—species.
Arts & Culture
51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Texas: Lowering Light Pollution a Critical Need During Spring Migration 
March 18, 2025 — Seasonal, ongoing Lights Out, Texas! organizing aimed at reversing decades-long decline of bird populations across the Americas
TEXAS Bird Migration
A Vermilion Flycatcher splashes the surface of water with a fish in its beak.
‘Oh, Wow!’—Stunning Photos Offer First Known Proof of Vermilion Flycatchers Fishing
March 12, 2025 — An Arizona photographer’s images of Vermilion Flycatchers and Black Phoebes catching and eating fish—and one unlucky lizard—provide a rare glimpse into a little-known side of both birds.
Bird Behavior
Three bird-of-paradise specimens appearing to glow green under UV light on a black background.
Birds-of-Paradise Feathers Are More Than Flashy—They Glow
March 07, 2025 — Researchers recently discovered that dozens of species in the flamboyant family are biofluorescent, emitting a gleaming light that could enhance their mating displays.
Bird Science
A chickadee perches on a sunflower extracting a seed with its beak.
How Plant Seeds Reshaped the Lives—and Evolution—of Birds
March 04, 2025 — Plants didn't always use seeds to reproduce, but once they did, early avians were more than happy to indulge in the nutrient-rich morsels, kicking off a symbiotic relationship that persists today.
Books