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State Birds
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have official birds. To become a state bird, it helped to be familiar, colorful, and have a punchy song. The Northern Cardinal perches as state bird in seve…
Published on 17 hours ago
The Mississippi Sandhill Crane Makes a Comeback
While most Sandhill Cranes migrate, the Mississippi population lives year-round in wet pine savanna near the Gulf Coast. Their dependence on this unique habitat caused their population to plummet to …
Published on 1 day, 17 hours ago
Jynx!
A birder may have a target bird so elusive that the bird becomes a kind of "jinx bird." But there was a real bird by that name! The bird once called the "jynx" is known today as the Eurasian Wryneck.…
Published on 2 days, 17 hours ago
Owl Sounds with Becca Rowland
When author and illustrator Becca Rowland first started learning to identify bird calls, they were delighted to discover that owls say more than just ‘who’! In her new book, Bird Talk: Hilariously Ac…
Published on 3 days, 17 hours ago
American Bittern: Thunder-Pumper
American Bitterns nest in marshes across the northern half of the United States and throughout much of Canada, and they winter along both US coasts south into Central America. But in some places, bit…
Published on 4 days, 17 hours ago
Hummingbirds Caught in a Dark World of Love Spells
Hummingbirds are celebrated for their beauty and grace, but in some places, they are trapped in a dark and deadly tradition. In parts of Mexico, hummingbirds are captured and killed to be used in lov…
Published on 5 days, 17 hours ago
Annakacygna – The Ultimate Bird
Like today’s swans, the extinct species Annakacygna hajimei and Annakacygna yoshiiensis were quite large. But unlike their modern relatives, these birds lived most of their lives out at sea, and thei…
Published on 6 days, 17 hours ago
Towhees' Distractive Plumage
Both this Eastern Towhee and the Spotted Towhee of the West sport a black or dark brown hood and back. And when they fly, their tails flash white. When a hawk gives chase, the towhee's flashing tail-…
Published on 1 week ago
The Endangered 'Akiapōlā'au
The 'Akiapōlā'au is a bright yellow bird with a black eye mask, found only in the upper elevations on the Big Island of Hawai'i. But its most distinct feature is its totally unique, uneven bill. The …
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago
Quirky Words for Patterned Birds
Descriptive names can be a great help when you’re getting to know a new bird. Some species have common names that put their plumage pattern front and center – like the Five-striped Sparrow. If you en…
Published on 1 week, 2 days ago