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The Elegant Black Tern
Elegant Black Terns breed in summer on secluded wetlands across the northern states and Canada. Because of major losses of wetlands in their breeding range — especially in Canada's prairie provinces …
Published on 1 week, 3 days ago
Dave Mull and the Courage of Steller’s Jays
Skateboarder and birder Dave Mull remembers the first time he heard a Steller’s Jay imitating a Red-tailed Hawk. “These Steller's Jays were pretending to be something they were not, kind of tricking …
Published on 1 week, 4 days ago
Nature’s Alarm Clock: Which Rooster Crows First?
Roosters don’t need to set an alarm to tell them when it’s time to crow — their internal circadian clock lets them anticipate sunrise with remarkable accuracy. To us sleepy humans, it may seem like t…
Published on 1 week, 5 days ago
Hudsonian Godwit
Hudsonian Godwits are tough birds to find, and they were once thought extinct due to overhunting. After nesting at sites scattered in the High Arctic, they migrate south on a route that takes them ov…
Published on 1 week, 6 days ago
Seabirds Thriving on Volcanic Slopes
In August 2008, Kasatochi Island erupted in the middle of auklet breeding season, burying tens of thousands of chicks in hot ash. At first, the auklets’ future on the island appeared bleak. But in ju…
Published on 2 weeks ago
Beaks and Grosbeaks
Beaks suited for opening tough, hard seeds — thick, conical beaks — evolved in more than one lineage of birds. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are related to cardinals, which also have powerful beaks. Evenin…
Published on 2 weeks, 1 day ago
Seeing the Rainbow in a Bird’s Feathers
We make it a habit to detail the broad and beautiful spectrum of bird colors, but iridescent feathers are undoubtedly among the most mesmerizing. When sunlight hits the Bufflehead’s dark head feather…
Published on 2 weeks, 2 days ago
Sister Species: Snow Goose and Ross’s Goose
Ross’s Geese and Snow Geese are both white-bodied waterfowl with black wingtips that can be difficult to tell apart. The pair are a great example of what science calls sister species, which occur whe…
Published on 2 weeks, 3 days ago
Arizona Woodpecker and the Sierra Madre
Found in the Sierra Madre, the Arizona Woodpecker has a special connection to the mountain range. Sharing mid-elevation pine and oaks with fellow border straddlers, these small brown birds with white…
Published on 2 weeks, 4 days ago
The 'Grasshopper' Hawk's High-Stakes Migration
Swainson’s Hawks make an incredible journey every year, migrating 12,000 miles round-trip from North America’s prairies to Argentina’s pampas. What makes them truly unique is their diet. Most hawks h…
Published on 2 weeks, 5 days ago