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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 bi…
7 months, 3 weeks 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. Wh…
7 months, 4 weeks 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 distinc…
7 months, 4 weeks 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…
7 months, 4 weeks ago
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…
8 months 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 pretendin…
8 months 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…
8 months 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…
8 months 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 aukle…
8 months 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…
8 months ago