Discover stories in Birds
A Long Journey to 5,000 Birds: 34 Years, 6 Continents, & 47 Countries
Conservancy birder Tim Boucher just saw his 5,000th life bird. But what does it take to see 5,000 of anything? And what has he learned through 34 years of birding?
How Do Birds Stay Warm on a Cold Winter’s Night?
Winter is a tough time for birds, but a warm place to sleep can give them an edge. A scientist’s look at the cozy, and often crazy, hideouts birds choose as their winter bedrooms.
Snow Birds: 10 Birds to Look for in Winter
Winter birding isn’t easy, but it is amazing. If you’re ready to brave the cold, here are 10 winter-only species to search for this month.
Recovery: The Miracle on Palmyra
Palmyra Atoll has recovered from many calamities, but it couldn’t recover from rats. Can a dying ecosystem be brought back to life? Ted Williams reports.
Raising Cranes: Can Grain Fields Save a Bird?
Greater sandhill cranes' numbers have plummeted since the 1990s in the Greater Yellowstone region. Can a new effort that pays farmers for unharvested grain help?
Protected Areas Are Falling Short for Migratory Birds
Compared to other species, the world’s nearly 10,000 birds receive a lot of conservation attention. But what if one of our most common conservation tools — protected areas — are failing to protect migratory spe
Binge on Turkey with One of the Greatest Nature Movies, Ever
Tired of parades and football? How about enjoying a little more turkey – with a movie that shows these birds as you’ve never seen them before.
Introducing the Australian Brushturkey
It's hideous, follows tourists around for snacks, and lays its eggs in a giant pile of rotting leaves like a dinosaur. Happy Thanksgiving from Down Under.
Move Over Turkey: Meet the World’s Other Bald, Be-wattled Birds
Have you ever actually looked at a turkey? They’re cool, weird, and impressively ugly. But American Wild Turkeys aren’t the only ugly birds out there ⎯ with 10,000 avian species on Earth, the possibilities for ugly are endless.
Beyond Birding by Ear: Understanding Bird Alarm Calls
Birders know the value of recognizing bird calls. Now it’s time to add another dimension: understanding bird alarm calls. Ornithologist Joe Smith explains the complex and fascinating ways that birds cry “Danger!”
Migratory Songbirds Transport New Ticks & Pathogens Across the Gulf
New research reveals that neotropical songbirds are transporting an estimated 19 million ticks and tick-borne pathogens to the United States each year.
Kumuls on Camera: Photographing Birds-of-Paradise in Papua New Guinea
Two birders set out to capture camera trap footage of a bird-of-paradise. The anticipation nearly kills them both.
