What Are the 4 Calling Birds? Probably Not What You Think.

Those four birds in the holiday song may not actually be “calling.”

Matthew L. Miller

10 Winter Birds to Spot During the Christmas Bird Count

Here are 10 North American birds to search for during this year’s Christmas Bird Count.

Justine E. Hausheer

What Bird Is the Partridge in a Pear Tree?

What kind of bird is the partridge in the pear tree? That answer is less straightforward than you think.

Matthew L. Miller

Roadrunner: Meet the Real Bird Behind the Cartoon

Roadrunners can survive in the desert, outrun a human, and beat rattlesnakes to death. Seldom seen and under-appreciated, they’re a bird worth getting to know. 

Justine E. Hausheer

How Sea-level Rise Impacts Marsh Sparrows

Scientists are studying the effects of sea-level rise on salt marshes, and two imperiled sparrow species.

Lauren D. Pharr

Meet the Raptors That Eat Avocados (and Other Fruit)

We think of raptors as exclusive carnivores, but at least 29 species also consume fruit. Including avocados.

Justine E. Hausheer

Seeing Red: What the Color of House Finches Can Tell Us

What can house finches teach us about coloration and ornamentation in birds?

Lauren D. Pharr

How To See More Wildlife

Wildlife watching is a skill that can be learned. Here are some tips to get you started.

Matthew L. Miller

Why Do We Hate Trash Birds?

Gulls. House sparrows. Starlings. Rock pigeons. Canada geese. These species are often derided as trash birds. But why do birders dismiss them so easily?

Justine E. Hausheer

Why Are You Seeing Lots of Vultures Now?

Large flocks of vultures are circling, but it’s probably not because something is dead.

Christine Peterson

An Introduction to Bird Banding

Bird banding has become one of the most useful tactics in bird conservation. Here’s what you need to know.

Lauren D. Pharr, Annie M. Lindsay, and Christopher E. Moorman

Shrinking Birds with Longer Wings?

Are the shrinking body sizes of birds connected to climate change, or something else?

Kris Millgate