The vulture has long had a bad reputation as an omen of death and disease carriers. Media depictions and stereotypes stop us from seeing the bigger picture with these animals. Vultures are diverse in terms of their locations, looks, and behaviors. This includes the three new world vultures of North America. Old World and New …
Crows don’t get the same level of affection as some of the songbirds in our gardens, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be one of your favorite garden birds. Crows are highly intelligent and remember people that are kind and offer food to them. If you want to make a friend of a crow, a …
The word carnivore evokes large predators like big cats and wolves hunting their prey and feasting on the remains. We see them as strong, powerful meat-eaters stalking their prey or hunting in packs. Typically, this means we think of mammalian species. But what about birds? For example, eagles will also strike down their prey and …
Whether a bird is an animal should be an easy question when looking at these creatures’ physiological complexity, behaviors, and life cycles. Yet, we often question whether these winged creatures with their eggs and beaks can be animals like our cats and dogs. Birds are animals. Birds are classified in the Kingdom of Animalia, containing …
If you ever hold a bird in your hand, it is hard to believe that something that small and lightweight could have a complex skeletal structure. Some birds weigh no more than a coin, and even bigger raptors feel like light bundles of feathers. Birds are vertebrates. Vertebrates have an internal skeleton to support and …
Bald eagles are one of the most recognizable bird species in North America. The dark body profile, white head, and strong yellow beak are a large part of our national culture. But are we looking at a male or a female bird in those images? Are the two sexes completely the same, as some assume, …
The taiga is an exciting ecosystem in the northern ranges. It is not as cold and hostile as the tundra, so that some species can thrive here at the right time of year. Yet, it is still cold enough that most species will head to warmer climates when the weather changes. The taiga is home …
It is easy to get caught up in the idea that birds are all coming together to create this perfect sound in the morning. We have created a sense of romance and beauty in the melodies and symphony of the dawn chorus. The reality is that there are different species, all with the same aims, …
Fish are essential to many birds’ diets, from small kingfishers to massive eagles and pelicans. But how are they able to catch these fish with such ease? Birds use different strategies to enter the water and eat a good meal. Birds catch fish in three main ways. Some birds will dive into the water to …
The barn owl is always popular because of its soft, round face and beautiful plumage. But, much about this bird is hidden out of sight. These nocturnal hunters, hiding in abandoned buildings, are widespread and a significant asset to the countryside. Barn owls can live in many habitats, including grassland, farmland, deserts, and agricultural fields. …
The tundra is such a hostile and open ecosystem that you might not expect any birds to make their home here for long. Many migratory birds that we know will breed in the Arctic in the summer and winter much further south, where they have better access to food. But, a few species have found …
Bird species are plentiful around the swamps and marshes of the US. The different adaptations in social and feeding behavior mean you can have flocks of shorebirds, water-loving fowl and cormorants, long-legged herons, and all the predatory birds flying overhead. Every species is perfectly adapted to its habitat, leading to massive differences between them. Swamps …