The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a bird species that has long been held in awe for its incredible migrations between the North and South polar regions. Amazingly, recent studies have shown that ...

Sparrows are often an overlooked bird, due to their rather drab gray-brown plumage and status as one of the world’s most common birds. However, delving deeper into their symbolic meanings in many ...

“Bury your head in the sand” is a well-known idiom that means to ignore one’s problems. If you bury your head in the sand, you can’t see your problems - but that doesn’t mean they’ll go away! This ...

Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are cosmopolitan birds of prey that have different migration routes across the globe. They are expert fish hunters that can be found patrolling up and down rivers and ...

Budgies – or budgerigars to give them their full official name – are sociable and fascinating birds, also known as parakeets in some countries. Although native to Australia, they are kept as pets all ...

The plumage of some birds changes noticeably during the course of the year, with bright feathers becoming temporarily drabber once the breeding season is over. By the following breeding season, the ...

Night falls differently in Alabama when you're listening for owls. The state hosts an impressive variety of these nocturnal hunters, from the abundant Barred Owl to the rarely-glimpsed Burrowing Owl, ...

Teeth play a fundamental role in the digestive system of a human, chewing food into pieces small enough to be swallowed and pass out of the stomach. But without teeth, how do birds process any large ...

The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is the epitome of speed and power. They strike fear into the hearts of the birds they hunt, a fact that falconers have enjoyed for over 3000 years! These ...

Sounds like car alarms and cell phones may seem totally out of place coming from backyard shrubbery, but there might be a simple explanation – a skilled avian mimic, working through its playlist. Some ...

The American robin (Turdus migratorius) is a familiar sight on lawns across the country, but have you ever wondered whether young American robins are born with the iconic red breast? Or if not, how ...

The Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) is an abundant migratory waterbird that visits the United States every winter. Many American birdwatchers will be familiar with the sight of these white and black ...