Birds | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/birds/RSS feed for BirdsenWed, 02 Sep 2026 19:48:46 +0000These 20 Breathtaking Bird Images From the Audubon Photography Awards Capture the Wonder of the Winged Worldhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-20-breathtaking-bird-images-from-the-audubon-photography-awards-capture-the-wonder-of-the-winged-world-180989436/The winners of the 17th annual contest reveal the beauty of birds, the splendor of their migratory journeys and the risks they faceWed, 02 Sep 2026 19:48:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-20-breathtaking-bird-images-from-the-audubon-photography-awards-capture-the-wonder-of-the-winged-world-180989436/Spain’s White-Headed Ducks Have a Signature Color Right in the Name. And That Isn’t Even Their Most Remarkable Huehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/spain-white-headed-ducks-signature-color-right-name-that-isnt-even-most-remarkable-hue-180989289/The first thing you’re likely to notice is the blue bill. But beyond appearances, the duck has an exciting story to tell about conservation and recoveryWed, 02 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/spain-white-headed-ducks-signature-color-right-name-that-isnt-even-most-remarkable-hue-180989289/See 16 Stunning Animal Images From the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awardshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-16-stunning-animal-images-from-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-awards-180989397/Now in its 62nd year, the famed competition has released a sneak peek of the entries from this contest ahead of announcing the winners in OctoberWed, 26 Aug 2026 18:28:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-16-stunning-animal-images-from-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-awards-180989397/How Did Medieval Builders Construct Complex Cathedrals Before Advanced Mathematics? And More Questions From Our Readershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-did-medieval-builders-construct-complex-cathedrals-before-advanced-mathematics-and-more-questions-from-our-readersyouve-got-questions-weve-got-experts-180989286/You’ve got questions. We’ve got expertsMon, 24 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-did-medieval-builders-construct-complex-cathedrals-before-advanced-mathematics-and-more-questions-from-our-readersyouve-got-questions-weve-got-experts-180989286/An 'Extremely Rare' Half-Male, Half-Female Bird Temporarily Took Up Residence Outside of Chicagohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-extremely-rare-half-male-half-female-bird-temporarily-took-up-residence-outside-of-chicago-180989377/The unusual-looking bobolink is what's called a bilateral gynandromorph. The bird behaved like a male, eventually wooing a mate and raising fledglingsFri, 21 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-extremely-rare-half-male-half-female-bird-temporarily-took-up-residence-outside-of-chicago-180989377/Jackie the Bald Eagle, Who Captured Hearts Around the World Via Livestream, Has Died After Battling a Mysterious Illnesshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/jackie-the-bald-eagle-who-captured-hearts-around-the-world-via-livestream-has-died-after-battling-a-mysterious-illness-180989310/A raptor center in California had been caring for the animal since mid-July, after she had an altercation with two young eagles. But she had probably been sick long before thenTue, 11 Aug 2026 18:37:26 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/jackie-the-bald-eagle-who-captured-hearts-around-the-world-via-livestream-has-died-after-battling-a-mysterious-illness-180989310/This Amazing Archive of Animal Photography Reveals 18,000 Species and Counting. Here's How Joel Sartore Built His 'Photo Ark'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-amazing-archive-of-animal-photography-reveals-18000-species-and-counting-heres-how-joel-sartore-built-his-photo-ark-180989282/For 20 years, the National Geographic photographer has showcased Earth’s animals in a series of striking images that make even the tiniest creatures look immenseFri, 07 Aug 2026 19:15:18 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-amazing-archive-of-animal-photography-reveals-18000-species-and-counting-heres-how-joel-sartore-built-his-photo-ark-180989282/Notorious Feral Cat That Feasted on Rare New Zealand Ducks Captured After Three-Year Hunthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nine-lives-a-feral-cat-hunting-rare-ducks-in-new-zealand-has-been-caught-and-killed-after-three-years-180989267/The gray tabby, known as Nine Lives because it eluded capture so many times, had devastated efforts by conservationists to reintroduce the birds to the wildThu, 06 Aug 2026 17:42:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nine-lives-a-feral-cat-hunting-rare-ducks-in-new-zealand-has-been-caught-and-killed-after-three-years-180989267/Archaeologists Discover Two Thumbnail-Size Bird Sculptures Carved From Mammoth Ivory 40,000 Years Agohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-two-thumbnail-sized-bird-sculptures-carved-from-mammoth-ivory-40000-years-ago-180989239/Measuring less than an inch long, the figurines were buried beneath Germany's Hohle Fels Cave, where some of the world's oldest known figurative artworks have been foundFri, 31 Jul 2026 18:01:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-two-thumbnail-sized-bird-sculptures-carved-from-mammoth-ivory-40000-years-ago-180989239/It's Nature vs. Culture as Europeans Vote on New Designs for Euro Banknotes That Pit Kingfishers Against Leonardo da Vincihttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/its-nature-versus-culture-as-europeans-vote-on-new-designs-for-euro-banknotes-that-pit-kingfishers-against-leonardo-da-vinci-180989193/The European Central Bank released a shortlist of ten potential designs for a new series of printed banknotes, the first complete redesign since the Euro note was issued in 2002.Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:41:16 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/its-nature-versus-culture-as-europeans-vote-on-new-designs-for-euro-banknotes-that-pit-kingfishers-against-leonardo-da-vinci-180989193/This Robot Can Flap Its Wings to Both Fly and Swim. It Might One Day Help Scientists Study Diving Birds and Survey Ocean Habitatshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-robot-can-flap-its-wings-to-both-fly-and-swim-it-might-one-day-help-scientists-study-diving-birds-and-survey-ocean-habitats-180989172/The bioinspired device, which weighs roughly half a pound and measures around three feet wide, was also modeled after aquatic birds like puffins, gulls and loonsFri, 24 Jul 2026 20:28:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-robot-can-flap-its-wings-to-both-fly-and-swim-it-might-one-day-help-scientists-study-diving-birds-and-survey-ocean-habitats-180989172/These 16 Splendid Aerial Views Capture Wildlife From Above, Revealing the Beauty and Mystery of Naturehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-16-splendid-aerial-views-capture-wildlife-from-above-revealing-the-beauty-and-mystery-of-nature-180989141/The second International Aerial Photographer of the Year contest selected its winners and 101 top images. Here’s a selection of the photos that spotlight animals from a new perspectiveFri, 17 Jul 2026 13:36:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-16-splendid-aerial-views-capture-wildlife-from-above-revealing-the-beauty-and-mystery-of-nature-180989141/Scientists Just Learned That This Bat Eats Birds Midflight. A Renaissance Painter May Have Known About It Hundreds of Years Agohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-just-learned-that-this-bat-eats-birds-midflight-a-renaissance-painter-may-have-known-about-it-hundreds-of-years-ago-180989096/Last fall, scientists reported the first known recordings of greater noctule bats hunting and feasting on songbirds during night flights. But a 17th-century artwork by Jan Brueghel the Elder seems to depict the species flying with feathered prey in its mouthThu, 09 Jul 2026 16:17:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-just-learned-that-this-bat-eats-birds-midflight-a-renaissance-painter-may-have-known-about-it-hundreds-of-years-ago-180989096/These 11 Wildlife Images From the Ocean Conservancy’s Photography Contest Showcase the Wonder of Earth’s Watershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-11-wildlife-images-from-the-ocean-conservancys-photography-contest-showcase-the-wonder-of-earths-waters-180989069/Seals, penguins and fish are featured in the nonprofit’s annual competition to inspire care for the world’s oceansMon, 06 Jul 2026 22:15:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-11-wildlife-images-from-the-ocean-conservancys-photography-contest-showcase-the-wonder-of-earths-waters-180989069/