Birds
Dinosaurs Evolved Feathers for Far More Than Flight
Fluff and fuzz helped the creatures keep warm, blend in and communicate
'Pirate Seabirds' Could Become a Pathway for Deadly Avian Flu to Spread to Australia, Study Finds
Kleptoparasitism, in which a bird harasses another to steal its food, might introduce avian flu to the continent, currently the only one without the severe H5N1 strain
Anus-Breathing Animals and Pigeon-Guided Missiles: Ig Nobel Prizes Reward Unusual but Valuable Science
The annual award ceremony featured costumes, songs and paper airplanes as scientists recognized comedic research across ten disciplines
Rare Yellow-Eyed Penguin Wins New Zealand's Bird of the Year Contest
The noisy-but-shy bird, known as the hoiho, has earned the most votes for a second time amid threats to its survival
See the Wonders of Bird Engineering in These Photos of Intricate Nests
In a new book, a curator at England's Natural History Museum describes rare and interesting nests and eggs—from the house sparrow to the village weaver—and the lessons they hold for avian conservation
Birds Form Surprising Relationships With Other Avian Species During Migration, Study Suggests
New research indicates that birds are not alone while migrating—and sharing space with other species may even help them on the journey
See 15 Amazing Photos of Beautiful Birds
These Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images celebrate our feathered friends
Tiny Trackers Are Revealing the Secret Lives of Tens of Thousands of Birds
The Motus Wildlife Tracking System has put nearly 50,000 incredibly lightweight radio transmitters on birds, bats and insects. We caught up with an ornithologist to learn more about where these creatures are flying
See 13 Captivating Images From the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest
The highly commended shots provide a preview of the 60th annual competition, which spotlights astounding animal behaviors and the conservation issues they face
What's the History of Hawaiian Grass Skirts? And More Questions From Our Readers
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
These 'Lost' Bird Species Haven't Been Seen in at Least a Decade—and Scientists Want Help Finding Them
Some of the 126 species on their list haven’t been photographed or recorded in more than century
Sphen, Australian Penguin of Famous Same-Sex Couple, Dies at Age 11
Sphen and his longtime partner Magic got together at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in 2018. They successfully hatched two foster chicks and became "international queer icons"
She's the Oldest Common Loon in the World. She Just Had Her 42nd Chick
Fe, who is at least 38 years old, initially rose to fame as one half of the "resident power couple" at Michigan's Seney National Wildlife Refuge
This 16-Foot-Tall Pigeon Sculpture Is Coming to New York City's High Line
Artist Iván Argote hopes the artwork, titled "Dinosaur," will inspire "attraction, seduction and fear"
When Vultures Nearly Disappeared in India, Half a Million People Died, Too, Study Finds
By being nature's clean-up crew, the often maligned birds help prevent the spread of diseases, according to a new study
Yosemite's Peregrine Falcons Are Rebounding Thanks to Unlikely Allies: Rock Climbers
After pesticides decimated the birds' numbers, climbers helped the species regain a foothold in the park
Out-of-Place 'Devil Bird' Wows Spectators in Maine, the First Anhinga Ever Seen in the State
Anhingas normally live in South America and along the Gulf of Mexico—but one of these long-necked creatures flew farther north than Portland
A Record-Breaking 17 California Condor Chicks Hatched at the L.A. Zoo This Year
The successful breeding season offers more hope for the endangered species, which has come back from the brink of extinction due to captive breeding efforts
Chicago Building Where Nearly 1,000 Birds Died in One Night Last Fall Installs Bird-Safe Window Film
The glass-covered lakefront convention center has long been known among wildlife advocacy groups as a site of mass casualties for migratory birds
How Will Climate Change Hurt Lesser Flamingos?
Their food supply in East African lakes could collapse as rains increase
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