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Birds

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Ask Smithsonian: Why Do Flamingos Stand on One Leg?

Flamingos may be doing their one-legged tree pose to stay warm or just because it’s comfortable

A hummingbird sticks out its tongue in Ecuador.

New Research

Hummingbird Tongues Are Pumps, Not Straws

A tiny, quick pump mechanism lets birds slurp up nectar at a rate of 14 licks per second

This man living in Dubai would need proper documentation if his bird is to fly — on an airplane, that is

Cool Finds

Falcons Can’t Fly Without Passports in the United Arab Emirates

ID documents are helping stamp out smuggling for the prized birds

Why Do Hundreds of Macaws Gather at These Peruvian Clay Banks?

Brightly colored parrots of the western Amazon basin display a behavior not seen anywhere else

The Oldest Bald Eagle in the U.S. Was Killed by a Car Last Month

Here’s to you, 629-03142

Tiny ovenbirds wore an even tinier backpack equipped with a GPS tracker that monitored their migratory paths over the course of a year—offering new data on their routes.

The Hottest New Accessory for Songbirds: Tiny GPS-Enabled Backpacks

Peter Marra and Michael Hallworth of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center test a groundbreaking device that tracks birds’ migrations

Flamingos at the the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo in Israel, possibly contemplating their escape

Cool Finds

Forget Llamas and Lions, Flamingos Are the Best Escape Artists

The pink birds are tougher than they look

Java sparrows are both vocalists and percussionists.

New Research

These Sparrows Sing to the Beat of Their Own Drum

Java sparrows amp up their tunes with acoustic beak taps synchronized with chirps

The Eurasian tree sparrow is one of 30 bird species in decline around Fukushima.

Birds Are in a Tailspin Four Years After Fukushima

Like the proverbial canary in a coalmine, avian abundances may paint a grim picture of the effects of nuclear disasters on wildlife

Cool Finds

Putting Hummingbirds to the Test

One hummingbird, 20 MPH wind, 1000 frames per second

New Research

How ‘Waves’ Rippling Through Bird Flocks Help Them Escape Predators

Starlings are known for their coordinated movements and a common study animal for researchers seeking to explain such behavior

Baby bald eagles are pretty cute for being tiny raptors. See Pennsylvania's new pair by tuning in to the live stream of their nest.

Cool Finds

Watch Two of the World’s Newest Bald Eagles in the Nest

Sneak a peek into a bald eagle abode where the next fine-feathered generation just emerged

Unfortunately, you can't have your ballot delivered by barn owl.

Cast Your Vote for Britain’s National Bird

An online campaign is asking the public to choose from a list of ten finalists whittled down by birders and conservationists

Raptors used in falconry like this peregrine falcon may soon be squaring off with robotic birds.

Cool Finds

Drones Are Teaching Falcons How to Hunt

One of the newest training techniques used by falconers could eventually help conservation efforts to save the birds’ prey

Trending Today

Why are Dead Geese Falling From the Sky in Idaho?

Over 2,000 birds have been felled by fast-moving avian cholera

This "smart" mattress cover can track sleep patterns along with respiration and heart rates.

This Week in Crowdfunding

A “Smart” Mattress Cover and Other Wild Ideas That Just Got Funded

Don’t have a green thumb? A sensor for your potted plants alerts you when they need watering

New Research

Save the Birds By Embarrassing Your Cat

Outfitting cats in colorful collars may be one key to preventing them from effectively preying on birds and other small animals

These fragmented black lines are actually seagulls flying

Cool Finds

See the Swoops of Seagulls’ Flight Patterns

Special video effects shows more than an hours worth of seagull flight as curling paths

Close-up of a bald eagle at Klamath Basin.

Now’s the Time to See Hundreds of Bald Eagles

The Winter Wings Festival at Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge is one of the longest-running bird festivals in the country

Dabbling around for a meal.

Ducks Help Explain How We Feel All the Feels

Highly sensitive nerves in duck bills are offering clues to the way we experience the sense of touch

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