birds

The answer involves World War I soldiers and a cute bird.

This island is struggling to manage its massive stray cat population.

RIP to whichever birds get stuck in this fake spider web.

Along with jack o’ lanterns, skeletons, and ghosts, spider webs are a classic part of creepy Halloween décor. But the spooky faux webs can be more dangerous than they appear.

It kinda looks like a blue jay, but it‘s a hybrid.

This isn‘t your average backyard bird.

Just hanging out on bare pavement, as gulls do.

Parking lots offer a lot of the benefits of gulls’ natural habitats, plus a few key perks.

Long-distance bird migration is one of the natural world’s most inspiring phenomena—and how we learned about it is just as fascinating.

Even this snowy owl is totally surprised by some of these facts.

You’ll never look at these creatures the same way again.

Wildebeest go great distances each year.

Think your commute is bad? At least you don’t have to walk or swim from one end of the Earth to the other.

Birds like this western meadowlark are singing earlier in the morning and later at night thanks to light pollution.

Early birds are starting to sing even earlier because of artificial light pollution—but it’s not clear if they’re actually losing sleep.

Sorry to this little guy but feral swine are a huge problem.

EDDMapS’s database has more than 9 million records of invasive species. See which ones hit close to home.

Ammonia from the birds’ guano can mix with other gases and form clouds, potentially cooling Earth’s surface and preserving Antarctic ice, a new study suggests.

A male greater sage-grouse performing his mating display.

Greater sage-grouse are at risk near Jackson Hole Airport—but handmade decoys are guiding them to safer ground.

Who would have thought a woodpecker could be so destructive.

A territorial woodpecker has broken dozens of car mirrors in a bizarre springtime rampage.

These crested songbirds add a welcome dash of color to yards throughout much of the United States. Let’s get a little better acquainted with our rosy, non-migratory neighbors.

Any early warning sign can be a canary in a coal mine. But the original meaning was more specific.

‘Why, yes, I am from Long Island! How did you know?’

Can a Boston dog bahk?

Vlasic has used a stork to market its pickles for decades. But how did a bird known for bringing babies suddenly start selling pickles?

Edgar Allan Poe knew what he was doing when he chose the raven to croak “nevermore” in his famous poem.

Use this map to plan your birding schedule ahead of the spring migration.

History is teeming with unlikely heroes—these ones just happen to have feathers and fur.

These penguins are going to be living their best lives.

The New England Aquarium’s retirement area for penguins offers specialized healthcare and a peaceful habitat for elderly birds.

An adorable black-capped chickadee posing in a white spruce.

These active backyard birds are more than just cute—they’re hardy survivors that have conquered the continent and are teaching scientists new things about avian evolution.

Customers will have to hold off on bulk-buying eggs for a while.

Avian influenza is causing top grocery chains to put restrictions on egg purchases.

The Chimborazo hillstar is native to the Andes of Ecuador and southern Colombia.

An ornithologist discovered a hummingbird “hive” in Ecuador‘s High Andes—a major departure for the solitary animals.

Why Are New Zealanders Called ‘Kiwis’?

Cyprus Grapples With Stray Cat Problem as Felines Threaten to Outnumber People

Why You Shouldn’t Put Out Fake Spider Webs This Halloween

For the First Time, Wild Blue Jay and Green Jay Produce Colorful Hybrid Offspring in Texas

Why Do Seagulls Hang Out in Parking Lots?

9 Astounding Facts About Bird Migration

28 Bizarre Facts About Animals That Will Make You Go “WTF?”

11 Amazingly Long Animal Migrations

Light Pollution Tricks Birds Into Singing Earlier in the Morning and Later at Night

Which Invasive Species Are Near You? Find Out With This Interactive Map

Penguin Poop: The Latest Tool to Fight Climate Change

How Grand Teton National Park Is Using Papier-Mâché Birds to Protect the Greater Sage-Grouse

Locals Shield Their Cars From Vandal Woodpecker in Rockport, Massachusetts

10 Things You May Not Know About Cardinals

The Dark History Behind the Phrase ‘Canary in the Coal Mine’

Do Animals Have Regional Accents?

Why Is the Vlasic Pickles Mascot a Stork?

10 Fascinating Facts About Ravens

The Best States for Birdwatching, Mapped

10 Times Animals Changed History

Older Penguins Moved to the New England Aquarium’s New ‘Retirement Island’

10 Charming Facts About Chickadees

These 6 Grocery Chains Are Placing Limits on Egg Purchases

Hummingbirds Found Nesting Together in Groups in Surprising First