birds

Some birds communicate different meanings based on the order of the notes they sing.

Birds nest near alligators for protection, and the alligators get fat off fallen chicks, a new study finds.

Shenrich91 via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

Bugs, however, can’t see the warning signs.

Sometimes, they follow their noses.

A study of what dodos' brains probably looked like suggests they were about as intelligent as pigeons—which are pretty smart.

Researchers say 'Gastornis' was six feet tall, flightless, and vegan.

Wisdom has been breaking records—and she's already raised as many as 40 chicks.

screenshot from infrared video by Animal Energetics / Powers Lab

Getting rid of excess heat is complicated when your body is covered in insulating feathers. Here's how hummingbirds do it.

Illustration by Henrik Grönvold via Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Scanning a long-dead museum specimen revealed a pigment rarely found in ducks.

Keith Ramos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

A 15-year experiment in using ultralight planes to teach young, endangered birds to migrate has come to an end.

Out of 300-plus parrot species, only a handful have been known to use tools. Now, a new study suggests that the greater vasa parrot (Coracopsis vasa) can be added to that short list.

An ornate—but very necessary—item for a sport enmeshed in Britain's social hierarchy.

Flickr user Rocky via Wikimedia Commons // CC-BY-2.0

Golden eagles had previously been caught on film attacking baby reindeer, but now a naturalist has seen them going for the grown-ups.

Even in the coldest place on earth, this heat-conserving method can work a little too well.

RoderickT via Wikimedia Commons // CC-BY-SA 2.0

The birds eat our garbage, then return to shore to do their business.

It’s an avian dance party, and everyone’s invited.

Grendelkhan, Wikimedia Commons // SD-BY-CC 3.0

Scientists say pigeons can be trained to spot breast cancer on slides and mammogram results.

Emperor Penguins Huddle for Warmth | Nature on PBS

Ever wonder how penguins are able to survive in those bitterly cold Antarctic winters? As this time-lapse video demonstrates, it all comes down to their huddle patterns.

Birds' nests are as diverse as the creatures who build them. The variety of locations, shapes, and sizes they’re built in and the materials they’re made from can be staggering.