About Birds

A plain, gray bird perches on a thin, curvy branch.
‘Flashy, Sexy Warblers’ and Other Beautiful Birds Are Studied Much More Than ‘Drab’ Species: New Study
April 25, 2025 — An analysis of 50 years of scientific literature shows that the most visually appealing birds are the subject of three times more research than the plainer cousins.
Clear liquid trickles out of a hummingbird hovering in midair.
Do Birds Pee? Hummingbirds Do—a Lot
April 23, 2025 — Unlike most other avians, hummers urinate in a stream much like mammals, releasing liquid waste often and out of necessity.
A dock with birds on it in a lake with people on a walkway behind
Spotting Banded Black Skimmers in an Unusual Winter Location
April 04, 2025 — The skimmers recorded in North Central Florida are migrants from northeastern states.
More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Heron Necks
April 03, 2025 — From how they work to why they're so long, we’ve got answers to all your (maybe?) burning questions.
Ask Kenn: How Do Birds Keep Themselves Clean?
March 24, 2025 — Staying fresh is a matter of survival in a bird’s life—and a treat for birders to observe.
A hummingbird perched on a snowy, mossy branch flutters its wings.
Where Do Hummingbirds Go in the Winter? Do They Migrate?
January 17, 2025 — Some species migrate to far-off places while others keep it local. Here's a rundown of who goes where.
Two hummingbirds on a small branch fighting with each other.
Why Do Hummingbirds Fight So Much?
August 21, 2024 — For hungry hummers in need of nectar to fuel their high-speed lives, territorial disputes can get ugly.
An illustration of a bird flying between brightly and dimly lit cities.
How to Make Your Outdoor Home Lighting Bird-Friendly
May 31, 2022 — Learn about shielding lights and other ways to make your outdoor lighting more bird-friendly.
A female Wilson’s Phalarope swims in a shallow wetland.
Funneling Phalaropes
May 13, 2022 — Follow the hemispheric migration of the Wilson’s Phalarope.
Yellow Warbler perched on a branch.
5 Birds that Migrate to the Rockies
April 29, 2022 — How to identify five common migratory birds in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah.