Bird Behavior

A round, fluffy-looking owl sits in a tree hollow in the falling snow.
How Do Birds Cope With Cold Winter Weather?
January 24, 2024 — From fluffing up to hunkering down, birds rely on these survival strategies when the temperature dips.
A bird nest made with hundreds of metal spikes in the fork of a tree branch.
Apparently Magpies and Crows Are Using "Anti-Bird Spikes" to Make Their Nests
July 13, 2023 — Birds often incorporate human-made materials while nest building, but a new study shows European corvids are taking the idea to the extreme.
A brown and white eagle with a large yellow beak flies past the tops of pine trees.
When Birds Get Lost, Space Storms May Be to Blame
June 05, 2023 — New analysis of 60 years of bird banding data shows that vagrancy increases during periods of geomagnetic disturbance.
The 2022 糖心logo Photography Awards: Top 12 Videos
January 25, 2023 — Check out this fantastic footage of birds in the wild, and discover the backstory behind each video.
New Study Shakes Up Long-held Belief on Woodpecker Hammering
July 14, 2022 — The findings refute the theory that the birds鈥� skulls act like helmets, absorbing the shock of impact. Instead, they minimize it to strike harder.
Injury or Illusion? Why a Bird With a Broken Wing May Not Be What It Appears
April 28, 2022 — Some species feign injuries to protect their nests from predators鈥攁 more common behavior than previously thought, new research shows.
A Lunar Eclipse Sheds Light On a Fascinating Behavior In Birds
April 11, 2022 — Recent research reveals that Black Swifts ascend to remarkable heights when the moon is full. Why they do so is more of a mystery.
These Early Nesters Get a Head Start on Breeding Season
March 17, 2022 — Not every bird species waits for spring to lay eggs and raise chicks.
The 鈥楤ig Boom Theory鈥� That Could Help Conserve Common Nighthawks
January 14, 2022 — New research confirms that males鈥� wing-boom sound marks hard-to-find nesting sites鈥攁 boon for efforts to save these mysterious, declining birds.
Warmer Oceans Raise the 鈥楧ivorce鈥� Rate Among Typically Loyal Albatross Pairs
November 24, 2021 — A new study of Black-browed Albatrosses provides a reminder that climate change can affect birds in unexpected ways.