The elf owl is the world’s smallest owl, measuring just 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) in length and weighing as little as 35 grams (1.2 ounces). Close behind are the long-whiskered owlet and Tamaulipas pygmy owl – two elusive forest...

Some birds carry an extra dose of charm, with round shapes, large eyes, fluffy feathers, and playful habits that make them irresistibly endearing. From tiny tits and robins to wide-eyed owls and waddling penguins, these species win affection as much...

Towhees are large, long-tailed sparrows belonging to the family Passerellidae, the diverse group of New World sparrows and buntings. They are placed in the genera Pipilo and Melozone, and are well known for their heavy bills, ground-dwelling habits...

Brood parasitism in birds is a strategy where one species lays its eggs in the nest of another, leaving incubation and chick-rearing to an unsuspecting host. The most familiar examples are the common cuckoo in Europe and the brown-headed cowbird in...

Swans are the largest members of the waterfowl family Anatidae, a small but distinctive group of just six living species in the genus Cygnus. Found across Europe, Asia, North and South America, and Australia, they inhabit lakes, rivers, marshes, and...

Gulls are among the most widespread and recognizable seabirds of North America. Belonging to the subfamily Larinae of the family Laridae, they range from small, delicate species like Bonaparte’s gull to massive, heavy-bodied birds such as the...

The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is one of the most iconic and easily recognized woodpeckers of North America. With bold black-and-white plumage, a vivid red crest, and powerful drumming, it is a familiar inhabitant of mature forests...

The Andean condor is the world’s largest and heaviest living bird of prey, with a wingspan of up to 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) and a body mass reaching 15 kilograms (33.1 pounds). The secretarybird is the tallest and longest, standing 1.3 meters...

Skimmers are three distinctive species of waterbirds in the genus Rynchops, belonging to the gull and tern family (Laridae). Instantly recognized by their laterally compressed bills with elongated lower mandibles, they feed in a unique way –...

The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), also known as the European starling, is one of more than 120 species in the starling family (Sturnidae). Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, and introduced to North America, Australia, New...