The most distinctive black birds with red or orange wings are the red-winged blackbird, common and widespread across North America, and the tricolored blackbird, a similar but more localized species of the West. A few other blackbirds occur farther...
Alaska is the heart of North America’s puffin world. Each summer, millions of seabirds return from the open Pacific to breed on the cliffs and islands scattered along the state’s vast coastline, from the temperate fjords of the southeast to...
Pennsylvania is home to a striking mix of blue birds, from the familiar eastern bluebird perched on fence posts to the rarer cerulean warbler high in forest canopies. These species bring flashes of color to the state’s fields, woodlands, and...
Maine is the only state in the eastern United States where puffins nest. Each year from late April through August, thousands of puffins return from the open North Atlantic to breed on a handful of remote islands – Eastern Egg Rock, Seal...
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...