Birds

A flock. A gaggle. A murder. A look inside the curious world of our avian friends—from their brains, songs, courtship rituals, and ancient evolutionary history.

Latest in Birds

an adult osprey looks on as the heads of three chicks pop out over a nest

Three osprey chicks hatch in 500-pound steel nest boxes Three osprey chicks hatch in 500-pound steel nest boxes

By Laura Baisas

Thrush songbird

Ancient Romans snacked on deep-fried songbirds Ancient Romans snacked on deep-fried songbirds

Hammerhead shark in water

Osprey drops hammerhead shark onto disc golf field Osprey drops hammerhead shark onto disc golf field

Sunny (top) practicing her hovering skills on May 29. She remained airborne for 3.3 seconds.

Famous eaglets Sunny and Gizmo have both officially left the nest Famous eaglets Sunny and Gizmo have both officially left the nest

By Laura Baisas

Close up of white cockatoo

Wild cockatoos are learning how to use water fountains Wild cockatoos are learning how to use water fountains

two birds with black and white plumage with dots of yellow or blue feathers neat their beaks sit near a nest

Male hornbills are at their mates’ every beck and call Male hornbills are at their mates’ every beck and call

By Margherita Bassi

Adélie penguins walking along the Antarctic coastline.

How pungent poop could help Antarctica’s penguins How pungent poop could help Antarctica’s penguins

By Laura Baisas

a bird sits in several paper towels forming a circular donut-shaped nest

Why a ‘donut’ can help injured birds Why a ‘donut’ can help injured birds

By Margherita Bassi

Blue jay on city sidewalk.

What to do if you find a baby bird out of its nest What to do if you find a baby bird out of its nest

By RJ Mackenzie

thousands of birds take to the sky

Weather radar picks up over 1 million migrating birds Weather radar picks up over 1 million migrating birds

By Margherita Bassi

four puffins with white and black plumage and bright orange bills stand on a rock overlooking the north sea

Puffin-counting season begins with two new livestreams Puffin-counting season begins with two new livestreams

By Laura Baisas

The Chicago Archaeopteryx, under UV light to expose soft tissues.

Feathered fossil shows famed dinosaur could fly (like a chicken) Feathered fossil shows famed dinosaur could fly (like a chicken)

two eaglets with black feathers sitting in nest

Bittersweet fledge watch begins for bald eagles Sunny and Gizmo Bittersweet fledge watch begins for bald eagles Sunny and Gizmo

By Laura Baisas

an illustration of a pink flamingo feeding in a shallow pool. a swirling vortex of water is near its beak

Flamingos conjure ‘water tornadoes’ to trap their prey Flamingos conjure ‘water tornadoes’ to trap their prey

By Laura Baisas

a papier mache bird sits in a field

Grand Teton deploys papier-mâché birds Grand Teton deploys papier-mâché birds

By Popular Science Team

A blue tit flies to a feeder in a garden, where a great spotted woodpecker is currently sitting.

Are backyard bird feeders safe? How to stop illness and intruders. Are backyard bird feeders safe? How to stop illness and intruders.

By Laura Baisas

Bald eaglets in canoe with caps over eyes

Rescuers borrow canoe to save baby bald eagles in river Rescuers borrow canoe to save baby bald eagles in river

an owl has a full juvenile turtle in her beak. an owlet stands at her feet staring up

Watch an owl try to eat a turtle whole Watch an owl try to eat a turtle whole

By Laura Baisas

An osprey sits on its nest protected by a human-made basket.

To protect birds and motorists, engineers build a steel nest box on bridge To protect birds and motorists, engineers build a steel nest box on bridge

By Laura Baisas

An Emperor chick begs and squaks at its parent to be fed.

Filmmaker James Cameron on penguins, arctic cold, and lowlight cameras Filmmaker James Cameron on penguins, arctic cold, and lowlight cameras