In the fall of 2009, I was newly married and settling into the house where I still live. One gray morning, I was gardening in our tiny front yard when a pair of American Goldfinches landed on the Purple Coneflowers that line the alley adjacent to our rowhouse. They stayed a while, eating seeds, their … Read More>>

In recent years, it has come as a surprise to me, a long-time birder and ornithologist, to suddenly discover that the Summer Tanagers in my neighborhood are no longer tanagers at all: They're grosbeaks! And that blackbirds and orioles are no longer almost at the end of the bird book; they've marched up before the … Read More>>

Wetlands are wonderful places for birds thanks to their abundant offerings of food, water, and shelter. The long grasses of marshes offer a hideaway to secretive birds like the Saltmarsh Sparrow, which nests just above the tide line on the Atlantic coast of the United States and synchronizes its breeding season with the phases of … Read More>>

For many, flamingos bring to mind flashy zoo birds or plastic yard ornaments. But these majestic birds hold a number of wonderful surprises. Read on to learn how these beautiful birds fly, where they go, and how they are doing. Flamingos Can Fly, Right? Yes, flamingos can fly! Doubts about this are likely because flamingos … Read More>>

Few may remember 2021 fondly, but if there is a silver lining, it's that many of us took advantage of our time at home to connect or re-connect with birds we love. In that spirit, we've decided to close 2021 on a positive note by focusing on the most popular birds of the year. With … Read More>>

ABC and International Paper are working together to improve land management practices and help Swallow-tailed Kites and other wildlife rebound. Quaint shops, historic buildings, and stately Live Oaks beckon tourists to the small coastal city of Georgetown, South Carolina. But those cruising the south edge of town get quite a different view, suddenly shrinking before … Read More>>

"[The bird] was, of course, a piece of the sky. His eyes said so. That is not a fact; this is the other part of knowing something, when there is no proof, but neither is there any way toward disbelief." – Mary Oliver In the hush of the pandemic's beginning, the birds roused us. With … Read More>>

Even the most casual birdwatchers know and love chickadees. Among the most common visitors to backyard birdfeeders in North America, these social birds have a spritely manner and are notably comfortable around humans. But there's a lot more to these spirited birds than you might think. These survival experts have adapted to every forested habitat … Read More>>

In “ABC Birding,” we take you to a birding site benefiting from ABC and partners' conservation efforts. Before traveling, please consider your health, CDC guidelines, and local restrictions. Lay of the Land This is the chance to visit a restored open woodland system in Mark Twain National Forest that is dominated or co-dominated by Shortleaf … Read More>>

Ecosystems function as a sum of their parts. Some parts, however, pull extra weight. Take the Eastern White Oak, an iconic tree found in 36 states. Known not only as one of the most important commercial trees — prized for furniture, flooring, and many other uses — this long-lived species plays out-sized roles in supporting … Read More>>