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Forty Percent of River Otters in England and Wales May Be Infected with Parasitic Disease Toxoplasmosis
(Washington, D.C., July 11, 2013) A study by 11 British scientists who examined 271 Eurasian otter cadavers across England found that 108 (almost 40 percent) of those animals tested positive for the parasitic disease toxoplasmosis, which is described in the… Read More »
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Barn Swallow
"Everybody who notices birds at all knows, admires, and loves the graceful, friendly barn swallow," wrote ornithologist Arthur C. Bent in the early 20th century, in his Life Histories of Familiar North American Birds. "No bird in North America is… Read More »
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Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird weighs less than a nickel, and like all hummingbird species including the Calliope and Rufous, it is a master of flight. Beating its wings 60 to 80 times a second, this tiny sprite creates a blur of… Read More »
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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Although the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a perennial punchline in jokes about birders and the funny names of their quarry, this interesting, boldly patterned woodpecker is quite real. Despite its name, the yellowish tint on the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker's underside is usually… Read More »
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Finches of the United States: A Photo List of All Species
There are 17 North American finch species. These include crossbills, Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, redpolls, and siskins. Birds in the Fringillidae family all have compact bodies, conical bills, and short necks with large jaw muscles. They also have relatively pointed… Read More »
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The Five Rarest Hawaiian Birds: Native Species on the Edge of Extinction
Two-thirds of Hawaiian native avian diversity — 95 species — has disappeared since human settlement of the islands 1,600 or more years ago, earning the state its grim label as “the bird extinction capital of the world.” The danger to… Read More »
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How Do Scientists Track Migrating Birds? A Look at Tracking Tech
ABC and partners are using GPS tags to track Swallow-tailed Kites along their incredible migration journeys to and from South America. Photo by David Spates, Google Earth image by ARCI If you’re interested in bird migration, you’re probably familiar with… Read More »
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Wood Thrush
The robust, long-legged Wood Thrush is closely related to the American Robin and thrushes of the genus Catharus, such as the Bicknell's Thrush and Swainson's Thrush. Its scientific name, Hylocichla mustelina, translates roughly as "weasel-colored woodland thrush," a reference to… Read More »
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Piping Plover
The small, sand-colored Piping Plover is named for its melodic, plaintive whistle. It’s a beautifully camouflaged shorebird of beaches and barrier islands — habitats also favored by species such as the Snowy Plover and Least Tern. A breeding-season adult can… Read More »
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3 Billion Birds Gone
The biodiversity crisis has come to our backyards. In less than a single human lifetime, 2.9 billion breeding adult birds have been lost from the United States and Canada, across every ecosystem and including familiar birds: The Dark-eyed Junco has… Read More »
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Hooded Warbler
The handsome Hooded Warbler, like Prothonotary Warbler, has a name with roots in ecclesiastical lore. The male Hooded Warbler's black hood and throat make it look as if the bird is wearing a mitre — the cowl-like hat worn by… Read More »
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak
The male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is strikingly beautiful. But it has a gruesome folk name: “cut-throat,” owing to the red swatch across its breast. The name “grosbeak” comes from the French term grosbec, meaning “large beak”— an obvious attribute of this… Read More »
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Chipping Sparrow
The dainty little Chipping Sparrow, like the Blue Jay and Northern Cardinal, is a familiar sight in suburbs and backyards across North America. In the springtime, this sparrow is easily recognized by its bright reddish crown, bold black and white… Read More »
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Brown Thrasher
Persistent scratching noises coming from near the ground within thick undergrowth may lead to the quick glimpse of a reddish-brown bird with streaky underside, large bill, and bright, lemon-yellow eyes. This skulking species is a Brown Thrasher, a member of… Read More »
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Cat Abandonment Bill Halted in Virginia
The Virginia House of Delegates voted on February 5, 2020, to postpone further consideration of HB 1727 for the rest of the year. This bill, which would sanction cat abandonment throughout Virginia through the program known as trap, neuter, release… Read More »
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Celebrating Birds and Their Habitats Conserved in 2023: Reducing Threats and Building the Bird Conservation Movement
https://youtu.be/LFYcGi6GnA0 Reducing Threats to Birds - Across the Americas ABC is committed to addressing key threats to birds so that habitats are healthier and more safe. Working with policymakers, partner groups, and the private sector, we develop and implement solutions… Read More »
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Farewell to ABC's George and Rita Fenwick
After successfully leading American Bird Conservancy for nearly 24 years, George Fenwick (along with Rita Fenwick, our long-time head of Development) is stepping down on May 31. In this era of change at ABC, we asked some of ABC's best friends… Read More »
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Meet Louie, A Happy Indoor Cat (Part 2)
If you missed our first interview with Christiana, please check it out here. After you adopted Louie from the shelter, how did you help him thrive as a happy indoor cat? In terms of enjoying the indoors, I’ve found with… Read More »
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Top Ways You Can Help Birds, from Coffee to Collisions
We can make great strides to strengthen bird conservation when people take small but powerful actions to live out their bird conservation values. Here are ten ways you can help birds and do your part to shape the future for… Read More »
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Bird News Roundup: Week of 12/16/18
With so much news and the busy holiday season, it can be difficult to keep up with bird conservation stories. Here’s a roundup of some of the top articles that recently piqued our interest and relate to work ABC is… Read More »
