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Eastern Bluebird
"The bluebird is well named, for he wears a coat of the purest, richest, and most gorgeous blue on back, wings, and tail; no North American bird better deserves the name, for no other flashes before our admiring eyes so… Read More »
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Mallard
The Mallard is a familiar sight on ponds and lakes in many parts of the world, and many people readily recognize this bird. Only the male Mallard, or drake, has the glossy green head and white collar; the female (called… Read More »
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Burrowing Owl
In some parts of the American West, the long-legged Burrowing Owl is known as the “howdy owl” because it seems to nod in greeting at passers-by. This up-and-down action, however, is really just the owl sizing up potential danger. The… Read More »
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Nutcrackers, Chisels — and Air Conditioners?! The Diverse World of Bird Beaks
What is a bird beak? Is it just a funny-looking version of a nose, or is it something else entirely? Toco Toucan. Photo by Daniel-Alvarez/Shutterstock. Birds use their beaks for a wide variety of functions, including communication and defense, as… Read More »
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“Owl” Be Seeing You: Amazing Facts About Owl Eyes
The bird world is full of majestic hunters like eagles, hawks, and falcons, but when the sun sets, one group of avian predators reigns supreme. Owls have many adaptations that make them excellent at stalking prey at night, including specialized… Read More »
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World Migratory Bird Day is May 9: Celebrate and Help Birds from Home
Media Contact: Jordan Rutter, ABC Director of Public Relations, 202-888-7472 | jerutter@abcbirds.org | @JERutter (Washington, D.C., May 5, 2020) Migratory birds are now flooding across the continent, as they return to their nesting grounds this spring. World Migratory Bird Day is… Read More »
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Mountain Plover
Despite its name, the sand-colored Mountain Plover is a species of open plains. It's roughly the size of a Killdeer, but is much more of a habitat specialist than its more familiar relative. And unlike the Snowy Plover, this "shorebird"… Read More »
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Northern Harrier
The Northern Harrier, also known as the "Marsh Hawk" for one of its favorite habitats, is a slim raptor with long wings, legs, and tail. The sexes appear different: The male is bluish-gray above with white underparts, a distinctive coloration… Read More »
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Extraordinary Appendages: An Introduction to Bird Wings
Reconstructed skeleton of Archaeopteryx. Photo by Jim the Photographer from Springfield/Wikimedia Commons. All birds have wings. Even flightless birds, which are descended from flying ancestors, use their wings for balance, display, and other purposes. The origins of these extraordinary appendages… Read More »
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Common Backyard Birds of the United States
American Robin. Photo by Jeff Rzapka/Shutterstock. If you’re just getting interested in birds, identifying the ones that live in your backyard or neighborhood is a great place to begin. With a little guidance and patience, most people can quickly learn… Read More »
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American Bird Conservancy's Top Bird Conservation Results of 2022
ABC made significant strides to ensure birds have the habitats they need – and to make those habitats safer – across the Western Hemisphere. Our results over the last 12 months once again showcase ABC’s leadership in bird habitat conservation.… Read More »
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Evening Grosbeak
One Evening Grosbeak is a spectacular sight, but a flock of these big finches is unforgettable — an ever-shifting symphony of rich yellows, browns, and grays, set off by bright black-and-white accents. Although the females are less conspicuously colored, their… Read More »
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Loggerhead Shrike
The predatory Loggerhead Shrike is a distinctive songbird found only in North America. The word “loggerhead” refers to the large size of this shrike’s head in relation to its body, which gives it a bull-headed look. Roughly the size of… 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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Western Meadowlark
A common and conspicuous bird across much of North America west of the Mississippi River, the Western Meadowlark was first officially described in 1805 by the famed explorer Meriwether Lewis. However, because this yellow-chested, ground-nesting bird looked so similar to… Read More »
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Yellow Warbler
The Yellow Warbler is the most widespread American wood-warbler. It nests from Alaska to northern South America (including the Galápagos Islands), and in much of the Caribbean, and winters as far south as Peru. Tail tip to forehead, this is… Read More »
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Common Nighthawk
The Common Nighthawk’s erratic, acrobatic flight style gives the bird its folk name “bullbat.” But the nighthawk is a bird, not a mammal. On long, pointed wings, this dusky hunter jerks and weaves through the air, flashing distinctive white wing… Read More »
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American Avocet
The elegant American Avocet is a striking sight at any time of the year. This gregarious shorebird is a close relative of another eye-catching bird, the Black-necked Stilt. Both species have long necks and legs and flashy black-and-white plumage. However,… Read More »
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Sharp-tailed Grouse
The Sharp-tailed Grouse is closely related to Lesser and Greater Prairie-Chickens, but has several characteristics that set it apart: The “Sharptail” has a white-edged, wedge-shaped tail with two long central feathers that give it an elongated, spiky appearance. Also, the… Read More »
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Eastern Meadowlark
Often hunkered down in the grasses, the Eastern Meadowlark may surprise a casual observer: This stout-bodied bird sports a cryptic, streaky brown back, but when facing you, you see its shocking yellow breast, emblazoned with a bold, black “V.” Spring… Read More »
