About Birds

Clear liquid trickles out of a hummingbird hovering in midair.
Do Birds Pee? Hummingbirds Do—a Lot
April 23, 2025 — Unlike most other avians, hummers urinate in a stream much like mammals, releasing liquid waste often and out of necessity.
Bird Questions and Facts
A dock with birds on it in a lake with people on a walkway behind
Spotting Banded Black Skimmers in an Unusual Winter Location
April 04, 2025 — The skimmers recorded in North Central Florida are migrants from northeastern states.
Bird Migration
More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Heron Necks
April 03, 2025 — From how they work to why they're so long, we’ve got answers to all your (maybe?) burning questions.
Bird Questions and Facts
Ask Kenn: How Do Birds Keep Themselves Clean?
March 24, 2025 — Staying fresh is a matter of survival in a bird’s life—and a treat for birders to observe.
Bird Questions and Facts
A Vermilion Flycatcher splashes the surface of water with a fish in its beak.
‘Oh, Wow!’—Stunning Photos Offer First Known Proof of Vermilion Flycatchers Fishing
March 12, 2025 — An Arizona photographer’s images of Vermilion Flycatchers and Black Phoebes catching and eating fish—and one unlucky lizard—provide a rare glimpse into a little-known side of both birds.
Bird Behavior
Three bird-of-paradise specimens appearing to glow green under UV light on a black background.
Birds-of-Paradise Feathers Are More Than Flashy—They Glow
March 07, 2025 — Researchers recently discovered that dozens of species in the flamboyant family are biofluorescent, emitting a gleaming light that could enhance their mating displays.
Bird Science
A chickadee perches on a sunflower extracting a seed with its beak.
How Plant Seeds Reshaped the Lives—and Evolution—of Birds
March 04, 2025 — Plants didn't always use seeds to reproduce, but once they did, early avians were more than happy to indulge in the nutrient-rich morsels, kicking off a symbiotic relationship that persists today.
Books
A linocut depicting a lapwing, a map, an old book, and some tools on a wooden surface.
When People Dined On Robins and Other Avian Oddities From America's Past
February 27, 2025 — In his richly researched newsletter, amateur historian Robert Francis takes deep dives into the country's complicated and ever-changing relationship with birds.
Birds and History
A hummingbird perched on a snowy, mossy branch flutters its wings.
Where Do Hummingbirds Go in the Winter? Do They Migrate?
January 17, 2025 — Some species migrate to far-off places while others keep it local. Here's a rundown of who goes where.
Bird Questions and Facts
A Killdeer standing in grass with its beak wide open.
10 Fun Facts About the Killdeer
September 30, 2024 — Even if you haven’t seen one, chances are good you’ve heard this notoriously noisy shorebird.
Bird Questions and Facts