About Birds

Turning Off Lights at Night Could Halve Bird Deaths On Chicago’s Lakeshore
July 06, 2021 — An analysis of more than 11,000 birds struck dead by a single building's windows shows turning lights off during migration makes a big difference.
Five Incredible Ways Birds Change Their Bodies for Spring and Fall Migration
April 09, 2021 — To power perilous journeys, birds undergo extreme feats like doubling their body weight and rearranging or even consuming their internal organs.
Do Yourself a Favor This Spring: Go See the American Woodcock’s ‘Sky Dance’
March 26, 2021 — Timberdoodles have one of the wildest mating rituals among North American birds, and you should definitely check it out. Here’s how.
What a Songbird Lost at Sea Taught Me About Survival
March 24, 2021 — Aboard a mission to explore the alien life of the deep ocean, a chance encounter with a migratory bird offered a point of connection—one that has felt poignant this past year.  
10 Fun Facts About the Barred Owl
February 12, 2021 — Maniacal laughter. Pink wings. Tree climbing. This bird has a lot going on.
A Northern Harrier flies in the air.
The Harrier and the Owl
October 26, 2020 — A poetic observation of interesting raptor behavior near ÃÛèÖAPP's Gillmor Sanctuary.
Ask Kenn: Do More Birds Migrate Through the Eastern United States?
October 15, 2020 — In this month's Ask Kenn!, bird expert Kenn Kaufman provides a detailed look at how geography shapes the routes of migratory birds.
Roxie Laybourne studies specimens from the Birds Collection at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., in 1992. Chip Clark/Division of Birds, NMNH, Smithsonian Institution
The Remarkable Life of Roxie Laybourne
October 05, 2020 — From deep within the Smithsonian, the world’s first forensic ornithologist cracked cases, busted criminals, and changed the course of aviation—making the skies safer for us all.
10 Fun Facts About the American Robin
July 28, 2020 — They might be one of our most common birds, but there is plenty you don't know about this thrush. (Yep, it's a thrush.)
How a White-throated Sparrow's New Tune Went Viral
July 02, 2020 — A modified dialect of male song began in a local population in western Canada and, in two decades, traveled to birds more than 1,800 miles away.