Birds
Why Newborn Chicks Love Objects That Defy Gravity
A clever new study shows the cute critters will often scuttle toward a video of a rising ball
How Vacationers on Antarctic Cruises Are Filling in Scientific Gaps
From ships and submarines, citizen scientists can access remote areas ripe for new discoveries. But does the research make up for the climate impact?
The Wonderful World of Birds
As the Smithsonian's National Zoo prepares to open its reimagined and beloved Bird House, explore the fascinating science of our feathery friends above
See Thousands of Sandhill Cranes Gather in Nebraska
Every year, travelers attempt to witness the birds on their long journey north
Seaside California City Bans Balloons in Public
Laguna Beach has joined several other cities taking aim at ocean pollution, wildlife health, power outages and wildfires
Bird Flu Causes the Death of an 11-Year-Old in Cambodia
A father and daughter both contracted avian influenza, the first cases in the country since 2014
Amateur Fossil Hunter Discovers New Species of Giant Petrel in New Zealand
The now-extinct birds, which lived roughly three million years ago, likely used their hooked bills to feast on seal carcasses
Scientists Discover an Emperor Penguin Colony From Poop Stains in Satellite Images
Researchers pinpointed the group of roughly 500 birds in West Antarctica
Experience the Wonder of Migration at the National Zoo’s New Bird House
Following a six-year renovation, the revamped exhibition will open March 13 with three indoor aviaries
Why Are Purple Martins Declining in the United States?
Mercury contamination in their Amazonian wintering grounds may play a role
Why Buying ‘Bird Friendly Cocoa’ Is a Sweet Deal
The Smithsonian launches a new certification for chocolate lovers looking to help their feathery friends
An Icelandic Town Goes All Out to Save Baby Puffins
Kids and senior citizens alike rally to rescue beloved young seabirds that have lost their bearings
A Mysterious Pink Pigeon in New York City Has Died
The bird may have been colored as part of a gender reveal
Owl Escapes From Zoo, Becomes a New York Celebrity
A Eurasian eagle-owl named Flaco has been on the loose for a week after his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo was vandalized
As Bird Flu Spreads to Mammals, Health Officials Urge Caution
Transmission between minks has called attention to the potential risks to humans, though experts say not to panic
Australia’s Most Endangered Parrot Faces an Unusual Threat: Trees
Native vegetation blocks the birds’ ability to see approaching predators
This Company Wants to Bring the Dodo Back From Extinction
Colossal Biosciences plans to de-extinct the dodo, but some scientists question whether it’s ethical—or even plausible
Three Grizzly Bears Tested Positive for Avian Flu in Montana
The current outbreak has led to the deaths of more than 52 million birds in the United States
Why Chickens Need to Stop Breeding With Their Wild Cousins
The red junglefowl is losing important genetic diversity in its native Asian habitat
California City Relocates Noisy Peacocks
The colorful birds have sparked disputes between residents in South Pasadena, with some enjoying the animals and others wanting them gone