As the smallest birds on Earth and the only avian species capable of sustained backward flight, hummingbirds defy gravity with their extraordinary aerial maneuvers—hovering, darting in any direction, and remaining...

Birds are the only animals in the world today with feathers. Like our hair and nails, their feathers are made of dead keratin — a protein. Feathers serve various functions...

When the birds return, the loud chirping signals the arrival of spring. Especially when you’re heading to school in the morning or lying in bed with the window open at...

In the avian world, female birds hold the power of mate selection. Consequently, males display their most colorful feathers and melodious songs. But it doesn’t stop there; some males also...

Have you ever seen an abandoned bird nest or picked one up from the ground? The most common type of bird nest is the cup-shaped nest, such as the ones...

Bird Migration Is an Instinctive Behavior The primary factor driving bird migration is the changing daylight hours in spring and autumn. In fact, birds possess a strong migratory instinct, triggered...

Feeding Hummingbirds: Honey or Sugar Water? Can Food Coloring Be Used? When feeding hummingbirds, opt for sugar water and avoid honey and food coloring. Although honey is often perceived as...

Seed-eating and omnivorous birds can still find enough food during the winter months. Some insectivores, like the great tit, can adapt their diet to include seeds for sustenance. However, the...

Hummingbirds can remember the people who feed them. Is this possible? Alexander Skutch, who has conducted decades of bird research in Costa Rica, wrote in his book “The Life of...

A toucan’s beak can serve as decoration, a weapon, or a “long arm” for picking berries. The beak is the most important tool for birds, indicating their lifestyle and especially...

The Significance of Wings in Flight Depending on their wing shapes, some birds need to flap their wings constantly to stay airborne, while others can glide or soar for minutes...

Compared to flying, Archaeopteryx preferred hopping on the ground—birds took thousands of years to conquer the sky. Key conditions for this included their lightweight bodies and, unique to birds, feathers....