Discoveries about birds, behaviors, migration, and more. Plus, Eldon Greij’s popular column, “Amazing Birds.”
To compensate for its short tongue, the Woodpecker Finch uses tools to catch its insect prey. Photo by Agami Photo Agency/Shutterstock
The findings mark a quantum leap in bird discoveries. Read More “Researchers discover 10 new bird taxa in little-explored Asian islands”
A study in northern Minnesota found that bluebirds that were fed mealworms had higher overall survival and less blood loss to parasites than birds that were not fed. Read More “Feeding bluebirds helps their chicks fend off parasites”
A study published today in the journal Evolution explains why hummingbird feathers are so iridescent; that is, why they shimmer in the light and shift … Read More “New research: Why hummingbirds’ feathers shimmer”
83 percent of the more than 15,000 debris items found were made of plastic. Read More “Bottle caps and balloons pile up on remote beaches”
Spring migrants were likely to pass certain stops earlier now than they would have 20 years ago, researchers found. Read More “Study: Climate change affects bird migration across North America”
Forty years of data show that migratory birds have been getting smaller. Read More “Study: Birds are shrinking as the climate warms”
Antipredator behavior by the Small Ground Finch of the Galapagos was sustained through multiple generations after the threat was gone. Read More “Study: Galápagos finches still wary despite eradication of invasive predators”
Locals on the island of Alor have long known of the species, but it wasn’t described to science until recently. Read More “New honeyeater species described from Indonesia”
Scientists describe the first feathered polar dinosaurs and a previously unknown ancient bird species from Japan. Read More “New discoveries of ancient birds from Australia and Japan”
