Science

A Mallard Duckling Is Thriving—and Maybe Diving—Under the Care of Loon Parents
July 12, 2019 — Scientists discovered the surprising bird family on a Midwestern lake, and so far, all parties seem to be getting along swimmingly.
As the Rockies Melt, This Rare Nesting Bird Will Have Nowhere to Go
July 12, 2019 — In Wyoming, the Black Rosy-Finch, one of the continent’s least-known, least-accessible birds, may prove a bellwether for a retreating alpine ecosystem—if an intrepid scientist can track its numbers.
These Photos Reveal the Pollination Secrets of Florida’s Most Elusive Flower
July 11, 2019 — Despite extensive efforts, nobody had ever definitively documented the pollination of the ghost orchid, a mysterious plant that grows in the towering trees of the Everglades—until now.
Hello, Mountain-gem! The 2019 Update To North American Bird Names Is Here.
July 05, 2019 — An emerging duck trio and some other new labels to consider.
These Birds of Prey Have Eyes in the Backs of Their Heads
July 02, 2019 — With feathers that look like eye spots, some falcons, hawks, and owls are always watching.
Lead Ammo, the Top Threat to Condors, Is Now Outlawed in California
July 01, 2019 — Bullet fragments routinely poison California Condors. With cooperation from hunters, the ban could be a turning point for the endangered icons.
Female Cerulean Warblers Chirp Away at Birdsong Stereotypes
June 24, 2019 — Though females of this species aren't known to sing, that didn’t stop two in Indiana from belting out new tunes.
Did Neanderthals Catch and Kill Golden Eagles for Their Feathers and Talons?
June 21, 2019 — New evidence suggests that the ancient hominids held raptors in high esteem—and might have even passed that practice to us.
Saving Colombia's Forests Is Crucial to Protect Prothonotary Warblers
June 19, 2019 — A new study shows that almost the entire population winters in a region with rampant deforestation—a finding that could help target conservation.
Overcrowding Might be Driving Bald Eagles to Nest on Beaches
June 18, 2019 — On the Virginia Barrier Islands, five ground nests have been found in the past six years—something never before seen on the East Coast.