BirdNote Daily

Surfing with Scoters

27 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Surf Scoters are perfectly at home in the element they’re named for. They swim smack in the middle of what surfers call the impact zone: Just where ...

The Birds of Yoga

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Pigeon Pose. Crow Pose. Eagle pose. Bird of paradise. Writer Trisha Mukherjee, who is also a yoga teacher, discusses the connections these bird-inspir...

The Sociable Weaver’s Colonial Nest

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to nests, common sense suggests that large birds build large nests, and small birds build small nests. But in fact, some species of smal...

Ornate Hawk-Eagle: the Elegant Eagle

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ornate Hawk-Eagles stand out from other raptors with their impressive crest that looks like an elegant crown in adults, and a punk hairdo over the whi...

Altitudinal Migration

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Yellow-eyed Juncos sometimes make a migration of sorts — not from north to south, but from the high mountains to the lowlands or the other way aroun...

Strange Sounds

22 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What an amazing array of sounds birds have to offer! The call of a male Yellow Rail sounds like someone tapping two small stones together. And Turkey ...

The Crows’ Night Roost

21 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Crow experts think big communal roosts provide warmth, protection from predators, shared knowledge about food sources, and a chance to find a mate. Fo...

Letter to a Kentucky Warbler

20 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham reads a letter he has written to a Kentucky Warbler, an “uber-skulky” species that’s hard to find ...

Hummingbirds - To Feed or Not to Feed?

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you wondered about the right time to remove your hummingbird feeders during fall? Consider leaving your feeders hanging for a week or two after y...

Spark Bird: Thomas Poulsom and the LEGO Robin

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As he trained to be an arborist, Thomas Poulsom started developing two new interests: birds and building with LEGO bricks. After first building a Euro...

The Return of the Extinct Little Blue Macaw

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Even if the name Spix's Macaw doesn’t ring a bell, you might recognize this bird. It’s Blu, from Rio, the animated film! Also known as the Little ...

Preserving John Edmonstone

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

John Edmonstone was born on a timber plantation in British Guiana, and enslaved by Scotsman Charles Edmonstone. He learned taxidermy techniques by acc...

Sungrebe: Baby on Board

15 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Birds have developed many strategies for protecting their young. But only one species can tuck its chicks into pouches under its wings, then fly the y...

From Alaska to Omaha, Then on to Brazil

14 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Blackpoll Warblers make one of the longest migrations taken by a songbird in the world. Blackpoll Warblers that breed in Alaska fly southeast in the f...

Letter to an Olive-sided Flycatcher

13 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham reads a letter he has written to an Olive-sided Flycatcher, a beloved bird that he pleads with to visit ...

Canada Geese - Migratory or Not

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's the time of year that geese migrate south for the winter. Isn't it? So why are there so many geese still hanging around, setting up housekeeping ...

The Ballet of the Grebes

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When a pair of Western Grebes decides it’s time to mate, they call loudly and approach one another. Each bird curves, then straightens, its long nec...

Ornithographies

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Photographer Xavi Bou creates incredible images of birds and their movements by combining his love of photography and technology with his love for bir...

Clean Nestboxes in October

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a wistful moment when your backyard birds — like these Black-capped Chickadees — depart their nestboxes. By October, it’s time for one la...

Left Foot or Right? Handedness in Birds

08 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A parrot’s eyes are located on the sides of its head. So, if it wants to look at something — say, a delicious piece of fruit — it has to cock it...

Emperor Penguins Launch from the Ocean

07 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

These Emperor Penguins feed on fish and squid in the icy ocean. Getting into the sea is easy, but getting out is another story. How does a penguin hau...

Letter to a Pileated Woodpecker

06 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham reads a letter he has written to a Pileated Woodpecker, a large species of woodpecker that is sometimes ...

Ducks - Diving and Dabbling

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Autumn brings many species of wintering ducks and seabirds to our waters. Watch carefully. Some dabble along the surface, feeding along shallow edges ...

Janet Ng on Surveying Waterbirds by Kayak

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Wildlife biologist Janet Ng works for the Canadian Wildlife Service. And for her waterbird surveys, one of the most important tools of her trade is a ...

Bumblebee Hummingbird: The Mexican Buzzer

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mexico's Bumblebee Hummingbird is one of the smallest birds in the world. Less than 3 inches in size and weighing less than a bottlecap, they’re eas...

Crows Recognize Individual Faces

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To find out if a crow can recognize an individual human face, Professor John Marzluff of the University of Washington wore a mask while trapping, band...

Migrations: BirdCast

01 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A blip on weather radar might not be a cloud — it could be thousands of birds! Biologists use radar to keep track of migratory birds, insects, and b...

Hooded Merganser

30 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hooded Mergansers, affectionately known as “Hoodies,” nest across most of the northern US and well into Canada. They’re especially prevalent aro...

Letter to an Eastern Wood-Pewee

29 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham reads a letter he has written to a wood-pewee, a flycatcher with an “understatedly simple and definiti...

HawkWatch

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After hawks and eagles, some of the sharpest eyes belong to hawk-watchers, experienced spotters who count raptors during spring and fall migration. Gr...

Strange Chickadee Songs of Massachusetts Islands

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The song of the Black-capped Chickadee pretty much the same throughout the U.S. and Canada — with just a few exceptions, like on some Massachusetts ...

Monk Parakeets: Little Green-Blue Invaders

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Monk Parakeets, also known as Argentine Parrots, are native to South America but have become popular as pets – thanks in part to their intelligence ...

Millicent Ficken Studied How Birds Play

25 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Millicent Ficken spent her career studying bird behavior and communication. The first woman to earn a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cor...

Who Likes Suet?

24 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chickadees and titmice, nuthatches and jays, and woodpeckers, like the Pileated pictured here, all love suet. As do birds whose beaks can’t open see...

Brown-headed Nuthatches of Apalachicola National Forest

23 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many Brown-headed Nuthatches make their home in the tall longleaf pines of the Apalachicola National Forest in Florida. Twittering constantly, the bir...

Trailer: Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant

22 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you're enjoying BirdNote Daily, we think you'll love the podcast, Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant! Journey deep into the heart of the world’s ...

Letter to a Dark-eyed Junco

22 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, ornithologist J. Drew Lanham shares a note he has written to a Dark-eyed Junco, which he fondly nicknames “snowbird.”More info an...

The Power of Albatross Partnerships

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Waved Albatrosses produce such slow-growing, needy offspring that females lay only a single egg every two years. And both parents need to share the lo...

Mair Marsiglio on Therapeutic Bird Walks

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mair Marsiglio is an avid birder, and they are also a psychologist with a background in trauma therapy. A few years ago Dr. Marsiglio worked with the ...

Resplendent Quetzal: Mexico’s Sacred Bird

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Found in Southern Mexico and Central America, Resplendent Quetzals have a striking blue tail up to three times the length of their bodies. That's prob...

Finches Singing Over the Sidewalk

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The songs of two common finches provide a steady soundtrack in cities across North America: the House Finch and the American Goldfinch. While they can...

Nesting Niches

17 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

American Robins (like this male seen here with its young), House Finches, and Song Sparrows may all nest within one small garden. By selecting differe...

Raptors in the Mojave Desert

16 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Desert raptors get most of their water from eating prey animals. Biologist Blair Wolf explains, “if you think of any insect or a mouse or something ...

Climate Change Leads Male Birds to Migrate Sooner

15 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For years, biologists have been seeing migratory birds arriving earlier in the spring due to the effects of climate change. But surprisingly, the effe...

Amazing Aquatic American Dipper

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The American Dipper stands on a rock in a stream, bobbing up and down on its long legs - "dipping" - hence the name. But watch! This nondescript bird ...

Seeing the Rainbow in a Bird’s Feathers

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We make it a habit to detail the broad and beautiful spectrum of bird colors, but iridescent feathers are undoubtedly among the most mesmerizing. When...

Kelp in the Eagles’ Nest

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A pair of Bald Eagles will reuse their nest each year and repair it with new tree branches. But recently in British Columbia, scientists came across a...

Woodpeckers Carve Out Roost Cavities, Too

11 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In spring, we often hear woodpeckers hard at work, carving out nest holes in tree trunks. And now that fall has arrived, we may hear that excavating s...

Migration Takes Guts — Until It Doesn’t

10 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This Bar-tailed Godwit makes one of the longest migrations of any animal — a 7,200-mile non-stop flight each autumn from western Alaska to New Zeala...

Cowbird Song and Password

09 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As most young male birds get ready to leave the nest, they learn their species’ song by hearing their male parent sing it again and again. They impr...

Parrots Using Video Chat to Keep in Touch

08 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Knowing how clever parrots are, researchers wanted to see how they’d respond to another parrot saying hi on a tablet or phone. After being trained h...

New Zealand Bellbird

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A forest in New Zealand rings with the sound of bellbirds, also known as Korimako or Makomako. Many bellbirds sing together, especially in the morning...

Juvenile Shorebirds Head South

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Like most juvenile shorebirds, this young Black-bellied Plover was abandoned by parents that began their southbound flights from the Arctic National W...

The Private Lives of Public Birds

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jack Gedney’s book, The Private Lives of Public Birds, is dedicated to the familiar birds we see and hear in our neighborhoods. Illustrated by Anna ...

Migrations: The Triumphant Comeback of the Aleutian Cackling Goose

04 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Aleutian Cackling Geese, which have a slighter build and shorter beak than Canada Geese, build their nests on a chain of islands off the western coast...

Swifts Roost in Chimneys

03 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What could bring crowds of people out after sunset on a September evening to stare at  ... a chimney? Swifts, of course! Scores of swifts form a funn...

The Alula

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adjusting the flaps on an airplane’s wing allows a pilot to control lift and drag — and the design of these flaps was inspired by the wings of bir...

Birding with a Baby

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Writer Jen Sizeland has found peace through watching birds throughout her life, so she wanted that for her child, too. When she was pregnant, she soug...

Migrations: Indigo Bunting, Master Stargazer

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The stars appear to rotate in the sky, raising the question of how birds can use stars to navigate during migration. Ornithologist Stephen Emlen broug...

Birds Love Sunflowers

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Found throughout North America, the common sunflower can grow up to ten feet high, towering over other herbs and grasses. And that’s only half the s...

The Harsh Beauty of Grackle Songs

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ranging from metallic hisses to electronic yodels, sounds of grackles may not be music to our ears—but they have their own rough beauty, a distincti...

Moon-Watching for Migrating Birds

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Before the high-tech gadgets used to track bird migration today, there was moon-watching: a technique dreamed up in the 1940s by ornithologist George ...

Watching Birds' Behavior

27 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To distinguish one bird from a similar one, watch how the bird moves. Does it flick its wings? Bob up and down? Flip its tail? The White-breasted Nuth...

Where Do Fledglings Go?

26 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

By late summer, most birds hatched in spring are on their own, without help from their parents. Where do they go? Young migratory birds will head sout...

Arizona Woodpecker and the Sierra Madre

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Found in the Sierra Madre, the Arizona Woodpecker has a special connection to the mountain range. Sharing mid-elevation pine and oaks with fellow bord...

Do Crows Sing?

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been said that if someone knows only three birds, one of them will be the crow. They’re common, easy to see, and even easier to hear. But cro...

Southern Lapwings Defend Their Nest

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nature educator Johanne Ryan shares her observations of Southern Lapwings, shorebirds that make their nests on the ground in open areas and vigorously...

Why Do Some Birds Flock?

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When birds like these Dunlin form flocks, each individual is less likely to be captured by a predator. Some shorebirds that forage with their heads do...

A Song That Has Survived for Thousands of Years

21 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, a species’ song changes over the course of a few decades. But a bird that lives in the mountains of eastern Africa, the Forest Double-col...

Pigeons and Head-bobbing

20 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Pigeons seem to bob their heads as they move, like they’re grooving to an internal tune. But what look like head bobs are actually momentary pauses ...

Clair de Loon

19 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

August 22 is the birthday of renowned French composer, Claude Debussy. Born in 1862, Debussy is known for his impressionistic sonic portraits, like La...

Birds Crossing the Pacific

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Over 12,000 miles across at its widest point, you might think the Pacific Ocean is a barrier that even high-flying birds can’t cross. Think again –...

Bellbirds Turn It Up to 11

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The four species of South American bellbirds can make a real racket, including this Bearded Bellbird. Hidden in the tree canopy, males cannot see one ...

Lilli Holden on the Ecology of Vacant Lots

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In her grandmother’s neighborhood in Chicago, Lilli Holden made an early connection with the outdoors by playing in a vacant lot with a large old tr...

What's Behind Those Lustrous Red Feathers?

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Male Northern Cardinals, Scarlet Tanagers, and House Finches all have striking red plumage that’s thought to play a role in attracting mates. Males ...

Some Birds Have Two Voices

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The amazing vocal organ found in most birds, the syrinx, has two sides, with different sets of muscles and nerves controlling each side.  That lets s...

The Most Abundant Birds in North America

13 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

By August, most birds in North America have finished nesting, bringing billions of new birds into the world. So many birds. It might make you wonder: ...

The Best Nest

12 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Some birds woo a mate by building the best nest. Males of many weaverbird species construct a series of intricately woven nests to impress a prospecti...

Andean Condors Soar for Hours Without Flapping

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the blue skies over the Andes Mountains, Andean Condors look majestic, with a ten-foot wingspan. While flying, according to researchers from Argent...

Ospreys Never Stop Building

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ospreys are remarkable nest builders. Many reuse their massive stick nests from the previous year, but continue tinkering with it once the nesting sea...

Great Horned Owls in the Neighborhood

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Not all owls live in the deep woods. Many Great Horned Owls make their homes in urban areas. Though mostly nocturnal, Great Horned Owls are also activ...

Pheasants of Detroit

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Because of its abundant open space, Detroit, Michigan has a thriving ring-necked pheasant population. The birds have endeared themselves to many by re...

Finding the Links Between Plants and Birds

07 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are many great tools for identifying birds, some of them right on your phone. If you’re stumped on an unfamiliar plant species, iNaturalist is...

Creating an Inviting Habitat

06 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Bird feeders and birdbaths are great ways to attract birds to your yard, but they aren’t the only ways to entice our feathered friends. Planting an ...

Blind Snakes and Screech-Owls

05 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

During the breeding season, when Eastern Screech-Owls capture the worm-like reptiles known as blind snakes, they deliver them to their chicks alive an...

Chickadee Line-up

04 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You'll find the Black-capped Chickadee across the northern US into Canada. The Carolina Chickadee holds sway in the Southeast. Hear the husky voice of...

Great Kiskadee: Unconventional Flycatcher

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An unusual flycatcher called the Great Kiskadee takes on much bigger opponents, sometimes even riding on the back of a falcon for a few seconds to dri...

Fruit as a Bribe

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In summer, many shrubs bear fruit that birds find irresistible. Elderberries, serviceberries, blackberries, dogwood berries, mulberries, and currants ...

Seeing a Chicago Beach in a New Way

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mikko Jimenez is a PhD student doing research on bird migration. Growing up in Chicago, he played beach volleyball at Montrose Beach, a popular spot o...

Sandhill Crane Families Stick Together

31 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sandhill Crane families form a close bond. A pair of adults might travel north with their young from the previous summer, along with grown-up offsprin...

Sleeping on the Wing

30 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Some swifts and frigatebirds stay aloft for months. But for a long time, scientists did not know if the birds might be sleeping on the wing. A 2016 st...

Sparrows Sing in Arizona Monsoon

29 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Midday temperatures in southeast Arizona soar above 100 degrees during the month of July. But relief is coming. A summer monsoon refreshes the Sonoran...

Stowaway Birds

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When they migrate, tiny songbirds that spend most of their lives on land fly hundreds of miles over the ocean at a stretch – and they get tired. A r...

Paradise-Whydah

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A few times each year, the Eastern Paradise-Whydah puts on its party clothes. This small finch is found in East Africa, and males and females generall...

Magpie-Jay Flocks Are Led by Females

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Found in much of Central America, White-throated Magpie-Jay flocks are family groups led by a dominant female. They include a mate and several female ...

Birds, Nests, and Camouflage

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Bird nests can be hard to find, often hidden in plain sight. Is the clever camouflage simply the result of using building materials that the birds hap...

Great Blue Herons on Land

24 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout much of North America, the Great Blue Heron graces waterways, ponds and lakes. They’re built for hunting fish and amphibians along the wa...

Birds in Summer - The Heat of the Day

23 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Just a few weeks past the solstice, and the real heat of summer is yet to come. Some shorebirds are already on their way south, but most songbirds wil...

Nest Boxes Help Bring Birds Back

22 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Wherever you live, chances are a sweet-singing, cavity-nesting bird would be happy to perform in your yard — and it might stick around if you offer ...

Architecture for Avians

21 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

During her first year at the Yale School of Architecture, Kenyan graduate student Barbara Nasila was tasked to design a hypothetical outdoor pavilion ...