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BirdNote

Escape the daily grind and immerse yourself in the natural world. Rich in imagery, sound, and information, BirdNote inspires you to notice the world around you. Join us for daily two-minute stories about birds, the environment, and more.

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¿Qué fue primero, la migración al norte o al sur?

BirdNote ·

2025/09/02

Cada año, cientos de especies de aves migran entre América del Norte y del Sur. Algunas especies probablemente evolucionaron a partir de ancestros que se desplazaron hacia el norte en busca de nuevos hábitats de reproducción: la hipótesis del "hogar en el sur". Pero otras pueden haber extendido sus

Remembering Martha: The Last Passenger Pigeon

BirdNote ·

2025/09/01

In the early 1800s, the Passenger Pigeon was one of the most abundant bird species in North America — possibly the world. But by 1910, the last surviving representative of the species was a bird called Martha at the Cincinnati Zoo. Despite attempts to revive the species through captive breeding

Highways as Habitat for Hawks

BirdNote ·

2025/08/31

In 1956, the Eisenhower Administration announced plans for the nation’s new interstate highway system. Planners foresaw 41,000 miles of superior highways, with a grassy border on either side and down the middle. The grassy areas created ribbons of wildlife habitat occupied by small mammals such as

Fruit as a Bribe

BirdNote ·

2025/08/30

In summer, many shrubs bear fruit that birds find irresistible. Elderberries, serviceberries, blackberries, dogwood berries, mulberries, and currants attract many species of birds, including waxwings, tanagers, robins, warblers and this Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Plants offer this bounty in exchange

What Do Desert Birds Drink?

BirdNote ·

2025/08/29

In the desert Southwest, water can be scarce. Yet some birds, like this Black-throated Sparrow, thrive in a scorching landscape. The birds obtain moisture from foods like nectar and fruit, as well as insects and other prey. They tuck into the shade in the heat of the day, so they won’t lose water in

How High Do Birds Fly?

BirdNote ·

2025/08/28

For the majority of the year, most birds stay under 500 feet. During migration, many species fly at 2,000 to 5,000 feet or above, using prevailing winds to assist them. And some birds go even higher! In 1973, a Rüppell’s Griffon set the world record by soaring to 37,000 feet.

The Climate Crisis is at Home

BirdNote ·

2025/08/27

What’s a climate crisis without acknowledgement of an emergency? In conversation with guests Dr. Rose Abramoff and Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, host Anika Hazra discusses the ever-evolving battle for a healthy world from the front lines to legislation. Rose, a climate scientist turned activist, shares

Los superpoderes del humilde tordo charlatán

BirdNote ·

2025/08/26

Si tuvieras que elegir al ave más parecida a un superhéroe, probablemente el tordo charlatán ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus) no sería tu primera opción. Pero estos peculiares pájaros, también conocidos como tordos arroceros, tienen habilidades que dejarían impresionado hasta a Superman. Cada año, los

Slowing Down and Observing Female Birds

BirdNote ·

2025/08/25

The colorful feathers and loud songs of male songbirds often catch a birder’s attention first. Observing females often means birding more slowly, noticing subtle differences in plumage and behavior, says Joanna Wu, who’s part of a group called the Galbatrosses that’s encouraging birders to spend

David Sibley – Sketching and Painting Impressions

BirdNote ·

2025/08/24

David Sibley’s paintings connect millions of people with the lives of birds. His talent in observing and portraying birds culminated in The Sibley Guide to Birds. Sibley described how he learned to sketch and illustrate birds, like the pictured Townsend’s Warbler: "I spent years in the field, just

Birds That Say Their Own Names

BirdNote ·

2025/08/23

Some birds, such as the Northern Bobwhite, get their name from their songs or vocalizations: "Bobwhite! Bobwhite!" The Killdeer is another bird named for its song: "Kill-dee, kill-dee, kill-dee." There are others. "Poorwill, poorwill, poorwill," says this Common Poorwill. This bird is the cousin of

Quirky Words for Brown Birds

BirdNote ·

2025/08/22

What do Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, Bay-breasted Warblers, Ferruginous Hawks, and Rufous Hummingbirds have in common? They are all birds whose names refer to a shade of brown!

How Birds Stay Cool

BirdNote ·

2025/08/21

On a hot summer’s day, watch a bird such as a crow — or this Bald Eagle — very carefully. You’ll never see them sweat, because birds don’t have sweat glands. So how do they keep cool? One way is panting. As the bird breathes rapidly, heat is carried out of its body through the lungs and air sacs

Birdsong and Speech with Dr. Erich Jarvis

BirdNote ·

2025/08/20

Host Anika Hazra speaks with tenured professor and leading voice in neuroscience, Dr. Erich Jarvis! Erich, who has spent decades researching the neural biological connections between mammals and birds, shares his research that indicates some birds are ancestrally connected to humans through speech

Así se sumergen los pelícanos

BirdNote ·

2025/08/19

Los pelícanos café ( Pelecanus occidentalis) vuelan pegaditos a la superficie del agua. Hacen círculos en lo alto, y luego se sumergen en clavado, con la cabeza por delante, para atrapar peces. Pero, ¿eso no los lastima? Varias adaptaciones protegen a los pelícanos mientras se sumergen. Primero

Quail and Their Fancy Feathers

BirdNote ·

2025/08/18

Gambel’s Quail and California Quail are both well known for the comma-shaped tuft of inky black feathers poised atop the crown of their heads. For both species, this decorative “topknot” is formed from six individual feathers that contour together into a single structure. Yet they’re hardly the only

Male Mallards Disappear

BirdNote ·

2025/08/17

By late summer, the male Mallard’s need for fancy feathers to attract the females has passed. These birds have molted, and their bright feathers are replaced with mottled brown ones. Subdued colors help camouflage the male ducks, protecting them from predators. Come fall, the male Mallards will molt

Parakeets Underground

BirdNote ·

2025/08/16

Burrowing Parakeets excavate deep nest tunnels in sandstone and limestone cliffs in Argentina and Chile. The colony’s many tunnels zigzag and interconnect, creating an intricate labyrinth. Their nesting colonies are among the largest of any parrot — one in Argentina has 70,000 birds! ¡Escuche este

Ultraviolet Vision

BirdNote ·

2025/08/15

Most birds possess the ability to see color. But birds can also see in the ultraviolet spectrum! Hummingbirds — like this Violet-crowned Hummingbird — may zero in on certain flowers because their petals strongly reflect in the ultraviolet range. Migrating birds may use ultraviolet light to navigate

The Birdsong Chameleon

BirdNote ·

2025/08/14

Found in Australian forests, male Superb Lyrebirds can mimic calls well enough to convince the bird they’re imitating that the lyrebird is one of their own! While males sing to attract mates, females imitate the calls of predators, which could help frighten other birds off their territories.

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