Sparrows are often an overlooked bird, due to their rather drab gray-brown plumage and status as one of the world’s most common birds. However, delving deeper into their symbolic meanings in many ...

The Mexican flag is one of many that bears a bird as one of its symbols, alongside Ecuador, Guatemala, Dominica, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea, to name but a few. The Mexican tricolor is green, white, ...

Ducks belong to the Anatidae family, which contains some 174 species spread across 43 genera. With their broad and stout body, large beaks and webbed feet, ducks are a common and recognisable sight ...

The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a bird species that has long been held in awe for its incredible migrations between the North and South polar regions. Amazingly, recent studies have shown that ...

Teeth play a fundamental role in the digestive system of a human, chewing food into pieces small enough to be swallowed and pass out of the stomach. But without teeth, how do birds process any large ...

We’ve all seen those romantic photos, with a pair of loved-up swans forming a perfect, symmetrical heart shape with their long necks. Pairs are said to form strong bonds, but is that true for all ...

That burst of green in British gardens isn't as rare as you might think. From exotic arrivals to native specialists, our green-feathered friends bring their own unique character to gardens, parks and ...

The American robin (Turdus migratorius) is a familiar sight on lawns across the country, but have you ever wondered whether young American robins are born with the iconic red breast? Or if not, how ...

The whimsical Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) is found across the eastern half of North America and parts of Central America, ranging from Ontario and Quebec west to Kansas and Nebraska and ...

Budgies – or budgerigars to give them their full official name – are sociable and fascinating birds, also known as parakeets in some countries. Although native to Australia, they are kept as pets all ...

“Female peacocks” is an oxymoron. Peacocks are male peafowl, and peahens are female peafowl. There’s no such thing as a “male peacock”! Nevertheless, peafowl have come to be known simply as peacocks.

The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is the epitome of speed and power. They strike fear into the hearts of the birds they hunt, a fact that falconers have enjoyed for over 3000 years! These ...