The skies are filled with thousands of bird species (not to mention a few that prefer to stay on land), and each one has special adaptations, distinctive behaviors, and an evolutionary lineage that ultimately stems from the dinosaurs. With such a dizzying variety of our feathered friends — living and extinct — Live Science's expert science writers and editors have plenty to say about birds. Whether you're interested in sunbirds singing the same songs for a million years, explaining how crafty cuckoos trick other birds or ranking the biggest birds on Earth, you can find the latest bird news, articles and features here.
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Latest about Birds
Ancient duck-like creature discovered in Antarctica may be the oldest modern bird ever discovered
A new and nearly complete skull of Vegavis iaai discovered in Antarctica suggests that modern birds originated before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.
Are birds reptiles?
If you're wondering whether birds are reptiles, know this: The reptile family tree is more varied and diverse than you might realize.
Cheating little penguins are big on divorce, and other breeding secrets revealed
A little penguin colony in Australia struggles during years with high penguin divorce rates, but the divorcees could have more offspring in the long run if they find better mates, a new study finds.
Turkey vulture: The bird that vomits acid up to 10 feet and poops antiseptic onto its legs
Turkey vultures feed on dead carcasses, helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Worst die-off of a single species in the modern era discovered — and 'the blob' was to blame
The blob — an extreme marine heatwave that hit the northeast Pacific between 2014 and 2016 — killed approximately 4 million common murre, and the population is yet to recover, a new study finds.
Weird photo captures secretary bird's third eyelid as it catches locust midflight
The secretary bird photograph was among the winners of the 2024 Royal Society Publishing Photography Prize.
Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand?
The idea ostriches bury their heads when they feel threatened is thought have come from Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder around 2,000 years ago. But is it true?
Mice on remote island that eat albatrosses alive sentenced to death by 'bombing,' scientists decree
The wandering albatrosses of Marion Island can't defend themselves against an invasive mice population that devours birds alive, but conservationists say a rodenticide 'bomb' could save them.
