An odd little diver, the main North American representative of the group of stiff-tailed ducks, with spiky tail feathers that are often cocked up in the air. Usually, the Ruddy Duck is lethargic and ...

Dapperly dressed in black, white, and glacial gray, the Northern Shrike might pass as any other songbird. But don’t be fooled ...

Species like Roseate Spoonbills and American Flamingos are unforgettable. Learn to identify every pink bird you might spot in ...

Despite its plain appearance, this flycatcher is often a favorite among eastern birdwatchers. It is among the earliest of migrants, bringing hope that spring is at hand. Seemingly quite tame, the ...

Although its name sounds like a cartoonist's invention, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker does exist. This species is common in the north and east, and is replaced by close relatives in the west. Quiet in ...

Often the most common and widespread gull in North America, especially inland, and numbers are probably still increasing. Sociable at all seasons; concentrations at nesting colonies or at winter ...

This incredibly long-billed sandpiper is the largest shorebird in North America; but more often than not, it is seen away from the shore. The Long-billed Curlew spends the summer on the grasslands of ...

The Surf Scoter is common in winter on both coasts; on Pacific Coast, often seen around fishing piers and harbors. The male's strong head pattern earns the species the hunters' nickname of 'skunk-head ...

Crows are thought to be among our most intelligent birds, and the success of the American Crow in adapting to civilization would seem to confirm this. Despite past attempts to exterminate them, ...

A common bird of western forests. Steller's Jay is most numerous in dense coniferous woods of the mountains and the northwest coast, where its dark colors blend in well in the shadows. Except when ...

A hiker in the north woods sometimes will be followed by a pair of Canada Jays, gliding silently from tree to tree, watching inquisitively. These fluffy jays seem fearless, and they can be a minor ...

This tough bird feeds on rodents and smaller birds for much of the year. It spends the summer in the far north, appearing in southern Canada and the lower 48 States only in winter. Solitary and wary, ...