Feral cats have made their home on Fire Island.

Why Fire Island Has Seen an Explosion of Feral Cats

In New York’s only federal wilderness area, the loss of a key predator has led to the rise of a new one—with dire consequences for the island’s native birds

A western gull like this one surprised researchers by riding on an 18-wheeler to an outdoor composting facility in California.

A California Gull Hitched a Ride on a Garbage Truck and Took an 80-Mile Journey to a Compost Facility. Then It Happened Again

GPS tracking data showed the bird zooming across bridges and interstates at 60 miles per hour on two occasions in 2018

A flamingo peeks from behind its feathers at the North Carolina Zoo.

Engineers Are Racing to Harness the Dazzling Magic of Feathers. They Haven’t Solved the Mystery Just Yet

The natural marvels, which do everything from enabling acrobatic flight to insulating against Antarctic cold, continue to inspire new designs and technologies

African penguins in captivity are living longer than their wild counterparts, prompting caretakers to reconsider their habitat as they age.

Aquarium Builds New ‘Assisted Living’ Retirement Retreat for Aging African Penguins to Live Out Their Golden Years

At the New England Aquarium, the geriatric birds can now enjoy a quieter, calmer setting with an emphasis on personalized care

An Antarctic skua, one of the birds hardest hit by avian flu in the region. 

Avian Flu Is Rapidly Spreading Across Antarctica

A new expedition offers insights on the deadly virus’ impact in the region

Wisdom the Laysan albatross was banded with a red tag reading Z333 in 1956. She is now raising a newborn chick at the age of at least 74.

See the Adorable Video of Wisdom, the World’s Oldest Wild Bird, Tending to Her New Chick at Age 74

First banded in 1956, the Laysan albatross has become a mother once again at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge

With their eyes nearly front and center, owls don’t benefit much from peripheral vision, but their heads can rotate 135 degrees in any direction, giving them a great field of view.

Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries

See 15 Stunning Photos of Superb Owls to Kick Off This Year’s Super Bowl Weekend

These snapshots of the majestic bird in flight and in trees will leave your soul soaring

An illustration of the Vegavis iaai diving for fish off the coast of the Antarctic peninsula.

Paleontologists Discover Fossil of the Oldest Known Modern Bird—but It Raises More Questions Than It Answers

The fossil suggests that modern birds evolved before the dinosaur-killing asteroid, perhaps in Antarctica

Reef sharks are abundant in the new marine proteted area.

A New Marine Protected Area in the Marshall Islands Is Brimming With Life, Like a ‘Time Machine’ to Oceans Long Ago

The waters around two remote atolls in the central Pacific Ocean—spanning 18,500 square miles—are now protected from fishing

Tetiaroa is a haven for wildlife, including sea turtles, crabs, seabirds, sharks, coral and fish.

Marlon Brando Wanted to Build a ‘University of the Sea.’ These Scientists Are Bringing the Late Actor’s Vision to Life

On Tetiaroa, a vibrant coral atoll dotted with sandy islets, archaeologists, marine biologists and cultural practitioners are working together to improve understanding of a unique ecosystem

Steller's sea eagles are massive birds of prey typically found along the coasts of northeastern Asia. The one pictured above is not the bird spotted in Canada.

Rare and Giant Steller’s Sea Eagle Spotted Thousands of Miles From Home in Eastern Canada Park

The bird, thought to be the only one of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, is presumed to be Stella, an out-of-place raptor spotted at sites across North America in recent years

The life spans of these animals amaze scientists.

From Giant Tortoises to Immortal Jellyfish, These Impressive Animals Are Eight of the Longest-Living Species on Earth

Aging gracefully comes naturally to these creatures, which can live for hundreds, and sometimes even thousands, of years

Gus did not hesitate to belly flop into the ocean.

Gus, the Young Emperor Penguin Who Made a Surprise Appearance in Australia, Is Now Heading Home

Wildlife caretakers released the bird into the Southern Ocean after he’d put on some weight and regained his strength

None

Here’s How Weather Balloons Can Harm Marine Animals

Latex balloons designed to collect high-altitude data can become a threat after they burst

A fledgling peregrine falcon practices hunting with a butterfly.

See Ten Striking Images From the Bird Photographer of the Year Awards

The annual contest unveiled its winners, highlighting avian photos that focus on conservation issues, the beauty of birds and their sometimes hilarious behavior

A young blackpoll warbler with a NanoTag on Borgles Island, Nova Scotia

Tiny Trackers Are Revealing the Secret Lives of Tens of Thousands of Birds

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System has put nearly 50,000 incredibly lightweight radio transmitters on birds, bats and insects. We caught up with an ornithologist to learn more about where these creatures are flying

A species that was previously considered lost, the black-naped pheasant-pigeon, was rediscovered in 2022.

These ‘Lost’ Bird Species Haven’t Been Seen in at Least a Decade—and Scientists Want Help Finding Them

Some of the 126 species on their list haven’t been photographed or recorded in more than century

Winged Life Winner

View 11 Breathtaking Images From the BigPicture Photography Competition

This 2024 showcase of life on Earth shines a light on some of our planet’s most amazing species and places

A popular display in the Whatcom Museum’s Hall of Birds features several owls.

Meet the Taxidermists Who Care for the Animals at Your Favorite Museums

Only a few U.S. museums still employ the specialists. The rest rely on a small group of highly skilled contractors

One of the new benthic landers is lowered into the Gulf of Mexico via a system of winches and safety lines. Once released, the autonomous platform sinks at a carefully calculated rate until it lands on the seafloor.

These Innovative Landers Will Examine Coral Reefs in the Gulf of Mexico

Scientists plan to use what they learn to help restore communities harmed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Page 1 of 9