The Joy of Birds

Revel in the staggering beauty and surprising behaviors featured in this gallery of our favorite images. Also check out the story behind each shot.

Marvel at the beauty and ingenuity of 14 birds that often get overlooked.

Every year the contest attracts entries capturing rare and unusual moments in the avian world. Check out these 11 highlights.

With autumn on the horizon, you can soon witness—up close and in person—billions of wings on the go in peak season. Here are six of my favorite lookouts.

Ten awesome places to catch one of nature's greatest spectacles.

Yep, it’s actually called a Canada, not a Canadian, Goose. And that’s not even one of our fun facts!

From their viral tunes to their bizarre genetics, this backyard favorite is full of surprises.

Find out why one of North America’s oddest-looking birds is also among the most beloved.

Nature has way better moves than the Funky Chicken.

No, really, what's going on here?

The behavior, called canopy feeding, is an especially effective way to hunt.

Follow these three simple tips to capture the best shot possible.

Great light and the right perspective can really turn your shot around.

Warblers aren't the most cooperative subjects, but they are one of the most beautiful and addictive. Follow this advice to best capture the elusive birds.

These tips will get you and your subject in position for a great image.

You already own a powerful tool for snapping birds. Here’s how to make the most of it.

Do you want to capture a bird's every dip and call? Learn to break in the video mode on your digital camera.

Cartoonist Rosemary Mosco reflects on a season that’s special to her—and not only because she invented it.

Eventually we'll all be cyborgs, so you might as well start thinking about it.

Check out these dumb (but endearing) sounds, courtesy of The Birdist.

The internet meme has been around for seven years now, so it's high time we establish some ground rules.

Now that we know what constitutes a birb, it's time to break down the internet's other two nicknames for birds.

A 10-year-old Facebook group celebrates the surprising and weird sightings that can mark a birding trip—no actual birds required.

Mounting scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of the outdoors is helping shape innovations in medicine, education, and more.

Turning your focus to nature and wildlife can help allay stress and anxiety. But always make others feel at ease, too.

The outdoors may help us focus or heal, but many grow up isolated from it.

With this simple DIY, you can spread the power of native plants far and wide.

Help your feathered friends beat the heat this summer with this easy DIY birdbath.

Attract birds to your yard with a project that's fun for kids of all ages.

This simple backyard project offers shelter for birds in all seasons.

With this easy vegetarian recipe, you can attract insect lovers like woodpeckers and nuthatches.

Help your feathered friends through their journey with an easy DIY project.

A flourishing Facebook group is using the mapping tool to find birds all over the world—and they've already checked off hundreds of species.

In "Red Dead Redemption 2," a birder finds joy and despair in a realistic portrayal of wildlife in the pre-conservation era.

Here's where I failed and the best players cleaned up during 2019's inaugural fantasy birding season.