This large, flightless bird once inhabited the Indian Ocean Island of Rodrigues in the Mascarene archipelago. Today, it is a largely unknown species, unlike its closest relative – the famously extinct dodo of the neighboring island of Mauritius...
A tall, elegant member of the heron family, this striking wading bird is native to Asia, Africa, and temperate Europe. The heron was a symbolic bird in ancient times. From Ancient Egypt to Ancient Rome, it was highly regarded, as evidenced by its...
Named the buckeye state after the ubiquitous trees dotting the landscape, Ohio boasts a diversity of birdlife. Birds native to Ohio include the great blue heron, the cardinal – which is also the state bird – and a variety of warblers...
Often mistaken for a swallow or a martin, the common swift belongs to a family in its own right – the Apodidae. One of the most remarkable aspects of this species is its aerial prowess. Common swifts spend more time in the air than any other...
A time-honored symbol for the coming of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, the barn swallow is a distinctive, widespread, and revered species. It is the subject of many cultural references and features prominently in literary works. There are six...
A large raptor with a small and dwindling population size, the greater spotted eagle belongs to the Accipitridae – a family of eagles, kites, harriers, and hawks. The name clanga means scream in Ancient Greek, but the genus name is derived from the...
The demure Amur falcon, Falco amurensis, is a small, migratory raptor of the falconidae family. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in spirit as each year the Amur falcon makes a treacherous journey south from the Far East across the Arabian Sea...
The cormorants are believed to be an ancient group of birds. A fossil of one of the earliest known birds reflected a structure markedly similar to the cormorant. Their closest living relatives are darters, gannets, boobies, and pelicans. Cormorants...
For thousands of years, ravens have coexisted with humans. Their imprint in society reflects throughout history in art, culture, and literature. For centuries, ravens have been prominent symbols in mythology and folklore. They were also revered as...
For centuries, the sacred ibis was a venerated bird in Ancient Egypt. Millions of ibises were sacrificed as offerings to the Egyptian god Thoth. These birds were also revered by the ancient Greeks and Romans. And centuries later, they were...