The skuas are predatory sea birds known for their aggressive feeding habits and long migration routes. Their seafaring relatives include gulls, auks, terns, skimmers, and waders, all belonging to the Lari suborder. The genus Stercorarius was...
Also known as the black-throated diver, the Arctic loon is a northern migratory waterbird of the Gaviidae family. Once considered conspecific with the closely related Pacific loon, these two birds are now regarded as sister species together with the...
The red-footed falcon is a small raptor of the Falconidae family. It is a migratory species native to Eastern Europe and Asia, spending winters in Southern Africa. Their population numbers are dropping rapidly, and the species is at risk due to...
Netta rufina is a large diving duck named for the lush, rufous crest of the drake. The species impressive fossil record spans Europe and Asia, tracing back to the Lower Pleistocene. More recent fossils were associated with early human settlements up...
The type species of the genus Aythya was first identified in the 18th century in Lapland, Finland; roots of a prehistoric relative trace back to the Early Pleistocene. In his ancient texts, Aristotle mentions an unidentified seabird that laid...
Emerging from the shadows of its bottomland forest habitat in the early 19th century, the disappearance of Bachman’s Warbler was almost as obscure as its existence. Naturalist John Bachman, a close friend and colleague of James Audubon, first...
As daffodils and crocuses start poking through the snow across the Northern Hemisphere, flocks of birds return from their southern wintering grounds. Goldfinches are among the first to announce the coming of spring, orioles ignite the landscape in...
The African savanna supports an abundance of wildlife. Characterised by an extensive cover of grasses and scattered trees, the savannah provides both nesting sites as well as suitable hunting grounds for a diversity of bird species. This element...
Located in the heart of East Africa, Uganda’s diverse landscape—ranging from dense rainforests and expansive savannas to serene lakeshores and mist-covered mountains—supports over a thousand bird species. Uganda also serves as a stopover and...
The rainforests of Africa are a treasure trove of biodiversity, boasting an incredible array of flora and fauna. Among the myriad of species that call these lush habitats home, birds stand out as the most vibrant and diverse inhabitants of the...