From learning how the flamingo got it’s pink to dance with the birds of paradise, this circle will help you spread your wings and soar with this some of the planet’s most fascinating creatures—BIRDS!

Explore the articles in this circle to meet a handful of these awesome feathered friends. Their ways of life hold surprises we’re sure you’ll be talking about for days! If you’d like to meet even more of the awesome animals on the planet, check out our entire animal category.

In this Circle

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Image: Crow looking at camera

You’re Probably More Like a Crow than You Thought

25 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Sam Burns

These birds probably live near you, but have you ever noticed just how intelligent they are? No? Well, you’re in for a treat.
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A Closer Look at the Dinosaurs with Us Now!

8 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

Are dinosaurs still around today? You probably know that birds and dinosaurs are evolutionary cousins, but do you know how we know that? Here's a deeper look at a piece of knowledge we might normally take for granted!
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A Bird that Sings Like a Dog… And a Camera?

8 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

Have you ever heard the song of the lyrebird? These strange birds take the sounds of dogs, cameras, chainsaws, and other birds to create their mating calls!
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Image: A red tailed hawk flies with the moon in the background

A River of Raptors

20 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Sam Burns

If we are looking for inspiration and hope these days, we may only have to look up to find it! There is a river of wonder going unnoticed above us, showing us how the health of our planet is holding up. And thankfully, there's an amazing group of people bringing us these insights.
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Image: Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture with wings spread

It’s Raining Bones! (And That’s a Good Thing!)

10 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Louisa Ulrich-Verderber

When it comes to animals doing good in the world, vultures may not instantly come to mind. But bearded vultures are some of nature's most underappreciated creatures!
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Pigeons Light Up the Night Sky

7 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

What happens when the sky is filled with thousands of pigeons carrying LED lights? The artist Duke Riley is reframing these creatures in a more favorable light and along the way inspiring a little wonder in us all...
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Image: Barn Owl in Flight

Ghosts in the Night: How Owls Fly Silently

12 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

Have you ever wondered how owls fly silently? There's more to it than you may think! These remarkable creatures are yet another example how nature never ceases to amaze us.
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Image: Close-up of a cassowary's face

Meet a Living Dinosaur: The Giant Cassowary

7 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Dr. Lynda

Is it possible to find a living dinosaur in some far off corner of the globe? It is if you count the extraordinary, enormous bird called a cassowary!
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Image: Flamingo touching its head to the water with a reflection

How the Flamingo Got Its Pink

5 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

Did you know flamingos are not born with their vibrant plumage? Their beautiful plumage is actually the result of some pretty incredible science and the remarkable ways nature has evolved to find its way!
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Image: Puffins nest on a cliff

Puffins: Ready for Their Close Up!

4 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

How can a plush toy help us capture nature at its best? Here's a whole new look at puffins (the other amazing black and white bird), and how we are filming their lives up-close!
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Turning Birds Into Dinosaurs

12 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

Is turning birds into dinosaurs possible? Creating the dino-chicken isn't just a scientific dream. The science behind the project is already a reality!
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The Secret Life of the Snowy Owl

9 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

What if we could fly along with the snowy owl as it made its migration? An NPR team decided to follow the remarkable journey of Baltimore, the most studied snowy owl in history, to get a glimpse at what the lives of these mysterious creatures looks like!
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Using Bird Vomit to Uncover History!

9 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

How can owl pellets help us make conservation decisions? It turns out a little bit of gross science can have a big impact! And it's actually pretty cool!
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The Unbelievable World of the Birds-of-Paradise

18 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

Deep in the rainforest of Papua New Guinea are some of the most unique birds in the world. Check out the expedition that set out to photograph and study them all!
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The Grand History of the Humble Pigeon

8 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

Why should we appreciate the humble pigeon a little more? It turns out, pigeons are actually much smarter than we give them credit for, not to mention we share a rich history!
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Image: hummingbird

Pollination: Beauty and Key to Life

15 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Dr. Lynda

Here's one of the most fundamental, yet unappreciated processes on earth, filmed in a breathtaking, fascinating and curious way. You'll never look at an apple or flower the same way again!
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Image: Arctic Tern in Fligh

The Evolution of Flight

45 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Dr. Lynda

Only 4 times in the history of animal evolution did creatures take to a completely new element. After water and land,... they took to the air! The evolution of how and why is amazing, and the photography breathtaking!
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Swan Upping: The Ceremony of Conservation

10 minutes

[ Animals ]

By Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

What do swans, nifty uniforms, conservation, and Her Majesty the Queen of England have in common?
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