The brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) is a small, brood-parasitic songbird native to North America. It inhabits a wide range of open environments, including grasslands, agricultural fields, and forest edges. Instead of building its own nest, it lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, relying on host species to raise its young. This parasitic […]
The Madagascar fish eagle is currently the world’s rarest eagle, with no more than 240 mature individuals. The Great Nicobar serpent eagle may soon surpass it in rarity, though its exact population remains uncertain, with some estimates as low as 200 mature individuals.
The Steller’s sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) is a massive raptor endemic to coastal northeastern Asia. One of the largest and heaviest eagles, it relies primarily on fish. Listed as Vulnerable, it faces threats from habitat loss, overfishing, and lead poisoning, posing serious conservation challenges.
The Himalayan quail (Ophrysia superciliosa) is a critically endangered species of quail, possibly extinct, last confirmed in 1876. It was historically recorded in the Western Himalayas of India, where it inhabited steep grassy slopes interspersed with scrub. Despite multiple surveys, no definitive evidence of its existence has been found in over a century, though some […]
The California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is the largest land bird in North America, with a wingspan reaching up to 3 meters (9.8 feet). Historically widespread across the western part of the continent, its population declined drastically due to habitat destruction, lead poisoning, and hunting. By 1987, the species was extinct in the wild, with all […]
Ravens have long been seen as symbols of intelligence, transformation, and mystery, appearing in folklore, mythology, and cultural traditions across the world. Often regarded as messengers between worlds, they are associated with prophecy, trickery, creation, and even death. Some cultures fear them as omens of misfortune, while others revere them as bearers of wisdom and […]
The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a flightless bird endemic to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Driven to extinction by the late 1600s, it was killed off by human activities, including overhunting, habitat destruction, and the introduction of non-native species that preyed on its eggs. The dodo is one of the earliest recorded cases of a […]
The rosy-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) is a small, social parrot native to southwestern Africa, renowned for its lifelong pair bonds and ability to adapt to arid environments. While wild populations have a green body with a rosy-pink face, selective breeding in captivity has produced various color mutations, including the popular lutino variety, sometimes informally referred […]
Some birds look more like nightmares than nature’s creations. The marabou stork, with its hunched vulture-like stance and bald, wrinkled head, is one of the ugliest scavengers in the animal kingdom, while the shoebill’s eerie, unblinking stare makes it downright scary. The wide-eyed potoo looks permanently creepy, and the southern screamer is both goofy and […]
The Antioquia brushfinch (Atlapetes blancae) is a medium-sized passerine bird endemic to Colombia, inhabiting montane shrubland and forest edges in the northern Andes. Known only from a few collected specimens, it was long considered extinct until its rediscovery in 2018 near San Pedro de los Milagros. Recent surveys estimate a total population of up to […]