Birds, SIT-WHI
Hummingbirds, chickens, flamingos, pheasants: birds may come in all different shapes and sizes, but they all possess feathers, which is the easiest way to distinguish them from all other animals. Although not all species of bird can fly (sorry about that, ostriches), many birds do enjoy the power of flight, and this has permitted an almost unlimited diversification of birds, so that birds are now found virtually everywhere on Earth.
Birds Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Sittella
Sittella, any of about two species of Australasian birds of the genus Daphoenositta, sometimes placed in the nuthatch......
Skimmer
Skimmer, any of three species of water birds that constitute the family Rynchopidae in the order Charadriiformes.......
Skua
Skua, any of several predatory seabirds. In American usage, the name is restricted to Catharacta skua, called great......
Skylark
Skylark, (Alauda arvensis), Species of Old World lark particularly noted for its rich, sustained song and for singing......
Slender-billed curlew
Slender-billed curlew, (Numenius tenuirostris), wide-ranging migratory shorebird once found in wetlands, grasslands,......
Snares penguin
Snares penguin, (Eudyptes robustus), species of crested penguin (genus Eudyptes, order Sphenisciformes) characterized......
Snipe
Snipe, any of about 20 species belonging to the shorebird family Scolopacidae (order Charadriiformes). Snipes frequent......
Snow goose
Snow goose, (Chen caerulescens), a species of North American goose that may be either white or dark with black......
Snowy egret
Snowy egret, (Egretta thula), white New World egret (family Ardeidae). It is about 24 inches (60 cm) long and has......
Snowy owl
Snowy owl, (Nyctea scandiaca), white or barred, brown-and-white bird of prey of the family Strigidae (order Strigiformes).......
Social weaver
Social weaver, any of a number of small African birds of the family Ploceidae (order Passeriformes) that are extremely......
Songbird
Songbird, any member of the suborder Passeri (or Oscines), of the order Passeriformes, including about 4,000 species—nearly......
Songlark
Songlark, either of the two species of the Australian genus Cinclorhamphus, of the songbird family Sylviidae. Both......
Spadebill
Spadebill, any of six species of New World flycatchers (family Tyrannidae, order Passeriformes) whose triangular......
Sparrow
Sparrow, any of a number of small, chiefly seed-eating birds having conical bills. The name sparrow is most firmly......
Sparrowhawk
Sparrowhawk, any of various small birds of prey usually of the genus Accipiter (family Accipitridae), classified......
Spectacled owl
Spectacled owl, (Pulsatrix perspicillata), nocturnal bird of prey found in tropical American forests and named......
Spoonbill
Spoonbill, any member of six species of long-legged wading birds that constitute the subfamily Plataleinae of the......
Spotted owl
Spotted owl, (Strix occidentalis), nonmigratory species of earless North American owls best known for its strong......
Starling
Starling, any of a number of birds composing most of the family Sturnidae (order Passeriformes), especially the......
Steamer duck
Steamer duck, (genus Tachyeres), any of four species of heavily built, big-billed sea ducks of southernmost South......
Stifftail
Stifftail, any of several small, round ducks with short wings and long, spiky tail feathers, of the tribe Oxyurini,......
Stilt
Stilt, any of certain species of shorebirds belonging to the family Recurvirostridae (order Charadriiformes), characterized......
Stonechat
Stonechat, (species Saxicola torquatus), Eurasian and African thrush (family Muscicapidae, order Passeriformes)......
Stork
Stork, (family Ciconiidae), any of about 20 species of long-necked large birds constituting the family Ciconiidae......
Storm petrel
Storm petrel, any member of about 20 species of seabirds constituting the family Hydrobatidae, or sometimes considered......
Sturnidae
Sturnidae, songbird family, order Passeriformes, consisting of the starlings and mynahs, nearly 120 species of......
Suboscine
Suboscine, in general, any bird of the suborder Tyranni of the order Passeriformes (perching birds, or passerines)......
Sun bittern
Sun bittern, (species Eurypyga helias), slender bird of tropical America, the sole member of the family Eurypygidae......
Sunbird
Sunbird, any of about 95 species of the songbird family Nectariniidae (order Passeriformes) that have brilliant......
Surfbird
Surfbird, (Aphriza virgata), American shorebird that has a black triangle on its otherwise white tail. Surfbirds......
Swallow
Swallow, any of the approximately 90 species of the bird family Hirundinidae (order Passeriformes). A few, including......
Swallow-tanager
Swallow-tanager, (Tersina viridis), bird of northern South America, the sole member of the subfamily Tersininae,......
Swan
Swan, largest waterfowl species of the subfamily Anserinae, family Anatidae (order Anseriformes). Most swans are......
Swift
Swift, any of about 75 species of agile, fast-flying birds of the family Apodidae (sometimes Micropodidae), in......
Swiftlet
Swiftlet, (genus Collocalia), any of numerous species of cave-dwelling birds belonging to the swift family, Apodidae,......
Sylviidae
Sylviidae, songbird family, order Passeriformes, consisting of numerous species of small dull-coloured active birds......
Tailorbird
Tailorbird, any of the nine species of the genus Orthotomus, of the Old World warbler family Sylviidae, that sew......
Takahe
Takahe, (Porphyrio hochstetteri), rare flightless bird of New Zealand that was thought to have become extinct in......
Tanager
Tanager, any of numerous songbirds of the family Thraupidae inhabiting chiefly tropical New World forests and gardens.......
Tapaculo
Tapaculo, any of about 55 species of ground-dwelling birds distributed across 12 genera in the family Rhinocryptidae......
Tattler
Tattler, any shorebird that is easily alarmed and calls loudly when it senses danger. Broadly, tattlers are birds......
Teal
Teal, any of about 32 small ducks of the genus Anas (family Anatidae), found on the six major continents and many......
Tern
Tern, any of about 40 species of slender, graceful water birds that constitute the subfamily Sterninae, of the......
Thickhead
Thickhead, any of about 35 species constituting the songbird family Pachycephalidae (order Passeriformes), considered......
Thickknee
Thickknee, any of numerous shorebirds that constitute the family Burhinidae (order Charadriiformes). The bird is......
Thrasher
Thrasher, any of numerous New World birds with downcurved bills, noted for noisy foraging on the ground in dense......
Thrush
Thrush, any of the numerous species belonging to the songbird family Turdidae, treated by some authorities as a......
Tinamou
Tinamou, (order Tinamiformes), any of about 47 species of ground-dwelling birds found in Central and South America.......
Tinkerbird
Tinkerbird, any of several species of tiny barbets, which, at 9 cm (3.5 inches), are the smallest of the family......
Tit-babbler
Tit-babbler, any of a number of birds belonging to the babbler family Timaliidae (order Passeriformes). The 35......
Titmouse
Titmouse, small cheery-voiced nonmigratory woodland bird. Along with the chickadees, titmice make up the family......
Tityra
Tityra, (genus Tityra), any of three species of tropical American birds of the cotinga family (Cotingidae, order......
Today in History—June 28: A Milestone Moment for Bald Eagles
This day in 2007 represented a rare conservation victory: Bald eagles were removed from the endangered species......
Today in History—March 23: The U.S. Military’s Pigeon Service Ends
Draft ads that ran during World War I might’ve read like this: Seeking service members to deliver messages on the......
Tody
Tody, any of five species of small, brilliantly coloured forest birds constituting the genus Todus of the order......
Torrent duck
Torrent duck, (species Merganetta armata), long-bodied duck, found along rushing mountain streams in the Andes.......
Toucan
Toucan, (family Ramphastidae), the common name given to numerous species of tropical American forest birds known......
Toucanet
Toucanet, any of about 12 species of small and relatively short-billed toucans of the genera Aulacorhynchus and......
Towhee
Towhee, (genus Pipilo), any of several North American birds in the family Emberizidae, order Passeriformes, that......
Treecreeper
Treecreeper, any of more than a dozen species of small slender birds, with downcurved bills, that spiral up tree......
Trogon
Trogon, (family Trogonidae), any of about 35 bird species common to warm regions. They constitute the family of......
Tropic bird
Tropic bird, any member of three seabird species that constitute the family Phaethontidae (order Pelecaniformes......
Trumpeter
Trumpeter, any of three species of long-legged, round-bodied birds comprising the family Psophiidae (order Gruiformes).......
Trumpeter swan
Trumpeter swan, Black-billed species (Cygnus cygnus buccinator) of swan, named for its far-carrying, low-pitched......
Turaco
Turaco, (order Musophagiformes), any of about 18 species in six genera of colourful, fruit-eating African birds.......
Turdidae
Turdidae, songbird family, order Passeriformes, consisting of the thrushes, bluebirds, robins, and other birds—hundreds......
Turkey
Turkey, either of two species of birds classified as members of either the family Phasianidae or Meleagrididae......
Turkey vulture
Turkey vulture, (Cathartes aura), long-winged long-tailed vulture (family Cathartidae) that has dark plumage, a......
Turnstone
Turnstone, either of two species of shorebirds (genus Arenaria) that constitute the subfamily Arenariinae (family......
Turtledove
Turtledove, (Streptopelia turtur), European and North African bird of the pigeon family, Columbidae (order Columbiformes),......
Tyrannulet
Tyrannulet, any of about 50 species of birds in the tyrant flycatcher family, Tyrannidae (order Passeriformes).......
Tyrant flycatcher
Tyrant flycatcher, any of about 400 species of aggressive insect-eating New World birds of the family Tyrannidae......
Umbrellabird
Umbrellabird, any of three species of cotingas (family Cotingidae, order Passeriformes) of tropical American forests.......
Vanga-shrike
Vanga-shrike, any of the 15 species of Madagascan birds constituting the bird family Vangidae (order Passeriformes).......
Velvet-purple coronet
Velvet-purple coronet, (Boissonneaua jardini), nonmigratory South American hummingbird species known for its resplendent......
Vireo
Vireo, (family Vireonidae), any of approximately 50 species of New World birds in the order Passeriformes. These......
Vulture
Vulture, any of 22 species of large carrion-eating birds that live predominantly in the tropics and subtropics,......
Wagtail
Wagtail, any of about 12 species of the bird genus Motacilla, of the family Motacillidae, together with the forest......
Wall creeper
Wall creeper, (Tichodroma muraria), bird of the mountains of southern Europe to central Asia, largest member of......
Warbler
Warbler, any of various species of small songbirds belonging predominantly to the Sylviidae (sometimes considered......
Water cock
Water cock, (Gallicrex cinerea), marsh bird of the rail family, Rallidae (order Gruiformes). It occurs from India......
Water rail
Water rail, (Rallus aquaticus), slender marsh bird of the family Rallidae (order Gruiformes), native to most of......
Waterfowl
Waterfowl, in the United States, all varieties of ducks, geese, and swans; the term is sometimes expanded to include......
Wattle-eye
Wattle-eye, any of a number of small, stubby African songbirds of the family Platysteiridae; some authorities retain......
Waxbill
Waxbill, any of several Old World tropical birds named for the prominent red (the colour of sealing wax) of their......
Waxwing
Waxwing, any of three species of birds belonging to the songbird family Bombycillidae (order Passeriformes). They......
Weaver
Weaver, any of a number of small finchlike birds of the Old World, or any of several related birds that are noted......
Weaver-finch
Weaver-finch, any of numerous songbirds belonging to the family Estrildidae (order Passeriformes), individually......
Weka
Weka, (Gallirallus australis), species of nonmigratory flightless bird of the rail family (Rallidae) that is endemic......
What are the differences between hawks and falcons?
Hawks and falcons, while both being birds of prey, belong to different taxonomic families, and, according to a......
What do ducks eat?
Ducks are omnivorous birds that feed on both plants and animals. Their varied diet may include aquatic vegetation,......
What Is a Mega Penguin?
The largest of today’s penguins reach only about chest height on an adult human, so the thought of one looking......
What is the wingspan of an eagle?
How large an eagle’s wingspan is depends on the species of the eagle. It may be less than 1 meter (3.28 feet) in......
Wheatear
Wheatear, (genus Oenanthe), any of a group of approximately 20 species of thrushes belonging to the family Muscicapidae.......
Where Do Falcons Typically Live?
Falcons are birds of prey that live virtually worldwide. Of the nearly 60 species of falcons, the peregrine falcon......
Which parrots are most likely to talk?
Among the 333 species of parrots (family Psittacidae), the African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus) is the most......
Whinchat
Whinchat, (Saxicola rubetra), Eurasian thrush named for its habitat: swampy meadows, called, in England, whins.......
Whipbird
Whipbird, either of the four songbird species of the Australian genus Psophodes, assigned to various families depending......
Whippoorwill
Whippoorwill, (Caprimulgus vociferus), nocturnal bird of North America belonging to the family Caprimulgidae (see......