Photograph via snooOG

Welcome to Ornithology, a subreddit dedicated to the scientific study of wild birds.

This is a place to discuss wild birds in a scientific context — their biology, ecology, evolution, behavior, and more.

Welcome to Ornithology, a subreddit dedicated to the scientific study of wild birds.

This is a place to discuss wild birds in a scientific context — their biology, ecology, evolution, behavior, and more.


RULES:

  1. No posts about pet birds.

  2. No posts or comments supporting harming birds.

  3. Keep comments and posts civil and non-toxic.

For bird ID posts: r/whatsthisbird.


Everything you need to know about:

Avian Biology


Other Bird Subreddits:

/r/BirdPics

/r/Birding

/r/BirdsofPrey

/r/WhatsThisBird


/r/Ornithology

339,342 Subscribers

140

Saw an article about this Yellow Cardinal! Picture taken in Michigan. Didn’t know this existed! Super cool!

12 Comments
2025/01/10
19:39 UTC

5

Best product/method for cleaning feeders?

Title says it all, looking to get insight on how often/what products for standard seed feeders and hummingbird feeders. TIA!

5 Comments
2025/01/10
16:45 UTC

99

What’s going on with this poor cardinal 😭

Just saw him today at feeder

15 Comments
2025/01/10
16:27 UTC

23

Will nesting mum get hungry during monsoon weather?

Theres a nest outside my house and its currently monsoon season, it will be raining non-stop the next few days. Usually the mommy bird will go out a few times in the day for food and come back to brood in the evening/night. But due to the monsoon season, it’s been raining nonstop and it will continue for the next few days. The bird hasn’t left the nest for a really long time because of the weather and I’m just wondering if it will be okay without food? It’s not a good idea to leave out food somewhere further from the nest right?

2 Comments
2025/01/10
14:17 UTC

2

How messy are window feeders?

My partner & I live on the third floor of a tenement building, and we recently got an indoor-only cat. He loves to watch the birds from the window, and I was thinking of getting a window feeder for some added mental stimulation. The feeder would be attached to a window that sits almost directly above the front path to the building. I’ve already looked into what specific feeders & seed mixes can prevent the most seed spillage (though recommendations would be appreciated!), but my main concern is how often (if at all) the birds will go to the toilet whilst at the feeder. Will our front path be covered in bird shit? Our downstairs neighbour is a nasty piece of work who I’d rather not upset with birds pooing right outside her window.

2 Comments
2025/01/10
09:15 UTC

9

Are Canadian Geese supposed to come back this early?

I live in Canada, and for the past week or so I've been seeing them return in their flocks or hear their honking. Usually this is very early, so I'm wondering if this is normal?

14 Comments
2025/01/09
22:17 UTC

3

Feeder Type Assistance

I have a number of cowbirds that visit my seed feeder, which is a Pennington Dinette. The bottom of the feeder is a trough that fills by gravity as the seed is eaten. The cow birds must prefer something specific and rake their beaks across the trough a few times, slinging seed out, get a bite and continue raking. They empty the feeder in a few hours.

I'm looking for recommendations on feeder types that they can't do this. I don't mind feeding them, just would prefer it not all be on the ground. I was also thinking of gluing a large plate to the bottom of it so it catches the see but they also do it to a plate style feeder as well.

5 Comments
2025/01/09
14:12 UTC

1,656

Gilded flicker with quite the beak

Got a bird buddy for Christmas and this guy came around today in Mesa, AZ. I have video of him that shows the beak from different angles - it’s quite long and curved (like when ppl grow out their nails too long and the start to curve and twist!) I was able to slow down the video and see that he was able to get a few small chunks of the seeds while visiting at least. That and his condition (from a novice perspective) otherwise looked ok, so I guess he’s surviving despite his beak! But I wondered what else they like to eat so I can keep my feeder stocked with treats for him.

51 Comments
2025/01/09
01:17 UTC

98

Are albatrosses/gulls predatory towards humans?

I'm reading a book on battle cruisers in the world wars and towards the conclusion of one engagement off the Falkland islands, the author makes a quip about "predatory albatrosses" which picked off surviving sailors. It seems far more likely to me that they would have gone for already deceased sailors - but now I'm curious if there are known examples of albatrosses being predatory.

30 Comments
2025/01/08
19:49 UTC

152

how do birds feet not get cold?

i know they puff out their feathers to stay warm, but what about their feet? i had the same thought seeing geese swim on an almost freezing day, i know they have oil on their feathers and such so their skin doesn’t get wet, but they still have their feet kicking around in the cold water. when birds are foraging around in freezing weather or even snow, how do they keep their feet warm?

32 Comments
2025/01/08
04:56 UTC

56

What is on this finch’s face?

12 Comments
2025/01/08
03:02 UTC

6

Birdhouse for finches? Woodpeckers?

I would like to buy some birdhouses for red headed finches, yellow finches, and pileated woodpeckers. Can anyone point me to which cheap ones on Amazon or Lowe's would work best? I don't really have the free time to build them myself right now but would like to put them up.

Obviously the woodpecker house will have to be different, but do yellow finches and red headed finches use the same kind of birdhouse?

I was thinking of attaching them to my fire escape (3 story row house in Baltimore). There is a tree right behind the fire escape so they will have cover/shade there, with branches only a couple feet away.

If I understand correctly, most birds will want at least two houses so they can have alternate houses. So I was thinking maybe 4 finch houses and 2 woodpecker houses. If I'm mistaken, please correct me.

I was thinking the WECH3 on Amazon for the finches.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Wings-WWCH3-Cedar-House/dp/B01N7G02XH&ved=2ahUKEwiPsoPzzeSKAxWZEFkFHSMQKNwQFnoECBcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw30MIu5Hg8G1XaPaOU9NXWN

Thoughts?

P.s. I'd prefer something that sparrows didn't use, but if that's not possible, that's fine

11 Comments
2025/01/07
23:32 UTC

278

Which bird is that, specifically? I have found different answers online. Thanks for your help.

52 Comments
2025/01/07
08:33 UTC

6

3D Printed Birdhouse

Hi all, I printed a birdhouse with PETG (a safe filament that does not break down outside). I am in illinois so typical midwest weather.

Later I read and heard speculation from friends that this is not going to be a good birdhouse because it will get hot in the summer, and cold in the winter.

Lots of people who 3D printed them share their success with it.

If I kept it in a shaded area would it be okay for the birds?

2 Comments
2025/01/07
08:02 UTC

9

Silly question about pigmentation

Say you had a snowy owl or a mostly white gull in your care and you fed it shrimp and algae and krill and other flamingo food… would they turn pink?

6 Comments
2025/01/07
02:15 UTC

37

Subsonic “Roar” from male House Finch?

This red male House Finch flies in and seems to “roar” at another bird in the feeder, twice. The second most ferocious looking “roar” seems to send it fleeing, and the red House Finch takes its spot and chows down on the seed.

Is this a subsonic chirp? Maybe the mic just couldn’t capture it? Curious if anyone knows what is going on here. Fun feeder behavior none the less.

7 Comments
2025/01/07
02:03 UTC

9

Pellets ID

Hi! I’ve been finding many pellets in my backyard and would love to ID the bird!

I live in the San Francisco Bay area and I find the pellets under a large palm tree. I’ve been finding one here and there randomly for a year or two but this week I found about 10 of them.

Each one of them seem to contain a rodent’s skull and bones that I would think is from a rat.

A cooper’s hawk crashed on my house a few weeks ago (he was thankfully ok) but I think the pellets are quite large for a bird of that size. Quarter for scale.

4 Comments
2025/01/07
00:59 UTC

428

Dove in freezing weather

This little guy has been swinging by for some food and hunkered down while it was snowing - and so I thought I’d cover the side of the feeder with a towel while he was gone to keep the wind out.

I’m making sure to keep the food stocked, but is there anything else I can do to help? Temperature is 28f, could go as low as 10f tonight. He didn’t sleep here last night but has been hanging out most of the day. Looks hunkered down like he’s considering sleeping here tonight - just worried and not sure if this temperature range will be okay for him. Thanks!

13 Comments
2025/01/06
21:47 UTC

5

Injured Bird Advice

There's a Eurasian Collared Dove on my deck that appears injured.
It's been there since Jan 4. It doesn't fly away when I come out on the deck and due to the structure of the deck it's stuck there.

I've checked with local animal rescue orgs and they don't rescue this species.
I've put out some food and water for it.
I figure I can catch it and relocate it somewhere, but it's probably doomed.

What's the best course of action?

11 Comments
2025/01/06
20:32 UTC

47

If parrots can thrive in unexpectedly temperate climates, what stops them from becoming invasive?

I’ve observed parrot populations in places like San Francisco and New Jersey — places where they obviously aren’t native, and where one may not expect to find them. Since they seem to do okay in these environments, what stops them from breeding like crazy and becoming a problem? Is there some factor that keeps their populations in check?

27 Comments
2025/01/06
17:55 UTC

0

URGENT!! baby fledgling been attacked by cat

my cat caught a baby starling and i got it out of its mouth. no signs of visible injury but its staying very still and barely moving. its breathing and blinking but thats about it. we CANNOT take it to the vet or rehab centre as it is not native and will be killed. it's currently wrapped in a soft, light jacket in a semi-dimly lit box. wtf do i do?? do i leave it outside and wait for its mama to find it? i won't let MY cats outside, but there are multiple other cats in the area that occasionally enter my backyard. i'm literally sobbing someone please help me. what do i do? dad is at the shops getting bird mix to liquify and feed to it but we don't know how long it will need to stay in a box, if it needs to at all.

12 Comments
2025/01/06
08:40 UTC

5

How do birds know what shape of nest to build?

With some birds, they build very specific shapes of nest (like gourd shaped). How do these birds know to build that shape? And what about the birds that knock eggs out of nests?

4 Comments
2025/01/05
18:56 UTC

11

MBTA question

My friends family found a dead Owl in the back yard, they want to move the carcass to avoid the dogs eating it. Would this be a violation of the MBTA? Her and I are horribly anxious but don’t want the dogs to get sick!

5 Comments
2025/01/05
17:46 UTC

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