Birds

The lyrebird is the most accurate mimic in the animal world. What it really imitates, how rare each species is, and why the chainsaw clip is misleading.

Kookaburras are the largest kingfishers on Earth, and they hunt snakes and lizards instead of fish. The laugh, the four species, and whether they are legal in the US.

The Andean condor is the heaviest flying bird of prey on Earth. Wingspan, weight, diet, how many are left, and why it could never carry off a human.

The rasping conk-la-ree is only one of five sounds this marsh bird makes. Here is how male song, female chatter and alarm calls differ.

The nasal yank-yank of a nuthatch is one of the easiest bird calls to learn. Here is how the four US species sound and what each call signals.

A fast even drum roll is a territorial signal; slow irregular tapping means the bird is feeding or excavating. How to tell them apart and what to do about it.

The western screech owl sound is a bouncing ball series of soft whistles, not a screech. Here are the calls, what they mean at night, and when to listen.

A Fish Crow gives a short, nasal uh-uh instead of the clear caw of an American Crow. Here is how to hear the difference, and the summer trap that fools almost everyone.

Distress calls move birds, ultrasonic devices do not. What the evidence says about sound bird deterrents and how long each one lasts.

The number of dee notes in a chickadee call is a threat rating. Here is what each chickadee sound means and how to tell the species apart by ear.