Birds living in cities are usually more colorful and less brown. These colors help them survive better in urban environments.

In a sure sign that spring is not far behind, the first purple martins of the year have been spotted in South Dakota.

Female purple martin is the only species with contrasting gray collar ... During fall, in the East, very large aggregations of thousands of birds form locally in late summer.

Some of Ohio’s breeding birds migrate out of the state during the winter, but cold weather drives other species here. Dark-eyed juncos, short-eared owls, pine siskins, and purple finches are ...

Purple finches nest primarily in forest conifers or dense shrubs, and at times in landscaped areas with trees. Neither species uses birdhouses. “Seemingly similar birds can be really different ...

Enthusiasts can support the birds by setting up suitable housing and reporting sightings to aid conservation efforts. Purple martins, a glossy black and purple swallow species that migrates to ...

More information: Juan Diego Ibáñez‐Álamo et al, Colourful Urban Birds: Bird Species Successful in Urban Environments Have More Elaborate Colours and Less Brown, Ecology Letters (2025). DOI ...

These birds, North America's largest swallow species, travel up to 7,000 miles and play a crucial role in controlling insect populations. Purple martin populations have declined sharply in recent ...

are crucial for the survival of this species. In a sure sign that spring is not far behind, the first purple martins of the year have been spotted in South Dakota. The birds were seen on March 23 ...