Live Science14h
30,000-year-old fossilized vulture feathers 'nothing like what we usually see' preserved in volcanic ash
"Fossil feathers are usually preserved in ancient mudrocks laid down in lakes or lagoons. The fossil vulture is preserved in ash deposits, which is extremely unusual," study lead author Valentina ...
From dinosaurs to birds: The origins of feather formation
Feathers are among the most complex cutaneous appendages in the animal kingdom. While their evolutionary origin has been ...
Discover Magazine on MSN1d
Birds-of-Paradise Use Biofluorescence to Attract Mates
Biofluorescence by itself isn't big news; it shows up in plenty of animals, including humans (our teeth fluoresce under UV ...
Immaculate Feather Fossil Reveals the Unlikely Preserving Power of Volcanoes
A 30,000-year-old vulture feather from Central Italy was preserved down to the microscopic level by volcanic rock.
Smithsonian Magazine2d
Why Do Shorebirds Stand on One Leg?
It's a question visitors ask staff all the time at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Bird House. The answer may surprise you!
Interesting Engineering on MSN2d
30,000-year-old vulture fossil with intact feathers created by volcanic eruptions
A 30,000-year-old fossilized vulture from Italy has provided scientists with an unprecedented glimpse into how volcanic rock ...
Michigan's largest swallow is arriving home. Where purple martins have been spotted
Purple martins are returning from South America. The first "scouts" have been spotted in Michigan. What to know.
Earth.com2d
Hummingbird chick mimics a toxic caterpillar to evade predators
Scientists discovered a hummingbird chick that twitches like a caterpillar. This behavior scares off predators.
Yes, photographers have genuinely captured images of starlings flying in the shape of a bird
Photos shared to social media claim to depict a swarm of starlings flying through the air often, incredibly, in the shape of ...
University of Colorado Boulder4d
Small bird, big trick: How a hummingbird chick acts like a caterpillar to survive
When Jay Falk and Scott Taylor first saw the white-necked Jacobin hummingbird chick in Panama’s dense rainforest, the bird biologists didn’t know what they were ...
Smith: Nest boxes help put wind beneath birds' wings
Nest boxes help many species of birds, including eastern bluebirds, tree swallows and wood ducks, by providing protection ...
National Audubon Society13d
Birds-of-Paradise Feathers Are More Than Flashy—They Glow
Researchers recently discovered that dozens of species in the flamboyant family are biofluorescent, emitting a gleaming light ...