Understand backyard bird behavior and make your space safer with practical guides to window collisions, territorial behavior, predators and common risks.
Birds chase each other away from feeders because concentrated food creates competition and dominance interactions. Learn why size matters, which birds punch above their weight, and how feeder design can reduce crowding.
Small birds mob hawks and owls to expose, harass and sometimes drive away a predator. Learn why mixed-species mobs form and what the commotion can tell birders.
Birds preen to clean and realign their feathers, remove debris and parasites, and spread preen-gland secretions. Learn how daily feather care works.
Birds take dust baths to maintain their feathers. Dust helps remove oils and debris, and new research shows sand-particle impacts can dislodge feather mites.
Birds spread their wings in the sun to warm up, dry wet plumage and maintain feathers; research also suggests sunning can help control feather lice in some species.
Birds fluff their feathers to trap insulating air, maintain and rearrange plumage, rest, and recover after getting wet. Learn how context reveals what the posture means.
Protect active bird nests during pruning, mowing, hedge trimming and construction by checking first, stopping nearby work and minimizing disturbance until young fledge.
Found a baby bird? Learn nestling vs fledgling clues, when to leave it alone, when to return it to the nest and when to call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
