Science

Yes, some birds have claws on their wings, but they are unusual and are not an extra set of feet. The best-known living examples are the hoatzin chick and certain young birds in the ostrich family; these claws are most noticeable early in life and have different roles across species. What Is a Wing Claw? […]

Birds that winter in Ohio include year-round residents such as cardinals, chickadees, and downy woodpeckers, along with seasonal visitors such as dark-eyed juncos, American tree sparrows, and waterfowl. Which species you see depends on habitat, weather, food, and where in the state you are; Ohio’s lakes, wetlands, fields, woods, and neighborhoods all support different winter

Ground-feeding birds find much of their food on the soil, leaf litter, grass, or other low surfaces rather than catching it in the air or taking it chiefly from elevated feeders. Common examples include sparrows, doves, juncos, towhees, blackbirds, quail, and many pheasants, though a bird’s diet and feeding habits vary with its species, season,

There is no well-supported answer that whales as a group are smarter than dolphins, or vice versa. Both include species with sophisticated social lives, communication, learning, and problem-solving, but intelligence varies by species and is difficult to compare fairly. Why the Comparison Is Difficult “Whale” can mean different things in everyday speech. In biology, whales

Wood ducks and mandarin ducks are closely related, brightly patterned perching ducks, but they are different species with different native ranges. The quickest clue is geography: wood ducks are native to North America, while mandarin ducks are native to East Asia; their plumage, calls, and nesting habits also help distinguish them. At a Glance Both

Owls call mainly to communicate: their sounds help them defend territory, attract or contact mates, and keep family members in touch. The meaning depends on the species, the caller, and the situation, so a hoot is not always a mating call or a warning. Why owls use calls Calls are an important part of an

Birds do not all finish nesting at the same time: in many temperate regions, most nesting activity winds down from late spring through summer, but some species begin earlier, raise several broods, or continue into autumn. The exact timing depends on the species, local climate, food supply, and whether a bird is building a nest,

“Flying ant day” is an informal name for a period when large numbers of winged ants appear in the air, often around the same time in a local area. It is not a scientific name for a holiday or a single scheduled event: the familiar sight is a seasonal mating flight, and its timing varies

A red spider lily is a flowering plant best known for its vivid red blooms, long curved petals, and prominent stamens. The name usually refers to Lycoris radiata, a bulb-forming species in the amaryllis family, though common names can vary by region and sometimes cover related plants. It is a botanical common name, not slang

River animals include fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, and many kinds of invertebrates. They live in moving freshwater and in the varied habitats along its banks, from cold headwaters to broad, slow-flowing lower reaches. What counts as a river animal? The term covers animals that spend all or part of their lives in a river