Order: Passerines & Songbirds

Two Saipan White-eyes sitting next to each other a branch

Like the Golden White-eye, the Saipan White-eye, also known as the Bridled White-eye, is a small, understory specialist. Restricted to the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, this species occurs in a wide variety of wooded and semi-wooded habitats, including native limestone forest, scrubby secondary growth of disturbed habitats, and even urban areas….

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Red-legged Honeycreeper perched on a branch

One look at the Red-legged Honeycreeper and it’s easy to see where it gets its name. Largest of the Cyanerpes honeycreepers at about 12 centimeters long, both male and female Red-legged Honeycreepers sport bright, candy-red legs and a long, sharp bill that’s almost as recognizable as their legs. Males in breeding plumage are a brilliant…

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Male Red

The Red Siskin is an Endangered species owing to its popularity as a cage bird. The Red Siskin is a vibrantly colored finch that was once plentiful in Venezuela and so recognizable that their image is printed on Venezuelan banknotes, written into poetry, and appears in works of art. Native to the northern regions of…

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Red Bishop perched on a rock

The Northern Red Bishop, sometimes called the Orange Bishop, is a small songbird found in the grasslands and wetlands of Africa. Some populations have become established in other areas, as well. This species forages in small flocks, primarily eating seeds. Males are a stunning orange. Females are less colorful but have beautiful streaking. Their song…

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Owl Finch perched on a branch

The Owl Finch, or Double-barred Finch, is a handsome bird from northern and eastern Australia, where it is found in open grassy woodlands, scrublands, forest edge, and grassy vegetation along larger watercourses, as well as more anthropogenic habitats such as cane fields, roadsides, and parks and gardens. Like similar finches, the Owl Finch feeds of…

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A Grosbeak Starling perched on a branch

The Grosbeak Starling, also known as the Finch-billed Myna, is endemic to the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia where it inhabits forest edge and open woodlands. It is also very common in modified habitats such as plantations. The Grosbeak Starling often forages in large groups with other Grosbeak Starlings high in the canopy where it consumes…

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Golden-crested Myna perched on a wooden stump

A native of lowland evergreen forest, deciduous and mixed woodland, open forest, and cleared areas with scattered tall trees of India and Indochina, the striking Golden-crested Myna forages for fruit and insects high in the canopy. A cavity nester, this species most frequently utilizes natural holes in trees. Although Golden-crested Mynas are often captured for…

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A Golden-breasted Starling perched on a branch

The Golden-breasted Starling is a beautifully colored bird, unmistakable and hard to miss! It inhabits the dry bush and savanna of the arid and semi-arid regions of northeastern Africa. This starling forages mainly on the ground for a variety of insects and some fruits, but termites are a favorite food. This species is a cooperative…

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A Golden White-eye perched on a branch

A small, understory specialist, the Golden White-eye is an Endangered bird restricted to the islands of Saipan and Aguijan in the Northern Mariana Islands. This species occurs in a wide variety of wooded and semi-wooded habitats, including suburban areas where it pursues a generalized diet of berries, seeds, nectar, and flower parts, as well as…

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A Fairy Bluebird perched on a branch

The Asian Fairy-bluebird lives up to its name: this bird’s plumage is a deep, brilliant blue. Males have glossy black feathers on the wings, chest, and tail, and the eyes of both sexes are bright red. Found in tropical forests throughout Southeast Asia, the Asian Fairy-bluebird mainly eats fruit, which it takes while perched or…

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Dhyal Thrush perched on a branch

The Dhyal Thrush, also called the Oriental Magpie-Robin, is a small songbird found throughout India and southeast Asia. It is the national bird of Bangladesh. The Dhyal Thrush can be found in a variety of habitats including deciduous forest, orchards, cacao plantations, and even in residential village gardens. It has a clear warbling song that…

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A Crested Oropendola perched on a wooden stump

The Crested Oropendola inhabits forest edges and clearings in lowland South America east of the Andes Mountains. This species forages mostly in the upper stratum of trees on fruits, insects, and spiders, as well as small vertebrates such as tree frogs. The Crested Oropendola will also take cultivated fruits such as oranges, papayas, and mangos….

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In The News

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How to attract orioles to your yard this spring | National Geographic

These songbirds have a conspicuous sweet tooth—but experts say putting out oranges and other fruits isn't the only way to turn your backyard into an oriole hotspot.

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4 peregrine chicks roost atop Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning, one of the city’s most prolific falcon nurseries | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Carla and Ecco have their talons full with four peregrine falcon chicks at the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning after four eggs hatched recently.

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Four peregrine falcon eggs hatch in nest on top of Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning | CBS News

There are four peregrine falcon chicks in the nest on top of the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning after all the eggs hatched.

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3 peregrine falcon chicks hatch in Cathedral of Learning nest | MSN

High above the crowds in Pittsburgh for the NFL Draft, the team of a beloved peregrine falcon pair was growing.

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The National Aviary’s football connections | Pittsburgh Today Live

Just steps from where all the action will take place sits the largest indoor aviary in the country! Team PTL's Daisy Jade went over to the National Aviary and learned that there is a football connection!

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