Of all the marvels of the natural world, few are as astonishing as the common swift (Apus apus). These small birds spend ...

“Awkward” would probably be the most benevolent word I could use to describe the explosive launch into flight of the California quail. Certainly, the words graceful or athletic do not come to mind.

Birds are often seen as harbingers of environmental change, their migratory patterns and breeding habits subtly reflecting shifts in the world around them. For years, scientists have observed that ...