- magpies, unlike other corvids, dont take interest in shiny objects. this is because they view the glisten in them as threatening and avoid them at all costs. this reaction is called neophobia!
- swifts spend most of their lives flying! they eat, drink, mate, and even sleep in the air.
- salt is exceptionally toxic to any bird. when consumed, even in the smallest amounts, their kidneys cant process it properly. this can lead to kidney failure, dehydration, and death. other toxic foods are onion, garlic, sugar, and nutmeg, among many others...
- owls are remarkably quiet in flight. this is because their wings are covered by a velvety structure that absorbs the sound of movement. their remiges are serrated like a comb, which allows them to reduce any aerodynamic disturbances
- airplanes have also taken inspiration from their structure! art mimics life they say...
- owls' heads dont turn 360! its actually 270 degrees
- white throated sparrows have four sexes! well... its more behavioral for the other two. they have two biological sexes (male/female), but due to their plumage that varies independently from gender, and with them mating exclusively with the opposite morph, it creates the illusion of there being more than two. tan-striped sparrows are more nurturing, while white-striped ones are more aggressive and vocal. think of it like... girlboss and malewife... something like that
- bird sex chromosomes go by the ZW chromosomal system! which is the exact opposite of our mammalian system XY. males go by ZZ and females go by ZW
- wandering albatrosses have the longest wingspan of all birds! measuring in total of 3 – 3.5 m (10 – 11.5 ft), with its single wing length being roughly 1.5 – 1.7 m (5 – 5.5 ft)... never thought I'd be as tall as a bird's wing...
- some species of woodpeckers have super long tongues that wrap around their skull when it isnt being used. it can even serve as a little seatbelt for their brains when theyre pecking at high speeds! talk about efficiency...
- house sparrows are considered invasive outside of their native range (Eurasia and North Africa). sad to see... but at least I'm in Europe myself!
- hummingbirds are the only birds to be able to fly backwards!
jun 19 2026 ∞
jun 23 2026 +