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Cornell Lab eNews

June 8, 2025

Click or tap to read a story about the amazing variety of Red-tailed Hawks

Red-tailed Hawk tails by Nicole Richardson / Macaulay Library.

See Red-tailed Hawks in a Whole New Light

If you see a soaring hawk with a rusty-red tail and a mostly white belly, you're probably safe in calling it a Red-tailed Hawk. But did you know this species contains a variety of plumage variations, seemingly unrivaled in the world of raptors? Explore the people and birds helping unravel a multicolored mystery in this feature story from the latest Living Bird magazine.

Click or tap to watch a video of a Red-tailed Hawk preening

The Ultimate Red-tail Reveal: Big Red Gets Her Tail into Tip-Top Shape

At first Big Red's tail is obscured by her dark-brown wing feathers in this clip from the Red-tailed Hawk Cam. Then ... what a move! Mom flips up her rich, ruddy tail and begins a languid and lovely preening session as the growing nestlings look on in wonder. Watch now.

Mystery birds Dina Perry and Brad Imhoff.

Which Bird Is the Hermit Thrush?

We're excited to introduce a cool new Bird ID quiz tool that helps you unleash your inner bird nerd! BirdWise can help you learn more than 640 birds from the U.S. and Canada, with infinite challenges that adapt to your learning pace. And with a subscription, you can create custom quizzes by region or bird family. Try it for free! (Answer to "Which Bird is the Hermit Thrush?" below.)

Learn More About BirdWise: Watch Introducing BirdWise, a recent webinar featuring the creators of this new learning tool.

Rufous Hummingbird by

Ken Pitts / Macaulay Library.

Hover-Hover ZIP! Which Hummingbird Was That?

There's a lot to love about the world's smallest and most colorful members of the avian class. Brush up on the 9 most familiar species in North America and see how they are built to shine in the sun like no other bird on Earth. Read more.

Tap or click to read our review of compact binoculars

Photo by Hugh Powell.

Birding While Hiking?

Compact Bins Help Lighten Your Load

Compact binoculars can provide birders with high-quality optics in a modest package. Are any of these the right bins for you? Read our full review of these small but mighty optics.

Bird News and Resources

Songbirds Change Flight Patterns Over Midwest’s Vast Farmlands: Read the news release.

'Tis the Season for Baby Birds: Read our quick guide and be ready in case you or your loved ones find a baby bird on the ground during nesting season.

Join Us at Pigeon Fest on the High Line in NYC, June 14: Come chat with Cornell Lab staff and learn about the Merlin app, bird-friendly actions you can take, and more! RSVP here; hope to see you there!

Attend a Bird Festival: Festivals are a great way to enjoy birds and meet like-minded people. See our bird festival directory.

"Which Bird is the Hermit Thrush?" Answer: The rich brown body contrasting with a rusty red tail help ID the bird on the RIGHT as a Hermit Thrush. The bird on the left is a Gray-cheeked Thrush.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.

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