The Institute for Bird Populations

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Since 1989, The Institute for Bird Populations has enabled science-based conservation of species and habitats by studying the abundance, demography, and ecology of birds and other wildlife.

Photo, by Kevin Milazzo, of two Northern Mockingbirds fighting in mid-air. A stock photo of a hand holding a red card used by soccer referees it super-imposed on the bird photo.
Photo of a male Blackpoll Warbler by Ryan Mandelbaum.
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
Photo of an adult Black-headed Grosbeak feeding a juvenile by Jerry McFarland. Audio of juvenile begging calls by Richard E. Webster. Text on video says: Who's that bird? It's a juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak begging its parents for food.
Still image of a riparian habitat in Colorado. A stylized silouhette of a bird is overlayed and text inside the bird says "Who's that bird?" A recording of a bird call plays.
Photo of a Black-capped Chickadee with a beak full of food perched near its nest hole by Aubree Benson. Text on graphic says "Unsolicited Bird Fact: Black-capped Chickadee parents work their tails off to feed their brood. One study estimated that when nestlings are around 12 days old, parents deliver food about 50 times a day for each nestling. If the average clutch size is 6, that's about 300 food deliveries a day! Assuming ~15 hours of daylight at summer solstice, that's about 1 delivery every 3 minutes. Uber eats could never!"
Photo, by marneejill/Flcikr, of a fledgling Chestnut-backed Chickadee with its mouth open showing its bright yellow gape. A speech bubble from the bird says "Mmoooooomm! I'm Hhuuungry!"
Photo of a male Western Tanager perched on a branch by Larry Lamsa.
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
A photo by Wendy Miller of a male Anna's Hummingbird looking directly at the camera with its gorget flared. Its head and gorget are iridescent deep pinky red.
Photo by marneejill/Flickr of a Belted Kingfisher holding a baby flounder or flatfish in her beak. The fish is folded a bit like a tortilla. Text on the graphic says: Flounder too big for your gullet? No problem! Just fold it like a tortilla!
Photo of two speckled eggs on the ground amid pine needles and small rocks. Inset photo of a Common Nighthawk. Both photos by Kenneth Cole Schneider. Text on the graphic says: Unsolicited Bird Fact- This is a Common Nighthawk "nest," if by nest you mean "spot on the ground where I left my eggs." These birds don't build a nest, they simply lay their eggs on gravel, pine needles or leaves on the forest floor, tar paper roofs, or if they're feeling indugent- moss. Luckily their eggs are well camouflaged, as is the incubating parent, and later the nestlings. I guess if you have a puny beak, short legs, and wimpy beak, hauling nesting material around isn't in your wheelhouse.
Aerial photo of the boreal forest with patches cut due to oil sands development by Xue Yan Chan. A photo of a Palm Warbler by Francesco Veronesi is overlaid on it. Text on the graphic says: If You Restore It, Will They Return? MAPS data provide a long view of the effects of oil sands development and ecological restoration on boreal bird communities.
Photo of a well-camouflaged Common Nighthawk sleeping on a branch
Photo by Jessica D/Flickr of a Tree Swallow perched on a bar with its back to the camera.
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
Graphic with a mouse, American Robin, and salamander overlayed on a silhouette of North America. Text on the graphic says: "Continental Drivers of Population-Level Intraspecific Trait Variability in Salamanders, Birds, and Small Mammals." Fluck, I. E., S. Record, A. Strecker, et al. 2026. Global Ecology and Biogeography 35, no. 7: e70266
Photo of an eBird Map showing summer White Wagtail records concentrated in northeast Asia. An arrow saying "supposed to be here" is pointing to NE Asia and another arrow saying "Not here" is pointing to Arizona. Below is a photo of a White Wagtail by Greg Peterson. Text on the photo says "White Wagtails normally breed in the Koreas, Japan, the Kuril Islands, and the Kamchatka peninsula. * This is not the individual that was seen in Flagstaff."
Photo of a round and adorable Chipping Sparrow perched on a birch log by marneejill/Flickr
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
Photo, by Tom Murray, of an Osprey (with an alarmed look on its face) getting attacked mid-flight by a much smaller Eastern Kingbird.
Photo of a man looking through a small telescope into a forest. An inset photo by Frank D. Lospalluto shows a nestling American Goshawk in a nest. Text on the graphic says: American Goshawks build more than one nest. Female Goshawks may construct 1-8 "alternate" nests in their nesting territories.Scientists aren't sure exactly why, but since the pair often switches between nests each year, it may be to reduce the prevalence of nest parasites like mites, etc.
Photo of a group of Bushtits at the edge of a birdbath by Mike's Birds/Flickr. The bird in the air and the bird perched on the left have dark eyes, while the birds perched on the right have light yellow irises with dark pupils. Text on the graphic says: Unsolicited Bird Fact- Bushtits may be tiny and drab colored but they are full of fun facts! For instance, you can tell male and female bushtits apart by their eye color. All bushtits hatch with dark brown eyes, but in females the color of the iris starts to get lighter in the first couple of weeks after hatching. By 1 month of age 1 they are distinguishable from males. Adult female Bushtits have white, cream, or light yellow irises like the two birds on the right below.
Background photo of a Sierra Nevada Meadow with an overlayed photo of a bumblebee in the center of (Bombus occidentalis) and overlayed photos of the following wildflowers: Toxicoscordion paniculatum, Erythranthe breweri, Erythranthe moschata, Downingia bacigalupii, Penstemon rydbergii, Penstemon deustus, Navarrieta intertexta, Pectiantia, breweri. All photos by Graham Montgomery.
Photo by lee_wu on Flickr of a male Cape May Warbler perched on a twig.
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
Photo of a male Blue-gray Gnatcatcher sitting in a lichen covered nest by John Strung. Text on the graphic says: Unsolicited Bird Dad Fact-Male Blue-gray Gnatcatchers share in incubation duties and sit on the eggs almost as much as the female does (though they don't develop a brood patch.) Typically male songbirds do not help incubate, although some feed the incubating female, allowing her to take to fewer foraging breaks. Male incubation and males feeding their incubating mates increases the amount of time a parent is at the nest, which may help keep the eggs at a consistent temperature, or reduce the risk of nest predation or parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds.
Video of a Warbling Vireo perched on a dead stick and singing by Frank D. Lospalluto.
Photo by Jo Garbutt. A male Goldeneye with its head low and neck submerged in water with bill tipped up. This is a threat display, but it you anthropomorphize the body language/expression the duck looks like it is horrified and trying to hide.
Photo of female or immature Purple Finch at a fever by Rob Kleine.
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
Photo of a Burrowing Owl with legs extended by Wendy Miller. A graphic of soccer ball is added. A speech bubble from the owl says "Futbol is life!" "Text on the graphic says "Good Luck Tonight USMNT!"
A photo by Wendy Miller of a female Tufted Titmouse looking straight at the camera with a beak full of delicate bark strips.
Close-up photo of a California Towhee by Doug Greenberg
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
Photo of a Spotted Towhee sitting in a bird bath by marneejill/Flickr.
A man in an Institute for Bird Populations hat stands in a forest with bird posters on display and students sitting on the ground in front of him. Text on the image says: IBP Research Ecologist Dr. Jim Saracco recently took a turn as teacher for Mt Lebanon Nature Conservancy's "School in the Park" Program near his home in Pennsylvania. He and the students dissected owl pellets, listened for bird songs, and talked about why birds are important.
Photo of a male Anna's Hummingbird sipping from a flower by Becky Matsubara. Text on graphic says: Unsolicited Bird Fact- Anna's Hummingbirds have greatly expanded their range due to humans. In the late 1800s this species only bred as far north as the lower 2⅓ of California. But once humans started planting eucalyptus trees and other non-native flowering plants around our homes, their range expanded north. Anna's hummingbirds reached OR, WA and British Columbia in the 1960s and Alaska in 1971.
Photo of a possible Lesser Frigatebird in flight taken May 21, 2026 in San Clemente by Thomas A. Benson. Inset photo of IBP biologist Peter Pyle. Text on graphic says: IBP Biologist Peter Pyle got to weigh in on a possible Lesser Frigatebird spotted in San Clemente, CA last month. Is this just an individual with wanderlust or part of a trend? Read more at the link in text.
Graphic with a background photo of Giant Cane by Jerry Oldenettel and an inset photo of a Swainson's Warbler by Richard Gibbons. Text on graphic says Unsolicited Bird Fact- Swainson's Warblers are skulky, secretive warblers that breed in the southeastern US in habitats with dense understories where they forage in the leaf litter. One of their favored habitats are thickets of Giant Cane (Arundinaria gigantea) a native species of bamboo which once grew in vast "canebreaks" in the southeastern US. Approximately 98% of the historic extent of these canebrakes has been lost to human development. This habitat loss is likely one cause of population declines in this species. Another species that was associated with these canebrakes, Bachman's Warblers, was declared extinct in 2023.
Graphic with a background of a map of Utah with a pin in south-central region of the state. Text on graphic says New Acoustic Ecology Project. Inset phots depict IBP staff hiking in sunny conditions and snowy conditions. Another inset shows an IBP staffer securing an Autonomous Recording device to a downed tree. Additional insets show a picture of a Pinyon Jay by Nick Athanas and a picture of a Juniper Titmouse by Tom Wilberding.
Photo of a Grasshopper Sparrow standing in long grass and weeds by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren.
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
Photo of 2 adult Great Gray Owls and a chick in their nest in the top of a snag by Connor Ragland. The adult male is delivering a rodent to the chick.
Photo of a barn owl (by Mick Thompson) with a graphic of a graduation cap on its head. Text on graphic says: Avian High School, Class of 2026 YEARBOOK POLL 1. Bird most likely to beome an award-winning architect: 2. Bird most likely to be arrested for assault: 3. Bird most likely to win a Best Actor/Actress Oscar:
Photo of a singing Wilson's Warbler by Mick Thompson. A graphic of a tiny graduation cap has been added to its head. Text on graphic says: Avian High School Class of 2026 YEARBOOK POLL 1. Bird most likely to serve time for tax evasion: 2. Bird most likely to join cast of SNL: 3. Bird most likely to win The Voice*: *TV Singing Competition
Photo of a Magnolia Warbler perched on a branch by Ana & Victor/Flickr
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
Photo of a female American Goldfinch with thistle down in her beak by Kenneth Cole Schneider. Text on the graphic says: Unsolicited Bird Fact- American Goldfinches start nesting much later than most other songbirds. This may be to coincide with peak abundance of their favorite food, thistles, or to accommodate their spring molt. Because they start so late, most goldfinch pairs only have time to raise one brood of babies. But experienced females may squeeze in a second brood by leaving her mate to finish raising the first brood and finding herself a new mate for her second attempt.
Photo from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon by Loren Kerns. Text on photo says: Drought And Fire Are Changing Southwestern Mixed-Conifer Forests, With Big Consequences For Birds.
Photo by Sunny/Flickr of a Red-tailed Hawk flying towards the camera with an Eastern Kingbird riding its back with its crown feathers raised and the red-orange feathers on the crown exposed.
Photo of an Eastern Kingbird held in a bird bander's hand. The kingbird has its crown feathers raised showing the patch of red-orange feathers on the top of its head.
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
A newspaper clipping from the Salem Statesman Journal, January 19, 2015 (courtesy of Willamette Biology's Flickr account) Clipping is the Quote/Unquote section. A photo of Ron Jaecks with the quote: "It was like a huge electric shock ran through my body, but also like I got hit in the head with a two by four all at the same time. Or maybe a strike of lightning"- Ron Jaecks of Salem describing how he felt when he was attacked by what he thinks was an owl while running at Bush's Pasture Park. A second photo of David Craig with the quote: "As scary as it was for Ron, it's a wonderful thing that Salem can offer such a great habitat. I wish it would have happened to me. I would have loved that." David Craig, a biology professor and animal behavior specialist at Willamette University whom Jaecks called after the incident.
Photo by Mike Allen of an Acadian Flycatcher nest from below with long tendrils of nest material dangling below it. An inset photo by Howard Patterson shows an Acadian Flycatcher. Text on the graphic says: Unsolicited Bird Fact-Acadian Flycatchers often adorn their hammock-like nests with "tails" or long, dangling tendrils. Scientists hypothesized that the tails might help camouflage the nest from predators by making their shape less nest-like, but a 2012 study' found the number and length of nest tails did not explain the variation in nest predation rates. Now a recent study by Brazilian researchers manipulated nest tails in experimental Blue Manakin nests found that tails significantly reduced predation. These are 2 very different studies with different conclusions. It seems the "function of nest tails" (if they have one) is still up for debate. 1 - Master and Allen (2012) The American Midland Naturalist, 167(1):136-149 2-Bueno Martins et al (2026) Biol Lett (22 (1): 20250453
Photo of a singing male Lazuli Bunting by Doug Greenberg.
Photo of a male House Sparrow peeking out from some dead twigs by Rob Kleine
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
Photo of a Great Horned Owl and a Black-billed Magpie perched on an aspen branch by Sunny/Flickr. Speech bubble from Magpie says: "Get your feathered @#%* and your fake horns out of this neighborhood you sick ^%#!" Speech bubble from owl says: "Why all the hate, man? You're blowing this out of proportion! Your kids are like less than 5% of my diet!" Text on larger graphic says: Unsolicited Bird Fact- Great Horned Owls get a lot of hate from other birds. In fact, a great way to find a Great Horned during the day is to follow the sound of angry ravens, crows, magpies or jays. Some of this hate is earned- these owls will steal the nestlings of other birds during the night, but they usually go after waterfowl. Birds ARE a part of their flexible diet, but rodents, from rabbits to mice, generally make up over 75% of their meals.
Photo of a Blue Grosbeak perched in a green maple tree by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren. Photo is inset on a black background with stars and text on the graphic says Happy Earth Day from your friends at The Institute for Bird Populations.