News

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Photos in the Macaulay Library Help Uncover Hummingbird Feather Replacement Patterns and More
By Kathi Borgmann
The Macaulay Library started archiving photos from birders who add them to eBird checklists in 2015. Since then the library has accumulated more than 34 million photos of 10,350 species. The collection, Mike Webster, director of the Macaulay Library, says “is a gold mine for birders and researchers alike.” New research out this week in…
Read more Photos in the Macaulay Library Help Uncover Hummingbird Feather Replacement Patterns and More
Red-legged Cormorant

2021 Year in Review: eBird, Merlin, Macaulay Library, and Birds of the World
By Macaulay Library and Team eBird
2021 was a year of milestones. From one billion records in eBird, to the transformative launch of Merlin Sound ID, to new conservation decision-making tools powered by eBird Status and Trends visualizations, there’s a lot we’ll remember from the past twelve months. This year, millions of people from every country in the world joined us…
Read more 2021 Year in Review: eBird, Merlin, Macaulay Library, and Birds of the World
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird

2021 Publications Using Assets from the Macaulay Library
By Macaulay Library Team
Allport, G., J. M. Collinson, S. S. Seneviratne, and T. J. Shannon (2021). Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis and Western Yellow Wagtail M. flava in Sri Lanka with comments on their status in South Asia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 141:372–386. Bateman, H. L., S. B. Riddle, and E. S. Cubley (2021). Using Bioacoustics…
Read more 2021 Publications Using Assets from the Macaulay Library
Indian Pied Starling

The Oriental Bird Club Image Database Has a New Home at the Macaulay Library
By Team Macaulay Library
From 2002 to 2021, the Oriental Bird Club Image Database (OBI) has been a place to share and explore images of Asian birds. Covering regions from Pakistan to Wallacea, and from Mongolia and Japan to the Lesser Sundas and Christmas Island, the OBI website has been an invaluable tool for learning about the avifauna of…
Read more The Oriental Bird Club Image Database Has a New Home at the Macaulay Library
Barn Swallow

Lockdowns & Less Travel May Have Altered the Behavior of Birds
By Team eBird
Ithaca, New York & Winnipeg, Manitoba—Eighty percent of bird species examined in a new study were reported in greater numbers in human-altered habitats during pandemic lockdowns. Researchers compared online eBird observations from the United States and Canada from before and during the pandemic. They focused on areas within about 100 km of urban areas, major…
Read more Lockdowns & Less Travel May Have Altered the Behavior of Birds
Peregrine Falcon

Photos Reveal Purpose of Black Facial Markings in Peregrine Falcons
By Kathi Borgmann
Many animals have black markings under the eye that are said to reduce the amount of glare entering the animal’s eye, improving their ability to see especially in bright conditions. Athletes also subscribe to this idea, often placing black grease or strips under their eyes to reduce glare from the sun or stadium lights. Until…
Read more Photos Reveal Purpose of Black Facial Markings in Peregrine Falcons
Western Black-eared Wheatear

Taxonomy Update Coming!
By Team eBird
August is always an exciting time of year for eBird, since we update all eBird records with the latest scientific advances in bird taxonomy. You might even get some ‘armchair lifers’ as species are split! Whenever possible, we change your records for you to match the expected species when a split or lump occurs—this is…
Read more Taxonomy Update Coming!