‘We are hopeful’: small signs of recovery for Scotland’s rare capercaillie bird

13 February 2026 at 01:00

Number of males at RSPB Abernethy rises to 30, after ‘huge amount of work’ by conservationists in Highlands forests

After decades of decline, there are signs of hope for the capercaillie, one of Britain’s most endangered birds.

Populations of the charismatic grouse, which in the UK is found only in the Caledonian pine forests of the Scottish Highlands, have increased by 50%, from 20 males in 2020 to 30 in 2025 at RSPB Abernethy.

These Birds Are of Different Feathers, but They Flock Together

NYT: Science

By:Clarissa Brincat

9 February 2026 at 11:40

Researchers and volunteers in Texas documented birds of different species preening one another. Experts say the behavior may be more common than documented.

Rare Albatross Coasts Above California Waters Far From Home

NYT: Science

By:Mark Walker

1 February 2026 at 12:07

The unexpected sighting of a waved albatross, which was thousands of miles from its typical range, earned it a label ornithologists reserve for the unexpected: an avian “vagrant.”

A rare waved albatross was spotted off the coast of Point Piedras Blancas, Calif., this month.

Filoplumes Are Nature’s Super Feather

NYT: Science

By:Jim Robbins and Bryan Anselm

21 January 2026 at 09:56

Filoplumes may be tiny, but these hairlike feathers enable nonstop flights that span thousands of miles.

Bird Flu Viruses Raise Mounting Concerns Among Scientists

NYT: Science

By:Apoorva Mandavilli

10 January 2026 at 15:27

Researchers are not just worried about the virus popping up on American farms. Other types are causing trouble around the world.

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