The Secret Lives of Birds

August 04, 2021

The Secret Lives of Birds

Amazing Avians

In 2006, preconceptions about bird intelligence were upended when researchers discovered that magpies can recognize their reflection in a mirror. In this month's eBook, we look at what we've learned about avian cognition and evolution, as well as the complexities of birdsong, surprising data from 100 years of bird banding, and more. For further reading, check out these other titles.

The Science of Birds

Birds are fascinating creatures. They descend from dinosaurs, soar the skies and display cognitive abilities once thought to be reserved for humans. It's easy to understand why so many people are passionate birders. The more you learn about birds, the more captivating they are, and in this eBook, we examine what we know about bird evolution, intelligence, communication, migration and behavior.

Mars: A New Era of Exploration

Was there ever life on Mars? Could life exist there? The latest of nearly 50 missions, NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover is the opening shot of an ambitious plan to find answers. In this eBook, we look at the current state of Mars exploration: what past rovers have told us, the challenges of space travel and searching for life and how Perseverance could change everything we know for decades to come.

How to Do Anything Better

When we think about the things we do every day—driving, working, parenting—we realize that even with tasks we are generally good at, there is always room for improvement. As always, science is on the case. This eBook contains a collection of columns written by Sunny Sea Gold, a health and psychology journalist whose work has appeared in O: The Oprah Magazine and Parents. These selections, published by Scientific American between 2009 – 2017, offer practical tips for acing life from nailing that job interview to giving the perfect gift.