Order: Passerines & Songbirds

Loggerhead Shrike on a branch

The National Aviary is home to Loggerhead Shrikes behind-the-scenes. They are hawk-like songbirds that create “food pantries.”

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Yellow-rumped Cacique sitting in a tree

Yellow-rumped Caciques are named after the bright yellow plumage on their rump, which is brighter in males than females.

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Scarlet-faced Liocichla

The striking Scarlet-faced Liocichla is found in the dense, hilly forests in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. These birds are typically furtive, spending much of their time foraging in the…

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Yellow-hooded Blackbird perched on a log

The Yellow-hooded Blackbird occurs in northern South America where it favors marshes with emergent aquatic plants such as cattails or bulrushes, as well as humid savannas, mangroves, and agricultural land…

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White-crested Laughingthrush perched on a branch

The White-crested Laughingthrush occurs in broadleaf evergreen forest and mixed deciduous forest in Southeast Asia and in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. It will also inhabit disturbed forests, secondary…

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The Turquoise Tanager occurs in the Amazon Basin and nearby habitats of South America where it favors forest edge, clearings with scattered trees, tall second growth, riparian forests, and parks…

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Venezuelan Troupial perched on a branch

The Venezuelan Troupial is the national bird of Venezuala. It is found in northern South America and several Caribbean islands. It occurs in dry woodland of acacia and tree-like cacti,…

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Taveta Golden Weaver perched on a branch

The Taveta Golden Weaver occurs in East African in Kenya and Tanzania. They are found in swampy lowland areas during the breeding season. Outside of the breeding season, they are…

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Superb Starling standing on a rock

Superb Starlings are dark iridescent blue on the back of their head and chest, a black face that sets off their bright white eyes, metallic blue-green back and wings, and…

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Silver-beaked Tanager perched on a branch

The Silver-beaked Tanager is a striking South American tanager of brushy forest borders, overgrown clearings, second growth, and shrubs around habitations and riverbanks. Often feeding in small groups, this tanager…

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Two Shaft-tailed Finches perched on a branch

The Shaft-tailed Finch, or Long-tailed Finch, is a handsome bird from northern Australia, where it is found in open woodlands, dry grassy savannas, and grassy brushland especially near water courses….

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Scissor-tailed Flycatcher perched on a rope

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, with its extremely long and distinctive tail, is a resident of savannas, fields, and pastures, as well as landscaped areas where there is a mix of trees,…

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In The News

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National Aviary kicks off winter season with new talks, experiences during ‘Rainforest Retreat’ | WPXI

The National Aviary’s winter season is bringing a “Rainforest Retreat” feature for guests to enjoy. The Rainforest Retreat experience includes daily talks and new activities. Tropical, woodland and coastal birds will be featured.

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Meet Wanda, a critically endangered Vietnam pheasant hatched at the National Aviary | CBS News

The National Aviary is introducing visitors to Wanda, a critically endangered Vietnam pheasant chick that hatched this spring.

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Guam kingfishers hatched at National Aviary among first released into wild in nearly 40 years | CBS News

Three Guam kingfishers that hatched at the National Aviary have been released on an island in the Pacific, marking the first time their species has been in the wild in nearly 40 years.

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Guam Sihek Released to the Wild | National Aviary

Nine Guam Kingfishers have been released to the wild on Palmyra Atoll, making them the first of their kind to reside in the wild since the 1980s.  

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Take an Enchanting Journey through Forests this fall at the National Aviary! | National Aviary

Explore the Aviary’s new fall seasonal theme, Forests Presented by Peoples; learn more about the creatures who inhabit these woodland areas during TWO new daily activities, and say “hello again!” to the adorable Eurasian Eagle-Owl making her Animal Ambassador debut!

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