The Art and Science of Birds

The Smithsonian celebrates beautiful birds in our museums, our research centers, our gardens, in coffee shops, and with tweets. We hold, care for, and share artistic and scientific observations compiled over centuries so we can help them thrive. We envy the flight of feathered creatures, wonder how they’re connected to dinosaurs, and how they’re doing now.

Want to know more? Check out the Migratory Bird Center at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, the Encyclopedia of Life, and the Field Book Project.

Want to do more? Be a biologist in your own backyard. Neighborhood Nestwatch participants help answer questions related to the survival of bird populations.