When birds build nests, they're also building a culture
Nest-building isn’t just instinct. Birds can learn from others, letting groups within one species develop their own distinctive nest-building traditions.
animal behavior
Crows can count out loud like human toddlers — when they aren't cheating the test
A study finds that carrion crows can be taught to count and make vocalizations that indicate the number counted, much in the same way that human toddlers do.
These monkeys were 'notoriously competitive' until Hurricane Maria wrecked their home
Rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago are known for being intolerant, hierarchical and aggressive. After 2017's Hurricane Maria destroyed their home, the monkeys' society underwent surprising changes.
Wild elephants may have names that other elephants use to call them
Forget names like "Dumbo"—wild elephants appear to have their own unique names that other elephants use while talking to them in low rumbles.
'Chimney caps, vent pipes, gutters': Why some woodpeckers are major metal heads
When an NPR reporter heard a startling loud metallic noise in her house, she was about to get an interesting lesson in animal behavior.
When sea otters lose their favorite foods, they can use tools to go after new ones
Some otters rely on tools to bust open hard-shelled prey items like snails, and a new study suggests this tool use is helping them to survive as their favorite, easier-to-eat foods disappear.
'Dance Your Ph.D.' winner on science, art, and embracing his identity
Weliton Menário Costa's award-winning music video showcases his research on kangaroo personality and behavior — and offers a celebration of human diversity, too.
Animals get stressed during eclipses. But not for the reason you think
After studying various species earlier this month, some scientists now say they understand the origin of animal behavior during solar eclipses.
Humans traveled less during COVID restrictions. Animals traveled more
Animals being tracked by scientists tended to travel longer distances in the early months of the pandemic, when people stayed home. The wildlife also ventured closer to roads.
These cockroaches tweaked their mating rituals after adapting to pest control
The German cockroach evolved to live only in human environments. This roach is very good at adapting to pest control methods — even if it means changing its mating rituals.