If you are in the eastern United States and encounter a bird that looks like a little brown check-mark with a loud voice, it’s probably a Carolina wren. These charismatic little birds are frequent visitors to backyards and bird feeders.
They have bright creamy eye bands and white steaks on their wings.
American wigeons are small ducks that are equally at home on land and in the water. Loud, gregarious and distinctive, more than 2.5 million wigeons live in North America.
Fact Sheet Conservation Physical Description Compact ducks, male wigeons have
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is otterly delighted to introduce Coquille, Potomac and Nash — American Trail’s adorable North American river otter pups! Get the latest news in this PUPdate.
Like their cousins, the sea otters, North American river otters have very thick and
The gray wolf, also called the timber wolf, is the largest member of the canine family with fur ranging from gray to brown, black or white. Packs of gray wolves hunt at night, using their speed, sharp teeth and claws to catch caribou, moose, deer, bison, beavers, rabbits and fish.
Gray wolves are highly adaptable and have been known to survive in all habitats in
Crash into May with black rhinos! Dr. Francesca Vitali is a wildlife veterinarian and Morris Animal Foundation postdoctoral fellow with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s Global Health Program. She is currently working with our Smithsonian partners in Kenya to help conserve Eastern black rhino populations.
Rhinos have been on this planet for about 60 million years.
One of the world’s largest land tortoises, Aldabra tortoises can reach sizes of up to 550 pounds and ages of up to 150 years old. They are native to Aldabra Island, one of the Seychelles northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
The males have a concave plastron (belly shell) that aids in mating.
Native to the rocky slopes and arid plateau areas of southwestern Africa, Hartmann’s mountain zebras are large herbivores known for their black and white-striped coats. Hartmann’s mountain zebras are a rare subspecies of the mountain zebra, which is one of three types of zebras.
No two zebras have the same stripe pattern.
Don’t be put off by Fofo’s prickly appearance! As his name implies, our prehensile-tailed porcupette is as “cute” as can be! Get to know Fofo in this Q+A with Small Mammal House keepers.
They have very compatible personalities.
As a research assistant for the nutrition laboratory, Jenna Pastel wears a snowsuit year-round. That’s because she spends a lot of time in a -20 degree Fahrenheit walk-in freezer located in the Zoo’s science building.
Image: I love animals and have always cared about conservation.
Earlier this spring, a curious and playful pinniped splashed down on American Trail. Meet Ronin, our 1-year-old sea lion, who has charmed keepers and visitors alike since her debut in April!
We still have our 17-year-old female sea lion, Summer, who was rescued at just a
