The American robin (Turdus migratorius) is a songbird in the thrush family (Turdidae). It is found across North America and is among the most popular and well-known birds throughout its… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 19 hours ago
Deniz Martinez
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Deniz Martinez is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on biogeography, ornithology, and mammalogy. Deniz has been researching, teaching, and writing about animals for over 10 years and holds both an MS degree from American Public University earned in 2016 and an MA degree from Lindenwood University earned in 2022.
A resident of Pennsylvania, Deniz also runs Art History Animalia, a website and associated social media dedicated to investigating intersections of natural history with art & visual culture history via exploring animal iconography.
Peafowl (Pavo and Afropavo spp.), aka peacocks (technically the term for just the males; females are peahen), are famous for the male's spectacular multicolored, iridescent plumage. However, naturally occurring mutations… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 1 day ago
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is both the largest and most aquatic of the world's eight living bear species. Unfortunately, six of these eight species are also currently threatened with… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 days ago
The bird world is full of amazing beaks with a wonderful diversity of not just form and function, but also color! Check out this collection of some of nature's most… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 days ago
Pennsylvania is home to three native falcon (Falco spp.) species. Additionally, two other falcon species have been recorded in the state as rare vagrants. Read on to meet each of… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 weeks ago
While Maryland has many resident birds that can be seen all year, others only make their home in the state for part of the year. Some birds just spend their… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 weeks ago
The official state bird of Kentucky is the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). Kentucky declared the "native redbird, commonly known as the Kentucky cardinal," its official state bird twice — first… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 weeks ago
Macaws are large Neotropical parrots spread across a half dozen different genera (Anodorhynchus, Ara, Cyanopsitta, Diopsittaca, Primolius, and Orthopsittaca). There are currently 17 living species along with their many domesticated… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 weeks ago
While Pennsylvania has many year-round resident birds, others only make their home in the state for part of the year. Some birds just spend their summer breeding season in Pennsylvania,… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 weeks ago
There are at least 17 different species of birds with primarily black plumage coupled with yellow beaks in one or both sexes. Read on to meet them all and learn… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 weeks ago
Lovebirds are any of nine living parrot species in the genus Agapornis, all native to Africa, and their many domesticated varieties. Several clues can help tell males and females apart,… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 weeks ago
The world is full of blue-feathered birds. However, all those beautiful blues seen in bird feathers are not biological pigments, but rather structural colors that are purely a trick of… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 weeks ago
While in many bird species, it is easy to tell males and females apart thanks to sexual dimorphism, Penguins (Spheniscidae) are definitely not among them. In most penguin species, both… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 weeks ago
Nearly every state of the United States has at least one official state insect symbol. Iowa and Michigan are the only two states without one. Meanwhile, many states have named… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 weeks ago
While it used to be difficult to find more than a few dinosaurs whose names started with the letter Z, there are now at least 23 of them! A big… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 weeks ago
The official state bird of Colorado is the Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys). The Colorado legislature designated the lark bunting as the state bird on April 29, 1931. This native species has… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 1 month ago
There are two species of African crowned cranes (Balearica spp.), each further divided into two subspecies: Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina) Sudan Crowned Crane (B. p. ceciliae) West African Crowned… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 1 month ago
Penguins (Spheniscidae) are famous for their black and white plumage, a classic example of countershading camouflage. But where do these colors come from, and what other colors can you find… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 1 month ago
While U may not be the most popular letter of the dinosaur alphabet, there are still a good dozen dinosaurs whose names start with the 21st letter. Read on to… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 1 month ago
The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the world's heaviest and tallest living penguin species. Read on to find out just how big they can get and how they compare to… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 1 month ago
The hammer-headed bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus) is the largest bat species in mainland Africa. It is also the most sexually dimorphic bat species in the world, with males and females looking… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 1 month ago
Hawaii named the Nēnē aka Hawaiian Goose (Branta sandvicensis) its official state bird in 1957. It is the world's rarest goose species and almost went extinct in the 1950s. Read… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
With their distinctive black and white patterned fur, giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are easy to tell apart from the world's other seven species of bears. However, telling male and female… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
The silky anteater (Cyclopes didactylus), also known as the pygmy anteater and two-toed anteater, is a furry forest-dwelling mammal of the Neotropics. Its scientific name means "two-toed circle-foot," referring to… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Although first scientifically described back in 1873, there is still little known about the mysterious pacarana (Dinomys branickii). This curious creature is the sole living member of an entire family… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
The Cockatoo family (Cacatuidae) includes 21 species of crested parrots mainly native to Australasia. They are unique amongst the parrot order (Psittaciformes) for having a plumage palette limited almost entirely… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Like every other state, South Dakota has named several official state symbols. Among these are five different animals, each with their own unique ties to The Mount Rushmore State. Read… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
The United Kingdom is home to just two squirrel species: the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Both species share similar life histories, including being… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Every state of the United States has named at least one official state bird, along with Washington, D.C., and three of the five official U.S. territories. The most common state… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Australia is famous for its native wildlife, including some iconic species of reptiles. But are there any true alligators native to Australia? Read on to find out! How Are Crocodilians… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Hummingbirds have the highest metabolic rates among vertebrates and require a specialized diet to meet their extraordinary energy needs. The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is no exception. This iconic species… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Ostriches (Struthio spp.) may not be able to fly, but that hasn’t stopped them from holding several records in the animal kingdom. Those records include being the largest and heaviest… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Owls are any of the 248 bird species in the Strigiformes order. Within this order, the larger Strigidae family contains 228 species known as the typical owls, while the smaller Tytonidae… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Australia is full of amazing wildlife, including many species found nowhere else in the world. But does Australia have its own native bear? Read on to find out! Australia’s Mythical… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Wisconsin is home to just one bear species, the North American black bear (Ursus americanus). While this bear has always been native to the state, both its population size and… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Canada is home to two large native eagle species. In addition, a third, even larger vagrant species has been flying through Canada recently. Read on to find out which three… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
The official state bird of Minnesota is the common loon (Gavia immer). The state legislature adopted this bird as an official state symbol on March 13, 1961. Minnesota hosts the… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
The official state bird of Oklahoma is the scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus). It was designated the state bird under House Joint Resolution Number 21, signed into law on May 26,… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Lions are a famous example of a sexually dimorphic species. In such species, males and females are typically easily distinguished by physical appearance. These traits can include differences in size,… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
The Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos, meaning "many-tongued mimic") is a well-known species throughout much of the United States. This popular songbird is also the official bird of five states —… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
Although the lion (Panthera leo) is often referred to as the proverbial "king of the jungle," jungles are not the usual habitat of these famous big cats. Furthermore, while well-known… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
There are at least two dozen birds from all around the world whose common names start with the last and best letter of the alphabet, Z. Read on to discover… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
Owls are any of the 248 bird species in the Strigiformes order. Within this order, the larger Strigidae family contains 228 species known as typical owls, while the smaller Tytonidae… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
What is the official state bird of Maine? The answer is not quite as simple as it should be. While the state did indeed designate the "chickadee" as the official… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
The world of flowers seems to have a flower for every letter of the library, from A to Z. If you want to add some variety to your garden or… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in captivity are often observed dunking food items in water. This has led to the persistent belief that raccoons wash their food before eating it. Alternately, some… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
Guinea pigs are obligate herbivores. The bulk of their diet should always consist of fresh hay and grazed grass supplemented with high-quality pellet food, along with moderated amounts of leafy… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
Did you know Arkansas has two native fox species? Both the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) call Arkansas home. Both species are a mix of crepuscular… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
Did you know Illinois has two native fox species? Both the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) call Illinois home. Both species are a mix of crepuscular… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
“Macaw” is the common name given to a group of large Neotropical parrots spread across a half dozen different genera (Anodorhynchus, Ara, Cyanopsitta, Diopsittaca, Primolius, and Orthopsittaca). There are currently… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
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