Have you ever wondered whether it snows in Texas? After all, this state is rather well known for being hot and dry, or near the coast rather hot and steamy.… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 11 hours ago
Tavia Fuller Armstrong is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on birds, mammals, reptiles, and chemistry. Tavia has been researching and writing about animals for approximately 30 years, since she completed an internship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Tavia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with a wildlife emphasis from the University of Central Oklahoma.
A resident of Oklahoma, Tavia has worked at the federal, state, and local level to educate hundreds of young people about science, wildlife, and endangered species.
Have you ever wondered whether it snows in Texas? After all, this state is rather well known for being hot and dry, or near the coast rather hot and steamy.… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 11 hours ago
Key Points: Lake Eufaula is the largest lake that rests entirely within the borders of Oklahoma. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began construction on the lake in 1956 and… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 17 hours ago
At least 13 different bat species are known to live in Ohio. Some are common, others are quite rare. They roost everywhere from caves and trees to vacant buildings. Let's… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 4 days ago
Jumping spiders are relatively small spiders that belong to the Salticidae family. More than 6,000 species belong to this family. They live all over the world and represent approximately 13… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 6 days ago
In a state like Oklahoma, with very little in the way of deserts, even relatively small sand dunes can be breathtaking. The sand dunes at Little Sahara State Park and… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 1 week ago
The Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Poecile rufescens, has a distinctive feature that sets it apart from the other six species of chickadees that live in North America. Can you guess what it… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 weeks ago
The Carolina Chickadee, Poecile carolinensis, is one of seven chickadee species native to North America. This adorable bird is a frequent guest at many backyard feeders in the southeastern United… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 weeks ago
Some animals absolutely love eating mushrooms in the wild. Some others eat mushrooms only occasionally, perhaps when they cannot find more desirable foods. Eating mushrooms can be a tricky business,… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 weeks ago
A moose, Alces alces, can run at a top speed of up to 35 miles per hour, or approximately 56 kilometers per hour. The average moose cannot maintain that top… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 weeks ago
The official New Hampshire State Bird is the Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus). The Purple Finch belongs to the Fringillidae family of true finches. This family includes roughly 240 species of… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 weeks ago
When people think of yellow finches in the United States, they typically picture the American Goldfinch. This beautiful, bright yellow and black bird ranges throughout the United States, as well… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 weeks ago
Orangutans are among the most intelligent animals in the world. We know that orangutans are exceptionally smart, based on multiple factors that have been studied over time. For instance, we… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 weeks ago
Gorillas of both the western and eastern species can run up to 25 miles per hour, or approximately 40 kilometers per hour. However, like humans, most individual gorillas do not… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 weeks ago
The official Maryland State Bird is the Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). The Baltimore Oriole belongs to the Icteridae family of New World birds. This family includes more than 30 species… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 3 weeks ago
The snow leopard, Panthera uncia, can run up to 35 to 40 miles per hour over short distances. This big cat has adaptations that help it to hunt and thrive… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 3 weeks ago
American black bears, Ursus americanus, range across North America. They are the most widely distributed bears on the continent and the ones most likely to be seen in the wild… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 3 weeks ago
Polar bears are known for their white fur, but did you know they also have black skin? They have these features for a couple of very good reasons. Polar bears… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 3 weeks ago
Magma, the molten rock that lies beneath the surface of the earth, has a temperature that varies. Just how hot is magma? That answer depends on several factors. Magma reaches… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 4 weeks ago
Polar bears need sea ice for hunting, reproduction, and to move over large Arctic areas. Without adequate sea ice, this species must change and adapt in sometimes harmful ways. According… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 4 weeks ago
The Australian Cattle Dog is an energetic working breed from Australia. Nearly 200 years ago, in 1825, a cattle baron by the name of Thomas Simpson Hall crossed an imported… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 4 weeks ago
So, you love cardinals, but they don’t love visiting your yard. Few things are more disappointing than trying to bring your favorite birds to your backyard feeder, only to be… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 4 weeks ago
At least 13 different types of owls can be found in Arizona. They range in size from less than 6 inches in length to more than 25 inches. Some eat… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 1 month ago
Woodpeckers are an interesting and diverse group of birds. They belong to the family Picidae, which includes around 240 different species from around the world. You have probably seen at… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 1 month ago
Naked Neck chickens are among the most recognizable chicken breeds. Sometimes called a Turken, or Transylvanian Naked Neck, this odd-looking breed has no feathers on its neck. They have sparse… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 1 month ago
People who keep small flocks of chickens often supplement their diet with table scraps. Chickens love these treats, and some of their favorite foods include fresh fruits and vegetables. You… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 1 month ago
The giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, lives only in the bamboo forests of central China. These bears adapted millions of years ago to eat primarily bamboo. Despite having developed some physiological… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 1 month ago
Do you want to feed bluebirds, but have no idea what foods they can safely eat other than seeds? Three different species of bluebirds live in North America. The Eastern… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 1 month ago
Armadillos are fascinating creatures. In fact, millions of people from around the world voted to make the armadillo the next mob in the Minecraft Live 2023 event. More than 20… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 1 month ago
Seven different species of woodpeckers reside in Missouri. These include the Downy Woodpecker, the Hairy Woodpecker, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, the Red-bellied Woodpecker, the Northern Flicker, the Red-headed Woodpecker, and the… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 1 month ago
Seven different species of woodpeckers can be found in Tennessee. These include the Downy Woodpecker, the Hairy Woodpecker, the Northern Flicker, the Pileated Woodpecker, the Red-bellied Woodpecker, the Red-headed Woodpecker,… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 1 month ago
The official Washington State Bird is the Willow Goldfinch (Spinus tristis salicamans). The Willow Goldfinch is a subspecies of the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis). Washington is the only state that… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 1 month ago
What are the signs of rabies in cats? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 250 cats test positive for rabies each year in the United States.… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
Not all bears hibernate. Those that do typically hibernate for about 5 to 8 months through the winter, usually from about October or November through late March or April. Some… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
Araucana chickens are unusual chickens from South America. They are currently raised all over the world in small flocks. Breeders have used them to develop other breeds and hybrids that… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
The official North Carolina State Bird is the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). A total of seven states have chosen the Northern Cardinal for their official state bird. North Carolina chose… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
Have you ever seen a baby hummingbird in real life? They usually stay hidden well out of sight until they take flight. By then, they are as large, if not… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
Bears are some of the largest and most efficient predators on Earth. The three largest types of bears in Canada range from about 600 to 2,000 pounds. That’s huge! Of… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
The maximum temperature of boiling water varies based on the pressure or impurities that may be present in the water. At one atmosphere (1 atm) of pressure, pure boiling water… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
The official Arkansas State Bird is the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). A total of five states have chosen the Northern Mockingbird as their official State Bird. An effort led by… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
Get ready to learn some fun and interesting facts about baby peacocks. These adorable little birds will grow into some of the most impressive avian specimens on the planet. With… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
The official Louisiana State Bird is the Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). The legislature of Louisiana officially adopted the Brown Pelican on July 27, 1966. No other state has chosen the… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
Reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, are familiar hoofed animals that live in cold climates toward the North Pole. In many societies, children learn about reindeer from a very early age. This holds… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
Capybaras are the world’s largest rodents. They live in South America in forests and grasslands near sources of water such as rivers, streams, or marshes. A baby capybara is called… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
Don't you just love beautiful black chickens? Breeders have developed black varieties of many types of chickens, some with gorgeous green or purple metallic sheens. From some of the heaviest… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
The Wyandotte chicken was the first dual-purpose chicken bred in America. These chickens were developed in the United States in the 1870s. Breeders desired to create a chicken that could… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
Brahma chickens graduated from the Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List in 2023. They previously moved from the Watch list to the Recovering category in 2016. Their success is mainly attributable… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
The official Idaho State Bird is the Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides). Two different states have chosen the Mountain Bluebird for their official state bird, including Idaho and Nevada. Idaho chose… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
Sussex chickens are a recovering breed, according to the Livestock Conservancy, although this breed nearly died out around the turn of the 20th century. Crosses with large Asian birds resulted… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 2 months ago
Pure water, H2O, is one of the most important compounds on the planet. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, approximately 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered in water,… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 3 months ago
The official Tennessee State Bird is the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). A total of five states have chosen the Northern Mockingbird as their official State Bird. Voters in Tennessee chose… Read More
By Tavia Fuller Armstrong 3 months ago