Welcome

In two centuries of American ornithology, The Birds of North America (BNA) is only the fourth comprehensive reference covering the life histories of North American birds. Following in the footsteps of Wilson, Audubon, and Bent, BNA makes a quantum leap in information beyond what these historic figures were able to provide. The print version of BNA was completed in 2002, a joint 10 year project of the American Ornithologists' Union, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Now as an online project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, BNA is poised to become a living resource. Account contents are updated frequently, with online-coordinated contributions from researchers, citizen scientists, and designated reviewers and editors. In addition, BNA Online contains image and video galleries showing behaviors, habitat, nests, eggs and nestlings, and more. And each online species account contains recordings of that bird's songs and calls, selected from the extensive collection in Cornell's Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds.

News & Updates

Update (Apr. 2008)--New Fully Revised Account-- Red-shouldered Hawk, revised by Cheryl R. Dykstra and Jeffrey L. Hays.

Are you an AOU member trying to login to BNA? Please read this first.

Update (Apr. 2008)--New Fully Revised Account-- Northern Saw-whet Owl, revised by Justin Lee Rasmussen and Spencer Sealy.

Having trouble logging in or other issues with the site? Please visit our updated FAQ and Known Issues section to better understand system and user requirements for optimum use of BNA.

Contact Us: For technical support or general BNA questions: bna@cornell.edu. Concerning feedback about the new site: bna-feedback@cornell.edu. We want to hear from you!