- Categories:
- Animal
- Tags:
- PetWildlife
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every January 5
- Holiday emoji:
- 🐦
National Bird Day takes flight every January 5, urging us to recognize the vital role birds play in our ecosystems. This day highlights the threats facing avian populations, from habitat loss to the illegal pet trade. Learn how to protect these incredible creatures and support conservation efforts.
Want to sponsor National Bird Day? Learn how
Expected National Bird Day Deals
For National Bird Day, the focus shifts from commercial deals to crucial conservation efforts. Organizations like the Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology often run fundraising campaigns, encouraging donations to support research, habitat restoration, and rescue programs. Pet supply retailers like PetSmart and Petco may highlight ethical bird care products and partner with local rescues for adoption events. Specialty birding stores such as Wild Birds Unlimited promote feeders, bird-friendly seeds, and educational materials. Check with your local wildlife centers and bird sanctuaries for specific ways to contribute or volunteer. We will update this page with confirmed live initiatives as January 5 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Bird Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalBirdDay. Share stunning photos of local bird species or highlight conservation efforts in your community.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalBirdDay. Join conversations about bird migration, habitat protection, and the impact of climate change on avian life.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalBirdDay. Share educational posts about responsible bird ownership or local birdwatching events.
National Bird Day Hero
Roger Tory Peterson
History of National Bird Day
Whether they’re your backyard’s star cardinal or the common pigeons that flock to and fro in the park, birds have always held a spot of fascination, love, and adoration in our hearts. There’s a certain awe that can only be tapped into when watching an eagle soar. Unfortunately, most birds are either endangered or protected, this is mostly due to habitat loss or illegal pet trade.
That’s why the Avian Welfare Coalition created National Bird Day: to raise awareness of the hardships and plights of these important animals and how we can initiate the change needed to create a healthier, more sustainable relationship with them.
Birds are often considered living links to the past, being the closest-related animals to the evolution of dinosaurs. They’re often keystone species in the ecosystems, signifiers of its health and vitality. For example, the holes left behind by woodpeckers are often used as homes for a large variety of other animals. That means if woodpeckers were to run out of a food source – or out of the right kinds of trees – so, too, would all the animals dependent on their pecking skills.
While National Bird Day may be relatively new, having been founded in 2002, the adversity that birds have had to face is nothing novel to the animal kingdom. Just ask the Dodo, the Labrador Duck, or the Passenger Pigeon, considered sacred by many Native American tribes and often the subject of many works of American art until its demise.
National Bird Day timeline
Edgar Allen Poe’s famous poem was first published in "The Evening Mirror"
Looney Tunes debuts its Roadrunner character, chased by Wile E. Coyote
"Blackbird" is written to mark the importance of the U.S. civil rights movement
The Avian Welfare Coalition and Born Free USA found National Bird Day to draw attention to birds.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Bird Day
Local businesses can honor National Bird Day by supporting avian conservation. Pet stores can host educational sessions on responsible bird ownership or partner with local bird rescues for adoption events. Nurseries and garden centers can promote native plants that provide food and shelter for local bird species. Coffee shops might donate a portion of sales from a special ‘bird-friendly’ blend to a conservation fund. Businesses can also use their social media to share facts about local birds and the importance of protecting their habitats.
National Bird Day Traditions
Birds By The Numbers
10,000 — the estimated number of species of birds.
2¼ inches — the length of the smallest bird on Earth.
1 — the number of eyes that ducks keep open when they sleep.
50 — the number of words most parrots can learn.
43 mph — the maximum running speed of an Ostrich.
20% — the percentage of bird species that migrate long distances each year.
100 — the minimum number of words that African gray parrots can learn.
50,000 — the number of acorns that woodpeckers are known to hoard.
National Bird Day FAQs
When is National Bird Day?
In 2027, National Bird Day is observed on Tuesday, January 5, providing another opportunity to advocate for bird welfare and habitat preservation. It’s a key date for environmental awareness.
How many bird species are threatened?
As of recent assessments, nearly 13% of all bird species worldwide face a high risk of extinction. In 2027, continued habitat loss and climate change remain primary drivers of these threats, demanding ongoing action.
What is the biggest threat to birds?
While habitat loss remains paramount, climate change is an increasingly significant threat, altering migration patterns and food sources. In 2027, the combined impact of these factors creates complex challenges for avian survival.
Is National Bird Day related to Audubon?
National Bird Day, observed on January 5, focuses on the welfare of both wild and captive birds, particularly those impacted by the pet trade. Its origins are distinct from the Audubon Society’s founding, though both share a common goal of protecting avian life.
National Bird Day Activities
Study some birds
Whether you pick up a birding book like the Sibley Guide to Birds, read a memoir like “H is for Hawk, or even a novel with birds in the title like Maya Angelou’s, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”, this is the time to brush up on your bird knowledge and reflect on the role of birds in our lives.
Watch some birds
According to the U.S. census, more Americans watch birds than play baseball and American football combined. By joining the quiet ranks of the country’s birdwatchers, you’ll discover a vast new hobby and a huge number of quietly contented people who can give you new insight into your place in this fragile world. Talk about a reason to try a new hobby!
Adopt a bird
Rather than buying a bird from a breeder, why not adopt a rescued bird and help ease the problems facing birds across the United States. National Bird Day is an opportunity for us all to get educated on the needs of captive birds—from regular water and light to an absence of air pollution—and to consider how we are helping or hindering birds’ chances in our wider world.
5 Fascinating Facts About Birds
No teeth
No species of birds have teeth.
Birds communicate well
Through their chirping and singing, birds are able to communicate well.
Why birds sing and chirp
One of the reasons birds sing and chirp is to attract a mate.
A group of birds
A group of birds is called a flock.
What big eyes you have
Ostriches have the largest eyes of any mammal on land.
Why We Love National Bird Day
Because birds are much more than starlings and sparrows
There are 9,800 species of birds, and while you’re unlikely to glimpse an ostrich or an emu in suburban America, that’s not to say that a little effort and patience won’t yield remarkable birding results. National Bird Day celebrates the broad variety of bird species, including the 850 species that inhabit the United States. Sure, they all have two wings, feathers, and a beak. But there are remarkable differences after that.
Because birds are under threat
National Bird Day is scheduled to coincide with the annual Christmas Bird Count, which lasts three weeks, and is the largest citizen science survey in the world, keeping track of America’s wild birds. By counting as many birds as we can see, we get an accurate picture of bird numbers. On January 5, birders switch their focus to the care and wellbeing of the country’s millions of captive birds.
Because birds have a unique place in our hearts
From the story of Icarus to Big Bird to Roadrunner, from Prince’s song “When Doves Cry” to Monty Python’s Dead Parrot sketch, from that “bird is the word” song they always play on the TV show Family Guy to the wisdom of owls and all the world’s partridges in pear trees, birds are all over the place in our culture, and encourage us to reflect and be inspired. Flight is a metaphor for ambition, but also, for hubris, and the inevitability of landing. Birds make us think hard about our place in the world.
Social Media Tips for National Bird Day
Individuals
Creators
Brands