Bird watching is a fun hobby no matter what season it is. Winter bird watching has its advantages since more birds are attracted to feeders. It is also easier to spot them without leaves on trees if you live in an area where the seasons change.

There is a new challenge for bird watchers according to a recent study by the American Museum of Natural History’s Department of Ornithology. They have reported that there are many more species of birds then originally determined.

In the past studies showed that there were about 10,000 species of birds, however a new study determined that there could be almost double the number of bird species. Previously birds were typed according to how they looked and if they were able to interbreed. But when scientists studied them according to their physical characteristics such as plumage pattern and color, they discovered that there were more species than previously thought, up to double the number of species.

This gives bird watchers a lot more to look for and possibly scientists the fun of coming up with new names for the new species. Life is always full of surprises!

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161212133645.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fplants_animals%2Fanimals+%28Animals+News+–+ScienceDaily%29