6 bird cam highlights to celebrate nesting season
The hottest show of spring is not available on any streaming services. These are the many live bird cameras available on the Internet. Viewers can see new life emerge, spectacular flights, numerous meals and much more, all from the comfort of their own home. Cornell Lab Bird Cams from Cornell University feature birds from around the world, from delicate South American hummingbirds to wise-looking barred owls nesting in an Indiana backyard.
“Our viewers tell us that watching the cameras is a life-changing experience: an unprecedented learning experience that they compare to virtual field trips or doing field biology in their living room,” the organization writes. “We are excited to continue sharing and learning with the community while observing the world of birds together.”
Below are some of this season’s highlights, in no particular order.
A flying squirrel breakfast
flying squirrel served for breakfast in the barred owl’s nest box | April 30, 2026
On the morning of April 30, a mother barred owl brought a flying squirrel to her chicks, Artemis and Apollo, for breakfast. In the video, the squirrel’s patagium is visible. This special membrane connects the front and rear legs, allowing it to glide long distances between trees and separating it from other species of squirrels.
Sweet nectar
A red-tailed hummingbird sips nectar on a Panama fruit-feeding camera | May 4, 2026
For some birds, it all depends on the plants. This Red-tailed Hummingbird stops at the Panama Fruit Feeder Cam for a sip of nectar. This hummingbird species is common in Central America and is known for its reddish tail and bright pink beak. Most hummingbirds are migratory, but there are simple ways to attract hummingbirds to your yard.
Greet the royal albatross chick (asleep)
Yawn and Flappy Wing Buttons of a Cute Northern Royal Albatross Chick | February 11, 2026
To welcome the new day, a 20-day-old royal albatross chick opens wide and flaps its tiny wing buttons. This 24-hour live stream shows a northern royal albatross nest during the breeding season at Pukekura/Taiaroa Head on the southeast tip of New Zealand’s South Island. The oldest known bird in the world is a Laysan albatross which nests approximately 4,393 km north of New Zealand, on Midway Atoll.
Cuteness Overload
Cuteness Overload with Owls on Barred Owl Cam | May 14, 2026
In this compilation, this year’s owls from the Wild Birds Unlimited Barred Owl Cam sleep, examine the camera, and nod their heads. Technically called “motion parallax,” owls nod their heads to compensate for the fact that their eyes are fixed in their sockets. This helps them create a better view of their surroundings. Owls use head bobbing to learn to coordinate their sight with their hearing.
Bananas aren’t just for monkeys
Keeled Toucan Enjoys a Banana Snack at the Panama Fruit Feeder Cam | February 5, 2026
A keeled toucan has been spotted eating a banana in the tropical trees of Panama. Toucans eat bananas by throwing pieces of fruit into the air and swallowing them whole. Keeled toucans primarily eat bananas and are essential seed dispersers for fruit trees in their habitat. The Panama Hummingbird Feeder Cam is located about 35 miles north of Panama City, in a tropical rainforest atop Semaphore Hill in Soberanía National Park.
An unexpected guest
Gecko tries to catch a moth on Panama hummingbird feeding camera | May 16, 2026
Since anything can happen in a rainforest, more than just birds show up on a bird cam. As a gecko lounged on the hummingbird feeding camera, a moth tried to join in. After the insect and the reptile look at each other for a while, the gecko tries to catch the moth, but it escapes.
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