From today's featured article
The pied butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) is a songbird native to Australia. Described by John Gould in 1837, it is 28 to 32 cm (11 to 12.5 in) long. It has a pale hooked bill and a black head, throat and mantle. Much of the tail and wings is also black, and the neck, underparts and outer wing feathers are white. The juvenile and immature birds are predominantly brown and white. There are two recognised subspecies. Within its large range, the pied butcherbird is generally non-migratory. Common in woodlands and in urban environments, it is carnivorous, eating insects and small vertebrates, including birds. A tame and inquisitive bird, the pied butcherbird has been known to accept food from humans. It nests in trees, constructing a cup-shaped structure out of sticks and laying two to five eggs. Some mated pairs benefit from cooperative breeding, in which other birds help feed the young and defend the nest. ( Full article... )
Did you know ...
- ... that the island Grimskär (pictured) was probably used for executions of criminals, whose bodies were left there on display as a warning to passing ships?
- ... that the wedding of Jan Opaliński became infamous due to several accidents and quarrels?
- ... that the lyrics of " Bull Believer " were inspired by Cocaine & Rhinestones and contain references to Mortal Kombat and Augustine of Hippo?
- ... that soprano Muriel Wilson stated that her ability to sing was impaired after her skull was fractured in a car accident?
- ... that the MacBook Neo uses a processor found in iPhones?
- ... that the 2026 Lake Tahoe avalanche was the deadliest in the United States since 1981?
- ... that Vinson Cunningham based his novel Great Expectations on his work for Barack Obama's presidential campaign?
- ... that some forms of the Romanian lăutari violin have extra strings that are added only for resonance and never played directly?
- ... that a convicted bank robber argued that a restitution law could not apply to him because it did not exist when he committed the crime?
In the news
- NASA launches the lunar flyby mission Artemis II , the first crewed mission past low Earth orbit since Apollo 17.
- The Social Democrats, led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (pictured), remain the largest party after the Danish general election , with no political bloc winning a majority of seats.
- In Italy, voters reject a reform of the judicial system in a constitutional referendum .
- A Colombian Aerospace Force Lockheed C-130 crashes during take-off in Puerto Leguízamo, killing 70 people.
On this day
April 2 : World Autism Awareness Day ; Malvinas Day in Argentina (1982) ; First Day of Passover (Judaism, 2026)
- 1513 – Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León sighted land in North America, naming the area La Florida.
- 1871 – Creatures of Impulse , by W. S. Gilbert (pictured), premiered at the Court Theatre in London.
- 1911 – The Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted the first national census of the country.
- 2015 – Gunmen attacked Garissa University College in Kenya, killing 148 people and wounding 79 others.
- Jack Brabham (b. 1926)
- Emmylou Harris (b. 1947)
- Caroline Dean (b. 1957)
- Charles Daudelin (d. 2001)
Today's featured picture
 | Junonia coenia , the common buckeye, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found as a resident or vagrant across much of North and Central America, as well as parts of northern South America, and likely originated from African ancestors that later diversified in Asia. The species typically inhabits open, sunny terrains such as fields, dunes and scrub, up to 1,300 meters (4,300 ft) in elevation. Junonia coenia adults are mostly brown with prominent black eyespots, while the caterpillars are spiny with complex color patterns. The caterpillars feed on plants rich in iridoid glycosides, such as Plantago lanceolata , which also influence female oviposition, while adults prefer nectar from yellow flowers. Some individuals migrate seasonally, and the species faces threats from predators, parasites, and a specific densovirus. This common buckeye butterfly was photographed in Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis, United States. Photograph credit: Rhododendrites Recently featured: |