Wild Inaccuracies Archives

Are Flamingo Egg Yolks Pink?

A popular 'fun fact' holds that flamingo egg yolks are bright pink, but flamingo experts...

Rats Per Capita

Do major cities harbor rodent populations equivalent to one rat per person?

Did Disney Fake Lemming Deaths for the Nature Documentary ‘White Wilderness’?

Lemmings don't commit mass suicide, so filmmakers had to use various camera tricks to capture...

Does a Female Praying Mantis Always Eat Her Mate’s Head?

It’s far from guaranteed to happen, but the risk of decapitation for copulating male mantids...

Do Water-Filled Baggies Repel Flies?

Will hanging plastic bags filled with water repel flies from your area? Opinion is divided...

Do Male Penguins Make ‘Pebble Proposals’ to Their Mates?

A social media factoid about penguin courtship and the "perfect pebble" does not quite reflect...

Duck’s Quacks Don’t Echo?

Rumor holds that duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.

Is Red Dyed-Nectar Harmful to Hummingbirds?

Is the red dye commonly used in nectar for backyard feeders harmful to hummingbirds?

Dog Years vs. Human Years

Conventional wisdom holds that one year of human time is the equivalent of seven years...

Striped Mittenfish Can the striped mittenfish change its sex by turning its entire body inside out?

Do Lobsters Mate for Life? Do lobsters mate for life?

Will Baby Birds Be Rejected by Their Mother If You Handle Them?

This widespread caution against handling young birds may have sprung from a desire to protect...