Why do some birds’ eggs have patterns?
Many birds' eggs have patterning on them. Mike Toms explains why.
"Each family display loyalty, courage and generosity" – These wild dogs might be branded villains, but what I found in the savannah completely changed my mind
In the jackal’s world, mum and dad stay together for life and their offspring are always eager to help. Patricia Moehlman can’t help but admire these amazing animals.
Polar bear riding enormous frozen whale among National Geographic's best photos of 2025
Six million marauding antelope and a close encounter with a deadly shark also feature in National Geographic's Pictures of the Year.
A new type of lion roar has just been discovered. Here's why that matters
New research reveals lions use two different roars, a discovery that could transform how conservationists monitor and protect threatened populations across Africa.
An animal that can give birth through its back and a creature that can project its ribs through its skin to launch poison: 7 weirdest amphibians on the planet
Scientists attached moss to the International Space Station. What happened next "genuinely astonished" them
The discovery could serve as a starting point for constructing ecosystems in extraterrestrial environments such as the Moon and Mars, say researchers
8 brutal, jaw-dropping great white shark moments captured in photos and film that expose their raw, explosive power and deadly ferocity
Awesome ocean moments reveal the raw power and regal beauty of nature’s most formidable ocean predator
Black wolf snake discovered on remote Indian island. It's over a metre long and eats other reptiles
A newly described species has been named after the famous conservationist and wildlife educator Steve Irwin.
One of the biggest fish ever, this deadly prehistoric killer was the size of a small car, had lethal jaws that resembled a guillotine and the biting power of a T rex
This prehistoric arachnid monster was the size of a house cat with a deadly sting in its tail...
You wouldn't want to come across one of these in the woods
Birds
Why are a peacock’s eyespots frozen in place even when the rest of the train ripples and moves? Why does that matter? The secret is hidden in the feathers
The vibrant colours of the male birds’ spectacular display conceal a miracle of engineering.
Do hens have teeth?
Stuart Blackman explains why just because hens don't have teeth at the moment it doesn't mean they won't ever have teeth...
Purple is nature's rarest colour but purple animals do exist: Meet 9 beautiful, incredible purple animals that look like they've been painted
Would a flamingo turn blue if it ate blue food?
Could we ever see blue flamingos?
36 extraordinary, astonishing bird facts, including a bird that has killed humans, a bird that likes to get drunk and one that can fly backwards
Impress your friends and family with your newfound bird knowledge.
This bizarre Galápagos bird hunts giant deep-sea squid at night. How it does it is astonishing
Far away in the Galápagos Islands, a peculiar nocturnal seabird is finally starting to give up its secrets
How to identify wildlife
Red squirrel vs grey squirrel: Think you know how they differ? Think again as the differences between these two squirrels will surprise you
We take a look at how the red squirrel differs to its American grey cousin
Brown rat or water vole: How to tell the difference between these two lookalike-rodents
When all you've seen is a flash of brown fur, it can be hard to know whether it was a water vole or rat. Though the two species tend to live in different habitats, there are areas where they overlap, potentially leading to cases of mistaken identity. So how do you tell rats and water voles apart?
Mink or otter? What's the difference between these two slippery, semiaquatic lookalikes?
How do you tell the difference between otters and mink?
LRPs, PG Tips and Jizz: Cracking the secret language of birders
You’re sitting in a hide and overhear other birders talking. The conversation ranges from ‘LRPs’ and ‘roosting Leos’ and you scratch your chin as you try to decipher their code – welcome to the world of birding jargon.
It's the fastest animal in the world and its deadly claws can catch prey mid-air: Meet one of the world's most incredible birds of prey
Peregrines are the ultimate urban predator. Learn all about them, including how to spot them ‘stooping’ to catch prey
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Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Plants
Is this very ordinary plant a secret, yet deadly, meat eater?
The thistle that has a taste for meat
It has bizarre tentacles, oozes yucky black goo and stinks of death – and could be near you right now
The octopus stinkhorn, also known as devil's fingers, is a type of fungus that grows from egg-like spores
A team of scientists spent 4 years studying savannah grasses that had been set on fire – and discovered something astonishing
Researchers from the University of Fort Hare wanted to discover the long-term effects frequent wildfires have on burnt grasses
This is the rarest colour in nature – an expert explains why
The natural world is full of colour – but some are more common than others. So what's the rarest hue?