“Imagine committing fratricide before you can walk.” This parasitic birds lays its eggs in the nests of other species
Does a cuckoo know it's a cuckoo? The answer is more difficult than you might think, explains Richard Pallardy
Astonishing snow leopard hunt filmed in Pakistan's remote mountains
Dramatic footage shows a snow leopard pursuing a markhor through a steep mountain gorge towards a cliff edge.
BBC Winterwatch is back – but from a new location next to the UK's largest sea lough
Everything you need to know about BBC Winterwatch, including when it's on and how to watch
See wildlife without distraction: why you should consider solo travel in 2026
Save big on unforgettable trips
“It’s exciting, if a little scary, especially with weather and seasonal patterns changing.” An expert naturalist on finding joy in winter
“Stubbornly, I feel spring markers are for spring. Instead, I focus on winter markers.” Kate Bradbury on embracing the joys of winter
Hundreds of snakes awoke early from hibernation. Had they predicted the deadly earthquake that followed?
Snakes, warblers, dogs and goats – can animals predict natural disasters?
Why 7 mummified cheetahs found in a Saudi Arabian cave have got scientists so excited
Today, the Arabian Peninsula has no wild cheetahs, but the mummified bodies found near the city of Arar offer hope for the reintroduction of the cats, say researchers.
These students dropped a baited camera into the Atlantic Ocean. "All went quiet…" then this showed up
The students were blown away by the marine life on their field trip in the Azores, a remote archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean.
'Walking sharks' found off Australian coast. A closer look reveals extraordinary new discovery
The find suggests that epaulette sharks, known for their unusual ability to 'walk' along the seafloor, could be more resilient to environmental threats than we thought.
8 lost British animals that are now extinct in the whole world
We are facing a mass extinction, with many species now endangered or lost forever. Here, Peter Marren gives us a run down of the British animals that are now extinct – and a few which we thought were too, but happily turned out not to be.
Birds
Why is a group of crows called a murder?
Wondered why a group of crows earned the rather dark title of 'a murder of crows'? Mike Toms explains how this strange collective noun came about
It once numbered in the millions and even blocked out the sun – so why did the passenger pigeon suddenly become extinct?
All you need to know about the passenger pigeon, including why this once abundant bird went extinct
Researchers strapped cameras to penguins in Antarctica and followed them into the deep. What they filmed is incredible
Scientists put tiny cameras on penguins’ backs in efforts to gather evidence to support new marine protected areas in Antarctica.
Firestarter: They set the land ablaze from the sky – and then wait for their prey to run
Feathered arsonists spread fire to fill their bellies
Can birds understand each other? Just how do they team up to fight predators?
Birds speak different languages – but when danger strikes, some learn to listen, decoding unfamiliar calls through the voices of others
Buzzing chainsaws, clattering machine guns and metallic hammering: 7 of the weirdest bird noises on Earth
Not all birds have a sweet-sounding melody, as this raucous bunch proves...
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
Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Plants
"Poisoning causes lung collapse, brain haemorrhage and death" – discover the world’s 10 most poisonous, deadliest plants
There is an incredible number of dangerous and deadly plants around the world. here are just 10, including some with the ability to kill
A zombie spider-killing fungus and a bloodstained orchid: Kew Gardens reveals the strangest plants new to science in 2025
Kew Gardens has revealed the most bizarre plant and fungi discoveries new to science in 2025 – but some are already nearly extinct.
What can tree rings tell us, apart from a tree's age?
Naturalist and author Amy-Jane Beer sheds light on what tree rings can tell us.
It may look like ice – but don't be fooled for this is a rare and alive eerie woodland phenomenon that even astounds the experts...
Nick Baker takes a look at the weird phenomenon that produces hair ice, a rare winter wonder formed by a bit of alchemy magic