Who was 'Mike the Headless Chicken' – and just how long did he live without a head?
Ellen Husain recounts the story of 'Miracle Mike the Headless Chicken'
Why on Earth are pink lakes pink? The science behind nature's most vibrant waters
Yes some lakes are pink. Here's why
Just why do male animals produce so much sperm when females produce so few eggs?
Stuart Blackman explains why there is so much more sperm than eggs...
“They're equipped with 15cm claws, can run at speeds of 50kph, clear 2m when jumping and deliver a mean kick – just how worried should I be?”
Deep in the heart of a rainforest in Queensland, Stuart Portugal's childhood dream of encountering a cassowary in the wild could become a reality. But despite being one of the world’s tallest species of bird, catching a glimpse of this elusive creature is easier said than done.
Do honey bears actually eat honey – and are they real bears?
We take a look at the diet of honey bears, also known as a Kinkajou
"Known as the Gateway to Hell, where lurid-coloured acid lakes create an eerie, alien world." 10 barren dead zones where nothing survives...
Dead zones are fascinating, often alien places, where nothing or very little lives
"What had she been doing? Her tank mates were two other females, so who (or indeed where) was the daddy?"
When there is a lack of males, female bonnethead sharks can reproduce by themselves
"It's a colossal 3 metres long, weighs 27kg and uses over 100 small, hooked teeth to grab hold of their prey and kill it by constriction
Learn all about the boa constrictor in our expert guide, including where they live and how much they weigh
Coelacanth, chameleon, civet... 19 amazing, incredible animals starting with 'C' including one 'living fossil' that lived alongside the dinosaurs
From camel to cuttlefish, here are 19 animals beginning with the letter 'C'.
Huge size and incredible power of bison revealed in 11 awe-inspiring photos
These images of the American bison show just how enormous and strong this mammal is
Birds
This iconic New York landmark is becoming a magnet – not just for tourists, but birds
Does anything live on the Statue of Liberty – and Ellis Island?
“They simply moved in.” Thousands of tiny falcons are taking over this ancient Italian city
Thousands of lesser kestrels have been living in and around the ancient Italian city of Matera for centuries
In an Australian city, birds are collecting handcuffs, medicine jars and banknotes. This is why
A new study in Queensland reveals that city-dwelling male great bowerbirds are using human items to impress females.
"A scale that has never been documented before in Greece." Falcon snatches 8 bats from the air in just 30 minutes
Bat predation by Eurasian hobbies has only been recorded a handful of times, making the sighting particularly significant.
Masturbation in birds is “healthy, natural and widespread”, say scientists
The research challenges the widely-held belief that stress and captivity encourages the behaviour
A blood-sucking fly was driving this Galápagos bird to extinction. Then conservationists stepped in
The Critically Endangered Galápagos mangrove finch has had its most successful breeding season on record, with 25 fledglings recorded.
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
“Untreated, the progression is grim: nausea and vomiting give way to cardiac arrest. Death can come within an hour.”
It bears white flowers and green fruit – but hidden inside its seeds is a potent cardiac poison called cerberin.
This may be the most photographed tree on the planet. Here's how it got so famous
The Wānaka Tree, rising from the shallow waters of Lake Wānaka in New Zealand, is a must-photograph for many nature-lovers. But why?
“It’s like being electrocuted and set on fire at the same time…” Discover one of the world's most dangerous trees
This tree is considered one of the world’s most venomous plants, and its painful effects can last for years.
"It drops large cones that weigh 40 pounds apiece – more than heavy enough to kill a passer-by..." 8 most dangerous trees on the planet
From tropical terrors to coniferous killers – here are some tree species you might want to avoid the next time you’re walking in the woods.
