Birds
"Seeing these iconic birds marching through the wilderness fills me with wonder": a day in the life of a penguin researcher
In celebration of Penguin Awareness Day, fieldwork assistant Natacha Planque offers an insight into the dramatic life of a penguin researcher in the Antarctic wilderness.
Snake skins draped from trees in popular New York State forest – here's what's going on
It may sound like something out of a horror movie, but it's all part of a scientific experiment to understand more about the ingenious survival behaviour of birds.
What is the smallest owl in the world? Meet a tiny cutie
The world's smallest raptor is by no means the least deadly, despite weighing less than your average tennis ball. Here we introduce the elf owl, the smallest owl in the world
What exactly is echolocation and how does it work? The incredible adaptation that allows animals to ‘see’ and communicate in the dark
Discover how animals use echolocation to navigate, hunt, identify other species and avoid obstacles.
What's the loudest bird? Meet the strange bird that produces a deafening sound, more like a train horn than a sweet musical bird song
Just which bird has the loudest call? And how do they produce such a peace-shattering sound?
The UK's most spectacular winter bird flocks
Millions of starlings, tens of thousands of waders, hundreds of pied wagtails - the UK is home to some incredible winter flocks, and we've got everything you need to know to track them down.
Hidden in attics, offices and drawers: 6,000 illegal wild bird eggs seized by police in UK's largest-ever haul
In total 56,000 wild bird eggs have been recovered in police raids in the UK, Norway and Australia.
This poisonous bird is the world's most toxic bird - able to exude some of the most powerful poisons in nature
Just how poisonous is the hooded pitohui
It stinks of manure, has claws on its wings and eats tree leaves – meet the 'flying cow' of the Amazonian swaps
This avian marvel is also known as the stink bird, the skunk bird and the reptile bird
‘The Blob’ caused millions of seabird deaths - the biggest mass die-off in the modern era - scientists reveal
Around half the population of common murres in Alaska died following a period of unusually warm ocean temperatures, scientists from the University of Washington have revealed.
The 13 birds of Christmas? Discover the birds behind the Twelve Days of Christmas carol
It’s got doves, hens and, of course, a partridge, but Stephen Moss explores how a much-loved carol may be all about birds, plus why the robin rules Christmas.
Are there any poisonous birds?
Yes we have discovered some poisonous birds says Ben Hoare, and there could be more...
Candy-coloured kingfishers and pheasants in regal hues – discover the 10 most colourful birds
These avian wonders with brilliantly coloured plumage are found across the globe
Why The Gambia should be your next birdwatching holiday destination
Diverse landscapes, incredible weather and over 600 species of birds. Read on to discover what makes this West African country ideal for birdwatching trips.
It clatters like a machine gun and has a face like a shoe – meet the prehistoric-looking giant that stalks the swamps of Africa
This bird can can stand still as a statue for hours, will stare you out and cruelly kill its sibling using its huge, razor-sharp bill
She's more than 70 years old, is an internet superstar and she just laid an egg
Wisdom the albatross – believed to be the world's oldest bird – is back at her island home in Hawaii laying another egg.
More than 100 of these secretive birds were tagged and followed around the planet. Here's why
The satellite tags transmit real-time location data, which has led to some surprising – and important – discoveries.
A complex sound is drifting through the forests of Hawaii – for the first time in years
Five ‘alalā, or Hawaiian crows, have been released onto the island of Maui, part of a greater effort to return the native birds to their forest homes.
5 giants of the sky – including one enormous bird that's as long as a car
Meet the wandering albatross, whose wingspan is roughly the length of a Fiat 500, and four more feathered titans
They'll attack lambs, prey on puffins and they aren't scared of you – meet the true thugs of the skies
Great skuas have been painted as villains, but is there a sweeter side to these predatory brutes? Here's all you need to know
What is the slowest bird?
Contenders, ready! Stuart Blackman ponders which bird would win the slow race of the skies
Moseley's (or northern) rockhopper penguin guide: how to identify, where they live and what they eat
Distinguished by its vibrant yellow crest, this penguin is a small, agile bird that thrives on the rugged, rocky islands of the sub-Antarctic region.
Chinstrap penguin guide: where they live, what they eat and key predators
A fascinating glimpse into the lives of animals that not only survive but flourish against the odds
Why is bird poo white, rather than brown like most poop?
Just why is bird poo white? Mike Toms explains