Birds
What cranes know about staying warm that’s helping doctors save lives
How do cranes stand in icy water without freezing?
Mesmerising murmuration: thousands of knots captured on video at Norfolk beauty spot
A wader 'spectacular' occurs at a well-loved RSPB site in Norfolk each year – here's the resulting footage
Penguin's-eye view: take a bumpy ride into the deep blue with this spellbinding footage from Antarctica
Amazing footage lets people join a Adélie penguin as it glides through the water.
10 reasons why you should never - EVER - date a birder
On paper a birder might sound like a great date, with a love of the natural world, but don't be deceived, says Dixe Wills, as all might not be as it seems...
Do pelicans actually push their spiral cords out of their mouths to cool down?
There's been a lot of chatter about pelicans and their spinal cords online – and even though it's not the case, the truth is just as fascinating
This deadly raptor can spot prey over a mile away and swoop in at 100 miles an hour to make its kill
We take a look at one of the world's most majestic birds, the bald eagle
Head spinner: mind-blowing video shows snowy owl twisting its head almost full circle
Owls can twist their necks up to 270 degrees without damaging blood vessels or breaking tendons – see it in action with this chilling video of a snowy owl in the Arctic.
It lays record-breaking eggs, has nostrils on its beak and flirts by tapping butts – meet this bizarre yet adorable bird
The baffling but cute endangered bird is often thought of as an honorary mammal due to its unique characteristics.
Ostriches vs emus: what’s the difference between these large, striking flightless birds?
Ostriches and emus are both large, flightless birds with slightly comedic reputations – but what's the difference between these two species? Stuart Blackman takes a look
Storm bird: this 22-second video of a barnacle goose flying in heavy rain is pure bliss
These majestic birds spend winter in south-west Scotland, commuting daily between feeding areas and roost sites.
Why do coots have such weird feet?
A coot's feet are perfectly designed to cope with a life on both dry land and water, says Stuart Blackman
"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