Birds
So do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand?
Why do we say ostriches bury their heads in the sand - and do they really bury their heads? Stuart Blackman looks at the evidence and how this saying originated
Heron vs egret: what's the difference between these two leggy, long-necked, very elegant, beautiful birds?
Know your herons from your egrets? Tom Hibbert from The Wildlife Trusts takes a look at some of the differences…
What's the most common bird in the world? Clue there's a whopping 20 billion of them
From agricultural pests to garden favourites, these are the most common and widely seen birds around the world – both wild and domestic
Caught, plucked, and kept ALIVE: Does this deadly predator take ruthlessness and cruelty to a new level, inflicting a fate worse than death on its prey?
Do Eleonora’s falcons cach migrant birds alive to eat later?
What's the most common bird of prey on the planet?
Have you spotted one of these mesmerising raptors?
“I’ve got a lost baby swift – I’m going to put it in our bedroom!” What happened next is remarkable
When a baby swift falls from the nest, it’s the start of an extraordinary journey for both bird and rescuer
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 40% and enjoy 6 issues of BBC Wildlife for £18.99.
Save 40% and enjoy 6 issues of BBC Wildlife for £18.99.
Plants
Venomous vs poisonous – do you know the difference?
We explore the differences between venomous and poisonous
Best British woodlands and forests to visit for beautiful autumn colours
The changing of the autumn colours in the UK's forests and woodlands is one the most magical seasonal spectacles.
“It digests its victims within a customised ‘stomach’ so efficiently that only a wisp of skin remains”
The Venus flytrap of North America acts like a spring-trap, snapping its claw-like leaves shut on any bug unfortunate enough to alight.
Can you vaccinate trees against disease?
Arborists inject powerful chemicals into trees in an effort to save populations threatened by pests.
