Birds
What is a panzootic – and is it the same as a pandemic?
Ever wondered what a panzootic is? Stuart Blackman takes a look
“My chronic illness keeps me up at night, but listening to tawny owls helps me cope”: How these enchanting birds helped one writer find solace
In the company of owls, poet Polly Atkin finds solace from debilitating illness
At a metre long, this is the jungle’s flashiest resident and the world's most beautiful bird
All you need to know about the scarlet macaw, one of the world's most beautiful - and intelligent – birds
It stinks of manure, has claws on its wings and eats tree leaves – meet the strange hoatzin, the 'flying cow' of the Amazonian swamps
This avian marvel is also known as the stink bird, the skunk bird and the reptile bird
The poisonous hooded pitohui 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?
Faking it: Watch what happens when BBC cameras capture a peacock faking a mating call to try and entrap females
BBC cameras catch peacocks competing for attention from peahens – some turning to desperate measures
Are there vultures in Europe?
Reviled by some, vultures are an essential part of many ecosystems around the world. There are four native breeding species in Europe, with another regularly visiting. Learn more about these fascinating birds in our expert guide by the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF).
Feared and wildly misunderstood – the dark truth behind nature’s most vilified bird and its chilling reputation as a harbinger of death
Discover fascinating facts about this group of ecologically important birds.
What's the most common bird in the world?
From agricultural pests to garden favourites, these are the most common and widely seen birds around the world – both wild and domestic
It sleeps while flying, cannibalises the young and forces other birds to vomit up their food – then eats its sloppy seconds
This bird also has a rather bizarre (and incredibly vocal) mating display that involves an inflating pouch
15 spectacular images of charismatic yet fierce puffins – offering intimate glimpse at island life
Meet the puffins of Skomer Island, which have been photographed by the award-winning wildlife photographer, Becky Bunce.
Cute, colourful, tiny – and weird – they can beat their wings 50-80 times a second and are the only birds that can fly backwards.
Often brightly coloured, hummingbirds are fascinating and beautiful birds, learn more about hummingbirds in our expert guide, including how fast they beat their wings and where to see in the wild.
Amazing videos show flamingos making underwater tornadoes to catch prey
By foot-stomping and head-jerking, flamingos create vortexes that help them catch their food.
“It’s surreal coming face-to-feathers with a bizarre bird you've waited half a lifetime to see”: An epic quest for the world’s most elusive birds
An adventure in Papua New Guinea to seek some of the world’s most incredible birds of paradise was the culmination of a 40-year dream for naturalist and TV presenter Mike Dilger.
This flamboyant bird is known for its colourful 'eyes' and elaborate courtship – but it’s not actually a peacock…
When is peacock not a peacock? Errr, most of the time ,says Mike Dilger.
Why do ostriches have two knees?
Stuart Blackman explains why an ostrich's legs look so strange
This 'karaoke queen' uses its song to fend off rival mates from vicious nest vandalism
The female superb lyrebirds have a voice – and a taste for vandalism – which they aren't afraid to use.
They can jump, lay half-eggs and never get cold feet: 14 penguin facts that prove just how incredible these seabirds are
From minuscule fairy penguins to half-egg-laying oddities, the world of penguins is full of surprises. Here are some fascinating facts about these remarkable seabirds.
“Unbelievable thing to see”: Drone captures never-seen-before footage of penguin chicks plunging 50 feet into Antarctic Ocean
The dramatic footage was filmed for National Geographic's series Secret Lives of Penguins.
Can animals catch yawns off humans? And why on Earth do we yawn anyway?
Although it might not be exactly clear why humans and animals yawn, the contagiousness of yawns is undoubtable – but how does it work in the animal kingdom?
How do wading birds find food in mud?
Discover how waders use their unique bills and special sensors to detect tasty treats.
Do seabirds drink saltwater?
We take a look at the drinking habits of seabirds
Do birds have ears?
How are birds able to hear so well? Sheena Harvey investigates
Magellanic penguin: meet the unlikely companion (and real-life acting superstar) in Steve Coogan’s film The Penguin Lessons
It’s not often a penguin gets a starring role in a hit film, but Steve Coogan’s The Penguin Lessons has ensured that the Magellanic penguin has landed the role of a lifetime