Mike Toms
Mike is an ornithologist who has been with the British Trust for Ornithology since 1994. He is the author of Owls, published by Harper Collins Publishers.
Recent articles by Mike Toms
Amazingly this baby animal can call its parents from inside the egg
![A Yellowhammer [Emberiza citrinella] Perched on a fence post. Picture taken on the 7th of June 2018. Swindon, Wiltshire, England](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/47/2025/04/why-are-birds-yellow-scaled.jpg?w=1200&webp=1 "Yellowhammer [Emberiza citrinella]")
Why does the UK have yellow birds?
What affects a bird's plumage colour? Why are some birds yellow? Mike Toms explains
Why do birds sing in the morning?
The dawn chorus is a beautiful sound but why does it take place in the morning?
How do puffins manage to catch so many fish in one go?
Puffins are famed for carrying lots of fish in their mouths but how on Earth do they manage it? Mike Toms explains
Guide to Britain's owl species: where to see and common species found in the UK
The season of darkness and mystery belongs to the owls. Learn more about these nocturnal predators with our guide to the UK's most common owl species, including where to see and how to identify.