Wildlife
Identify species, read the latest news stories and discover the best spots to see wildlife in Britain
It dates to the Ice Age and was only found in four lakes – is this Britain’s rarest fish?
The vendace has hung onto life in the 21st century by a gossamer thread, explains Kevin Parr
Bright green birds filmed in the centre of London
Ring-necked parakeets aren’t native to the UK but they can be spotted in and around trees in the capital.
It’s covered in slime, has frilly ‘antlers’ and can’t float in open water – is this the weirdest creature found in UK waters?
This bizarre fish is found around the southern and western coastline of the UK
“Unbelievable”: huge animal longer than bus seen leaping from Irish waters
No one knows exactly why these enormous sea creatures breach.
"How amazing is it?” Close-up video of a kestrel hovering is the most incredible thing you’ll see all day
Kestrels are renowned for hovering gracefully in the air, looking for tiny animals to hunt.
What's new?
Aerial footage captures mysterious 'fairy circles' in Scotland. It's the first time they've been filmed here
The strange-looking rings were filmed in the Outer Hebrides.
Big Garden Birdwatch 2026: when it is, how to take part and birds to spot
This year's Big Garden Birdwatch runs from 23 to 25 January 2026 – find out how to take part, how to submit your results and which birds to spot in your garden.
These little birds gather in vast blizzard-like flocks millions strong – the biggest of any bird species ever recorded in Europe
Bramblings visit the UK for winter. In mainland Europe, gatherings of these migratory birds can reach several million.
Rare bird reaches UK for the first time – 20 years after being recorded in Arctic Russia
Bewick's swans are the rarest and smallest type of swan found in the UK
“Their white winter camouflage could become a liability.” Golden eagle plummets from the sky to catch a vulnerable hare – will it succeed?
Mountain hares aren't adapting the timing of their moult, which leaves them vulnerable to predators
Birds
It has rainbow wings, epic head feathers and eats worms – meet the spectacular 'peewit'
The lapwing, sometimes called the 'peewit' after its evocative calls, is one of the UK's most striking birds.
Crucifying, stabbing, pillaging... These brutal hunting methods used by British birds show nature at its fiercest
Discover Britain’s most brutal bird hunters and their shocking, deadly and incredibly clever hunting methods
They’re tiny. They’re fast. And they’re deadly - meet Britain's smallest birds of prey
They may be little, but they are mighty hunters when it comes to small mammals and birds. Here are the UK’s five micro birds of prey.
Crustaceans
Are there any killer whales in UK waters?
Did you know there are just two individuals remaining in the UK’s resident orca population, which will soon go extinct?
Crab vs lobster: what’s the difference between the common shore crab and the common lobster - and how do you tell them apart?
Lobsters and crabs are often mistaken for each other. Carys McMillan explains how to tell two of our most common species - the shore crab and European lobster - apart
Tragic mass stranding leaves 77 pilot whales dead in Orkney
The reason for one of the biggest mass strandings in Scottish history is currently a mystery, says Mel Hobson
Dinosaurs
"Most unexpected is the size of the animal": massive flesh-eating dinosaur uncovered in Wales
The fossil of a jawbone kept in the National Museum of Wales for decades has finally been identified as a new species of dinosaur. Scientists estimate that the prehistoric predator measured up to 7 metres long – roughly the length of a bus.
Retired GP discovers new species of sail-backed dinosaur on Isle of Wight
A new iguanodontian dinosaur, named Istiorachis macarthurae, has been identified on the Isle of Wight and it’s unlike any that has been found before…
Hundreds of dinosaur footprints found in ancient Scottish lagoon have got scientists excited – here's why
Analysis of dinosaur footprints on Isle of Skye give insights into what - and how - dinosaurs used the area
Fungi
How to identify
It's incredibly cute, about the size of a pet cat – and hardly ever seen. Meet a highly secretive woodland creature
Thanks to ongoing reintroduction projects, pine martens are making a comeback in the UK – learn all about the elusive species with our expert guide to pine martens, including what they eat and best places to see one.
This deadly predator may look cute but don't be fooled as, although it's as small as a ferret, it can outrun your dog and kill animals considerably larger than itself
What is an American mink and how did they end up in the UK? What do they eat, where do they live and what is their environmental impact? Learn all about this controversial species with our comprehensive guide to mink.
This pretty flower is essential for pollinating insects, yet deadly for livestock – causing severe, irreversible damage to the liver
Is ragwort dangerous to humans or animals? Learn what it is, where it can be found, its benefits for wildlife and the dangers associated with it in our expert ragwort guide.
Insects & invertebrates
This long-legged animal makes mincemeat of big hairy house spiders. And it's probably in your home right now
This ubiquitous creature also spins in circles to scare off attackers...
Are these bees ‘flying under the influence’? Meet the boozy royal bees that go on a London ‘pub crawl’ in David Attenborough-narrated footage
Buckingham Palace is home to four beehives and when temperatures soar, their nectar starts to ferment – with hilarious consequences
The world's biggest ever scorpion was a prehistoric monster the size of a house cat – which once roamed Scotland
You wouldn't want to come across one of these in the woods
Mammals
“A huge thrill.” David Attenborough meets a family of charismatic creatures in adorable BBC footage
In a clip from the BBC's Wild London, David Attenborough meets a family of foxes in Tottenham
A grizzly bear escaped and was loose on a remote Scottish island for 24 days. What happened next shocked bear experts
In 1980, Hercules the bear went ‘on the run’ on the island of Benbecula, attracting worldwide attention
Night cam captures baby beaver munching on apples and carrots in English nature reserve
The banquet was left in a humane trap at Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve in Norfolk by staff looking to perform a routine health check on the wetland's resident beavers.
Marine life
It has a ‘dagger’ for a tail and is venomous – meet the scorpion-like creature gliding through UK waters
The creature also appears in ancient cultures around the world as a guardian of the sea
'Godzilla' species discovered off the coast of Cornwall – and it's bigger than any found in Europe
Divers found the 'godzilla maerl' in the Fal estuary off the coast of St. Mawes.
“He hauls out the wrinkled snout of a primeval beast.” There’s a hidden vault of weird and deadly creatures in this world-famous museum
Venture into the bowels of London’s Natural History Museum and you’ll discover a realm of deep-sea monsters and rarely seen oddities
Trees & plants
It’s one of the simplest plants on Earth and blankets woodlands. And now it could help solve crimes
The importance of moss has been highlighted by a team of researchers who helped solve a homicide using the plant
First Sycamore Gap saplings planted after famous tree was illegally felled
National Trust begins planting 'Trees of Hope’ to ensure the iconic tree lives on.
Does a tree know it's being eaten? Is it able to defend itself – and warn others?
Where to see
It skims the moors like a ghost, sports a wingspan wider than your outstretched arms and can drop on prey with pinpoint precision
Get to know one of Britain's rarest bird species with our expert guide to hen harriers, including how to identify them, conservation status, where they live and how you can help protect them.
From Robin Hood's hideout to a tree that's worth nearly one million pounds, here are the UK's most famous trees
A selection of the strangest, most significant and best-known ancient trees growing in the UK’s forests, parks and gardens.
It's the size of a double-decker bus and weighs a mighty 7 tonnes. Meet the ocean giant that swims - rather leisurely it must be said – through UK waters
Get to know the world's second largest fish with our guide to Britain's basking sharks, including facts about the species and the best places to see them in the UK.
Wildlife stories
“That was the biggest high you could imagine – completely fixing this broken thing”
Headlines about the nature emergency might paint a bleak picture, but a network of sanctuaries powered by dedicated volunteers across the UK is giving wildlife a second chance. James Fair visits an animal rescue centre in Herefordshire and discovers new hope
What’s the most common butterfly species in the UK?
While it’s an ever-changing statistic, we introduce you to the most abundant butterfly species – and which country holds the title for having the most butterflies
Astonishing BBC footage shows rescue puppies helping raise adorable orphaned baby chimps in West Africa –proving dogs aren't just man's best friend
At a sanctuary in Liberia, a group of devoted dogs are stepping up as unlikely carers to help raise orphaned chimpanzees