Birds
It can fly at 61mph, has explosive acceleration and its powerful, sharp talons are able to crush and suffocate prey. Meet the phantom of the forest
Discover everything there is to know about the goshawk, an incredible bird of prey, including what it eats, how big it is, and how to identify it.
There's a gigantic bird in Scotland that's on the brink of extinction. Here's how deer carcasses could save it
There are estimated to be just 500 capercaillies left in the wild – but scientists say there is hope for the large bird thanks to an intriguing conservation method known as 'diversionary feeding'.
Scientists strapped tiny data-gathering ‘backpacks’ to English nightingales – and discovered something worrying
A recent study reveals the truth about the English nightingale’s plight – and it has left scientists worried
'Sea parrot' cam: heartwarming livestream offers intimate glimpse inside puffin colony on remote Farne Islands
In celebration of caring for the Farne Islands for 100 years, the National Trust has shared a puffin livestream so people can watch the sweet birds from home.
A mosquito-borne virus is killing blackbirds in England – scientists are urging gardeners to help
The public's help is needed to survey the spread of a virus that targets blackbirds, say researchers from the British Trust for Ornithology.
"Remarkable" nest cam footage shows peregrine falcon chick eating first meal at Norwich Cathedral
The cathedral has become a key urban nesting site for the species, which has recovered significantly in recent decades following a period of sharp decline.
How do birds eat berries that poison us?
Why are some plants and fungi safe for some animals yet toxic to others? We explain
What is Britain's smallest bird?
Britain's smallest bird is one of the world's smallest
Do birds have ears?
How are birds able to hear so well? Sheena Harvey investigates
What's the most common bird in Britain?
With an estimated 11 million breeding pairs, this little common garden bird has soared to the top of the charts
Why does the UK have yellow birds?
What affects a bird's plumage colour? Why are some birds yellow? Mike Toms explains
Here are the 7 best places to go birdwatching in London – according to a birding expert
Even in the UK’s largest urban expanses, birdsong can be heard rising above the humdrum of city life – we reveal some of the best places in the London to see and hear birdlife.
Can a swan really break your arm?
We've heard the myths... but are they true? Swans are powerful birds, but could they actually break your arm?
Why do birds sing in the morning?
The dawn chorus is a beautiful sound but why does it take place in the morning?
First puffins spotted back on the Farne Islands after spending the winter 'rafting' at sea
The puffins have arrived in perfect time, as visitors are welcomed back to Inner Farne in the 28-island archipelago this month
Birding world in shock as starlings heard mimicking Oasis' Wonderwall in Manchester
Experts believe the birds have picked up the famous pop song in the city centre, where it is played relentlessly by buskers.
This prehistoric-looking animal was once extinct in Britain – now it's making an astonishing comeback
Britain's bittern population is booming, with a record-breaking year in 2024, according to a new report by Natural England and the RSPB.
World's fastest predator attacks huge flock of starlings in Cheshire
Dramatic video footage shows the moment a stunning murmuration is disrupted by a hunting bird of prey.
Best bird box cameras for wildlife watching in 2025
BBC Countryfile Magazine's guide to the best bird box cameras to use this nesting season.
The elusive 'phantom of the forest' is expanding its range – scientists tracked 29 of them to find out more
There are now more than 1,200 pairs of goshawks in the UK. As their slow recovery continues, could we see this majestic bird of prey nesting in city parks, as they do in other European countries?
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British seabirds: how to identify and where to see
Our guide explores some of the UK's most common types of seabird, where they live and the best places to see them.
Heron vs Egret: how to spot the difference between these two (very similar) leggy, graceful birds with elongated necks
These elegant waders seem almost identical, but a few fundamental differences stand out between the grey heron and its white-feathered relatives, the egrets
It guzzles rats head-first and stabs its prey to death: Here's why the grey heron is king of the river
Stationary and silent, waiting for prey, the heron has become an increasingly common sight at the water’s edge. Mark Hillsdon explores this elegant hunter’s world
