Birds
Why is a group of crows called a murder?
Wondered why a group of crows earned the rather dark title of 'a murder of crows'? Mike Toms explains how this strange collective noun came about
It once numbered in the millions and even blocked out the sun – so why did the passenger pigeon suddenly become extinct?
All you need to know about the passenger pigeon, including why this once abundant bird went extinct
Researchers strapped cameras to penguins in Antarctica and followed them into the deep. What they filmed is incredible
Scientists put tiny cameras on penguins’ backs in efforts to gather evidence to support new marine protected areas in Antarctica.
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Firestarter: They set the land ablaze from the sky – and then wait for their prey to run
Feathered arsonists spread fire to fill their bellies
Can birds understand each other? Just how do they team up to fight predators?
Birds speak different languages – but when danger strikes, some learn to listen, decoding unfamiliar calls through the voices of others
Buzzing chainsaws, clattering machine guns and metallic hammering: 7 of the weirdest bird noises on Earth
Not all birds have a sweet-sounding melody, as this raucous bunch proves...
Rare 9ft-tall 'camel birds' released into Saudi Arabian desert
The release is a milestone for an ambitious rewilding project in the country's northwest.
This bird’s song sounds exactly like dripping water. Scientists just worked out how it does it
New research reveals how cowbirds make their astonishing liquid song.
Were these colourful parrots released into London by rockstar Jimi Hendrix, or on the set of a famous adventure movie?
Noisy flocks of emerald-green birds are becoming an increasingly common sight in the UK, from London's Hyde Park to as far north as Glasgow. Naturalist Mike Dilger tells you everything you've ever wanted know about this exotic non-native bird.
Is this the world's biggest owl gathering? During winter nearly 1,000 owls descend onto a tiny Serbian town centre – and at night it's party time
A huge parliament of long-eared owls has made an unlikely home in a Serbian town square
10 fastest birds of prey in the world – able to reach speeds of almost 200 MPH, these deadly aerial predators strike in a blink of an eye
Able to reach speeds of almost 200 MPH, these aerial predators are nature’s ultimate hunters
Watch agonising BBC footage of baby ostriches making a perilous journey for water and survival in the soaring heat of the Kalahari Desert
Ostrich chicks race against time in the scorching Kalahari, crossing the vast Etosha Salt Pan in search of life-saving water
10 fastest birds on the planet, including one that can cruise at 169kph for hours
From lightning-fast dives to marathon high-speed flight, these are the 10 fastest birds on Eart
The 12 birds of Christmas? Discover the birds hiding in the famous carol and their surprising stories
It’s got doves, hens and, of course, a partridge, but Stephen Moss explores how a much-loved carol may be all about birds, plus why the robin rules Christmas.
Do all gulls live by the sea?
Crushing bone, spearing fish, tearing flesh... These are the 6 deadliest bird beaks on the planet and they are highly effective lethal weapons
Discover the strongest, most lethal beaks on Earth.
What's the most common bird of prey in the world?
Have you spotted one of these mesmerising raptors?
Candy-coloured kingfishers, jewel-encrusted hummingbirds and pheasants in regal hues – discover the 11 most colourful birds
These avian wonders with brilliantly coloured plumage are found across the globe
“I know it’s natural but it’s bloody hard to watch.” There’s one rule in wildlife filmmaking – but this BBC team broke it
In a now-viral clip from BBC's Dynasties, the filming crew were faced with a tough decision
They strike with clenched talons at 200mph, crush skulls, shred prey, and can inflict deep head wounds on humans – 10 deadliest birds of prey on the planet
Silent wings, razor-sharp talons, and killer precision—these apex aerial predators rule the skies. Here are the world’s deadliest birds of prey
Do birds sweat, like other animals, to cool down?
Mike Toms explains how birds keep cool in hot weather
What’s the rarest bird in the world? Discover the ones on the brink of extinction
What are the rarest birds in the world? Stuart Blackman takes a look at the contenders
“I watch as a hissing, jostling scrum of over 60 vultures tears into the remains of a zebra foal”
Raptors have declined across Africa, but a new effort to safeguard them is underway
Why don't birds have weapons, like many other animals? Apart from lethal beaks and claws that is...
When it comes to fighting birds are ill-equipped compared to other animals