British Birds
It's called a wader but doesn't wade – and doesn't like to fly either. Discover the bird that's regarded as something of an oddity
The non-wading woodland wader...
How do diving gannets avoid breaking their necks when entering the water at speeds of nearly 100 km/h?
The sight of gannets diving into water for their prey is impressive to behold, but how do they avoid breaking their necks at such a high speed?
Why don’t woodpeckers get headaches and concussion when drumming?
Drumming is a springtime sound that's unrelated to feeding or nestbuilding.
null
undefined
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.
Great tit bird guide: how to identify great tits by sight and call, and what they eat
Discover why the great tit is a shape-shifter and master songsmith in this expert guide by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).
How to identify baby birds
Identify common baby birds with this handy chart
Best bird tables: how to choose the best table to get more birds into your garden
Attract birds into your wildlife garden with a bird table. We’ve shared a selection of our favourite bird tables – including hanging, standalone and ground bird tables – to suit a range of styles and budgets.
Wildlife and mental health: how birdwatching saved my life
After hitting rock bottom, it was taking time to mindfully appreciate the beauty of birds that set one man on the road to recovery.
Woodpeckers of the UK
Meet the four woodpecker species that can be found in the UK.
Big Garden Birdwatch 2023: when it is, how to take part, and species to look out for
Take part in the 44th Big Garden Birdwatch and record your garden birds. Here is our guide on how to take part and birds to spot in your garden this winter.
Traffic noise increases aggression amongst rural robins
A new study has shown that country-dwelling robins get feistier in response to human-made noise pollution.
Owl pellets guide: how to identify and dissect
It's great fun finding owl pellets, but do you know who made them? Discover how to find them and the key identification features to look for. Plus, a selection of pellets produced by some other birds, and droppings that may get mistaken for pellets.
Barn owl guide: how to identify, how they hunt and where to see barn owls in the UK
Learn about barn owl, including how to identify them, what they eat and best places to see in the UK.
Gulls of the UK and British Isles: how to identify, why they dance on grass, and why some species are declining
There are 25 species of gull that can be found in the British Isles, however not all breed here. Our guide will help you identify the UK's breeding gulls from the herring gull to the common gull.
Ring ouzel guide: how to identify, and when and where to see
Discover fascinating facts about the ring ouzel, a summer migrant to the UK and similar in looks to the blackbird, in this expert guide by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).
Bohemian waxwing guide: when and why they visit the UK, how to identify and what an irruption is
Discover fascinating facts about these beautiful winter visitors to the UK in this expert guide by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).
Watching the birds in your garden
David Lindo, The Urban Birder, provides a beginner’s guide to bird watching at home – how to attract birds to your garden and the species you might see.
Bar-tailed godwit guide: how to identify, how they migrate so far, and when to see them in the UK
Wader expert Graham Appleton shares how to identify these wading birds from the similar-looking black-tailed godwits, and explains the mysteries of their epic migrations.
Cuckoo guide: why they call ‘cuckoo’, how they trick other birds, and where they go in winter
With its classic call and famous parasitic behaviour, the cuckoo is familiar bird to many people – even if they've not heard or seen one. Learn more about this harbinger of spring in our expert guide.
Best books on birds for children
Introduce children to our feathery friends with these delightful books on birds, from picture books for younger readers to a novel for young teens.
Why do wagtails wag their tail?
Mike Toms answers explains possible theories to why wagtails wag
British wildlife in September
Enjoy summer's swan song with our guide to what different species are up to at this time of year.
How to identify bird feathers
Found a bird feather? Use this handy guide by naturalist and presenter Brett Westwood to identify which bird it comes from.
Dipper guide: why they dip, how they're adapted to swimming, and the threats they face
Known in Welsh as a ‘bird of the torrent’, the dipper is the UK’s only aquatic songbird and always fascinating to watch.