Migration
It weighs the same as 2 grizzly bears, can be aged like a tree – meet the ocean giant that hurtles through the ocean at 44 miles per hour
Bluefin tuna are impressive fish – the largest on record was a 679 kg bluefin caught off the coast of Canada in 1979. But did you know these big beasts start off at just the size of an eyelash?
How do birds, mammals and other animals navigate? Discover the incredible ways animals find their way around the world
From homing pigeons to the great migrations of monarch butterflies, when it comes to finding their way home, or to breeding or feeding grounds, animals use a variety of techniques. But what is the science behind animal navigation?
10 amazing mammal migrations
Here are some of the world’s most amazing migrations, from the best-known wildebeest in the Serengeti to the not so famous bearded pig in South East Asia – in 1983 the number migrating through the rainforests of Borneo was estimated at one million.
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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).
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.
Mega insect migration stuns scientists
Seeing millions of insects cross from Asia to Europe has been a revelation
Ducks of the UK: how to identify, behaviours and when to see them
Birdwatcher and writer Marianne Taylor explains which species are regularly seen here, and their various feeding methods.
Swallows overwintering in Britain rather than migrating back to Africa
Record numbers of our most celebrated migrant never left our shores this winter
Unexpected wildlife visitors to the UK
The most interesting animals that have travelled beyond their normal range and turned up in the UK.
Rare bat recorded via artificial intelligence
An acoustic recording project detected the social calls of a Kuhl's pipistrelle bat, a species which is rarely seen or heard in the UK.
How to identify birds on the move in spring
Use our illustrated guide to help you spot 12 migrant and resident birds on the move in spring in the UK.
Bewick’s swan guide: how to identify, where they are found and why they are rare
Bewick's swans are the smallest of the swan species found in the UK. They are migratory winter visitors to the UK, travelling 2,500 miles here from Siberia.
House martin guide: how to identify, migration and diet
Surviving solely on insects caught 'on the wing', house martins are a fascinating bird species. Discover more about their migration routes, nesting habits and diet in our expert guide to house martins.
Asian avian visitor attracts twitchers to Whipsnade
A black-throated thrush has caused a rush of birdwatchers to visit ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire.
Migrating hoverflies are providing essential pollination and pest control in the UK
These insects are thought to transport billions of pollen grains between Britain and Europe each year and contribute to successful ecosystem function.
Swifts arriving later than usual due to bad weather
Conservationists and wildlife lovers have noticed that this year many swifts are arriving back to their nesting sites two weeks later than normal.
Swifts spend the majority of their lives in the air
New research shows that pallid swifts can spend more than three months in the air without landing.
Barn swallows evolved alongside buildings
New research analyses the genetics of barn swallows and how their evolution was affected by human settlements.
Wildlife on the ‘Island of 20,000 Saints’
Growing up on Bardsey, a small remote island off the coast of North Wales, has inspired a love for the natural world in Ben Porter, an award-winning young wildlife photographer.
What is moult-migration?
Moult migration occurs when birds need to replace their flight feathers, and occurs at traditional sites.
Which of our wintering ducks come from Russia?
Ornithologist Mike Toms reveals which of our winter ducks come from Russia.
Is climate change hitting our summer migrants?
BBC Wildlife contributor Mike Toms discusses climate change and bird migration.
Early bird surprises experts
An osprey has returned to her nest at Rutland Water earlier than expected.