Accessibility Links

  • Skip to Main Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Footer
Science Focus - the home of BBC Science Focus Magazine
Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine Previous Issues Q&A Join the Science Focus Book Club
Sign In Register
Sign In Register
Settings Sign out
My account
Science Focus - the home of BBC Science Focus Magazine Science Focus - the home of BBC Science Focus Magazine
Sign up to our newsletters
    Sign up to our newsletters
    News
    Future tech
    Nature
    Space
    Human body
    Everyday science
    Planet Earth
    Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine
    Previous Issues
    Q&A
    Join the Science Focus Book Club
    1. Home
    2. Birds

    Birds

    Birds are one of six classes in the animal kingdom. This group of endothermic vertebrates are characterised by feathers, toothless beaks and hard shelled eggs. There is estimated to be roughly 9000 – 10000 extant species of bird, with over 60 of these lacking the ability to fly, a characterised often synonymous with birds, for example the ostrich and the penguin.

    Why are flamingos pink? © Getty Images
    Nature

    Why are flamingos pink?

    Why do some birds hop and others walk? © Getty Images
    Nature

    Why do some birds hop and others walk?

    THUMB101ReneeCapozzola
    Planet Earth

    A Dance of Sharks and Gulls: Underwater Photography Prize Winners

    Advertisement
    Monogamy and mating: The surprising similarities between birds and humans © Getty Images
    Nature

    Monogamy and mating The surprising similarities between birds and humans

    Panning shot of a Dalmatian Pelican. Its tough, but so worth it when it turns out well. This shot was taken with 1/30s, f/8.0, and ISO 800 at 80mm.
    Planet Earth

    Swift Pelican wins top Ecology Photo Prize

    What wildlife can I see in British hedgerows? © Getty
    Nature

    What wildlife can I see in British hedgerows?

    Four-month-old ravens could be as intelligent as adult apes © Getty Images
    Science news

    Four-month-old ravens could be as intelligent as adult apes

    Mountain Hare Lepus timidus
A confiding adult, high in the Cairngorms mountains, forms the shape of a ball as it grooms
Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK
    Planet Earth

    Wildlife Photographer of the Year launches People’s Choice Award

    Ancient Madagascan bird fossil had a dinosaur bone structure but a modern face © Mark Witton
    Science news

    Madagascan fossil ‘turns bird evolutionary anatomy on its head’

    Advertisement
    Owl’s flight through gusty winds could inspire new aircraft designs © Getty Images
    Science news

    Owl’s flight through gusty winds could inspire new aircraft designs

    What is a great potoo? © Getty Images
    Nature

    What is a great potoo?

    Do any other animals have religion? © Daniel Bright
    Nature

    Do any other animals have religion?

    What’s the largest flying animal?
    Nature

    What’s the largest flying animal?

    Birds and reptiles cry tears just like our own © Arianne P. Oriá
    Science news

    Birds and reptiles cry tears just like our own

    Why do blackbirds always dive in front of my car? © Daniel Bright
    Nature

    Why do blackbirds always dive in front of my car?

    • You're currently on page 1
    • Page 2
    • Page 3
    • Page 4
    • Page 8
    • Next
    360-homepage
    Special offer

    Save 50% when you subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    special-editions
    BBC Science Focus Special Editions

    Discover our latest special editions covering a range of fascinating topics from the latest scientific discoveries to the big ideas explained.

    ORDER NOW
    podcast-FOOTER-3
    Science Focus Podcast

    Listen to some of the brightest names in science and technology talk about the ideas and breakthroughs shaping our world.

    LISTEN

    Get our daily LUNCHTIME GENIUS newsletter

    Our daily newsletter arrives just in time for lunch, offering up the day's biggest science news, our latest features, amazing Q&As and insightful interviews. PLUS a free mini-magazine for you to download and keep.

    Thanks! Look out for your Lunchtime Genius newsletter in your inbox soon.

    Already have an account with us? Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences

    Sign in
    Register

    By clicking “sign up” you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how Immediate Media Company Limited (publisher of Science Focus) holds your personal information, please see our privacy policy.

    Site footer

    Science Focus - the home of BBC Science Focus Magazine
    • Visit us on Facebook
    • Visit us on Pinterest
    • Visit us on Twitter
    • Visit us on YouTube
    • Visit us on Instagram
    • Subscribe to our RSS feed
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Code of conduct
    • Licensing
    • Magazine subscriptions
    • Contact Us
    • Manage cookies
    Immediate Media
    This website is published by Immediate Media Company Limited under licence from BBC Studios Distribution. © Immediate Media Company Ltd 2021.
    Partner logo