Those familiar with the fairytale “The Ugly Duckling” by Hans Christian Andersen may remember how the ‘ugly duckling’ in the story was actually a baby swan and not a duckling at all! In real life, ...

In early spring, cardinals feed on the ground for seeds in fields, meadows and leaf litter. Once the leaves open, they move up into trees and shrubs for buds and caterpillars. In fall they take fruit ...

This tiny, chocolate-brown finch with a striking black face is a social butterfly, often seen in cheerful flocks darting between rice fields and grasslands. The Chestnut Munia is a small, stocky finch ...

The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most abundant duck species in North America. In fact, ‘Greenheads’, as they are affectionately known are probably the most familiar duck species in the world.

This powerful raptor soars majestically through mountain forests from India to Indonesia, using its unusually long talons to snatch prey from treetop nests. The Black Eagle is a striking raptor with ...

In 1782, the turkey narrowly missed out on the bald eagle for being named the national bird of the United States. However, as a symbol of family gatherings and gratitude, the appeal of the turkey ...

Known for its distinctive warty red face and hefty size, this farmyard favorite traces its wild origins to the tropical forests of Central and South America. The Muscovy Duck is a large, heavy-bodied ...

Pheasants are large gamebirds from the family Phasianidae that also contains turkeys, chickens, quails and other landfowl. There are a remarkable 50 or so species of pheasants distributed throughout ...

The mighty ostrich is comfortably the biggest and heaviest bird in the world, standing at some 2.1 to 2.8 m (6 ft 11 to 9 ft 2 in) tall and weighing some 150kg (23.5 stone). It may come as no surprise ...

Owls are secretive creatures. In fact, anyone would be lucky to see an owl in the wild - you’re much more likely to hear their distinctive hooting sound instead! To see a baby owl would be even less ...

The discovery of the Black Swan in 1697 shattered a long-held Western belief that all swans were white, giving rise to the famous 'black swan event' metaphor. Native to Australia, this unmistakable ...

Few bird families capture the imagination quite like finches, these seed-cracking specialists whose remarkable diversity brings vibrancy to Britain's skies year-round. With their distinctive conical ...