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Birds

Birds are the only animals that have feathers, and are warm-blooded vertebrates. While all birds boast wings, not all have the power to fly (such as ostriches and penguins).

Emperor Penguins
Endangered

Spheniscidae

Penguin

With sophisticated modes of speech, extraordinary displays of parental devotion and an uncanny ability to power nap, the penguin is one our most cherished but endangered birds – and full of surprises. 

A blue and yellow parrot's face close-up
Endangered

Psittaciformes

Parrot

Parrots are loud, raucous birds, famous for their bright colourful plumage, fierce intelligence, and ability to mimic human speech. Parrots are extremely social animals and live surprisingly long lives for their size. Some even use tools to prise open nuts and display intelligence comparable to chimpanzees.

Two colourful hummingbirds sitting on a branch
Vulnerable

Trochilidae

Hummingbird

With some measuring as small as a human thumb, these lightning-fast birds are named after the “humming” sound their wings make as they beat at over 3,000 times a minute. Hummingbirds can fly forwards and backwards, and even hover in mid-air like tiny helicopters. These miniscule birds have such high metabolisms that to survive they must consume a colossal volume of nectar, equivalent in human terms to around 300 pounds in weight of hamburgers a day.