Birds

Discover an extinct dodo, our historical hummingbird cabinet, and a Victorian avian anatomy display in the Birds gallery.

From endangered species to native British breeds and contemporary conservation efforts, explore the wonders of our bird collection.

Star specimens and exhibits

cases of nesting birds dating from 1883, featuring blackbirds and storm petrels
a selection of eggs ranging from those of the tiny hummingbird to the giant elephant bird
two passenger pigeon specimens, a species that once numbered in the billions and is now extinct
framed prints from John James Audubon's famous The Birds of America book
a beautiful painting of the extinct great auk

The Birds of America

It's not hard to imagine why a group of teenagers might attempt to steal John James Audubon's iconic and valuable book The Birds of America, a true story told in the film American Animals.

See these prints on display in the Birds gallery.

The diversity of birds

Discover the world's birds in an online exhibition.

A collaboration between the Museum and Google Arts & Culture.

Discover: birds

Anthropocene

Passenger pigeon: How the world’s most common bird went extinct

The passenger pigeon was once the most numerous bird in the world, but in just half a century, it had gone extinct.

Wildlife photography

Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Wild and wonderful birds

Delve in to the wonderful world of birds and discover their incredible behaviour through photos from our Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Dinosaurs

How did birds and other dinosaurs learn to fly?

Millions of years before modern birds evolved, their dinosaur ancestors were soaring through the air.

News

Dinosaur fossils reveal how birds got their distinctive walks

New research has revealed how birds changed from rigid raptors to flexible fowl.

20 November 2024

Birds