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
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NewsEmperor penguin colonies abandoned after ‘unprecedented’ loss of sea ice
The breeding failure of four emperor penguin colonies is a sign of things to come, researchers have warned.
24 August 2023 -
NewsUK’s cuckoos unable to adjust migrations to keep up with climate change
Cuckoos are being forced into riskier migrations to get ahead of the competition.
22 June 2023 -
NewsBritain has lost 73 million birds over the last 50 years
Most of the declining species are farmland birds.
12 May 2023 -
NewsBird flu outbreak spreads across West African migratory route
The bird flu pandemic has reached West Africa after being detected in Senegal and The Gambia.
26 April 2023
