The Wildlife Trusts hope to purchase the 3,800-ha Rothbury Estate in order to restore nature.

Twenty Red-browed Amazons have been reintroduced into a remnant forest reserve in Alagoas, Brazil, marking the return of a species previously extirpated in the region.

Britain's first American Barn Swallow was a standout of a chilly November week, as a drake Bufflehead was found in Ireland.

A previously unknown species of hawk-cuckoo has been described from Borneo. The newly recognised taxa was previously considered a population of Dark Hawk-Cuckoo, which is found in Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Bornean birds principally differ from that species (and the closely related Large Hawk-Cuckoo) by their unique three-syllabled main song.

A new study led by the University of Tübingen shows that Carrion Crows, though not habitual tool users in nature, can learn to use stick tools with precision and flexibility in laboratory experiments. Over time, they develop fine motor control, accurate alignment, and error correction. Researchers suggest that only modest evolutionary shifts might be needed for these crows to become regular tool users, shedding light on avian intelligence far beyond established tool-using species.

A female Narwhal washed ashore on a Co Donegal beach, marking the first confirmed record of this Arctic whale species in Irish waters. Scientists are investigating whether climate change could explain the unprecedented stranding.

Rapidly increasing Snow Goose populations in North America are devastating Arctic tundra through over-grazing, but scientists say current management efforts – including more hunting – may not be enough to prevent long-term ecological damage.

More than 5,000 Red-footed Falcons formed a single night roost in Hungary’s Hortobágy National Park in September 2025, a record for the Carpathian Basin that underlines the area's importance for migratory raptor conservation.

A new study on Red-backed Shrikes reveals that migratory flights are organised into highly structured segments under an internal circannual genetic programme, rather than being solely driven by environment. The findings challenge traditional views of bird migration and raise concerns over how climate‑induced disruptions of external cues may interfere with these deeply programmed flight patterns.

Twenty Red-browed Amazons have been reintroduced into a remnant forest reserve in Alagoas, Brazil, marking the return of a species previously extirpated in the region.

The events in 2021 highlight the concerning impacts of climate change in the Mediterranean.

Britain's first American Barn Swallow was a standout of a chilly November week, as a drake Bufflehead was found in Ireland.

An amusing image of a Common Buzzard scoops up this week's award.

A previously unknown species of hawk-cuckoo has been described from Borneo. The newly recognised taxa was previously considered a population of Dark Hawk-Cuckoo, which is found in Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Bornean birds principally differ from that species (and the closely related Large Hawk-Cuckoo) by their unique three-syllabled main song.

Rapidly increasing Snow Goose populations in North America are devastating Arctic tundra through over-grazing, but scientists say current management efforts – including more hunting – may not be enough to prevent long-term ecological damage.

Puffins have returned to the Isle of Muck in Co Antrim for the first time in decades after Ulster Wildlife's rat eradication and habitat management programme. Trail cameras captured birds using a burrow this spring, suggesting possible breeding. The comeback adds to other positive seabird trends on the island, offering fresh hope for this red-listed species and future restoration efforts.

Cutting-edge Rough-legged Hawk ID, reflections on a lifetime of birding in Northumberland, celebrating the return of White-tailed Eagle, the rise of Bonaparte's Gull in the UK, birding Islay, why pittas are so alluring and our Artist of the Year award all feature in the December 2025 issue of Birdwatch, out now!

What began as a foggy day of late-autumn birding for Dave Cooper ended with a prize find long woven into British birding folklore.