In the documentary series produced by the BBC, The Life of Birds, Sir David Attenborough unveils a new investigation into the behaviour of birds, perfectly adapted animals that conquer the air. This ten-part series reveals the secret of the birds' great success, their remarkable strategies for finding food, their complex social systems, and their ingenious and often bizarre ways of mating and breeding. From the high speed of large airborne hunters to long distance migrations or the bright colors of nectar feeding hummingbirds, this is the ultimate bird series that every ornithologist should not miss.
Cast: David Attenborough
Miniseries
10 episodes
1. To Fly or Not to Fly?The first episode looks at how birds first took to the skies in the wake of the insects. It begins in Mexico, where Attenborough observes bats being outmaneuvered by a red-tailed hawk.GCC50minOct 21, 1998
2. The Mastery of FlightThe second programme deals with the mechanics of flight. Getting into the air is by far the most exhausting of a bird's activities, and Attenborough observes shearwaters in Japan that have taken to climbing trees to give them a good jumping-off point.GCC50minOct 28, 1998
3. The Insatiable AppetiteA look at the constant need to feed necessitated by the demands of flight in species from sap suckers and crows, to robins and geese.GCC50minNov 4, 1998
4. Meat-EatersThis epsiode looks at those birds that have become strictlt meat eaters from eagles and hawks to owls and vultures.GCC50minNov 11, 1998
5. Fishing for a LivingA look at those birds that look to fishing as their main food source. From gulls and ducks to cormorants and cranes.GCC50minNov 18, 1998
6. Signals and SongsA look at the way birds communicate. The program shows us how calls of warning can unite a community of birds against a larger predator and how other calls may be used to attract mates.GCC50minNov 25, 1998
7. Finding PartnersA look at how birds attract and select mates. The survey ranges from common birds such as the sparrow to the more exotic frigate birds, and Jamaican hummingbirds. Other segments concentrate on the dancing associated with the courtship of grebes and the artistic collections of bower birds.GCC50minDec 2, 1998
8. The Demands of the EggA look at eggs and what birds go through to produce and protect them. This epsiode ranges from the mating flights to fledging of their offspring. Species examined include frigate birds and toucans as well as weaver birds and cuckoos.GCC50minDec 9, 1998
9. The Problems of ParenthoodThis episode looks at the problems birds face in raising their young. It ranges from parrots who are very active parents to cuckoos who are famous for foisting the job off on others.GCC50minDec 16, 1998
10. The Limits of EnduranceA look at how birds deal with hostile environments and with people. The episode ranges from crows in Japan that use traffic to crack nuts to penguins who never see a person but make long treks through frigid wastes.GCC50minDec 23, 1998
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The Life of Birds
A natural history of bird life narrated by David Attenborough.
In the documentary series produced by the BBC, The Life of Birds, Sir David Attenborough unveils a new investigation into the behaviour of birds, perfectly adapted animals that conquer the air. This ten-part series reveals the secret of the birds' great success, their remarkable strategies for finding food, their complex social systems, and their ingenious and often bizarre ways of mating and breeding. From the high speed of large airborne hunters to long distance migrations or the bright colors of nectar feeding hummingbirds, this is the ultimate bird series that every ornithologist should not miss.
Creators and cast
- Directors
- Joanna Sarsby
- Created by
- Michael Salisbury
- Studio
- BBC Studios Natural History Unit
Maturity rating
GCheck the rating before watching with younger viewers.
Audio languages
English
Where to watch
Stream
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