Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre

They’re the chirpy crumb cleaners of our pavements and the inspiration for many of our favourite sayings, but how well do we really know our feathered friends?

From penguins at the poles to ospreys over the oceans, birds are literally everywhere! But how did they come to rule the roost?

Packed with specimens from the world’s biggest bird collection, our new exhibition explores their epic evolutionary story. From surviving the mass extinction that wiped out all the other dinosaurs to evolving into the more than 11,000 species alive today, we’ll delve into the secrets of their success.

Whether it’s sucking blood or bathing in acid, they’ve found surprising and frankly shocking ways to survive on every continent on Earth. Join us and immerse yourself in their brilliant and bizarre lives. Step into a swirling murmuration, lose yourself in the dawn chorus and find out if you could be outwitted by a raven.

Plus, see the world – a changing world – through their eyes with our UV experience. With many species now being affected by the way we live our lives, discover if there’s a way we can help these remarkable creatures to soar once more.

Exhibition supported by Associate Donor

In affiliation with

Find out more

Birds may have been around for millions of years and inhabit every continent on Earth, but these remarkable creatures still hold many secrets.

Featuring more than 120 specimens from one of the most important bird collections in the world, our new exhibition tells their incredible story like never before. From surviving the mass extinction that wiped out all the other dinosaurs to their evolution into the more than 11,000 species alive today, we delve into the secrets of their success.

From intriguing behaviours to brilliant survival tactics, we invite you into their fascinating lives. Step into a swirling starling murmuration, be immersed in the dawn chorus and uncover corvid intelligence.

Through extraordinary fossils and exquisite specimens, including a genuine auk egg, we’ll look not only into their past but also to their future. With the pressures of our rapidly changing world affecting many species, is there a way we can help them to thrive again?

Exhibition supported by Associate Donor

In affiliation with

Find out more

Packed with specimens, our new exhibition explores the epic evolutionary story of birds.  

From surviving the mass extinction that wiped out all the other dinosaurs to evolving into more than 11,000 species today, we’ll delve into the secrets of their success.

With many species now being affected by the way we live our lives, discover if there’s a way we can help these remarkable creatures to soar once more.

Exhibition supported by Associate Donor

In affiliation with

Find out more