Birds

Birds come in many shapes, sizes, and colours. From the tiny hovering hummingbird, to the giant emus sprinting across the desert plains of Australia's outback, the exhilarating penguins "flying" through frigid waters to catch fish, and the great albatross that fly incredible distances across the oceans.

Many bird species around the world are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, fisheries bycatch, the illegal wildlife trade and a host of other threats.

Birds

Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaëtos), Flatanger, Norway.

Wandering albatross Prion Island off of South Georgia Island (UK) in the sub-antarctic region.

European Sea Eagle (Haliaetus albicilla), Flatanger, Trondheim, Norway.

Brunnich´s Guillemot (or thick billed murre), at bird cliff of Stappen, southern Bear Island (Bjoernoeya), Barentsea, Svalbard.

Great grey owl (Strix nebulosa), Finland.

Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), Iceland.

Black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus) attacking grey heron (Ardea cinerea), Middle Elbe biosphere reserve, Germany

White-bellied hummingbird (Leucippus chionogaster) in flight, Puerto Iguacu, Misiones, Argentina.

European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), Hungary.

European Sea Eagle (Haliaetus albicilla), carrying a fish in its talons and being harried by a seagull, Flatanger, Trondheim, Norway.

Great Egrets (Egretta alba), Pusztaszer protected area Hungary.

Adult Arctic tern (Sterna paradisea), feeding the young, Iceland.

White stork (Ciconia ciconia); Morocco

More about birds

Climate change impact on birds

Video

Bird sounds from the lyre bird (BBC Wildlife)
Hummingbirds (BBC Wildlife)
Beautiful Plumed Bird of Paradise (BBC Wildlife)
Atlantic albatross (BBC Wildlife)

What is WWF doing to protect birds?

WWF projects in over 100 offices around the world, work to address the many issues that threaten bird species.

These efforts include increasing the amount of protected areas to limit habitat loss, seeking strong international laws that reduce the illegal bird trade, and constantly working to build awareness about the incredible diversity of bird species and the importance of protecting them.

Some WWF projects that focus on bird conservation:

Gyps Vulture Restoration (Pakistan)
Reducing Seabird Bycatch in the West Bering Sea (Russia)
Gouldian Finch Project (Australia)
Buddah birds: Protecting the black-necked cranes of Shangri-la (China)
Building homes for birds on Simbo (Solomon Islands)

Species profiles: