Tweet Of The Day

Radio 4

Factual

800 episodes

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Tweet Of The Day

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Duration

6 minutes

2 minutes

6 minutes

2 minutes

02 minutes

120

5 minutes

Genre

  • factual
  • science and nature
  • factual
  • p02cc02b
  • factual
  • science & nature

Programme ID

b08pddp3

b03zrcq9

b03zqzsv

b0378xmn

b0378x0n

b0378wz1

b02tvryl

b02tvnnw

b020tpqx

b020tp38

b01sbz27

b01sbyh9

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b01s8mng

b01s6y1h

Station

  • Radio 4
  • BBC RADIO 4
  • Radio 4

Episodes

TitleFirst
Broadcast
RepeatedComments
2013061720140616
20160801 (R4)
20160807 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Great Skua. Great skuas are often known as bonxies - their local name in Shetland where most of the UK's population breeds. Almost two thirds of the world's great skuas nest here or on Orkney.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the great skua.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Great Skua. Great skuas are often known as bonxies - their local name in Shetland where most of the UK's population breeds. Almost two thirds of the world's great skuas nest here or on Orkney.

2013081420140723
20160414 (R4)
20170425 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the rock pipit. The sight of a greyish bird no bigger than a sparrow, at home on the highest cliffs and feeding within reach of breaking waves can come as a surprise. In spring and early summer, the male Pipits become wonderful extroverts and perform to attract a female, during which they sing loudly to compete with the sea-wash.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the rock pipit.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the rock pipit. The sight of a greyish bird no bigger than a sparrow, at home on the highest cliffs and feeding within reach of breaking waves can come as a surprise. In spring and early summer, the male Pipits become wonderful extroverts and perform to attract a female, during which they sing loudly to compete with the sea-wash.

Michaela Strachan presents the rock pipit. The sight of a greyish bird no bigger than a sparrow, at home on the highest cliffs and feeding within reach of breaking waves can come as a surprise. In spring and early summer, the male Pipits become wonderful extroverts and perform to attract a female, during which they sing loudly to compete with the sea-wash.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the rock pipit.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the rock pipit.

Adelie Penguin2015011420150118 (R4)
20160126 (R4)
20190911 (R4)
20201022 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the adelie penguin on a windswept Antarctic shore. A huddle of braying shapes on a windswept shore in Antarctica reveals itself to be a rookery of Adelie Penguins. These medium sized penguins whose white eye-ring gives them an expression of permanent astonishment were discovered in 1840 and named after the land which French explorer Jules Dumont d'-Urville named in honour of his wife Adele. They make a rudimentary nest of pebbles (sometimes pinched from a neighbour) from which their eggs hatch on ice-free shores in December, Antarctica's warmest month, when temperatures reach a sizzling minus two degrees. In March the adult penguins follow the growing pack ice north as it forms, feeding at its edge on a rich diet of krill, small fish and crustaceans. But as climate change raises ocean temperatures, the ice edge forms further south nearer to some of the breeding colonies, reducing the distance penguins have to walk to and from open water. But, if ice fails to form in the north of the penguin's range it can affect their breeding success, and at one research station breeding numbers have dropped by nearly two thirds.

Liz Bonnin presents the Adelie penguin on a windswept Antarctic shore.

Liz Bonnin presents the adelie penguin on a windswept Antarctic shore. A huddle of braying shapes on a windswept shore in Antarctica reveals itself to be a rookery of Adelie Penguins. These medium sized penguins whose white eye-ring gives them an expression of permanent astonishment were discovered in 1840 and named after the land which French explorer Jules Dumont d'-Urville named in honour of his wife Adele. They make a rudimentary nest of pebbles (sometimes pinched from a neighbour) from which their eggs hatch on ice-free shores in December, Antarctica's warmest month, when temperatures reach a sizzling minus two degrees. In March the adult penguins follow the growing pack ice north as it forms, feeding at its edge on a rich diet of krill, small fish and crustaceans. But as climate change raises ocean temperatures, the ice edge forms further south nearer to some of the breeding colonies, reducing the distance penguins have to walk to and from open water. But, if ice fails to form in the north of the penguin's range it can affect their breeding success, and at one research station breeding numbers have dropped by nearly two thirds.

Liz Bonnin presents the Adelie penguin on a windswept Antarctic shore.

Liz Bonnin presents the Adelie penguin on a windswept Antarctic shore.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the adelie penguin on a windswept Antarctic shore. A huddle of braying shapes on a windswept shore in Antarctica reveals itself to be a rookery of Adelie Penguins. These medium sized penguins whose white eye-ring gives them an expression of permanent astonishment were discovered in 1840 and named after the land which French explorer Jules Dumont d'-Urville named in honour of his wife Adele. They make a rudimentary nest of pebbles (sometimes pinched from a neighbour) from which their eggs hatch on ice-free shores in December, Antarctica's warmest month, when temperatures reach a sizzling minus two degrees. In March the adult penguins follow the growing pack ice north as it forms, feeding at its edge on a rich diet of krill, small fish and crustaceans. But as climate change raises ocean temperatures, the ice edge forms further south nearer to some of the breeding colonies, reducing the distance penguins have to walk to and from open water. But, if ice fails to form in the north of the penguin's range it can affect their breeding success, and at one research station breeding numbers have dropped by nearly two thirds.

African Jacana2014093020150907 (R4)
20150913 (R4)
20190801 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the wetland loving African Jacana. Being rich chestnut coloured above, with black heads, white throats, each has a patch of blue skin above the bill, known as a shield, Jacanas are waders with very long slender toes which allow them to walk on floating plants giving them the name lily-trotters. Widespread in wet places south of the Sahara desert they may become nomadic moving between wetlands as seasonal water levels change. They have an unusual mating system. Females mate with several males, but leave their partners to build the nest, incubate the eggs and bring up the chicks. With up to 3 or 4 mates rearing her different broods, her strategy is to produce the maximum number of young lily-trotters each year.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the wetland-loving African jacana.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the wetland loving African Jacana. Being rich chestnut coloured above, with black heads, white throats, each has a patch of blue skin above the bill, known as a shield, Jacanas are waders with very long slender toes which allow them to walk on floating plants giving them the name lily-trotters. Widespread in wet places south of the Sahara desert they may become nomadic moving between wetlands as seasonal water levels change. They have an unusual mating system. Females mate with several males, but leave their partners to build the nest, incubate the eggs and bring up the chicks. With up to 3 or 4 mates rearing her different broods, her strategy is to produce the maximum number of young lily-trotters each year.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the wetland loving African Jacana. Being rich chestnut coloured above, with black heads, white throats, each has a patch of blue skin above the bill, known as a shield, Jacanas are waders with very long slender toes which allow them to walk on floating plants giving them the name lily-trotters. Widespread in wet places south of the Sahara desert they may become nomadic moving between wetlands as seasonal water levels change. They have an unusual mating system. Females mate with several males, but leave their partners to build the nest, incubate the eggs and bring up the chicks. With up to 3 or 4 mates rearing her different broods, her strategy is to produce the maximum number of young lily-trotters each year.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the wetland-loving African jacana.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the wetland-loving African jacana.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the wetland loving African Jacana. Being rich chestnut coloured above, with black heads, white throats, each has a patch of blue skin above the bill, known as a shield, Jacanas are waders with very long slender toes which allow them to walk on floating plants giving them the name lily-trotters. Widespread in wet places south of the Sahara desert they may become nomadic moving between wetlands as seasonal water levels change. They have an unusual mating system. Females mate with several males, but leave their partners to build the nest, incubate the eggs and bring up the chicks. With up to 3 or 4 mates rearing her different broods, her strategy is to produce the maximum number of young lily-trotters each year.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the wetland loving African Jacana. Being rich chestnut coloured above, with black heads, white throats, each has a patch of blue skin above the bill, known as a shield, Jacanas are waders with very long slender toes which allow them to walk on floating plants giving them the name lily-trotters. Widespread in wet places south of the Sahara desert they may become nomadic moving between wetlands as seasonal water levels change. They have an unusual mating system. Females mate with several males, but leave their partners to build the nest, incubate the eggs and bring up the chicks. With up to 3 or 4 mates rearing her different broods, her strategy is to produce the maximum number of young lily-trotters each year.

African Southern Ground Hornbill2014092920150911 (R4)
20180604 (R4)
20191118 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the African Southern Ground hornbill. Ground hornbills live in south and south-east Africa. They're glossy black birds, as big as turkeys with huge downward-curving bills. The bird produces a deep booming sound that reverberates over long distances, sometimes as much as 5 kilometres, across its grassy habitat. Preferring to walk rather than fly, they strut about in the long grass, searching for prey. Snakes are a favourite: even deadly puff adders are no match for the birds' bludgeoning beaks.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the African southern ground hornbill.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the African Southern Ground hornbill. Ground hornbills live in south and south-east Africa. They're glossy black birds, as big as turkeys with huge downward-curving bills. The bird produces a deep booming sound that reverberates over long distances, sometimes as much as 5 kilometres, across its grassy habitat. Preferring to walk rather than fly, they strut about in the long grass, searching for prey. Snakes are a favourite: even deadly puff adders are no match for the birds' bludgeoning beaks.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the African southern ground hornbill.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the African southern ground hornbill.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the African Southern Ground hornbill. Ground hornbills live in south and south-east Africa. They're glossy black birds, as big as turkeys with huge downward-curving bills. The bird produces a deep booming sound that reverberates over long distances, sometimes as much as 5 kilometres, across its grassy habitat. Preferring to walk rather than fly, they strut about in the long grass, searching for prey. Snakes are a favourite: even deadly puff adders are no match for the birds' bludgeoning beaks.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alasdair Grubb On The Blue Tit2017062220180402 (R4)Alasdair Grubb describes how a blue tit seemingly cried out for his help.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alasdair Grubb from the remote camera team on Springwatch describes to Tweet of the Day how a blue tit seemingly cried out for his help when he was volunteering for the RSPB.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"Alasdair Grubb describes how a blue tit seemingly cried out for his help.

Producer Tom Bonnett."

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

Alasdair Grubb describes how a blue tit seemingly cried out for his help."

"""Alasdair Grubb describes how a blue tit seemingly cried out for his help.

Producer Tom Bonnett. """

Producer Tom Bonnett.

Alex Gregory On The House Sparrow2017080120210224 (R4)
20181115 (R4)
Rower and two times Olympic Gold medallist Alex Gregory tells the story of his childhood pet, a house sparrow called Sparky.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Mark Ward.

Rower and Olympic gold medallist Alex Gregory on the house sparrow for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Mark Ward.

"Rower and Olympic gold medallist Alex Gregory on the house sparrow for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Mark Ward. "

Producer Mark Ward.

Alex Gregory On The Kingfisher2017082320180907 (R4)Olympic Gold medallist Alex Gregory on the birds he sees while out early morning training.

Two-time Olympic Gold medalist Alex Gregory reflects on the birds he sees such as the kingfisher and heron while out on early morning training for this Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Mark Ward
Photograph: Anna Bilska.

"Olympic Gold medallist Alex Gregory on the birds he sees while out early morning training.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Mark Ward
Photograph: Anna Bilska."

Producer: Mark Ward
Photograph: Anna Bilska. "

Producer: Mark Ward
Photograph: Anna Bilska.

Alex Gregory On The White Stork2017080220190721 (R4)Olympic gold medal-winning rower Alex Gregory on the white stork for Tweet of the Day.

Double Olympic gold medal-winning rower Alex Gregory recalls seeing white stork in Portugal for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Mark Ward
Photograph: Boberskik.

Producer Mark Ward.

"Olympic gold medal-winning rower Alex Gregory on the white stork for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Mark Ward. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 1 Of 122017121820191218 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and, for many, a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song Twelve Days of Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas so the song goes, a true love sent a partridge in a pear tree. As actress Alison Steadman suggests as ground birds, partridges are not known for their amorous arboreal perching. Why a partridge in a tree could have many meanings, but given the song is of possible French origin, the French or red-legged partridge seems an ideal candidate as sitter in a pear tree.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Lynn Martin.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Lynn Martin.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Lynn Martin."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 10 Of 122017122820191229 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song Twelve Tweets of Christmas.

As actress Alison Steadman recounts, while the original song called for ten Lords a Leaping, in the bird world a there are a number of species which could be thought of as able to leaping about. Choosing which birds come to mind from that list brings to mind the pied wagtail and the common crane.

Producer : Andrew Dawes.
Photograph: Deanne Wildsmith.

Producer : Andrew Dawes.
Photograph: Deanne Wildsmith.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer : Andrew Dawes.
Photograph: Deanne Wildsmith."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 11 Of 122017122920191230 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song Twelve days of Christmas.

As the song hints at, no festive party for a true love would be complete without eleven massed pipers piping. And possibly the best pipers of the British bird world can be found down on the coast. For actress Alison Steadman two species which come to mind are the redshank and the oystercatcher.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Tim Marlow.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Tim Marlow. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 12 Of 122017123120191231 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Reaching the the final verse of the song brings a requirement for twelve drummers drumming. As actress Alison Steadman recalls, is that the sound of drumming a distant drum-roll I can hear? Or maybe just a male snipe on an amorous fly by?

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Steve Waddingham.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Steve Waddingham. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Reaching the the final verse of the song brings a requirement for twelve drummers drumming. As actress Alison Steadman recalls, is that the sound of drumming a distant drum-roll I can hear? Or maybe just a male snipe on an amorous fly by?

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 2 Of 122017121920191219 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and, for many, a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas.

As actress Alison Steadman discusses at the time of the song's creation, across England the soft call of the turtle dove would have sent amorous sounds to many a loved one, though not at Christmas of course. These days however the soft dove call that a true love would most likely hear is that of the collared dove.

Producer: Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Mediocreimage.

Producer: Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Mediocreimage.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer: Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Mediocreimage."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 3 Of 122017122020191220 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas.

As actress Alison Steadman discusses working out what the actual bird is on the third day of the song could prove a headache. The original three French hens mentioned in the song could be of course domestic chickens or hens in France, but not, I suggest, French Hens, a species which as far as we know doesn't exist. It's thought then our domestic chickens are descendants of junglefowl, forest dwelling members of the pheasant family from southern Asia. Of all the junglefowl, it is the red junglefowl that is believed to be the primary ancestral source of our humble hen.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Graham Ball.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Graham Ball.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Graham Ball."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 4 Of 122017122120191222 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song Twelve Days of Christmas.

As actress Alison Steadman discusses, on the fourth day of the song, a true love is sent four calling birds. Given that most birds call, which quartet of birds could be calling? Possibly the four calling birds could refer back to colly, a derivative of the older col, roughly translated as coal. In other words, birds as black as coal. But which black bird would capture a wooing heart?

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: John Quine.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: John Quine.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: John Quine."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 5 Of 122017122220191223 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and, for many, a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas.

As actress Alison Steadman outlines the refrain Five Gold Rings in the song is a recent thing, having emerged as an Edwardian addition to the song when Frederic Austen composed the music we know and love today. Yet in the century before that, a small colourful bird captivated Victorian society like no other. The goldfinch.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Janet Sharp.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Janet Sharp.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Janet Sharp."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 6 Of 122017122420191224 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas.

As preparations for Christmas gather pace, what better for a true love than to supply a laying goose for the family table? Though six geese a-laying may be a gaggle too much in some households. As actress Alison Steadman discusses a strong contender for the goose-a-laying could well be the gregarious greylag goose, the wild ancestor of many a farmyard goose today.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: John Dixon.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: John Dixon.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: John Dixon."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 7 Of 122017122520191225 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas.

The big day has arrived and with it seven swans a swimming. Though wrapping these may have been an issue. As actress Alison Steadman discusses deeply embedded in the British culture the mute swan, which for many is the perfect bird for the seventh day in the song. Although in winter two other contenders arrive on our shores, the Bewick swan from Siberia and the slightly more vocal Whooper swan from Iceland.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Kevin Neal.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Kevin Neal.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Kevin Neal."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 8 Of 122017122620191226 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas.

As actress Alison Steadman reveals during the cold mid-winter as they went about their business, those eight maids a milking were probably not thinking of a familiar bird which also produces milk. The domestic pigeon.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: David England.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: David England.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: David England."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets Of Christmas 9 Of 122017122720191227 (R4)A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the colder days. Tweet of the Day has been entertaining early morning listeners to the Radio 4 schedule every day since 2013, but this Christmas we will delight in an avian offering of the well known song the Twelve Days of Christmas.

As actress Alison Steadman recounts, there are many birds who could be thought of as the best dancers, but for me I'm sure the nine ladies dancing (and gentlemen) in the song would relish a chance to relax for a while and watch the dancing display of the great crested grebe. A sure sign that winter is nearly over.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Tim Donovan.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Tim Donovan.

"A seasonal offering from Tweet of the Day for the Christmas period.

Producer : Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Tim Donovan."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Alpine Swift2014032520150414 (R4)
20180702 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the alpine swift. Alpine swifts are impressive anchor-shaped birds, the colour of coffee above and milk-white below. In the UK Alpine swifts are annual visitors, appearing in Spring, but they don't breed here. They spend the winter in Africa and on their journey north in spring some birds overshoot their breeding areas. Alpine swifts can be seen as they arc through the skies and because they travel so fast they can turn up almost anywhere from central London to Shetland.

Bill Oddie presents the alpine swift. Alpine swifts are impressive anchor-shaped birds, the colour of coffee above and milk-white below. In the UK Alpine swifts are annual visitors, appearing in Spring, but they don't breed here. They spend the winter in Africa and on their journey north in spring some birds overshoot their breeding areas. Alpine swifts can be seen as they arc through the skies and because they travel so fast they can turn up almost anywhere from central London to Shetland.

Bill Oddie presents the alpine swift.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Bill Oddie presents the alpine swift.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bill Oddie presents the alpine swift. Alpine swifts are impressive anchor-shaped birds, the colour of coffee above and milk-white below. In the UK Alpine swifts are annual visitors, appearing in Spring, but they don't breed here. They spend the winter in Africa and on their journey north in spring some birds overshoot their breeding areas. Alpine swifts can be seen as they arc through the skies and because they travel so fast they can turn up almost anywhere from central London to Shetland.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

American Bald Eagle2015020320160201 (R4)
20160207 (R4)
20190614 (R4)
20201103 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the iconic bald eagle from Alaska. In days of yore, when bald meant "white" rather than hairless, these magnificent birds with a two metre wingspans were common over the whole of North America. They were revered in native American cultures. The Sioux wore eagle feathers in their head-dresses to protect them in battle and the Comanche celebrated the birds with an eagle dance.

The bird became a national symbol for the United States of America and on the Great Seal is pictured grasping a bunch of arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other.

But pomp and reverence don't always guarantee protection. In 1962 in her classic book "Silent Spring", Rachel Carson warned that bald eagle populations had dwindled alarmingly and that the birds were failing to reproduce successfully. Rightly, she suspected that pesticides were responsible. Bald eagle populations crashed across the USA from the middle of the twentieth century, but fortunately are now recovering following a ban on the use of the offending pesticides.

But pomp and reverence don't always guarantee protection. In 1962 in her classic book "Silent Spring", Rachel Carson warned that bald eagle populations had dwindled alarmingly and that the birds were failing to reproduce successfully. Rightly, she suspected that pesticides were responsible. Bald eagle populations crashed across the USA from the middle of the twentieth century, but fortunately are now recovering following a ban on the use of the offending pesticides.

Michael Palin presents the iconic American bald eagle from Alaska.

"Michael Palin presents the iconic bald eagle from Alaska. In days of yore, when bald meant ""white"" rather than hairless, these magnificent birds with a two metre wingspans were common over the whole of North America. They were revered in native American cultures. The Sioux wore eagle feathers in their head-dresses to protect them in battle and the Comanche celebrated the birds with an eagle dance.

But pomp and reverence don't always guarantee protection. In 1962 in her classic book ""Silent Spring"", Rachel Carson warned that bald eagle populations had dwindled alarmingly and that the birds were failing to reproduce successfully. Rightly, she suspected that pesticides were responsible. Bald eagle populations crashed across the USA from the middle of the twentieth century, but fortunately are now recovering following a ban on the use of the offending pesticides.

"

"Michael Palin presents the iconic bald eagle from Alaska. In days of yore, when bald meant ""white"" rather than hairless, these magnificent birds with a two metre wingspans were common over the whole of North America. They were revered in native American cultures. The Sioux wore eagle feathers in their head-dresses to protect them in battle and the Comanche celebrated the birds with an eagle dance.

Michael Palin presents the iconic American bald eagle from Alaska.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Palin presents the iconic bald eagle from Alaska. In days of yore, when bald meant "white" rather than hairless, these magnificent birds with a two metre wingspans were common over the whole of North America. They were revered in native American cultures. The Sioux wore eagle feathers in their head-dresses to protect them in battle and the Comanche celebrated the birds with an eagle dance.

But pomp and reverence don't always guarantee protection. In 1962 in her classic book "Silent Spring", Rachel Carson warned that bald eagle populations had dwindled alarmingly and that the birds were failing to reproduce successfully. Rightly, she suspected that pesticides were responsible. Bald eagle populations crashed across the USA from the middle of the twentieth century, but fortunately are now recovering following a ban on the use of the offending pesticides.

Michael Palin presents the iconic bald eagle from Alaska. In days of yore, when bald meant "white" rather than hairless, these magnificent birds with a two metre wingspans were common over the whole of North America. They were revered in native American cultures. The Sioux wore eagle feathers in their head-dresses to protect them in battle and the Comanche celebrated the birds with an eagle dance.

The bird became a national symbol for the United States of America and on the Great Seal is pictured grasping a bunch of arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other.

But pomp and reverence don't always guarantee protection. In 1962 in her classic book "Silent Spring", Rachel Carson warned that bald eagle populations had dwindled alarmingly and that the birds were failing to reproduce successfully. Rightly, she suspected that pesticides were responsible. Bald eagle populations crashed across the USA from the middle of the twentieth century, but fortunately are now recovering following a ban on the use of the offending pesticides.

Amy Liptrot On The Arctic Tern2017082820170903 (R4)
20180608 (R4)
Orcadian author Amy Liptrot laments the Arctic terns of her childhood.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Orcadian author and conservationist Amy Liptrot laments of the disappearance of breeding Arctic terns from her family farm for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Mark Ward.

Producer Mark Ward.

"Orcadian author Amy Liptrot laments the Arctic terns of her childhood.

Producer Mark Ward."

Producer Mark Ward. "

Producer Mark Ward.

Amy Liptrot On The Corncrake2017083020190807 (R4)Writer Amy Liptrot recalls her work as the RSPB Corncrake officer on Orkney.

Writer and Orkney native Amy Liptrot recalls her work as the RSPB's corncrake officer on the look out for this largely nocturnal bird in the wee small hours for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Mark Ward.

"Writer Amy Liptrot recalls her work as the RSPB Corncrake officer on Orkney.

Producer: Mark Ward. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Mark Ward.

Amy Liptrot On The Curlew2017083120190703 (R4)Writer Amy Liptrot reflects on the evocative disappearing curlew call in the uplands.

Writer Amy Liptrot reflects on her favourite bird, the curlew, whose evocative call reminds her of her childhood home back in the Orkneys, in this Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Mark Ward.

"Writer Amy Liptrot reflects on the evocative disappearing curlew call in the uplands.

Producer: Mark Ward. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Amy Liptrot On The Greylag Goose2017090120181212 (R4)
20210308 (R4)
Orcadian writer Amy Liptrot reflects on the greylag goose on Orkney, where seemingly no car journey can be completed without seeing a field of geese, in this Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Mark Ward
Picture: Simon Richardson.

Orcadian writer Amy Liptrot on the greylag goose, which is widespread on the islands.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Mark Ward
Picture: Simon Richardson.

"Orcadian writer Amy Liptrot on the greylag goose, which is widespread on the islands.

Producer: Mark Ward
Picture: Simon Richardson. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Amy Liptrot On The Hooded Crow2017082920190108 (R4)
20200216 (R4)
20201228 (R4)
Writer Amy Liptrot discussed how hooded crows in Berlin remind her of her youth.

Writer Amy Liptrot recalls seeing hooded crows while living in Berlin and reflects on their namesakes back at her childhood home in Orkney for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Mark Ward
Photograph: Paul Smith.

"Writer Amy Liptrot discussed how hooded crows in Berlin remind her of her youth.

Writer Amy Liptrot recalls seeing hooded crows while living in Berlin and reflects on their namesakes back at her childhood home in Orkney for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Producer: Mark Ward
Photograph: Paul Smith. "

Producer: Mark Ward
Photograph: Paul Smith.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Writer Amy Liptrot discusses how hooded crows in Berlin remind her of her youth.

Producer: Mark Ward
Photograph: Paul Smith.

Producer: Mark Ward
Photograph: Paul Smith.

Andean Cock-of-the-rock2014100720150921 (R4)
20150927 (R4)
20161215 (R4)
20180509 (R4)
20191117 (R4)
20210207 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Andean Cock-of-the-rock from Peru. Deep in a cloud forest a female awaits the display of her displaying males. Gathered in front of her several head-bobbing wing-waving males, these males are spectacularly dazzling; a vibrant orange head and body, with black wings and tails, yellow staring eyes, and ostentatious fan-shaped crests which can almost obscure their beaks. Male cock-of-the rocks gather at communal leks, and their performances include jumping between branches and bowing at each other whilst all the time calling loudly. Yet, for all the males' prancing and posturing, it is the female who's in control. Aware that the most dominant and fittest males will be nearest the centre of the lekking arena, it's here that she focuses her attention.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Andean cock-of-the-rock from Peru.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Andean Cock-of-the-rock from Peru. Deep in a cloud forest a female awaits the display of her displaying males. Gathered in front of her several head-bobbing wing-waving males, these males are spectacularly dazzling; a vibrant orange head and body, with black wings and tails, yellow staring eyes, and ostentatious fan-shaped crests which can almost obscure their beaks. Male cock-of-the rocks gather at communal leks, and their performances include jumping between branches and bowing at each other whilst all the time calling loudly. Yet, for all the males' prancing and posturing, it is the female who's in control. Aware that the most dominant and fittest males will be nearest the centre of the lekking arena, it's here that she focuses her attention.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Andean cock-of-the-rock from Peru.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Andean Cock-of-the-rock from Peru. Deep in a cloud forest a female awaits the display of her displaying males. Gathered in front of her several head-bobbing wing-waving males, these males are spectacularly dazzling; a vibrant orange head and body, with black wings and tails, yellow staring eyes, and ostentatious fan-shaped crests which can almost obscure their beaks. Male cock-of-the rocks gather at communal leks, and their performances include jumping between branches and bowing at each other whilst all the time calling loudly. Yet, for all the males' prancing and posturing, it is the female who's in control. Aware that the most dominant and fittest males will be nearest the centre of the lekking arena, it's here that she focuses her attention.

Andy Clements On Pink-footed Geese2018031220180318 (R4)Conversational voices of those inspired by birds.

Andy Clements is captivated by the excited chatter of pink-footed geese.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Andy Clements of the British Trust for Ornithology explains why he finds the sound of Pink-footed Geese so exciting as they fly overhead calling to one another.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounters with nature and reflections on our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Mark Rhodes.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Mark Rhodes.

"Andy Clements is captivated by the excited chatter of pink-footed geese.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Mark Rhodes."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Andy Clements On The Garden Warbler2018031620180619 (R4)Andy Clements is entranced by the song of the garden warbler.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Andy Clements of the British Trust for Ornithology explains why he rates the song of the Garden Warbler above that of the similar sounding Blackcap, or even the Nightingale.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounters with nature and reflections on our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Rhys Thatcher.

"Andy Clements is entranced by the song of the garden warbler.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Rhys Thatcher."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Andy Clements On The Golden Plover2018020520210317 (R4)
20180211 (R4)
20190314 (R4)
Andy Clements of the British Trust for Ornithology describes how he was first bewitched by the captivating sound of the Golden Plover in summer above the moors.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Simon Stobart.

Andy Clements is entranced by the mournful spirit-rising sound of the golden plover.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Simon Stobart.

"Andy Clements is entranced by the mournful spirit-rising sound of the golden plover.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Simon Stobart. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Andy Radford On The Curlew2018010820180114 (R4)
20180413 (R4)
Professor Andy Radford recalls first hearing curlews as a child on the Yorkshire moors.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Professor Andy Radford, a Behavioural Biologist at the University of Bristol recalls how the evocative cries of the Curlews on the Yorkshire Moors first captivated him as a child and inspired his interest in bird vocalisations.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Rachel Walker.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Rachel Walker.

"Professor Andy Radford recalls first hearing curlews as a child on the Yorkshire moors.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Rachel Walker."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Andy Radford On The Green Woodhoopoe2018011220190605 (R4)Professor Andy Radford describes a noisy encounter among green woodhoopoes.

Professor Andy Radford, a Behavioural Biologist at the University of Bristol describes the role of sound when it comes to competing choruses of Green Woodhoopoes.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Nigel Voaden.

"Professor Andy Radford describes a noisy encounter among green woodhoopoes.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Nigel Voaden. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Andy Radford On The Pied Babbler2018011120190604 (R4)Professor Andy Radford describes the role of the sentry amongst pied babblers.

Professor Andy Radford, a Behavioural Biologist at the University of Bristol describes how the Pied Babbler uses the Watchman's song in its role as a sentry whilst the rest of the flock forage for food on the ground.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Petrus van Zyl.

"Professor Andy Radford describes the role of the sentry amongst pied babblers.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Petrus van Zyl. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Andy Radford On The Robin20180109Professor Andy Radford is captivated by the vocal repertoire of the robin.

The variety of sounds produced by Robins has long fascinated Professor Andy Radford, a Behavioural Biologist at the University of Bristol.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Laurie Robinson.

"Professor Andy Radford is captivated by the vocal repertoire of the robin.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Laurie Robinson. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Andy Radford On The Superb Fairy Wren2018011020200809 (R4)Professor Andy Radford reveals the importance of alarm calls to the superb fairy-wren.

Professor Andy Radford, a Behavourial Biologist at the University of Bristol describes the fascinating abilities of Superb Fairy Wrens to recognise the alarm calls of other species and use this skill to their own advantage.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: David Munro.

"Professor Andy Radford reveals the importance of alarm calls to the superb fairy-wren.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: David Munro. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Aquatic Warbler2013092420150609 (R4)
20160823 (R4)
20190820 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the aquatic warbler. The stripy aquatic warbler is streaked like the sedges it lives in and is the only globally threatened European perching bird. They sing in the marshes of central and eastern Europe where the small European population has its stronghold. Unfortunately, this specialized habitat is disappearing because of drainage, disturbance and peat extraction. They are migrants so it's vital to protect their wintering areas as well as their breeding sites. It's known that up to 10,000 birds winter in the swamps of North-west Senegal.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the aquatic warbler.

Brett Westwood presents the aquatic warbler. The stripy aquatic warbler is streaked like the sedges it lives in and is the only globally threatened European perching bird. They sing in the marshes of central and eastern Europe where the small European population has its stronghold. Unfortunately, this specialized habitat is disappearing because of drainage, disturbance and peat extraction. They are migrants so it's vital to protect their wintering areas as well as their breeding sites. It's known that up to 10,000 birds winter in the swamps of North-west Senegal.

Brett Westwood presents the aquatic warbler. The stripy aquatic warbler is streaked like the sedges it lives in and is the only globally threatened European perching bird. They sing in the marshes of central and eastern Europe where the small European population has its stronghold. Unfortunately, this specialized habitat is disappearing because of drainage, disturbance and peat extraction. They are migrants so it's vital to protect their wintering areas as well as their breeding sites. It's known that up to 10,000 birds winter in the swamps of North-west Senegal.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the aquatic warbler.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the aquatic warbler.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the aquatic warbler.

Brett Westwood presents the aquatic warbler. The stripy aquatic warbler is streaked like the sedges it lives in and is the only globally threatened European perching bird. They sing in the marshes of central and eastern Europe where the small European population has its stronghold. Unfortunately, this specialized habitat is disappearing because of drainage, disturbance and peat extraction. They are migrants so it's vital to protect their wintering areas as well as their breeding sites. It's known that up to 10,000 birds winter in the swamps of North-west Senegal."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brett Westwood presents the aquatic warbler. The stripy aquatic warbler is streaked like the sedges it lives in and is the only globally threatened European perching bird. They sing in the marshes of central and eastern Europe where the small European population has its stronghold. Unfortunately, this specialized habitat is disappearing because of drainage, disturbance and peat extraction. They are migrants so it's vital to protect their wintering areas as well as their breeding sites. It's known that up to 10,000 birds winter in the swamps of North-west Senegal.

Arabian Babbler2014111720151218 (R4)
20190218 (R4)
20210215 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the Arabian babbler of a Yemeni Desert. Arabian babblers could almost be described as feathered meerkats. They're sociable, charismatic and always on the alert. These energetic and curious birds are found around the Arabian peninsula and in Egypt, often in dry scrubby places. They have long tails, curved bills and a bounding gait, and their sandy plumage is superb camouflage against the parched ground where they roam in search of insects and seeds. If on their travels, a group of babblers discovers a snake they will mob it with loud shrieks, raising their wings and calling to each other until they see it off. Arabian babblers don't use their social skills just to chase away predators. They spend all their time in groups of usually four to six adult birds and in these groups their relationships are fluid. They are also co-operative breeders and help each other to rear their chicks, a communal way of life that helps to forge bonds between these very vocal birds.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Arctic Skua2013081520140724
20160802 (R4)
20190528 (R4)
20200827 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the arctic skua. Arctic Skuas are the pirates of the bird world and cash in on the efforts other seabirds make to find food. They are elegant birds with long angular wings, projecting central tail feathers and a hooked bill. The dashing flight of an Arctic Skua as it chases a hapless gull is always thrilling to watch.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the Arctic skua.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the arctic skua.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the arctic skua. Arctic Skuas are the pirates of the bird world and cash in on the efforts other seabirds make to find food. They are elegant birds with long angular wings, projecting central tail feathers and a hooked bill. The dashing flight of an Arctic Skua as it chases a hapless gull is always thrilling to watch.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the Arctic skua.

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the arctic skua.

Michaela Strachan presents the arctic skua. Arctic Skuas are the pirates of the bird world and cash in on the efforts other seabirds make to find food. They are elegant birds with long angular wings, projecting central tail feathers and a hooked bill. The dashing flight of an Arctic Skua as it chases a hapless gull is always thrilling to watch."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Arctic Tern2013061320140605
20181022 (R4)
20200406 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Arctic Tern. Arctic terns are superlative birds. They're best known for seeing more daylight than any other bird as they migrate between the Antarctic seas, where they spend our winter, and their breeding grounds in northern Europe - a staggering round trip of over 70 thousand kilometres.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the Arctic tern.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the Arctic tern."

"The Arctic Tern - Miranda Krestovnikoff narrates the story of this bird and its sound.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the Arctic tern.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Arctic Tern. Arctic terns are superlative birds. They're best known for seeing more daylight than any other bird as they migrate between the Antarctic seas, where they spend our winter, and their breeding grounds in northern Europe - a staggering round trip of over 70 thousand kilometres."

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Arctic Tern. Arctic terns are superlative birds. They're best known for seeing more daylight than any other bird as they migrate between the Antarctic seas, where they spend our winter, and their breeding grounds in northern Europe - a staggering round trip of over 70 thousand kilometres.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Arctic Warbler2014101020150924 (R4)
20190729 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the long distant migrant Arctic warbler. These classic olive-grey warblers, slightly smaller than the European robin, with a pale eye-stripe, winter in south-east Asia, but each spring fly to northern forests to breed. This can be as far as Finland, up to 13,000 kilometres away as well as Arctic and sub-Arctic Russia, Japan and even Alaska. They do this to feed on the bountiful supply of insects which proliferate during the 24-hour daylight of an Arctic summer. A few make it to Britain, the Northern Isles, but whether they finally return to Asia is not known.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the long-distance migrant Arctic warbler.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the long distant migrant Arctic warbler. These classic olive-grey warblers, slightly smaller than the European robin, with a pale eye-stripe, winter in south-east Asia, but each spring fly to northern forests to breed. This can be as far as Finland, up to 13,000 kilometres away as well as Arctic and sub-Arctic Russia, Japan and even Alaska. They do this to feed on the bountiful supply of insects which proliferate during the 24-hour daylight of an Arctic summer. A few make it to Britain, the Northern Isles, but whether they finally return to Asia is not known.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the long-distance migrant Arctic warbler.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the long distant migrant Arctic warbler. These classic olive-grey warblers, slightly smaller than the European robin, with a pale eye-stripe, winter in south-east Asia, but each spring fly to northern forests to breed. This can be as far as Finland, up to 13,000 kilometres away as well as Arctic and sub-Arctic Russia, Japan and even Alaska. They do this to feed on the bountiful supply of insects which proliferate during the 24-hour daylight of an Arctic summer. A few make it to Britain, the Northern Isles, but whether they finally return to Asia is not known.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the long distant migrant Arctic warbler. These classic olive-grey warblers, slightly smaller than the European robin, with a pale eye-stripe, winter in south-east Asia, but each spring fly to northern forests to breed. This can be as far as Finland, up to 13,000 kilometres away as well as Arctic and sub-Arctic Russia, Japan and even Alaska. They do this to feed on the bountiful supply of insects which proliferate during the 24-hour daylight of an Arctic summer. A few make it to Britain, the Northern Isles, but whether they finally return to Asia is not known.

Ashley Davies On The Kingfisher2017052220170528 (R4)Ashley Davies of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre reveals why a kingfisher changed his life.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Miles Warde.

"Ashley Davies of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre reveals why a kingfisher changed his life.

Producer Miles Warde. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Asian Crested Ibis2014111920141123 (R4)
20151124 (R4)
20200618 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the rare Asian crested Ibis formerly common in Japan and China. The crested ibis is mainly white with a shaggy white crest and a red face; but in the breeding season its plumage is tinged with ash-grey. Under its wings is a subtle peach tone, a colour known in Japan as toki-iro. Unfortunately its beauty hasn't saved the crested ibis from persecution in Japan, China or Siberia where it used to breed. It was thought to be extinct in China, until seven birds were found in 1981. In 2003 the crested ibis became extinct in the wild in Japan. Now, crested ibis are conservation symbols in the Far East. They are strictly protected in China where they are being reintroduced to increase the small wild population. In Japan the first wild Japanese crested ibis chick flew from its nest in 2012.

Chris Packham presents the rare Asian crested ibis, formerly common in Japan and China.

Chris Packham presents the rare Asian crested Ibis formerly common in Japan and China. The crested ibis is mainly white with a shaggy white crest and a red face; but in the breeding season its plumage is tinged with ash-grey. Under its wings is a subtle peach tone, a colour known in Japan as toki-iro. Unfortunately its beauty hasn't saved the crested ibis from persecution in Japan, China or Siberia where it used to breed. It was thought to be extinct in China, until seven birds were found in 1981. In 2003 the crested ibis became extinct in the wild in Japan. Now, crested ibis are conservation symbols in the Far East. They are strictly protected in China where they are being reintroduced to increase the small wild population. In Japan the first wild Japanese crested ibis chick flew from its nest in 2012.

Chris Packham presents the rare Asian crested ibis, formerly common in Japan and China.

Chris Packham presents the rare Asian crested ibis, formerly common in Japan and China.

Chris Packham presents the rare Asian crested Ibis formerly common in Japan and China. The crested ibis is mainly white with a shaggy white crest and a red face; but in the breeding season its plumage is tinged with ash-grey. Under its wings is a subtle peach tone, a colour known in Japan as toki-iro. Unfortunately its beauty hasn't saved the crested ibis from persecution in Japan, China or Siberia where it used to breed. It was thought to be extinct in China, until seven birds were found in 1981. In 2003 the crested ibis became extinct in the wild in Japan. Now, crested ibis are conservation symbols in the Far East. They are strictly protected in China where they are being reintroduced to increase the small wild population. In Japan the first wild Japanese crested ibis chick flew from its nest in 2012.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the rare Asian crested Ibis formerly common in Japan and China. The crested ibis is mainly white with a shaggy white crest and a red face; but in the breeding season its plumage is tinged with ash-grey. Under its wings is a subtle peach tone, a colour known in Japan as toki-iro. Unfortunately its beauty hasn't saved the crested ibis from persecution in Japan, China or Siberia where it used to breed. It was thought to be extinct in China, until seven birds were found in 1981. In 2003 the crested ibis became extinct in the wild in Japan. Now, crested ibis are conservation symbols in the Far East. They are strictly protected in China where they are being reintroduced to increase the small wild population. In Japan the first wild Japanese crested ibis chick flew from its nest in 2012.

Asian Koel2015021020151221 (R4)
20151227 (R4)
20180523 (R4)
20200110 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the Asian koel's arrival to an Indian orchard.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Palin presents the Asian koel's arrival to an Indian orchard. This long-tailed glossy blue-black bird, is a well-known British harbinger of spring, and like its British counterpart, it is a cuckoo.

The koel's plaintive call is heard from late March until July around villages and in wooded countryside from Pakistan east to Indonesia and southern China. In India, it symbolises the birth of a new season, the flowering of fruit-trees, the bloom of romance and all that's good about spring. The koel's song can be heard in many Bollywood movies and has inspired poems and folk songs; it's even rumoured to help mangoes ripen faster.

This almost universal feel-good factor doesn't extend to its victims, because the koel is after all a cuckoo, and lays its eggs in other birds' nests. Asian Koels are parasitic on a wide range of birds, but in India especially, on House Crows and Jungle Crows.

Producer Andrew Dawes.

Michael Palin presents the Asian koel's arrival to an Indian orchard. This long-tailed glossy blue-black bird, is a well-known British harbinger of spring, and like it's British counterpart, it is a cuckoo.

This almost universal feel-good factor doesn't extend to its victims, because the koel is after all a cuckoo, and lays its eggs in other birds' nests. Asian Koels are parasitic on a wide range of birds, but in India especially, on House Crows and Jungle Crows.

"Michael Palin presents the Asian koel's arrival to an Indian orchard.

"

"Michael Palin presents the Asian koel's arrival to an Indian orchard. This long-tailed glossy blue-black bird, is a well-known British harbinger of spring, and like it's British counterpart, it is a cuckoo.

Michael Palin presents the Asian koel's arrival to an Indian orchard. This long-tailed glossy blue-black bird, is a well-known British harbinger of spring, and like its British counterpart, it is a cuckoo.

Michael Palin presents the Asian koel's arrival to an Indian orchard. This long-tailed glossy blue-black bird, is a well-known British harbinger of spring, and like its British counterpart, it is a cuckoo.

Michael Palin presents the Asian koel's arrival to an Indian orchard.

This almost universal feel-good factor doesn't extend to its victims, because the koel is after all a cuckoo, and lays its eggs in other birds' nests. Asian Koels are parasitic on a wide range of birds, but in India especially, on House Crows and Jungle Crows.

Atlantic (island) Canary2014120320141207 (R4)
20160105 (R4)
20200207 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the Atlantic canary singing in the Tenerife treetops. The ancestor of our cage-bird canaries is the Island or Atlantic Canary, a finch which is native to the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands which include Tenerife. The Canary Islands were named by early travellers "the islands of dogs from 'canis', the Latin for dogs, because of the many large dogs reputedly found there. And so the common and popular song-bird which is now a symbol of the islands became known as the canary. Unlike their domestic siblings, wild Island canaries are streaky, greenish yellow finches: males have golden- yellow foreheads, females a head of more subtle ash-grey tone. But it's the song, a pulsating series of vibrant whistles, trills and tinkling sounds; that has made the canary so popular. They were almost compulsory in Victorian and Edwardian parlours; a far cry from the sunny palm -fringed beaches of the Atlantic islands.

Chris Packham presents the Atlantic canary singing in the Tenerife treetops. The ancestor of our cage-bird canaries is the Island or Atlantic Canary, a finch which is native to the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands which include Tenerife. The Canary Islands were named by early travellers "the islands of dogs from 'canis', the Latin for dogs, because of the many large dogs reputedly found there. And so the common and popular song-bird which is now a symbol of the islands became known as the canary. Unlike their domestic siblings, wild Island canaries are streaky, greenish yellow finches: males have golden- yellow foreheads, females a head of more subtle ash-grey tone. But it's the song, a pulsating series of vibrant whistles, trills and tinkling sounds; that has made the canary so popular. They were almost compulsory in Victorian and Edwardian parlours; a far cry from the sunny palm -fringed beaches of the Atlantic islands.

Chris Packham presents the Atlantic canary, singing in the Tenerife treetops.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the Atlantic canary singing in the Tenerife treetops. The ancestor of our cage-bird canaries is the Island or Atlantic Canary, a finch which is native to the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands which include Tenerife. The Canary Islands were named by early travellers ""the islands of dogs from 'canis', the Latin for dogs, because of the many large dogs reputedly found there. And so the common and popular song-bird which is now a symbol of the islands became known as the canary. Unlike their domestic siblings, wild Island canaries are streaky, greenish yellow finches: males have golden- yellow foreheads, females a head of more subtle ash-grey tone. But it's the song, a pulsating series of vibrant whistles, trills and tinkling sounds; that has made the canary so popular. They were almost compulsory in Victorian and Edwardian parlours; a far cry from the sunny palm -fringed beaches of the Atlantic islands.

"

"Chris Packham presents the Atlantic canary, singing in the Tenerife treetops.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the Atlantic canary singing in the Tenerife treetops. The ancestor of our cage-bird canaries is the Island or Atlantic Canary, a finch which is native to the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands which include Tenerife. The Canary Islands were named by early travellers "the islands of dogs from 'canis', the Latin for dogs, because of the many large dogs reputedly found there. And so the common and popular song-bird which is now a symbol of the islands became known as the canary. Unlike their domestic siblings, wild Island canaries are streaky, greenish yellow finches: males have golden- yellow foreheads, females a head of more subtle ash-grey tone. But it's the song, a pulsating series of vibrant whistles, trills and tinkling sounds; that has made the canary so popular. They were almost compulsory in Victorian and Edwardian parlours; a far cry from the sunny palm -fringed beaches of the Atlantic islands.

Australian Magpie2014090320140907
20150901 (R4)
20161025 (R4)
20190130 (R4)
20210124 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Australian magpie. These large pibald birds with pickaxe bills reminded early settlers of the more familiar European magpie, but in fact they are not crows at all. Australian magpies have melodious voices which can range over four octaves in a chorus of squeaks, yodels and whistles. Pairs or larger groups of magpies take part in a behaviour known as carolling, a harmony of rich fluting calls which marks their territories and helps to cement relationships between the birds.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Sir David Attenborough presents the Australian magpie. These large piebald birds with pickaxe bills reminded early settlers of the more familiar European magpie, but in fact they are not crows at all. Australian magpies have melodious voices which can range over four octaves in a chorus of squeaks, yodels and whistles. Pairs or larger groups of magpies take part in a behaviour known as carolling, a harmony of rich fluting calls which marks their territories and helps to cement relationships between the birds.

David Attenborough presents the Australian magpie.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Australian magpie. These large piebald birds with pickaxe bills reminded early settlers of the more familiar European magpie, but in fact they are not crows at all. Australian magpies have melodious voices which can range over four octaves in a chorus of squeaks, yodels and whistles. Pairs or larger groups of magpies take part in a behaviour known as carolling, a harmony of rich fluting calls which marks their territories and helps to cement relationships between the birds.

"David Attenborough presents the Australian magpie.

"

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Avocet2014020620160614 (R4)
20180928 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the avocet. With its black and white plumage, blue-grey legs and delicate upturned bill, the avocet is one of our easiest birds to identify. They are a conservation success and are now breeding in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Kent and elsewhere.

Chris Packham presents the avocet. With its black and white plumage, blue-grey legs and delicate upturned bill, the avocet is one of our easiest birds to identify. They are a conservation success and are now breeding in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Kent and elsewhere.

Chris Packham presents the avocet.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Chris Packham presents the avocet.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the avocet. With its black and white plumage, blue-grey legs and delicate upturned bill, the avocet is one of our easiest birds to identify. They are a conservation success and are now breeding in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Kent and elsewhere.

"

Chris Packham presents the avocet. With its black and white plumage, blue-grey legs and delicate upturned bill, the avocet is one of our easiest birds to identify. They are a conservation success and are now breeding in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Kent and elsewhere.

Bar-headed Goose2014090420200916 (R4)Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Central Asian bar-headed goose. The bar-headed goose is a high-flier of the bird world. Bar-headed geese are migrants which undertake one of the most arduous journeys of any bird. They breed mainly in the remote lakes of the Tibetan Plateau, but overwinter on the plains of northern India. But to get there, they have to cross the World's highest mountain range, the Himalayas, a height of over 20,000 feet.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Barn Owl2013061020130616
20160601 (R4)
20170120 (R4)
20190122 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Barn Owl. Barn owls are mainly nocturnal hunters. They are ghostly creatures, with rounded wings and a large head which acts as a reflector funnelling the slightest sound from their prey towards their large ear openings.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the barn owl.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the barn owl."

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Barn Owl. Barn owls are mainly nocturnal hunters. They are ghostly creatures, with rounded wings and a large head which acts as a reflector funnelling the slightest sound from their prey towards their large ear openings.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Barn Owl. Barn owls are mainly nocturnal hunters. They are ghostly creatures, with rounded wings and a large head which acts as a reflector funnelling the slightest sound from their prey towards their large ear openings.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the barn owl.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the barn owl.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Barn Owl. Barn owls are mainly nocturnal hunters. They are ghostly creatures, with rounded wings and a large head which acts as a reflector funnelling the slightest sound from their prey towards their large ear openings.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Barn Owl2013061020140602
20160601 (R4)
20170120 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Barn Owl. Barn owls are mainly nocturnal hunters. They are ghostly creatures, with rounded wings and a large head which acts as a reflector funnelling the slightest sound from their prey towards their large ear openings.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the barn owl.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"

Barn Owl2013120320150217 (R4)
20180430 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the barn owl. As soft-plumaged birds which weigh very little Barn Owls avoid hunting in strong winds or heavy rain. Snow is a problem too because it allows voles and mice to tunnel beneath its blanket, out of the owls' reach. But in spite of seasonal perils, barn owls are a welcome sight over grassy fields and verges in many parts of the UK.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Chris Packham presents the barn owl.

Chris Packham presents the barn owl. As soft-plumaged birds which weigh very little Barn Owls avoid hunting in strong winds or heavy rain. Snow is a problem too because it allows voles and mice to tunnel beneath its blanket, out of the owls' reach. But in spite of seasonal perils, barn owls are a welcome sight over grassy fields and verges in many parts of the UK.

Chris Packham presents the barn owl.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Chris Packham presents the barn owl.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the barn owl. As soft-plumaged birds which weigh very little Barn Owls avoid hunting in strong winds or heavy rain. Snow is a problem too because it allows voles and mice to tunnel beneath its blanket, out of the owls' reach. But in spite of seasonal perils, barn owls are a welcome sight over grassy fields and verges in many parts of the UK.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Chris Packham presents the barn owl.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Barnacle Goose2013110620150715 (R4)
20150719 (R4)
20160926 (R4)
20161002 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Barnacle Goose. Yapping like terriers, skeins of barnacle geese leave their roosts on mud-flats and fly inland at dawn to feed in grassy fields.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the barnacle goose.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Barnacle Goose. Yapping like terriers, skeins of barnacle geese leave their roosts on mud-flats and fly inland at dawn to feed in grassy fields.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Barnacle Goose. Yapping like terriers, skeins of barnacle geese leave their roosts on mud-flats and fly inland at dawn to feed in grassy fields.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Barnacle Goose. Yapping like terriers, skeins of barnacle geese leave their roosts on mud-flats and fly inland at dawn to feed in grassy fields.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the barnacle goose.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the barnacle goose.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the barnacle goose.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the barnacle goose.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Barred Warbler2013083020140822
20160909 (R4)
20200503 (R4)
20200529 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the barred warbler. With its glaring yellow eyes, banded chest and long white-tipped tail, the Barred Warbler is always an exciting find. Look out for them in late summer and autumn, when young Barred Warblers turn up here regularly as they migrate south.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the barred warbler.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the barred warbler. With its glaring yellow eyes, banded chest and long white-tipped tail, the Barred Warbler is always an exciting find. Look out for them in late summer and autumn, when young Barred Warblers turn up here regularly as they migrate south.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the barred warbler.

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the barred warbler.

Michaela Strachan presents the barred warbler. With its glaring yellow eyes, banded chest and long white-tipped tail, the Barred Warbler is always an exciting find. Look out for them in late summer and autumn, when young Barred Warblers turn up here regularly as they migrate south."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michaela Strachan presents the barred warbler. With its glaring yellow eyes, banded chest and long white-tipped tail, the Barred Warbler is always an exciting find. Look out for them in late summer and autumn, when young Barred Warblers turn up here regularly as they migrate south.

Bar-tailed Godwit2013110720150716 (R4)
20161103 (R4)
20161130 (R4)
20190128 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Bar-tailed Godwit. Bar-tailed godwits are waders which occur around the globe and are now known to make the longest non-stop journey of any migratory bird.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the bar-tailed godwit.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Bar-tailed Godwit. Bar-tailed godwits are waders which occur around the globe and are now known to make the longest non-stop journey of any migratory bird.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Bar-tailed Godwit. Bar-tailed godwits are waders which occur around the globe and are now known to make the longest non-stop journey of any migratory bird.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Bar-tailed Godwit. Bar-tailed godwits are waders which occur around the globe and are now known to make the longest non-stop journey of any migratory bird.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the bar-tailed godwit.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the bar-tailed godwit.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the bar-tailed godwit.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Bar-tailed Godwit. Bar-tailed godwits are waders which occur around the globe and are now known to make the longest non-stop journey of any migratory bird.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bearded Tit2013100820150526 (R4)
20160630 (R4)
20200422 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the bearded tit.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Bearded Tit. Bearded Tit live in reed-beds, eat mainly reed-seeds in winter and build their nests using reed leaves and flower-heads. The males do have a flamboyant black moustache which would be the envy of any Chinese mandarin.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the bearded tit.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the bearded tit.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Bearded Tit. Bearded Tit live in reed-beds, eat mainly reed-seeds in winter and build their nests using reed leaves and flower-heads. The males do have a flamboyant black moustache which would be the envy of any Chinese mandarin.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Bearded Tit. Bearded Tit live in reed-beds, eat mainly reed-seeds in winter and build their nests using reed leaves and flower-heads. The males do have a flamboyant black moustache which would be the envy of any Chinese mandarin.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the bearded tit.

"

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the bearded tit.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Bearded Tit. Bearded Tit live in reed-beds, eat mainly reed-seeds in winter and build their nests using reed leaves and flower-heads. The males do have a flamboyant black moustache which would be the envy of any Chinese mandarin."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Bearded Tit. Bearded Tit live in reed-beds, eat mainly reed-seeds in winter and build their nests using reed leaves and flower-heads. The males do have a flamboyant black moustache which would be the envy of any Chinese mandarin.

Becky Unthank's Wren2018123020200630 (R4)"

For Becky Unthank her interest in birds goes beyond just watching them while out in the countryside, as she has recently named her son wren to reflect her love of the natural world.

Along with her sister Rachel who will present her own Tweet of the Day next week, The Unthanks is a family affair from the North East of England. As one of the leading exponents of traditional music they have been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and represent the only British folk group in the The Guardian's and Uncut's best albums of last decade. Categorizing their music is difficult, but The Unthanks see their work and songs as less a style of music and more delivering an oral history for the modern audience. Which is perfect for Tweet of the Day, as Becky Unthank recalls how her son was named wren and also how she has been inspired by the story of the King of the Birds.

You can hear more from Becky in her Tweet of the Week podcast, downloadable from BBC Sounds

Producer Andrew Dawes

Becky Unthank, one half of the folk group The Unthanks recalls why she named her son Wren.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Producer Andrew Dawes

Bell Miner2014111420151112 (R4)
20200515 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the bell miner of eastern Australia. The sound of a tiny hammer striking a musical anvil in a grove of gum trees signifies that bell miners are in search of sugar. More often heard than seen the bell miner is a smallish olive-green bird with a short yellow bill, with a small orange patch behind the eye. It belongs to a large family of birds known as honeyeaters because many have a sweet tooth and use their long bills to probe flowers for nectar. But the bell miner gets its sugar hit in other ways. Roving in sociable flocks, bell miners scour eucalyptus leaves for tiny bugs called psyllids who produce a protective waxy dome. Bell miners feed on these sweet tasting shelters. Some scientists suggest that Bell Miners actively farm these insects by avoiding over-exploiting of the psyllid colonies, allowing the insects numbers to recover before the birds' next visit. So dependent are they on these psyllids bugs that Bell Miners numbers can often fluctuate in association with any boom-and-bust changes in psyllid population.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Chris Packham presents the bell miner of eastern Australia."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the bell miner of eastern Australia. The sound of a tiny hammer striking a musical anvil in a grove of gum trees signifies that bell miners are in search of sugar. More often heard than seen the bell miner is a smallish olive-green bird with a short yellow bill, with a small orange patch behind the eye. It belongs to a large family of birds known as honeyeaters because many have a sweet tooth and use their long bills to probe flowers for nectar. But the bell miner gets its sugar hit in other ways. Roving in sociable flocks, bell miners scour eucalyptus leaves for tiny bugs called psyllids who produce a protective waxy dome. Bell miners feed on these sweet tasting shelters. Some scientists suggest that Bell Miners actively farm these insects by avoiding over-exploiting of the psyllid colonies, allowing the insects numbers to recover before the birds' next visit. So dependent are they on these psyllids bugs that Bell Miners numbers can often fluctuate in association with any boom-and-bust changes in psyllid population.

Chris Packham presents the bell miner of eastern Australia. The sound of a tiny hammer striking a musical anvil in a grove of gum trees signifies that bell miners are in search of sugar. More often heard than seen the bell miner is a smallish olive-green bird with a short yellow bill, with a small orange patch behind the eye. It belongs to a large family of birds known as honeyeaters because many have a sweet tooth and use their long bills to probe flowers for nectar. But the bell miner gets its sugar hit in other ways. Roving in sociable flocks, bell miners scour eucalyptus leaves for tiny bugs called psyllids who produce a protective waxy dome. Bell miners feed on these sweet tasting shelters. Some scientists suggest that Bell Miners actively farm these insects by avoiding over-exploiting of the psyllid colonies, allowing the insects numbers to recover before the birds' next visit. So dependent are they on these psyllids bugs that Bell Miners numbers can often fluctuate in association with any boom-and-bust changes in psyllid population.

Chris Packham presents the bell miner of eastern Australia.

Ben Darvill On The Common Rosefinch2018020820200505 (R4)Ben Darvill recalls his first encounter with a common rosefinch.

Ben Darvill of the British Trust for Ornithology recalls his first encounter with the Common Rosefinch after it woke him up when he was camping on the Island of Canna in Scotland.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Eero Kiuru.

"Ben Darvill recalls his first encounter with a common rosefinch.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Eero Kiuru. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Eero Kiuru.

Bewick's Swan2014011320140119
20161118 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Bewick's Swan. This year is the 50th anniversary of Bewick Swan studies, begun by Sir Peter Scott, at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. Bewick Swans return here and to other UK sites each winter to escape the icy grip of the Arctic tundra and studies have identified individuals through their varying bill patterns.

David Attenborough presents the bewick's swan.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"

David Attenborough presents the story of the Bewick's Swan. This year is the 50th anniversary of Bewick Swan studies, begun by Sir Peter Scott, at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. Bewick Swans return here and to other UK sites each winter to escape the icy grip of the Arctic tundra and studies have identified individuals through their varying bill patterns.

David Attenborough presents the bewick's swan.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Big Bird20140329As part of Radio 4's Character Invasion Day, Chris Packham presents Big Bird.

As part of Radio 4's Character Invasion Day, Chris Packham presents a unique Tweet of the Day to tell the story of Big Bird.

Avis giganteus, is , as its scientific name suggests, a large, conspicuous and highly vocal species, and one of the few birds for which binoculars are redundant. At a staggering 249 cm high, it is over-topped only by the male ostrich. But while the ostrich is an athletic creature of wild open spaces, our bird is a denizen of urban thoroughfares and film studios.

"As part of Radio 4's Character Invasion Day, Chris Packham presents Big Bird.

"

Birdgirl Mya Rose Craig On The Black Browed Albatross2017051720210304 (R4)Young conservationist and Birdgirl Mya Rose Craig aged 14 recalls the excitement of seeing a black browed albatross in Cornwall at the age of seven, thousands of miles from where it should be seen in Antarctica.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Mya Rose Craig aka Birdgirl on the black browed albatross for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bittern2014040820150317 (R4)
20190222 (R4)
20200117 (R4)
20210219 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the bittern. As the first shoots of spring appear in the reed-beds, you might hear the booming sound of a bittern. The bittern's boom is lower pitched than any other UK bird and sounds more like a distant foghorn than a bird. Today these birds are on the increase, thanks to the creation of large reed-beds.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Black Chinned Hummingbird2014120920190717 (R4)
20200902 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the North American black chinned hummingbird. What seems to be a large green beetle is flying erratically across a Los Angeles garden: suddenly, it hovers in mid-air to probe a flower bloom; this is a black-chinned hummingbird. Although often thought of as exclusively tropical, a few species of hummingbirds occur widely in North America and in the west; the Black-chinned hummingbird is the most widespread of all. Both sexes are glittering emerald above: the male's black throat is bordered with a flash of metallic purple, which catches the sun. Black-chinned "hummers" are minute, weighing in at just over 3 grams. But they are pugnacious featherweights seeing off rival males during intimidation flights with shrill squeals, whilst remarkably beating their wings around 80 times a second. They'll also readily come to artificial sugar-feeders put out by householders to attract these flying jewels to their gardens.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Black Drongo2014100920150923 (R4)
20180815 (R4)
20191121 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the black drongo of Southern Asia. What looks a like a small crow crossed with a flycatcher is riding a cow's back in an Indian village. Black drongos are slightly smaller than European starlings, but with a much longer tail. They feed mainly on large insects: dragonflies, bees, moths and grasshoppers which they will pluck from the ground as well pursuing them in aerial sallies. Although small, these birds are famous for being fearless and will attack and dive-bomb almost any other bird, even birds of prey, which enter their territories. This aggressive behaviour has earned them the name "King Crow" and in Hindi their name is Kotwal - the policeman.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the black drongo of Southern Asia.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the black drongo of Southern Asia. What looks a like a small crow crossed with a flycatcher is riding a cow's back in an Indian village. Black drongos are slightly smaller than European starlings, but with a much longer tail. They feed mainly on large insects: dragonflies, bees, moths and grasshoppers which they will pluck from the ground as well pursuing them in aerial sallies. Although small, these birds are famous for being fearless and will attack and dive-bomb almost any other bird, even birds of prey, which enter their territories. This aggressive behaviour has earned them the name ""King Crow"" and in Hindi their name is Kotwal - the policeman.

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the black drongo of Southern Asia.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the black drongo of Southern Asia. What looks a like a small crow crossed with a flycatcher is riding a cow's back in an Indian village. Black drongos are slightly smaller than European starlings, but with a much longer tail. They feed mainly on large insects: dragonflies, bees, moths and grasshoppers which they will pluck from the ground as well pursuing them in aerial sallies. Although small, these birds are famous for being fearless and will attack and dive-bomb almost any other bird, even birds of prey, which enter their territories. This aggressive behaviour has earned them the name "King Crow" and in Hindi their name is Kotwal - the policeman.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Black Grouse2014040220150624 (R4)
20150628 (R4)
20160622 (R4)
20170405 (R4)
20180412 (R4)
20200112 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the story of the black grouse. A black grouse lek is one of Nature's spectacles. Charged with testosterone, the males, known as 'black cocks', compete on 'jousting lawns' for the females or grey hens. Fanning their lyre-shaped tails and displaying a flurry of white undertail feathers, the males rush towards their rivals with harsh scouring sneezes and bubbling cries, known as 'roo-kooing'.

Kate Humble presents the black grouse.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the story of the black grouse. A black grouse lek is one of Nature's spectacles. Charged with testosterone, the males, known as 'black cocks', compete on 'jousting lawns' for the females or grey hens. Fanning their lyre-shaped tails and displaying a flurry of white undertail feathers, the males rush towards their rivals with harsh scouring sneezes and bubbling cries, known as 'roo-kooing'.

Kate Humble presents the story of the black grouse. A black grouse lek is one of Nature's spectacles. Charged with testosterone, the males, known as 'black cocks', compete on 'jousting lawns' for the females or grey hens. Fanning their lyre-shaped tails and displaying a flurry of white undertail feathers, the males rush towards their rivals with harsh scouring sneezes and bubbling cries, known as 'roo-kooing'.

Kate Humble presents the story of the black grouse. A black grouse lek is one of Nature's spectacles. Charged with testosterone, the males, known as 'black cocks', compete on 'jousting lawns' for the females or grey hens. Fanning their lyre-shaped tails and displaying a flurry of white undertail feathers, the males rush towards their rivals with harsh scouring sneezes and bubbling cries, known as 'roo-kooing'.

Kate Humble presents the black grouse.

Kate Humble presents the black grouse.

Kate Humble presents the black grouse.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kate Humble presents the story of the black grouse. A black grouse lek is one of Nature's spectacles. Charged with testosterone, the males, known as 'black cocks', compete on 'jousting lawns' for the females or grey hens. Fanning their lyre-shaped tails and displaying a flurry of white undertail feathers, the males rush towards their rivals with harsh scouring sneezes and bubbling cries, known as 'roo-kooing'.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Kate Humble presents the black grouse.

"

Kate Humble presents the story of the black grouse. A black grouse lek is one of Nature's spectacles. Charged with testosterone, the males, known as 'black cocks', compete on 'jousting lawns' for the females or grey hens. Fanning their lyre-shaped tails and displaying a flurry of white undertail feathers, the males rush towards their rivals with harsh scouring sneezes and bubbling cries, known as 'roo-kooing'.

Black Redstart2014032820150417 (R4)
20160718 (R4)
20160724 (R4)
20190709 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the black redstart. It was the German Luftwaffe which enabled black redstarts to gain a real foothold here. The air-raids of the Blitz created bombsites which mimicked their rocky homes and the weeds that grew there attracted insects. In 1942 there over twenty singing males in London alone and now they're being encouraged by the creation of 'green roof' habitats, rich in flowers and insects.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the black redstart. It was the German Luftwaffe which enabled black redstarts to gain a real foothold here. The air-raids of the Blitz created bombsites which mimicked their rocky homes and the weeds that grew there attracted insects. In 1942 there over twenty singing males in London alone and now they're being encouraged by the creation of 'green roof' habitats, rich in flowers and insects.

Bill Oddie presents the black redstart. It was the German Luftwaffe which enabled black redstarts to gain a real foothold here. The air-raids of the Blitz created bombsites which mimicked their rocky homes and the weeds that grew there attracted insects. In 1942 there over twenty singing males in London alone and now they're being encouraged by the creation of 'green roof' habitats, rich in flowers and insects.

Bill Oddie presents the black redstart. It was the German Luftwaffe which enabled black redstarts to gain a real foothold here. The air-raids of the Blitz created bombsites which mimicked their rocky homes and the weeds that grew there attracted insects. In 1942 there over twenty singing males in London alone and now they're being encouraged by the creation of 'green roof' habitats, rich in flowers and insects.

Bill Oddie presents the black redstart.

Bill Oddie presents the black redstart.

Bill Oddie presents the black redstart.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bill Oddie presents the black redstart. It was the German Luftwaffe which enabled black redstarts to gain a real foothold here. The air-raids of the Blitz created bombsites which mimicked their rocky homes and the weeds that grew there attracted insects. In 1942 there over twenty singing males in London alone and now they're being encouraged by the creation of ‘green roof’ habitats, rich in flowers and insects.

Bill Oddie presents the black redstart. It was the German Luftwaffe which enabled black redstarts to gain a real foothold here. The air-raids of the Blitz created bombsites which mimicked their rocky homes and the weeds that grew there attracted insects. In 1942 there over twenty singing males in London alone and now they're being encouraged by the creation of ‘green roof’ habitats, rich in flowers and insects.

Black Sicklebill2015012920160120 (R4)
20190612 (R4)
20201211 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the black sicklebill of New Guinea.

Michael Palin presents the black sicklebill of New Guinea. The black sicklebill is a breath-taking creature. It's a bird of paradise, and the male sicklebill's black feathers gleam with metallic blue, green and purple highlights. But his most striking features are a slender scythe-like bill, and an extremely long sabre-shaped tail whose central plumes can reach 50cm in length.

During courtship, he transforms his pectoral and wing feathers into a huge ruff which almost conceals his head and exposes an iridescent blue patch. Perching on a dead branch, he displays horizontally, looking less like a bird than a small black comet, all the while producing strange rattling cries.

It is thought that the Black sicklebill and its relative the Brown Sickle bill may have spooked the Japanese in the Second World War. Japanese forces had occupied the North coast of (Papua) New Guinea and during their push south to the capital, Port Moresby, had to cross the mountain territories of the sicklebills. It's said that on hearing the birds' courtship displays; they flung themselves to the ground, thinking that they were under fire from the Allies.

Michael Palin presents the black sicklebill of New Guinea.

It is thought that the Black sicklebill and its relative the Brown Sickle bill may have spooked the Japanese in the Second World War. Japanese forces had occupied the North coast of (Papua) New Guinea and during their push south to the capital, Port Moresby, had to cross the mountain territories of the sicklebills. It's said that on hearing the birds' courtship displays; they flung themselves to the ground, thinking that they were under fire from the Allies.

"Michael Palin presents the black sicklebill of New Guinea.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Palin presents the black sicklebill of New Guinea. The black sicklebill is a breath-taking creature. It's a bird of paradise, and the male sicklebill's black feathers gleam with metallic blue, green and purple highlights. But his most striking features are a slender scythe-like bill, and an extremely long sabre-shaped tail whose central plumes can reach 50cm in length.

During courtship, he transforms his pectoral and wing feathers into a huge ruff which almost conceals his head and exposes an iridescent blue patch. Perching on a dead branch, he displays horizontally, looking less like a bird than a small black comet, all the while producing strange rattling cries.

It is thought that the Black sicklebill and its relative the Brown Sickle bill may have spooked the Japanese in the Second World War. Japanese forces had occupied the North coast of (Papua) New Guinea and during their push south to the capital, Port Moresby, had to cross the mountain territories of the sicklebills. It's said that on hearing the birds' courtship displays; they flung themselves to the ground, thinking that they were under fire from the Allies.

Black Stork2014091920160209 (R4)Sir David Attenborough presents the globally widespread but secretive black stork.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Black Stork2014092120160209 (R4)
20200717 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the globally widespread but secretive black stork. High up in a forest canopy, the black stork is a large but fairly secretive and mostly silent bird. They are also strong migrants capable of sustained flight, flying up to 7,000 kilometres or more, often over open seas. Black storks are summer visitors to eastern Europe and breed from Germany across Russia to Japan. A small population is resident in Spain, but most birds migrate south in winter to Africa, India or China. Unlike their relative the more flamboyant and colonial nesting white stork, black storks are a solitary nester. It is at this time of the year adults can produce a few grunts or bill clapping sounds during courtship, the young however are far more vocal at the nest.

Sir David Attenborough presents the globally widespread but secretive black stork. High up in a forest canopy, the black stork is a large but fairly secretive and mostly silent bird. They are also strong migrants capable of sustained flight, flying up to 7,000 kilometres or more, often over open seas. Black storks are summer visitors to eastern Europe and breed from Germany across Russia to Japan. A small population is resident in Spain, but most birds migrate south in winter to Africa, India or China. Unlike their relative the more flamboyant and colonial nesting white stork, black storks are a solitary nester. It is at this time of the year adults can produce a few grunts or bill clapping sounds during courtship, the young however are far more vocal at the nest.

Sir David Attenborough presents the globally widespread but secretive black stork.

Sir David Attenborough presents the globally widespread but secretive black stork.

Sir David Attenborough presents the globally widespread but secretive black stork. High up in a forest canopy, the black stork is a large but fairly secretive and mostly silent bird. They are also strong migrants capable of sustained flight, flying up to 7,000 kilometres or more, often over open seas. Black storks are summer visitors to eastern Europe and breed from Germany across Russia to Japan. A small population is resident in Spain, but most birds migrate south in winter to Africa, India or China. Unlike their relative the more flamboyant and colonial nesting white stork, black storks are a solitary nester. It is at this time of the year adults can produce a few grunts or bill clapping sounds during courtship, the young however are far more vocal at the nest.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Sir David Attenborough presents the globally widespread but secretive black stork. High up in a forest canopy, the black stork is a large but fairly secretive and mostly silent bird. They are also strong migrants capable of sustained flight, flying up to 7,000 kilometres or more, often over open seas. Black storks are summer visitors to eastern Europe and breed from Germany across Russia to Japan. A small population is resident in Spain, but most birds migrate south in winter to Africa, India or China. Unlike their relative the more flamboyant and colonial nesting white stork, black storks are a solitary nester. It is at this time of the year adults can produce a few grunts or bill clapping sounds during courtship, the young however are far more vocal at the nest.

Black Swan2015010220151203 (R4)
20190114 (R4)
20200911 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents a widely regarded symbol of Australia, the black swan. These stately looking birds are native to the wetlands of south-western and eastern Australia. The New Zealand population was hunted to extinction but has now been reintroduced there. Their plumage is charcoal grey rather than black and beautifully ruched along their lower back, hiding the white primary feathers which are fully revealed in flight. Their only colour is a raspberry- coloured bill. Black swans behave like nomads, tracking local rains and breeding when they can. In Britain as a collection bird, a few have even cross-bred with mute swans to produce a greyish hybrid nick-named the 'Blute Swan'.

Sir David Attenborough presents a widely regarded symbol of Australia, the black swan.

Sir David Attenborough presents a widely regarded symbol of Australia, the black swan. These stately looking birds are native to the wetlands of south-western and eastern Australia. The New Zealand population was hunted to extinction but has now been reintroduced there. Their plumage is charcoal grey rather than black and beautifully ruched along their lower back, hiding the white primary feathers which are fully revealed in flight. Their only colour is a raspberry- coloured bill. Black swans behave like nomads, tracking local rains and breeding when they can. In Britain as a collection bird, a few have even cross-bred with mute swans to produce a greyish hybrid nick-named the 'Blute Swan'.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Sir David Attenborough presents a widely regarded symbol of Australia, the black swan. These stately looking birds are native to the wetlands of south-western and eastern Australia. The New Zealand population was hunted to extinction but has now been reintroduced there. Their plumage is charcoal grey rather than black and beautifully ruched along their lower back, hiding the white primary feathers which are fully revealed in flight. Their only colour is a raspberry- coloured bill. Black swans behave like nomads, tracking local rains and breeding when they can. In Britain as a collection bird, a few have even cross-bred with mute swans to produce a greyish hybrid nick-named the 'Blute Swan'.

Sir David Attenborough presents a widely regarded symbol of Australia, the black swan.

Blackbird2013120420150218 (R4)
20150222 (R4)
20161228 (R4)
20170306 (R4)
20170312 (R4)
20180612 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs

Chris Packham presents the blackbird. Resident blackbirds are on the alert just now because their territories are under siege. Large numbers of Continental blackbirds pour in to the UK each winter to escape even colder conditions elsewhere.

Chris Packham presents the blackbird. Resident blackbirds are on the alert just now because their territories are under siege. Large numbers of Continental blackbirds pour in to the UK each winter to escape even colder conditions elsewhere.

Chris Packham presents the blackbird. Resident blackbirds are on the alert just now because their territories are under siege. Large numbers of Continental blackbirds pour in to the UK each winter to escape even colder conditions elsewhere.

Chris Packham presents the blackbird. Resident blackbirds are on the alert just now because their territories are under siege. Large numbers of Continental blackbirds pour in to the UK each winter to escape even colder conditions elsewhere.

Chris Packham presents the blackbird. Resident blackbirds are on the alert just now because their territories are under siege. Large numbers of Continental blackbirds pour in to the UK each winter to escape even colder conditions elsewhere.

Chris Packham presents the blackbird. Resident blackbirds are on the alert just now because their territories are under siege. Large numbers of Continental blackbirds pour in to the UK each winter to escape even colder conditions elsewhere.

Chris Packham presents the blackbird.

Chris Packham presents the blackbird.

Chris Packham presents the blackbird.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the blackbird. Resident blackbirds are on the alert just now because their territories are under siege. Large numbers of Continental blackbirds pour in to the UK each winter to escape even colder conditions elsewhere.

"Chris Packham presents the blackbird.

"

Chris Packham presents the blackbird. Resident blackbirds are on the alert just now because their territories are under siege. Large numbers of Continental blackbirds pour in to the UK each winter to escape even colder conditions elsewhere.

Blackbird (spring)2014030420150310 (R4)
20160307 (R4)
20160313 (R4)
20180418 (R4)
20200301 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the blackbird. Blackbirds are thrushes and the brown female often has a few speckles on her throat to prove it. Velvety, black and shiny, the males sport an eye-ring as yellow as a spring daffodil and a bill glowing like a buttercup. Happily blackbirds aren't doing too badly. There's so many of them that their territories often overlap so that where one song leaves off, another song begins.

Bill Oddie presents the blackbird. Blackbirds are thrushes and the brown female often has a few speckles on her throat to prove it. Velvety, black and shiny, the males sport an eye-ring as yellow as a spring daffodil and a bill glowing like a buttercup. Happily blackbirds aren't doing too badly. There's so many of them that their territories often overlap so that where one song leaves off, another song begins.

Bill Oddie presents the blackbird. Blackbirds are thrushes and the brown female often has a few speckles on her throat to prove it. Velvety, black and shiny, the males sport an eye-ring as yellow as a spring daffodil and a bill glowing like a buttercup. Happily blackbirds aren't doing too badly. There's so many of them that their territories often overlap so that where one song leaves off, another song begins.

Bill Oddie presents the blackbird. Blackbirds are thrushes and the brown female often has a few speckles on her throat to prove it. Velvety, black and shiny, the males sport an eye-ring as yellow as a spring daffodil and a bill glowing like a buttercup. Happily blackbirds aren't doing too badly. There's so many of them that their territories often overlap so that where one song leaves off, another song begins.

Bill Oddie presents the blackbird.

Bill Oddie presents the blackbird.

Bill Oddie presents the blackbird.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bill Oddie presents the blackbird. Blackbirds are thrushes and the brown female often has a few speckles on her throat to prove it. Velvety, black and shiny, the males sport an eye-ring as yellow as a spring daffodil and a bill glowing like a buttercup. Happily blackbirds aren't doing too badly. There's so many of them that their territories often overlap so that where one song leaves off, another song begins.

Bill Oddie presents the blackbird.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Bill Oddie presents the blackbird.

"

Bill Oddie presents the blackbird. Blackbirds are thrushes and the brown female often has a few speckles on her throat to prove it. Velvety, black and shiny, the males sport an eye-ring as yellow as a spring daffodil and a bill glowing like a buttercup. Happily blackbirds aren't doing too badly. There's so many of them that their territories often overlap so that where one song leaves off, another song begins.

Black-browed Albatross2013072520150603 (R4)
20150607 (R4)
20160915 (R4)
20200317 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the black-browed albatross.

Although they're residents of the Antarctic seas , black-browed albatrosses have turned up in the UK many times. For a while, Albert-or Albert Ross as he was christened by birdwatchers- was one of the most well-known birds in the British Isles. He was first spotted in the gannet colony on Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth in 1967. Sadly he failed to find a mate among the masses of gannets there.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the black-browed albatross.

Although they're residents of the Antarctic seas , black-browed albatrosses have turned up in the UK many times. For a while, Albert-or Albert Ross as he was christened by birdwatchers- was one of the most well-known birds in the British Isles. He was first spotted in the gannet colony on Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth in 1967. Sadly he failed to find a mate among the masses of gannets there.

Although they're residents of the Antarctic seas , black-browed albatrosses have turned up in the UK many times. For a while, Albert-or Albert Ross as he was christened by birdwatchers- was one of the most well-known birds in the British Isles. He was first spotted in the gannet colony on Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth in 1967. Sadly he failed to find a mate among the masses of gannets there.

Although they're residents of the Antarctic seas , black-browed albatrosses have turned up in the UK many times. For a while, Albert-or Albert Ross as he was christened by birdwatchers- was one of the most well-known birds in the British Isles. He was first spotted in the gannet colony on Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth in 1967. Sadly he failed to find a mate among the masses of gannets there.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the black-browed albatross.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the black-browed albatross.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the black-browed albatross.

"

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the black-browed albatross.

Although they're residents of the Antarctic seas , black-browed albatrosses have turned up in the UK many times. For a while, Albert-or Albert Ross as he was christened by birdwatchers- was one of the most well-known birds in the British Isles. He was first spotted in the gannet colony on Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth in 1967. Sadly he failed to find a mate among the masses of gannets there."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Although they're residents of the Antarctic seas , black-browed albatrosses have turned up in the UK many times. For a while, Albert-or Albert Ross as he was christened by birdwatchers- was one of the most well-known birds in the British Isles. He was first spotted in the gannet colony on Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth in 1967. Sadly he failed to find a mate among the masses of gannets there.

Blackcap2013051520140528
20160325 (R4)
20170302 (R4)
20170324 (R4)
20190226 (R4)
20200605 (R4)
20210203 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Blackcap. Many Blackcaps winter in sub-Saharan Africa, but increasingly birds have been wintering in the Mediterranean and over the last few decades spent the winter in the UK.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the blackcap.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the blackcap.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Blackcap. Many Blackcaps winter in sub-Saharan Africa, but increasingly birds have been wintering in the Mediterranean and over the last few decades spent the winter in the UK.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Blackcap. Many Blackcaps winter in sub-Saharan Africa, but increasingly birds have been wintering in the Mediterranean and over the last few decades spent the winter in the UK.

"

"David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the blackcap.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Blackcap. Many Blackcaps winter in sub-Saharan Africa, but increasingly birds have been wintering in the Mediterranean and over the last few decades spent the winter in the UK."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Blackcap. Many Blackcaps winter in sub-Saharan Africa, but increasingly birds have been wintering in the Mediterranean and over the last few decades spent the winter in the UK.

Blackcap2013051520140601Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Blackcap. Many Blackcaps winter in sub-Saharan Africa, but increasingly birds have been wintering in the Mediterranean and over the last few decades spent the winter in the UK.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Blackcap. Many Blackcaps winter in sub-Saharan Africa, but increasingly birds have been wintering in the Mediterranean and over the last few decades spent the winter in the UK.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Blackcap. Many Blackcaps winter in sub-Saharan Africa, but increasingly birds have been wintering in the Mediterranean and over the last few decades spent the winter in the UK.

"

Black-chinned Hummingbird2014120920151026 (R4)
20151101 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the North American black chinned hummingbird. What seems to be a large green beetle is flying erratically across a Los Angeles garden: suddenly, it hovers in mid-air to probe a flower bloom; this is a black-chinned hummingbird. Although often thought of as exclusively tropical, a few species of hummingbirds occur widely in North America and in the west; the Black-chinned hummingbird is the most widespread of all. Both sexes are glittering emerald above: the male's black throat is bordered with a flash of metallic purple, which catches the sun. Black-chinned "hummers" are minute, weighing in at just over 3 grams. But they are pugnacious featherweights seeing off rival males during intimidation flights with shrill squeals, whilst remarkably beating their wings around 80 times a second. They'll also readily come to artificial sugar-feeders put out by householders to attract these flying jewels to their gardens.

Liz Bonnin presents the North American black chinned hummingbird. What seems to be a large green beetle is flying erratically across a Los Angeles garden: suddenly, it hovers in mid-air to probe a flower bloom; this is a black-chinned hummingbird. Although often thought of as exclusively tropical, a few species of hummingbirds occur widely in North America and in the west; the Black-chinned hummingbird is the most widespread of all. Both sexes are glittering emerald above: the male's black throat is bordered with a flash of metallic purple, which catches the sun. Black-chinned "hummers" are minute, weighing in at just over 3 grams. But they are pugnacious featherweights seeing off rival males during intimidation flights with shrill squeals, whilst remarkably beating their wings around 80 times a second. They'll also readily come to artificial sugar-feeders put out by householders to attract these flying jewels to their gardens.

Liz Bonnin presents the North American black-chinned hummingbird.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the North American black chinned hummingbird. What seems to be a large green beetle is flying erratically across a Los Angeles garden: suddenly, it hovers in mid-air to probe a flower bloom; this is a black-chinned hummingbird. Although often thought of as exclusively tropical, a few species of hummingbirds occur widely in North America and in the west; the Black-chinned hummingbird is the most widespread of all. Both sexes are glittering emerald above: the male's black throat is bordered with a flash of metallic purple, which catches the sun. Black-chinned ""hummers"" are minute, weighing in at just over 3 grams. But they are pugnacious featherweights seeing off rival males during intimidation flights with shrill squeals, whilst remarkably beating their wings around 80 times a second. They'll also readily come to artificial sugar-feeders put out by householders to attract these flying jewels to their gardens.

"

Black-footed Albatross2015011320160125 (R4)
20160131 (R4)
20190910 (R4)
20201021 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the black-footed albatross of Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Two dusky-brown birds point their bills skywards to cement their lifelong relationship, these are black-footed albatrosses are plighting their troth in a former theatre of war. At only a few square kilometres in size, the island of Midway is roughly half way between North America and Japan. Once it was at the heart of the Battle of Midway during World War Two, but today it forms part of a Wildlife Refuge run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is home to white laysan albatross and the darker Black footed Albatross. Around 25,000 pairs of Black-foots breed here. Each pair's single chick is fed on regurgitated offal for six months, after which it learns to fly and then can be vulnerable to human activity on the airbase. But careful management of both species of albatrosses near the airstrip has reduced the number of casualties to a minimum.

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the black-footed albatross of Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Two dusky-brown birds point their bills skywards to cement their lifelong relationship, these are black-footed albatrosses are plighting their troth in a former theatre of war. At only a few square kilometres in size, the island of Midway is roughly half way between North America and Japan. Once it was at the heart of the Battle of Midway during World War Two, but today it forms part of a Wildlife Refuge run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is home to white laysan albatross and the darker Black footed Albatross. Around 25,000 pairs of Black-foots breed here. Each pair's single chick is fed on regurgitated offal for six months, after which it learns to fly and then can be vulnerable to human activity on the airbase. But careful management of both species of albatrosses near the airstrip has reduced the number of casualties to a minimum.

Liz Bonnin presents the black-footed albatross of Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Two dusky-brown birds point their bills skywards to cement their lifelong relationship, these are black-footed albatrosses are plighting their troth in a former theatre of war. At only a few square kilometres in size, the island of Midway is roughly half way between North America and Japan. Once it was at the heart of the Battle of Midway during World War Two, but today it forms part of a Wildlife Refuge run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is home to white laysan albatross and the darker Black footed Albatross. Around 25,000 pairs of Black-foots breed here. Each pair's single chick is fed on regurgitated offal for six months, after which it learns to fly and then can be vulnerable to human activity on the airbase. But careful management of both species of albatrosses near the airstrip has reduced the number of casualties to a minimum.

Liz Bonnin presents the black-footed albatross of Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Liz Bonnin presents the black-footed albatross of Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Two dusky-brown birds point their bills skywards to cement their lifelong relationship, these are black-footed albatrosses are plighting their troth in a former theatre of war. At only a few square kilometres in size, the island of Midway is roughly half way between North America and Japan. Once it was at the heart of the Battle of Midway during World War Two, but today it forms part of a Wildlife Refuge run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is home to white laysan albatross and the darker Black footed Albatross. Around 25,000 pairs of Black-foots breed here. Each pair's single chick is fed on regurgitated offal for six months, after which it learns to fly and then can be vulnerable to human activity on the airbase. But careful management of both species of albatrosses near the airstrip has reduced the number of casualties to a minimum.

Black-headed Gull2013111220150804 (R4)
20160701 (R4)
20170224 (R4)
20200517 (R4)
Martin Hughes-Games presents the black-headed gull.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Black-Headed Gull.

Black-Headed Gulls are our commonest small gull and throughout the year you can identify them by their rather delicate flight action, red legs and the white flash on the front edge of their wings.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the black-headed gull.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the black-headed gull.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the black-headed gull.

Black-Headed Gulls are our commonest small gull and throughout the year you can identify them by their rather delicate flight action, red legs and the white flash on the front edge of their wings.

Black-Headed Gulls are our commonest small gull and throughout the year you can identify them by their rather delicate flight action, red legs and the white flash on the front edge of their wings.

Black-Headed Gulls are our commonest small gull and throughout the year you can identify them by their rather delicate flight action, red legs and the white flash on the front edge of their wings.

"Martin Hughes-Games presents the black-headed gull.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Black-necked Grebe2014011620161129 (R4)
20200128 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Black-Necked Grebe. In winter the black-necked grebe is largely grey and white with a dark cap and eyes like rubies. You'll need to seek out Black headed grebes in their favourite spots which include large London reservoirs and shallow seas along the south coast.

David Attenborough presents the black-necked grebe.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Black-Necked Grebe. In winter the black-necked grebe is largely grey and white with a dark cap and eyes like rubies. You'll need to seek out Black headed grebes in their favourite spots which include large London reservoirs and shallow seas along the south coast.

David Attenborough presents the black-necked grebe.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Attenborough presents the story of the Black-Necked Grebe. In winter the black-necked grebe is largely grey and white with a dark cap and eyes like rubies. You'll need to seek out Black headed grebes in their favourite spots which include large London reservoirs and shallow seas along the south coast.

David Attenborough presents the black-necked grebe.

Black-nest Swiftlet2015020620160204 (R4)
20200107 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the black-nest swiftlet, deep inside an Indonesian cavern.

Michael Palin presents the black-nest swiftlet deep inside an Indonesian cavern. The Black-nest swiftlet landing on the cave wall, begins work on one of the most expensive and sought- after items connected with any bird; its nest.

The swiftlet's tiny bowl -shaped nest is highly-prized as the main ingredient for bird's nest soup and is built by the male from strands of his saliva which harden into a clear substance which also anchors the nest to the vertiginous walls. Black-nest swiftlets are so-called because they add dark-coloured feathers to their saliva which are then incorporated into their nests.

The nests fuel expensive appetites. A kilo of nests can fetch 2500 US dollars and worldwide the industry is worth some 5 billion US dollars a year. Today in many places in South-east Asia artificial concrete "apartment blocks" act as surrogate homes for the Black-nest swiftlets. The birds are lured in by recordings of their calls, and once they've begun nesting, the buildings are guarded as if they contained gold bullion.

"Michael Palin presents the black-nest swiftlet, deep inside an Indonesian cavern.

The nests fuel expensive appetites. A kilo of nests can fetch 2500 US dollars and worldwide the industry is worth some 5 billion US dollars a year. Today in many places in South-east Asia artificial concrete ""apartment blocks"" act as surrogate homes for the Black-nest swiftlets. The birds are lured in by recordings of their calls, and once they've begun nesting, the buildings are guarded as if they contained gold bullion.

"

"

Michael Palin presents the black-nest swiftlet, deep inside an Indonesian cavern."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

The nests fuel expensive appetites. A kilo of nests can fetch 2500 US dollars and worldwide the industry is worth some 5 billion US dollars a year. Today in many places in South-east Asia artificial concrete "apartment blocks" act as surrogate homes for the Black-nest swiftlets. The birds are lured in by recordings of their calls, and once they've begun nesting, the buildings are guarded as if they contained gold bullion.

Michael Palin presents the black-nest swiftlet deep inside an Indonesian cavern. The Black-nest swiftlet landing on the cave wall, begins work on one of the most expensive and sought- after items connected with any bird; its nest.

Michael Palin presents the black-nest swiftlet deep inside an Indonesian cavern. The Black-nest swiftlet landing on the cave wall, begins work on one of the most expensive and sought- after items connected with any bird; its nest.

Black-tailed Godwit2013112520131201
20161103 (R4)
Martin Hughes-Games presents the black-tailed godwit.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Black-Tailed Godwit. A black-tailed godwit in its summer finery is a stunningly attractive bird, russet brown with a long orange and black bill. A few pairs of black-tailed godwits breed in the UK, most of them in damp grazing meadows such as the Ouse Washes in East Anglia. When breeding is over the male and female split up and spend the winter months apart, often in widely separated locations.

"Martin Hughes-Games presents the black-tailed godwit.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the black-tailed godwit."

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Black-Tailed Godwit. A black-tailed godwit in its summer finery is a stunningly attractive bird, russet brown with a long orange and black bill. A few pairs of black-tailed godwits breed in the UK, most of them in damp grazing meadows such as the Ouse Washes in East Anglia. When breeding is over the male and female split up and spend the winter months apart, often in widely separated locations."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Black-tailed Godwit20150629Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Black-Tailed Godwit. A black-tailed godwit in its summer finery is a stunningly attractive bird, russet brown with a long orange and black bill. A few pairs of black-tailed godwits breed in the UK, most of them in damp grazing meadows such as the Ouse Washes in East Anglia. When breeding is over the male and female split up and spend the winter months apart, often in widely separated locations.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the black-tailed godwit.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Black-throated Diver2014022720150723 (R4)
20160704 (R4)
20160710 (R4)
20191205 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

John Aitchison presents the black-throated diver. Black-throated divers are strong contenders for our most beautiful bird. Their breeding plumage with a neck barcoded in white, an ebony bib and a plush grey head, is dramatic. The black dagger-like bill and broad lobed feet are perfect for catching and pursuing fish which the divers bring to their chicks in nests on the shoreline of the Scottish Lochs on which they breed.

John Aitchison presents the black-throated diver. Black-throated divers are strong contenders for our most beautiful bird. Their breeding plumage with a neck barcoded in white, an ebony bib and a plush grey head, is dramatic. The black dagger-like bill and broad lobed feet are perfect for catching and pursuing fish which the divers bring to their chicks in nests on the shoreline of the Scottish Lochs on which they breed.

John Aitchison presents the black-throated diver. Black-throated divers are strong contenders for our most beautiful bird. Their breeding plumage with a neck barcoded in white, an ebony bib and a plush grey head, is dramatic. The black dagger-like bill and broad lobed feet are perfect for catching and pursuing fish which the divers bring to their chicks in nests on the shoreline of the Scottish Lochs on which they breed.

John Aitchison presents the black-throated diver. Black-throated divers are strong contenders for our most beautiful bird. Their breeding plumage with a neck barcoded in white, an ebony bib and a plush grey head, is dramatic. The black dagger-like bill and broad lobed feet are perfect for catching and pursuing fish which the divers bring to their chicks in nests on the shoreline of the Scottish Lochs on which they breed.

John Aitchison presents the black-throated diver.

John Aitchison presents the black-throated diver.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

John Aitchison presents the black-throated diver. Black-throated divers are strong contenders for our most beautiful bird. Their breeding plumage with a neck barcoded in white, an ebony bib and a plush grey head, is dramatic. The black dagger-like bill and broad lobed feet are perfect for catching and pursuing fish which the divers bring to their chicks in nests on the shoreline of the Scottish Lochs on which they breed.

Blue Bird Of Paradise2014090120150904 (R4)
20190206 (R4)
20210201 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the blue bird of paradise. The crow sized blue birds of paradise provide a spectacular flash of blue in the Papua New Guinea rainforests yet it is the males dazzling courtship performance which grabs a female's attention. Tipping forward from his perch he hangs upside down fluffing out and shimmering his gauzy breast feathers. As if this weren't enough, as the female approaches, he increases the frequency of his calls to produce a hypnotic mechanical buzzing, more like the song of a giant cicada than any bird.

Producer : Andrew Dawes

Sir David Attenborough presents the blue bird of paradise from Papua New Guinea.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Sir David Attenborough begins the series with the blue bird of paradise. The crow sized blue birds of paradise provide a spectacular flash of blue in the Papua New Guinea rainforests yet it is the males dazzling courtship performance which grabs a female's attention. Tipping forward from his perch he hangs upside down fluffing out and shimmering his gauzy breast feathers. As if this weren't enough, as the female approaches, he increases the frequency of his calls to produce a hypnotic mechanical buzzing, more like the song of a giant cicada than any bird.

David Attenborough begins a new series with the blue bird of paradise.

David Attenborough begins a new series with the blue bird of paradise.

Sir David Attenborough begins the series with the blue bird of paradise. The crow sized blue birds of paradise provide a spectacular flash of blue in the Papua New Guinea rainforests yet it is the males dazzling courtship performance which grabs a female's attention. Tipping forward from his perch he hangs upside down fluffing out and shimmering his gauzy breast feathers. As if this weren't enough, as the female approaches, he increases the frequency of his calls to produce a hypnotic mechanical buzzing, more like the song of a giant cicada than any bird.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Sir David Attenborough on the blue bird of paradise.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Sir David Attenborough on the blue bird of paradise.

Blue Jay2014110720151015 (R4)
20190811 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the North American blue jay. The loud warning screams of blue jays are just part of their extensive vocabulary. These birds are intelligent mimics. Blue jays are neat handsome birds; lavender-blue above and greyish below with a perky blue crest, black collar and white face. But the blue jay is not blue, but black. Its feather barbs contain a dark layer of melanin pigment; the blue we see is caused by light scattering through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs and reflected back as blue. Common over much of eastern and central North America, blue jays will move in loose flocks to take advantage of autumnal tree mast. A single blue jay can collect and bury thousands of beechnuts, hickory nuts and acorns (in a behaviour known as caching) returning later in the year to retrieve these buried nuts. Any they fail to find, assist in the natural regeneration of native woodlands.

Chris Packham presents the North American blue jay. The loud warning screams of blue jays are just part of their extensive vocabulary. These birds are intelligent mimics. Blue jays are neat handsome birds; lavender-blue above and greyish below with a perky blue crest, black collar and white face. But the blue jay is not blue, but black. Its feather barbs contain a dark layer of melanin pigment; the blue we see is caused by light scattering through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs and reflected back as blue. Common over much of eastern and central North America, blue jays will move in loose flocks to take advantage of autumnal tree mast. A single blue jay can collect and bury thousands of beechnuts, hickory nuts and acorns (in a behaviour known as caching) returning later in the year to retrieve these buried nuts. Any they fail to find, assist in the natural regeneration of native woodlands.

Chris Packham presents the North American blue jay.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Blue Manakin2014121620151116 (R4)
20151122 (R4)
20190606 (R4)
20200830 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the advancing, leaping and queuing male blue manakin of Brazil. Male blue manakins are small, blue and black birds with scarlet caps. They live in the forests of south-east Brazil and neighbouring areas of Argentina and Paraguay. Whilst their plumage is eye-catching, their mating display is one of the strangest of any bird. A dominant male Blue Manakin enlists the support of one or more subordinate males. Calling loudly, all the males sidle along a branch towards the female, taking turns to leap into the air and then fly back down and take their place at the back of the queue. This sequence of advancing, leaping and queuing occurs at a frenetic pace, until, without warning, the dominant male calls time on this avian dance-off, with a piercing screech.

Liz Bonnin presents the advancing, leaping and queuing male blue manakin of Brazil. Male blue manakins are small, blue and black birds with scarlet caps. They live in the forests of south-east Brazil and neighbouring areas of Argentina and Paraguay. Whilst their plumage is eye-catching, their mating display is one of the strangest of any bird. A dominant male Blue Manakin enlists the support of one or more subordinate males. Calling loudly, all the males sidle along a branch towards the female, taking turns to leap into the air and then fly back down and take their place at the back of the queue. This sequence of advancing, leaping and queuing occurs at a frenetic pace, until, without warning, the dominant male calls time on this avian dance-off, with a piercing screech.

Liz Bonnin presents the advancing, leaping and queuing male blue manakin of Brazil. Male blue manakins are small, blue and black birds with scarlet caps. They live in the forests of south-east Brazil and neighbouring areas of Argentina and Paraguay. Whilst their plumage is eye-catching, their mating display is one of the strangest of any bird. A dominant male Blue Manakin enlists the support of one or more subordinate males. Calling loudly, all the males sidle along a branch towards the female, taking turns to leap into the air and then fly back down and take their place at the back of the queue. This sequence of advancing, leaping and queuing occurs at a frenetic pace, until, without warning, the dominant male calls time on this avian dance-off, with a piercing screech.

Liz Bonnin presents the advancing, leaping and queuing male blue manakin of Brazil.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Blue Rock Thrush2015010720150111 (R4)
20151208 (R4)
20180511 (R4)
20200311 (R4)
20210209 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the blue rock thrush, perched high on a Spanish castle. The blue rock thrush has a slim silhouette, rather like that of a blackbird, but these largely sedentary, elusive and sun-loving birds are a rare sight in northern Europe. They are widespread in summer across southern Europe and also occur in the Arabian Peninsula and across most of south-east Asia. The male lives up to his name, as in sunlight his deep indigo body feathers contrast with his darker wings and tail. His mate is a more muted mid brown, and barred beneath. Blue rock thrushes often nest in old ruins, but can also be found in houses in villages and on the edge of towns. Here in sunny spots they feed on large insects like grasshoppers and will even take small reptiles in their long thrush-like bills.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Andrew Dawes.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Liz Bonnin presents the blue rock thrush, perched high on a Spanish castle.

Blue Tit2014012820170103 (R4)
20180611 (R4)
20200126 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the story of the blue tit. The perky blue tit is a stalwart of garden bird-feeders. This popular British bird has a blue cap and wings, olive green back and yellow belly. The male and females look identical to us but blue tits can clearly tell each other apart, find out how in this episode.

Chris Packham presents the blue tit.

Chris Packham presents the story of the blue tit. The perky blue tit is a stalwart of garden bird-feeders. This popular British bird has a blue cap and wings, olive green back and yellow belly. The male and females look identical to us but blue tits can clearly tell each other apart, find out how in this episode.

Chris Packham presents the blue tit.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the story of the blue tit. The perky blue tit is a stalwart of garden bird-feeders. This popular British bird has a blue cap and wings, olive green back and yellow belly. The male and females look identical to us but blue tits can clearly tell each other apart, find out how in this episode.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Chris Packham presents the blue tit.

"

Blue-footed Booby2014102720151102 (R4)
20151108 (R4)
20180720 (R4)
20200513 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Galapagos Islands blue-footed booby. Far off the Ecuador coastline the Galapagos Archipelago is home to a strange courtship dance and display of the male blue-footed booby and his large bright blue webbed feet. The intensity of the male's blue feet is viewed by the female as a sign of fitness and so he holds them up for inspection as he struts in front of her. She joins in, shadowing his actions. As the pair raise and lower their feet with exaggerated slow movements, they point their bills sky-wards while spreading their wings, raising their tails and calling.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Galapagos Islands' blue-footed booby.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Galapagos Islands blue-footed booby. Far off the Ecuador coastline the Galapagos Archipelago is home to a strange courtship dance and display of the male blue-footed booby and his large bright blue webbed feet. The intensity of the male's blue feet is viewed by the female as a sign of fitness and so he holds them up for inspection as he struts in front of her. She joins in, shadowing his actions. As the pair raise and lower their feet with exaggerated slow movements, they point their bills sky-wards while spreading their wings, raising their tails and calling.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Galapagos Islands' blue-footed booby.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Galapagos Islands' blue-footed booby.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Galapagos Islands' blue-footed booby.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Galapagos Islands blue-footed booby. Far off the Ecuador coastline the Galapagos Archipelago is home to a strange courtship dance and display of the male blue-footed booby and his large bright blue webbed feet. The intensity of the male's blue feet is viewed by the female as a sign of fitness and so he holds them up for inspection as he struts in front of her. She joins in, shadowing his actions. As the pair raise and lower their feet with exaggerated slow movements, they point their bills sky-wards while spreading their wings, raising their tails and calling.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Galapagos Islands' blue-footed booby.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Galapagos Islands blue-footed booby. Far off the Ecuador coastline the Galapagos Archipelago is home to a strange courtship dance and display of the male blue-footed booby and his large bright blue webbed feet. The intensity of the male's blue feet is viewed by the female as a sign of fitness and so he holds them up for inspection as he struts in front of her. She joins in, shadowing his actions. As the pair raise and lower their feet with exaggerated slow movements, they point their bills sky-wards while spreading their wings, raising their tails and calling.

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Galapagos Islands blue-footed booby. Far off the Ecuador coastline the Galapagos Archipelago is home to a strange courtship dance and display of the male blue-footed booby and his large bright blue webbed feet. The intensity of the male's blue feet is viewed by the female as a sign of fitness and so he holds them up for inspection as he struts in front of her. She joins in, shadowing his actions. As the pair raise and lower their feet with exaggerated slow movements, they point their bills sky-wards while spreading their wings, raising their tails and calling.

Bluethroat2013092320130929
20150608 (R4)
20160822 (R4)
20160828 (R4)
20190819 (R4)
Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the bluethroat.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the bluethroat. This is a fine songbird and a sprightly robin-sized bird with a dazzling sapphire bib. Your best chance of seeing one is in autumn when they pass through the north or east coast on migration.

Brett Westwood presents the bluethroat. This is a fine songbird and a sprightly robin-sized bird with a dazzling sapphire bib. Your best chance of seeing one is in autumn when they pass through the north or east coast on migration.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the bluethroat.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brett Westwood presents the bluethroat. This is a fine songbird and a sprightly robin-sized bird with a dazzling sapphire bib. Your best chance of seeing one is in autumn when they pass through the north or east coast on migration.

Brett Westwood presents the bluethroat. This is a fine songbird and a sprightly robin-sized bird with a dazzling sapphire bib. Your best chance of seeing one is in autumn when they pass through the north or east coast on migration.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the bluethroat.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the bluethroat.

Bobolink2013103020150827 (R4)
20200928 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the bobolink.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Bobolink. You might never have heard of a Bobolink - but these birds do occur very rarely in the UK although their true home is in the grasslands of Canada and the northern states of the USA. They look like large finches but belong to the family of New World blackbirds. Because the breeding males have black and white plumage they are sometimes called 'skunk blackbirds'.

The sound archive recording of the bobolink featured in this programme was sourced from The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the bobolink.

The sound archive recording of the bobolink featured in this programme was sourced from The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the bobolink.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Bobolink. You might never have heard of a Bobolink – but these birds do occur very rarely in the UK although their true home is in the grasslands of Canada and the northern states of the USA. They look like large finches but belong to the family of New World blackbirds. Because the breeding males have black and white plumage they are sometimes called 'skunk blackbirds'.

The sound archive recording of the bobolink featured in this programme was sourced from The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bonita Johnson On The Robin2018020620191030 (R4)Bonita Johnson recalls watching a pair of battling robins.

Bonita Johnson of the British Trust for Ornithology recalls seeing a pair of Robins locked in combat on a woodland floor until they were surprised by her approach and flew apart, one of them almost colliding with her!

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Sam Linton.

"Bonita Johnson recalls watching a pair of battling robins.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Sam Linton. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brambling2013101020150528 (R4)
20160920 (R4)
20170111 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the brambling.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Brambling. Bramblings are the northern equivalent of the chaffinch and breed across huge areas of Scandinavia and Russia. In autumn they migrate south in search of seeds and are particularly fond of beech-mast. The largest recorded gathering of any living bird species in the world is of a flock of over 70 million bramblings at a roost in Switzerland in the winter of 1951.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the brambling.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the brambling.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the brambling.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Brambling. Bramblings are the northern equivalent of the chaffinch and breed across huge areas of Scandinavia and Russia. In autumn they migrate south in search of seeds and are particularly fond of beech-mast. The largest recorded gathering of any living bird species in the world is of a flock of over 70 million bramblings at a roost in Switzerland in the winter of 1951.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Brambling. Bramblings are the northern equivalent of the chaffinch and breed across huge areas of Scandinavia and Russia. In autumn they migrate south in search of seeds and are particularly fond of beech-mast. The largest recorded gathering of any living bird species in the world is of a flock of over 70 million bramblings at a roost in Switzerland in the winter of 1951.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Brambling. Bramblings are the northern equivalent of the chaffinch and breed across huge areas of Scandinavia and Russia. In autumn they migrate south in search of seeds and are particularly fond of beech-mast. The largest recorded gathering of any living bird species in the world is of a flock of over 70 million bramblings at a roost in Switzerland in the winter of 1951.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the brambling.

"

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Brambling. Bramblings are the northern equivalent of the chaffinch and breed across huge areas of Scandinavia and Russia. In autumn they migrate south in search of seeds and are particularly fond of beech-mast. The largest recorded gathering of any living bird species in the world is of a flock of over 70 million bramblings at a roost in Switzerland in the winter of 1951."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brent Geese2013121320201106 (R4)Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the brent goose. Brent Geese are our smallest wild geese and are unmistakable with their rather funereal colours, blackish heads and grey backs with a wisp of white on the neck. Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland is a very important wintering site for Brent Geese.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brent Goose2013121320160922 (R4)Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the brent goose. Brent Geese are our smallest wild geese and are unmistakable with their rather funereal colours, blackish heads and grey backs with a wisp of white on the neck. Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland is a very important wintering site for Brent Geese.

Chris Packham presents the brent goose. Brent Geese are our smallest wild geese and are unmistakable with their rather funereal colours, blackish heads and grey backs with a wisp of white on the neck. Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland is a very important wintering site for Brent Geese.

Chris Packham presents the brent goose.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brian Briggs 1 Of 220181202"Former band member of Stornoway selects his favourite Tweet of the Day episodes

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Brian Briggs And The Chaffinch Song2018120920200331 (R4)"

Former Stornoway band member Brian Briggs, returns for a second week curating the Tweet of the Day output, with a story of how the chaffinch song was the first he recognised. Brian, now a reserve manager at the Wetlands and Wildlife Trust's Llanelli Wetland Centre, remembers how his first job as an ecologist at Oxford's Wytham Woods ignited his journey into learning the language of birds throughout the seasons.

You can hear more from Brian in the Tweet of the Week Ombibus, available on the Radio 4 website and on BBC Sounds

Producer Andrew Dawes

Brian Briggs, formerly of the band Stornoway, recalls the song of the chaffinch.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

You can hear more from Brian in the Tweet of the Week Omnibus, available on the Radio 4 website and on BBC Sounds

Producer Andrew Dawes"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brian Briggs Shearwater Takeover2018120220200330 (R4)"

Brian Briggs, former singer, lyricist, and guitarist with the band Stornoway, takes over the Tweet of the Day output this week. Brian who has had a lifelong passion for the natural world and birding, even completed a PhD on ducks. Stornoway, who's third album Bronxie (the colloquial name for the arctic skua) finally disbanded in 2017, allowing Brian to convert his hobby and long standing love affair with birds into a career. He is now is the reserve manager of the Wetlands and Wildlife Trust's Llanelli Wetland Centre.

With a lifetime of bird knowledge, Brian recalls the other-worldly sound of Manx Shearwaters, calling from their burrows on the island of Skomer in west Wales, the largest known concentration of these birds in the world.

You can hear more from Brian in the Tweet of the Week Omnibus, available on the Radio 4 website and on BBC Sounds

Producer Andrew Dawes

Former Stornoway band member Brian Briggs on the Manx shearwater for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brown Kiwi2014100120141005 (R4)
20150908 (R4)
20161214 (R4)
20190802 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the New Zealand brown kiwi. A piercing wail can be heard in a forest at night. A brown kiwi is calling. Only found in New Zealand, kiwi are flightless birds and the brown kiwi, which is about the size of a domestic chicken, lays an egg weighing as much as a quarter of its own bodyweight - proportionally; the largest egg for its size of any bird. More mammal like than birds; their tiny eyes are of little use, but they have an excellent sense of smell, using their nostrils located unusually for birds near the end of the bill. Held in great affection, brown kiwi appear on coins, stamps and coats-of- arms as well as providing a nick-name for New Zealand's national rugby team.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the New Zealand brown kiwi."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the New Zealand brown kiwi. A piercing wail can be heard in a forest at night. A brown kiwi is calling. Only found in New Zealand, kiwi are flightless birds and the brown kiwi, which is about the size of a domestic chicken, lays an egg weighing as much as a quarter of its own bodyweight – proportionally; the largest egg for its size of any bird. More mammal like than birds; their tiny eyes are of little use, but they have an excellent sense of smell, using their nostrils located unusually for birds near the end of the bill. Held in great affection, brown kiwi appear on coins, stamps and coats-of- arms as well as providing a nick-name for New Zealand's national rugby team.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the New Zealand brown kiwi. A piercing wail can be heard in a forest at night. A brown kiwi is calling. Only found in New Zealand, kiwi are flightless birds and the brown kiwi, which is about the size of a domestic chicken, lays an egg weighing as much as a quarter of its own bodyweight – proportionally; the largest egg for its size of any bird. More mammal like than birds; their tiny eyes are of little use, but they have an excellent sense of smell, using their nostrils located unusually for birds near the end of the bill. Held in great affection, brown kiwi appear on coins, stamps and coats-of- arms as well as providing a nick-name for New Zealand's national rugby team.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the New Zealand brown kiwi. A piercing wail can be heard in a forest at night. A brown kiwi is calling. Only found in New Zealand, kiwi are flightless birds and the brown kiwi, which is about the size of a domestic chicken, lays an egg weighing as much as a quarter of its own bodyweight - proportionally; the largest egg for its size of any bird. More mammal like than birds; their tiny eyes are of little use, but they have an excellent sense of smell, using their nostrils located unusually for birds near the end of the bill. Held in great affection, brown kiwi appear on coins, stamps and coats-of- arms as well as providing a nick-name for New Zealand's national rugby team.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the New Zealand brown kiwi. A piercing wail can be heard in a forest at night. A brown kiwi is calling. Only found in New Zealand, kiwi are flightless birds and the brown kiwi, which is about the size of a domestic chicken, lays an egg weighing as much as a quarter of its own bodyweight - proportionally; the largest egg for its size of any bird. More mammal like than birds; their tiny eyes are of little use, but they have an excellent sense of smell, using their nostrils located unusually for birds near the end of the bill. Held in great affection, brown kiwi appear on coins, stamps and coats-of- arms as well as providing a nick-name for New Zealand's national rugby team.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the New Zealand brown kiwi. A piercing wail can be heard in a forest at night. A brown kiwi is calling. Only found in New Zealand, kiwi are flightless birds and the brown kiwi, which is about the size of a domestic chicken, lays an egg weighing as much as a quarter of its own bodyweight - proportionally; the largest egg for its size of any bird. More mammal like than birds; their tiny eyes are of little use, but they have an excellent sense of smell, using their nostrils located unusually for birds near the end of the bill. Held in great affection, brown kiwi appear on coins, stamps and coats-of- arms as well as providing a nick-name for New Zealand's national rugby team.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the New Zealand brown kiwi.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the New Zealand brown kiwi.

Brown Noddy2014090520150903 (R4)
20200917 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents a seabird with a worldwide distribution, the brown noddy. Expert fliers, the brown noddy is seldom seen near land and is highly pelagic, wandering extensively in warm tropical waters where it searches for small fish and squid which are captured by hover-dipping and contact-dipping. However in the Galapagos Islands, brown noddies have learnt to sit on the heads of brown pelicans hoping to steal fish from their open gular pouches; a behaviour known as kleptoparasitism (literally, parasitism by theft).

Sir David Attenborough presents a seabird with a worldwide distribution, the brown noddy. Expert fliers, the brown noddy is seldom seen near land and is highly pelagic, wandering extensively in warm tropical waters where it searches for small fish and squid which are captured by hover-dipping and contact-dipping. However in the Galapagos Islands, brown noddies have learnt to sit on the heads of brown pelicans hoping to steal fish from their open gular pouches; a behaviour known as kleptoparasitism (literally, parasitism by theft).

David Attenborough presents a seabird with a worldwide distribution, the brown noddy.

David Attenborough presents a seabird with a worldwide distribution, the brown noddy.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brown Skua2015010820151209 (R4)
20191208 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents brown skua hunting over an Antarctic landscape. These bulky brown birds with their hooked death dealing bills are often cast as villains alongside the apparently helpless and lovable penguins. But skuas are highly efficient predators, their skills honed to find the maximum food they can in a largely barren landscape. They're resourceful pirates, forcing other birds to drop or disgorge their catches. They also scavenge around fishing boats or loiter at seal colonies where carcases are easy meat. But a penguin rookery which may have hundreds of pairs of birds provides a real bounty, where waiting for an opportunity, the keen-eyed skua swoops to seize its next victim which if it is small enough, will even swallow it whole.

Liz Bonnin presents brown skua hunting over an Antarctic landscape. These bulky brown birds with their hooked death dealing bills are often cast as villains alongside the apparently helpless and lovable penguins. But skuas are highly efficient predators, their skills honed to find the maximum food they can in a largely barren landscape. They're resourceful pirates, forcing other birds to drop or disgorge their catches. They also scavenge around fishing boats or loiter at seal colonies where carcases are easy meat. But a penguin rookery which may have hundreds of pairs of birds provides a real bounty, where waiting for an opportunity, the keen-eyed skua swoops to seize its next victim which if it is small enough, will even swallow it whole.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Liz Bonnin presents brown skua hunting over an Antarctic landscape.

Brown Thrasher2014120520160107 (R4)
20180806 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the brown thrasher, usually seen in North America. Brown thrashers are related to mockingbirds which breed across most of eastern and central North America. They're famous for their vast repertoire which can include over 1000 song types. They spend much of their time skulking in dense shrubs at woodland edges and in parks and gardens. They're russet on top, white below and heavily streaked like a large thrush but with much longer tails and stout curved bills. Their name comes from the noisy thrashing sound they make as they search the leaf litter for food. Normally, brown thrashers are short distance migrants within North America but in 1966, in November of that year, in Dorset, birdwatchers almost dropped their binoculars in disbelief when they heard the call of a brown thrasher coming from a coastal thicket. It remained here until February 1967 and is the only British record.

Chris Packham presents the brown thrasher, usually seen in North America. Brown thrashers are related to mockingbirds which breed across most of eastern and central North America. They're famous for their vast repertoire which can include over 1000 song types. They spend much of their time skulking in dense shrubs at woodland edges and in parks and gardens. They're russet on top, white below and heavily streaked like a large thrush but with much longer tails and stout curved bills. Their name comes from the noisy thrashing sound they make as they search the leaf litter for food. Normally, brown thrashers are short distance migrants within North America but in 1966, in November of that year, in Dorset, birdwatchers almost dropped their binoculars in disbelief when they heard the call of a brown thrasher coming from a coastal thicket. It remained here until February 1967 and is the only British record.

Chris Packham presents the brown thrasher, usually seen in North America.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Chris Packham presents the brown thrasher, usually seen in North America.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the brown thrasher, usually seen in North America. Brown thrashers are related to mockingbirds which breed across most of eastern and central North America. They're famous for their vast repertoire which can include over 1000 song types. They spend much of their time skulking in dense shrubs at woodland edges and in parks and gardens. They're russet on top, white below and heavily streaked like a large thrush but with much longer tails and stout curved bills. Their name comes from the noisy thrashing sound they make as they search the leaf litter for food. Normally, brown thrashers are short distance migrants within North America but in 1966, in November of that year, in Dorset, birdwatchers almost dropped their binoculars in disbelief when they heard the call of a brown thrasher coming from a coastal thicket. It remained here until February 1967 and is the only British record.

"

Chris Packham presents the brown thrasher, usually seen in North America. Brown thrashers are related to mockingbirds which breed across most of eastern and central North America. They're famous for their vast repertoire which can include over 1000 song types. They spend much of their time skulking in dense shrubs at woodland edges and in parks and gardens. They're russet on top, white below and heavily streaked like a large thrush but with much longer tails and stout curved bills. Their name comes from the noisy thrashing sound they make as they search the leaf litter for food. Normally, brown thrashers are short distance migrants within North America but in 1966, in November of that year, in Dorset, birdwatchers almost dropped their binoculars in disbelief when they heard the call of a brown thrasher coming from a coastal thicket. It remained here until February 1967 and is the only British record.

Bruce Winney On The Red Kite2017101020200501 (R4)BirdLife International's Bruce Winney relives seeing red kites over Harrogate.

Bruce Winney from BirdLife International remembers seeing red kites overhead whilst driving in Harrogate, after years of absence from the skies.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Eliza Lomas
Photograph: PLFoto.

"BirdLife International's Bruce Winney relives seeing red kites over Harrogate.

Producer: Eliza Lomas
Photograph: PLFoto. "

"""BirdLife International's Bruce Winney relives seeing red kites over Harrogate.

Producer: Eliza Lomas
Photograph: PLFoto. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Eliza Lomas
Photograph: PLFoto.

Budgerigar2015020420150208 (R4)
20160202 (R4)
20190312 (R4)
20201208 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the wild budgerigar from Australia. Budgerigars are small Australian parrots whose common name may derive from the aboriginal "Betcherrygah' which, roughly speaking, means "good to eat" though it could mean " good food" as budgerigars follow the rains and so their flocks would indicate where there might be seeds and fruits for people.

Where food and water are available together; huge flocks gather, sometimes a hundred thousand strong, queuing in thirsty ranks to take their turn at waterholes. Should a falcon appear, they explode into the air with a roar of wingbeats and perform astonishing aerobatics similar to the murmurations of starlings in the UK.

Although many colour varieties have been bred in captivity, wild budgerigars are bright green below, beautifully enhanced with dark scalloped barring above, with yellow throats and foreheads. With a good view, you can tell the male by the small knob of blue flesh, known as a cere, above his beak.

"Michael Palin presents the wild budgerigar from Australia.

Michael Palin presents the wild budgerigar from Australia. Budgerigars are small Australian parrots whose common name may derive from the aboriginal ""Betcherrygah' which, roughly speaking, means ""good to eat"" though it could mean "" good food"" as budgerigars follow the rains and so their flocks would indicate where there might be seeds and fruits for people.

Although many colour varieties have been bred in captivity, wild budgerigars are bright green below, beautifully enhanced with dark scalloped barring above, with yellow throats and foreheads. With a good view, you can tell the male by the small knob of blue flesh, known as a cere, above his beak."

"Michael Palin presents the wild budgerigar from Australia. Budgerigars are small Australian parrots whose common name may derive from the aboriginal ""Betcherrygah' which, roughly speaking, means ""good to eat"" though it could mean "" good food"" as budgerigars follow the rains and so their flocks would indicate where there might be seeds and fruits for people.

"

Michael Palin presents the wild budgerigar from Australia. Budgerigars are small Australian parrots whose common name may derive from the aboriginal "Betcherrygah' which, roughly speaking, means "good to eat" though it could mean " good food" as budgerigars follow the rains and so their flocks would indicate where there might be seeds and fruits for people.

Where food and water are available together; huge flocks gather, sometimes a hundred thousand strong, queuing in thirsty ranks to take their turn at waterholes. Should a falcon appear, they explode into the air with a roar of wingbeats and perform astonishing aerobatics similar to the murmurations of starlings in the UK.

Although many colour varieties have been bred in captivity, wild budgerigars are bright green below, beautifully enhanced with dark scalloped barring above, with yellow throats and foreheads. With a good view, you can tell the male by the small knob of blue flesh, known as a cere, above his beak.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Michael Palin presents the wild budgerigar from Australia. Budgerigars are small Australian parrots whose common name may derive from the aboriginal "Betcherrygah' which, roughly speaking, means "good to eat" though it could mean " good food" as budgerigars follow the rains and so their flocks would indicate where there might be seeds and fruits for people.

Michael Palin presents the wild budgerigar from Australia.

Michael Palin presents the wild budgerigar from Australia.

Although many colour varieties have been bred in captivity, wild budgerigars are bright green below, beautifully enhanced with dark scalloped barring above, with yellow throats and foreheads. With a good view, you can tell the male by the small knob of blue flesh, known as a cere, above his beak.

Bullfinch2013081320140722
20160505 (R4)
20170419 (R4)
20180504 (R4)
20190829 (R4)
20200825 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the Bullfinch. The males have rose-pink breasts and black caps and are eye-catching whilst the females are a duller pinkish-grey but share the black cap. Exactly why they're called Bullfinches isn't clear - perhaps it's to do with their rather thickset appearance. 'Budfinch' would be a more accurate name as they are very fond of the buds of trees, especially fruit trees.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the bullfinch.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the bullfinch.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michaela Strachan presents the Bullfinch. The males have rose-pink breasts and black caps and are eye-catching whilst the females are a duller pinkish-grey but share the black cap. Exactly why they're called Bullfinches isn't clear - perhaps it's to do with their rather thickset appearance. 'Budfinch' would be a more accurate name as they are very fond of the buds of trees, especially fruit trees.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the Bullfinch. The males have rose-pink breasts and black caps and are eye-catching whilst the females are a duller pinkish-grey but share the black cap. Exactly why they're called Bullfinches isn't clear - perhaps it's to do with their rather thickset appearance. 'Budfinch' would be a more accurate name as they are very fond of the buds of trees, especially fruit trees.

Michaela Strachan presents the Bullfinch. The males have rose-pink breasts and black caps and are eye-catching whilst the females are a duller pinkish-grey but share the black cap. Exactly why they're called Bullfinches isn't clear - perhaps it's to do with their rather thickset appearance. 'Budfinch' would be a more accurate name as they are very fond of the buds of trees, especially fruit trees.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the bullfinch.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the bullfinch.

Michaela Strachan presents the Bullfinch. The males have rose-pink breasts and black caps and are eye-catching whilst the females are a duller pinkish-grey but share the black cap. Exactly why they're called Bullfinches isn't clear - perhaps it's to do with their rather thickset appearance. 'Budfinch' would be a more accurate name as they are very fond of the buds of trees, especially fruit trees.

Michaela Strachan presents the Bullfinch. The males have rose-pink breasts and black caps and are eye-catching whilst the females are a duller pinkish-grey but share the black cap. Exactly why they're called Bullfinches isn't clear - perhaps it's to do with their rather thickset appearance. 'Budfinch' would be a more accurate name as they are very fond of the buds of trees, especially fruit trees."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bullfinch20170419Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the bullfinch.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the Bullfinch. The males have rose-pink breasts and black caps and are eye-catching whilst the females are a duller pinkish-grey but share the black cap. Exactly why they're called Bullfinches isn't clear - perhaps it's to do with their rather thickset appearance. 'Budfinch' would be a more accurate name as they are very fond of the buds of trees, especially fruit trees.

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the bullfinch.

Michaela Strachan presents the Bullfinch. The males have rose-pink breasts and black caps and are eye-catching whilst the females are a duller pinkish-grey but share the black cap. Exactly why they're called Bullfinches isn't clear - perhaps it's to do with their rather thickset appearance. 'Budfinch' would be a more accurate name as they are very fond of the buds of trees, especially fruit trees. "

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the bullfinch."

Cailean Maclean On The Bonxie2017072520200730 (R4)Photographer Cailean Maclean on the great skua, or bonxie for Tweet of the Day.

Photographer and Gaelic broadcaster Cailean Maclean recalls an encounter with a great skua, or bonxie on St Kilda for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Photographer Cailean Maclean on the great skua, or bonxie for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Canada Goose2014021720140223
20150330 (R4)
20160615 (R4)
20201016 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

John Aitchison tells the story of the Canada goose. These large black-necked geese with white cheeks and chinstraps are native to Canada and the USA. The first reference to them in the UK is in 1665 when English diarist, John Evelyn, records that they were in the waterfowl collection of King Charles II at St. James' Park in London.

John Aitchison presents the Canada goose.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"

John Aitchison tells the story of the Canada goose. These large black-necked geese with white cheeks and chinstraps are native to Canada and the USA. The first reference to them in the UK is in 1665 when English diarist, John Evelyn, records that they were in the waterfowl collection of King Charles II at St. James' Park in London.

John Aitchison tells the story of the Canada goose. These large black-necked geese with white cheeks and chinstraps are native to Canada and the USA. The first reference to them in the UK is in 1665 when English diarist, John Evelyn, records that they were in the waterfowl collection of King Charles II at St. James' Park in London.

John Aitchison presents the Canada goose.

John Aitchison presents the Canada goose.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

John Aitchison tells the story of the Canada goose. These large black-necked geese with white cheeks and chinstraps are native to Canada and the USA. The first reference to them in the UK is in 1665 when English diarist, John Evelyn, records that they were in the waterfowl collection of King Charles II at St. James' Park in London.

Capercaillie2014042320150422 (R4)
20150426 (R4)
20160711 (R4)
20160717 (R4)
20181210 (R4)
20200114 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the capercaillie. The bizarre knife-grinding, cork-popping display of the male capercaillie is one of the strangest sounds produced by any bird. The name 'Capercaillie' is derived from the Gaelic for 'horse of the woods', owing to the cantering sound, which is the start of their extraordinary mating display. These are the largest grouse in the world and in the UK they live only in ancient Caledonian pine forests.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the capercaillie. The bizarre knife-grinding, cork-popping display of the male capercaillie is one of the strangest sounds produced by any bird. The name 'Capercaillie' is derived from the Gaelic for 'horse of the woods', owing to the cantering sound, which is the start of their extraordinary mating display. These are the largest grouse in the world and in the UK they live only in ancient Caledonian pine forests.

Kate Humble presents the capercaillie. The bizarre knife-grinding, cork-popping display of the male capercaillie is one of the strangest sounds produced by any bird. The name 'Capercaillie' is derived from the Gaelic for 'horse of the woods', owing to the cantering sound, which is the start of their extraordinary mating display. These are the largest grouse in the world and in the UK they live only in ancient Caledonian pine forests.

Kate Humble presents the capercaillie. The bizarre knife-grinding, cork-popping display of the male capercaillie is one of the strangest sounds produced by any bird. The name 'Capercaillie' is derived from the Gaelic for 'horse of the woods', owing to the cantering sound, which is the start of their extraordinary mating display. These are the largest grouse in the world and in the UK they live only in ancient Caledonian pine forests.

Kate Humble presents the capercaillie.

Kate Humble presents the capercaillie.

Kate Humble presents the capercaillie.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Kate Humble presents the capercaillie. The bizarre knife-grinding, cork-popping display of the male capercaillie is one of the strangest sounds produced by any bird. The name 'Capercaillie' is derived from the Gaelic for 'horse of the woods', owing to the cantering sound, which is the start of their extraordinary mating display. These are the largest grouse in the world and in the UK they live only in ancient Caledonian pine forests.

Carrion Crow2013101720150618 (R4)
20160223 (R4)
20170110 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the carrion crow.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the carrion crow.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the carrion crow.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Carrion Crow. The crow is defined in Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language as "a large black bird that feeds upon the carcasses of beasts." Crows have always suggested an element of foreboding. They are arch-scavengers and black mobs of them crowd our rubbish tips but they're also birds we admire for their intelligence and adaptability.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Carrion Crow. The crow is defined in Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language as "a large black bird that feeds upon the carcasses of beasts." Crows have always suggested an element of foreboding. They are arch-scavengers and black mobs of them crowd our rubbish tips but they're also birds we admire for their intelligence and adaptability.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Carrion Crow. The crow is defined in Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language as "a large black bird that feeds upon the carcasses of beasts." Crows have always suggested an element of foreboding. They are arch-scavengers and black mobs of them crowd our rubbish tips but they're also birds we admire for their intelligence and adaptability.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the carrion crow.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Carrion Crow. The crow is defined in Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language as ""a large black bird that feeds upon the carcasses of beasts."" Crows have always suggested an element of foreboding. They are arch-scavengers and black mobs of them crowd our rubbish tips but they're also birds we admire for their intelligence and adaptability.

"

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Carrion Crow. The crow is defined in Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language as ""a large black bird that feeds upon the carcasses of beasts."" Crows have always suggested an element of foreboding. They are arch-scavengers and black mobs of them crowd our rubbish tips but they're also birds we admire for their intelligence and adaptability."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Carry Akroyd And The Snipe2018112520190916 (R4)
20201110 (R4)
"

Although Carry Akroyd, who is is President of the John Clare Society, grew up in the countryside, as a child she was never shown or taught anything of the natural world around her.

It was not until adulthood that a revelatory moment occurred. Walking one day in Wicken Fen, that she heard an unfamiliar noise above her, which she discovered was the drumming flight of an overhead snipe, a bird whose long bill the peasant poet John Clare described as "...of rude unseemly length".

Carry has chosen 5 episodes from the back catalogue to share with you, which you can hear Monday to Friday and in the Tweet of the Week Omnibus.

Producer Andrew Dawes

Although Carry Akroyd grew up in the country, only in adulthood did she hear a snipe.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Producer Andrew Dawes

Carry Akroyd Black And White Birds2018111820190915 (R4)
20201109 (R4)
"

Calling herself a bird noticer rather than a bird watcher, for painter and print maker Carry Akroyd birds are part of the landscape she connects to for her work. Carry illustrated the Tweet of the Day British Birds book in 2013, where she began noticing birds of a single bold colour; black, white, or even black and white.

Carry has chosen 5 episodes from the back catalogue which you can hear Monday to Friday and in the Tweet of the Week Omnibus.

Producer Andrew Dawes

For Carry Akroyd, illustrator of the Tweet of the Day book, birds are part of a landscape.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Producer Andrew Dawes

Cattle Egret2013102520150814 (R4)
20201002 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the cattle egret.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Cattle Egret. Cattle egrets were originally birds of the African savannahs but they have become one of the most successful global colonisers of any bird species. In 2008 a pair of cattle egrets made ornithological history by breeding in the UK, on the Somerset Levels, for the first time.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Cattle Egret. Cattle egrets were originally birds of the African savannahs but they have become one of the most successful global colonisers of any bird species. In 2008 a pair of cattle egrets made ornithological history by breeding in the UK, on the Somerset Levels, for the first time.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the cattle egret.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the cattle egret.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Cattle Egret. Cattle egrets were originally birds of the African savannahs but they have become one of the most successful global colonisers of any bird species. In 2008 a pair of cattle egrets made ornithological history by breeding in the UK, on the Somerset Levels, for the first time.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Central Asian Bar-headed Goose2014090420150902 (R4)Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Central Asian bar-headed goose. The bar-headed goose is a high-flier of the bird world. Bar-headed geese are migrants which undertake one of the most arduous journeys of any bird. They breed mainly in the remote lakes of the Tibetan Plateau, but overwinter on the plains of northern India. But to get there, they have to cross the World's highest mountain range, the Himalayas, a height of over 20,000 feet.

David Attenborough presents the bar-headed goose of Central Asia.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Central Asian bar-headed goose. The bar-headed goose is a high-flier of the bird world. Bar-headed geese are migrants which undertake one of the most arduous journeys of any bird. They breed mainly in the remote lakes of the Tibetan Plateau, but overwinter on the plains of northern India. But to get there, they have to cross the World's highest mountain range, the Himalayas, a height of over 20,000 feet.

David Attenborough presents the bar-headed goose of Central Asia.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Cetti's Warbler2014031320150326 (R4)
20161128 (R4)
20161204 (R4)
20180403 (R4)
20200903 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the Cetti's warbler. Until the 1960s, Cetti's warblers were unknown in the UK but on the Continent they were common in marshy areas, especially dense scrub and the edge of reed-beds and ditches. They first bred in these habitats in south-east England in the early 1970s and by the end of the century their loud and sudden song-bursts were startling people from southern England and South Wales and northwards as far as Yorkshire.

Bill Oddie presents the Cetti's warbler. Until the 1960s, Cetti's warblers were unknown in the UK but on the Continent they were common in marshy areas, especially dense scrub and the edge of reed-beds and ditches. They first bred in these habitats in south-east England in the early 1970s and by the end of the century their loud and sudden song-bursts were startling people from southern England and South Wales and northwards as far as Yorkshire.

Bill Oddie presents the Cetti's warbler. Until the 1960s, Cetti's warblers were unknown in the UK but on the Continent they were common in marshy areas, especially dense scrub and the edge of reed-beds and ditches. They first bred in these habitats in south-east England in the early 1970s and by the end of the century their loud and sudden song-bursts were startling people from southern England and South Wales and northwards as far as Yorkshire.

Bill Oddie presents the Cetti's warbler. Until the 1960s, Cetti's warblers were unknown in the UK but on the Continent they were common in marshy areas, especially dense scrub and the edge of reed-beds and ditches. They first bred in these habitats in south-east England in the early 1970s and by the end of the century their loud and sudden song-bursts were startling people from southern England and South Wales and northwards as far as Yorkshire.

Bill Oddie presents the Cetti's warbler.

Bill Oddie presents the Cetti's warbler.

Bill Oddie presents the Cetti's warbler.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bill Oddie presents the Cetti's warbler. Until the 1960s, Cetti's warblers were unknown in the UK but on the Continent they were common in marshy areas, especially dense scrub and the edge of reed-beds and ditches. They first bred in these habitats in south-east England in the early 1970s and by the end of the century their loud and sudden song-bursts were startling people from southern England and South Wales and northwards as far as Yorkshire.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Bill Oddie presents the Cetti's warbler.

Bill Oddie presents the Cetti's warbler. Until the 1960s, Cetti's warblers were unknown in the UK but on the Continent they were common in marshy areas, especially dense scrub and the edge of reed-beds and ditches. They first bred in these habitats in south-east England in the early 1970s and by the end of the century their loud and sudden song-bursts were startling people from southern England and South Wales and northwards as far as Yorkshire.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chaffinch2014021020140216
20150302 (R4)
20181128 (R4)
20201011 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

John Aitchison presents the chaffinch. The name chaffinch refers to its habit of flocking in stubble fields, often in the company of other birds, to sort through the chaff for seeds. In less tidy times when spilled grain was a regular feature in farmyards and stubble was retained for longer periods, these winter flocks were widespread.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

John Aitchison presents the chaffinch. The name chaffinch refers to its habit of flocking in stubble fields, often in the company of other birds, to sort through the chaff for seeds. In less tidy times when spilled grain was a regular feature in farmyards and stubble was retained for longer periods, these winter flocks were widespread.

John Aitchison presents the chaffinch.

John Aitchison presents the chaffinch. The name chaffinch refers to its habit of flocking in stubble fields, often in the company of other birds, to sort through the chaff for seeds. In less tidy times when spilled grain was a regular feature in farmyards and stubble was retained for longer periods, these winter flocks were widespread.

Chiffchaff2014030520150311 (R4)
20150315 (R4)
20160309 (R4)
20170308 (R4)
20180521 (R4)
20200302 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the chiffchaff. Chiffchaff are small olive warblers which sing their name as they flit around hunting for insects in woods, marshes and scrubby places. Chiffchaffs are increasing in the UK and the secret of their success is their ability to weather our winters. Many stay in the milder south and south-west of England where the insects are more active.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bill Oddie presents the chiffchaff. Chiffchaff are small olive warblers which sing their name as they flit around hunting for insects in woods, marshes and scrubby places. Chiffchaffs are increasing in the UK and the secret of their success is their ability to weather our winters. Many stay in the milder south and south-west of England where the insects are more active.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Bill Oddie presents the chiffchaff.

"

Bill Oddie presents the chiffchaff. Chiffchaff are small olive warblers which sing their name as they flit around hunting for insects in woods, marshes and scrubby places. Chiffchaffs are increasing in the UK and the secret of their success is their ability to weather our winters. Many stay in the milder south and south-west of England where the insects are more active.

Bill Oddie presents the chiffchaff. Chiffchaff are small olive warblers which sing their name as they flit around hunting for insects in woods, marshes and scrubby places. Chiffchaffs are increasing in the UK and the secret of their success is their ability to weather our winters. Many stay in the milder south and south-west of England where the insects are more active.

Bill Oddie presents the chiffchaff. Chiffchaff are small olive warblers which sing their name as they flit around hunting for insects in woods, marshes and scrubby places. Chiffchaffs are increasing in the UK and the secret of their success is their ability to weather our winters. Many stay in the milder south and south-west of England where the insects are more active.

Bill Oddie presents the chiffchaff. Chiffchaff are small olive warblers which sing their name as they flit around hunting for insects in woods, marshes and scrubby places. Chiffchaffs are increasing in the UK and the secret of their success is their ability to weather our winters. Many stay in the milder south and south-west of England where the insects are more active.

Bill Oddie presents the chiffchaff.

Bill Oddie presents the chiffchaff.

Bill Oddie presents the chiffchaff.

Chough2014021920150401 (R4)
20150405 (R4)
20161107 (R4)
20161113 (R4)
20170126 (R4)
20181119 (R4)
20201014 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

John Aitchison tells the story of the chough. Our healthiest chough populations are in Ireland, southwest and north Wales and western Scotland. The last English stronghold was in Cornwall and Choughs feature on the Cornish coat of arms. Even here they became extinct until wild birds from Ireland re-colonised the county in 2001. Now the birds breed regularly on the Lizard peninsula.

John Aitchison presents the chough.

John Aitchison tells the story of the chough. Our healthiest chough populations are in Ireland, southwest and north Wales and western Scotland. The last English stronghold was in Cornwall and Choughs feature on the Cornish coat of arms. Even here they became extinct until wild birds from Ireland re-colonised the county in 2001. Now the birds breed regularly on the Lizard peninsula.

John Aitchison tells the story of the chough. Our healthiest chough populations are in Ireland, southwest and north Wales and western Scotland. The last English stronghold was in Cornwall and Choughs feature on the Cornish coat of arms. Even here they became extinct until wild birds from Ireland re-colonised the county in 2001. Now the birds breed regularly on the Lizard peninsula.

John Aitchison tells the story of the chough. Our healthiest chough populations are in Ireland, southwest and north Wales and western Scotland. The last English stronghold was in Cornwall and Choughs feature on the Cornish coat of arms. Even here they became extinct until wild birds from Ireland re-colonised the county in 2001. Now the birds breed regularly on the Lizard peninsula.

John Aitchison presents the chough.

John Aitchison presents the chough.

John Aitchison presents the chough.

John Aitchison presents the chough.

John Aitchison presents the chough.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

John Aitchison tells the story of the chough. Our healthiest chough populations are in Ireland, southwest and north Wales and western Scotland. The last English stronghold was in Cornwall and Choughs feature on the Cornish coat of arms. Even here they became extinct until wild birds from Ireland re-colonised the county in 2001. Now the birds breed regularly on the Lizard peninsula.

Chowchilla2015021320151224 (R4)
20200109 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the secretive chowchilla from Queensland, Australia.

Michael Palin presents the secretive chowchilla from Queensland, Australia. The chowchilla gets its name from its song, which is one of the most distinctive sounds of the coastal rainforest of north-east Queensland. You're not likely to see the bird though because it spends its time skulking on the forest floor. Chowchillas belong to the family known as logrunners because they feed and nest on or near ground-level. They're stout thrush-like birds; the males are dark brown with a white chest and throat, whilst the female's throat is rusty-orange.

Chowchillas have been found to sing with different dialects in different areas. Within say, 50 hectares, all the family groups of pairs and non-breeding younger birds may share the same dialect. But in an adjacent area, the families may assemble some of their song components slightly differently. Over time, their song culture could change and a new dialect would be born.

Michael Palin presents the secretive chowchilla from Queensland, Australia. The chowchilla gets its name from its song, which is one of the most distinctive sounds of the coastal rainforest of north-east Queensland. You're not likely to see the bird though because it spends its time skulking on the forest floor. Chowchillas belong to the family known as logrunners because they feed and nest on or near ground-level. They're stout thrush-like birds; the males are dark brown with a white chest and throat, whilst the female's throat is rusty-orange.

"Michael Palin presents the secretive chowchilla from Queensland, Australia. The chowchilla gets its name from its song, which is one of the most distinctive sounds of the coastal rainforest of north-east Queensland. You're not likely to see the bird though because it spends its time skulking on the forest floor. Chowchillas belong to the family known as logrunners because they feed and nest on or near ground-level. They're stout thrush-like birds; the males are dark brown with a white chest and throat, whilst the female's throat is rusty-orange.

"

"Michael Palin presents the secretive chowchilla from Queensland, Australia. The chowchilla gets its name from its song, which is one of the most distinctive sounds of the coastal rainforest of north-east Queensland. You're not likely to see the bird though because it spends its time skulking on the forest floor. Chowchillas belong to the family known as logrunners because they feed and nest on or near ground-level. They're stout thrush-like birds; the males are dark brown with a white chest and throat, whilst the female's throat is rusty-orange.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Palin presents the secretive chowchilla from Queensland, Australia. The chowchilla gets its name from its song, which is one of the most distinctive sounds of the coastal rainforest of north-east Queensland. You're not likely to see the bird though because it spends its time skulking on the forest floor. Chowchillas belong to the family known as logrunners because they feed and nest on or near ground-level. They're stout thrush-like birds; the males are dark brown with a white chest and throat, whilst the female's throat is rusty-orange.

Michael Palin presents the secretive chowchilla from Queensland, Australia. The chowchilla gets its name from its song, which is one of the most distinctive sounds of the coastal rainforest of north-east Queensland. You're not likely to see the bird though because it spends its time skulking on the forest floor. Chowchillas belong to the family known as logrunners because they feed and nest on or near ground-level. They're stout thrush-like birds; the males are dark brown with a white chest and throat, whilst the female's throat is rusty-orange.

Michael Palin presents the secretive chowchilla from Queensland, Australia.

Chris Baines On The Bullfinch2018030520180311 (R4)
20180827 (R4)
Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines defends the bullfinch's feeding habits.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

The striking-looking Bullfinch is the subject of the first of five TWEETS from naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines about the birds he hears and encourages into his 'wildlife-friendly' garden. In the past, Bullfinches were persecuted for their fondness for fruit tree buds but as far as Chris is concerned, this is a small price to pay to have a pair of these beautiful birds visit his garden.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Sharon Marwood.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Sharon Marwood.

Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines defends the bullfinch's feeding habits.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Sharon Marwood.

"Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines defends the bullfinch's feeding habits.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Sharon Marwood."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Baines On The Bullfinch20180311
Chris Baines On The Goldcrest2018030620200322 (R4)Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines is captivated by the tiny Goldcrest.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

In another of his TWEETS about the birds which visit his 'wildlife-friendly' garden, naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines revels in the sight of tiny Goldcrests teasing out insects from between the needles of his much maligned Leyland cypress trees.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Jez Taylor.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Jez Taylor.

"Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines is captivated by the tiny Goldcrest.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Jez Taylor."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Baines On The Great Spotted Woodpecker2018030820190228 (R4)
20210202 (R4)
Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines enjoys great spotted woodpeckers.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

In another of his TWEETS about the birds which are encouraged by his 'wildlife-friendly' garden in inner-city Wolverhampton, naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines is delighted to find Great Spotted Woodpeckers visiting after he noticed that a local neighbour had success with tempting fat bars!
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian Redman.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian Redman.

"Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines enjoys great spotted woodpeckers.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian Redman."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"

Chris Baines On The Nuthatch20180309Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines watches nuthatches in his garden.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

In another of his TWEETS about the birds which are encouraged by his 'wildlife-friendly' garden in inner-city Wolverhampton, naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines describes the regular visits of the stunning-looking Nuthatches which visit his pond for mud to line their nests and his feeders for food.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Alan Brewster.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Alan Brewster.

"Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines watches nuthatches in his garden.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Alan Brewster."

Chris Baines On The Song Thrush2018030720200323 (R4)Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines listens to competing Song Thrushes.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

In another of his TWEETS about the birds which are encouraged by his 'wildlife-friendly' garden, naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines describes the wonderful song battles for territory and mates between Song Thrushes in his and his neighbours' gardens. His garden pond is also raided by these musical songsters for mud and wet leaves to line their nests.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Charles McKeddie.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Charles McKeddie.

"Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines listens to competing Song Thrushes.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Charles McKeddie."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Jones On The Raven2017053120190805 (R4)Chris Jones from Worcestershire talks about his rescue ravens.

Chris Jones from Worcestershire has been fascinated by the corvid family from childhood. For years he has been rescuing sick and injured birds. Here he tells the story of one of his favourite rescue ravens.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Chris Jones from Worcestershire talks about his rescue ravens.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Chris Jones On The Swift20170915Chris Jones rescues and then releases a swift.

Chris Jones was brought a swift which had fallen from its nest, hand reared it and then for this Tweet of the Day, releases it back to the wild...how good is that?

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Karen Gregor
Picture: Mandy West.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Chris Jones rescues and then releases a swift.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Chris Jones rescues and then releases a swift in this Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham's Tweet Of The Day Springwatch20180610Chris Packham, host of BBC Springwatch, selects favourite episodes from Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

It is the final week of the BBC's wildlife series Springwatch; what better time then than for it's host Chris Packham, a long time presenter and supporter of Tweet of the Day, to select five of his personal favourites from the Radio 4 series. Birds which should be calling or singing while Springwatch is on air. In this episode Chris recalls the delight on seeing a sparrowhawk in the garden before introducing the five species he has chosen from his own time presenting on the series, which you can hear Monday to Friday at 05.58 this week.

You can hear more from Chris in the Tweet of the Week omnibus podcast, which can be found on the Radio 4 website, or can be found on the BBC iplayer Radio App by searching search for Tweet of the Week.

Producer Andrew Dawes.

"Chris Packham, host of BBC Springwatch, selects favourite episodes from Tweet of the Day.

Producer Andrew Dawes."

Chris Turner's Festival Tweet20180812"Comedian and freestyle rapper Chris Turner hosts this Edinburgh Festival Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Turner's quotable gags and rapid freestyle raps have established him as one of the most in-demand comedy acts on the circuit. Possibly less well known is his interest in birds. Thus for this Tweet of the Day, coinciding with his month long show at the Edinburgh Festival, Chris gives his own comedic view on those tweety-birds.

Producer: Elliott Prince
Photograph: Abby Tebeau.

"

Chris Turner's Fringe Tweet20180819"British comedian and freestyle rapper Chris Turner hosts this Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Turner's quotable gags and rapid freestyle raps have established him as one of the most in-demand comedy acts on the circuit. Possibly less well known is his interest in birds. Thus for this Tweet of the Day, coinciding with his month long show at the Edinburgh Festival, Chris gives his own comedic view on those tweety-birds.

Producer: Elliott Prince
Photograph: Abby Tebeau.

"

Christmas Shearwater2014122520151231 (R4)
20181225 (R4)
20201225 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

On Christmas Day, Sir David Attenborough presents the Christmas shearwater. 2000km south of Hawaii the highly marine Christmas shearwater is at home over the Central Pacific seas, tirelessly riding the air-currents, skimming wave-crests and hugging the contours of the sea looking for food. They rarely come to land as adults, but when they do, it is to return to their place of birth on remote oceanic islands to breed. Here they form loose colonies, laying a single white egg which is incubated for around 50 days. Inhabiting these far flung inaccessible islands means little is known about their biology, but that remoteness gives them protection from land based predators.

On Christmas Day, Sir David Attenborough presents the Christmas shearwater. 2000km south of Hawaii the highly marine Christmas shearwater is at home over the Central Pacific seas, tirelessly riding the air-currents, skimming wave-crests and hugging the contours of the sea looking for food. They rarely come to land as adults, but when they do, it is to return to their place of birth on remote oceanic islands to breed. Here they form loose colonies, laying a single white egg which is incubated for around 50 days. Inhabiting these far flung inaccessible islands means little is known about their biology, but that remoteness gives them protection from land based predators.

On Christmas Day, Sir David Attenborough presents the Christmas shearwater.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

On Christmas Day, Sir David Attenborough presents the Christmas shearwater. 2000km south of Hawaii the highly marine Christmas shearwater is at home over the Central Pacific seas, tirelessly riding the air-currents, skimming wave-crests and hugging the contours of the sea looking for food. They rarely come to land as adults, but when they do, it is to return to their place of birth on remote oceanic islands to breed. Here they form loose colonies, laying a single white egg which is incubated for around 50 days. Inhabiting these far flung inaccessible islands means little is known about their biology, but that remoteness gives them protection from land based predators.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

On Christmas Day, Sir David Attenborough presents the Christmas shearwater. 2000km south of Hawaii the highly marine Christmas shearwater is at home over the Central Pacific seas, tirelessly riding the air-currents, skimming wave-crests and hugging the contours of the sea looking for food. They rarely come to land as adults, but when they do, it is to return to their place of birth on remote oceanic islands to breed. Here they form loose colonies, laying a single white egg which is incubated for around 50 days. Inhabiting these far flung inaccessible islands means little is known about their biology, but that remoteness gives them protection from land based predators.

On Christmas Day, Sir David Attenborough presents the Christmas shearwater. 2000km south of Hawaii the highly marine Christmas shearwater is at home over the Central Pacific seas, tirelessly riding the air-currents, skimming wave-crests and hugging the contours of the sea looking for food. They rarely come to land as adults, but when they do, it is to return to their place of birth on remote oceanic islands to breed. Here they form loose colonies, laying a single white egg which is incubated for around 50 days. Inhabiting these far flung inaccessible islands means little is known about their biology, but that remoteness gives them protection from land based predators.

Cirl Bunting2013071720140730
20160815 (R4)
20160821 (R4)
20191115 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the cirl bunting.

Cirl buntings are related to yellowhammers and look rather like them, but the male cirl bunting has a black throat and a greenish chest-band.

Their rattling song may evoke memories of warm dry hillsides in France or Italy. Cirl buntings are Mediterranean birds more at home in olive groves than chilly English hedgerows. Here at the north-western edge of their range, most of our cirl buntings live near the coast in south Devon where they breed in hedgerows on farmland.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the cirl bunting.

Their rattling song may evoke memories of warm dry hillsides in France or Italy. Cirl buntings are Mediterranean bird s more at home in olive groves than chilly English hedgerows. Here at the north-western edge of their range, most of our cirl buntings live near the coast in south Devon where they breed in hedgerows on farmland.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the cirl bunting.

"

Their rattling song may evoke memories of warm dry hillsides in France or Italy. Cirl buntings are Mediterranean birds more at home in olive groves than chilly English hedgerows. Here at the north-western edge of their range, most of our cirl buntings live near the coast in south Devon where they breed in hedgerows on farmland.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the cirl bunting.

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the cirl bunting.

Their rattling song may evoke memories of warm dry hillsides in France or Italy. Cirl buntings are Mediterranean bird s more at home in olive groves than chilly English hedgerows. Here at the north-western edge of their range, most of our cirl buntings live near the coast in south Devon where they breed in hedgerows on farmland."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Their rattling song may evoke memories of warm dry hillsides in France or Italy. Cirl buntings are Mediterranean bird s more at home in olive groves than chilly English hedgerows. Here at the north-western edge of their range, most of our cirl buntings live near the coast in south Devon where they breed in hedgerows on farmland.

Cirl Bunting2013071720140803
20160815 (R4)
20160821 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the cirl bunting.

Cirl buntings are related to yellowhammers and look rather like them, but the male cirl bunting has a black throat and a greenish chest-band.

Their rattling song may evoke memories of warm dry hillsides in France or Italy. Cirl buntings are Mediterranean birds more at home in olive groves than chilly English hedgerows. Here at the north-western edge of their range, most of our cirl buntings live near the coast in south Devon where they breed in hedgerows on farmland.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the cirl bunting.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the cirl bunting.

"

Clare Jones On The Little Egret2017082120170827 (R4)
20190621 (R4)
Clare Jones on the inspirational little egret for Tweet of the Day.

Clare Jones recalls the inspiration of seeing a little egret and how a small event can change an entire outlook on life in this Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"Clare Jones on the inspirational little egret for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Coal Tit2013071120140717
20160405 (R4)
20170201 (R4)
20191113 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the coal tit.

Coal tits often visit our bird-tables but don't hang around. They dart off with food to hide it in crevices and crannies. What the bird is doing is hiding or cache-ing food to be eaten later. Coal tits are smaller than their relatives and have lower fat reserves, so they store food to compensate for any future shortages. In the winter they store seeds and in summer they will hide small insects.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the coal tit.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the coal tit.

"

Coal tits often visit our bird-tables but don't hang around. They dart off with food to hide it in crevices and crannies. What the bird is doing is hiding or cache-ing food to be eaten later. Coal tits are smaller than their relatives and have lower fat reserves, so they store food to compensate for any future shortages. In the winter they store seeds and in summer they will hide small insects.

Coal tits often visit our bird-tables but don't hang around. They dart off with food to hide it in crevices and crannies. What the bird is doing is hiding or cache-ing food to be eaten later. Coal tits are smaller than their relatives and have lower fat reserves, so they store food to compensate for any future shortages. In the winter they store seeds and in summer they will hide small insects.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the coal tit.

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the coal tit.

Coal tits often visit our bird-tables but don't hang around. They dart off with food to hide it in crevices and crannies. What the bird is doing is hiding or cache-ing food to be eaten later. Coal tits are smaller than their relatives and have lower fat reserves, so they store food to compensate for any future shortages. In the winter they store seeds and in summer they will hide small insects."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Coal tits often visit our bird-tables but don't hang around. They dart off with food to hide it in crevices and crannies. What the bird is doing is hiding or cache-ing food to be eaten later. Coal tits are smaller than their relatives and have lower fat reserves, so they store food to compensate for any future shortages. In the winter they store seeds and in summer they will hide small insects.

Collared Dove2014011020160303 (R4)
20170112 (R4)
20191022 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Collared Dove. Although these attractive sandy doves grace our bird-tables or greet us at dawn almost wherever we live in the UK, their story is one of the most extraordinary of any British bird.

David Attenborough presents the collared dove.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Collared Dove. Although these attractive sandy doves grace our bird-tables or greet us at dawn almost wherever we live in the UK, their story is one of the most extraordinary of any British bird.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Collared Dove. Although these attractive sandy doves grace our bird-tables or greet us at dawn almost wherever we live in the UK, their story is one of the most extraordinary of any British bird.

David Attenborough presents the collared dove.

David Attenborough presents the collared dove.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Attenborough presents the story of the Collared Dove. Although these attractive sandy doves grace our bird-tables or greet us at dawn almost wherever we live in the UK, their story is one of the most extraordinary of any British bird.

Common Buzzard2013070520140627
20170502 (R4)
20180809 (R4)
20200722 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Steve Backshall presents the common buzzard. Common buzzards are stocky birds of prey which often soar on upturned wings. In Scotland they're sometimes called the tourists' eagle because of many golden eagles claimed by hopeful visitors. Common buzzards are increasing their range and numbers and range in the UK and their soaring flight over their territories is now a regular sight nearly everywhere.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the common buzzard.

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the common buzzard.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Steve Backshall presents the common buzzard. Common buzzards are stocky birds of prey which often soar on upturned wings. In Scotland they're sometimes called the tourists' eagle because of many golden eagles claimed by hopeful visitors. Common buzzards are increasing their range and numbers and range in the UK and their soaring flight over their territories is now a regular sight nearly everywhere.

"

Steve Backshall presents the common buzzard. Common buzzards are stocky birds of prey which often soar on upturned wings. In Scotland they're sometimes called the tourists' eagle because of many golden eagles claimed by hopeful visitors. Common buzzards are increasing their range and numbers and range in the UK and their soaring flight over their territories is now a regular sight nearly everywhere.

Common Buzzard20170502Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the common buzzard.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Steve Backshall presents the common buzzard. Common buzzards are stocky birds of prey which often soar on upturned wings. In Scotland they're sometimes called the tourists' eagle because of many golden eagles claimed by hopeful visitors. Common buzzards are increasing their range and numbers and range in the UK and their soaring flight over their territories is now a regular sight nearly everywhere.

Common Crane2013111420150806 (R4)
20161006 (R4)
20181001 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Common Crane. Common Cranes were extinct in the UK in the 17th century. Now, they are being re-introduced to the Somerset Levels and Moors. The aim is to release a hundred birds into the wild over five years and establish a strong population.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the common crane.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Common Crane. Common Cranes were extinct in the UK in the 17th century. Now, they are being re-introduced to the Somerset Levels and Moors. The aim is to release a hundred birds into the wild over five years and establish a strong population.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Common Crane. Common Cranes were extinct in the UK in the 17th century. Now, they are being re-introduced to the Somerset Levels and Moors. The aim is to release a hundred birds into the wild over five years and establish a strong population.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the common crane.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the common crane.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Common Crane. Common Cranes were extinct in the UK in the 17th century. Now, they are being re-introduced to the Somerset Levels and Moors. The aim is to release a hundred birds into the wild over five years and establish a strong population.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Martin Hughes-Games presents the common crane.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Common Crane. Common Cranes were extinct in the UK in the 17th century. Now, they are being re-introduced to the Somerset Levels and Moors. The aim is to release a hundred birds into the wild over five years and establish a strong population.

"

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Common Crane. Common Cranes were extinct in the UK in the 17th century. Now, they are being re-introduced to the Somerset Levels and Moors. The aim is to release a hundred birds into the wild over five years and establish a strong population.

Common Gull2013082620130901
20161102 (R4)
20170223 (R4)
20190313 (R4)
20200709 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the common gull. In spite of their name Common Gulls aren't as common or widespread as some of our other gulls. Most of the breeding colonies in the UK are in Scotland. In North America their alternative name is Mew gull because of their mewing cat-like cries.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common gull.

Michaela Strachan presents the common gull. In spite of their name Common Gulls aren't as common or widespread as some of our other gulls. Most of the breeding colonies in the UK are in Scotland. In North America their alternative name is Mew gull because of their mewing cat-like cries.

Michaela Strachan presents the common gull. In spite of their name Common Gulls aren't as common or widespread as some of our other gulls. Most of the breeding colonies in the UK are in Scotland. In North America their alternative name is Mew gull because of their mewing cat-like cries.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common gull.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common gull.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the common gull. In spite of their name Common Gulls aren't as common or widespread as some of our other gulls. Most of the breeding colonies in the UK are in Scotland. In North America their alternative name is Mew gull because of their mewing cat-like cries.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Common Gull2013082620140818
20161102 (R4)
20170223 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the common gull. In spite of their name Common Gulls aren't as common or widespread as some of our other gulls. Most of the breeding colonies in the UK are in Scotland. In North America their alternative name is Mew gull because of their mewing cat-like cries.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common gull.

Common Hawk Cuckoo2014101420151005 (R4)
20151011 (R4)
20190728 (R4)
20210301 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the common hawk cuckoo from the Bengal region. The repetitive call of the common hawk-cuckoo, otherwise known as the brain-fever bird, is one of the typical sounds of rural India and on into the foothills of the Himalayas. Its name partly derives from its call sounding like "brain fever" but also what one writer called its repetition being a "damnable iteration". It looks like a bird of prey, and flies like one too, imitating the flapping glide of a sparrowhawk in the region, known as the shikra, often accompanied by mobbing small birds. Unwittingly as they mob her, birds like babblers betray their nest, into which the cuckoo will lay her egg.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the common hawk cuckoo from the Bengal region. The repetitive call of the common hawk-cuckoo, otherwise known as the brain-fever bird, is one of the typical sounds of rural India and on into the foothills of the Himalayas. Its name partly derives from its call sounding like ""brain fever"" but also what one writer called its repetition being a ""damnable iteration"". It looks like a bird of prey, and flies like one too, imitating the flapping glide of a sparrowhawk in the region, known as the shikra, often accompanied by mobbing small birds. Unwittingly as they mob her, birds like babblers betray their nest, into which the cuckoo will lay her egg.

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the common hawk cuckoo from the Bengal region. The repetitive call of the common hawk-cuckoo, otherwise known as the brain-fever bird, is one of the typical sounds of rural India and on into the foothills of the Himalayas. Its name partly derives from its call sounding like "brain fever" but also what one writer called its repetition being a "damnable iteration". It looks like a bird of prey, and flies like one too, imitating the flapping glide of a sparrowhawk in the region, known as the shikra, often accompanied by mobbing small birds. Unwittingly as they mob her, birds like babblers betray their nest, into which the cuckoo will lay her egg.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Common Indian Cuckoo2014111220141116 (R4)
20151110 (R4)
20190325 (R4)
20201227 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the Indian cuckoo found across much of South East Asia. A bird singing "crossword puzzle" - "crossword puzzle" over the woods is an Indian Cuckoo, a shy and slender bird, grey above and barred black and white below. These features are similar to those of a small hawk and when a cuckoo flies across a woodland glade, it's often mobbed by other birds. They're right to sense danger. Indian cuckoos are brood parasites and the females lay their eggs in the nests of other species including drongos, magpies and shrikes. The Indian cuckoo's song is well-known in the Indian sub-Continent and has been interpreted in different ways. As well as "crossword puzzle " some think it's saying "one more bottle" or "orange pekoe". And in the Kangra valley in northern India, the call is said to be the soul of a dead shepherd asking "... where is my sheep? Where is my sheep?".

Chris Packham presents the Indian cuckoo found across much of South East Asia. A bird singing "crossword puzzle" - "crossword puzzle" over the woods is an Indian Cuckoo, a shy and slender bird, grey above and barred black and white below. These features are similar to those of a small hawk and when a cuckoo flies across a woodland glade, it's often mobbed by other birds. They're right to sense danger. Indian cuckoos are brood parasites and the females lay their eggs in the nests of other species including drongos, magpies and shrikes. The Indian cuckoo's song is well-known in the Indian sub-Continent and has been interpreted in different ways. As well as "crossword puzzle " some think it's saying "one more bottle" or "orange pekoe". And in the Kangra valley in northern India, the call is said to be the soul of a dead shepherd asking "... where is my sheep? Where is my sheep?".

Chris Packham presents the Indian cuckoo, found across much of South East Asia.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the Indian cuckoo found across much of South East Asia. A bird singing ""crossword puzzle"" - ""crossword puzzle"" over the woods is an Indian Cuckoo, a shy and slender bird, grey above and barred black and white below. These features are similar to those of a small hawk and when a cuckoo flies across a woodland glade, it's often mobbed by other birds. They're right to sense danger. Indian cuckoos are brood parasites and the females lay their eggs in the nests of other species including drongos, magpies and shrikes. The Indian cuckoo's song is well-known in the Indian sub-Continent and has been interpreted in different ways. As well as ""crossword puzzle "" some think it's saying ""one more bottle"" or ""orange pekoe"". And in the Kangra valley in northern India, the call is said to be the soul of a dead shepherd asking ""... where is my sheep? Where is my sheep?"".

"

"

Chris Packham presents the Indian cuckoo, found across much of South East Asia."

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the Indian cuckoo found across much of South East Asia. A bird singing "crossword puzzle" - "crossword puzzle" over the woods is an Indian Cuckoo, a shy and slender bird, grey above and barred black and white below. These features are similar to those of a small hawk and when a cuckoo flies across a woodland glade, it's often mobbed by other birds. They're right to sense danger. Indian cuckoos are brood parasites and the females lay their eggs in the nests of other species including drongos, magpies and shrikes. The Indian cuckoo's song is well-known in the Indian sub-Continent and has been interpreted in different ways. As well as "crossword puzzle " some think it's saying "one more bottle" or "orange pekoe". And in the Kangra valley in northern India, the call is said to be the soul of a dead shepherd asking "... where is my sheep? Where is my sheep?".

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Common Pheasant2013100920150527 (R4)
20150531 (R4)
20160317 (R4)
20160808 (R4)
20160814 (R4)
20180409 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the common pheasant.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Common Pheasant. The crowing of pheasants is a sound inseparable from most of the UK countryside yet these flamboyant birds were introduced into the UK. The pheasant's coppery plumage and red face-wattles, coupled with a tail that's as long again as its body, make the cock pheasant a strikingly beautiful bird.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the common pheasant.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the common pheasant.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the common pheasant.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the common pheasant.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Common Pheasant. The crowing of pheasants is a sound inseparable from most of the UK countryside yet these flamboyant birds were introduced into the UK. The pheasant's coppery plumage and red face-wattles, coupled with a tail that's as long again as its body, make the cock pheasant a strikingly beautiful bird.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the common pheasant.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Common Pheasant. The crowing of pheasants is a sound inseparable from most of the UK countryside yet these flamboyant birds were introduced into the UK. The pheasant's coppery plumage and red face-wattles, coupled with a tail that's as long again as its body, make the cock pheasant a strikingly beautiful bird.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Common Pheasant. The crowing of pheasants is a sound inseparable from most of the UK countryside yet these flamboyant birds were introduced into the UK. The pheasant's coppery plumage and red face-wattles, coupled with a tail that's as long again as its body, make the cock pheasant a strikingly beautiful bird.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Common Pheasant. The crowing of pheasants is a sound inseparable from most of the UK countryside yet these flamboyant birds were introduced into the UK. The pheasant's coppery plumage and red face-wattles, coupled with a tail that's as long again as its body, make the cock pheasant a strikingly beautiful bird.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Common Pheasant. The crowing of pheasants is a sound inseparable from most of the UK countryside yet these flamboyant birds were introduced into the UK. The pheasant's coppery plumage and red face-wattles, coupled with a tail that's as long again as its body, make the cock pheasant a strikingly beautiful bird.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Common Pheasant. The crowing of pheasants is a sound inseparable from most of the UK countryside yet these flamboyant birds were introduced into the UK. The pheasant's coppery plumage and red face-wattles, coupled with a tail that's as long again as its body, make the cock pheasant a strikingly beautiful bird.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the common pheasant.

"

"

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the common pheasant.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Common Pheasant. The crowing of pheasants is a sound inseparable from most of the UK countryside yet these flamboyant birds were introduced into the UK. The pheasant's coppery plumage and red face-wattles, coupled with a tail that's as long again as its body, make the cock pheasant a strikingly beautiful bird."

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Common Pheasant. The crowing of pheasants is a sound inseparable from most of the UK countryside yet these flamboyant birds were introduced into the UK. The pheasant's coppery plumage and red face-wattles, coupled with a tail that's as long again as its body, make the cock pheasant a strikingly beautiful bird.

Common Redstart2013081220130818
20130818 (R4)
20160519 (R4)
20180808 (R4)
20190828 (R4)
20200824 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the common redstart. Redstarts are summer visitors from sub-Saharan Africa. The males are very handsome birds, robin-sized, but with a black mask, white forehead and an orange tail. John Buxton gave us a fascinating insight into their lives when, as a prisoner of war in Germany, he made a study of them.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common redstart.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common redstart."

Michaela Strachan presents the common redstart. Redstarts are summer visitors from sub-Saharan Africa. The males are very handsome birds, robin-sized, but with a black mask, white forehead and an orange tail. John Buxton gave us a fascinating insight into their lives when, as a prisoner of war in Germany, he made a study of them.

Michaela Strachan presents the common redstart. Redstarts are summer visitors from sub-Saharan Africa. The males are very handsome birds, robin-sized, but with a black mask, white forehead and an orange tail. John Buxton gave us a fascinating insight into their lives when, as a prisoner of war in Germany, he made a study of them.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common redstart.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Common Redstart2013081220140721
20130818 (R4)
20160519 (R4)
20180808 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the common redstart. Redstarts are summer visitors from sub-Saharan Africa. The males are very handsome birds, robin-sized, but with a black mask, white forehead and an orange tail. John Buxton gave us a fascinating insight into their lives when, as a prisoner of war in Germany, he made a study of them.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common redstart.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michaela Strachan presents the common redstart. Redstarts are summer visitors from sub-Saharan Africa. The males are very handsome birds, robin-sized, but with a black mask, white forehead and an orange tail. John Buxton gave us a fascinating insight into their lives when, as a prisoner of war in Germany, he made a study of them.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common redstart.

Michaela Strachan presents the common redstart. Redstarts are summer visitors from sub-Saharan Africa. The males are very handsome birds, robin-sized, but with a black mask, white forehead and an orange tail. John Buxton gave us a fascinating insight into thTop Brass

R2

Tweet Of The Day

Common Redstart

20130812

20140721

Common Sandpiper2013062520150505 (R4)
20160324 (R4)
20170323 (R4)
20180625 (R4)
20200612 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Common Sandpiper. This bird can look slightly pot-bellied as it bobs nervously on the edge of an upland lake or on a midstream boulder. Get too close though and it will be off - flickering low over the surface on bowed wings.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the common sandpiper.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Common Sandpiper. This bird can look slightly pot-bellied as it bobs nervously on the edge of an upland lake or on a midstream boulder. Get too close though and it will be off - flickering low over the surface on bowed wings.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Common Sandpiper. This bird can look slightly pot-bellied as it bobs nervously on the edge of an upland lake or on a midstream boulder. Get too close though and it will be off - flickering low over the surface on bowed wings.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Common Sandpiper. This bird can look slightly pot-bellied as it bobs nervously on the edge of an upland lake or on a midstream boulder. Get too close though and it will be off - flickering low over the surface on bowed wings.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the common sandpiper.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the common sandpiper.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Common Sandpiper. This bird can look slightly pot-bellied as it bobs nervously on the edge of an upland lake or on a midstream boulder. Get too close though and it will be off - flickering low over the surface on bowed wings.

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the common sandpiper.

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Common Sandpiper. This bird can look slightly pot-bellied as it bobs nervously on the edge of an upland lake or on a midstream boulder. Get too close though and it will be off - flickering low over the surface on bowed wings.

Common Tern2013082320140808
20160420 (R4)
20170504 (R4)
20190405 (R4)
20200708 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the common tern. The Common Tern is the most widespread of our breeding terns and is very graceful. It has long slender wings and a deeply forked tail with the outer feathers extended into long streamers. These features give the bird its other name, sea swallow, by which terns are often called.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common tern.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the common tern. The Common Tern is the most widespread of our breeding terns and is very graceful. It has long slender wings and a deeply forked tail with the outer feathers extended into long streamers. These features give the bird its other name, sea swallow, by which terns are often called.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common tern.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common tern."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Common Tern20170504Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common tern.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the common tern. The Common Tern is the most widespread of our breeding terns and is very graceful. It has long slender wings and a deeply forked tail with the outer feathers extended into long streamers. These features give the bird its other name, sea swallow, by which terns are often called.

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common tern.

Michaela Strachan presents the common tern. The Common Tern is the most widespread of our breeding terns and is very graceful. It has long slender wings and a deeply forked tail with the outer feathers extended into long streamers. These features give the bird its other name, sea swallow, by which terns are often called. "

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the common tern."

Common Whitethroat2014041120150320 (R4)
20160418 (R4)
20160424 (R4)
20170403 (R4)
20170409 (R4)
20190415 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the common whitethroat. Whitethroats are warblers which winter in the Sahel region south of the Sahara desert and spend spring and summer in Europe. When they arrive in April the males establish a territory by singing that scratchy song from hedgerow perches or by launching themselves into the air.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the common whitethroat. Whitethroats are warblers which winter in the Sahel region south of the Sahara desert and spend spring and summer in Europe. When they arrive in April the males establish a territory by singing that scratchy song from hedgerow perches or by launching themselves into the air.

Kate Humble presents the common whitethroat. Whitethroats are warblers which winter in the Sahel region south of the Sahara desert and spend spring and summer in Europe. When they arrive in April the males establish a territory by singing that scratchy song from hedgerow perches or by launching themselves into the air.

Kate Humble presents the common whitethroat. Whitethroats are warblers which winter in the Sahel region south of the Sahara desert and spend spring and summer in Europe. When they arrive in April the males establish a territory by singing that scratchy song from hedgerow perches or by launching themselves into the air.

Kate Humble presents the common whitethroat. Whitethroats are warblers which winter in the Sahel region south of the Sahara desert and spend spring and summer in Europe. When they arrive in April the males establish a territory by singing that scratchy song from hedgerow perches or by launching themselves into the air.

Kate Humble presents the common whitethroat.

Kate Humble presents the common whitethroat.

Kate Humble presents the common whitethroat.

Kate Humble presents the common whitethroat.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kate Humble presents the common whitethroat. Whitethroats are warblers which winter in the Sahel region south of the Sahara desert and spend spring and summer in Europe. When they arrive in April the males establish a territory by singing that scratchy song from hedgerow perches or by launching themselves into the air.

Coot2014012220160304 (R4)
20180614 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the story of the Coot. The explosive high-pitched call of the coot is probably a sound most of us associate with our local park lakes. Coot are dumpy, charcoal-coloured birds related to moorhens, though unlike their cousins, they tend to spend more time on open water, often in large flocks in winter.

Chris Packham presents the coot.

Chris Packham presents the story of the Coot. The explosive high-pitched call of the coot is probably a sound most of us associate with our local park lakes. Coot are dumpy, charcoal-coloured birds related to moorhens, though unlike their cousins, they tend to spend more time on open water, often in large flocks in winter.

Chris Packham presents the coot.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Chris Packham presents the coot.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the story of the Coot. The explosive high-pitched call of the coot is probably a sound most of us associate with our local park lakes. Coot are dumpy, charcoal-coloured birds related to moorhens, though unlike their cousins, they tend to spend more time on open water, often in large flocks in winter.

"

Chris Packham presents the story of the Coot. The explosive high-pitched call of the coot is probably a sound most of us associate with our local park lakes. Coot are dumpy, charcoal-coloured birds related to moorhens, though unlike their cousins, they tend to spend more time on open water, often in large flocks in winter.

Cormorant2013062020140619
20160913 (R4)
20180725 (R4)
20191017 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Cormorant. Although cormorants are common on rocky and estuarine shores, increasingly they are breeding inland in tree colonies - where branches whitened by their droppings are a giveaway in summer.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the cormorant.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the cormorant.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the cormorant.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Cormorant. Although cormorants are common on rocky and estuarine shores, increasingly they are breeding inland in tree colonies - where branches whitened by their droppings are a giveaway in summer.

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Cormorant. Although cormorants are common on rocky and estuarine shores, increasingly they are breeding inland in tree colonies - where branches whitened by their droppings are a giveaway in summer.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Cormorant. Although cormorants are common on rocky and estuarine shores, increasingly they are breeding inland in tree colonies - where branches whitened by their droppings are a giveaway in summer."

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Cormorant. Although cormorants are common on rocky and estuarine shores, increasingly they are breeding inland in tree colonies - where branches whitened by their droppings are a giveaway in summer.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the cormorant.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the cormorant.

Corn Bunting2013070120130707
20160329 (R4)
20170328 (R4)
20180501 (R4)
20200719 (R4)
Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the corn bunting.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Steve Backshall begins July with the corn bunting. Corn buntings may be plain-looking birds which sing their scratchy songs from cornfields, but their private lives are a colourful affair and a single male bird may have up to 18 partners.

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the corn bunting.

"

Steve Backshall begins July with the corn bunting. Corn buntings may be plain-looking birds which sing their scratchy songs from cornfields, but their private lives are a colourful affair and a single male bird may have up to 18 partners."

Steve Backshall begins July with the corn bunting. Corn buntings may be plain-looking birds which sing their scratchy songs from cornfields, but their private lives are a colourful affair and a single male bird may have up to 18 partners.

Steve Backshall begins July with the corn bunting. Corn buntings may be plain-looking birds which sing their scratchy songs from cornfields, but their private lives are a colourful affair and a single male bird may have up to 18 partners.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the corn bunting.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the corn bunting.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Steve Backshall begins May with the corn bunting. Corn buntings may be plain-looking birds which sing their scratchy songs from cornfields, but their private lives are a colourful affair and a single male bird may have up to 18 partners.

Steve Backshall begins July with the corn bunting. Corn buntings may be plain-looking birds which sing their scratchy songs from cornfields, but their private lives are a colourful affair and a single male bird may have up to 18 partners.

Steve Backshall begins May with the corn bunting. Corn buntings may be plain-looking birds which sing their scratchy songs from cornfields, but their private lives are a colourful affair and a single male bird may have up to 18 partners.

Corn Bunting2013070120140623
20160329 (R4)
20170328 (R4)
20180501 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Steve Backshall begins July with the corn bunting. Corn buntings may be plain-looking birds which sing their scratchy songs from cornfields, but their private lives are a colourful affair and a single male bird may have up to 18 partners.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the corn bunting.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the corn bunting.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Steve Backshall begins May with the corn bunting. Corn buntings may be plain-looking birds which sing their scratchy songs from cornfields, but their private lives are a colourful affair and a single male bird may have up to 18 partners.

Steve Backshall begins July with the corn bunting. Corn buntings may be plain-looking birds which sing their scratchy songs from cornfields, but their private lives are a colourful affair and a single male bird may have up to 18 partners.

"

Corncrake2013070920140715
20160606 (R4)
20200413 (R4)
Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the corncrake.

Correction to factual error in the broadcast programme:

Subsequent to the broadcast of this programme, we would like to correct a factual error: the poet John Clare summed up this birds' elusive omnipresence in the early 19th Century, not the 18th Century.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the corncrake.

The rasping repeated call of the corncrake was once a familiar sound of hay meadows throughout the UK. However these birds were no match for mechanical mowers which destroyed their nests and they're now mainly found in the north and west where conservation efforts are bringing them back to lush meadows and crofts.

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the corncrake.

"

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the corncrake.

The rasping repeated call of the corncrake was once a familiar sound of hay meadows throughout the UK. However these birds were no match for mechanical mowers which destroyed their nests and they're now mainly found in the north and west where conservation efforts are bringing them back to lush meadows and crofts.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Correction to factual error in the broadcast programme:
Subsequent to the broadcast of this programme, we would like to correct a factual error: the poet John Clare summed up this birds' elusive omnipresence in the early 19th Century, not the 18th Century.

Craig Hartley On The Green Woodpecker2017072620180405 (R4)Craig Hartley revels in a near-miss encounter with a green woodpecker for Tweet of the Day

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Craig Hartley revels in a near miss encounter with a green woodpecker while cycling along a lane for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"Craig Hartley revels in a near-miss encounter with a green woodpecker for Tweet of the Day

Producer Tom Bonnett."

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

Producer Tom Bonnett.

Crested Lark2014101620151007 (R4)
20181108 (R4)
20200610 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the crested lark found from Europe across to China. The west coast of Europe is one edge of the huge range of the crested lark. Much like many larks it is a streaky brown bird but supports, as its name suggests a prominent crest of feathers on its head. Its song is delivered in a display flight over its territory as a pleasant series of liquid notes. Unlike skylarks which are rural birds, crested larks often nest in dry open places on the edge of built-up areas. Its undistinguished appearance and behaviour were cited by Francis of Assisi as signs of humility and he observed that like a humble friar, "it goes willingly along the wayside and finds a grain of corn for itself".

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the crested lark, found from Europe across to China.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the crested lark found from Europe across to China. The west coast of Europe is one edge of the huge range of the crested lark. Much like many larks it is a streaky brown bird but supports, as its name suggests a prominent crest of feathers on its head. Its song is delivered in a display flight over its territory as a pleasant series of liquid notes. Unlike skylarks which are rural birds, crested larks often nest in dry open places on the edge of built-up areas. Its undistinguished appearance and behaviour were cited by Francis of Assisi as signs of humility and he observed that like a humble friar, ""it goes willingly along the wayside and finds a grain of corn for itself"".

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the crested lark found from Europe across to China.

"

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the crested lark found from Europe across to China. The west coast of Europe is one edge of the huge range of the crested lark. Much like many larks it is a streaky brown bird but supports, as its name suggests a prominent crest of feathers on its head. Its song is delivered in a display flight over its territory as a pleasant series of liquid notes. Unlike skylarks which are rural birds, crested larks often nest in dry open places on the edge of built-up areas. Its undistinguished appearance and behaviour were cited by Francis of Assisi as signs of humility and he observed that like a humble friar, "it goes willingly along the wayside and finds a grain of corn for itself".

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the crested lark, found from Europe across to China.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the crested lark found from Europe across to China. The west coast of Europe is one edge of the huge range of the crested lark. Much like many larks it is a streaky brown bird but supports, as its name suggests a prominent crest of feathers on its head. Its song is delivered in a display flight over its territory as a pleasant series of liquid notes. Unlike skylarks which are rural birds, crested larks often nest in dry open places on the edge of built-up areas. Its undistinguished appearance and behaviour were cited by Francis of Assisi as signs of humility and he observed that like a humble friar, ""it goes willingly along the wayside and finds a grain of corn for itself"".

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the crested lark found from Europe across to China. The west coast of Europe is one edge of the huge range of the crested lark. Much like many larks it is a streaky brown bird but supports, as its name suggests a prominent crest of feathers on its head. Its song is delivered in a display flight over its territory as a pleasant series of liquid notes. Unlike skylarks which are rural birds, crested larks often nest in dry open places on the edge of built-up areas. Its undistinguished appearance and behaviour were cited by Francis of Assisi as signs of humility and he observed that like a humble friar, "it goes willingly along the wayside and finds a grain of corn for itself".

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the crested lark found from Europe across to China. The west coast of Europe is one edge of the huge range of the crested lark. Much like many larks it is a streaky brown bird but supports, as its name suggests a prominent crest of feathers on its head. Its song is delivered in a display flight over its territory as a pleasant series of liquid notes. Unlike skylarks which are rural birds, crested larks often nest in dry open places on the edge of built-up areas. Its undistinguished appearance and behaviour were cited by Francis of Assisi as signs of humility and he observed that like a humble friar, "it goes willingly along the wayside and finds a grain of corn for itself".

Crested Tit2013102120131027
20150810 (R4)
20161219 (R4)
20161225 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the crested tit.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Crested Tit. Although crested tits are quite common in Continental Europe, they are confined in the UK to the central Highlands of Scotland. They're the only small British bird with a crest so identification shouldn't be a problem and their black eye-stripe contrasts well with their grey and white face.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the crested tit.

"

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the crested tit.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the crested tit.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the crested tit.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Crested Tit. Although crested tits are quite common in Continental Europe, they are confined in the UK to the central Highlands of Scotland. They're the only small British bird with a crest so identification shouldn't be a problem and their black eye-stripe contrasts well with their grey and white face.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Crested Tit. Although crested tits are quite common in Continental Europe, they are confined in the UK to the central Highlands of Scotland. They're the only small British bird with a crest so identification shouldn't be a problem and their black eye-stripe contrasts well with their grey and white face.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Crested Tit. Although crested tits are quite common in Continental Europe, they are confined in the UK to the central Highlands of Scotland. They're the only small British bird with a crest so identification shouldn't be a problem and their black eye-stripe contrasts well with their grey and white face.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Crossbill2014010620140112
20160318 (R4)
20160712 (R4)
20170317 (R4)
20180717 (R4)
20200119 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Crossbill. Crossbills are large finches that specialise in eating conifer seeds. To break into the pine or larch cones, they've evolved powerful bills with crossed tips which help the birds prise off the woody scales of each cone. Crossbills breed very early in the year and incubating birds sometimes have snow on their backs.

David Attenborough presents the crossbill.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Crossbill. Crossbills are large finches that specialise in eating conifer seeds. To break into the pine or larch cones, they've evolved powerful bills with crossed tips which help the birds prise off the woody scales of each cone. Crossbills breed very early in the year and incubating birds sometimes have snow on their backs.

David Attenborough presents the crossbill.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"David Attenborough presents the crossbill.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Attenborough presents the story of the Crossbill. Crossbills are large finches that specialise in eating conifer seeds. To break into the pine or larch cones, they've evolved powerful bills with crossed tips which help the birds prise off the woody scales of each cone. Crossbills breed very early in the year and incubating birds sometimes have snow on their backs.

"

David Attenborough presents the story of the Crossbill. Crossbills are large finches that specialise in eating conifer seeds. To break into the pine or larch cones, they've evolved powerful bills with crossed tips which help the birds prise off the woody scales of each cone. Crossbills breed very early in the year and incubating birds sometimes have snow on their backs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Crossbill. Crossbills are large finches that specialise in eating conifer seeds. To break into the pine or larch cones, they've evolved powerful bills with crossed tips which help the birds prise off the woody scales of each cone. Crossbills breed very early in the year and incubating birds sometimes have snow on their backs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Crossbill. Crossbills are large finches that specialise in eating conifer seeds. To break into the pine or larch cones, they've evolved powerful bills with crossed tips which help the birds prise off the woody scales of each cone. Crossbills breed very early in the year and incubating birds sometimes have snow on their backs.

David Attenborough presents the crossbill.

David Attenborough presents the crossbill.

David Attenborough presents the crossbill.

David Attenborough presents the crossbill.

Cuckoo - Female2013053120150515 (R4)
20170418 (R4)
20200604 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the female Cuckoo. The "cuckoo" call of the male is perhaps one of the most recognisable of all bird sounds. But the sound of "bathwater gurgling down a plughole" is much familiar and is the call of the looking for somewhere to lay her eggs.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the female Cuckoo. The "cuckoo" call of the male is perhaps one of the most recognisable of all bird sounds. But the sound of "bathwater gurgling down a plughole" is much familiar and is the call of the looking for somewhere to lay her eggs.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the female cuckoo.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the female cuckoo.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the female Cuckoo. The ""cuckoo"" call of the male is perhaps one of the most recognisable of all bird sounds. But the sound of ""bathwater gurgling down a plughole"" is much familiar and is the call of the looking for somewhere to lay her eggs.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the female Cuckoo. The ""cuckoo"" call of the male is perhaps one of the most recognisable of all bird sounds. But the sound of ""bathwater gurgling down a plughole"" is much familiar and is the call of the looking for somewhere to lay her eggs."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the female Cuckoo. The "cuckoo" call of the male is perhaps one of the most recognisable of all bird sounds. But the sound of "bathwater gurgling down a plughole" is much familiar and is the call of the looking for somewhere to lay her eggs.

Cuckoo - Female20170418David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the female cuckoo.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the female Cuckoo. The "cuckoo" call of the male is perhaps one of the most recognisable of all bird sounds. But the sound of "bathwater gurgling down a plughole" is much familiar and is the call of the looking for somewhere to lay her eggs.

Cuckoo - Male2013050620130512
20160411 (R4)
20160417 (R4)
20170421 (R4)
20190421 (R4)
David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here.

In the first of a new series, David Attenborough introduces the male cuckoo.

David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here.

In the first of a new series, David Attenborough introduces the male cuckoo.

"David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here.

"

"David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here.

In the first of a new series, David Attenborough introduces the male cuckoo."

David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here.

David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here.

David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here.

David Attenborough introduces the male cuckoo.

David Attenborough introduces the male cuckoo.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here.

Cuckoo - Male2013050620140512
20160411 (R4)
20160417 (R4)
20170421 (R4)
David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here.

David Attenborough introduces the male cuckoo.

"David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here.

"

"

Cuckoo - Male20170421David Attenborough introduces the male cuckoo.

David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here.

"David Attenborough introduces the male cuckoo.

David Attenborough narrates the first in a new series of short stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs, beginning with the Cuckoo. After spending winter in Africa, the migratory urge propels the Cuckoos northwards. And for many of us their return is a welcome sign that spring is well and truly here. "

David Attenborough introduces the male cuckoo."

Curlew2013110420131110
20150713 (R4)
20161007 (R4)
20181231 (R4)
20201213 (R4)
Martin Hughes-Games presents the curlew.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the story of the curlew. The UK is a vital wintering ground for flocks of curlews. Some birds fly in from as far away as Belgium and Russia, probing our coastal mudflats and thrilling us with their mournful cries.

"Martin Hughes-Games presents the curlew.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Martin Hughes-Games presents the story of the curlew. The UK is a vital wintering ground for flocks of curlews. Some birds fly in from as far away as Belgium and Russia, probing our coastal mudflats and thrilling us with their mournful cries.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the story of the curlew. The UK is a vital wintering ground for flocks of curlews. Some birds fly in from as far away as Belgium and Russia, probing our coastal mudflats and thrilling us with their mournful cries.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the curlew.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the curlew.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the story of the curlew. The UK is a vital wintering ground for flocks of curlews. Some birds fly in from as far away as Belgium and Russia, probing our coastal mudflats and thrilling us with their mournful cries.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Curlew (spring)2014040720140413
20150316 (R4)
20170417 (R4)
20170423 (R4)
20180718 (R4)
20200402 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the curlew. The haunting song of the curlew instantly summons the spirit of wild places. By April, most curlews have left their winter refuge on estuaries and marshes and have returned to their territories on moorland or upland pastures. Wherever they breed you'll hear the male birds singing and displaying. It's often called the bubbling song.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Kate Humble presents the curlew.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kate Humble presents the curlew. The haunting song of the curlew instantly summons the spirit of wild places. By April, most curlews have left their winter refuge on estuaries and marshes and have returned to their territories on moorland or upland pastures. Wherever they breed you'll hear the male birds singing and displaying. It's often called the bubbling song.

"

Kate Humble presents the curlew. The haunting song of the curlew instantly summons the spirit of wild places. By April, most curlews have left their winter refuge on estuaries and marshes and have returned to their territories on moorland or upland pastures. Wherever they breed you'll hear the male birds singing and displaying. It's often called the bubbling song.

Kate Humble presents the curlew. The haunting song of the curlew instantly summons the spirit of wild places. By April, most curlews have left their winter refuge on estuaries and marshes and have returned to their territories on moorland or upland pastures. Wherever they breed you'll hear the male birds singing and displaying. It's often called the bubbling song.

Kate Humble presents the curlew. The haunting song of the curlew instantly summons the spirit of wild places. By April, most curlews have left their winter refuge on estuaries and marshes and have returned to their territories on moorland or upland pastures. Wherever they breed you'll hear the male birds singing and displaying. It's often called the bubbling song.

Kate Humble presents the curlew.

Kate Humble presents the curlew.

Kate Humble presents the curlew. The haunting song of the curlew instantly summons the spirit of wild places. By April, most curlews have left their winter refuge on estuaries and marshes and have returned to their territories on moorland or upland pastures. Wherever they breed you'll hear the male birds singing and displaying. It's often called the bubbling song.

Curlew (spring)20170417Kate Humble presents the curlew.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the curlew. The haunting song of the curlew instantly summons the spirit of wild places. By April, most curlews have left their winter refuge on estuaries and marshes and have returned to their territories on moorland or upland pastures. Wherever they breed you'll hear the male birds singing and displaying. It's often called the bubbling song.

"Kate Humble presents the curlew.

Kate Humble presents the curlew. The haunting song of the curlew instantly summons the spirit of wild places. By April, most curlews have left their winter refuge on estuaries and marshes and have returned to their territories on moorland or upland pastures. Wherever they breed you'll hear the male birds singing and displaying. It's often called the bubbling song. "

Kate Humble presents the curlew."

Cyrus Todiwala On The House Sparrow2017051520170521 (R4)
20180416 (R4)
London chef and restaurant owner Cyrus Todiwala on his love of the city's house sparrow.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

In this programme, London based chef and restaurant owner Cyrus Todiwala talks about his love of the city's house sparrow, bringing a bit of joy to the bustling streets.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"London chef and restaurant owner Cyrus Todiwala on his love of the city's house sparrow.

Producer Maggie Ayre."

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Cyrus Todiwala On The Ring-necked Parakeet2017062820210307 (R4)
20180516 (R4)
London chef and restaurant owner Cyrus Todiwala recalls for Tweet of the Day a once familiar sound to him in India, now heard near his London home, the ring-necked parakeet.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

London restaurant owner Cyrus Todiwala on the ring-necked parakeet for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"London restaurant owner Cyrus Todiwala on the ring-necked parakeet for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre."

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

"""London restaurant owner Cyrus Todiwala on the ring-necked parakeet for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Danielle Meyer On The Gannet2017072020190806 (R4)The RSPB's Danielle Meyer recalls working with gannets for Tweet of the Day.

RSPB Yorkshire staff are reflecting on birds all this week for Tweet of the Day. Today Community and Volunteer Development Officer Danielle Meyer recalls working with gannets on Bempton cliffs in Yorkshire

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"The RSPB's Danielle Meyer recalls working with gannets for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Tom Bonnett.

Dara Mcanulty On The Hen Harrier20170629Thirteen-year-old Northern Ireland wildlife blogger Dara McAnulty on the hen harrier.

Thirteen year old Northern Ireland wildlife blogger Dara McAnulty on the hen harrier for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Thirteen-year-old Northern Ireland wildlife blogger Dara McAnulty on the hen harrier.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

"""Thirteen-year-old Northern Ireland wildlife blogger Dara McAnulty on the hen harrier.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dara Mcanulty On The Whooper Swan20170512Fermanagh-based bird blogger Dara Mcanulty on the whooper swan for Tweet of the Day.

Since he was a small boy, Fermanagh based bird blogger Dara McAnulty has been enthralled by birds. For this Tweet of the Day Dara draws a comparison with seeing whooper swans near to his home in Northern Ireland with the swans from Irish mythology, the Children of Lir. Dara, who has Aspergers Syndrome, blogs as Young Fermanagh Naturalist to convey his love of nature and wildlife through the written word.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Fermanagh-based bird blogger Dara Mcanulty on the whooper swan for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Fermanagh-based bird blogger Dara Mcanulty on the whooper swan for Tweet of the Day."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dartford Warbler2013051720140530
20160520 (R4)
20170420 (R4)
20190426 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Dartford Warbler. Dartford Warblers prefer Mediterranean wine-producing climates, which means ice and snow is bad news for them. The harsh winters of 1961 and 1962 reduced the population to just 11 pairs, but fortunately the numbers have since recovered.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the Dartford warbler.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Dartford Warbler. Dartford Warblers prefer Mediterranean wine-producing climates, which means ice and snow is bad news for them. The harsh winters of 1961 and 1962 reduced the population to just 11 pairs, but fortunately the numbers have since recovered.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the Dartford warbler.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Dartford Warbler. Dartford Warblers prefer Mediterranean wine-producing climates, which means ice and snow is bad news for them. The harsh winters of 1961 and 1962 reduced the population to just 11 pairs, but fortunately the numbers have since recovered.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Dartford Warbler. Dartford Warblers prefer Mediterranean wine-producing climates, which means ice and snow is bad news for them. The harsh winters of 1961 and 1962 reduced the population to just 11 pairs, but fortunately the numbers have since recovered.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Dartford Warbler. Dartford Warblers prefer Mediterranean wine-producing climates, which means ice and snow is bad news for them. The harsh winters of 1961 and 1962 reduced the population to just 11 pairs, but fortunately the numbers have since recovered.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the Dartford warbler.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the Dartford warbler.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Dartford Warbler. Dartford Warblers prefer Mediterranean wine-producing climates, which means ice and snow is bad news for them. The harsh winters of 1961 and 1962 reduced the population to just 11 pairs, but fortunately the numbers have since recovered."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dartford Warbler20170420David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the Dartford warbler.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Dartford Warbler. Dartford Warblers prefer Mediterranean wine-producing climates, which means ice and snow is bad news for them. The harsh winters of 1961 and 1962 reduced the population to just 11 pairs, but fortunately the numbers have since recovered.

"David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the Dartford warbler.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Dartford Warbler. Dartford Warblers prefer Mediterranean wine-producing climates, which means ice and snow is bad news for them. The harsh winters of 1961 and 1962 reduced the population to just 11 pairs, but fortunately the numbers have since recovered. "

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the Dartford warbler."

Dave Leech On The Water Rail2018020720200504 (R4)Dave Leech describes his excitement on finding the nest of a water rail.

Dave Leech from the British Trust for Ornithology describes his excitement at finding a Water Rail nest containing the most beautiful eggs after having spent three years searching for a nest. Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus?

In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Nathian Brook.

"Dave Leech describes his excitement on finding the nest of a water rail.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Nathian Brook. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Nathian Brook.

David Lindo On The Honey Buzzard2017060720190412 (R4)David Lindo on a magical moment spotting a honey buzzard in central London.

David Lindo the Urban Birder tells the story of one magical early morning in central London, spotting a honey buzzard flying over the face of Big Ben. He urges people in cities to 'always look up' as there is an amazing variety of birds to be spotted even in the most concrete of jungles.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"David Lindo on a magical moment spotting a honey buzzard in central London.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

David Lindo on a magical moment spotting a honey buzzard in central London."

"""David Lindo on a magical moment spotting a honey buzzard in central London.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Lindo On The Kestrel2017060520180606 (R4)
20200805 (R4)
David Lindo, the Urban Birder, on the kestrel.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Lindo is known as the Urban Birder. His love of all things feathered began when he was tiny, but it was seeing a kestrel while he was at school in north London one day that set him on the road to birdwatching in the city.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"David Lindo, the Urban Birder, on the kestrel.

Producer Maggie Ayre."

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

David Lindo, the Urban Birder, on the kestrel."

"""David Lindo, the Urban Birder, on the kestrel.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

Producer Maggie Ayre.

David Lindo On The Osprey2017060820180525 (R4)David Lindo the Urban Birder on seeing an osprey next to Wormwood Scrubs in London.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Osprey and Wormwood Scrubs are not usually words you expect to read in the same sentence, but Urban Birder David Lindo has seen one on his birdwatching patch next to the prison. His mantra is to look up and around in the city as there are more varieties of bird to be seen than you might imagine.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"David Lindo the Urban Birder on seeing an osprey next to Wormwood Scrubs in London.

Producer Maggie Ayre."

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

David Lindo the Urban Birder on seeing an osprey next to Wormwood Scrubs in London."

"""David Lindo the Urban Birder on seeing an osprey next to Wormwood Scrubs in London.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

Producer Maggie Ayre.

David Lindo On The Ring Ouzel20170511The urban birder David Lindo on the ring ouzel for Tweet of the Day.

David Lindo, otherwise known as the urban birder, recalls his first encounter with the ring ouzel on his local patch near to Wormwood Scrubs in London.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"The urban birder David Lindo on the ring ouzel for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

The urban birder David Lindo on the ring ouzel for Tweet of the Day."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Lindo On The Robin2017060620210107 (R4)Urban Birder David Lindo in praise of the robin.

David Lindo is the Urban Birder who has loved birds since he was a tiny boy. Here he extols the virtues of Britain's national bird, the robin.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Urban Birder David Lindo in praise of the robin.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Urban Birder David Lindo in praise of the robin."

"""Urban Birder David Lindo in praise of the robin.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

David Lindo is the Urban Birder who has loved birds since he was a tiny boy. Here he extols the virtues of Britain's national bird, the robin.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Lindo On The Swift2017061120180903 (R4)Urban Birder David Lindo on the swift.

Urban Birder David Lindo reflects on the arrival of the swift as a sign that summer is here. He marvels at the ability of this small bird to navigate its way to Britain across Africa and Europe.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Urban Birder David Lindo on the swift.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Maggie Ayre."

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Urban Birder David Lindo on the swift."

"""Urban Birder David Lindo on the swift.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

Producer Maggie Ayre.

David Rothenberg On The Blackbird2018022020190219 (R4)
20210112 (R4)
For Professor David Rothenberg, the blackbird is a beautiful melodic songster.

For professor of philosophy and music at the New Jersey Institute of Technology David Rothenberg, the blackbird is a beautiful melodic songster which helps explains the difference between bird song and bird call in this Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tim Dee
Photograph: Tim Gardner.

Producer: Tim Dee
Photograph: Tim Gardner.

"

For Professor David Rothenberg, the blackbird is a beautiful melodic songster."

"

For professor of philosophy and music at the New Jersey Institute of Technology David Rothenberg, the blackbird is a beautiful melodic songster which helps explains the difference between bird song and bird call in this Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

David Rothenberg On The Brown Thrasher2017091820170924 (R4)
20190523 (R4)
David Rothenberg, best known for his interest in animal sounds, on the brown thrasher.

In the first of five Tweets of the Day this week, professor of philosophy and music at the New Jersey Institute of Technology David Rothenberg discussed the brown thrasher.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tim Dee
Picture: Denise Laflamme.

"David Rothenberg, best known for his interest in animal sounds, on the brown thrasher.

Producer: Tim Dee
Picture: Denise Laflamme. "

"""David Rothenberg, best known for his interest in animal sounds, on the brown thrasher.

Producer: Tim Dee
Picture: Denise Laflamme. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Rothenberg On The Mocking Bird2017091920180726 (R4)
20201123 (R4)
Mockingbirds do not mock but, as David Rothenberg explains, can copy over 1,000 bird songs

David Rothenberg grew up in Connecticut at a time when mockingbirds moved north filling the air with a kaleidoscope of calls, as he explains for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tim Dee.

"Mockingbirds do not mock but, as David Rothenberg explains, can copy over 1,000 bird songs

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Tim Dee."

Producer Tim Dee. "

"""Mockingbirds do not mock but, as David Rothenberg explains, can copy over 1,000 bird songs

Producer Tim Dee. """

David Rothenberg grew up in Connecticut at a time when mockingbirds moved north filling the air with a kaleidoscope of calls, as he explains for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

David Rothenberg On The Robin2018022120190322 (R4)David Rothenberg on the jazz artist of the bird world - the humble robin.

David Rothenberg on the jazz artist of the bird world - the humble robin. David explains what the song of the robin has in common with experimental free form jazz, not dissimilar to the sound of saxophonist Eric Dolphy who spent a long time listening to birds.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tim Dee
Photograph: Christine Sweet.

Producer: Tim Dee
Photograph: Christine Sweet.

"

David Rothenberg on the jazz artist of the bird world - the humble robin."

David Rothenberg on the jazz artist of the bird world - the humble robin. David explains what the song of the robin has in common with experimental free form jazz, not dissimilar to the sound of saxophonist Eric Dolphy who spent a long time listening to birds.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Rothenberg On The Song Thrush2018022220180810 (R4)David Rothenberg asks a question, why is the song thrush not famous?

Music professor and philosopher David Rothenberg asks a simple question, why is the song thrush with its beautiful, exuberant and melodious song not famous for this Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tim Dee
Photograph: Feathers Allan.

Producer: Tim Dee
Photograph: Feathers Allan.

"David Rothenberg asks a question, why is the song thrush not famous?

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Tim Dee
Photograph: Feathers Allan."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Rothenberg On The Superb Lyrebird20170920As David Rothenberg suggests, the superb lyrebird song has evolved to excess and craziness

As David Rothenberg suggests in this Tweet of the Day the superb lyrebird is a bird which evolved to excess experimentation and craziness.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tim Dee

Image : Roger Powell.

"As David Rothenberg suggests, the superb lyrebird song has evolved to excess and craziness

Image : Roger Powell. "

"""As David Rothenberg suggests, the superb lyrebird song has evolved to excess and craziness

Image : Roger Powell. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Rothenberg On The Veery Thrush2017092220181213 (R4)
20201122 (R4)
The veery thrush has a remarkable song, if slowed down, as David Rothenberg explains.

Slow down the song of the veery thrush and what have you got? For David Rothenberg in this Tweet of the Day, its compressed tiny bits of music that humans can really relate to.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tim Dee

Image : Salaman.

"The veery thrush has a remarkable song, if slowed down, as David Rothenberg explains.

Image : Salaman. "

Slow down the song of the veery thrush and what have you got? For David Rothenberg in this Tweet of the Day, its compressed tiny bits of music that humans can really relate to.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tim Dee

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Image : Salaman. "

"""The veery thrush has a remarkable song, if slowed down, as David Rothenberg explains.

Image : Salaman. """

David Rothenberg On The White-crested Laughingthrush2017092120180824 (R4)
20200729 (R4)
20210212 (R4)
For David Rothenberg, the white-crested laughingthrush is a superb clarinet accompanist.

The white crested laughing thrush is a superb accompaniment to David Rothenberg as he plays the clarinet, the best bird to play along with in this Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tim Dee

Image WikiCommons / cuatrock77.

"For David Rothenberg, the white-crested laughingthrush is a superb clarinet accompanist.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Image WikiCommons / cuatrock77."

Image WikiCommons / cuatrock77. "

"""For David Rothenberg, the white-crested laughingthrush is a superb clarinet accompanist.

Image WikiCommons / cuatrock77. """

The white-crested laughingthrush is a superb accompaniment to David Rothenberg as he plays the clarinet, the best bird to play along with in this Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Salmon On The Woodlark2017052920170604 (R4)
20200123 (R4)
David Salmon of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre on the song of the woodlark.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Miles Warde.

"David Salmon of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre on the song of the woodlark.

Producer Miles Warde. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Miles Warde.

Debbie Pain On The Marsh Harrier2017052520191211 (R4)Debbie Pain of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre on the marsh harrier.

Debbie Pain of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre explains her joy at the return of the marsh harrier to her local patch.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Miles Warde.

"Debbie Pain of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre on the marsh harrier.

Producer Miles Warde. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Miles Warde.

Derek Niemann Sparrows Of The Western Front2018110420201108 (R4)At the beginning of Armistice week, Derek Niemann recalls sparrows on the Western Front.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"At the beginning of Armistice week, Derek Niemann recalls sparrows on the Western Front.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

As we begin Armistice week, Derek Niemann recalls that within the horrors of the First World War the ubiquitous house sparrows living in the shattered buildings along the Western Front were one of the great survivors during the onslaught. Despite the devastation they thrived within the ruins of bombed out buildings and for the soldiers these 'wee spuggies' brought a little bit of home, and hope, to their day.

Derek who previously worked for the RSPB for 25 years, has latterly turned his knowledge of birds and nature into a career as a writer, including the book Birds in a Cage, an affectionate tale of British prisoner of war ornithologists. For the next two weeks Derek has chosen episodes from the Tweet of the Day archive, with a connection to times of conflict. Derek begins his tenure curating the archives with his own tale. You can hear more from Derek and his interest in birds during wartime in the Tweet of the Week podcast, available as a download from the Radio 4 website..

Podcast Producer Elliott Prince
Producer Andrew Dawes

Podcast Producer Elliott Prince
Producer Andrew Dawes

At the beginning of Armistice week, Derek Niemann recalls sparrows on the Western Front.

Dermot O'leary On Swifts And Swallows2017111620190514 (R4)Presenter Dermot O'Leary relishes soaring swifts and swallows bobbing in front of his car.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Presenter Dermot O'Leary relishes the effortless soaring of swifts and remembers the joy of the independence of his first car and the feeling of taking country roads home to visit his family and seeing swallows bobbing along in front of him on the lanes.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photo: Phill Luckhurst.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dermot O'leary On The Coal Tit2017111420180911 (R4)Presenter Dermot O'Leary gazes into his garden to watch busy coal tits on the bird feeders

"Presenter Dermot O'Leary gazes into his garden to watch busy coal tits on the bird feeders

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dermot O'leary On The Dunnock2017111720180829 (R4)
20201126 (R4)
Dermot O'Leary admires the work ethic and understated beauty of the industrious dunnock.

"Dermot O'Leary admires the work ethic and understated beauty of the industrious dunnock.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dermot O'leary On The Greater Black-backed Gull2017111520190513 (R4)
20201125 (R4)
Presenter Dermot O'Leary hails the greater black-backed gull as an 'Alsatian of the skies'

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dermot O'leary On The Sea Eagle2017111320171119 (R4)
20190512 (R4)
Dermot O'Leary searches for sea eagles, but with light fading, his chances look slim.

"Dermot O'Leary searches for sea eagles, but with light fading, his chances look slim."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dipper2013122420160527 (R4)
20190101 (R4)
20201130 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the dipper. On a cold winter's day when few birds are singing, the bright rambling song of a dipper by a rushing stream is always a surprise. Dippers sing in winter because that's when the males begin marking out their stretch of water, they're early breeders.

episode-b03k6rrj.jpg

David Attenborough presents the dipper. On a cold winter's day when few birds are singing, the bright rambling song of a dipper by a rushing stream is always a surprise. Dippers sing in winter because that's when the males begin marking out their stretch of water, they're early breeders.

David Attenborough presents the dipper.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Attenborough presents the dipper. On a cold winter's day when few birds are singing, the bright rambling song of a dipper by a rushing stream is always a surprise. Dippers sing in winter because that's when the males begin marking out their stretch of water, they're early breeders.

"

David Attenborough presents the dipper. On a cold winter's day when few birds are singing, the bright rambling song of a dipper by a rushing stream is always a surprise. Dippers sing in winter because that's when the males begin marking out their stretch of water, they're early breeders.

Dominic Couzens On The Goldfinch2019021720191126 (R4)"

Natural history writer, speaker and Natural history writer, speaker and tour leader Dominic Couzens is at the helm this week for Tweet of the Day. For Dominic the impeccably turned out goldfinch is the avian glitterati, bird royalty, star quality on the feeders. Yet it was an encounter with 400 goldfinch feeding on thistle seed heads which captivated Dominic.

You can hear more from Dominic in his Tweet of the Week omnibus available on the Radio 4 website or via BBC Sounds.

Producer Andrew Dawes

Ornithologist and nature writer Dominic Couzens recalls the glitterati goldfinch.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dominic Couzens On The Moorhen2019021020191125 (R4)"""

Natural history writer, speaker and tour leader Dominic Couzens is in the chair this week for Tweet of the Day. Taking a break from his worldwide travels, Dominic recounts why the moorhen is a comical bird which can hold a few surprises that's no laughing matter.

You can hear more from Dominic in his Tweet of the Week omnibus available on the Radio 4 website or via BBC Sounds.

Producer Andrew Dawes

Natural history writer, speaker and tour leader Dominic Couzens reveals the moorhen.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"""

"

Producer Andrew Dawes

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dotterel2013072220130728
20150601 (R4)
20160803 (R4)
20191112 (R4)
"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the dotterel.

Dotterels are waders, rather like small plovers with a broad white-eye stripe. In the UK, they're almost confined as breeding birds to the Scottish Highlands. They don't tend to fly away when approached which led our ancestors to believe that they are stupid. ""Dotterel"" derives from the same source as ""dotard"" and this tameness meant that the birds were easy prey for Victorian collectors.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the dotterel.

"

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the dotterel."

Dotterels are waders, rather like small plovers with a broad white-eye stripe. In the UK, they're almost confined as breeding birds to the Scottish Highlands. They don't tend to fly away when approached which led our ancestors to believe that they are stupid. "Dotterel" derives from the same source as "dotard" and this tameness meant that the birds were easy prey for Victorian collectors.

Dotterels are waders, rather like small plovers with a broad white-eye stripe. In the UK, they're almost confined as breeding birds to the Scottish Highlands. They don't tend to fly away when approached which led our ancestors to believe that they are stupid. "Dotterel" derives from the same source as "dotard" and this tameness meant that the birds were easy prey for Victorian collectors.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the dotterel.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the dotterel.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dotterels are waders, rather like small plovers with a broad white-eye stripe. In the UK, they're almost confined as breeding birds to the Scottish Highlands. They don't tend to fly away when approached which led our ancestors to believe that they are stupid. "Dotterel" derives from the same source as "dotard" and this tameness meant that the birds were easy prey for Victorian collectors.

Doug Allan On The Emperor Penguin2018010120180107 (R4)
20191007 (R4)
Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls hearing an emperor penguin chick for the first time.

In the first of five recollections about his encounters with birds in Antarctica, wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls hearing a Emperor Penguin chick for the first time.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Christopher Michel.

"Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls hearing an emperor penguin chick for the first time.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Christopher Michel. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Christopher Michel.

Doug Allan On The Giant Petrel2018010520191011 (R4)Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls his encounters with giant petrels in Antarctica.

In the last of five recollections about his encounters with birds in Antarctica, wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls his encounters with Giant Petrels with mixed feelings as he recalls their baleful stare, steely grey blue eyes and predatory intent!

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Christopher Mckenzie.

"Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls his encounters with giant petrels in Antarctica.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Christopher Mckenzie. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Doug Allan On The Snow Petrel2018010220181101 (R4)
20191008 (R4)
Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls his encounters with snow petrels in Antarctica.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

In the second of five recollections about his encounters with birds in Antarctica, wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls ringing Snow Petrels with mixed feelings.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Doug Allan.

"Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls his encounters with snow petrels in Antarctica.

"

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Doug Allan. "

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Doug Allan. "

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Doug Allan.

Doug Allan On The Snowy Sheathbill2018010320191009 (R4)Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls his encounter with snowy sheathbills in Antarctica.

In the third of five recollections about his encounters with birds in Antarctica, wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls watching an opportunistic Snowy Sheathbill taking advantage of a young Adelie Penguins to get an easy meal.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Murray Foubister.

"Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls his encounter with snowy sheathbills in Antarctica.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Murray Foubister. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Doug Allan On The Wandering Albatross2018010420191010 (R4)Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls a very close encounter with wandering albatrosses.

In the fourth of five recollections about his encounters with birds in Antarctica, wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls his excitement at lying under the outstretched wings of a Wandering Albatross.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Richard Witham.

"Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls a very close encounter with wandering albatrosses.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Richard Witham. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dunlin2013111920150818 (R4)
20160621 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Dunlin. Dunlins are a stirring sight, en masse, as their flocks twist and turn over the winter shoreline. When the tide turns they take to the air in a breath-taking aerobatic display. Around 350,000 Dunlin winter here, travelling from Scandinavia and Russia.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the dunlin.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Dunlin. Dunlins are a stirring sight, en masse, as their flocks twist and turn over the winter shoreline. When the tide turns they take to the air in a breath-taking aerobatic display. Around 350,000 Dunlin winter here, travelling from Scandinavia and Russia.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Dunlin. Dunlins are a stirring sight, en masse, as their flocks twist and turn over the winter shoreline. When the tide turns they take to the air in a breath-taking aerobatic display. Around 350,000 Dunlin winter here, travelling from Scandinavia and Russia.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the dunlin.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the dunlin.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Dunnock2014021220150304 (R4)
20150308 (R4)
20160315 (R4)
20170104 (R4)
20170314 (R4)
20190110 (R4)
20191206 (R4)
20201222 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

John Aitchison presents the dunnock. You'll often see dunnocks, or hedge sparrows, as they were once called, shuffling around under a bird table or at the bottom of a hedge. They're inconspicuous birds being mostly brown with a greyish neck and breast. They aren't, as you might imagine, closely related to sparrows, many of their nearest relatives are birds of mountainous regions in Europe and Asia.

John Aitchison presents the dunnock. You'll often see dunnocks, or hedge sparrows, as they were once called, shuffling around under a bird table or at the bottom of a hedge. They're inconspicuous birds being mostly brown with a greyish neck and breast. They aren't, as you might imagine, closely related to sparrows, many of their nearest relatives are birds of mountainous regions in Europe and Asia.

John Aitchison presents the dunnock. You'll often see dunnocks, or hedge sparrows, as they were once called, shuffling around under a bird table or at the bottom of a hedge. They're inconspicuous birds being mostly brown with a greyish neck and breast. They aren't, as you might imagine, closely related to sparrows, many of their nearest relatives are birds of mountainous regions in Europe and Asia.

John Aitchison presents the dunnock. You'll often see dunnocks, or hedge sparrows, as they were once called, shuffling around under a bird table or at the bottom of a hedge. They're inconspicuous birds being mostly brown with a greyish neck and breast. They aren't, as you might imagine, closely related to sparrows, many of their nearest relatives are birds of mountainous regions in Europe and Asia.

John Aitchison presents the dunnock. You'll often see dunnocks, or hedge sparrows, as they were once called, shuffling around under a bird table or at the bottom of a hedge. They're inconspicuous birds being mostly brown with a greyish neck and breast. They aren't, as you might imagine, closely related to sparrows, many of their nearest relatives are birds of mountainous regions in Europe and Asia.

John Aitchison presents the dunnock. You'll often see dunnocks, or hedge sparrows, as they were once called, shuffling around under a bird table or at the bottom of a hedge. They're inconspicuous birds being mostly brown with a greyish neck and breast. They aren't, as you might imagine, closely related to sparrows, many of their nearest relatives are birds of mountainous regions in Europe and Asia.

John Aitchison presents the dunnock.

John Aitchison presents the dunnock.

John Aitchison presents the dunnock.

John Aitchison presents the dunnock.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

John Aitchison presents the dunnock. You'll often see dunnocks, or hedge sparrows, as they were once called, shuffling around under a bird table or at the bottom of a hedge. They're inconspicuous birds being mostly brown with a greyish neck and breast. They aren't, as you might imagine, closely related to sparrows, many of their nearest relatives are birds of mountainous regions in Europe and Asia.

John Aitchison presents the dunnock. You'll often see dunnocks, or hedge sparrows, as they were once called, shuffling around under a bird table or at the bottom of a hedge. They're inconspicuous birds being mostly brown with a greyish neck and breast. They aren't, as you might imagine, closely related to sparrows, many of their nearest relatives are birds of mountainous regions in Europe and Asia.

Dupont's Lark2014091120150916 (R4)
20181009 (R4)
20210210 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Dupont's lark of southern Europe and North Africa. The European home for the Duponts lark is the arid grasslands of south-east Spain where Spaghetti Westerns were once filmed. The Dupont's lark is notoriously difficult to find as it skulks between tussocks of dry but at dawn and again at sunset, male Dupont's larks emerge from their hiding places and perform display flights over their grassy territories. As they rise into the sky their song is a melancholy refrain, which once heard is rarely forgotten.

David Attenborough presents the dupont's lark of southern Europe and North Africa.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Sir David Attenborough presents the Dupont's lark of southern Europe and North Africa.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Sir David Attenborough presents the Dupont's lark of southern Europe and North Africa. The European home for the Duponts lark is the arid grasslands of south-east Spain where Spaghetti Westerns were once filmed. The Dupont's lark is notoriously difficult to find as it skulks between tussocks of dry but at dawn and again at sunset, male Dupont's larks emerge from their hiding places and perform display flights over their grassy territories. As they rise into the sky their song is a melancholy refrain, which once heard is rarely forgotten.

Eastern Orphean Warbler2014121920210302 (R4)
20151119 (R4)
20190715 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the eastern orphean warbler in an olive grove near Athens. Until recently there used to be just a single species of Orphean Warbler; a summer visitor to southern Europe, North Africa and western Asia: a handsome bird much like a large blackcap with a white throat and greyish-brown back. But across the wide breeding range which stretches from Portugal to Pakistan some orphean warblers look and sound different. Those east of Italy tend to be subtly greyer above and paler beneath. And the songs of birds from Greece eastwards are longer and richer, often including the richness of nightingale like notes. These slight differences have persuaded many ornithologists that the Eastern Orphean warbler is a different species to the Western Orphean Warbler. Biologists call this "splitting "although exactly where these new species boundaries lie is a moot point.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Liz Bonnin presents the eastern orphean warbler in an olive grove near Athens. Until recently there used to be just a single species of Orphean Warbler; a summer visitor to southern Europe, North Africa and western Asia: a handsome bird much like a large blackcap with a white throat and greyish-brown back. But across the wide breeding range which stretches from Portugal to Pakistan some orphean warblers look and sound different. Those east of Italy tend to be subtly greyer above and paler beneath. And the songs of birds from Greece eastwards are longer and richer, often including the richness of nightingale like notes. These slight differences have persuaded many ornithologists that the Eastern Orphean warbler is a different species to the Western Orphean Warbler. Biologists call this "splitting "although exactly where these new species boundaries lie is a moot point.

Liz Bonnin presents the eastern orphean warbler, in an olive grove near Athens.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the eastern orphean warbler in an olive grove near Athens. Until recently there used to be just a single species of Orphean Warbler; a summer visitor to southern Europe, North Africa and western Asia: a handsome bird much like a large blackcap with a white throat and greyish-brown back. But across the wide breeding range which stretches from Portugal to Pakistan some orphean warblers look and sound different. Those east of Italy tend to be subtly greyer above and paler beneath. And the songs of birds from Greece eastwards are longer and richer, often including the richness of nightingale like notes. These slight differences have persuaded many ornithologists that the Eastern Orphean warbler is a different species to the Western Orphean Warbler. Biologists call this ""splitting ""although exactly where these new species boundaries lie is a moot point.

"

"Liz Bonnin presents the eastern orphean warbler, in an olive grove near Athens.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Echo Parakeet2014101720151008 (R4)
20180802 (R4)
20200609 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the echo parakeet found only in Mauritius, a bird which has brushed extinction by its wingtips. This once familiar bird of the island of Mauritius will only nest in large trees with suitable holes, few of which remain after widespread deforestation on the island. A close relative of the more adaptable ring necked parakeet found now across southern Britain where it's been introduced, by the 1980's the wild population of echo parakeets numbered around ten birds. Threatened with extinction in the wild, captive breeding and successful releases into the wild have stabilised the population to about three hundred birds.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the echo parakeet, found only in Mauritius.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the echo parakeet found only in Mauritius, a bird which has brushed extinction by its wingtips. This once familiar bird of the island of Mauritius will only nest in large trees with suitable holes, few of which remain after widespread deforestation on the island. A close relative of the more adaptable ring necked parakeet found now across southern Britain where it's been introduced, by the 1980's the wild population of echo parakeets numbered around ten birds. Threatened with extinction in the wild, captive breeding and successful releases into the wild have stabilised the population to about three hundred birds.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the echo parakeet, found only in Mauritius.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the echo parakeet, found only in Mauritius.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the echo parakeet found only in Mauritius, a bird which has brushed extinction by its wingtips. This once familiar bird of the island of Mauritius will only nest in large trees with suitable holes, few of which remain after widespread deforestation on the island. A close relative of the more adaptable ring necked parakeet found now across southern Britain where it's been introduced, by the 1980's the wild population of echo parakeets numbered around ten birds. Threatened with extinction in the wild, captive breeding and successful releases into the wild have stabilised the population to about three hundred birds.

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the echo parakeet found only in Mauritius, a bird which has brushed extinction by its wingtips. This once familiar bird of the island of Mauritius will only nest in large trees with suitable holes, few of which remain after widespread deforestation on the island. A close relative of the more adaptable ring necked parakeet found now across southern Britain where it's been introduced, by the 1980's the wild population of echo parakeets numbered around ten birds. Threatened with extinction in the wild, captive breeding and successful releases into the wild have stabilised the population to about three hundred birds.

Ed Byrne's Tweet Of The Day Takeover20180401Comedian Ed Byrne tees up his choices for a week curating his favourite episodes of Tweet.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Comedian Ed Byrne tees up his choices for a week curating his favourite episodes of Tweet.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Ed Byrne's Tweet Of The Day Takeover20180408Ed Byrne perches on the feeder for a second week to pick more of his favourite episodes.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Ed Byrne perches on the feeder for a second week to pick more of his favourite episodes.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Egyptian Goose2014032420140330
20150413 (R4)
20160627 (R4)
20160703 (R4)
20180807 (R4)
Bill Oddie presents the Egyptian goose.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the Egyptian goose. Although Egyptian geese are common throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa and in Egypt, they are now officially a British bird. These striking birds attracted the attention of wildfowl collectors and the first geese were brought to the UK in the 17th century. By the 1960's it became obvious that the geese were breeding in the wild in East Anglia and since then they've spread in south and eastern England.

Bill Oddie presents the Egyptian goose.

"Bill Oddie presents the Egyptian goose.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bill Oddie presents the Egyptian goose. Although Egyptian geese are common throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa and in Egypt, they are now officially a British bird. These striking birds attracted the attention of wildfowl collTop Brass

With James Morrison

20181009

In this new series, trumpet virtuoso James Morrison introduces a selection of modern brass music, showcasing all that’s best in the world of brass: modern New Orleans-style street bands playing heavy funk and hip hop, classic big bands and small group jazz, traditional brass bands, quintets and dectets, Balkan, rock, funk, ska and oompah bands – Top Brass has it all.

In this final programme of the series, we hear a Michael Jackson cover from The Youngblood Brass Band, Serbian music from Boban Markovich, as well as electrifying recordings by Eric Miyashiro, the Loudhorns, and Arturo Sandoval, plus a Marvin Gaye classic by the Hot 8 Brass Band.

James takes a look at a special charity that uses brass music and brass instruments to change lives and whole communities in Uganda, with one of their patrons, trumpeter Alison Balsom.

And trombonist Mark Nightingale joins James to celebrate the very special jazz talent that was trombonist Frank Rosolino, with a selection of recordings and insights into Frank’s playing.

Trumpet virtuoso, James Morrison, introduces the brassiest selection of music around.

And trombonist Mark Nightingale joins James to celebrate the very special jazz talent that was trombonist Frank Rosolino, with a selection of recordings and insights into Frank’s playing.

Bill Oddie presents the Egyptian goose. Although Egyptian geese are common throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa and in Egypt, they are now officially a British bird. These striking birds attracted the attention of wildfowl collectors and the first geese were brought to the UK in the 17th century. By the 1960's it became obvious that the geese were breeding in the wild in East Anglia and since then they've spread in south and eastern England.

"

"

Bill Oddie presents the Egyptian goose. Although Egyptian geese are common throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa and in Egypt, they are now officially a British bird. These striking birds attracted the attention of wildfowl collectors and the first geese were brought to the UK in the 17th century. By the 1960's it became obvious that the geese were breeding in the wild in East Anglia and since then they've spread in south and eastern England.

Bill Oddie presents the Egyptian goose. Although Egyptian geese are common throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa and in Egypt, they are now officially a British bird. These striking birds attracted the attention of wildfowl collectors and the first geese were brought to the UK in the 17th century. By the 1960's it became obvious that the geese were breeding in the wild in East Anglia and since then they've spread in south and eastern England.

Bill Oddie presents the Egyptian goose.

Bill Oddie presents the Egyptian goose.

Bill Oddie presents the Egyptian goose. Although Egyptian geese are common throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa and in Egypt, they are now officially a British bird. These striking birds attracted the attention of wildfowl collectors and the first geese were brought to the UK in the 17th century. By the 1960's it became obvious that the geese were breeding in the wild in East Anglia and since then they've spread in south and eastern England.

Eider2013100320150709 (R4)
20161125 (R4)
20190107 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the eider.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Eider. Eiders are northern sea-ducks perhaps most famous for the soft breast feathers with which they line their nests. These feathers were collected by eider farmers and used to fill pillows and traditional 'eider -downs'. Drake eiders display to the females with odd moaning calls which you can hear in the programme.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the eider.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the eider.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Eider. Eiders are northern sea-ducks perhaps most famous for the soft breast feathers with which they line their nests. These feathers were collected by eider farmers and used to fill pillows and traditional 'eider -downs'. Drake eiders display to the females with odd moaning calls which you can hear in the programme.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Eider. Eiders are northern sea-ducks perhaps most famous for the soft breast feathers with which they line their nests. These feathers were collected by eider farmers and used to fill pillows and traditional 'eider -downs'. Drake eiders display to the females with odd moaning calls which you can hear in the programme.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the eider.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Eider. Eiders are northern sea-ducks perhaps most famous for the soft breast feathers with which they line their nests. These feathers were collected by eider farmers and used to fill pillows and traditional 'eider –downs'. Drake eiders display to the females with odd moaning calls which you can hear in the programme.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Eider. Eiders are northern sea-ducks perhaps most famous for the soft breast feathers with which they line their nests. These feathers were collected by eider farmers and used to fill pillows and traditional 'eider -downs'. Drake eiders display to the females with odd moaning calls which you can hear in the programme."

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Eider. Eiders are northern sea-ducks perhaps most famous for the soft breast feathers with which they line their nests. These feathers were collected by eider farmers and used to fill pillows and traditional 'eider –downs'. Drake eiders display to the females with odd moaning calls which you can hear in the programme.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Eleanor Matthews On The Magpie2017072420170730 (R4)
20190102 (R4)
20191217 (R4)
20201215 (R4)
Writer Eleanor Matthews recalls the magpie for Tweet of the Day.

Writer Eleanor Matthews recalls how the magpie came into her life at a time of change for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Eliza Lomas.

"Writer Eleanor Matthews recalls the magpie for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Eliza Lomas. "

Writer Eleanor Matthews recalls how the magpie came into her life at a time of change for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Emperor Penguin2014092620151002 (R4)
20161028 (R4)
20200712 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the emperor penguin from the Antarctic Peninsula. With temperatures down to minus 50oC, midwinter blizzards scouring one of the most inhospitable places on the planet, this is not an obvious location for raising young. Yet at the heart of this landscape, the world's largest penguin, the emperor, stands guard over their young. Tightly-packed colonies of hundreds or sometimes thousands of birds huddle together, to conserve heat. The male broods the single egg on his feet, protected under folds of bare abdominal skin. Females travel up to 100km from the colony in search of food, using a technique called tobogganing which is far more efficient than walking on their short legs. Harsh though the landscape is in midwinter, all this activity is co-ordinated to allow the young to fledge into the relatively warmth of an Antarctic summer.

Sir David Attenborough presents the emperor penguin from the Antarctic peninsula.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Sir David Attenborough presents the emperor penguin from the Antarctic Peninsula. With temperatures down to minus 50oC, midwinter blizzards scouring one of the most inhospitable places on the planet, this is not an obvious location for raising young. Yet at the heart of this landscape, the world's largest penguin, the emperor, stands guard over their young. Tightly-packed colonies of hundreds or sometimes thousands of birds huddle together, to conserve heat. The male broods the single egg on his feet, protected under folds of bare abdominal skin. Females travel up to 100km from the colony in search of food, using a technique called tobogganing which is far more efficient than walking on their short legs. Harsh though the landscape is in midwinter, all this activity is co-ordinated to allow the young to fledge into the relatively warmth of an Antarctic summer.

Eurasian Scops Owl2014092220160212 (R4)
20180813 (R4)
"David Attenborough presents the Eurasian scops owl found in Mediterranean regions.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Eurasian scops owl found in Mediterranean regions. In summer a mournful monosyllabic call interrupts the heady scented air of a Greek olive grove at dusk. A male scops owl is proclaiming his territory with a repeated call lasting over 20 minutes. Hearing these tiny owls, no bigger than a starling is one thing, seeing one roosting in an old tree is quite a challenge. They feed mainly on moths and beetles which they hunt for in open country with scattered trees. By autumn these largely nocturnal birds are heading south to sub-Saharan Africa, until the following spring when once again the olive groves resound to their plaintive song.

"

Sir David Attenborough presents the Eurasian scops owl found in Mediterranean regions. In summer a mournful monosyllabic call interrupts the heady scented air of a Greek olive grove at dusk. A male scops owl is proclaiming his territory with a repeated call lasting over 20 minutes. Hearing these tiny owls, no bigger than a starling is one thing, seeing one roosting in an old tree is quite a challenge. They feed mainly on moths and beetles which they hunt for in open country with scattered trees. By autumn these largely nocturnal birds are heading south to sub-Saharan Africa, until the following spring when once again the olive groves resound to their plaintive song.

Eurasian Scops Owl2014092420140928
20160212 (R4)
David Attenborough presents the Eurasian scops owl found in Mediterranean regions.

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Eurasian scops owl found in Mediterranean regions. In summer a mournful monosyllabic call interrupts the heady scented air of a Greek olive grove at dusk. A male scops owl is proclaiming his territory with a repeated call lasting over 20 minutes. Hearing these tiny owls, no bigger than a starling is one thing, seeing one roosting in an old tree is quite a challenge. They feed mainly on moths and beetles which they hunt for in open country with scattered trees. By autumn these largely nocturnal birds are heading south to sub-Saharan Africa, until the following spring when once again the olive groves resound to their plaintive song.

David Attenborough presents the Eurasian scops owl found in Mediterranean regions.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Eurasian scops owl found in Mediterranean regions. In summer a mournful monosyllabic call interrupts the heady scented air of a Greek olive grove at dusk. A male scops owl is proclaiming his territory with a repeated call lasting over 20 minutes. Hearing these tiny owls, no bigger than a starling is one thing, seeing one roosting in an old tree is quite a challenge. They feed mainly on moths and beetles which they hunt for in open country with scattered trees. By autumn these largely nocturnal birds are heading south to sub-Saharan Africa, until the following spring when once again the olive groves resound to their plaintive song.

"David Attenborough presents the Eurasian scops owl found in Mediterranean regions.

"

Sir David Attenborough presents the Eurasian scops owl found in Mediterranean regions. In summer a mournful monosyllabic call interrupts the heady scented air of a Greek olive grove at dusk. A male scops owl is proclaiming his territory with a repeated call lasting over 20 minutes. Hearing these tiny owls, no bigger than a starling is one thing, seeing one roosting in an old tree is quite a challenge. They feed mainly on moths and beetles which they hunt for in open country with scattered trees. By autumn these largely nocturnal birds are heading south to sub-Saharan Africa, until the following spring when once again the olive groves resound to their plaintive song.

David Attenborough presents the Eurasian scops owl found in Mediterranean regions.

Fieldfare2013120520150219 (R4)
20161115 (R4)
20180905 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the fieldfare. Fieldfares are thrushes, and very handsome ones. They have slate-grey heads, dark chestnut backs and black tails and their under parts are patterned with arrows. Although birds will stick around if there's plenty of food available, fieldfares are great wanderers and are quick to move out in freezing conditions.

Chris Packham presents the fieldfare. Fieldfares are thrushes, and very handsome ones. They have slate-grey heads, dark chestnut backs and black tails and their under parts are patterned with arrows. Although birds will stick around if there's plenty of food available, fieldfares are great wanderers and are quick to move out in freezing conditions.

Chris Packham presents the fieldfare. Fieldfares are thrushes, and very handsome ones. They have slate-grey heads, dark chestnut backs and black tails and their under parts are patterned with arrows. Although birds will stick around if there's plenty of food available, fieldfares are great wanderers and are quick to move out in freezing conditions.

Chris Packham presents the fieldfare.

Chris Packham presents the fieldfare.

Chris Packham presents the fieldfare. Fieldfares are thrushes, and very handsome ones. They have slate-grey heads, dark chestnut backs and black tails and their under parts are patterned with arrows. Although birds will stick around if there's plenty of food available, fieldfares are great wanderers and are quick to move out in freezing conditions.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Chris Packham presents the fieldfare.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the fieldfare. Fieldfares are thrushes, and very handsome ones. They have slate-grey heads, dark chestnut backs and black tails and their under parts are patterned with arrows. Although birds will stick around if there's plenty of food available, fieldfares are great wanderers and are quick to move out in freezing conditions.

"

Chris Packham presents the fieldfare. Fieldfares are thrushes, and very handsome ones. They have slate-grey heads, dark chestnut backs and black tails and their under parts are patterned with arrows. Although birds will stick around if there's plenty of food available, fieldfares are great wanderers and are quick to move out in freezing conditions.

Firecrest2013102920150826 (R4)
20150830 (R4)
20160513 (R4)
20170227 (R4)
20170305 (R4)
20190129 (R4)
20210126 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the firecrest.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Firecrest. Firecrests are very small birds, a mere nine centimetres long and are often confused with their much commoner cousins, goldcrests. Both have the brilliant orange or yellow crown feathers, but the firecrest embellishes these with black eyestripes, dazzling white eyebrows and golden patches on the sides of its neck... a jewel of a bird.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the firecrest.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the firecrest.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Firecrest. Firecrests are very small birds, a mere nine centimetres long and are often confused with their much commoner cousins, goldcrests. Both have the brilliant orange or yellow crown feathers, but the firecrest embellishes these with black eyestripes, dazzling white eyebrows and golden patches on the sides of its neck... a jewel of a bird.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Firecrest. Firecrests are very small birds, a mere nine centimetres long and are often confused with their much commoner cousins, goldcrests. Both have the brilliant orange or yellow crown feathers, but the firecrest embellishes these with black eyestripes, dazzling white eyebrows and golden patches on the sides of its neck... a jewel of a bird.

Flightless Cormorant2014112520151216 (R4)
20200616 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the flightless cormorant adapted to its Galapagos world. The isolated Galapagos Islands are famous for their unique wildlife which has evolved to adapt to a landscape free of predators. This absence of predators has allowed the native cormorant to dispense with the need to fly, why waste energy when there's nothing to fly away from? This is the only flightless member of the cormorant family, which feeds on fish and for that reason it has developed stronger feet for swimming after its prey. They nest on the rocky coasts of Fernandina and Isabela islands and the population can dip below a thousand birds especially after hurricanes or collapses in local fish numbers. They recover quickly though, but are vulnerable to introduced dogs which nearly eliminated the cormorants on Isabela Island.

Chris Packham presents the flightless cormorant.

Chris Packham presents the flightless cormorant adapted to its Galapagos world. The isolated Galapagos Islands are famous for their unique wildlife which has evolved to adapt to a landscape free of predators. This absence of predators has allowed the native cormorant to dispense with the need to fly, why waste energy when there's nothing to fly away from? This is the only flightless member of the cormorant family, which feeds on fish and for that reason it has developed stronger feet for swimming after its prey. They nest on the rocky coasts of Fernandina and Isabela islands and the population can dip below a thousand birds especially after hurricanes or collapses in local fish numbers. They recover quickly though, but are vulnerable to introduced dogs which nearly eliminated the cormorants on Isabela Island.

Chris Packham presents the flightless cormorant.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the flightless cormorant adapted to its Galapagos world. The isolated Galapagos Islands are famous for their unique wildlife which has evolved to adapt to a landscape free of predators. This absence of predators has allowed the native cormorant to dispense with the need to fly, why waste energy when there's nothing to fly away from? This is the only flightless member of the cormorant family, which feeds on fish and for that reason it has developed stronger feet for swimming after its prey. They nest on the rocky coasts of Fernandina and Isabela islands and the population can dip below a thousand birds especially after hurricanes or collapses in local fish numbers. They recover quickly though, but are vulnerable to introduced dogs which nearly eliminated the cormorants on Isabela Island.

Florence Wilkinson Tweet Takeover Week 120180729"Co-founder of bird song recognition app Warblr Florence Wilkinson likes the female siskin.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Writer, filmmaker and co-founder of bird song recognition app Warblr Florence Wilkinson has early memories of watching wildlife and being woken by her parents to hear tawny owls. But in this Tweet of the Day she discusses why the siskin has been chosen, not the brightly coloured male, but the female which Florence thinks of as subtly nuanced in colour, rather than drab as some people would say.

You can here more from Florence and her work in the accompanying Tweet of the Week podcast, via the Radio 4 website.

Producer Sarah Addezio.

"

Florence Wilkinson Tweet Takeover Week 220180805"Florence Wilkinson, co-founder of bird song recognition app Warblr, enjoys the early bird.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

For writer, filmmaker and co-founder of the bird song recognition app Warblr Florence Wilkinson, the brown thrasher, as the state bird of Georgia in the United States, is a apt choice as she recalls how her citizen science inspired project is being used to help schoolchildren recognise birdsong in North America and elsewhere.

You can here more from Florence and her work in the accompanying Tweet of the Week podcast, via the Radio 4 website.

Producer : Sarah Addezio.

"

Florida Scrub Jay2014090920150914 (R4)
20150920 (R4)
20200821 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Florida scrub jay. Less than 6,000 Florida scrub jays exist in the wild, yet these are some of the most intelligent creatures in the world. Long term research has revealed an extraordinary intelligence. If other jays are around, a bird will only hide its food when the other bird is out of sight. It will even choose a quieter medium, and rather than pebbles for example, to further avoid revealing its hidden larder to sharp-eared competitors.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Florida scrub jay. Less than 6,000 Florida scrub jays exist in the wild, yet these are some of the most intelligent creatures in the world. Long term research has revealed an extraordinary intelligence. If other jays are around, a bird will only hide its food when the other bird is out of sight. It will even choose a quieter medium, and rather than pebbles for example, to further avoid revealing its hidden larder to sharp-eared competitors.

David Attenborough presents the Florida scrub jay.

David Attenborough presents the Florida scrub jay.

Sir David Attenborough presents the Florida scrub jay. Less than 6,000 Florida scrub jays exist in the wild, yet these are some of the most intelligent creatures in the world. Long term research has revealed an extraordinary intelligence. If other jays are around, a bird will only hide its food when the other bird is out of sight. It will even choose a quieter medium, and rather than pebbles for example, to further avoid revealing its hidden larder to sharp-eared competitors.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Frank Gardner On The Golden Oriole2017080820190702 (R4)The BBC's Frank Gardner recalls the song of a golden oriole for Tweet of the Day.

In the second of his Tweet of the Day's BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner recalls the song of a golden oriole in a Bahrain date grove.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Ashutosh Jhureley.

"The BBC's Frank Gardner recalls the song of a golden oriole for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Ashutosh Jhureley. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

In the second of his Tweet of the Day's BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner recalls the song of a golden oriole in a Bahrain date grove.

The BBC's Frank Gardner recalls the song of a golden oriole for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Frank Gardner On The Great Northern Diver2017080720170813 (R4)
20200524 (R4)
The BBC's Frank Gardner recalls great northern divers for Tweet of the Day.

In the first of five Tweet of the Days this week, the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner recalls listening to great northern divers on television programme by Ludwig Koch, as a boy.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett.

"The BBC's Frank Gardner recalls great northern divers for Tweet of the Day.

Producer: Tom Bonnett. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Tom Bonnett.

Frank Gardner On The King Of Saxony Bird Of Paradise2017080920181116 (R4)
20210225 (R4)
The BBC's Frank Gardner recalls the King of Saxony Bird of Paradise for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

High up in the rain-forests of Papaua New Guinea the BBC's Frank Gardner recalls hearing the King of Saxony Bird of Paradise for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Wanghc732.

Producer: Tom Bonnett.

"The BBC's Frank Gardner recalls the King of Saxony Bird of Paradise for Tweet of the Day.

Producer: Tom Bonnett. "

High up in the rain-forests of Papaua New Guinea the BBC's Frank Gardner recalls hearing the King of Saxony Bird of Paradise for Tweet of the Day.

The BBC's Frank Gardner recalls the King of Saxony Bird of Paradise for Tweet of the Day.

Frank Gardner On The Little Auk2017082520200811 (R4)BBC security correspondent and avid birdwatcher Frank Gardner on the Little Auk.

BBC security correspondent and avid birdwatcher, Frank Gardner, on an encounter with Little Auks on Svalbard for this Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: JanuaryJoe.

"BBC security correspondent and avid birdwatcher Frank Gardner on the Little Auk.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: JanuaryJoe. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: JanuaryJoe.

Frank Gardner On The Three-wattled Bellbird2017081020200217 (R4)The BBC's Frank Gardner recounts hearing the three-wattled bell bird for Tweet of the Day.

High in the cloud forest of Costa Rica, Frank Gardner recalls for Tweet of the Day, a bird he has heard but never seen, the three wattled bell bird.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Feroze Omardeen.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"The BBC's Frank Gardner recounts hearing the three-wattled bell bird for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Feroze Omardeen.

Frank Gardner On The White-throated Kingfisher2017081120200218 (R4)The BBC's Frank Gardner remembers watching white-throated kingfishers for Tweet of the Day

In the final of his Tweet of the Day's for this week, the BBC's Frank Gardner remembers watching white-throated kingfishers being chased by a Eurasian kingfisher in Israel.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Ashutosh Jhureley.

"The BBC's Frank Gardner remembers watching white-throated kingfishers for Tweet of the Day

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Ashutosh Jhureley. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Ashutosh Jhureley.

Fulmar2014042920150605 (R4)
20170505 (R4)
20190311 (R4)
20191001 (R4)
20201030 (R4)
Series of stories about British birds, inspired by their calls and songs. Kate Humble presents the fulmar.

Series of stories about British birds, inspired by their calls and songs. Kate Humble presents the fulmar.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Series of stories about British birds, inspired by their calls and songs. Kate Humble presents the fulmar.

"

"Kate Humble presents the fulmar.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Fulmar20170505
Fyfe Dangerfield On The Bee-eater2017112120180704 (R4)Musician Fyfe Dangerfield imagines his dream clothes made in the colours of the bee-eater.

"Musician Fyfe Dangerfield imagines his dream clothes made in the colours of the bee-eater.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Fyfe Dangerfield On The Black-throated Diver2017112220190515 (R4)
20201214 (R4)
The jewel-like patterns of the black-throated diver have musician Fyfe Dangerfield in awe.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Fyfe Dangerfield On The Bluethroat2017121320181204 (R4)
20201120 (R4)
For musician Fyfe Dangerfield, seeing a rare bird is like seeing a celebrity on the street

"For musician Fyfe Dangerfield, seeing a rare bird is like seeing a celebrity on the street

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"For musician Fyfe Dangerfield, seeing a rare bird is like seeing a celebrity on the street"

Fyfe Dangerfield On The Gannet2017112420190517 (R4)Musician Fyfe Dangerfield is enthralled by the rapid, bombing dive of a gannet out at sea.

"Musician Fyfe Dangerfield is enthralled by the rapid, bombing dive of a gannet out at sea."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Fyfe Dangerfield On The Golden Oriole2017121120171217 (R4)
20180724 (R4)
20201112 (R4)
Musician Fyfe Dangerfield recalls the joy of hearing then seeing a golden oriole in France

"Musician Fyfe Dangerfield recalls the joy of hearing then seeing a golden oriole in France

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Fyfe Dangerfield On The Grey Heron2017121220190124 (R4)
20201119 (R4)
For Fyfe Dangerfield, the prehistoric sight and sound of the grey heron is a big leveller.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"For Fyfe Dangerfield, the prehistoric sight and sound of the grey heron is a big leveller.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"For Fyfe Dangerfield, the prehistoric sight and sound of the grey heron is a big leveller."

Fyfe Dangerfield On The Guillemot2017112020171126 (R4)
20180530 (R4)
20201127 (R4)
Musician Fyfe Dangerfield tells the story of the seabird that inspired his band name.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Musician Fyfe Dangerfield tells the story of the seabird that inspired his band name.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Fyfe Dangerfield On The Pied Butcherbird2017121520200701 (R4)Musician Fyfe Dangerfield uses his own birdsong recordings to experiment with music.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Fyfe Dangerfield On The Pigeon2017112320200213 (R4)Musician Fyfe Dangerfield enjoys watching his son chasing one of our most common birds.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Fyfe Dangerfield On The Woodchat Shrike2017121420190516 (R4)Childhood holidays in France were a chance to see rare birds for Fyfe Dangerfield.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Gabi Mann On The American Crow20170510Gabi Mann on the American crow for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

In this programme young girl Gabi Mann recalls how she became friends with American crows in her suburban garden in Seattle, one of whom she named Baby Face. She and her mother began feeding the crows regularly in 2011 and soon the crows began bringing Gabi gifts. Over time these trinckets and corvid offerings amounted to a sizeable hoard which Gabi treasures.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Gabi Mann on the American crow for Tweet of the Day.

Gabi Mann on the American crow for Tweet of the Day."

"for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Gadwall2013121020161123 (R4)
20170216 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the gadwall. Gadwall were rare ducks until a few decades ago, now though, gadwall are spreading fast in the UK. Gadwall can be sneaky thieves, exhibiting what scientists call klepto-parasitic tendencies. They often wait for birds such as coot and mute swans to bring up aquatic vegetation beyond their reach and seize it before their victims can eat it themselves.

Chris Packham presents the gadwall. Gadwall were rare ducks until a few decades ago, now though, gadwall are spreading fast in the UK. Gadwall can be sneaky thieves, exhibiting what scientists call klepto-parasitic tendencies. They often wait for birds such as coot and mute swans to bring up aquatic vegetation beyond their reach and seize it before their victims can eat it themselves.

Chris Packham presents the gadwall. Gadwall were rare ducks until a few decades ago, now though, gadwall are spreading fast in the UK. Gadwall can be sneaky thieves, exhibiting what scientists call klepto-parasitic tendencies. They often wait for birds such as coot and mute swans to bring up aquatic vegetation beyond their reach and seize it before their victims can eat it themselves.

Chris Packham presents the gadwall.

Chris Packham presents the gadwall.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Galapagos Mockingbird2014101520141019 (R4)
20151006 (R4)
20190623 (R4)
20201004 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents a bird which intrigued Darwin, the Galapagos mockingbird. There are four species of Mockingbird in the Galapagos islands, which probably all descended from a single migrant ancestor and then subsequently evolved different adaptations to life on their separate island clusters, hence their fascination for Charles Darwin. The most widespread is the resourceful Galapagos Mockingbird. Unlike other mockingbirds which feed on nectar and seeds, the Galapagos mockingbird has adapted to its island life to steal and break into seabird eggs and even attack and kill young nestlings. They'll also ride on the backs of land iguanas to feed on ticks deep within the reptiles' skin and will boldly approach tourists for foot. They aptly demonstrate the theory of the "survival of the fittest".

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents a bird that intrigued Darwin, the Galapagos mockingbird.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents a bird that intrigued Darwin, the Galapagos mockingbird.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents a bird which intrigued Darwin, the Galapagos mockingbird. There are four species of Mockingbird in the Galapagos islands, which probably all descended from a single migrant ancestor and then subsequently evolved different adaptations to life on their separate island clusters, hence their fascination for Charles Darwin. The most widespread is the resourceful Galapagos Mockingbird. Unlike other mockingbirds which feed on nectar and seeds, the Galapagos mockingbird has adapted to its island life to steal and break into seabird eggs and even attack and kill young nestlings. They'll also ride on the backs of land iguanas to feed on ticks deep within the reptiles' skin and will boldly approach tourists for foot. They aptly demonstrate the theory of the ""survival of the fittest"".

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents a bird that intrigued Darwin, the Galapagos mockingbird.

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents a bird which intrigued Darwin, the Galapagos mockingbird. There are four species of Mockingbird in the Galapagos islands, which probably all descended from a single migrant ancestor and then subsequently evolved different adaptations to life on their separate island clusters, hence their fascination for Charles Darwin. The most widespread is the resourceful Galapagos Mockingbird. Unlike other mockingbirds which feed on nectar and seeds, the Galapagos mockingbird has adapted to its island life to steal and break into seabird eggs and even attack and kill young nestlings. They'll also ride on the backs of land iguanas to feed on ticks deep within the reptiles' skin and will boldly approach tourists for foot. They aptly demonstrate the theory of the "survival of the fittest".

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Gannet2013061420140606
20210211 (R4)
20160429 (R4)
20170426 (R4)
20180823 (R4)
20200407 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Gannet. The North Atlantic is the international stronghold for this impressive seabird - with its wingspan of nearly 2 metres, remorseless expression and dagger-like bill.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the gannet.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of Tracks

Series 2 was named Strata, 3 was named Chimera

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Gannet. The North Atlantic is the international stronghold for this impressive seabird - with its wingspan of nearly 2 metres, remorseless expression and dagger-like bill.

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the gannet.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Gannet. The North Atlantic is the international stronghold for this impressive seabird - with its wingspan of nearly 2 metres, remorseless expression and dagger-like bill."

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Gannet. The North Atlantic is the international stronghold for this impressive seabird - with its wingspan of nearly 2 metres, remorseless expression and dagger-like bill.

Gannet20170426Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the gannet.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Gannet. The North Atlantic is the international stronghold for this impressive seabird - with its wingspan of nearly 2 metres, remorseless expression and dagger-like bill.

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the gannet.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Gannet. The North Atlantic is the international stronghold for this impressive seabird - with its wingspan of nearly 2 metres, remorseless expression and dagger-like bill. "

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the gannet."

Garden Warbler2013051420140527
20160506 (R4)
20190425 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Garden Warbler. Garden warblers aren't very well named.these are birds which like overgrown thickets of shrubs and small trees and so you're more likely to find them in woodland clearings especially in newly- coppiced areas.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the garden warbler.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Garden Warbler. Garden warblers aren't very well named.these are birds which like overgrown thickets of shrubs and small trees and so you're more likely to find them in woodland clearings especially in newly- coppiced areas.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the garden warbler.

David Attenborough presents the garden warbler.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Garden Warbler. Garden warblers aren't very well named.these are birds which like overgrown thickets of shrubs and small trees and so you're more likely to find them in woodland clearings especially in newly- coppiced areas.

David Attenborough presents the garden warbler.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Garganey2013052320140612
20191023 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Garganey. When you hear the male's peculiar call, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Garganey is a grasshopper rather than a duck. One of its other names is 'cricket teal' and the dry rattle is unlike any other British bird sound you'll hear.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the garganey.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Garganey. When you hear the male's peculiar call, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Garganey is a grasshopper rather than a duck. One of its other names is 'cricket teal' and the dry rattle is unlike any other British bird sound you'll hear.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the garganey."

"

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the garganey."

David Attenborough presents the garganey.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Gary Moore On The Capercaillie2017062620170702 (R4)
20200625 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Gary Moore describes his surprising encounter with capercaillie.

Wildlife sound recordist Gary Moore describes for Tweet of the Day, the surprising encounter he had with capercaillie when in the Scottish Highlands.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"Wildlife sound recordist Gary Moore describes his surprising encounter with capercaillie.

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

"""Wildlife sound recordist Gary Moore describes his surprising encounter with capercaillie.

Producer Tom Bonnett. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Tom Bonnett.

Gary Moore On The Golden Pheasant2017110620171112 (R4)
20200622 (R4)
Gary Moore describes the elation of tracking down the notoriously elusive golden pheasant.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Gary Moore On The Manx Shearwater2017110720190227 (R4)
20200623 (R4)
How wildlife sound recordist Gary Moore became a launch pad for migrating birds on Skomer.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"How wildlife sound recordist Gary Moore became a launch pad for migrating birds on Skomer.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Gary Moore On The Skylark2017111020180419 (R4)
20200626 (R4)
While paying tribute at the Somme battlefields, sound recordist Gary Moore hears a skylark

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"While paying tribute at the Somme battlefields, sound recordist Gary Moore hears a skylark

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Gary Moore On The Stone Curlew2017110920200528 (R4)
20200621 (R4)
Braving dark countryside, sound recordist Gary Moore goes in search of the stone curlew.

"Braving dark countryside, sound recordist Gary Moore goes in search of the stone curlew."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Gary Moore On The Woodlark2017110820190215 (R4)
20200624 (R4)
When sound recordist Gary Moore recorded a woodlark his work revealed some odd behaviour.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"When sound recordist Gary Moore recorded a woodlark his work revealed some odd behaviour.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

When sound recordist Gary Moore recorded a woodlark his work revealed some odd behaviour.

Geoff Sample Tweet Week20190224Wildlife Sound Recordist Geoff Sample on Tweet of the Day

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Wildlife Sound Recordist Geoff Sample on Tweet of the Day

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"""Wildlife Sound Recordist Geoff Sample on Tweet of the Day

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"""

Geoff Samples Dupont's Lark2019030320200629 (R4)"

For wildlife sound recordist Geoff Sample the strange sound of Dupont's lark is something of an enigma, as despite recording half a dozen birds he has never actually seen one.

You can hear more from Geoff in his Tweet of the Week omnibus, available as a download from the website, or on BBC Sounds

Producer : Andrew Dawes

Wildlife sound recordist Geoff Sample enjoys the Dupont's lark on Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Producer : Andrew Dawes

Geoff Sample's Orphean Warbler2019022420200802 (R4)"

For wildlife sound recordist Geoff Sample hearing the jazz like notes of the Orphean warbler on the island of Lesvos reminds me of the legend of how the bird got its name.

All this week Geoff will be selecting his bird species from the Tweet of the Day archive which can be heard again on the Tweet of the Week Omnibus.

Producer : Andrew Dawes

Wildlife sound recordist Geoff Sample on Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Producer : Andrew Dawes

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Gillian Clarke And The Grey Heron2019031720191128 (R4)For Welsh poet and playwright Gillian Clarke the heron recalls a Bishop wearing vestments.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Gillian Clarke On The Red Kite2019031020191127 (R4)Welsh poet and playwright Gillian Clarke first saw a red kite in the Welsh mountains as a child, a bird which now has expanded east and now Gillian regularly sees them sky-dancing over Reading while she travels to London on the train.

You can hear more from Gillian in her Tweet of the Week omnibus, available as a download from the website, or on BBC Sounds

Producer : Andrew Dawes

Welsh poet and playwright Gillian Clarke enjoys red kites sky dancing overhead.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Gillian Clarke, Red Kite20190310Welsh poet and playwright Gillian Clarke enjoys red kites sky dancing overhead.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Welsh poet and playwright Gillian Clarke enjoys red kites sky dancing overhead.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Glossy Ibis2014011720161013 (R4)
20190220 (R4)
20210113 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Glossy Ibis. If, from a distance, you see what appears to be a stout-looking curlew with bronze-coloured highlights, it's probably a glossy ibis. Glossy ibis have always been rare visitors to the UK but in recent years, they've flown here much more regularly.

David Attenborough presents the glossy ibis.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Glossy Ibis. If, from a distance, you see what appears to be a stout-looking curlew with bronze-coloured highlights, it's probably a glossy ibis. Glossy ibis have always been rare visitors to the UK but in recent years, they've flown here much more regularly.

David Attenborough presents the glossy ibis.

David Attenborough presents the glossy ibis.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Glossy Ibis. If, from a distance, you see what appears to be a stout-looking curlew with bronze-coloured highlights, it's probably a glossy ibis. Glossy ibis have always been rare visitors to the UK but in recent years, they've flown here much more regularly.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Glossy Ibis. If, from a distance, you see what appears to be a stout-looking curlew with bronze-coloured highlights, it's probably a glossy ibis. Glossy ibis have always been rare visitors to the UK but in recent years, they've flown here much more regularly.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

David Attenborough presents the story of the Glossy Ibis. If, from a distance, you see what appears to be a stout-looking curlew with bronze-coloured highlights, it's probably a glossy ibis. Glossy ibis have always been rare visitors to the UK but in recent years, they've flown here much more regularly.

Goldcrest2013101820150619 (R4)
20161111 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the goldcrest.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Goldcrest. Goldcrests are, by a whisker, our smallest bird - roughly nine centimetres long and the weight of a ten pence coin. They migrate in October and November from Continental Europe and some people used to believe that because they arrived around the same time as wintering woodcock they'd travelled on the waders' backs and the tiny goldcrest became known as the 'woodcock pilot'.

The sound archive recording of the Goldcrest featured in this programme was sourced from The British Library.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the goldcrest.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the goldcrest.

The sound archive recording of the Goldcrest featured in this programme was sourced from The British Library.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Goldcrest. Goldcrests are, by a whisker, our smallest bird - roughly nine centimetres long and the weight of a ten pence coin. They migrate in October and November from Continental Europe and some people used to believe that because they arrived around the same time as wintering woodcock they'd travelled on the waders' backs and the tiny goldcrest became known as the 'woodcock pilot'.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Goldcrest. Goldcrests are, by a whisker, our smallest bird - roughly nine centimetres long and the weight of a ten pence coin. They migrate in October and November from Continental Europe and some people used to believe that because they arrived around the same time as wintering woodcock they'd travelled on the waders' backs and the tiny goldcrest became known as the 'woodcock pilot'.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the goldcrest.

"

The sound archive recording of the Goldcrest featured in this programme was sourced from The British Library."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Golden Eagle2013082820140820
20160715 (R4)
20190530 (R4)
20200922 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the golden eagle. Golden Eagles are magisterial birds. With a wingspan of over two metres their displays are dramatic affairs involving spectacular aerobatics. They can dive upon their quarry at speeds of more than 240 kilometres per hour, using their sharp talons to snatch up their prey.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the golden eagle.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the golden eagle. Golden Eagles are magisterial birds. With a wingspan of over two metres their displays are dramatic affairs involving spectacular aerobatics. They can dive upon their quarry at speeds of more than 240 kilometres per hour, using their sharp talons to snatch up their prey.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the golden eagle.

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the golden eagle.

Michaela Strachan presents the golden eagle. Golden Eagles are magisterial birds. With a wingspan of over two metres their displays are dramatic affairs involving spectacular aerobatics. They can dive upon their quarry at speeds of more than 240 kilometres per hour, using their sharp talons to snatch up their prey."

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the golden eagle. Golden Eagles are magisterial birds. With a wingspan of over two metres their displays are dramatic affairs involving spectacular aerobatics. They can dive upon their quarry at speeds of more than 240 kilometres per hour, using their sharp talons to snatch up their prey.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Golden Eagle2013082820140824
20160715 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the golden eagle. Golden Eagles are magisterial birds. With a wingspan of over two metres their displays are dramatic affairs involving spectacular aerobatics. They can dive upon their quarry at speeds of more than 240 kilometres per hour, using their sharp talons to snatch up their prey.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the golden eagle.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"

Golden Oriole2013061820140617
20161209 (R4)
20200409 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Golden Oriole. Golden orioles look as exotic as they sound. The male is bright yellow with black wings and a reddish bill. The female is more greenish, but both are very hard to see among the fluttering leaves.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the golden oriole.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Golden Oriole. Golden orioles look as exotic as they sound. The male is bright yellow with black wings and a reddish bill. The female is more greenish, but both are very hard to see among the fluttering leaves.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the golden oriole.

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the golden oriole.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Golden Oriole. Golden orioles look as exotic as they sound. The male is bright yellow with black wings and a reddish bill. The female is more greenish, but both are very hard to see among the fluttering leaves."

The Golden Oriole - Miranda Krestovnikoff narrates the story of this bird and its sound.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Golden Oriole. Golden orioles look as exotic as they sound. The male is bright yellow with black wings and a reddish bill. The female is more greenish, but both are very hard to see among the fluttering leaves.

Golden Pheasant2014022520150721 (R4)
20161206 (R4)
20200131 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

John Aitchison presents the golden pheasant. Golden pheasants are native to the mountains of China where they live in thick bamboo forest. The males are brightly-coloured; gold and scarlet, with a long tail and a cape of black and orange which they use to woo the much duller brown females. From the late 1800's Golden Pheasants were introduced to many bird collections and shooting estates around the UK. Today the strongest colonies are in East Anglia.

John Aitchison presents the golden pheasant. Golden pheasants are native to the mountains of China where they live in thick bamboo forest. The males are brightly-coloured; gold and scarlet, with a long tail and a cape of black and orange which they use to woo the much duller brown females. From the late 1800's Golden Pheasants were introduced to many bird collections and shooting estates around the UK. Today the strongest colonies are in East Anglia.

John Aitchison presents the golden pheasant. Golden pheasants are native to the mountains of China where they live in thick bamboo forest. The males are brightly-coloured; gold and scarlet, with a long tail and a cape of black and orange which they use to woo the much duller brown females. From the late 1800's Golden Pheasants were introduced to many bird collections and shooting estates around the UK. Today the strongest colonies are in East Anglia.

John Aitchison presents the golden pheasant.

John Aitchison presents the golden pheasant.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

John Aitchison presents the golden pheasant. Golden pheasants are native to the mountains of China where they live in thick bamboo forest. The males are brightly-coloured; gold and scarlet, with a long tail and a cape of black and orange which they use to woo the much duller brown females. From the late 1800's Golden Pheasants were introduced to many bird collections and shooting estates around the UK. Today the strongest colonies are in East Anglia.

Golden Plover2013111320150805 (R4)
20150809 (R4)
20161031 (R4)
20161106 (R4)
20180927 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Golden Plover. If, among a flock of lapwings circling over a ploughed field, you see smaller birds with wings like knife-blades and bell-like calls... these are golden plovers.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the golden plover.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Golden Plover. If, among a flock of lapwings circling over a ploughed field, you see smaller birds with wings like knife-blades and bell-like calls... these are golden plovers.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Golden Plover. If, among a flock of lapwings circling over a ploughed field, you see smaller birds with wings like knife-blades and bell-like calls... these are golden plovers.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the golden plover.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the golden plover.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the golden plover.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the golden plover.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Martin Hughes-Games presents the golden plover.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Golden Plover. If, among a flock of lapwings circling over a ploughed field, you see smaller birds with wings like knife-blades and bell-like calls... these are golden plovers.

"

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Golden Plover. If, among a flock of lapwings circling over a ploughed field, you see smaller birds with wings like knife-blades and bell-like calls... these are golden plovers.

Goldeneye2014032020150730 (R4)
20161202 (R4)
20200319 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the goldeneye. Although they're a common winter visitor, you'll need to travel to Speyside in the Scottish Highlands to see goldeneyes in their breeding season where, since 1970, a small population has bred there. Unlike dabbling ducks, such as mallard and teal, they don't need muddy shorelines and lots of vegetation. Goldeneyes are diving ducks that feed mainly on shellfish and crustaceans.

Bill Oddie presents the goldeneye. Although they're a common winter visitor, you'll need to travel to Speyside in the Scottish Highlands to see goldeneyes in their breeding season where, since 1970, a small population has bred there. Unlike dabbling ducks, such as mallard and teal, they don't need muddy shorelines and lots of vegetation. Goldeneyes are diving ducks that feed mainly on shellfish and crustaceans.

Bill Oddie presents the goldeneye. Although they're a common winter visitor, you'll need to travel to Speyside in the Scottish Highlands to see goldeneyes in their breeding season where, since 1970, a small population has bred there. Unlike dabbling ducks, such as mallard and teal, they don't need muddy shorelines and lots of vegetation. Goldeneyes are diving ducks that feed mainly on shellfish and crustaceans.

Bill Oddie presents the goldeneye.

Bill Oddie presents the goldeneye.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bill Oddie presents the goldeneye. Although they’re a common winter visitor, you’ll need to travel to Speyside in the Scottish Highlands to see goldeneyes in their breeding season where, since 1970, a small population has bred there. Unlike dabbling ducks, such as mallard and teal, they don’t need muddy shorelines and lots of vegetation. Goldeneyes are diving ducks that feed mainly on shellfish and crustaceans.

Goldfinch2013060720140523
20160323 (R4)
20170322 (R4)
20180404 (R4)
20181113 (R4)
20191013 (R4)
20210222 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Goldfinch. With its bright yellow wing-flashes and face painted black, white and red, the goldfinch is one of our most colourful birds.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the goldfinch.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Goldfinch. With its bright yellow wing-flashes and face painted black, white and red, the goldfinch is one of our most colourful birds.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the goldfinch.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the goldfinch.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Goldfinch. With its bright yellow wing-flashes and face painted black, white and red, the goldfinch is one of our most colourful birds."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Goosander2014042520150424 (R4)
20160725 (R4)
20160731 (R4)
20190403 (R4)
20190929 (R4)
20201028 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the goosander. Goosanders are handsome ducks and belong to a group known as 'sawbills' because their long slender bills are lined with backward pointing 'teeth', for gripping slippery fish. Underwater they're as agile as otters, chasing fish in raging currents or nosing for them under riverbanks.

Kate Humble presents the goosander. Goosanders are handsome ducks and belong to a group known as 'sawbills' because their long slender bills are lined with backward pointing 'teeth', for gripping slippery fish. Underwater they're as agile as otters, chasing fish in raging currents or nosing for them under riverbanks.

Kate Humble presents the goosander. Goosanders are handsome ducks and belong to a group known as 'sawbills' because their long slender bills are lined with backward pointing 'teeth', for gripping slippery fish. Underwater they're as agile as otters, chasing fish in raging currents or nosing for them under riverbanks.

Kate Humble presents the goosander.

Kate Humble presents the goosander.

Kate Humble presents the goosander.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kate Humble presents the goosander. Goosanders are handsome ducks and belong to a group known as 'sawbills' because their long slender bills are lined with backward pointing 'teeth', for gripping slippery fish. Underwater they're as agile as otters, chasing fish in raging currents or nosing for them under riverbanks.

Goshawk2013112820150702 (R4)
20200519 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes Games presents the Goshawk. A favourite bird of Martin Hughes-Games, who is presenting November's 'Tweet of the Day', the goshawk is a powerful deep-chested relative of the sparrowhawk: its name derives from "goose-hawk", though in practice goshawks rarely catch geese - they prefer woodpigeons, rabbits and squirrels. A female goshawk is a hefty bird, as big as a buzzard and much bulkier than her smaller mate.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the goshawk.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes Games presents the Goshawk. A favourite bird of Martin Hughes-Games, who is presenting November's 'Tweet of the Day', the goshawk is a powerful deep-chested relative of the sparrowhawk: its name derives from ""goose-hawk"", though in practice goshawks rarely catch geese - they prefer woodpigeons, rabbits and squirrels. A female goshawk is a hefty bird, as big as a buzzard and much bulkier than her smaller mate.

"

"Martin Hughes-Games presents the goshawk.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Martin Hughes Games presents the Goshawk. A favourite bird of Martin Hughes-Games, who is presenting November's 'Tweet of the Day', the goshawk is a powerful deep-chested relative of the sparrowhawk: its name derives from "goose-hawk", though in practice goshawks rarely catch geese - they prefer woodpigeons, rabbits and squirrels. A female goshawk is a hefty bird, as big as a buzzard and much bulkier than her smaller mate.

Grasshopper Warbler2014040920150318 (R4)
20150322 (R4)
20160720 (R4)
20190326 (R4)
20200429 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the grasshopper warbler. The reeling song of the grasshopper warbler sounds more like an insect than a bird. Like the paying out of an angler's line from a reel, the grasshopper warbler's song spills out from the bush or bramble clump in which he sits. You'll hear it most often at dawn or dusk in overgrown scrubby or marshy areas.

Kate Humble presents the grasshopper warbler. The reeling song of the grasshopper warbler sounds more like an insect than a bird. Like the paying out of an angler's line from a reel, the grasshopper warbler's song spills out from the bush or bramble clump in which he sits. You'll hear it most often at dawn or dusk in overgrown scrubby or marshy areas.

Kate Humble presents the grasshopper warbler. The reeling song of the grasshopper warbler sounds more like an insect than a bird. Like the paying out of an angler's line from a reel, the grasshopper warbler's song spills out from the bush or bramble clump in which he sits. You'll hear it most often at dawn or dusk in overgrown scrubby or marshy areas.

Kate Humble presents the grasshopper warbler. The reeling song of the grasshopper warbler sounds more like an insect than a bird. Like the paying out of an angler's line from a reel, the grasshopper warbler's song spills out from the bush or bramble clump in which he sits. You'll hear it most often at dawn or dusk in overgrown scrubby or marshy areas.

Kate Humble presents the grasshopper warbler.

Kate Humble presents the grasshopper warbler.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Great Black-backed Gull2013080720140709
20160413 (R4)
20170222 (R4)
20190527 (R4)
20200925 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the great black-backed gull. These gulls are the largest in the world. They are quite common around our coasts and you can see them in summer perched on a crag watching for any signs of danger or potential prey. Although they are scavengers Great Black-Backs will attack and kill other birds.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the great black-backed gull.

Michaela Strachan presents the great black-backed gull. These gulls are the largest in the world. They are quite common around our coasts and you can see them in summer perched on a crag watching for any signs of danger or potential prey. Although they are scavengers Great Black-Backs will attack and kill other birds.

Michaela Strachan presents the great black-backed gull. These gulls are the largest in the world. They are quite common around our coasts and you can see them in summer perched on a crag watching for any signs of danger or potential prey. Although they are scavengers Great Black-Backs will attack and kill other birds.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the great black-backed gull.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the great black-backed gull.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the great black-backed gull. These gulls are the largest in the world. They are quite common around our coasts and you can see them in summer perched on a crag watching for any signs of danger or potential prey. Although they are scavengers Great Black-Backs will attack and kill other birds.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Great Black-backed Gull2013080720140713
20160413 (R4)
20170222 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the great black-backed gull. These gulls are the largest in the world. They are quite common around our coasts and you can see them in summer perched on a crag watching for any signs of danger or potential prey. Although they are scavengers Great Black-Backs will attack and kill other birds.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the great black-backed gull.

Great Bustard2014020420161014 (R4)
20190509 (R4)
20200619 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the great bustard. Great bustards, one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, were most common in Wiltshire and East Anglia but in the past they were hunted to extinction and the last known breeding birds in the UK were in 1832.

Today, great bustards are back on Salisbury Plain, thanks to the work of the Great Bustard Group. The Group aims to establish a self-sustaining population in the UK.

Today, great bustards are back on Salisbury Plain, thanks to the work of the Great Bustard Group. The Group aims to establish a self-sustaining population in the UK.

Chris Packham presents the great bustard.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Great Crested Grebe2014031820150728 (R4)
20160728 (R4)
20200305 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the great crested grebe. In Spring, great crested grebes perform a high ritualized mating display. This includes head shaking and a spectacular performance during which both male and female birds gather bunches of waterweed and as they swim towards each other, before rising vertically in the water, chest to chest, and paddling furiously to keep themselves upright.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the great crested grebe. In Spring, great crested grebes perform a high ritualized mating display. This includes head shaking and a spectacular performance during which both male and female birds gather bunches of waterweed and as they swim towards each other, before rising vertically in the water, chest to chest, and paddling furiously to keep themselves upright.

Bill Oddie presents the great crested grebe. In Spring, great crested grebes perform a high ritualized mating display. This includes head shaking and a spectacular performance during which both male and female birds gather bunches of waterweed and as they swim towards each other, before rising vertically in the water, chest to chest, and paddling furiously to keep themselves upright.

Bill Oddie presents the great crested grebe.

Bill Oddie presents the great crested grebe.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bill Oddie presents the great crested grebe. In Spring, great crested grebes perform a high ritualized mating display. This includes head shaking and a spectacular performance during which both male and female birds gather bunches of waterweed and as they swim towards each other, before rising vertically in the water, chest to chest, and paddling furiously to keep themselves upright.

Great Grey Shrike2014041020150319 (R4)
20161101 (R4)
20200116 (R4)
20201026 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the great grey shrike. Great grey shrikes feed on small birds, which they can catch in flight. They also eat mice, voles and shrews and, as spring approaches, they'll include bees and larger beetles in their diet. Shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their habit of impaling their prey on thorns, just as a butcher hangs his meat on hooks.

Kate Humble presents the great grey shrike. Great grey shrikes feed on small birds, which they can catch in flight. They also eat mice, voles and shrews and, as spring approaches, they'll include bees and larger beetles in their diet. Shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their habit of impaling their prey on thorns, just as a butcher hangs his meat on hooks.

Kate Humble presents the great grey shrike.

Kate Humble presents the great grey shrike.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the great grey shrike. Great grey shrikes feed on small birds, which they can catch in flight. They also eat mice, voles and shrews and, as spring approaches, they'll include bees and larger beetles in their diet. Shrikes are also known as ""butcher birds"" because of their habit of impaling their prey on thorns, just as a butcher hangs his meat on hooks.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"Kate Humble presents the great grey shrike.

Kate Humble presents the great grey shrike. Great grey shrikes feed on small birds, which they can catch in flight. They also eat mice, voles and shrews and, as spring approaches, they'll include bees and larger beetles in their diet. Shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their habit of impaling their prey on thorns, just as a butcher hangs his meat on hooks.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kate Humble presents the great grey shrike. Great grey shrikes feed on small birds, which they can catch in flight. They also eat mice, voles and shrews and, as spring approaches, they'll include bees and larger beetles in their diet. Shrikes are also known as "butcher birds" because of their habit of impaling their prey on thorns, just as a butcher hangs his meat on hooks.

Great Northern Diver2014013120161021 (R4)
20210216 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the story of the great northern diver. The wailing cries of a great northern diver echo around the lakes where they live. If the bird sounds striking, then its appearance is just as dramatic....a dagger bill, sleek submarine-shaped body, it's plumage covered in graphic patterns of black and white stripes, dots and dashes.

Chris Packham presents the great northern diver.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the story of the great northern diver. The wailing cries of a great northern diver echo around the lakes where they live. If the bird sounds striking, then its appearance is just as dramatic....a dagger bill, sleek submarine–shaped body, it's plumage covered in graphic patterns of black and white stripes, dots and dashes.

Great Reed Warbler2013092620150611 (R4)
20160906 (R4)
20190821 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the great reed warbler. As you'd expect from their name, Great Reed Warblers are a much larger version of the Common Reed Warbler and breed in Continental Europe where their very loud song echoes around reed-beds, it can be heard up to half a kilometre away. We can hear one or more singing Great Reed Warblers in the UK each spring.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great reed warbler.

Brett Westwood presents the great reed warbler. As you'd expect from their name, Great Reed Warblers are a much larger version of the Common Reed Warbler and breed in Continental Europe where their very loud song echoes around reed-beds, it can be heard up to half a kilometre away. We can hear one or more singing Great Reed Warblers in the UK each spring.

Brett Westwood presents the great reed warbler. As you'd expect from their name, Great Reed Warblers are a much larger version of the Common Reed Warbler and breed in Continental Europe where their very loud song echoes around reed-beds, it can be heard up to half a kilometre away. We can hear one or more singing Great Reed Warblers in the UK each spring.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great reed warbler.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great reed warbler.

Brett Westwood presents the great reed warbler. As you'd expect from their name, Great Reed Warblers are a much larger version of the Common Reed Warbler and breed in Continental Europe where their very loud song echoes around reed-beds, it can be heard up to half a kilometre away. We can hear one or more singing Great Reed Warblers in the UK each spring."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brett Westwood presents the great reed warbler. As you'd expect from their name, Great Reed Warblers are a much larger version of the Common Reed Warbler and breed in Continental Europe where their very loud song echoes around reed-beds, it can be heard up to half a kilometre away. We can hear one or more singing Great Reed Warblers in the UK each spring.

Great Shearwater2013091620130922
20150518 (R4)
20190315 (R4)
Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great shearwater.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the Great Shearwater; a wanderer of the open ocean. They breed on remote islands in the South Atlantic and then disperse widely and many follow fish and squid shoals northwards, appearing around UK coasts in late summer and early autumn. The south-west of Britain and Ireland is the best area to look for them.

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great shearwater.

"

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great shearwater.

Brett Westwood presents the Great Shearwater; a wanderer of the open ocean. They breed on remote islands in the South Atlantic and then disperse widely and many follow fish and squid shoals northwards, appearing around UK coasts in late summer and early autumn. The south-west of Britain and Ireland is the best area to look for them."

Brett Westwood presents the Great Shearwater; a wanderer of the open ocean. They breed on remote islands in the South Atlantic and then disperse widely and many follow fish and squid shoals northwards, appearing around UK coasts in late summer and early autumn. The south-west of Britain and Ireland is the best area to look for them.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great shearwater.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the Great Shearwater; a wanderer of the open ocean. They breed on remote islands in the South Atlantic and then disperse widely and many follow fish and squid shoals northwards, appearing around UK coasts in late summer and early autumn. The south-west of Britain and Ireland is the best area to look for them.

Brett Westwood presents the Great Shearwater.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Great Skua2013061720130623
20160801 (R4)
20160807 (R4)
20200408 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Great Skua. Great skuas are often known as bonxies - their local name in Shetland where most of the UK's population breeds. Almost two thirds of the world's great skuas nest here or on Orkney.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the great skua.

The Great Skua - Miranda Krestovnikoff narrates the story of this bird and its sound.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Great Skua. Great skuas are often known as bonxies - their local name in Shetland where most of the UK's population breeds. Almost two thirds of the world's great skuas nest here or on Orkney.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the great skua.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the great skua.

Great Snipe2014112620141130 (R4)
20151217 (R4)
20190814 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the superbly camouflaged great snipe of Eastern Europe. A thin drizzle of tinkling notes mingled with rhythmic tapping drifts across a Polish marsh in spring a sign that great male snipes are displaying. Great snipe are wading birds with short legs and very long two-toned bills, which they use to probe bogs and wet ground for worms. Across much of Europe having newly returned from its sub-Saharan wintering grounds a number of northern and eastern European marshes, set stage as breeding sites for the larger, great snipe. They court females at traditional lekking or displaying grounds where several males vie for attention. Perched on a small mound, males gather at sunset to fan their white outer tail feathers, puff out their chests and produce a medley of very un-wader-like calls. The females, looking for a mate, are attracted to the dominant males at the centre of the lek.

Chris Packham presents the great snipe.

Chris Packham presents the superbly camouflaged great snipe of Eastern Europe. A thin drizzle of tinkling notes mingled with rhythmic tapping drifts across a Polish marsh in spring a sign that great male snipes are displaying. Great snipe are wading birds with short legs and very long two-toned bills, which they use to probe bogs and wet ground for worms. Across much of Europe having newly returned from its sub-Saharan wintering grounds a number of northern and eastern European marshes, set stage as breeding sites for the larger, great snipe. They court females at traditional lekking or displaying grounds where several males vie for attention. Perched on a small mound, males gather at sunset to fan their white outer tail feathers, puff out their chests and produce a medley of very un-wader-like calls. The females, looking for a mate, are attracted to the dominant males at the centre of the lek.

Chris Packham presents the superbly camouflaged great snipe of Eastern Europe. A thin drizzle of tinkling notes mingled with rhythmic tapping drifts across a Polish marsh in spring a sign that great male snipes are displaying. Great snipe are wading birds with short legs and very long two-toned bills, which they use to probe bogs and wet ground for worms. Across much of Europe having newly returned from its sub-Saharan wintering grounds a number of northern and eastern European marshes, set stage as breeding sites for the larger, great snipe. They court females at traditional lekking or displaying grounds where several males vie for attention. Perched on a small mound, males gather at sunset to fan their white outer tail feathers, puff out their chests and produce a medley of very un-wader-like calls. The females, looking for a mate, are attracted to the dominant males at the centre of the lek.

Chris Packham presents the great snipe.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Great Spotted Woodpecker2013091320140829
20160217 (R4)
20170206 (R4)
20170212 (R4)
20180910 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the Great Spotted woodpecker. In spring Great Spotted Woodpeckers drum loudly with their bills against tree bark to advertise their territories. Unlike many of our woodland birds, which are declining, Great Spotted Woodpeckers have increased rapidly over the last few decades - up to 250% since the 1970's.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great spotted woodpecker.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great spotted woodpecker.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brett Westwood presents the Great Spotted woodpecker. In spring Great Spotted Woodpeckers drum loudly with their bills against tree bark to advertise their territories. Unlike many of our woodland birds, which are declining, Great Spotted Woodpeckers have increased rapidly over the last few decades - up to 250% since the 1970's.

"

Brett Westwood presents the Great Spotted woodpecker. In spring Great Spotted Woodpeckers drum loudly with their bills against tree bark to advertise their territories. Unlike many of our woodland birds, which are declining, Great Spotted Woodpeckers have increased rapidly over the last few decades - up to 250% since the 1970's.

Brett Westwood presents the Great Spotted woodpecker. In spring Great Spotted Woodpeckers drum loudly with their bills against tree bark to advertise their territories. Unlike many of our woodland birds, which are declining, Great Spotted Woodpeckers have increased rapidly over the last few decades - up to 250% since the 1970's.

Brett Westwood presents the Great Spotted woodpecker. In spring Great Spotted Woodpeckers drum loudly with their bills against tree bark to advertise their territories. Unlike many of our woodland birds, which are declining, Great Spotted Woodpeckers have increased rapidly over the last few decades - up to 250% since the 1970's.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great spotted woodpecker.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great spotted woodpecker.

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the great spotted woodpecker.

Brett Westwood presents the Great Spotted woodpecker. In spring Great Spotted Woodpeckers drum loudly with their bills against tree bark to advertise their territories. Unlike many of our woodland birds, which are declining, Great Spotted Woodpeckers have increased rapidly over the last few decades - up to 250% since the 1970's."

Brett Westwood presents the Great Spotted woodpecker. In spring Great Spotted Woodpeckers drum loudly with their bills against tree bark to advertise their territories. Unlike many of our woodland birds, which are declining, Great Spotted Woodpeckers have increased rapidly over the last few decades - up to 250% since the 1970's.

Great Spotted Woodpecker20140207Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the great spotted woodpecker. In late winter and early spring, brightly-coloured head-bangers are livening up the woods. The handsome Great Spotted Woodpecker really knows how to grab our attention. They don't sing but instead advertise their territories by drumming loudly on the branch or trunk of a tree.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Great Tit2014010820160229 (R4)
20160306 (R4)
20170109 (R4)
20170115 (R4)
20180417 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Great Tit. That metallic 'tea-cher, tea-cher' song of the great tit is instantly recognisable and you can hear it on mild days from mid-December onwards. It's the origin of the old country name, 'Saw-Sharpener'.

David Attenborough presents the great tit.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Great Tit. That metallic 'tea-cher, tea-cher' song of the great tit is instantly recognisable and you can hear it on mild days from mid-December onwards. It's the origin of the old country name, 'Saw-Sharpener'.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Great Tit. That metallic 'tea-cher, tea-cher' song of the great tit is instantly recognisable and you can hear it on mild days from mid-December onwards. It's the origin of the old country name, 'Saw-Sharpener'.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Great Tit. That metallic 'tea-cher, tea-cher' song of the great tit is instantly recognisable and you can hear it on mild days from mid-December onwards. It's the origin of the old country name, 'Saw-Sharpener'.

David Attenborough presents the great tit.

David Attenborough presents the great tit.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Attenborough presents the story of the Great Tit. That metallic 'tea-cher, tea-cher' song of the great tit is instantly recognisable and you can hear it on mild days from mid-December onwards. It's the origin of the old country name, 'Saw-Sharpener'.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"David Attenborough presents the great tit.

"

David Attenborough presents the story of the Great Tit. That metallic 'tea-cher, tea-cher' song of the great tit is instantly recognisable and you can hear it on mild days from mid-December onwards. It's the origin of the old country name, 'Saw-Sharpener'.

Great White Egret2014011420161012 (R4)Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Great White Egret. Great White Egrets are much bigger than little egrets, another recent colonist. These majestic birds first bred in Britain in 2012 at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve in Somerset where two nests produced a total of five chicks, four of which fledged successfully: they bred again in 2013.

David Attenborough presents the great white egret.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Great White Egret. Great White Egrets are much bigger than little egrets, another recent colonist. These majestic birds first bred in Britain in 2012 at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve in Somerset where two nests produced a total of five chicks, four of which fledged successfully: they bred again in 2013.

David Attenborough presents the great white egret.

David Attenborough presents the great white egret.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Great White Egret. Great White Egrets are much bigger than little egrets, another recent colonist. These majestic birds first bred in Britain in 2012 at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve in Somerset where two nests produced a total of five chicks, four of which fledged successfully: they bred again in 2013.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Greater Hill Mynah2014123120150104 (R4)
20151201 (R4)
20190402 (R4)
20200909 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the mimic specialist Greater Hill Mynah from Asia. Like many members of the starling family, Greater Hill Mynah's are superb mimics with a remarkable ability to reproduce the tones of the human voice. This makes them popular as cage and now some wild populations have been severely reduced by collecting. Hill mynahs are not just vocally outstanding. They're dapper looking birds too; glossy purplish-black with a white wing-patch and wattles of bright yellow skin under their eyes and around the back of their necks. The wild birds don't impersonate people though; it's only those captive birds which are amongst some of the best mimics of the human voice.

Sir David Attenborough presents the mimic specialist greater hill mynah from Asia.

Sir David Attenborough presents the mimic specialist Greater Hill Mynah from Asia. Like many members of the starling family, Greater Hill Mynah's are superb mimics with a remarkable ability to reproduce the tones of the human voice. This makes them popular as cage and now some wild populations have been severely reduced by collecting. Hill mynahs are not just vocally outstanding. They're dapper looking birds too; glossy purplish-black with a white wing-patch and wattles of bright yellow skin under their eyes and around the back of their necks. The wild birds don't impersonate people though; it's only those captive birds which are amongst some of the best mimics of the human voice.

Sir David Attenborough presents the mimic specialist greater hill mynah from Asia.

Sir David Attenborough presents the mimic specialist greater hill mynah from Asia.

Sir David Attenborough presents the mimic specialist greater hill mynah from Asia.

Sir David Attenborough presents the mimic specialist Greater Hill Mynah from Asia. Like many members of the starling family, Greater Hill Mynah's are superb mimics with a remarkable ability to reproduce the tones of the human voice. This makes them popular as cage and now some wild populations have been severely reduced by collecting. Hill mynahs are not just vocally outstanding. They're dapper looking birds too; glossy purplish-black with a white wing-patch and wattles of bright yellow skin under their eyes and around the back of their necks. The wild birds don't impersonate people though; it's only those captive birds which are amongst some of the best mimics of the human voice.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Greater Honeyguide2014103020151105 (R4)
20190627 (R4)
20201008 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the greater honeyguide of sub-Saharan Africa. A loud repetitive "it's - here" - "it's -here" is a sound the greater honey guide only makes to humans in an extraordinary co-operative act between humans and bird. Relatives of woodpeckers they are one of the few birds which can digest wax and also feed on the eggs, grubs and pupae of bees. A greater honeyguide knows the location of the bee colonies in its territory and is able to lead honey-hunters to them. Once it has successfully guided its helpers to a nest, it waits while the honey-hunters remove the comb. Then it moves in to snap up the grubs and wax from the opened nest. So reliable are honeyguides that the Boran people of East Africa save up to two thirds of their honey-searching time by using the bird's services and use a special loud whistle (called a fuulido) to summon their guide before a hunt.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the greater honeyguide of sub-Saharan Africa.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the greater honeyguide of sub-Saharan Africa. A loud repetitive ""it's - here"" - ""it's -here"" is a sound the greater honey guide only makes to humans in an extraordinary co-operative act between humans and bird. Relatives of woodpeckers they are one of the few birds which can digest wax and also feed on the eggs, grubs and pupae of bees. A greater honeyguide knows the location of the bee colonies in its territory and is able to lead honey-hunters to them. Once it has successfully guided its helpers to a nest, it waits while the honey-hunters remove the comb. Then it moves in to snap up the grubs and wax from the opened nest. So reliable are honeyguides that the Boran people of East Africa save up to two thirds of their honey-searching time by using the bird's services and use a special loud whistle (called a fuulido) to summon their guide before a hunt.

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the greater honeyguide of sub-Saharan Africa.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the greater honeyguide of sub-Saharan Africa. A loud repetitive ""it's - here"" - ""it's -here"" is a sound the greater honey guide only makes to humans in an extraordinary co-operative act between humans and bird. Relatives of woodpeckers they are one of the few birds which can digest wax and also feed on the eggs, grubs and pupae of bees. A greater honeyguide knows the location of the bee colonies in its territory and is able to lead honey-hunters to them. Once it has successfully guided its helpers to a nest, it waits while the honey-hunters remove the comb. Then it moves in to snap up the grubs and wax from the opened nest. So reliable are honeyguides that the Boran people of East Africa save up to two thirds of their honey-searching time by using the bird's services and use a special loud whistle (called a fuulido) to summon their guide before a hunt.

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the greater honeyguide of sub-Saharan Africa. A loud repetitive "it's - here" – "it's -here" is a sound the greater honey guide only makes to humans in an extraordinary co-operative act between humans and bird. Relatives of woodpeckers they are one of the few birds which can digest wax and also feed on the eggs, grubs and pupae of bees. A greater honeyguide knows the location of the bee colonies in its territory and is able to lead honey-hunters to them. Once it has successfully guided its helpers to a nest, it waits while the honey-hunters remove the comb. Then it moves in to snap up the grubs and wax from the opened nest. So reliable are honeyguides that the Boran people of East Africa save up to two thirds of their honey-searching time by using the bird's services and use a special loud whistle (called a fuulido) to summon their guide before a hunt.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo2014121820151118 (R4)
20190714 (R4)
20200901 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the greater racket-tailed drongo of South-East Asia. Across a clearing in a Malaysian forest flies a dark bird, seemingly chased by two equally dark butterflies. Those butterflies in hot pursuit aren't insects at all; they are the webbed tips of the greater racket-tailed drongo's excessively long wiry outer-tail feathers, which from a distance look like separate creatures as it flies. Glossy blue-black birds which live in wooded country and are great insect catchers, hawking after them in mid-air before returning to a perch. They're bold too and won't hesitate to harry and chase much larger birds than themselves, including, birds of prey. Like other drongos the greater racquet-tailed drongo has an extensive but not very musical repertoire which includes the sounds of other birds it meets, when it joins mixed feeding flocks, and can imitate the call of a hawk to alarm the hawk's victims and so steal food from them while they are distracted by the call: an ingenious tactic, which few other birds have learned.

Liz Bonnin presents the greater racket-tailed drongo of South East Asia.

Liz Bonnin presents the greater racket-tailed drongo of South-East Asia. Across a clearing in a Malaysian forest flies a dark bird, seemingly chased by two equally dark butterflies. Those butterflies in hot pursuit aren't insects at all; they are the webbed tips of the greater racket-tailed drongo's excessively long wiry outer-tail feathers, which from a distance look like separate creatures as it flies. Glossy blue-black birds which live in wooded country and are great insect catchers, hawking after them in mid-air before returning to a perch. They're bold too and won't hesitate to harry and chase much larger birds than themselves, including, birds of prey. Like other drongos the greater racquet-tailed drongo has an extensive but not very musical repertoire which includes the sounds of other birds it meets, when it joins mixed feeding flocks, and can imitate the call of a hawk to alarm the hawk's victims and so steal food from them while they are distracted by the call: an ingenious tactic, which few other birds have learned.

Liz Bonnin presents the greater racket-tailed drongo of South East Asia.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Greater Rhea2014120220160104 (R4)
20160110 (R4)
20200206 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the greater rhea roaming the South American pampas. Greater rheas are the largest birds in South America and look like small brown ostriches. They're flightless, but can avoid danger by sprinting away on sturdy legs reaching speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. Gauchos, the horsemen of the pampas, used to hunt them on horseback using a bolas; a well-aimed bolas would wrap around the rhea's legs or neck and bring it down in a tangle of feathers and limbs. In the breeding season males call loudly to proclaim territories, and to woo potential mates the male runs around erratically, spreading his wings and booming. He mates with several females who lay their eggs in the same nest. Then the females depart to mate with another male leaving the first male to incubate the clutch and rear the huge brood of chicks on his own.

Chris Packham presents the greater rhea, which roams the South American pampas.

Chris Packham presents the greater rhea roaming the South American pampas. Greater rheas are the largest birds in South America and look like small brown ostriches. They're flightless, but can avoid danger by sprinting away on sturdy legs reaching speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. Gauchos, the horsemen of the pampas, used to hunt them on horseback using a bolas; a well-aimed bolas would wrap around the rhea's legs or neck and bring it down in a tangle of feathers and limbs. In the breeding season males call loudly to proclaim territories, and to woo potential mates the male runs around erratically, spreading his wings and booming. He mates with several females who lay their eggs in the same nest. Then the females depart to mate with another male leaving the first male to incubate the clutch and rear the huge brood of chicks on his own.

Chris Packham presents the greater rhea roaming the South American pampas. Greater rheas are the largest birds in South America and look like small brown ostriches. They're flightless, but can avoid danger by sprinting away on sturdy legs reaching speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. Gauchos, the horsemen of the pampas, used to hunt them on horseback using a bolas; a well-aimed bolas would wrap around the rhea's legs or neck and bring it down in a tangle of feathers and limbs. In the breeding season males call loudly to proclaim territories, and to woo potential mates the male runs around erratically, spreading his wings and booming. He mates with several females who lay their eggs in the same nest. Then the females depart to mate with another male leaving the first male to incubate the clutch and rear the huge brood of chicks on his own.

Chris Packham presents the greater rhea, which roams the South American pampas.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the greater rhea roaming the South American pampas. Greater rheas are the largest birds in South America and look like small brown ostriches. They're flightless, but can avoid danger by sprinting away on sturdy legs reaching speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. Gauchos, the horsemen of the pampas, used to hunt them on horseback using a bolas; a well-aimed bolas would wrap around the rhea's legs or neck and bring it down in a tangle of feathers and limbs. In the breeding season males call loudly to proclaim territories, and to woo potential mates the male runs around erratically, spreading his wings and booming. He mates with several females who lay their eggs in the same nest. Then the females depart to mate with another male leaving the first male to incubate the clutch and rear the huge brood of chicks on his own.

Greater Roadrunner2015012220160113 (R4)
20190609 (R4)
20201206 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the greater roadrunner of south western North America.

Michael Palin presents the greater roadrunner of south western North America. A cuckoo that can run at 20 miles per hour and snap up venomous reptiles might not seem destined for cartoon fame, but that's exactly what happened to the Greater Roadrunner.

The loud "beep-beep" call of the Warner Brothers cartoon creation, always out-foxing his arch-enemy Wile-E. Coyote brought this very odd member of the cuckoo family racing into the living rooms of the western world from 1949 onwards. Greater roadrunners live in dry sunny places in the south western states of North America, where their long-tailed, bushy--crested, streaky forms are a common sight. They will eat almost anything from scorpions to rats, outrunning small rodents and lizards and even leaping into the air to catch flying insects.

As it runs across the desert, the roadrunner's footprints show two toes pointing forward and two backwards. The "X" shape this forms was considered a sacred symbol by Pueblo tribes and believed to confound evil spirits because it gives no clues as to which way the bird went.

"Michael Palin presents the greater roadrunner of south western North America.

The loud ""beep-beep"" call of the Warner Brothers cartoon creation, always out-foxing his arch-enemy Wile-E. Coyote brought this very odd member of the cuckoo family racing into the living rooms of the western world from 1949 onwards. Greater roadrunners live in dry sunny places in the south western states of North America, where their long-tailed, bushy--crested, streaky forms are a common sight. They will eat almost anything from scorpions to rats, outrunning small rodents and lizards and even leaping into the air to catch flying insects.

As it runs across the desert, the roadrunner's footprints show two toes pointing forward and two backwards. The ""X"" shape this forms was considered a sacred symbol by Pueblo tribes and believed to confound evil spirits because it gives no clues as to which way the bird went.

"

"Michael Palin presents the greater roadrunner of south western North America.

Michael Palin presents the greater roadrunner of south western North America. A cuckoo that can run at 20 miles per hour and snap up venomous reptiles might not seem destined for cartoon fame, but that's exactly what happened to the Greater Roadrunner.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

The loud "beep-beep" call of the Warner Brothers cartoon creation, always out-foxing his arch-enemy Wile-E. Coyote brought this very odd member of the cuckoo family racing into the living rooms of the western world from 1949 onwards. Greater roadrunners live in dry sunny places in the south western states of North America, where their long-tailed, bushy--crested, streaky forms are a common sight. They will eat almost anything from scorpions to rats, outrunning small rodents and lizards and even leaping into the air to catch flying insects.

As it runs across the desert, the roadrunner's footprints show two toes pointing forward and two backwards. The "X" shape this forms was considered a sacred symbol by Pueblo tribes and believed to confound evil spirits because it gives no clues as to which way the bird went.

Michael Palin presents the greater roadrunner of south western North America. A cuckoo that can run at 20 miles per hour and snap up venomous reptiles might not seem destined for cartoon fame, but that's exactly what happened to the Greater Roadrunner.

As it runs across the desert, the roadrunner's footprints show two toes pointing forward and two backwards. The "X" shape this forms was considered a sacred symbol by Pueblo tribes and believed to confound evil spirits because it gives no clues as to which way the bird went.

Green Sandpiper2013091020140826
20160829 (R4)
20160904 (R4)
20200315 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the Green Sandpiper; a bird with a wonderful yodelling call and the heart-stopping suddenness with which it leaps up from its feeding place and dashes off. The birds that visit the UK are often from Scandinavia, where they nest high up in a fir-tree. When the chicks hatch they tumble unharmed from the nest and are escorted to safe feeding places by their parents.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the green sandpiper.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Brett Westwood presents the Green Sandpiper; a bird with a wonderful yodelling call and the heart-stopping suddenness with which it leaps up from its feeding place and dashes off. The birds that visit the UK are often from Scandinavia, where they nest high up in a fir-tree. When the chicks hatch they tumble unharmed from the nest and are escorted to safe feeding places by their parents.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the green sandpiper.

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the green sandpiper.

Brett Westwood presents the Green Sandpiper; a bird with a wonderful yodelling call and the heart-stopping suddenness with which it leaps up from its feeding place and dashes off. The birds that visit the UK are often from Scandinavia, where they nest high up in a fir-tree. When the chicks hatch they tumble unharmed from the nest and are escorted to safe feeding places by their parents."

Brett Westwood presents the Green Sandpiper.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brett Westwood presents the Green Sandpiper; a bird with a wonderful yodelling call and the heart-stopping suddenness with which it leaps up from its feeding place and dashes off. The birds that visit the UK are often from Scandinavia, where they nest high up in a fir-tree. When the chicks hatch they tumble unharmed from the nest and are escorted to safe feeding places by their parents.

Green Woodpecker2014041620150408 (R4)
20181130 (R4)
20200309 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the green woodpecker. The maniacal laughing call, or 'yaffle', of a green woodpecker was supposed to herald rain, hence its old country name of 'rain bird'. You can hear their yodelling calls in woods, parks, heaths and large gardens throughout most of the UK. Altough green woodpeckers do nest in trees they spend a lot of their time on the ground, probing lawns and meadows for their main food, ants and their pupae.

Kate Humble presents the green woodpecker. The maniacal laughing call, or 'yaffle', of a green woodpecker was supposed to herald rain, hence its old country name of 'rain bird'. You can hear their yodelling calls in woods, parks, heaths and large gardens throughout most of the UK. Altough green woodpeckers do nest in trees they spend a lot of their time on the ground, probing lawns and meadows for their main food, ants and their pupae.

Kate Humble presents the green woodpecker.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Greenfinch2013052120140610
20160407 (R4)
20170131 (R4)
20180627 (R4)
20191021 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Greenfinch. Often seen singing from the tops of garden trees looking large for a finch with a heavy bill, these are sadly a declining garden bird.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the greenfinch.

"David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the greenfinch.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Greenfinch. Often seen singing from the tops of garden trees looking large for a finch with a heavy bill, these are sadly a declining garden bird.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the greenfinch."

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the greenfinch."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Greenfinch. Often seen singing from the tops of garden trees looking large for a finch with a heavy bill, these are sadly a declining garden bird.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Greenfinch. Often seen singing from the tops of garden trees looking large for a finch with a heavy bill, these are sadly a declining garden bird.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the greenfinch.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the greenfinch.

Greenshank2013090520140814Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the greenshank.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the Greenshank. The ringing triple call of a greenshank from a pool or marshy area is something to listen out for and a sure sign that autumn migration is under way. It's during their migration north that most of us meet greenshanks because in the UK they breed only in Scotland and even there, they are usually in the most remote bogs and mires of the Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the Greenshank. The ringing triple call of a greenshank from a pool or marshy area is something to listen out for and a sure sign that autumn migration is under way. It's during their migration north that most of us meet greenshanks because in the UK they breed only in Scotland and even there, they are usually in the most remote bogs and mires of the Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the greenshank.

"

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the greenshank."

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the greenshank.

Brett Westwood presents the Greenshank. The ringing triple call of a greenshank from a pool or marshy area is something to listen out for and a sure sign that autumn migration is under way. It's during their migration north that most of us meet greenshanks because in the UK they breed only in Scotland and even there, they are usually in the most remote bogs and mires of the Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland."

Gregory Ovenden On The Canada Goose2017062320190116 (R4)
20210101 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Gregory Overden on Canada geese for Tweet of the Day.

Wildlife sound operator and recordist Gregory Ovenden tries to think creatively about the sounds he records for Tweet of the Day. He tells the story of when he went to record birds walking on a frozen lake and came across a novel solution to record a Canada goose unable to grip the ice.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"Wildlife sound recordist Gregory Overden on Canada geese for Tweet of the Day.

Wildlife sound operator and recordist Gregory Ovenden tries to think creatively about the sounds he records for Tweet of the Day. He tells the story of when he went to record birds walking on a frozen lake and came across a novel solution to record a Canada goose unable to grip the ice.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

Wildlife sound recordist Gregory Overden on Canada geese for Tweet of the Day."

"""Wildlife sound recordist Gregory Overden on Canada geese for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Tom Bonnett. """

Greta Scacchi On The Goldfinch2017120420210314 (R4)
20171210 (R4)
20190617 (R4)
Actress Greta Scacchi compares the birds she knew in Australia with those in London.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Grey Heron2013051620140529
20160308 (R4)
20160912 (R4)
20160918 (R4)
20180828 (R4)
David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the grey heron.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Grey Heron. The Grey Heron makes a loud croaking sound, often standing in an ungainly way on a tree-top which it might share with many others for nesting - the heronry.

"David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the grey heron.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Grey Heron. The Grey Heron makes a loud croaking sound, often standing in an ungainly way on a tree-top which it might share with many others for nesting - the heronry.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Grey Heron. The Grey Heron makes a loud croaking sound, often standing in an ungainly way on a tree-top which it might share with many others for nesting - the heronry.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the grey heron."

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Grey Heron. The Grey Heron makes a loud croaking sound, often standing in an ungainly way on a tree-top which it might share with many others for nesting - the heronry."

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Grey Heron. The Grey Heron makes a loud croaking sound, often standing in an ungainly way on a tree-top which it might share with many others for nesting - the heronry.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Grey Heron. The Grey Heron makes a loud croaking sound, often standing in an ungainly way on a tree-top which it might share with many others for nesting - the heronry.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Grey Heron. The Grey Heron makes a loud croaking sound, often standing in an ungainly way on a tree-top which it might share with many others for nesting - the heronry.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the grey heron.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the grey heron.

Grey Heron (winter)2014020320140209
20170307 (R4)
20210217 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the grey heron. Winter can be a challenging time for grey herons. In freezing conditions, their favoured food supplies of fish and amphibians are locked beneath the ice and prolonged spells of cold weather can be fatal for these birds.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Grey Partridge2014031720140323
20150727 (R4)
20160610 (R4)
20161229 (R4)
20181107 (R4)
20210122 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the Grey partridge. The grey partridge, a plump game bird, is now a rarity across most of the UK. Found on farmland, a partridge pair will often hold territory in a few fields beyond which they seldom stray during their whole lives. They should be doing well but increasing field sizes, which reduce nesting cover and the use of pesticides, which kill off vital insects, have taken their toll.

Bill Oddie presents the grey partridge.

"Bill Oddie presents the grey partridge.

"

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Bill Oddie presents the Grey partridge.

Bill Oddie presents the Grey partridge. The grey partridge, a plump game bird, is now a rarity across most of the UK. Found on farmland, a partridge pair will often hold territory in a few fields beyond which they seldom stray during their whole lives. They should be doing well but increasing field sizes, which reduce nesting cover and the use of pesticides, which kill off vital insects, have taken their toll.

Bill Oddie presents the Grey partridge. The grey partridge, a plump game bird, is now a rarity across most of the UK. Found on farmland, a partridge pair will often hold territory in a few fields beyond which they seldom stray during their whole lives. They should be doing well but increasing field sizes, which reduce nesting cover and the use of pesticides, which kill off vital insects, have taken their toll.

Grey Partridge In No-man's Land2018111120201111 (R4)On 100th anniversary of WWI Armistice, Derek Niemann recalls the grey partridge.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"On 100th anniversary of WWI Armistice, Derek Niemann recalls the grey partridge.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Throughout the First World War, birds were protected across the Western Front and elsewhere, which resulted in some remarkable stories of soldiers ceasing fire in order to protect birds from being killed.

Writer Derek Niemann who worked for the RSPB for 25 years, has latterly turned his time to writing, including the book Birds in a Cage, an affectionate tale of British prisoner of war ornithologists. On this the Centenary of the First World War Armistice Derek recalls how one species, the grey partridge, thrived in the area that became known as no-mans land. Including one remarkable story involving a French Colonel who halted a planned artillery barrage to allow his sergeant to move a covey of grey partridge to safety.

Producer Andrew Dawes

Producer Andrew Dawes

Writer Derek Niemann who worked for the RSPB for 25 years, has latterly turned his time to writing, including the book Birds in a Cage, an affectionate tale of British prisoner of war ornithologists. Derek recalls how one species, the grey partridge, thrived in the area that became known as no-mans land. Including one remarkable story involving a French Colonel who halted a planned artillery barrage to allow his sergeant to move a covey of grey partridge to safety.

Derek Niemann recalls the grey partridge during World War 1.

Grey Plover2013101120150529 (R4)
20160919 (R4)
20160925 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the grey plover.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Grey Plover. The call of the grey plover across the shimmering mud-flats of an autumn estuary is a haunting sound. They feed out on open mudflats using the "run, stop, peck" method....a quick run towards any worms or shellfish which they spot with those big eyes, stop, then a slight lean forward to pick it up.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Grey Plover. The call of the grey plover across the shimmering mud-flats of an autumn estuary is a haunting sound. They feed out on open mudflats using the "run, stop, peck" method....a quick run towards any worms or shellfish which they spot with those big eyes, stop, then a slight lean forward to pick it up.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Grey Plover. The call of the grey plover across the shimmering mud-flats of an autumn estuary is a haunting sound. They feed out on open mudflats using the "run, stop, peck" method....a quick run towards any worms or shellfish which they spot with those big eyes, stop, then a slight lean forward to pick it up.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the grey plover.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Grey Plover. The call of the grey plover across the shimmering mud-flats of an autumn estuary is a haunting sound. They feed out on open mudflats using the ""run, stop, peck"" method....a quick run towards any worms or shellfish which they spot with those big eyes, stop, then a slight lean forward to pick it up.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Grey Plover. The call of the grey plover across the shimmering mud-flats of an autumn estuary is a haunting sound. They feed out on open mudflats using the ""run, stop, peck"" method....a quick run towards any worms or shellfish which they spot with those big eyes, stop, then a slight lean forward to pick it up."

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Grey Plover. The call of the grey plover across the shimmering mud-flats of an autumn estuary is a haunting sound. They feed out on open mudflats using the ""run, stop, peck"" method....a quick run towards any worms or shellfish which they spot with those big eyes, stop, then a slight lean forward to pick it up.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the grey plover.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Grey Wagtail2014012920160524 (R4)
20180613 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the story of the grey wagtail. Grey wagtails are supremely graceful birds which boost their appeal by nesting in photogenic locations. They revel in shaded spots near swift-flowing water and will also nest by canal lock-gates or mill-races.

Chris Packham presents the grey wagtail.

Chris Packham presents the story of the grey wagtail. Grey wagtails are supremely graceful birds which boost their appeal by nesting in photogenic locations. They revel in shaded spots near swift-flowing water and will also nest by canal lock-gates or mill-races.

Chris Packham presents the grey wagtail.

"Chris Packham presents the grey wagtail.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the story of the grey wagtail. Grey wagtails are supremely graceful birds which boost their appeal by nesting in photogenic locations. They revel in shaded spots near swift-flowing water and will also nest by canal lock-gates or mill-races.

"

Chris Packham presents the story of the grey wagtail. Grey wagtails are supremely graceful birds which boost their appeal by nesting in photogenic locations. They revel in shaded spots near swift-flowing water and will also nest by canal lock-gates or mill-races.

Greylag Goose2014011520160708 (R4)Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Greylag Goose. Greylags are the biggest and bulkiest of our wild grey geese with bright orange bills and pink legs. When they fly, you can see large pale grey panels on the wings. The greylag has been fully domesticated for around three thousand years.

David Attenborough presents the greylag goose.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Greylag Goose. Greylags are the biggest and bulkiest of our wild grey geese with bright orange bills and pink legs. When they fly, you can see large pale grey panels on the wings. The greylag has been fully domesticated for around three thousand years.

David Attenborough presents the greylag goose.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Guillemot2013052820150512 (R4)
20160427 (R4)
20190319 (R4)
20200601 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Guillemot. Guillemots breed on cliff ledges and the chick is encouraged to make its first flight at the pointing of fledging by being encouraged to jump by its mother or father calling from the sea below.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the guillemot.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Guillemot. Guillemots breed on cliff ledges and the chick is encouraged to make its first flight at the pointing of fledging by being encouraged to jump by its mother or father calling from the sea below.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Guillemot. Guillemots breed on cliff ledges and the chick is encouraged to make its first flight at the pointing of fledging by being encouraged to jump by its mother or father calling from the sea below.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the guillemot.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the guillemot.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the Guillemot. Guillemots breed on cliff ledges and the chick is encouraged to make its first flight at the pointing of fledging by being encouraged to jump by its mother or father calling from the sea below.

David Attenborough presents the guillemot.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Guira Cuckoo2014091520150928 (R4)
20151004 (R4)
20200820 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the guira cuckoo of central South America. Guira cuckoos break all the usual rules of their family. They are very sociable and travel in noisy gangs, feeding and roosting together. But what makes the behaviour of guira cuckoos so different is that several females often lay their eggs in a single nest, sometimes as many as 20 eggs which are tended by the respective mothers. This is known as co-operative breeding. Whether a female recognises her own eggs isn't certain, but it's possible that they can distinguish them by variable markings on the eggshells and single them out for special care.

Sir David Attenborough presents the guira cuckoo of central South America. Guira cuckoos break all the usual rules of their family. They are very sociable and travel in noisy gangs, feeding and roosting together. But what makes the behaviour of guira cuckoos so different is that several females often lay their eggs in a single nest, sometimes as many as 20 eggs which are tended by the respective mothers. This is known as co-operative breeding. Whether a female recognises her own eggs isn't certain, but it's possible that they can distinguish them by variable markings on the eggshells and single them out for special care.

Sir David Attenborough presents the guira cuckoo of central South America. Guira cuckoos break all the usual rules of their family. They are very sociable and travel in noisy gangs, feeding and roosting together. But what makes the behaviour of guira cuckoos so different is that several females often lay their eggs in a single nest, sometimes as many as 20 eggs which are tended by the respective mothers. This is known as co-operative breeding. Whether a female recognises her own eggs isn't certain, but it's possible that they can distinguish them by variable markings on the eggshells and single them out for special care.

David Attenborough presents the guira cuckoo of central South America.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Harpy Eagle2015011920160115 (R4)
20181030 (R4)
20190901 (R4)
20201231 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the harpy eagle, flying over the Brazilian rainforest.

Michael Palin presents the Harpy Eagle flying over the Brazilian rainforest. This is one of the most powerful birds of prey and links mythological corpse-bearers, the coat of arms of Panama and the Harry Potter films.

In Greek mythology harpies were creatures with the bodies of eagles and the faces of women, who seized people in their claws. A human body is beyond the real-life harpy eagle, but with its massive 12 cm talons, it can carry a full-grown sloth or an adult howler monkey. Being versatile hunters, the eagles catch a range of birds and reptiles and can easily hoist porcupines and armadillos into the treetops to feed their young.

Harpy Eagles breed in the rainforests of central and South America. They're blackish- grey above and white below with a black collar and a divided crest which gives them an uncanny resemblance to Buckbeak the Hippogriff in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Harpy Eagles breed in the rainforests of central and South America. They're blackish- grey above and white below with a black collar and a divided crest which gives them an uncanny resemblance to Buckbeak the Hippogriff in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'.

Michael Palin presents the harpy eagle, flying over the Brazilian rainforest.

"Michael Palin presents the harpy eagle, flying over the Brazilian rainforest.

"

"Michael Palin presents the Harpy Eagle flying over the Brazilian rainforest

"

In Greek mythology harpies were creatures with the bodies of eagles and the faces of women, who seized people in their claws. A human body is beyond the real-life harpy eagle, but with its massive 12 cm talons, it can carry a full-grown sloth or an adult howler monkey. Being versatile hunters, the eagles catch a range of birds and reptiles and can easily hoist porcupines and armadillos into the treetops to feed their young.

"

Harpy Eagles breed in the rainforests of central and South America. They're blackish- grey above and white below with a black collar and a divided crest which gives them an uncanny resemblance to Buckbeak the Hippogriff in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'.

Michael Palin presents the Harpy Eagle flying over the Brazilian rainforest. This is one of the most powerful birds of prey and links mythological corpse-bearers, the coat of arms of Panama and the Harry Potter films.

Harpy Eagles breed in the rainforests of central and South America. They're blackish- grey above and white below with a black collar and a divided crest which gives them an uncanny resemblance to Buckbeak the Hippogriff in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'.

Harpy Eagles breed in the rainforests of central and South America. They're blackish- grey above and white below with a black collar and a divided crest which gives them an uncanny resemblance to Buckbeak the Hippogriff in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'.

Hawaiian Crow2014100620150925 (R4)Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the now extinct in the wild Hawaiian Crow. It's hard to imagine any crow becoming endangered, but only a hundred or so the formerly widespread Hawaiian crow survive and all of them in captivity. Also known by its Hawaiian name 'Alala' these sooty black brown crows produce a chorus of caws and screeches. Early settlers in the Hawaiian archipelago reduced their numbers, leaving the remaining populations vulnerable to introduced predators; feral pigs further reduced the fruit-laden understory plants favoured by the crow. The species was last seen in the wild in 2002. All may not be lost. A captive breeding programme overseen by San Diego Zoo is hoping to reintroduce the crows into the wild, so perhaps the Hawaiian forests will once again resound with their calls.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Hawaiian crow, now extinct in the wild.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the now extinct in the wild Hawaiian Crow. It's hard to imagine any crow becoming endangered, but only a hundred or so the formerly widespread Hawaiian crow survive and all of them in captivity. Also known by its Hawaiian name 'Alala' these sooty black brown crows produce a chorus of caws and screeches. Early settlers in the Hawaiian archipelago reduced their numbers, leaving the remaining populations vulnerable to introduced predators; feral pigs further reduced the fruit-laden understory plants favoured by the crow. The species was last seen in the wild in 2002. All may not be lost. A captive breeding programme overseen by San Diego Zoo is hoping to reintroduce the crows into the wild, so perhaps the Hawaiian forests will once again resound with their calls.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Hawaiian crow, now extinct in the wild.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Hawaiian Goose (nene)2014121520151113 (R4)
20190719 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the Nene, or the endemic and rare Hawaiian goose. Visit a Wildfowl and Wetland Trust centre in the UK and it is likely you'll be mobbed by the nasal calls of one of the world's rarest birds, the Hawaiian Goose or "Ne-Ne". In the late 18th century there were around 25,000 of these neat attractive geese, with ochre cheeks and black-heads, on the Hawaiian Islands. But by the early 1950s, due to development and introduced predators, a mere 30 or so remained. A few of these remaining Nene's were taken to Slimbridge, home of Peter Scott's Wildfowl Trust as part of a captive breeding programme. They bred successfully and now many generations of geese produced there have been returned to their native islands. Their future is still precarious in the wild, but as the state bird of Hawaii the Nene's outlook is more secure today than for the last seventy years.

Liz Bonnin presents the nene, or the endemic and rare Hawaiian goose.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the Nene, or the endemic and rare Hawaiian goose. Visit a Wildfowl and Wetland Trust centre in the UK and it is likely you'll be mobbed by the nasal calls of one of the world's rarest birds, the Hawaiian Goose or ""Ne-Ne"". In the late 18th century there were around 25,000 of these neat attractive geese, with ochre cheeks and black-heads, on the Hawaiian Islands. But by the early 1950s, due to development and introduced predators, a mere 30 or so remained. A few of these remaining Nene's were taken to Slimbridge, home of Peter Scott's Wildfowl Trust as part of a captive breeding programme. They bred successfully and now many generations of geese produced there have been returned to their native islands. Their future is still precarious in the wild, but as the state bird of Hawaii the Nene's outlook is more secure today than for the last seventy years.

"

"Liz Bonnin presents the nene, or the endemic and rare Hawaiian goose.

Liz Bonnin presents the Nene, or the endemic and rare Hawaiian goose. Visit a Wildfowl and Wetland Trust centre in the UK and it is likely you'll be mobbed by the nasal calls of one of the world's rarest birds, the Hawaiian Goose or "Ne-Ne". In the late 18th century there were around 25,000 of these neat attractive geese, with ochre cheeks and black-heads, on the Hawaiian Islands. But by the early 1950s, due to development and introduced predators, a mere 30 or so remained. A few of these remaining Nene's were taken to Slimbridge, home of Peter Scott's Wildfowl Trust as part of a captive breeding programme. They bred successfully and now many generations of geese produced there have been returned to their native islands. Their future is still precarious in the wild, but as the state bird of Hawaii the Nene's outlook is more secure today than for the last seventy years.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Hawfinch2013112220150821 (R4)
20161205 (R4)
20161211 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Hawfinch. The Hawfinch is a large thickset finch with a massive bill. It uses this to crack open hawthorn and cherry stones as well as hornbeam seeds to get at the soft kernels inside. In doing so, it exerts a force of around 180 pounds per square inch.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the hawfinch.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Hawfinch. The Hawfinch is a large thickset finch with a massive bill. It uses this to crack open hawthorn and cherry stones as well as hornbeam seeds to get at the soft kernels inside. In doing so, it exerts a force of around 180 pounds per square inch.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Hawfinch. The Hawfinch is a large thickset finch with a massive bill. It uses this to crack open hawthorn and cherry stones as well as hornbeam seeds to get at the soft kernels inside. In doing so, it exerts a force of around 180 pounds per square inch.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Hawfinch. The Hawfinch is a large thickset finch with a massive bill. It uses this to crack open hawthorn and cherry stones as well as hornbeam seeds to get at the soft kernels inside. In doing so, it exerts a force of around 180 pounds per square inch.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the hawfinch.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the hawfinch.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the hawfinch.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Heather Bennett On The Lapwing2017071920190221 (R4)
20200731 (R4)
The RSPB's Heather Bennett recalls her first sighting of a lapwing for Tweet of the Day.

RSPB Yorkshire staff are reflecting on birds all this week for Tweet of the Day. Today reserve warden Heather Bennett recalls how the lapwing began her love affair with nature.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"The RSPB's Heather Bennett recalls her first sighting of a lapwing for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"

Producer Tom Bonnett.

Heather Moorland Dawn Chorus2014050220150429 (R4)
20150503 (R4)
20190506 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough celebrates International Dawn Chorus Day with the second of four recordings marking this event. In this programme, we hear the dawn chorus from the heather moors of Allendale in Northumberland. Songs featured are that of the curlew, skylark, golden plover and redshank.

David Attenborough presents a dawn chorus from the heather moorlands of Allendale.

David Attenborough celebrates International Dawn Chorus Day with the second of four recordings marking this event. In this programme, we hear the dawn chorus from the heather moors of Allendale in Northumberland. Songs featured are that of the curlew, skylark, golden plover and redshank.

David Attenborough presents a dawn chorus from the heather moorlands of Allendale.

David Attenborough presents a dawn chorus from the heather moorlands of Allendale.

David Attenborough celebrates International Dawn Chorus Day with the second of four recordings marking this event. In this programme, we hear the dawn chorus from the heather moors of Allendale in Northumberland. Songs featured are that of the curlew, skylark, golden plover and redshank.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Helen Moncrieff On The Black Guillemot2018022620180304 (R4)
20190428 (R4)
Helen Moncrieff recalls seeing an Orca seize a Black Guillemot at sea.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Helen Moncrieff, Shetland Manager for RSPB Scotland recalls some of her encounters with the Black Guillemot or Tystie as they are known locally in Shetland after their piercing whistle. These include watching one disappear into the jaws of an Orca.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Brian Burke.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Brian Burke.

"Helen Moncrieff recalls seeing an Orca seize a Black Guillemot at sea.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Brian Burke."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Helen Moncrieff On The Black Guillemot20180304
Helen Moncrieff On The Fulmar2018022820190429 (R4)Helen Moncrieff finds an ally in a territorial fulmar!

Fulmars defend their nests by launching their stomach contents at an intruder. Now this may not seem like an appealing behaviour but as Helen Moncrieff, Shetland Manager with RSPB Scotland describes, it was a tactic she used to her advantage as a child and has felt protective of these cliff-nesting birds ever since.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Andrew Thompson.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Andrew Thompson.

"

Helen Moncrieff finds an ally in a territorial fulmar!"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Helen Moncrieff On The Northern Wheatear2018022720181121 (R4)
20191031 (R4)
Helen Moncrieff reveals why her tummy 'flips with joy' at the sight of Northern Wheatears.

Known locally as Sten-shakker or Chek after their alarm call, Northern Wheatears never cease to delight Helen Moncrieff, Shetland Manager for RSPB Scotland when they return to Shetland for the breeding season.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Sonia Johnson.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Sonia Johnson.

"

Known locally as Sten-shakker or Chek after their alarm call, Northern Wheatears never cease to delight Helen Moncrieff, Shetland Manager for RSPB Scotland when they return to Shetland for the breeding season.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Sonia Johnson."

"

Helen Moncrieff reveals why her tummy 'flips with joy' at the sight of Northern Wheatears."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Helen Moncrieff On The Shag2018030220190430 (R4)Helen Moncrieff has a particular fondness for a bird known locally as a scarf.

Ever since her first encounter with a Scarf as they are known locally when she was a child and her Mum rescued a casualty of an oil spill, Helen Moncrieff, Shetland Manager for RSPB Scotland has had a particular fondness for these birds seeking them out in in the darkness of sea caves where they nest on ledges and fill the air with their strange sounds.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Paul Lee.

"

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Paul Lee.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Helen Moncrieff On The Shetland Starling2018030120180531 (R4)
20190918 (R4)
Helen Moncrieff is bewitched by the mimicking of Shetland starlings.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Ever since childhood, Helen Moncrieff, Shetland Manager for RSPB Scotland has been fascinated by the ways in which Shetland Starlings can mimic not only other birds but other sounds including a squeaky toy belonging to her own dog!

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: John Dixon.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: John Dixon.

"Helen Moncrieff is bewitched by the mimicking of Shetland starlings.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: John Dixon."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Hen Harrier2014013020160811 (R4)Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the story of the hen harrier. The sight of hen harriers floating in to their roost on a winter's afternoon is one that once seen, you'll never forget. Hen harriers are long-winged, graceful birds of prey which hunt by quartering rough ground such as marshes and moorland.

Chris Packham presents the hen harrier.

Chris Packham presents the story of the hen harrier. The sight of hen harriers floating in to their roost on a winter's afternoon is one that once seen, you'll never forget. Hen harriers are long-winged, graceful birds of prey which hunt by quartering rough ground such as marshes and moorland.

Chris Packham presents the hen harrier.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Herring Gull2013071520130721
20160616 (R4)
20170220 (R4)
20170226 (R4)
20200415 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the herring gull.

Herring gulls now regularly breed inland and that's because of the way we deal with our refuse. Since the Clean Air Acts of 1956 banned the burning of refuse at rubbish tips, the birds have been able to cash in on the food that we reject: And our throwaway society has provided them a varied menu. We've also built reservoirs around our towns on which they roost, and we've provided them with flat roofs which make perfect nest sites.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the herring gull.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the herring gull.

"

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the herring gull."

Herring gulls now regularly breed inland and that's because of the way we deal with our refuse. Since the Clean Air Acts of 1956 banned the burning of refuse at rubbish tips, the birds have been able to cash in on the food that we reject: And our throwaway society has provided them a varied menu. We've also built reservoirs around our towns on which they roost, and we've provided them with flat roofs which make perfect nest sites.

Herring gulls now regularly breed inland and that's because of the way we deal with our refuse. Since the Clean Air Acts of 1956 banned the burning of refuse at rubbish tips, the birds have been able to cash in on the food that we reject: And our throwaway society has provided them a varied menu. We've also built reservoirs around our towns on which they roost, and we've provided them with flat roofs which make perfect nest sites.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the herring gull.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the herring gull.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the herring gull.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Herring gulls now regularly breed inland and that's because of the way we deal with our refuse. Since the Clean Air Acts of 1956 banned the burning of refuse at rubbish tips, the birds have been able to cash in on the food that we reject: And our throwaway society has provided them a varied menu. We've also built reservoirs around our towns on which they roost, and we've provided them with flat roofs which make perfect nest sites.

Herring Gull2013071520140728
20160616 (R4)
20170220 (R4)
20170226 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the herring gull.

Herring gulls now regularly breed inland and that's because of the way we deal with our refuse. Since the Clean Air Acts of 1956 banned the burning of refuse at rubbish tips, the birds have been able to cash in on the food that we reject: And our throwaway society has provided them a varied menu. We've also built reservoirs around our towns on which they roost, and we've provided them with flat roofs which make perfect nest sites.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the herring gull.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the herring gull.

"

"

Hoatzin2014090220150831 (R4)
20150906 (R4)
20161024 (R4)
20161030 (R4)
20210208 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the South American hoatzin. Moving clumsily through riverside trees the funky Mohican head crested hoatzin looks like it has been assembled by a committee. Hoatzin's eat large quantities of leaves and fruit, and to cope with this diet have a highly specialised digestive system more like that of cattle, which gives them an alternative name, 'stink-bird'.

David Attenborough presents the South American hoatzin.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Hobby2013091720150519 (R4)
20180529 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the Hobby. Sickle winged, red-trousered and black-moustached, the hobby is a strikingly beautiful falcon. Hobbies arrive in the UK in late April or May from their wintering grounds in Africa. They are now flourishing in the UK where there are now around 2000 pairs, breeding mainly on farmland and heaths in England and Wales.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the hobby.

Brett Westwood presents the Hobby. Sickle winged, red-trousered and black-moustached, the hobby is a strikingly beautiful falcon. Hobbies arrive in the UK in late April or May from their wintering grounds in Africa. They are now flourishing in the UK where there are now around 2000 pairs, breeding mainly on farmland and heaths in England and Wales.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the hobby.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brett Westwood presents the Hobby. Sickle winged, red-trousered and black-moustached, the hobby is a strikingly beautiful falcon. Hobbies arrive in the UK in late April or May from their wintering grounds in Africa. They are now flourishing in the UK where there are now around 2000 pairs, breeding mainly on farmland and heaths in England and Wales.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the hobby.

"

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the hobby.

Brett Westwood presents the Hobby. Sickle winged, red-trousered and black-moustached, the hobby is a strikingly beautiful falcon. Hobbies arrive in the UK in late April or May from their wintering grounds in Africa. They are now flourishing in the UK where there are now around 2000 pairs, breeding mainly on farmland and heaths in England and Wales."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Honey Buzzard2013082220140807
20200421 (R4)
20200921 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the honey buzzard. The Honey Buzzard is more closely related to the Kite than it is to our common Buzzard. It gets its name for its fondness, not for honey, but for the grubs of bees and wasps. The bird locates their nests by watching where the insects go from a branch. It then digs out the honeycomb with its powerful feet and breaks into the cells.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the honey buzzard.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the honey buzzard."

"

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the honey buzzard.

Michaela Strachan presents the honey buzzard. The Honey Buzzard is more closely related to the Kite than it is to our common Buzzard. It gets its name for its fondness, not for honey, but for the grubs of bees and wasps. The bird locates their nests by watching where the insects go from a branch. It then digs out the honeycomb with its powerful feet and breaks into the cells."

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the honey buzzard. The Honey Buzzard is more closely related to the Kite than it is to our common Buzzard. It gets its name for its fondness, not for honey, but for the grubs of bees and wasps. The bird locates their nests by watching where the insects go from a branch. It then digs out the honeycomb with its powerful feet and breaks into the cells.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michaela Strachan presents the honey buzzard. The Honey Buzzard is more closely related to the Kite than it is to our common Buzzard. It gets its name for its fondness, not for honey, but for the grubs of bees and wasps. The bird locates their nests by watching where the insects go from a branch. It then digs out the honeycomb with its powerful feet and breaks into the cells.

Hoopoe2014041720150409 (R4)
20180801 (R4)
20190414 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the hoopoe. The hoopoe, a salmon-coloured bird with a long curved bill and a black-tipped crest, which it can spread like a fan when excited, is so outrageously exotic that its call reminds us of the Mediterranean. Several hoopoes arrive in the UK each spring and autumn. These are usually birds which have overshot their migration routes and almost certainly won't find a mate here, though they do breed very occasionally.

Kate Humble presents the hoopoe. The hoopoe, a salmon-coloured bird with a long curved bill and a black-tipped crest, which it can spread like a fan when excited, is so outrageously exotic that its call reminds us of the Mediterranean. Several hoopoes arrive in the UK each spring and autumn. These are usually birds which have overshot their migration routes and almost certainly won't find a mate here, though they do breed very occasionally.

Kate Humble presents the hoopoe.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Kate Humble presents the hoopoe.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kate Humble presents the hoopoe. The hoopoe, a salmon-coloured bird with a long curved bill and a black-tipped crest, which it can spread like a fan when excited, is so outrageously exotic that its call reminds us of the Mediterranean. Several hoopoes arrive in the UK each spring and autumn. These are usually birds which have overshot their migration routes and almost certainly won't find a mate here, though they do breed very occasionally.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Horned Screamer2015012120150125 (R4)
20160112 (R4)
20181206 (R4)
20190903 (R4)
20201210 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the Venezuelan horned screamer.

Michael Palin presents the Venezuelan horned screamer.

Michael Palin presents the Venezuelan horned screamer. Sounding as if someone is using a giant plunger in the Venezuelan marshes, these are the mating calls of the Horned Screamer. They're sounds that only another Horned Screamer could love, but then screamers are very odd birds. Over the years ornithologists have struggled to classify them, modern thinking puts their closest living relatives as the primitive Australian Magpie Goose.

Protruding from its head is a long wiry horn made of cartilage, which could rightfully earn it the title of "unicorn of the bird world" Usually seen as pairs or, outside the breeding season in small groups in the marshes and savannas of the northern half of South America, as you'd expect from their name , they are very vocal and these primeval bellows which sound more cow like than bird like and can be heard up to 3 kilometers away.

"Michael Palin presents the Venezuelan horned screamer.

Protruding from its head is a long wiry horn made of cartilage, which could rightfully earn it the title of ""unicorn of the bird world"" Usually seen as pairs or, outside the breeding season in small groups in the marshes and savannas of the northern half of South America, as you'd expect from their name , they are very vocal and these primeval bellows which sound more cow like than bird like and can be heard up to 3 kilometers away.

"

MThrough The Night

Chopin Performed In Poland

20190101

Wojciech Switala piano recital including Chopin and music by the composer's teacher Jozef Elsner. Catriona Young presents.

12:31 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Nocturne in C minor, Op 48 No 1
Wojciech Switala (piano)

12:37 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Nocturne in F sharp, Op 48 No 2
Wojciech Switala (piano)

12:45 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Waltzes, Op 34
Wojciech Switala (piano)

12:57 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Waltzes, Op 64
Wojciech Switala (piano)

1:06 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Scherzo in B flat minor
Wojciech Switala (piano)

1:16 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Nocturne in E, Op 62 No 2
Wojciech Switala (piano)

1:21 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Mazurkas, Op 67
Wojciech Switala (piano)

1:28 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Mazurkas, Op 68
Wojciech Switala (piano)

1:34 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise in E flat
Wojciech Switala (piano)

1:47 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Prelude in C minor, Op 28
Wojciech Switala (piano)

1:49 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Mazurka in G minor, Op 24 No 1
Wojciech Switala (piano)

1:52 am
Józef Antoni Franciszek Elsner (1769-1854)
Symphony in C major Op 11
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Janusz Przybylski (conductor)

2:18 am
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Grand duo in E major on themes from Meyerbeer's 'Robert le Diable'
Sol Gabetta (cello), Bertrand Chamayou (piano)

2:31 am
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Symphony No.3 in F major, Op 90
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Simone Young (conductor)

3:10 am
Carl Maria von Weber
Konzertstuck in F minor, Op 79
Victoria Postnikova (piano), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky (conductor)

3:27 am
Franz Schubert (1797-1828), Max Reger (arranger), Friedrich Ruckert (author)
Du bist die Ruh (D.776), arr. Reger for voice and orchestra
Brigitte Fournier (soprano), National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jerzy Semkow (conductor)

3:32 am
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Overture to Bastien and Bastienne, K.50
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Mario Bernardi (conductor)

3:34 am
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
Le Roi Learm Op 4 (Overture)
BBC Philharmonic, Vassily Sinaisky (conductor)

3:50 am
Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude and Fugue in D minor from Book II of 'Das Wohltemperierte Klavier'
Lana Genc (piano)

3:54 am
Anton Wilhelm Solnitz (c.1708-1753)
Sinfonia in A major, Op 3, No 4
Musica ad Rhenum

4:06 am
Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872)
Ballet Music for the Merry wives of Windsor by Otto Nicolai
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, ŀ?ukasz Borowicz (conductor)

4:16 am
Josquin des Prez (c1440 - 1521)
Chanson Vous L'Airez
Banchieri Singers, Dénes Szabó (conductor)

4:19 am
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Academic Festival Overture, Op 80
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Grant Llewellyn (conductor)

4:31 am
Józef Antoni Franciszek Elsner (1769-1854)
Echo w leise (Overture)
Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Andrzej Straszynski (conductor)

4:37 am
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Impromptu No 2 in E Flat, D899
Rudolf Buchbinder (piano)

4:42 am
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Capriccio espagnol, Op 34
Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic, Kristjan Järvi (conductor)

4:57 am
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
Piano Trio No.2 in C minor, Op 66
Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Eckart Runge (cello), Enrico Pace (piano)

5:25 am
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Piano Concerto in G major
Havard Gimse (piano), Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Arvid Engegård (conductor)

5:48 am
George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin (author)
3 Songs - The Man I Love; I Got Rhythm; Someone To Watch Over Me
Annika Skoglund (soprano), Bengt-Åke Lundin (piano), Staffan Sjöholm (double bass)

5:58 am
William Billings (1746-1800)
Emmaus (1778)
His Majestie's Clerkes, Paul Hillier (conductor)

6:00 am
Johann Sebastian Bach
VioliThrough The Night"

"Michael Palin presents the Venezuelan horned screamer.

Michael Palin presents the Venezuelan horned screamer. Sounding as if someone is using a giant plunger in the Venezuelan marshes, these are the mating calls of the Horned Screamer. They're sounds that only another Horned Screamer could love, but then screamers are very odd birds. Over the years ornithologists have struggled to classify them, modern thinking puts their closest living relatives as the primitive Australian Magpie Goose.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Palin presents the Venezuelan horned screamer. Soundling as if someone is using a giant plunger in the Venezuelan marshes, these are the mating calls of the Horned Screamer. They're sounds that only another Horned Screamer could love, but then screamers are very odd birds. Over the years ornithologists have struggled to classify them, modern thinking puts their closest living relatives as the primitive Australian Magpie Goose.

Protruding from its head is a long wiry horn made of cartilage, which could rightfully earn it the title of "unicorn of the bird world" Usually seen as pairs or, outside the breeding season in small groups in the marshes and savannas of the northern half of South America, as you'd expect from their name , they are very vocal and these primeval bellows which sound more cow like than bird like and can be heard up to 3 kilometers away.

Michael Palin presents the Venezuelan horned screamer. Soundling as if someone is using a giant plunger in the Venezuelan marshes, these are the mating calls of the Horned Screamer. They're sounds that only another Horned Screamer could love, but then screamers are very odd birds. Over the years ornithologists have struggled to classify them, modern thinking puts their closest living relatives as the primitive Australian Magpie Goose.

Protruding from its head is a long wiry horn made of cartilage, which could rightfully earn it the title of "unicorn of the bird world" Usually seen as pairs or, outside the breeding season in small groups in the marshes and savannas of the northern half of South America, as you'd expect from their name , they are very vocal and these primeval bellows which sound more cow like than bird like and can be heard up to 3 kilometers away.

House Crow2014102320151021 (R4)
20190625 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the house crow, native of southern Asia. Leggier and longer-billed than the slightly larger European carrion crow and having a charcoal grey bib and collar and raucous call, these are common birds in towns and villages from Iran through India to Thailand. As scavengers they eat almost anything, which is how they've come to live alongside us. We provide water as well as food and have introduced the birds into areas of the Middle East and Africa. Although they don't fly long distances, the crows often hop aboard ships and arrive in foreign ports. Ship-assisted house crows have the potential to spread around the globe, a beautiful example of avian exploitation of human activity.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the house crow, native of southern Asia."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the house crow, native of southern Asia. Leggier and longer-billed than the slightly larger European carrion crow and having a charcoal grey bib and collar and raucous call, these are common birds in towns and villages from Iran through India to Thailand. As scavengers they eat almost anything, which is how they've come to live alongside us. We provide water as well as food and have introduced the birds into areas of the Middle East and Africa. Although they don't fly long distances, the crows often hop aboard ships and arrive in foreign ports. Ship-assisted house crows have the potential to spread around the globe, a beautiful example of avian exploitation of human activity.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the house crow, native of southern Asia. Leggier and longer-billed than the slightly larger European carrion crow and having a charcoal grey bib and collar and raucous call, these are common birds in towns and villages from Iran through India to Thailand. As scavengers they eat almost anything, which is how they've come to live alongside us. We provide water as well as food and have introduced the birds into areas of the Middle East and Africa. Although they don't fly long distances, the crows often hop aboard ships and arrive in foreign ports. Ship-assisted house crows have the potential to spread around the globe, a beautiful example of avian exploitation of human activity.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the house crow, native of southern Asia. Leggier and longer-billed than the slightly larger European carrion crow and having a charcoal grey bib and collar and raucous call, these are common birds in towns and villages from Iran through India to Thailand. As scavengers they eat almost anything, which is how they've come to live alongside us. We provide water as well as food and have introduced the birds into areas of the Middle East and Africa. Although they don't fly long distances, the crows often hop aboard ships and arrive in foreign ports. Ship-assisted house crows have the potential to spread around the globe, a beautiful example of avian exploitation of human activity.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the house crow, native of southern Asia.

House Martin2013071020140716
20160422 (R4)
20180906 (R4)
20200724 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the house martin.

House martins are often confused with swallows , but look shorter-tailed and lack the rusty throats. They're compact birds which build their with pellets of mud under our eaves and although they're so familiar to us in summer, we still can't be certain where they spend the winter. Ornithologists believe that they may spend our winter catching insects high over African rainforests.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the house martin.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the house martin.

"

House martins are often confused with swallows , but look shorter-tailed and lack the rusty throats. They're compact birds which build their with pellets of mud under our eaves and although they're so familiar to us in summer, we still can't be certain where they spend the winter. Ornithologists believe that they may spend our winter catching insects high over African rainforests.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the house martin.

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the house martin.

House martins are often confused with swallows , but look shorter-tailed and lack the rusty throats. They're compact birds which build their with pellets of mud under our eaves and although they're so familiar to us in summer, we still can't be certain where they spend the winter. Ornithologists believe that they may spend our winter catching insects high over African rainforests."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the house martin.

House Martin2013071020140720
20160422 (R4)
20180906 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the house martin.

House martins are often confused with swallows , but look shorter-tailed and lack the rusty throats. They're compact birds which build their with pellets of mud under our eaves and although they're so familiar to us in summer, we still can't be certain where they spend the winter. Ornithologists believe that they may spend our winter catching insects high over African rainforests.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the house martin.

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the house martin.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

House martins are often confused with swallows , but look shorter-tailed and lack the rusty throats. They're compact birds which build their with pellets of mud under our eaves and although they're so familiar to us in summer, we still can't be certain where they spend the winter. Ornithologists believe that they may spend our winter catching insects high over African rainforests.

"

20181019

Is President Trump's love-in with Evangelicals re-shaping American politics? In the run-up to the mid-terms the BBC's White House reporter Tara McKelvey asks who gains most from the relationship. White House insiders, religious leaders and political commentators give their take on the significance of Evangelical voters for the Trump presidency. What are the limits of their support? And how will changing demographics affect the influence they wield?

Producer, Rosie Dawson

Are President Trump's relations with Evangelicals reshaping American politics?"

House Sparrow2013080220140704
20160222 (R4)
20160228 (R4)
20170228 (R4)
20180607 (R4)
20200706 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the house sparrow. These birds are more commonly found living alongside us than any other British bird. Perhaps the most enterprising birds were the House Sparrows which bred below ground in a working mine at Frickley Colliery in Yorkshire.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the house sparrow.

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the house sparrow.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michaela Strachan presents the house sparrow. These birds are more commonly found living alongside us than any other British bird. Perhaps the most enterprising birds were the House Sparrows which bred below ground in a working mine at Frickley Colliery in Yorkshire.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the house sparrow. These birds are more commonly found living alongside us than any other British bird. Perhaps the most enterprising birds were the House Sparrows which bred below ground in a working mine at Frickley Colliery in Yorkshire.

Michaela Strachan presents the house sparrow. These birds are more commonly found living alongside us than any other British bird. Perhaps the most enterprising birds were the House Sparrows which bred below ground in a working mine at Frickley Colliery in Yorkshire.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the house sparrow.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the house sparrow.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the house sparrow.

Michaela Strachan presents the house sparrow. These birds are more commonly found living alongside us than any other British bird. Perhaps the most enterprising birds were the House Sparrows which bred below ground in a working mine at Frickley Colliery in Yorkshire.

Michaela Strachan presents the house sparrow. These birds are more commonly found living alongside us than any other British bird. Perhaps the most enterprising birds were the House Sparrows which bred below ground in a working mine at Frickley Colliery in Yorkshire.

House Wren2014122420141228 (R4)
20151230 (R4)
20181224 (R4)
20201221 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the house wren found across the New World. Having one of the largest ranges of any songbird in the New World, the migratory house wren occurs anywhere from their breeding grounds in Canada and North America, to their to wintering grounds from Central America to Chile. The male house wren's song is a torrent of trills delivered at full volume from his territory of shrubs, low trees and ferny banks. Diminutive he may be but he's feisty and is known to drag other birds' eggs or chicks from a nest-hole he wants for himself. In parts of North America, house wrens are a significant cause of nest failure in some other species of songbirds.

Sir David Attenborough presents the house wren, found across the New World.

Sir David Attenborough presents the house wren, found across the New World.

Sir David Attenborough presents the house wren found across the New World. Having one of the largest ranges of any songbird in the New World, the migratory house wren occurs anywhere from their breeding grounds in Canada and North America, to their to wintering grounds from Central America to Chile. The male house wren's song is a torrent of trills delivered at full volume from his territory of shrubs, low trees and ferny banks. Diminutive he may be but he's feisty and is known to drag other birds' eggs or chicks from a nest-hole he wants for himself. In parts of North America, house wrens are a significant cause of nest failure in some other species of songbirds.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the house wren, found across the New World."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Sir David Attenborough presents the house wren found across the New World. Having one of the largest ranges of any songbird in the New World, the migratory house wren occurs anywhere from their breeding grounds in Canada and North America, to their to wintering grounds from Central America to Chile. The male house wren's song is a torrent of trills delivered at full volume from his territory of shrubs, low trees and ferny banks. Diminutive he may be but he's feisty and is known to drag other birds' eggs or chicks from a nest-hole he wants for himself. In parts of North America, house wrens are a significant cause of nest failure in some other species of songbirds.

Sir David Attenborough presents the house wren found across the New World. Having one of the largest ranges of any songbird in the New World, the migratory house wren occurs anywhere from their breeding grounds in Canada and North America, to their to wintering grounds from Central America to Chile. The male house wren's song is a torrent of trills delivered at full volume from his territory of shrubs, low trees and ferny banks. Diminutive he may be but he's feisty and is known to drag other birds' eggs or chicks from a nest-hole he wants for himself. In parts of North America, house wrens are a significant cause of nest failure in some other species of songbirds.

Sir David Attenborough presents the house wren found across the New World. Having one of the largest ranges of any songbird in the New World, the migratory house wren occurs anywhere from their breeding grounds in Canada and North America, to their to wintering grounds from Central America to Chile. The male house wren's song is a torrent of trills delivered at full volume from his territory of shrubs, low trees and ferny banks. Diminutive he may be but he's feisty and is known to drag other birds' eggs or chicks from a nest-hole he wants for himself. In parts of North America, house wrens are a significant cause of nest failure in some other species of songbirds.

Sir David Attenborough presents the house wren found across the New World. Having one of the largest ranges of any songbird in the New World, the migratory house wren occurs anywhere from their breeding grounds in Canada and North America, to their to wintering grounds from Central America to Chile. The male house wren's song is a torrent of trills delivered at full volume from his territory of shrubs, low trees and ferny banks. Diminutive he may be but he's feisty and is known to drag other birds' eggs or chicks from a nest-hole he wants for himself. In parts of North America, house wrens are a significant cause of nest failure in some other species of songbirds.

Hugh Thomson On The Woodpigeon2017091420190104 (R4)
20201217 (R4)
Writer Hugh Thomson discusses his love of the wood pigeon song in an English woodland.

For this Tweet of the Day writer and explorer Hugh Thomson suggests his love of the call of the wood pigeon song in an English woodland is as good as that of the nightingale.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Steve K.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Writer Hugh Thomson discusses his love of the wood pigeon song in an English woodland.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

For this Tweet of the Day writer and explorer Hugh Thomson suggests his love of the call of the wood pigeon song in an English woodland is as good as that of the nightingale.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Hyacinth Macaw2014122320151229 (R4)
20200510 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the hyacinth macaw of the Brazilian Pantanal. Raucous ear-piercing screeches are produced by one of the most beautiful parrots in the world, flying high over the marshy wetlands of the Pantanal. As their name suggests they are a rich cobalt blue, with sulphur-yellow eye rings with a massive bill and long elegant tail-feathers streaming behind them in flight, making them our longest parrot. Popular as captive caged birds, they are now endangered in the wild and legally protected in Brazil. They feed on palm nuts, including those of the acuri palm which are so hard that even the macaw's powerful bill can't break into them, until they've first passed through the digestive tracts of cattle.

Sir David Attenborough presents the hyacinth macaw of the Brazilian Pantanal. Raucous ear-piercing screeches are produced by one of the most beautiful parrots in the world, flying high over the marshy wetlands of the Pantanal. As their name suggests they are a rich cobalt blue, with sulphur-yellow eye rings with a massive bill and long elegant tail-feathers streaming behind them in flight, making them our longest parrot. Popular as captive caged birds, they are now endangered in the wild and legally protected in Brazil. They feed on palm nuts, including those of the acuri palm which are so hard that even the macaw's powerful bill can't break into them, until they've first passed through the digestive tracts of cattle.

Sir David Attenborough presents the hyacinth macaw of the Brazilian Pantanal.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Sir David Attenborough presents the hyacinth macaw of the Brazilian Pantanal. Raucous ear-piercing screeches are produced by one of the most beautiful parrots in the world, flying high over the marshy wetlands of the Pantanal. As their name suggests they are a rich cobalt blue, with sulphur-yellow eye rings with a massive bill and long elegant tail-feathers streaming behind them in flight, making them our longest parrot. Popular as captive caged birds, they are now endangered in the wild and legally protected in Brazil. They feed on palm nuts, including those of the acuri palm which are so hard that even the macaw's powerful bill can't break into them, until they've first passed through the digestive tracts of cattle.

Icterine Warbler2013081920130825
20160905 (R4)
20160911 (R4)
20180706 (R4)
20200506 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the icterine warbler. Icterine Warblers are fluent mimics and include phrases of other species in their song. Their name, icterine, is derived from ikteros, the ancient Greek word for jaundice and describes the bird's spring plumage...yellowish beneath and olive brown on top.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the icterine warbler.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the icterine warbler."

Michaela Strachan presents the icterine warbler. Icterine Warblers are fluent mimics and include phrases of other species in their song. Their name, icterine, is derived from ikteros, the ancient Greek word for jaundice and describes the bird's spring plumage...yellowish beneath and olive brown on top.

Michaela Strachan presents the icterine warbler. Icterine Warblers are fluent mimics and include phrases of other species in their song. Their name, icterine, is derived from ikteros, the ancient Greek word for jaundice and describes the bird's spring plumage...yellowish beneath and olive brown on top.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michaela Strachan presents the icterine warbler. Icterine Warblers are fluent mimics and include phrases of other species in their song. Their name, icterine, is derived from ikteros, the ancient Greek word for jaundice and describes the bird's spring plumage...yellowish beneath and olive brown on top.

Icterine Warbler2013081920140804
20160905 (R4)
20160911 (R4)
20180706 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the icterine warbler. Icterine Warblers are fluent mimics and include phrases of other species in their song. Their name, icterine, is derived from ikteros, the ancient Greek word for jaundice and describes the bird's spring plumage...yellowish beneath and olive brown on top.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the icterine warbler.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the icterine warbler.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michaela Strachan presents the icterine warbler. Icterine Warblers are fluent mimics and include phrases of other species in their song. Their name, icterine, is derived from ikteros, the ancient Greek word for jaundice and describes the bird's spring plumage...yellowish beneath and olive brown on top.

"

Ivory Gull2014112120151214 (R4)
20151220 (R4)
20200614 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the ivory gull from the northern polar seas. Ivory gulls breed on rocky outcrops and cliffs and has a near-circumpolar distribution, spending most of the year near the edge of the pack ice throughout Arctic Europe, Arctic Russia, Greenland and Canada. They regularly venture farther north than any other bird. The adults are brilliant white with black legs and black eyes; their only splash of colour is on the bill which is a pastel rainbow of blue, green, yellow and pink. At rest they look rather dove-like. Although their colour suggests purity, their tastes are definitely not. Ivory gulls are scavengers. Dead seals or whales will draw them from miles around and those birds which have turned up as rare winter visitors to the UK have often shown an uncanny ability to locate strandline corpses of porpoises, dolphins or seals. Diet aside these are entrancing gulls to watch as they loaf on icebergs or waft angelically over arctic seas.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Chris Packham presents the ivory gull from the northern polar seas."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the ivory gull from the northern polar seas. Ivory gulls breed on rocky outcrops and cliffs and has a near-circumpolar distribution, spending most of the year near the edge of the pack ice throughout Arctic Europe, Arctic Russia, Greenland and Canada. They regularly venture farther north than any other bird. The adults are brilliant white with black legs and black eyes; their only splash of colour is on the bill which is a pastel rainbow of blue, green, yellow and pink. At rest they look rather dove-like. Although their colour suggests purity, their tastes are definitely not. Ivory gulls are scavengers. Dead seals or whales will draw them from miles around and those birds which have turned up as rare winter visitors to the UK have often shown an uncanny ability to locate strandline corpses of porpoises, dolphins or seals. Diet aside these are entrancing gulls to watch as they loaf on icebergs or waft angelically over arctic seas.

Chris Packham presents the ivory gull from the northern polar seas. Ivory gulls breed on rocky outcrops and cliffs and has a near-circumpolar distribution, spending most of the year near the edge of the pack ice throughout Arctic Europe, Arctic Russia, Greenland and Canada. They regularly venture farther north than any other bird. The adults are brilliant white with black legs and black eyes; their only splash of colour is on the bill which is a pastel rainbow of blue, green, yellow and pink. At rest they look rather dove-like. Although their colour suggests purity, their tastes are definitely not. Ivory gulls are scavengers. Dead seals or whales will draw them from miles around and those birds which have turned up as rare winter visitors to the UK have often shown an uncanny ability to locate strandline corpses of porpoises, dolphins or seals. Diet aside these are entrancing gulls to watch as they loaf on icebergs or waft angelically over arctic seas.

Chris Packham presents the ivory gull from the northern polar seas.

Jack Snipe2013101420131020
20150615 (R4)
20160916 (R4)
20180912 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the jack snipe.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Jack Snipe. The song of the Jack snipe has been likened to the sound of a distant horse cantering along a road. To hear it though, you need to visit Scandinavian bogs and mires where these small waders breed. When the ice seals their northern breeding areas jack snipes head south and west and many winter in the British Isles.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the jack snipe.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Jack Snipe. The song of the Jack snipe has been likened to the sound of a distant horse cantering along a road. To hear it though, you need to visit Scandinavian bogs and mires where these small waders breed. When the ice seals their northern breeding areas jack snipes head south and west and many winter in the British Isles."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Jack Snipe. The song of the Jack snipe has been likened to the sound of a distant horse cantering along a road. To hear it though, you need to visit Scandinavian bogs and mires where these small waders breed. When the ice seals their northern breeding areas jack snipes head south and west and many winter in the British Isles.

"

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Jack Snipe. The song of the Jack snipe has been likened to the sound of a distant horse cantering along a road. To hear it though, you need to visit Scandinavian bogs and mires where these small waders breed. When the ice seals their northern breeding areas jack snipes head south and west and many winter in the British Isles.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the jack snipe.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the jack snipe.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Jack Snipe. The song of the Jack snipe has been likened to the sound of a distant horse cantering along a road. To hear it though, you need to visit Scandinavian bogs and mires where these small waders breed. When the ice seals their northern breeding areas jack snipes head south and west and many winter in the British Isles.

Jackdaw2013110120150824 (R4)
20161110 (R4)
20170105 (R4)
20190131 (R4)
20210128 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the jackdaw. Jackdaws are scavengers with a reputation for stealing shiny or glittering objects. Martin Hughes-Games tells the story of a tame jackdaw he had as a child, which became a very colourful member of the family, with her very own store of costume jewellery to play with.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"

Martin Hughes-Games presents the jackdaw. Jackdaws are scavengers with a reputation for stealing shiny or glittering objects. Martin Hughes-Games tells the story of a tame jackdaw he had as a child, which became a very colourful member of the family, with her very own store of costume jewellery to play with.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

James Henry On The Little Owl2018102820200702 (R4)Author James Henry recalls the little owl for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Author James Henry recalls the little owl for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Author of the prequel detective Jack Frost thrillers James Henry picks the diminutive, non native little owl beloved by Florence Nightingale for his Tweet of the Day.

The diminutive little owl takes it genus name, Athene from Athena, the Olympian goddess for war and wisdom, and protector of Athens. It is from this ancient connection that Western culture derives an association of wisdom and knowledge with owls. And maybe why Florence Nightingale on a tour of Greece rescued a Little Owl chick she found at the acropolis. The owl, she named Athena was her companion for 5 years.

In addition, all this week James will be choosing five of his favourite episodes from the Tweet of the Day back catalogue, which you can also hear in the Tweet of the Week Omnibus.

Producer Andrew Dawes

Producer Andrew Dawes

Producer Andrew Dawes

James Henry: Yellowhammer And Beethoven2018102120200327 (R4)Author James Henry picks the yellowhammer for his Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Author James Henry picks the yellowhammer for his Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Detective Jack Frost prequel author James Henry picks the yellowhammer, whose song is believeTime Of Our Lives [radio Ulster]

20190113

Colum Arbuckle's guests are Florence Chambers and Pearl Hutchinson
Pearl grew up in Donegal and is from a family of 13. Her father had a ‘counter shop’ in the town. Pearl later worked as a computer programmer at the University of Ulster. Florence grew up on a small holding in County Down. Her mother was one of ten children and her father was a school teacher. Many of her mother’s family emigrated to America and Florence has many connections there. Plus, Colum hears about the magic of Banagher sand from historian Ken McCormack, and we travel back to January 1979 and the beginning of David Attenborough’s iconic ‘Life On Earth’ television series.

Colum Arbuckle's guests are Florence Chambers and Pearl Hutchinson.

Colum Arbuckle shares the life stories of older people in Northern Ireland.

Detective Jack Frost prequel author James Henry picks the yellowhammer, whose song is believed to have influenced one of the world’s greatest composers Ludwig Van Beethoven..

Although many think the yellowhammer is a symbol of English farmland, it is in reality very much a European bird, famous for it's song. The natural world provided Ludwig Van Beethoven with a constant source of ideas and a number of his works are often attributed to the yellowhammer’s song. Many critics cite the dramatic first four bars of Beethoven's fifth symphony but for James and many others the more gentle first movement of Beethoven's fourth piano concerto is a more fitting celebration and for James it is that which he listens to during the winter months to remind him of the summer, and his favourite farmland bird.

In addition, all this week James will be choosing five of his favourite episodes from the Tweet of the Day back catalogue.

Producer Andrew Dawes

Producer Andrew Dawes

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Jane Smith On The Barnacle Goose2018012320200120 (R4)Wildlife artist Jane Smith reveals the challenges of trying to paint barnacle geese.

Wildlife artist Jane Smith is captivated by Barnacle geese arriving from the Arctic Tundra and filling the air with their barking yapping sounds and wonderful black and white markings.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Whistling Joe.

"Wildlife artist Jane Smith reveals the challenges of trying to paint barnacle geese.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Whistling Joe. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Jane Smith On The Great Northern Diver2018012420191215 (R4)
20201229 (R4)
Wildlife artist Jane Smith listens in the fog to a great northern diver.

Wildlife artist Jane Smith listens in the fog to a Great Northern Diver and is drawn towards the strange eerie call of the bird.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Della Lack.

"Wildlife artist Jane Smith listens in the fog to a great northern diver.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Della Lack. "

Wildlife artist Jane Smith listens in the fog to a Great Northern Diver and is drawn towards the strange eerie call of the bird.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Jane Smith On The Ringed Plover2018012520181214 (R4)
20200210 (R4)
Wildlife artist Jane Smith is captivated by a party of ringed plovers on a beach.

Wildlife artist Jane Smith is captivated by a group of Ringed Plovers and their ability to seemingly appear and disappear before her eyes so good is their colouring at camouflaging them, but their calls give them away!
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Denis Eagling.

"Wildlife artist Jane Smith is captivated by a party of ringed plovers on a beach.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Denis Eagling. "

Wildlife artist Jane Smith is captivated by a group of Ringed Plovers and their ability to seemingly appear and disappear before her eyes so good is their colouring at camouflaging them, but their calls give them away!
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Denis Eagling. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Jane Smith On The Snipe2018012220180128 (R4)
20181123 (R4)
20200209 (R4)
Wildlife artist Jane Smith reveals why for her, snipe symbolise the sound of the Hebrides.

Wildlife artist Jane Smith reveals why she feels such a strong connection with Snipe which produce a drumming sound which seems to encapsulate the sound of the Hebrides.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photographer: Milo Bostock.

"Wildlife artist Jane Smith reveals why for her, snipe symbolise the sound of the Hebrides.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photographer: Milo Bostock. "

Wildlife artist Jane Smith reveals why she feels such a strong connection with Snipe which produce a drumming sound which seems to encapsulate the sound of the Hebrides.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photographer: Milo Bostock. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Jane Smith On The Whitethroat2018012620180426 (R4)
20200211 (R4)
Wildlife artist Jane Smith waits anxiously for a returning whitethroat.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Wildlife artist Jane Smith describes her excitement at hearing the song of the whitethroat heralding his return to her garden every year.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Dave Bushell.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Dave Bushell.

"Wildlife artist Jane Smith waits anxiously for a returning whitethroat.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Dave Bushell."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Jay2013092020150522 (R4)
20170124 (R4)
20180831 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the jay. This bird is a colourful member of the crow family. In September and October you'll often see jays flying around woodland with their bills and throats crammed with acorns. Many of these they bury as winter stores but not all are retrieved by Jays and many germinate and grow into young oaks, making the jay a tree-planter on a national scale.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the jay.

Brett Westwood presents the jay. This bird is a colourful member of the crow family. In September and October you'll often see jays flying around woodland with their bills and throats crammed with acorns. Many of these they bury as winter stores but not all are retrieved by Jays and many germinate and grow into young oaks, making the jay a tree-planter on a national scale.

Brett Westwood presents the jay. This bird is a colourful member of the crow family. In September and October you'll often see jays flying around woodland with their bills and throats crammed with acorns. Many of these they bury as winter stores but not all are retrieved by Jays and many germinate and grow into young oaks, making the jay a tree-planter on a national scale.

Brett Westwood presents the jay. This bird is a colourful member of the crow family. In September and October you'll often see jays flying around woodland with their bills and throats crammed with acorns. Many of these they bury as winter stores but not all are retrieved by Jays and many germinate and grow into young oaks, making the jay a tree-planter on a national scale.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the jay.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the jay.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the jay.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the jay.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Brett Westwood presents the jay. This bird is a colourful member of the crow family. In September and October you'll often see jays flying around woodland with their bills and throats crammed with acorns. Many of these they bury as winter stores but not all are retrieved by Jays and many germinate and grow into young oaks, making the jay a tree-planter on a national scale.

"

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the jay.

Brett Westwood presents the jay. This bird is a colourful member of the crow family. In September and October you'll often see jays flying around woodland with their bills and throats crammed with acorns. Many of these they bury as winter stores but not all are retrieved by Jays and many germinate and grow into young oaks, making the jay a tree-planter on a national scale."

Brett Westwood presents the jay. This bird is a colourful member of the crow family. In September and October you'll often see jays flying around woodland with their bills and throats crammed with acorns. Many of these they bury as winter stores but not all are retrieved by Jays and many germinate and grow into young oaks, making the jay a tree-planter on a national scale.

Jennifer Border On The Whinchat2018031320190524 (R4)Jennifer Border recalls how looking for whinchats resulted in a broken road sign.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Jennifer Border of the British Trust for Ornithology has a special affection for whinchats even though research trips don't always go to plan as she recalls when following the song of a whinchat resulted in a broken signpost and a cracked car bumper!

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounters with nature and reflections on our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Jez Nunn.

Producer: Sarah Blunt.

"Jennifer Border recalls how looking for whinchats resulted in a broken road sign.

Producer: Sarah Blunt."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Jeremy Deller On The Mexican Free-tailed Bat20171031A Halloween special: artist Jeremy Deller encounters a Mexican free-tailed bat colony.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Jimi Goodwin On The Cuckoo20170616Musician Jimi Goodwin on his shock at discovering the cuckoo's wicked ways.

Musician Jimi Goodwin on being shown a cuckoo chick in a nest, and his shock at discovering the cuckoo's wicked ways in this Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Miles Warde.

"Musician Jimi Goodwin on his shock at discovering the cuckoo's wicked ways.

Producer Miles Warde. "

Musician Jimi Goodwin on his shock at discovering the cuckoo's wicked ways."

"""Musician Jimi Goodwin on his shock at discovering the cuckoo's wicked ways.

Producer Miles Warde. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Jimi Goodwin On The Mallard20170620Musician Jimi Goodwin on the mallard in this Tweet of the Day.

Musician Jimi Goodwin of Doves on an extraordinary encounter with a mallard, a kestrel, plus many chicks... up a tree, in this Tweet of the Day

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Miles Warde.

"Musician Jimi Goodwin on the mallard in this Tweet of the Day.

Producer Miles Warde. "

Musician Jimi Goodwin on the mallard in this Tweet of the Day."

"""Musician Jimi Goodwin on the mallard in this Tweet of the Day.

Producer Miles Warde. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Joe Acheson On The Corncrake2017102020191108 (R4)Musician Joe Acheson was stopped in his tracks when he heard corncrakes for the first time

Musician Joe Acheson recalls hearing the scraping call of corncrake on Inishbofin island.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Joe Acheson On The Starling2017101920191107 (R4)Musician Joe Acheson recalls recording starling to use in his work as the Hidden Orchestra

Musician Joe Acheson recalls recording starling to use in his work as Hidden Orchestra.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Joe Acheson On The Wren2018021920180225 (R4)
20200428 (R4)
For Joe Acheson, slowing down the song of the wren sounds like gibbons in the rainforest.

Musician Joe Acheson of Hidden Orchestra describes how slowing down recordings he made of the diminutive wren song during a dawn chorus, sounded like the morning calls of gibbons across the rainforest.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Sam Linton.

"

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Sam Linton.

For Joe Acheson, slowing down the song of the wren sounds like gibbons in the rainforest."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Sam Linton.

Joe Harkness On The Nightingale2017070420190804 (R4)Bird therapist Joe Harkness on the nightingale for Tweet of the Day.

Norfolk based bird therapist Joe Harkness on the calming effect a nightingale song can be for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Bird therapist Joe Harkness on the nightingale for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

"""Bird therapist Joe Harkness on the nightingale for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Joe Harkness On The Skylark2017060120190411 (R4)Joe Harkness on the skylark.

Joe Harkness indulges in some bird therapy, rejoicing in the sight and song of the skylark. Joe writes about the benefits of birdwatching towards wellbeing through connecting people with nature.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Joe Harkness on the skylark.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Joe Harkness On The Woodlark2017063020181015 (R4)After a bad day at work, Joe Harkness recalls an encounter with a woodlark.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

After a bad day at work, Joe Harkness recalls an encounter with a woodlark on Buxton Heath in Norfolk for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"After a bad day at work, Joe Harkness recalls an encounter with a woodlark.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

"After a bad day at work, Joe Harkness recalls an encounter with a woodlark."

After a bad day at work, Joe Harkness recalls an encounter with a woodlark on Buxton Heath in Norfolk for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

"""After a bad day at work, Joe Harkness recalls an encounter with a woodlark.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

Producer Maggie Ayre.

John Clifton On The Bee-eater2017071220190724 (R4)RSPB learning officer John Clifton on the bee-eater for Tweet of the Day.

RSPB Old Moor Learning Officer John Clifton on the bee-eater for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

"RSPB learning officer John Clifton on the bee-eater for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

John Macpherson On The Herring Gull2017070520190726 (R4)Wildlife photographer John MacPherson recalls the herring gull for Tweet of the Day.

Wildlife photographer John MacPherson recalls a childhood memory of his mother and a herring gull for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Wildlife photographer John MacPherson recalls the herring gull for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

"""Wildlife photographer John MacPherson recalls the herring gull for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

John Mcpherson On The Hooded Crow2017070320170709 (R4)
20190725 (R4)
Wildlife photographer John McPherson recalls the hooded crow for Tweet of the Day.

Wildlife photographer John McPherson recalls, for Tweet of the Day, watching hooded crows working intelligently to obtain food caught by an otter on the Isle of Mull.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Wildlife photographer John McPherson recalls the hooded crow for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

"""Wildlife photographer John McPherson recalls the hooded crow for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

John Mcpherson On The Ptarmigan2017051820210305 (R4)Ideally suited to its mountain habitat the ptarmigan enthralled photographer John McPherson as he climbed in the Cairngorms one winter's day. At one point a wheeling lone bird crash landed beside him, looking almost embarrassed to take a tumble.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Photographer John McPherson recalls the ptarmigan in this Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

The story and sound of birds.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"The story and sound of birds.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Josh Myers On The Short-eared Owl20170707Josh Myers recalls how the short-eared owl helps with his Tourette's for Tweet of the Day.

Teenager Josh Myers describes how photographing wildlife in the Peak District around Sheffield helps him to control the symptoms of Tourette's syndrome. He tells the story of spotting short-eared owls from the window of his car and spending the afternoon tracking them with his lens.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett.

"Josh Myers recalls how the short-eared owl helps with his Tourette's for Tweet of the Day.

Producer: Tom Bonnett. "

"""Josh Myers recalls how the short-eared owl helps with his Tourette's for Tweet of the Day.

Producer: Tom Bonnett. """

Teenager Josh Myers describes how photographing wildlife reduces his Tourette's symptoms.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kakapo2015012020160111 (R4)
20160117 (R4)
20190115 (R4)
20190902 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the New Zealand kakapo.

Michael Palin presents the New Zealand Kakapo, high on the ferny slopes of its island fortress off the coast of New Zealand. Kakapos are flightless and the heaviest parrots in the world. They're also called owl-parrots from their nocturnal habits and open owlish expressions. Like owls their plumage is richly mottled although no owl shares their beautiful moss-green tones.

Kakapos also have a curious mating strategy. The males gather at traditional "leks" or display areas to attract mates. At the top of a wooded ridge, the male digs one or more a bowl- like depressions in the ground which function as an amplifier. He then takes a deep breath, swells his throat-pouch like a balloon then releases the air with a soft booming call which can carry up to five kilometres.

This sound can now only be heard on a handful of offshore islands. The kakapo story is tragically familiar. Flightless and ground-nesting, it was helpless in the face of settlers who logged its forests and introduced cats and rats which slaughtered the birds. Between 1987 and 1992 the last surviving kakapos were relocated to predator-free islands. Now following intensive care and a national conservation strategy, there are about 130 kakapos in the wild.

This sound can now only be heard on a handful of offshore islands. The kakapo story is tragically familiar. Flightless and ground-nesting, it was helpless in the face of settlers who logged its forests and introduced cats and rats which slaughtered the birds. Between 1987 and 1992 the last surviving kakapos were relocated to predator-free islands. Now following intensive care and a national conservation strategy, there are about 130 kakapos in the wild.

"Michael Palin presents the New Zealand kakapo.

Kakapos also have a curious mating strategy. The males gather at traditional ""leks"" or display areas to attract mates. At the top of a wooded ridge, the male digs one or more a bowl- like depressions in the ground which function as an amplifier. He then takes a deep breath, swells his throat-pouch like a balloon then releases the air with a soft booming call which can carry up to five kilometres.

"

Michael Palin presents the New Zealand Kakapo, high on the ferny slopes of its island fortress off the coast of New Zealand. Kakapos are flightless and the heaviest parrots in the world. They're also called owl-parrots from their nocturnal habits and open owlish expressions. Like owls their plumage is richly mottled although no owl shares their beautiful moss-green tones.

Kakapos also have a curious mating strategy. The males gather at traditional "leks" or display areas to attract mates. At the top of a wooded ridge, the male digs one or more a bowl- like depressions in the ground which function as an amplifier. He then takes a deep breath, swells his throat-pouch like a balloon then releases the air with a soft booming call which can carry up to five kilometres.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"Michael Palin presents the New Zealand Kakapo, high on the ferny slopes of its island fortress off the coast of New Zealand. Kakapos are flightless and the heaviest parrots in the world. They're also called owl-parrots from their nocturnal habits and open owlish expressions. Like owls their plumage is richly mottled although no owl shares their beautiful moss-green tones.

Michael Palin presents the New Zealand kakapo.

Michael Palin presents the New Zealand Kakapo, high on the ferny slopes of its island fortress off the coast of New Zealand. Kakapos are flightless and the heaviest parrots in the world. They're also called owl-parrots from their nocturnal habits and open owlish expressions. Like owls their plumage is richly mottled although no owl shares their beautiful moss-green tones.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Michael Palin presents the New Zealand Kakapo, high on the ferny slopes of its island fortress off the coast of New Zealand. Kakapos are flightless and the heaviest parrots in the world. They're also called owl-parrots from their nocturnal habits and open owlish expressions. Like owls their plumage is richly mottled although no owl shares their beautiful moss-green tones.

Kane Brides On The Coot2017052320190409 (R4)Kane Brides on the coot.

Kane Brides of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre on why the humble coot means so much to him.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Miles Warde.

"Kane Brides on the coot.

Producer Miles Warde. "

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kate Bradbury's Sparrows Takeover20180826Wildlife gardener and writer Kate Bradbury loves sparrows in this Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kate Bradbury loves the sparrows which come into her tiny garden in Hove near Brighton. As a wildlife gardener she is passionate about organic, wildlife-friendly gardening and has recently documented her love of creating a wildlife oasis in her latest book The Bumblebee Flies Anyway. But for this Tweet of the Day, Kate returns to those noisy chirruping sparrows which provide a calm in the urban jungle.

So we begin Kate's first week curating her favourite episodes from the Tweet of the Day back catalogue. You can hear all five programmes chosen this week, and some thoughts from Kate about her passion for wildlife and gardening in the Tweet of the Week omnibus edition, which is available via the Radio 4 Website.

Producer: Andrew Dawes.
Photograph: Sarah Cuttle.

"

"Wildlife gardener and writer Kate Bradbury loves sparrows in this Tweet of the Day.

So we begin Kate's first week curating her favourite episodes from the Tweet of the Day back catalogue. You can hear all five programmes chosen this week, and some thoughts froTrump's Evangelicals

30 minutes

Tweet Of The Day

Kate Bradbury's Sparrows Takeover

20180826

Kate Bradbury's Swift Tweet20180902"Wildlife gardener and writer Kate Bradbury enjoys the swift above her garden in Sussex.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kate Bradbury loves watching the swifts screaming across her new garden in the centre of Hove near Brighton. As yet though they aren't nesting in here house, but with help, they might just do so. As a wildlife gardener Kate encourages as many bird species as possible to visit. But for this Tweet of the Day it may be a slight wait until she can call the swifts over Sussex, her swifts.

As Kate heads into her second week curating her favourite episodes from the Tweet of the Day back catalogue, you can hear all five programmes chosen this week, and some thoughts from Kate about her love of wildlife in the Tweet of the Week omnibus edition, which is available via the Radio 4 Website.

Producer: Andrew Dawes
Photograph: Paul Dubois.

"

Kathy Hinde On The Barnacle Goose2018011720210221 (R4)
20181112 (R4)
20191029 (R4)
Migrating Barnacle geese inspire audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde to create an installation in Scotland to celebrate their winter residence.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Eljay Rogers.

Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde is inspired by the spectacle of migrating barnacle geese.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Eljay Rogers.

"Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde is inspired by the spectacle of migrating barnacle geese.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Eljay Rogers. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kathy Hinde On The Common Crane2018011520180121 (R4)
20180921 (R4)
20191027 (R4)
Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde recalls being surrounded by dancing common cranes.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Audio-visual artist, Kathy Hinde has always loved cranes, ever since she learned to make origami cranes as a child. Here she recalls a magical sunrise watching a balletic performed by dancing Common Cranes.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of
Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Tony McLean.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Tony McLean.

"Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde recalls being surrounded by dancing common cranes.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Tony McLean."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kathy Hinde On The House Martin2018011920180705 (R4)Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde is inspired by house martins.

As she watches House martins land and take off from telegraph wires, audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde was struck by how they looked like notes on a musical score. This inspired a musical sculpture in which the birds compose the music!

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Andy & Helen Holt.

"Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde is inspired by house martins.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Andy and Helen Holt."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kathy Hinde On The Knot2018011820191216 (R4)
20200806 (R4)
Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde is entranced by "an apparition" of knot.

"Its one of the most breath-taking experiences I've witnessed" says Kathy Hinde as she recalls watching thousands of Knot being forced by the incoming tide into the air above the mudflats at Snettisham In Norfolk. Here she shares that experience with us.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian Redman.

"Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde is entranced by ""an apparition"" of knot.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian Redman. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kathy Hinde On The Pink-footed Goose2018011620190320 (R4)
20191028 (R4)
Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde is captivated by a flock of pink-footed geese.

Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde enjoys the sounds of a flock of Pink-footed Geese as they take to the air.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Tom Mckibbin.

"Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde is captivated by a flock of pink-footed geese.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Tom Mckibbin. "

Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde enjoys the sounds of a flock of Pink-footed Geese as they take to the air.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kea2015013020160121 (R4)
20190613 (R4)
20201220 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the kea, from a windswept mountain in New Zealand.

Michael Palin presents the kea from a windswept mountain in New Zealand. A a snow-capped mountain in New Zealand's South Island are not a place where you'd expect to find a parrot, least of all a carnivorous one (and with a penchant for rubber). But this is the home of the kea.

Keas are curious birds in every sense of the word. Drab greenish brown, they're the world's only Alpine parrot. When they can find them, keas eat fruits and berries, but also, especially in winter they descend from the higher slopes and scavenge on animal carcasses at rubbish dumps, cracking bones with their sharp beaks to reach the marrow. They will even attack live sheep, stripping the fat from their backs and damaging vital organs. Although this habit is rare and is now understood to be largely restricted to injured sheep, it led to widespread persecution of the birds and a bounty was paid on the head of each bird killed which led to widespread declines so that keas became endangered.

Today Keas are legally protected. In their mountain homes, the parrots survive to entertain and exasperate tourists as they clamber over cars, strip rubber seals from windscreens and remove wiper-blades... curious birds indeed.

Michael Palin presents the kea, from a windswept mountain in New Zealand.

Today Keas are legally protected. In their mountain homes, the parrots survive to entertain and exasperate tourists as they clamber over cars, strip rubber seals from windscreens and remove wiper-blades... curious birds indeed.

"Michael Palin presents the kea, from a windswept mountain in New Zealand.

"

Michael Palin presents the kea from a windswept mountain in New Zealand. A a snow-capped mountain in New Zealand's South Island are not a place where you'd expect to find a parrot, least of all a carnivorous one (and with a penchant for rubber). But this is the home of the kea.

Keas are curious birds in every sense of the word. Drab greenish brown, they're the world's only Alpine parrot. When they can find them, keas eat fruits and berries, but also, especially in winter they descend from the higher slopes and scavenge on animal carcasses at rubbish dumps, cracking bones with their sharp beaks to reach the marrow. They will even attack live sheep, stripping the fat from their backs and damaging vital organs. Although this habit is rare and is now understood to be largely restricted to injured sheep, it led to widespread persecution of the birds and a bounty was paid on the head of each bird killed which led to widespread declines so that keas became endangered.

Today Keas are legally protected. In their mountain homes, the parrots survive to entertain and exasperate tourists as they clamber over cars, strip rubber seals from windscreens and remove wiper-blades... curious birds indeed.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Palin presents the kea from a windswept mountain in New Zealand. A a snow-capped mountain in New Zealand's South Island are not a place where you'd expect to find a parrot, least of all a carnivorous one (and with a penchant for rubber). But this is the home of the kea.

Kestrel2013072920130804
20160331 (R4)
20170330 (R4)
20181129 (R4)
20191110 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the kestrel.

The kestrel is widely distributed throughout the UK and when hovering is our most recognisable bird of prey. Their chestnut back and wings, and habit of holding themselves stationary in mid-air are a unique combination;mall wonder that an old name for kestrels is windhover.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the kestrel.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the kestrel.

"

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the kestrel."

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the kestrel.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

The kestrel is widely distributed throughout the UK and when hovering is our most recognisable bird of prey. Their chestnut back and wings, and habit of holding themselves stationary in mid-air are a unique combination;mall wonder that an old name for kestrels is windhover.

The kestrel is widely distributed throughout the UK and when hovering is our most recognisable bird of prey. Their chestnut back and wings, and habit of holding themselves stationary in mid-air are a unique combination;mall wonder that an old name for kestrels is windhover.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the kestrel.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the kestrel.

The kestrel is widely distributed throughout the UK and when hovering is our most recognisable bird of prey. Their chestnut back and wings, and habit of holding themselves stationary in mid-air are a unique combination;mall wonder that an old name for kestrels is windhover.

Kim Durban On The Blackbird20170710Kim Durban recalls an encounter with a blackbird for Tweet of the Day.

Kim Durbin recalls an encounter with a blackbird for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Kim Durban recalls an encounter with a blackbird for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Kim Durbin On The Blackbird2017071020170716 (R4)
20200121 (R4)
Kim Durbin recalls an encounter with a blackbird for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

King Eider2014102420151022 (R4)
20190318 (R4)
20191122 (R4)
20210119 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Arctic specialist the king eider duck. Relatives of the larger common eider found around the British coast, king eiders breed around the Arctic and sub-Arctic coasts of the northern hemisphere. As true marine ducks they can dive to depths of 25 metres on occasion, to feed on molluscs and marine crustaceans. The drake King Eider has colourful markings; having a black and white body with a reddish bill, surmounted by an orange-yellow shield. His cheeks are pale mint-green and his crown and nape are lavender-grey. He uses his bill pattern and head colours in a highly ritualised display to woo his mate, fluffing up his chest and issuing an amorous coo-ing call.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Arctic specialist, the king eider duck.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Arctic specialist, the king eider duck."

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Arctic specialist the king eider duck. Relatives of the larger common eider found around the British coast, king eiders breed around the Arctic and sub-Arctic coasts of the northern hemisphere. As true marine ducks they can dive to depths of 25 metres on occasion, to feed on molluscs and marine crustaceans. The drake King Eider has colourful markings; having a black and white body with a reddish bill, surmounted by an orange-yellow shield. His cheeks are pale mint-green and his crown and nape are lavender-grey. He uses his bill pattern and head colours in a highly ritualised display to woo his mate, fluffing up his chest and issuing an amorous coo-ing call.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Arctic specialist the king eider duck. Relatives of the larger common eider found around the British coast, king eiders breed around the Arctic and sub-Arctic coasts of the northern hemisphere. As true marine ducks they can dive to depths of 25 metres on occasion, to feed on molluscs and marine crustaceans. The drake King Eider has colourful markings; having a black and white body with a reddish bill, surmounted by an orange-yellow shield. His cheeks are pale mint-green and his crown and nape are lavender-grey. He uses his bill pattern and head colours in a highly ritualised display to woo his mate, fluffing up his chest and issuing an amorous coo-ing call.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Arctic specialist, the king eider duck.

Kingfisher2013071620140729
20160504 (R4)
20170411 (R4)
20190328 (R4)
20200913 (R4)
Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the kingfisher.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the kingfisher.

The Ancient Greeks knew the kingfisher as Halcyon and believed that the female built her nest on the waves calming the seas while she brooded her eggs: hence the expression, Halcyon days which we use now for periods of tranquillity.

Kingfishers can bring in over 100 fish a day to their large broods and the resulting collection of bones and offal produces a stench that doesn't match the bird's attractive appearance.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the kingfisher.

"

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the kingfisher."

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the kingfisher.

Kingfishers can bring in over 100 fish a day to their large broods and the resulting collection of bones and offal produces a stench that doesn't match the bird's attractive appearance."

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the kingfisher.

The Ancient Greeks knew the kingfisher as Halcyon and believed that the female built her nest on the waves calming the seas while she brooded her eggs: hence the expression, Halcyon days which we use now for periods of tranquillity.

Kingfishers can bring in over 100 fish a day to their large broods and the resulting collection of bones and offal produces a stench that doesn't match the bird's attractive appearance.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

The Ancient Greeks knew the kingfisher as Halcyon and believed that the female built her nest on the waves, calming the seas while she brooded her eggs: hence the expression Halcyon days, which we use now for periods of tranquillity.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kingfishers can bring in over 100 fish a day to their large broods and the resulting collection of bones and offal produces a stench that doesn't match the bird's attractive appearance.

Kingfishers can bring in over 100 fish a day to their large broods and the resulting collection of bones and offal produces a stench that doesn't match the bird's attractive appearance.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the kingfisher.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the kingfisher.

Kirsty Oswald 1 Of 220190113"Discover birds through their songs and calls.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Kirsty Oswald's Bird Watching Feat20190113"

Actress Kirsty Oswald has embarked on an ambitious bird-watching feat; over the course of a year, she plans to spot 100 different species of bird in the British Isles. In this episode of Tweet of the Day, she explains how a serendipitous walk led to her undertaking such a task, and how enthusiasm, enjoyment and a love of walking can be more fortuitous than formal ornithological knowledge.

Producer: Elliott Prince

Actress Kirsty Oswald talks us through her year-long bird watching challenge.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Kirsty Oswald's Robin20190120"""

For actress Kirsty Oswald, an appreciation of nature has always been a family affair. In this episode of Tweet, she explains how it was her Uncle who sparked her fascination with the natural world, and what the significance of the robin's place in Irish folklore means to her.

Producer Elliott Prince

Kirsty Oswald returns to share a tale of the spideog, also known as the robin.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"""

"

Producer Elliott Prince

Kittiwake2013060420140520
20180713 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Kittiwake. In June you can find kittiwakes breeding on sea-cliffs around the coast. You may well hear them before you see them, shouting their name from vertiginous cliffs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the kittiwake.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the kittiwake."

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the kittiwake.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Kittiwake. In June you can find kittiwakes breeding on sea-cliffs around the coast. You may well hear them before you see them, shouting their name from vertiginous cliffs.

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Kittiwake. In June you can find kittiwakes breeding on sea-cliffs around the coast. You may well hear them before you see them, shouting their name from vertiginous cliffs."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kitty Macfarlane The Eel And The Heron2018093020190705 (R4)"Kitty MacFarlane finds inspiration in the birds she sees in the countryside for her music.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

For singer and songwriter Kitty MacFarlane the natural world and the landscape around her provides the inspiration for her work, especially when she takes a sound recorder out with her to record bird songs. Or takes part in an eel project, with an ever present grey heron never far away.

Kitty continues her selections from the Tweet of the Day back canon.. You can hear all five episodes chosen this week, and further thoughts from Kitty on how she first saw a bittern recently via the the Tweet of the Week omnibus edition, which is available to download via the Radio 4 Website.

Producer : Andrew Dawes.

"

For singer and songwriter Kitty Macfarlane the natural world and the landscape around her provides the inspiration for her work, especially when she takes a sound recorder out with her to record bird songs. Or takes part in an eel project, with an ever present grey heron never far away.

Kitty Macfarlane finds inspiration in the birds she sees in the countryside for her music.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Kitty Macfarlane's Starlings In Somerset20180923Singer Kitty MacFarlane has a strong connection to the Somerset Levels and the birds there

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Singer songwriter Kitty MacFarlane has a strong connection to a Sense of Place in her work, especially the Somerset Levels and the birds which flock there providing inspiration.

A previous semi-finalist in the BBC Young Folk awards, Kitty begins her first week selecting from the Tweet of the Day back catalogue. You can hear all five episodes chosen this week, and further thoughts from Kitty on how the landscape influences her work via the the Tweet of the Week omnibus edition, which is available to download via the Radio 4 Website.

Producer Andrew Dawes.

"Singer Kitty MacFarlane has a strong connection to the Somerset Levels and the birds there

Producer Andrew Dawes."

Knot2013122720161017 (R4)
20161023 (R4)
20181220 (R4)
20201203 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the knot. Knot are dumpy waders which breed in the high Arctic but winter in hundreds of thousands on our estuaries and salt-marshes. Crammed together shoulder to shoulder at the water's edge, you can see how they got their scientific name Calidris canutus...a tribute to King Canute who discovered, despite his best attempts, that he didn't have the power to turn back the tides.

David Attenborough presents the knot. Knot are dumpy waders which breed in the high Arctic but winter in hundreds of thousands on our estuaries and salt-marshes. Crammed together shoulder to shoulder at the water's edge, you can see how they got their scientific name Calidris canutus...a tribute to King Canute who discovered, despite his best attempts, that he didn't have the power to turn back the tides.

David Attenborough presents the knot.

David Attenborough presents the knot.

David Attenborough presents the knot.

David Attenborough presents the knot. Knot are dumpy waders which breed in the high Arctic but winter in hundreds of thousands on our estuaries and salt-marshes. Crammed together shoulder to shoulder at the water's edge, you can see how they got their scientific name Calidris canutus...a tribute to King Canute who discovered, despite his best attempts, that he didn't have the power to turn back the tides.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

David Attenborough presents the knot. Knot are dumpy waders which breed in the high Arctic but winter in hundreds of thousands on our estuaries and salt-marshes. Crammed together shoulder to shoulder at the water's edge, you can see how they got their scientific name Calidris canutus...a tribute to King Canute who discovered, despite his best attempts, that he didn't have the power to turn back the tides.

Lapwing2014030620150312 (R4)
20160607 (R4)
20180913 (R4)
20200303 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the lapwing. The lovely iridescent greens and purples of the lapwing: with its delicate crest and broad rounded wings that almost seem to twinkle in level flight, they are seen less often on our farmland today. At one time they were so common that their freckled eggs were harvested and sent off to the cities to pamper the palettes of urban epicures.

Bill Oddie presents the lapwing. The lovely iridescent greens and purples of the lapwing: with its delicate crest and broad rounded wings that almost seem to twinkle in level flight, they are seen less often on our farmland today. At one time they were so common that their freckled eggs were harvested and sent off to the cities to pamper the palates of urban epicures.

Bill Oddie presents the lapwing. The lovely iridescent greens and purples of the lapwing: with its delicate crest and broad rounded wings that almost seem to twinkle in level flight, they are seen less often on our farmland today. At one time they were so common that their freckled eggs were harvested and sent off to the cities to pamper the palettes of urban epicures.

Bill Oddie presents the lapwing. The lovely iridescent greens and purples of the lapwing: with its delicate crest and broad rounded wings that almost seem to twinkle in level flight, they are seen less often on our farmland today. At one time they were so common that their freckled eggs were harvested and sent off to the cities to pamper the palates of urban epicures.

Bill Oddie presents the lapwing.

Bill Oddie presents the lapwing.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Bill Oddie presents the lapwing.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bill Oddie presents the lapwing. The lovely iridescent greens and purples of the lapwing: with its delicate crest and broad rounded wings that almost seem to twinkle in level flight, they are seen less often on our farmland today. At one time they were so common that their freckled eggs were harvested and sent off to the cities to pamper the palates of urban epicures.

"

Bill Oddie presents the lapwing. The lovely iridescent greens and purples of the lapwing: with its delicate crest and broad rounded wings that almost seem to twinkle in level flight, they are seen less often on our farmland today. At one time they were so common that their freckled eggs were harvested and sent off to the cities to pamper the palates of urban epicures.

Laughing Gull2014092520151001 (R4)
20151130 (R4)
20151206 (R4)
20180816 (R4)
20180820 (R4)
20201230 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the laughing gull off the Florida coast. In summer, the hearty peal of laughter is one of the characteristic sounds people hear along the North American east coast where laughing gulls come to breed. America's version of the British black-headed gull they are easy to recognise as they patrol the seashore in search for food. Like many gulls they eat what they can find and will scavenge at rubbish dumps, and will even feast on the eggs of horseshoe crabs which spawn in Deleware Bay each spring. Some become swept up in autumnal hurricanes and having crossed the Atlantic, occasionally turn up on a European's bird-watching list.

Sir David Attenborough presents the laughing gull off the Florida coast. In summer, the hearty peal of laughter is one of the characteristic sounds people hear along the North American east coast where laughing gulls come to breed. America's version of the British black-headed gull they are easy to recognise as they patrol the seashore in search for food. Like many gulls they eat what they can find and will scavenge at rubbish dumps, and will even feast on the eggs of horseshoe crabs which spawn in Deleware Bay each spring. Some become swept up in autumnal hurricanes and having crossed the Atlantic, occasionally turn up on a European's bird-watching list.

Sir David Attenborough presents the laughing gull off the Florida coast.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Sir David Attenborough presents the laughing gull off the Florida coast.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day is the voice ofTrump's Evangelicals

Factual

Tweet Of The Day

Laughing Kookaburra

20141230

Sir David Attenborough presents Australia's laughing kookaburra.

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents Australia's laughing kookaburra. At 45cm the laughing kookaburra is one of the world's largest kingfishers. Native to south and eastern Australia, they have now been introduced to Western Australia and parts of New Zealand. Although they do catch fish, they hunt mainly on land where they eat reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates. The cacophony of loud hooting laughs from which they get their Aboriginal name, is often produced by several birds in chorus. The cackling call is one of the few exotic bird sounds that is recognised around the world: a captive kookaburra named Jacko became a radio celebrity in Australia through his ability to break into that laughing call on demand. By the time of his death in 1939 he was one of the best known birds in the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents the laughing gull off the Florida coast. In summer, the hearty peal of laughter is one of the characteristic sounds people hear along the North American east coast where laughing gulls come to breed. America's version of the British black-headed gull they are easy to recognise as they patrol the seashore in search for food. Like many gulls they eat what they can find and will scavenge at rubbish dumps, and will even feast on the eggs of horseshoe crabs which spawn in Deleware Bay each spring. Some become swept up in autumnal hurricanes and having crossed the Atlantic, occasionally turn up on a European's bird-watching list.

"

"

Sir David Attenborough presents the laughing gull off the Florida coast. In summer, the hearty peal of laughter is one of the characteristic sounds people hear along the North American east coast where laughing gulls come to breed. America's version of the British black-headed gull they are easy to recognise as they patrol the seashore in search for food. Like many gulls they eat what they can find and will scavenge at rubbish dumps, and will even feast on the eggs of horseshoe crabs which spawn in Deleware Bay each spring. Some become swept up in autumnal hurricanes and having crossed the Atlantic, occasionally turn up on a European's bird-watching list.

Sir David Attenborough presents the laughing gull off the Florida coast. In summer, the hearty peal of laughter is one of the characteristic sounds people hear along the North American east coast where laughing gulls come to breed. America's version of the British black-headed gull they are easy to recognise as they patrol the seashore in search for food. Like many gulls they eat what they can find and will scavenge at rubbish dumps, and will even feast on the eggs of horseshoe crabs which spawn in Deleware Bay each spring. Some become swept up in autumnal hurricanes and having crossed the Atlantic, occasionally turn up on a European's bird-watching list.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Laughing Kookaburra2014123020151130 (R4)
20151206 (R4)
20180820 (R4)
20200908 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents Australia's laughing kookaburra. At 45cm the laughing kookaburra is one of the world's largest kingfishers. Native to south and eastern Australia, they have now been introduced to Western Australia and parts of New Zealand. Although they do catch fish, they hunt mainly on land where they eat reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates. The cacophony of loud hooting laughs from which they get their Aboriginal name, is often produced by several birds in chorus. The cackling call is one of the few exotic bird sounds that is recognised around the world: a captive kookaburra named Jacko became a radio celebrity in Australia through his ability to break into that laughing call on demand. By the time of his death in 1939 he was one of the best known birds in the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents Australia's laughing kookaburra.

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents Australia's laughing kookaburra. At 45cm the laughing kookaburra is one of the world's largest kingfishers. Native to south and eastern Australia, they have now been introduced to Western Australia and parts of New Zealand. Although they do catch fish, they hunt mainly on land where they eat reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates. The cacophony of loud hooting laughs from which they get their Aboriginal name, is often produced by several birds in chorus. The cackling call is one of the few exotic bird sounds that is recognised around the world: a captive kookaburra named Jacko became a radio celebrity in Australia through his ability to break into that laughing call on demand. By the time of his death in 1939 he was one of the best known birds in the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents Australia's laughing kookaburra. At 45cm the laughing kookaburra is one of the world's largest kingfishers. Native to south and eastern Australia, they have now been introduced to Western Australia and parts of New Zealand. Although they do catch fish, they hunt mainly on land where they eat reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates. The cacophony of loud hooting laughs from which they get their Aboriginal name, is often produced by several birds in chorus. The cackling call is one of the few exotic bird sounds that is recognised around the world: a captive kookaburra named Jacko became a radio celebrity in Australia through his ability to break into that laughing call on demand. By the time of his death in 1939 he was one of the best known birds in the world.

Sir David Attenborough presents Australia's laughing kookaburra.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Sir David Attenborough presents Australia's laughing kookaburra. At 45cm the laughing kookaburra is one of the world's largest kingfishers. Native to south and eastern Australia, they have now been introduced to Western Australia and parts of New Zealand. Although they do catch fish, they hunt mainly on land where they eat reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates. The cacophony of loud hooting laughs from which they get their Aboriginal name, is often produced by several birds in chorus. The cackling call is one of the few exotic bird sounds that is recognised around the world: a captive kookaburra named Jacko became a radio celebrity in Australia through his ability to break into that laughing call on demand. By the time of his death in 1939 he was one of the best known birds in the world.

"

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"Sir David Attenborough presents Australia's laughing kookaburra.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Laura Howard On The Swift2017080320180503 (R4)
20200728 (R4)
Laura Howard describes how learning about nature turned the countryside into a fascination

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Springwatch producer Laura Howard describes how the arrival of swifts in May and learning more about nature walking in the countryside felt like wearing glasses that let her see clearly for the first time.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Phil Luckhurst.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Phil Luckhurst.

Producer: Tom Bonnett.

"Laura Howard describes how learning about nature turned the countryside into a fascination

Producer: Tom Bonnett. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Leach's Storm Petrel2013102420150813 (R4)
20201001 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the leach's storm petrel.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Leach's Storm-Petrel. Only the most far-flung islands around our coasts provide sanctuary for Leach's Storm-Petrels, one of the most difficult of our breeding birds to see. Chris Watson tells the story of a perilous 2am climb he made to record the sounds of Leach's Storm-Petrel's in their breeding burrows on cliff ledges on the Island of Hirta in the St Kilda group.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the leach's storm petrel.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the leach's storm petrel.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Leach's Storm-Petrel. Only the most far-flung islands around our coasts provide sanctuary for Leach's Storm-Petrels, one of the most difficult of our breeding birds to see. Chris Watson tells the story of a perilous 2am climb he made to record the sounds of Leach's Storm-Petrel's in their breeding burrows on cliff ledges on the Island of Hirta in the St Kilda group.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Leach's Storm-Petrel. Only the most far-flung islands around our coasts provide sanctuary for Leach's Storm-Petrels, one of the most difficult of our breeding birds to see. Chris Watson tells the story of a perilous 2am climb he made to record the sounds of Leach's Storm-Petrel's in their breeding burrows on cliff ledges on the Island of Hirta in the St Kilda group.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the leach's storm petrel.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Leach's Storm-Petrel. Only the most far-flung islands around our coasts provide sanctuary for Leach's Storm-Petrels, one of the most difficult of our breeding birds to see. Chris Watson tells the story of a perilous 2am climb he made to record the sounds of Leach's Storm-Petrel's in their breeding burrows on cliff ledges on the Island of Hirta in the St Kilda group.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Lesser Black-backed Gull2013072320150602 (R4)
20160617 (R4)
20170221 (R4)
20191111 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the lesser black-backed gull.

These smart gulls are charcoal grey on top and white beneath. Like herring gulls, their close relatives LBBs have moved into urban areas and now breed on flat roofs in the centre of cities. It seems almost any flat surface will do. In just three hours, one bird in Gloucester built a nest on a car roof and laid an egg in.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the lesser black-backed gull.

These smart gulls are charcoal grey on top and white beneath. Like herring gulls, their close relatives LBBs have moved into urban areas and now breed on flat roofs in the centre of cities. It seems almost any flat surface will do. In just three hours, one bird in Gloucester built a nest on a car roof and laid an egg in.

These smart gulls are charcoal grey on top and white beneath. Like herring gulls, their close relatives LBBs have moved into urban areas and now breed on flat roofs in the centre of cities. It seems almost any flat surface will do. In just three hours, one bird in Gloucester built a nest on a car roof and laid an egg in.

These smart gulls are charcoal grey on top and white beneath. Like herring gulls, their close relatives LBBs have moved into urban areas and now breed on flat roofs in the centre of cities. It seems almost any flat surface will do. In just three hours, one bird in Gloucester built a nest on a car roof and laid an egg in.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the lesser black-backed gull.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the lesser black-backed gull.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the lesser black-backed gull.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the lesser black-backed gull.

"

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the lesser black-backed gull.

These smart gulls are charcoal grey on top and white beneath. Like herring gulls, their close relatives LBBs have moved into urban areas and now breed on flat roofs in the centre of cities. It seems almost any flat surface will do. In just three hours, one bird in Gloucester built a nest on a car roof and laid an egg in."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

These smart gulls are charcoal grey on top and white beneath. Like herring gulls, their close relatives LBBs have moved into urban areas and now breed on flat roofs in the centre of cities. It seems almost any flat surface will do. In just three hours, one bird in Gloucester built a nest on a car roof and laid an egg in.

Lesser Redpoll2013122320131229
20160707 (R4)
20201129 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the lesser redpoll. You can spot Lesser Redpolls hanging like tiny acrobatic parrots among the slender twigs, while a rain of papery seeds falls down around them. They're lively birds which allow you to get fairly close, and then sometimes flocks will explode en masse for no apparent reason and fly around calling.

episode-b03k5cbg.jpg

David Attenborough presents the lesser redpoll.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

David Attenborough presents the lesser redpoll. You can spot Lesser Redpolls hanging like tiny acrobatic parrots among the slender twigs, while a rain of papery seeds falls down around them. They're lively birds which allow you to get fairly close, and then sometimes flocks will explode en masse for no apparent reason and fly around calling.

David Attenborough presents the lesser redpoll.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the lesser redpoll. You can spot Lesser Redpolls hanging like tiny acrobatic parrots among the slender twigs, while a rain of papery seeds falls down around them. They're lively birds which allow you to get fairly close, and then sometimes flocks will explode en masse for no apparent reason and fly around calling.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker2014022420140302
20150720 (R4)
20160525 (R4)
20200130 (R4)
20210118 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

John Aitchison presents the lesser spotted woodpecker. Lesser spotted woodpeckers are the smallest of our three woodpeckers and about the size of a house sparrow. They have horizontal white stripes across their backs, hence their old name of 'barred woodpecker'. The lesser spotted woodpecker is one of our most elusive birds. For most of the year it's relatively silent but in late February and March, males begin to stake out their territories in old woods and orchards by calling loudly and drumming softly.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"

John Aitchison presents the lesser spotted woodpecker. Lesser spotted woodpeckers are the smallest of our three woodpeckers and about the size of a house sparrow. They have horizontal white stripes across their backs, hence their old name of 'barred woodpecker'. The lesser spotted woodpecker is one of our most elusive birds. For most of the year it's relatively silent but in late February and March, males begin to stake out their territories in old woods and orchards by calling loudly and drumming softly.

John Aitchison presents the lesser spotted woodpecker. Lesser spotted woodpeckers are the smallest of our three woodpeckers and about the size of a house sparrow. They have horizontal white stripes across their backs, hence their old name of 'barred woodpecker'. The lesser spotted woodpecker is one of our most elusive birds. For most of the year it's relatively silent but in late February and March, males begin to stake out their territories in old woods and orchards by calling loudly and drumming softly.

John Aitchison presents the lesser spotted woodpecker.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

John Aitchison presents the lesser spotted woodpecker. Lesser spotted woodpeckers are the smallest of our three woodpeckers and about the size of a house sparrow. They have horizontal white stripes across their backs, hence their old name of 'barred woodpecker'. The lesser spotted woodpecker is one of our most elusive birds. For most of the year it's relatively silent but in late February and March, males begin to stake out their territories in old woods and orchards by calling loudly and drumming softly.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

John Aitchison presents the lesser spotted woodpecker. Lesser spotted woodpeckers are the smallest of our three woodpeckers and about the size of a house sparrow. They have horizontal white stripes across their backs, hence their old name of 'barred woodpecker'. The lesser spotted woodpecker is one of our most elusive birds. For most of the year it's relatively silent but in late February and March, males begin to stake out their territories in old woods and orchards by calling loudly and drumming softly.

Lesser White-fronted Goose2014012120160923 (R4)
20161122 (R4)
20210111 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the story of the Lesser White-Fronted Goose. The lesser white-fronted goose is now a very rare bird in the UK, but the siting in Bristol of the BBC's Natural History Unit, owes much to this bird.

Chris Packham presents the lesser white-fronted goose.

Chris Packham presents the story of the Lesser White-Fronted Goose. The lesser white-fronted goose is now a very rare bird in the UK, but the siting in Bristol of the BBC's Natural History Unit, owes much to this bird.

Chris Packham presents the story of the Lesser White-Fronted Goose. The lesser white-fronted goose is now a very rare bird in the UK, but the siting in Bristol of the BBC's Natural History Unit, owes much to this bird.

Chris Packham presents the lesser white-fronted goose.

Chris Packham presents the lesser white-fronted goose.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the story of the Lesser White-Fronted Goose. The lesser white-fronted goose is now a very rare bird in the UK, but the siting in Bristol of the BBC's Natural History Unit, owes much to this bird.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Lesser Whitethroat2013061920140618
20160511 (R4)
20200410 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Kresovnikoff presents the Lesser Whitethroat. A loud rattling song from a roadside hedge announces that Lesser whitethroats are back from their African winter homes.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the lesser whitethroat.

Miranda Kresovnikoff presents the Lesser Whitethroat. A loud rattling song from a roadside hedge announces that Lesser whitethroats are back from their African winter homes.

The Lesser Whitethroat-Miranda Krestovnikoff narrates the story of this bird and its sound

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Lesser Whitethroat2013061920140622
20160511 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Kresovnikoff presents the Lesser Whitethroat. A loud rattling song from a roadside hedge announces that Lesser whitethroats are back from their African winter homes.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the lesser whitethroat.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the lesser whitethroat.

Liane Holdsworth On The Kestrel2017071820190616 (R4)The RSPB's Liane Holdsworth recalls the kestrel for Tweet of the Day.

RSPB Yorkshire staff are reflecting on birds all this week for Tweet of the Day. Today Visitor Experience Manager Liane Holdsworth recalls the thrill of watching a kestrel.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"The RSPB's Liane Holdsworth recalls the kestrel for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Lily Burton On The Mute Swan20170822Lily Burton is the youngest birder on Tweet and she shares a sad story of a mute swan.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Lindsey Chapman On The Cetti's Warbler2017062120190407 (R4)Lindsey Chapman on the Cetti's warbler.

When Springwatch presenter Lindsey Chapman went walking with fellow Springwatch host Brett Westwood it was the first time she had heard a call so boisterous that now she recognises it instantly whenever she hears it, the Cetti's warbler.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"Lindsey Chapman on the Cetti's warbler.

Lindsey Chapman on the Cetti's warbler."

"

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"

"""

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"""

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Lindsey Chapman Tweet Of The Day Takeover, 1 Of 220180701"Presenter Lindsey Chapman begins her two week takeover of the Tweet of the Day airwaves.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

With a life long passion for the natural world, actor, television and radio presenter Lindsey Chapman begins her two week take over of the Tweet of the Day airwaves. As a BBC Unsprung presenter before choosing some of her favourite birds from the extensive back catalogue, Lindsey recalls how she is absolutely fascinated by the symbiotic relationship between the natural world and our own cultural and artistic heritage. Birds are a constant reminder of how these two worlds overlap, from the musicality of the dawn chorus to the brushstrokes of a swift wheeling by on the wind.

Lindsey introduces the first five species she has chosen for the listener this week, from alpine swift to icterine warbler, here on Radio 4, from Monday through to Friday at 05.58.

You can hear more thoughts on Lindsey's passion for wildlife, including her love of gannets in the Tweet of the Week omnibus podcast, which can be found on the Radio 4 website, or can be found on the BBC iplayer Radio App by searching search for Tweet of the Week.

Producer : Andrew Dawes.

"

Lindsey Chapman Tweet Of The Day Takeover, 2 Of 220180708"TV and wildlife presenter Lindsey Chapman returns for her second Tweet of the Day takeover

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Actor, television and radio presenter Lindsey Chapman, with a life long passion for the natural world, begins her second week curating the airwaves with some of her favourite episodes from the back catalogue. In this episode Lindsey recounts that while presenting the BBC's Springwatch Unsprung programme, she and the team set off to locate and hopefully see the mysterious nightjar which had been heard nearby. Lindsey introduces the five species she has chosen for the listener this week, from spoonbill sandpiper to kittiwake, on Radio 4, from Monday through to Friday at 05.58.

You can hear more thoughts on Lindsey's passion for wildlife in the Tweet of the Week omnibus podcast, which can be found on the Radio 4 website, or can be found on the BBC iplayer Radio App by searching search for Tweet of the Week.

Producer : Andrew Dawes.

"

Linnet2013111520150807 (R4)
20170303 (R4)
20200424 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Linnet. Linnets gather in large flocks to feed on weed-seeds and the seeds of oilseed rape and flax left behind after harvesting. You can often identify the flocks from a distance as the birds circle over a field, by their tight formation and bouncing motion.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the linnet.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Linnet. Linnets gather in large flocks to feed on weed-seeds and the seeds of oilseed rape and flax left behind after harvesting. You can often identify the flocks from a distance as the birds circle over a field, by their tight formation and bouncing motion.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Linnet. Linnets gather in large flocks to feed on weed-seeds and the seeds of oilseed rape and flax left behind after harvesting. You can often identify the flocks from a distance as the birds circle over a field, by their tight formation and bouncing motion.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the linnet.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the linnet.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Linnet. Linnets gather in large flocks to feed on weed-seeds and the seeds of oilseed rape and flax left behind after harvesting. You can often identify the flocks from a distance as the birds circle over a field, by their tight formation and bouncing motion.

Little Auk2013112920150703 (R4)
20161223 (R4)
20200520 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Little Auk. Little auks are black and white relatives of the puffin but only about half the size. They're one of the most numerous seabirds in the world, with around twelve million pairs of birds. In autumn and early winter we see them in the UK as they head south into the North Sea.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the little auk.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Martin Hughes-Games presents the little auk."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Little Auk. Little auks are black and white relatives of the puffin but only about half the size. They're one of the most numerous seabirds in the world, with around twelve million pairs of birds. In autumn and early winter we see them in the UK as they head south into the North Sea.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Little Auk. Little auks are black and white relatives of the puffin but only about half the size. They're one of the most numerous seabirds in the world, with around twelve million pairs of birds. In autumn and early winter we see them in the UK as they head south into the North Sea.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the little auk.

Little Egret2013062420130630
20150504 (R4)
20160914 (R4)
20181002 (R4)
20200608 (R4)
20210226 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Little Egret. The colonisation of the UK by these small brilliant-white herons with black bills and yellow feet, has astonished ornithologists because of its speed.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the little egret.

"The Little Egret - Miranda Krestovnikoff narrates the story of the bird and its sound.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Little Egret. The colonisation of the UK by these small brilliant-white herons with black bills and yellow feet, has astonished ornithologists because of its speed.

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the little egret.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Little Egret. The colonisation of the UK by these small brilliant-white herons with black bills and yellow feet, has astonished ornithologists because of its speed."

The Little Egret - Miranda Krestovnikoff narrates the story of this bird and its sound.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Little Egret. The colonisation of the UK by these small brilliant-white herons with black bills and yellow feet, has astonished ornithologists because of its speed.

The Little Egret - Miranda Krestovnikoff narrates the story of this bird and its sound.

Little Grebe2014042120140427
20150420 (R4)
20160726 (R4)
20190417 (R4)
20201025 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the little grebe. Little grebes are our smallest grebes. They're dumpy birds with dark brown feathers and in the breeding season have a very obvious chestnut patch on their necks and cheeks. Little grebes are secretive birds, especially in the breeding season when they lurk in reeds and rushes or dive to avoid being seen.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"

Kate Humble presents the little grebe. Little grebes are our smallest grebes. They're dumpy birds with dark brown feathers and in the breeding season have a very obvious chestnut patch on their necks and cheeks. Little grebes are secretive birds, especially in the breeding season when they lurk in reeds and rushes or dive to avoid being seen.

Kate Humble presents the little grebe. Little grebes are our smallest grebes. They're dumpy birds with dark brown feathers and in the breeding season have a very obvious chestnut patch on their necks and cheeks. Little grebes are secretive birds, especially in the breeding season when they lurk in reeds and rushes or dive to avoid being seen.

Kate Humble presents the little grebe.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the little grebe. Little grebes are our smallest grebes. They're dumpy birds with dark brown feathers and in the breeding season have a very obvious chestnut patch on their necks and cheeks. Little grebes are secretive birds, especially in the breeding season when they lurk in reeds and rushes or dive to avoid being seen.

Little Owl2014041820150410 (R4)
20150412 (R4)
20160603 (R4)
20170117 (R4)
20181029 (R4)
20200115 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the little owl. Little owls really are little, about as long as a starling but much stockier with a short tail and rounded wings. If you disturb one it will bound off low over the ground before swinging up onto a telegraph pole or gatepost where it bobs up and down, glaring at you fiercely through large yellow and black eyes. Today, you can hear the yelps of the birds and their musical spring song across the fields and parks of much of England and Wales.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Kate Humble presents the little owl.

"

"

Kate Humble presents the little owl. Little owls really are little, about as long as a starling but much stockier with a short tail and rounded wings. If you disturb one it will bound off low over the ground before swinging up onto a telegraph pole or gatepost where it bobs up and down, glaring at you fiercely through large yellow and black eyes. Today, you can hear the yelps of the birds and their musical spring song across the fields and parks of much of England and Wales.

Kate Humble presents the little owl. Little owls really are little, about as long as a starling but much stockier with a short tail and rounded wings. If you disturb one it will bound off low over the ground before swinging up onto a telegraph pole or gatepost where it bobs up and down, glaring at you fiercely through large yellow and black eyes. Today, you can hear the yelps of the birds and their musical spring song across the fields and parks of much of England and Wales.

Kate Humble presents the little owl. Little owls really are little, about as long as a starling but much stockier with a short tail and rounded wings. If you disturb one it will bound off low over the ground before swinging up onto a telegraph pole or gatepost where it bobs up and down, glaring at you fiercely through large yellow and black eyes. Today, you can hear the yelps of the birds and their musical spring song across the fields and parks of much of England and Wales.

Kate Humble presents the little owl. Little owls really are little, about as long as a starling but much stockier with a short tail and rounded wings. If you disturb one it will bound off low over the ground before swinging up onto a telegraph pole or gatepost where it bobs up and down, glaring at you fiercely through large yellow and black eyes. Today, you can hear the yelps of the birds and their musical spring song across the fields and parks of much of England and Wales.

Kate Humble presents the little owl.

Kate Humble presents the little owl.

Kate Humble presents the little owl.

Kate Humble presents the little owl.

Little Ringed Plover2014032720150416 (R4)
20190710 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the little ringed plover. In 1938, there was great excitement at a Hertfordshire reservoir. On the gravelly shoreline a pair of birds, which had never bred in the UK before, were showing signs of nesting. They were little ringed plovers, summer visitors to Continental Europe and they'd been attracted to the reservoirs' shingle banks where they laid their clutch of four eggs. Today there are around a thousand pairs in the UK.

Bill Oddie presents the little ringed plover. In 1938, there was great excitement at a Hertfordshire reservoir. On the gravelly shoreline a pair of birds, which had never bred in the UK before, were showing signs of nesting. They were little ringed plovers, summer visitors to Continental Europe and they'd been attracted to the reservoirs' shingle banks where they laid their clutch of four eggs. Today there are around a thousand pairs in the UK.

Bill Oddie presents the little ringed plover.

Bill Oddie presents the little ringed plover.

Bill Oddie presents the little ringed plover. In 1938, there was great excitement at a Hertfordshire reservoir. On the gravelly shoreline a pair of birds, which had never bred in the UK before, were showing signs of nesting. They were little ringed plovers, summer visitors to Continental Europe and they'd been attracted to the reservoirs' shingle banks where they laid their clutch of four eggs. Today there are around a thousand pairs in the UK.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Little Tern2013073020140701
20160613 (R4)
20160619 (R4)
20200416 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the little tern.

Little terns are our smallest terns. You can pick them out from our other terns by their smaller size, white forehead and yellow bill with a black tip. They look flimsy and delicate but move too close to one of their colonies, and you'll unleash a tirade of grating shrieks as they try to intimidate you out of their territory.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the little tern.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Steve Backshall presents the little tern.

"

Little terns are our smallest terns. You can pick them out from our other terns by their smaller size, white forehead and yellow bill with a black tip. They look flimsy and delicate but move too close to one of their colonies, and you'll unleash a tirade of grating shrieks as they try to intimidate you out of their territory.

Little terns are our smallest terns. You can pick them out from our other terns by their smaller size, white forehead and yellow bill with a black tip. They look flimsy and delicate but move too close to one of their colonies, and you'll unleash a tirade of grating shrieks as they try to intimidate you out of their territory.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the little tern.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the little tern.

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the little tern.

Little terns are our smallest terns. You can pick them out from our other terns by their smaller size, white forehead and yellow bill with a black tip. They look flimsy and delicate but move too close to one of their colonies, and you'll unleash a tirade of grating shrieks as they try to intimidate you out of their territory."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Little terns are our smallest terns. You can pick them out from our other terns by their smaller size, white forehead and yellow bill with a black tip. They look flimsy and delicate but move too close to one of their colonies, and you'll unleash a tirade of grating shrieks as they try to intimidate you out of their territory.

Long-eared Owl2014021320150305 (R4)
20160531 (R4)
20161020 (R4)
20170119 (R4)
20190208 (R4)
20191203 (R4)
20201015 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

John Aitchison presents the long-eared owl. The low moaning hoot of a long-eared owl filters through the blackness of a pine wood. Long-eared owls are nocturnal and one of our most elusive breeding birds. They nest in conifer woods, copses and shelter-belts of trees near wide open grasslands and heaths where they hunt for rodents.

John Aitchison presents the long-eared owl. The low moaning hoot of a long-eared owl filters through the blackness of a pine wood. Long-eared owls are nocturnal and one of our most elusive breeding birds. They nest in conifer woods, copses and shelter-belts of trees near wide open grasslands and heaths where they hunt for rodents.

John Aitchison presents the long-eared owl. The low moaning hoot of a long-eared owl filters through the blackness of a pine wood. Long-eared owls are nocturnal and one of our most elusive breeding birds. They nest in conifer woods, copses and shelter-belts of trees near wide open grasslands and heaths where they hunt for rodents.

John Aitchison presents the long-eared owl. The low moaning hoot of a long-eared owl filters through the blackness of a pine wood. Long-eared owls are nocturnal and one of our most elusive breeding birds. They nest in conifer woods, copses and shelter-belts of trees near wide open grasslands and heaths where they hunt for rodents.

John Aitchison presents the long-eared owl. The low moaning hoot of a long-eared owl filters through the blackness of a pine wood. Long-eared owls are nocturnal and one of our most elusive breeding birds. They nest in conifer woods, copses and shelter-belts of trees near wide open grasslands and heaths where they hunt for rodents.

John Aitchison presents the long-eared owl.

John Aitchison presents the long-eared owl.

John Aitchison presents the long-eared owl.

John Aitchison presents the long-eared owl.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"

John Aitchison presents the long-eared owl. The low moaning hoot of a long-eared owl filters through the blackness of a pine wood. Long-eared owls are nocturnal and one of our most elusive breeding birds. They nest in conifer woods, copses and shelter-belts of trees near wide open grasslands and heaths where they hunt for rodents.

Long-tailed Duck2013120920131215
20161004 (R4)
20181211 (R4)
20201102 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the long-tailed duck. The musical call of the long-tailed duck gives it the Scottish name of 'calloo', or 'coal- and-candlelight'. In the UK you're more likely to see them in Scotland and northern England where they seek out shellfish, diving up to 60 metres to retrieve them.

Chris Packham presents the long-tailed duck. The musical call of the long-tailed duck gives it the Scottish name of 'calloo', or 'coal- and-candlelight'. In the UK you're more likely to see them in Scotland and northern England where they seek out shellfish, diving up to 60 metres to retrieve them.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Chris Packham presents the long-tailed duck.

Chris Packham presents the long-tailed duck. The musical call of the long-tailed duck gives it the Scottish name of 'calloo', or 'coal- and-candlelight'. In the UK you're more likely to see them in Scotland and northern England where they seek out shellfish, diving up to 60 metres to retrieve them.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Long-tailed Tit2013080920140711
20160406 (R4)
20170210 (R4)
20180406 (R4)
20190827 (R4)
20200823 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the long-tailed tit. They are sociable birds and family ties are vital. They even roost together at night, huddled in lines on a branch, and this behaviour saves lives in very cold winter weather. The nest of the Long-Tailed Tit is one of the most elaborate of any UK bird, a ball of interwoven moss, lichen, animal hair, spider's webs and feathers.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the long-tailed tit.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the long-tailed tit.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michaela Strachan presents the long-tailed tit. They are sociable birds and family ties are vital. They even roost together at night, huddled in lines on a branch, and this behaviour saves lives in very cold winter weather. The nest of the Long-Tailed Tit is one of the most elaborate of any UK bird, a ball of interwoven moss, lichen, animal hair, spider's webs and feathers.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the long-tailed tit. They are sociable birds and family ties are vital. They even roost together at night, huddled in lines on a branch, and this behaviour saves lives in very cold winter weather. The nest of the Long-Tailed Tit is one of the most elaborate of any UK bird, a ball of interwoven moss, lichen, animal hair, spider's webs and feathers.

Michaela Strachan presents the long-tailed tit. They are sociable birds and family ties are vital. They even roost together at night, huddled in lines on a branch, and this behaviour saves lives in very cold winter weather. The nest of the Long-Tailed Tit is one of the most elaborate of any UK bird, a ball of interwoven moss, lichen, animal hair, spider's webs and feathers.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the long-tailed tit.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the long-tailed tit.

Michaela Strachan presents the long-tailed tit. They are sociable birds and family ties are vital. They even roost together at night, huddled in lines on a branch, and this behaviour saves lives in very cold winter weather. The nest of the Long-Tailed Tit is one of the most elaborate of any UK bird, a ball of interwoven moss, lichen, animal hair, spider's webs and feathers.

Michaela Strachan presents the long-tailed tit. They are sociable birds and family ties are vital. They even roost together at night, huddled in lines on a branch, and this behaviour saves lives in very cold winter weather. The nest of the Long-Tailed Tit is one of the most elaborate of any UK bird, a ball of interwoven moss, lichen, animal hair, spider's webs and feathers."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Longthrough The NightEvery Song A Symphony
Madagascan Harrier-hawk2014112820151127 (R4)Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the Madagascan Harrier-hawk from Madagascar. Among the branches of a Madagascan forest, there's a flutter of wings and a flash of double-jointed feet. The Madagascan harrier-hawk is a striking bird, uniform grey above and finely-barred beneath with black wing-tips and a white-banded black tail. There's a patch of sulphurous skin around its bill and eyes: and its long legs are also bright yellow. Those long legs help the harrier-hawk hunt for food that's beyond the reach of most other birds of prey. Using its wings for balance and twisting its flexibly-jointed legs at seemingly impossible angles, the harrier-hawk inserts its talons into tiny holes, relying on its sense of touch to locate its prey. Madagascar harrier-hawks do hunt more conventionally by gliding over the forest, seizing small birds, reptiles and mammals such as the Verreaux's sifaka.

Chris Packham presents the Madagascan harrier-hawk from Madagascar.

Chris Packham presents the Madagascan Harrier-hawk from Madagascar. Among the branches of a Madagascan forest, there's a flutter of wings and a flash of double-jointed feet. The Madagascan harrier-hawk is a striking bird, uniform grey above and finely-barred beneath with black wing-tips and a white-banded black tail. There's a patch of sulphurous skin around its bill and eyes: and its long legs are also bright yellow. Those long legs help the harrier-hawk hunt for food that's beyond the reach of most other birds of prey. Using its wings for balance and twisting its flexibly-jointed legs at seemingly impossible angles, the harrier-hawk inserts its talons into tiny holes, relying on its sense of touch to locate its prey. Madagascar harrier-hawks do hunt more conventionally by gliding over the forest, seizing small birds, reptiles and mammals such as the Verreaux's sifaka.

Chris Packham presents the Madagascan harrier-hawk from Madagascar.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Madagascar Harrier-hawk2014112820200204 (R4)Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the Madagascan Harrier-hawk from Madagascar. Among the branches of a Madagascan forest, there's a flutter of wings and a flash of double-jointed feet. The Madagascan harrier-hawk is a striking bird, uniform grey above and finely-barred beneath with black wing-tips and a white-banded black tail. There's a patch of sulphurous skin around its bill and eyes: and its long legs are also bright yellow. Those long legs help the harrier-hawk hunt for food that's beyond the reach of most other birds of prey. Using its wings for balance and twisting its flexibly-jointed legs at seemingly impossible angles, the harrier-hawk inserts its talons into tiny holes, relying on its sense of touch to locate its prey. Madagascar harrier-hawks do hunt more conventionally by gliding over the forest, seizing small birds, reptiles and mammals such as the Verreaux's sifaka.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Magnificent Frigatebird2015020520160203 (R4)
20200106 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the magnificent frigatebird, a true oceanic bird.

Michael Palin presents the magnificent frigatebird a true oceanic bird, and resembling a hook-billed, pterodactyl of a seabird.

Magnificent frigatebirds are some of the most accomplished aeronauts of the tropical oceans. Their huge wingspans of over two metres and long forked tails allow them to soar effortlessly and pluck flying fish from the air, and also harass seabirds. These acts of piracy earned them the name Man-o' War birds and attracted the attention of Christopher Columbus.

Magnificent Frigatebirds breed on islands in the Caribbean, and along the tropical Pacific and Atlantic coasts of central and South America as well as on the Galapagos Islands. Frigatebird courtship is an extravagant affair. The males gather in "clubs" , perching on low trees or bushes.

Here they inflate their red throat-pouches into huge scarlet balloons, calling and clattering their bills together as they try to lure down a female flying overhead. If they're successful, they will sire a single chick which is looked after by both parents for three months and by its mother only for up to 14 months, the longest period of parental care by any bird.

"Michael Palin presents the magnificent frigatebird, a true oceanic bird.

Magnificent Frigatebirds breed on islands in the Caribbean, and along the tropical Pacific and Atlantic coasts of central and South America as well as on the Galapagos Islands. Frigatebird courtship is an extravagant affair. The males gather in ""clubs"" , perching on low trees or bushes.

"

"Michael Palin presents the magnificent frigatebird, a true oceanic bird.

Michael Palin presents the magnificent frigatebird a true oceanic bird, and resembling a hook-billed, pterodactyl of a seabird.

Michael Palin presents the magnificent frigatebird a true oceanic bird.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Magnificent frigatebirds are some of the most accomplished aeronauts of the tropical oceans. Their huge wingspans of over two metres and long forked tails allow them to soar effortlessly and pluck flying fish from the air, and also harass seabirds. These acts of piracy earned them the name Man-o' War birds and attracted the attention of Christopher Columbus.
Magnifcent Frigatebirds breed on islands in the Caribbean, and along the tropical Pacific and Atlantic coasts of central and South America as well as on the Galapagos Islands. Frigatebird courtship is an extravagant affair. The males gather in "clubs" , perching on low trees or bushes.

Michael Palin presents the magnificent frigatebird a true oceanic bird.

Michael Palin presents the magnificent frigatebird a true oceanic bird.

Magpie2014010320161108 (R4)
20170125 (R4)
20181122 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the magpie. Magpies have always had a rascally streetwise image. They featured in anti-theft campaigns on television in the 1980s, and long before that, their kleptomaniac tendencies were celebrated by Rossini in his opera, 'The Thieving Magpie'. Their pied plumage isn't just black and white, but gleams with iridescent greens, blues and purples.

David Attenborough presents the magpie. Magpies have always had a rascally streetwise image. They featured in anti-theft campaigns on television in the 1980s, and long before that, their kleptomaniac tendencies were celebrated by Rossini in his opera, 'The Thieving Magpie'. Their pied plumage isn't just black and white, but gleams with iridescent greens, blues and purples.

David Attenborough presents the magpie. Magpies have always had a rascally streetwise image. They featured in anti-theft campaigns on television in the 1980s, and long before that, their kleptomaniac tendencies were celebrated by Rossini in his opera, 'The Thieving Magpie'. Their pied plumage isn't just black and white, but gleams with iridescent greens, blues and purples.

David Attenborough presents the magpie.

David Attenborough presents the magpie.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Attenborough presents the magpie. Magpies have always had a rascally streetwise image. They featured in anti-theft campaigns on television in the 1980s, and long before that, their kleptomaniac tendencies were celebrated by Rossini in his opera, 'The Thieving Magpie'. Their pied plumage isn't just black and white, but gleams with iridescent greens, blues and purples.

Mallard2014020520170213 (R4)
20170219 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the mallard. Mallards are our commonest ducks. In winter, mallards from Continental Europe join our resident birds. Some may have flown from as far away as Russia and many infiltrate local flocks, so the bills which snatch your bread may have been born hundreds, if not thousands of kilometres away.

Chris Packham presents the mallard. Mallards are our commonest ducks. In winter, mallards from Continental Europe join our resident birds. Some may have flown from as far away as Russia and many infiltrate local flocks, so the bills which snatch your bread may have been born hundreds, if not thousands of kilometres away.

Chris Packham presents the mallard. Mallards are our commonest ducks. In winter, mallards from Continental Europe join our resident birds. Some may have flown from as far away as Russia and many infiltrate local flocks, so the bills which snatch your bread may have been born hundreds, if not thousands of kilometres away.

Chris Packham presents the mallard.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mandarin Duck2014012020140126
20161011 (R4)
20210108 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the story of the Mandarin Duck. A drake mandarin has orange whiskers, red bill, a broad creamy eye-stripe and an iridescent purple chest, set off by a pair of extraordinary curved orange wing feathers which stand up like a boat's sails. Today there are seven thousand birds living in the wild and the numbers are increasing.

Chris Packham presents the mandarin duck.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"

Chris Packham presents the story of the Mandarin Duck. A drake mandarin has orange whiskers, red bill, a broad creamy eye-stripe and an iridescent purple chest, set off by a pair of extraordinary curved orange wing feathers which stand up like a boat's sails. Today there are seven thousand birds living in the wild and the numbers are increasing.

Chris Packham presents the mandarin duck.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the story of the Mandarin Duck. A drake mandarin has orange whiskers, red bill, a broad creamy eye-stripe and an iridescent purple chest, set off by a pair of extraordinary curved orange wing feathers which stand up like a boat's sails. Today there are seven thousand birds living in the wild and the numbers are increasing.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Manx Shearwater2013061120140603
20191016 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Manx Shearwater. Around 90% of the world's Manx Shearwaters breed around our coasts, most on remote islands such as Skomer, Skokholm and Rum. The steep-sided mountains of Rum hold the largest colony in the world, and the grassy mountainsides are riddled in places with their nest burrows.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the Manx shearwater.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the Manx shearwater."

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the Manx shearwater.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Manx Shearwater. Around 90% of the world's Manx Shearwaters breed around our coasts, most on remote islands such as Skomer, Skokholm and Rum. The steep-sided mountains of Rum hold the largest colony in the world, and the grassy mountainsides are riddled in places with their nest burrows."

The Manx Shearwater - Miranda Krestovnikoff narrates the story of this bird and its sound.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Marabou Stork2014121120151028 (R4)
20190718 (R4)
20201020 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the gaunt undertaker looking marabou stalk in Africa. It is not very scientific to describe a bird as ugly, but the marabou stalk would not win any prizes for beauty or elegance. This bulky stork, with a funereal air, has a fleshy inflatable sac under its throat which conspicuously wobbles as it probes African rubbish dumps for carrion. Seemingly more at home amongst the melee of vultures and jackals squabbling over a carcass, it is known in some areas as the undertaker bird. But, in the air the marabou stork is an elegant sight. It has one of the largest wingspans of any bird, up to 3 metres across. Soaring effortlessly on these broad wings the storks scan the sub-Saharan landscape for food. Marabou storks are doing well, thanks to our throwaway society and they've learned to connect people with rubbish - a salutary association one might say.

Liz Bonnin presents the gaunt undertaker looking marabou stalk in Africa. It is not very scientific to describe a bird as ugly, but the marabou stalk would not win any prizes for beauty or elegance. This bulky stork, with a funereal air, has a fleshy inflatable sac under its throat which conspicuously wobbles as it probes African rubbish dumps for carrion. Seemingly more at home amongst the melee of vultures and jackals squabbling over a carcass, it is known in some areas as the undertaker bird. But, in the air the marabou stork is an elegant sight. It has one of the largest wingspans of any bird, up to 3 metres across. Soaring effortlessly on these broad wings the storks scan the sub-Saharan landscape for food. Marabou storks are doing well, thanks to our throwaway society and they've learned to connect people with rubbish - a salutary association one might say.

Liz Bonnin presents the gaunt undertaker looking marabou stalk in Africa.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Liz Bonnin presents the gaunt undertaker looking marabou stork in Africa. It is not very scientific to describe a bird as ugly, but the marabou stork would not win any prizes for beauty or elegance. This bulky stork, with a funereal air, has a fleshy inflatable sac under its throat which conspicuously wobbles as it probes African rubbish dumps for carrion. Seemingly more at home amongst the melee of vultures and jackals squabbling over a carcass, it is known in some areas as the undertaker bird. But, in the air the marabou stork is an elegant sight. It has one of the largest wingspans of any bird, up to 3 metres across. Soaring effortlessly on these broad wings the storks scan the sub-Saharan landscape for food. Marabou storks are doing well, thanks to our throwaway society and they've learned to connect people with rubbish – a salutary association one might say.

Producer : Andrew Dawes

Liz Bonnin presents the gaunt undertaker-looking marabou stork in Africa.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Liz Bonnin presents the gaunt undertaker looking marabou stalk in Africa. It is not very scientific to describe a bird as ugly, but the marabou stalk would not win any prizes for beauty or elegance. This bulky stork, with a funereal air, has a fleshy inflatable sac under its throat which conspicuously wobbles as it probes African rubbish dumps for carrion. Seemingly more at home amongst the melee of vultures and jackals squabbling over a carcass, it is known in some areas as the undertaker bird. But, in the air the marabou stork is an elegant sight. It has one of the largest wingspans of any bird, up to 3 metres across. Soaring effortlessly on these broad wings the storks scan the sub-Saharan landscape for food. Marabou storks are doing well, thanks to our throwaway society and they've learned to connect people with rubbish – a salutary association one might say.

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the gaunt undertaker looking marabou stork in Africa. It is not very scientific to describe a bird as ugly, but the marabou stork would not win any prizes for beauty or elegance. This bulky stork, with a funereal air, has a fleshy inflatable sac under its throat which conspicuously wobbles as it probes African rubbish dumps for carrion. Seemingly more at home amongst the melee of vultures and jackals squabbling over a carcass, it is known in some areas as the undertaker bird. But, in the air the marabou stork is an elegant sight. It has one of the largest wingspans of any bird, up to 3 metres across. Soaring effortlessly on these broad wings the storks scan the sub-Saharan landscape for food. Marabou storks are doing well, thanks to our throwaway society and they've learned to connect people with rubbish – a salutary association one might say.

Producer : Andrew Dawes

Mark Cocker On The Curlew2018032920180914 (R4)
20191129 (R4)
Mark Cocker on the evocative song of a curlew floating over the Derbyshire moorlands.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Mark Cocker on the evocative song of a curlew floating over the Derbyshire moorlands.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mark Cocker On The Meadow Pipit2018032620180711 (R4)Nature writer Mark Cocker revels in the windblown melancholy of the meadow pipit's song.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Nature writer Mark Cocker revels in the windblown melancholy of the meadow pipit's song.|Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Nature writer Mark Cocker revels in the windblown melancholy of the meadow pipit's song.

Nature writer Mark Cocker revels in the windblown melancholy of the meadow pipit's song.|Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mark Cocker On The Ring Ouzel2018033020190603 (R4)Listening to the ring ouzel's call takes Mark Cocker back to his childhood.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Listening to the ring ouzel's call takes Mark Cocker back to his childhood.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mark Cocker On The Short-eared Owl2017120820190111 (R4)
20191006 (R4)
20201223 (R4)
Mark Cocker extols the aerial music flight of a wintering short-eared owl.

"Mark Cocker extols the aerial music flight of a wintering short-eared owl.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mark Cocker extols the aerial music flight of a wintering short-eared owl.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Mark Cocker On The Twite2018032720190602 (R4)Mark Cocker laments on the loss of the twite, once a familiar sight during his schooldays.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Mark Cocker laments on the loss of the twite, once a familiar sight during his schooldays.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mark Cocker On The Wood Warbler2018032820181019 (R4)For nature writer Mark Cocker spring has not arrived until he hears his first wood warbler

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"For nature writer Mark Cocker spring has not arrived until he hears his first wood warbler

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mark Smith On The Corncrake2017061220170618 (R4)Cameraman Mark Smith on an unusual encounter with a corncrake.

Cameraman Mark Smith describes an unusual encounter with a corncrake in this Tweet of the Day

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Miles Warde.

"Cameraman Mark Smith on an unusual encounter with a corncrake.

Producer Miles Warde. "

Cameraman Mark Smith on an unusual encounter with a corncrake."

"""Cameraman Mark Smith on an unusual encounter with a corncrake.

Producer Miles Warde. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mark Whitley Countryman Takeover20180909"Editor of The Countryman magazine Mark WhitleyTrump's Evangelicals

R4

Tweet Of The Day

Mark Whitley's Dales Tweet

20180916

For Mark Whitley. autumn may be around the corner, but he is transported back to spring.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

For editor of The Countryman magazine, Mark Whitley, autumn may be around the corner, but he's transported back to spring. The sight of male lapwings performing their tumbling display flight, and hearing their distinctive 'peewit' call is a sure sign that spring is on its way to the Yorkshire Dales.

Mark begins his second week curating the back catalogue from Tweet of the Day. You can hear all five episodes chosen this week, and further thoughts from Mark and his passion for the natural world via the the Tweet of the Week omnibus edition, which is available to download via the Radio 4 Website.

Editor of The Countryman magazine Mark Whitley reveals his Tweet of the Day.

Editor of The Countryman magazine Mark Whitley reveals how moving offices recently has opened up a whole new vista of bird species in this Tweet of the Day.

Mark begins his two weeks curating the back catalogue from Tweet of the Day. You can hear all five programmes chosen this week, and some thoughts from Mark and his passion for the natural world via the the Tweet of the Week omnibus edition, which is available via the Radio 4 Website.

Producer Andrew Dawes."

"Editor of The Countryman magazine Mark Whitley reveals his Tweet of the Day.

Mark Whitley's Dales Tweet20180916For Mark Whitley. autumn may be around the corner, but he is transported back to spring.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

For editor of The Countryman magazine, Mark Whitley, autumn may be around the corner, but he's transported back to spring. The sight of male lapwings performing their tumbling display flight, and hearing their distinctive 'peewit' call is a sure sign that spring is on its way to the Yorkshire Dales.

Mark begins his second week curating the back catalogue from Tweet of the Day. You can hear all five episodes chosen this week, and further thoughts from Mark and his passion for the natural world via the the Tweet of the Week omnibus edition, which is available to download via the Radio 4 Website.

"

"For Mark Whitley. autumn may be around the corner, but he is transported back to spring.

Marsh Tit2013112020150819 (R4)
20150823 (R4)
20160526 (R4)
20170202 (R4)
20200522 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Marsh Tit. The marsh tit is badly-named. It doesn't live in marshes, and is most at home in older broad-leaved woodlands. "Oak tit" might be a better name. Unlike some other tit species they don't travel far, holding and defending their woodland territories throughout the winter.

ProducerBrett Westwood,MRS SARAH PITT,Sarah Blunt.

ProducerBrett Westwood,MRS SARAH PITT,Sarah Blunt.

ProducerBrett Westwood,MRS SARAH PITT,Sarah Blunt.

ProducerBrett Westwood,MRS SARAH PITT,Sarah Blunt.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the marsh tit.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the marsh tit.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the marsh tit.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Marsh Tit. The marsh tit is badly-named. It doesn't live in marshes, and is most at home in older broad-leaved woodlands. ""Oak tit"" might be a better name. Unlike some other tit species they don't travel far, holding and defending their woodland territories throughout the winter.

"

"Martin Hughes-Games presents the marsh tit.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Marsh Tit. The marsh tit is badly-named. It doesn't live in marshes, and is most at home in older broad-leaved woodlands. "Oak tit" might be a better name. Unlike some other tit species they don't travel far, holding and defending their woodland territories throughout the winter.

ProducerBrett Westwood,MRS SARAH PITT,Sarah Blunt.

Marsh Warbler2013062720150507 (R4)
20181008 (R4)
20200525 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Marsh Warbler. Marsh warblers are astonishing mimics and when you hear one singing you could be forgiven for thinking that there's a flock of different species in the bush.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the marsh warbler.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Marsh Warbler. Marsh warblers are astonishing mimics and when you hear one singing you could be forgiven for thinking that there's a flock of different species in the bush.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the marsh warbler.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

The Marsh Warbler - Miranda Krestovnikoff narrates the story of this bird and its sound.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Marsh Warbler. Marsh warblers are astonishing mimics and when you hear one singing you could be forgiven for thinking that there's a flock of different species in the bush.

"

"The Marsh Warbler - Miranda Krestovnikoff narrates the story of this bird and its sound.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories aboTime Of Our Lives [radio Ulster]

20190120

Tweet Of The Day

20130627

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Marsh Warbler. Marsh warblers are astonishing mimics and when you hear one singing you could be forgiven for thinking that there's a flock of different species in the bush.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Marsh Warbler. Marsh warblers are astonishing mimics and when you hear one singing you could be forgiven for thinking that there's a flock of different species in the bush.

Martin Noble Picks His Tweet Of The Day20180415Martin Noble of British Sea Power introduces his favourite species from Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds.

"Conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds.

Martin Noble of British Sea Power introduces his favourite species from Tweet of the Day."

Martin Noble's Second Week For Tweet Of The Day20180422Martin Noble of British Sea Power leafs through the Tweet of the Day back catalogue.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Martin Noble of British Sea Power leafs through the Tweet of the Day back catalogue.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Martin Noble's Tweet Of The Day (part 2)20180422Martin Noble of British Sea Power leafs through the Tweet of the Day back catalogue.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mat Waddington On The Long Tailed Tit2017050920190118 (R4)
20210104 (R4)
Mat Waddington found a long tailed tit playing cupid in his Worcester village.

Worcestershire lawyer Mat Waddington recounts an encounter with a long tailed tit tapping at his window, his girlfriend at the other end of the village was similarly visited by a long tailed window tapper. Was this the same bird flying between the two houses which Mat describes as being the lovebird of Hallow?

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Mat Waddington found a long tailed tit playing cupid in his Worcester village.

Worcestershire lawyer Mat Waddington recounts an encounter with a long tailed tit tapping at his window, his girlfriend at the other end of the village was similarly visited by a long tailed window tapper. Was this the same bird flying between the two houses which Mat describes as being the lovebird of Hallow?

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Mat Waddington found a long tailed tit playing cupid in his Worcester village."

Matt Merritt On The Curlew2018031920180325 (R4)
20200803 (R4)
Matt Merritt, editor of British Birdwatching magazine, revels in the call of the curlew.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Matt Merritt, editor of British Birdwatching magazine, revels in the call of the curlew.|Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year|

"Matt Merritt, editor of British Birdwatching magazine, revels in the call of the curlew.

Matt Merritt, editor of British Birdwatching magazine, revels in the call of the curlew.|Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year|"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Matt Merritt On The Redstart2018032020200420 (R4)Editor of British Birdwatching magazine Matt Merritt enjoys the first spring male redstart

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Editor of British Birdwatching magazine Matt Merritt enjoys the first spring male redstart

Conversational voices of those inspired by birds."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Matt Merritt On The Wheatear20180321Poet and editor of British Birdwatching Matt Merritt revels in the Wheatear song.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Poet and editor of British Birdwatching Matt Merritt revels in the Wheatear song.

Conversational voices of those inspired by birds."

Matt Williams Tweet Of The Day Takeover 1 Of 220180527Wildlife photographer, naturalist & presenter Matt Williams selects from Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Wildlife photographer, naturalist and presenter Matt Williams selects from Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Matt Williams Tweet Of The Day Takeover 2 Of 220180603Wildlife photographer and presenter Matt Williams continues his Tweet of the Day selection

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Wildlife photographer and presenter Matt Williams continues his Tweet of the Day selection

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Matthew Capper On The Bittern2017072120200710 (R4)The RSPB's Matthew Capper recalls the joy of hearing a bittern for Tweet of the Day.

RSPB Yorkshire staff are reflecting on birds all this week for Tweet of the Day. Today reserve manager Matthew Capper recalls school holidays quests for a bittern in East Anglia.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

"The RSPB's Matthew Capper recalls the joy of hearing a bittern for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Mauritius Kestrel2015021220151223 (R4)
20180510 (R4)
20201209 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the Mauritius kestrel, from the island of Mauritius.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Palin presents the Mauritius kestrel from the island of Mauritius. Today the calls of several hundred Mauritius kestrels ring out across the forests and farmland of the island, so it's hard to believe that as recently as the early 1970s, only four birds could be found in the wild.

These smart chestnut falcons were almost wiped out by a cocktail of threats...destruction of their evergreen forests, pesticides and the introduction of predators such as monkeys, mongooses, rats and cats. When a species is so critically endangered there aren't many options, and conservationists decided that their only choice was to take some of the wild Mauritius kestrels into captivity.

By 1993, 300 Mauritius kestrels had been released and by November of that year there were as many as 65 breeding pairs in the wild. Now the kestrels are back, hovering above the landscapes that nearly lost them forever.

By 1993, 300 Mauritius kestrels had been released and by November of that year there were as many as 65 breeding pairs in the wild. Now the kestrels are back, hovering above the landscapes that nearly lost them forever.

"Michael Palin presents the Mauritius kestrel, from the island of Mauritius.

"

"Michael Palin presents the Mauritius kestrel from the island of Mauritius. Today the calls of several hundred Mauritius kestrels ring out across the forests and farmland of the island, so it's hard to believe that as recently as the early 1970s, only four birds could be found in the wild.

Michael Palin presents the Mauritius kestrel from the island of Mauritius. Today the calls of several hundred Mauritius kestrels ring out across the forests and farmland of the island, so it's hard to believe that as recently as the early 1970s, only four birds could be found in the wild.

These smart chestnut falcons were almost wiped out by a cocktail of threats...destruction of their evergreen forests, pesticides and the introduction of predators such as monkeys, mongooses, rats and cats. When a species is so critically endangered there aren't many options, and conservationists decided that their only choice was to take some of the wild Mauritius kestrels into captivity.

By 1993, 300 Mauritius kestrels had been released and by November of that year there were as many as 65 breeding pairs in the wild. Now the kestrels are back, hovering above the landscapes that nearly lost them forever.

Michael Palin presents the Mauritius kestrel, from the island of Mauritius.

Meadow Pipit2013090920130915
20160408 (R4)
Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the meadow pipit.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the Meadow Pipit. The thin but penetrating calls of the meadow pipit can be heard on a remote mountainside or high above the city streets on an autumn day. Meadow pipits are often the main hosts for the parasitic Cuckoos and many a pipit pair ends up stuffing insects into a much larger cuckoo chick.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the meadow pipit.

Brett Westwood presents the Meadow Pipit. The thin but penetrating calls of the meadow pipit can be heard on a remote mountainside or high above the city streets on an autumn day. Meadow pipits are often the main hosts for the parasitic Cuckoos and many a pipit pair ends up stuffing insects into a much larger cuckoo chick.

Brett Westwood presents the Meadow Pipit. The thin but penetrating calls of the meadow pipit can be heard on a remote mountainside or high above the city streets on an autumn day. Meadow pipits are often the main hosts for the parasitic Cuckoos and many a pipit pair ends up stuffing insects into a much larger cuckoo chick.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the meadow pipit.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Meadow Pipit2013090920140825
20160408 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the Meadow Pipit. The thin but penetrating calls of the meadow pipit can be heard on a remote mountainside or high above the city streets on an autumn day. Meadow pipits are often the main hosts for the parasitic Cuckoos and many a pipit pair ends up stuffing insects into a much larger cuckoo chick.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the meadow pipit.

Meadow Pipit (spring)2014041520150407 (R4)
20170407 (R4)
20190416 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the meadow pipit. No-one would give the meadow pipit any prizes in a beauty competition but this small streaky bird has its own charm, as it bustles through the turf with a jerky motion. If you're hiking across the moor it will rise ahead of you, dither in mid-air and then dart off, buffeted by the spring breeze.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Kate Humble presents the meadow pipit. No-one would give the meadow pipit any prizes in a beauty competition but this small streaky bird has its own charm, as it bustles through the turf with a jerky motion. If you're hiking across the moor it will rise ahead of you, dither in mid-air and then dart off, buffeted by the spring breeze.

Kate Humble presents the meadow pipit. No-one would give the meadow pipit any prizes in a beauty competition but this small streaky bird has its own charm, as it bustles through the turf with a jerky motion. If you're hiking across the moor it will rise ahead of you, dither in mid-air and then dart off, buffeted by the spring breeze.

Kate Humble presents the meadow pipit.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Melissa Harrison On The House Sparrow2017092920190503 (R4)Nature writer Melissa Harrison presents the case for the humble and rather noisy 'spadger'

Nature writer Melissa Harrison presents the case for why we should love the humble and rather noisy 'spadger', better known as the house sparrow, though she won't waste her breath trying to win round her dog.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Feathers [Allan].

"Nature writer Melissa Harrison presents the case for the humble and rather noisy 'spadger'

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Feathers [Allan]. "

"""Nature writer Melissa Harrison presents the case for the humble and rather noisy 'spadger'

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Feathers [Allan]. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Melissa Harrison On The Kingfisher2017092720210312 (R4)
20190502 (R4)
Nature writer Melissa Harrison braves a dip in a Dorset river and hears the high 'pip' of a kingfisher. She realises she must be sharing with the water with one of her favourite birds.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Lynn [Mrs Birds].

Writer Melissa Harrison braves a dip and finds herself face to face with a kingfisher.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Lynn [Mrs Birds].

"Writer Melissa Harrison braves a dip and finds herself face to face with a kingfisher.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Lynn [Mrs Birds]. "

"""Writer Melissa Harrison braves a dip and finds herself face to face with a kingfisher.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Lynn [Mrs Birds]. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Melissa Harrison On The Starling2017092620210311 (R4)
20180518 (R4)
Nature writer Melissa Harrison muses on the mimicking sounds of starlings, particularly one that learned the ring of her family phone causing calamity in the house.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Merseymouse.

Nature writer Melissa Harrison muses on the amusing mimicking sounds starlings can perform

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Merseymouse.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Merseymouse.

"Nature writer Melissa Harrison muses on the amusing mimicking sounds starlings can perform

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Merseymouse."

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Merseymouse. "

"""Nature writer Melissa Harrison muses on the amusing mimicking sounds starlings can perform

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Merseymouse. """

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Merseymouse.

Melissa Harrison On The Stonechat2017092820181114 (R4)
20210223 (R4)
The stonechat's punctuating call reminds writer Melissa Harrison of walks in Dartmoor.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

The clacking call of the stonechat punctuates nature writer Melissa Harrison's memories of cagoule-clad walks on Dartmoor with her family in the 1970's.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Kirsty Taylor.

"The stonechat's punctuating call reminds writer Melissa Harrison of walks in Dartmoor.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Kirsty Taylor. "

"""The stonechat's punctuating call reminds writer Melissa Harrison of walks in Dartmoor.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Kirsty Taylor. """

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Kirsty Taylor.

Melissa Harrison On The Tawny Owl2017092520171001 (R4)
20190501 (R4)
Nature writer Melissa Harrison describes how a tawny owl call evokes memories of lost days

Nature writer Melissa Harrison describes how the call of a tawny owl takes her back to childhood, reminding her of people and a feeling that slipped into memory.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Jim Thurston.

"Nature writer Melissa Harrison describes how a tawny owl call evokes memories of lost days

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Jim Thurston. "

"""Nature writer Melissa Harrison describes how a tawny owl call evokes memories of lost days

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Picture: Jim Thurston. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Melodious Warbler2013092520150610 (R4)
20150614 (R4)
20160826 (R4)
20190204 (R4)
20210117 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the melodious warbler. A lemon-yellow warbler singing on a sunny Spanish hillside will be the well-named Melodious Warbler. They are slightly smaller than blackcaps, moss-green above and pale yellow below. You may occasionally see them in the UK in late summer or autumn. The song is melodious and the bird often includes nasal chattering phrases that sound like house sparrows.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the melodious warbler.

Brett Westwood presents the melodious warbler. A lemon-yellow warbler singing on a sunny Spanish hillside will be the well-named Melodious Warbler. They are slightly smaller than blackcaps, moss-green above and pale yellow below. You may occasionally see them in the UK in late summer or autumn. The song is melodious and the bird often includes nasal chattering phrases that sound like house sparrows.

Brett Westwood presents the melodious warbler. A lemon-yellow warbler singing on a sunny Spanish hillside will be the well-named Melodious Warbler. They are slightly smaller than blackcaps, moss-green above and pale yellow below. You may occasionally see them in the UK in late summer or autumn. The song is melodious and the bird often includes nasal chattering phrases that sound like house sparrows.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the melodious warbler.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the melodious warbler.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the melodious warbler.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the melodious warbler. A lemon-yellow warbler singing on a sunny Spanish hillside will be the well-named Melodious Warbler. They are slightly smaller than blackcaps, moss-green above and pale yellow below. You may occasionally see them in the UK in late summer or autumn. The song is melodious and the bird often includes nasal chattering phrases that sound like house sparrows.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the melodious warbler.

Brett Westwood presents the melodious warbler. A lemon-yellow warbler singing on a sunny Spanish hillside will be the well-named Melodious Warbler. They are slightly smaller than blackcaps, moss-green above and pale yellow below. You may occasionally see them in the UK in late summer or autumn. The song is melodious and the bird often includes nasal chattering phrases that sound like house sparrows."

"

Brett Westwood presents the melodious warbler. A lemon-yellow warbler singing on a sunny Spanish hillside will be the well-named Melodious Warbler. They are slightly smaller than blackcaps, moss-green above and pale yellow below. You may occasionally see them in the UK in late summer or autumn. The song is melodious and the bird often includes nasal chattering phrases that sound like house sparrows.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Merlin2014012420160713 (R4)
20190404 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the story of the merlin. These diminutive falcons nest in deep heather on moorland, mainly in the north and west. In winter they also hunt over open country, hillsides and coastal marshes. The male merlin or jack is our smallest falcon, about the size of a mistle thrush.

Chris Packham presents the merlin.

Chris Packham presents the story of the merlin. These diminutive falcons nest in deep heather on moorland, mainly in the north and west. In winter they also hunt over open country, hillsides and coastal marshes. The male merlin or jack is our smallest falcon, about the size of a mistle thrush.

Chris Packham presents the merlin.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Morpurgo On The Buzzard2017112820180919 (R4)
20200225 (R4)
Children's author Michael Morpurgo enjoys the call of buzzards when out for his daily walk

"Children's author Michael Morpurgo enjoys the call of buzzards when out for his daily walk

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Morpurgo On The Dipper2017113020200227 (R4)Michael Morpurgo on why he would love to be able to get up closer to a dipper.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Morpurgo On The Greater Flamingo2017120120200228 (R4)Author Michael Morpurgo visited the Camargue and found the flamingo touches his soul.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Author Michael Morpurgo visited the Camargue and found the flamingo touches his soul.

Michael Morpurgo On The Magpie2017112720171203 (R4)
20200224 (R4)
Writer Michael Morpurgo begins a week of Tweet of the Day with the magpie.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Morpurgo On The Oystercatcher2017112920200226 (R4)Michael Morpurgo enjoys talking to the oystercatchers on the Isles of Scilly.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Morpurgo enjoys talking to the oystercatchers on the Isles of Scilly.

Michael Morpurgo On The Swan2018022320200807 (R4)Michael Morpurgo's paean to the beautiful, mysterious swan.

Children's author and poet Michael Morpurgo reflects on the swan, celebrating its mysterious beauty and the wonder of its wings as they pass overhead.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. In this latest series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Bryan Garnett.

Producer: Tom Bonnett
Photograph: Bryan Garnett.

"

Michael Morpurgo's paean to the beautiful, mysterious swan."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mike Toms On The Tawny Owl2018020920210318 (R4)
20190922 (R4)
Mike Toms of the British Trust for Ornithology describes his night-time encounters with Tawny Owls in Thetford Forest in Norfolk.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Neil Cowley.

Mike Toms describes his encounters with tawny owls in Thetford Forest in Norfolk.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Neil Cowley.

"Mike Toms describes his encounters with tawny owls in Thetford Forest in Norfolk.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Neil Cowley. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miriam Darlington Selects Her Tweet Of The Day, 1 Of 220180429Writer and naturalist Miriam Darlington selects her quintet of birds for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Writer and naturalist Miriam Darlington selects her quintet of birds for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Miriam Darlington Takes Over Tweet Of The Day, 2 Of 220180506Naturalist Miriam Darlington selects a second week of birds for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Naturalist Miriam Darlington selects a second week of birds for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Mistle Thrush20130912Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the Mistle Thrush. Loud rattling calls, like someone scraping a comb across wood, tell you that Mistle Thrushes are about. From midsummer to early autumn, bands of Mistle Thrushes roam the countryside, where they feed on open pastures, among stubble or on moorland. These birds are very fond of the white sticky berries of mistletoe and spread the seeds into cracks of tree bark when they wipe their bills or defecate.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the mistle thrush.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the mistle thrush.

Brett Westwood presents the Mistle Thrush. Loud rattling calls, like someone scraping a comb across wood, tell you that Mistle Thrushes are about. From midsummer to early autumn, bands of Mistle Thrushes roam the countryside, where they feed on open pastures, among stubble or on moorland. These birds are very fond of the white sticky berries of mistletoe and spread the seeds into cracks of tree bark when they wipe their bills or defecate.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the mistle thrush."

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the mistle thrush.

Brett Westwood presents the Mistle Thrush. Loud rattling calls, like someone scraping a comb across wood, tell you that Mistle Thrushes are about. From midsummer to early autumn, bands of Mistle Thrushes roam the countryside, where they feed on open pastures, among stubble or on moorland. These birds are very fond of the white sticky berries of mistletoe and spread the seeds into cracks of tree bark when they wipe their bills or defecate."

Mistle Thrush (song)2014010720181227 (R4)
20200103 (R4)
20201218 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Mistle Thrush. Mistle thrushes are early singers and you'll often hear one singing from the top of a tall tree in windy winter weather. Because of this habit, an old name for the thrush is 'storm cock'.

David Attenborough presents the mistle thrush.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

David Attenborough presents the story of the Mistle Thrush. Mistle thrushes are early singers and you'll often hear one singing from the top of a tall tree in windy winter weather. Because of this habit, an old name for the thrush is 'storm cock'.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Mistle Thrush. Mistle thrushes are early singers and you'll often hear one singing from the top of a tall tree in windy winter weather. Because of this habit, an old name for the thrush is 'storm cock'.

David Attenborough presents the mistle thrush.

David Attenborough presents the story of the Mistle Thrush. Mistle thrushes are early singers and you'll often hear one singing from the top of a tall tree in windy winter weather. Because of this habit, an old name for the thrush is 'storm cock'.

Mistle Thrush: Part One2013091220140828
20160216 (R4)
20170102 (R4)
20170108 (R4)
20181106 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Brett Westwood presents the Mistle Thrush. Loud rattling calls, like someone scraping a comb across wood, tell you that Mistle Thrushes are about. From midsummer to early autumn, bands of Mistle Thrushes roam the countryside, where they feed on open pastures, among stubble or on moorland. These birds are very fond of the white sticky berries of mistletoe and spread the seeds into cracks of tree bark when they wipe their bills or defecate.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the mistle thrush.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the mistle thrush.

Brett Westwood presents the Mistle Thrush. Loud rattling calls, like someone scraping a comb across wood, tell you that Mistle Thrushes are about. From midsummer to early autumn, bands of Mistle Thrushes roam the countryside, where they feed on open pastures, among stubble or on moorland. These birds are very fond of the white sticky berries of mistletoe and spread the seeds into cracks of tree bark when they wipe their bills or defecate.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Brett Westwood presents the Mistle Thrush. Loud rattling calls, like someone scraping a comb across wood, tell you that Mistle Thrushes are about. From midsummer to early autumn, bands of Mistle Thrushes roam the countryside, where they feed on open pastures, among stubble or on moorland. These birds are very fond of the white sticky berries of mistletoe and spread the seeds into cracks of tree bark when they wipe their bills or defecate.

Brett Westwood presents the Mistle Thrush. Loud rattling calls, like someone scraping a comb across wood, tell you that Mistle Thrushes are about. From midsummer to early autumn, bands of Mistle Thrushes roam the countryside, where they feed on open pastures, among stubble or on moorland. These birds are very fond of the white sticky berries of mistletoe and spread the seeds into cracks of tree bark when they wipe their bills or defecate.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the mistle thrush.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the mistle thrush.

Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the mistle thrush.

"Brett Westwood presents the story and sound of the mistle thrush.

"

Brett Westwood presents the Mistle Thrush. Loud rattling calls, like someone scraping a comb across wood, tell you that Mistle Thrushes are about. From midsummer to early autumn, bands of Mistle Thrushes roam the countryside, where they feed on open pastures, among stubble or on moorland. These birds are very fond of the white sticky berries of mistletoe and spread the seeds into cracks of tree bark when they wipe their bills or defecate.

Brett Westwood presents the Mistle Thrush. Loud rattling calls, like someone scraping a comb across wood, tell you that Mistle Thrushes are about. From midsummer to early autumn, bands of Mistle Thrushes roam the countryside, where they feed on open pastures, among stubble or on moorland. These birds are very fond of the white sticky berries of mistletoe and spread the seeds into cracks of tree bark when they wipe their bills or defecate.

Montezuma Oropendola2014102020151023 (R4)
20190624 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Panamanian Montezuma oropendola. In a clearing in the humid rainforest in Panama a tall tree appears to be draped in hanging baskets. These are the nests of a New World blackbird, Montezuma oropendola. The male produces an ecstatic bubbling liquid call as he displays to females, reaching a crescendo whilst bowing downwards from his perch, spreading his wings and raising his tail. They weave long tubular basket-like nests from plant fibres, which they suspend in clusters from tall trees. Colonies can contain up to one hundred and seventy nests, but more usually number about thirty.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Panamanian Montezuma oropendola. In a clearing in the humid rainforest in Panama a tall tree appears to be draped in hanging baskets. These are the nests of a New World blackbird, Montezuma oropendola. The male produces an ecstatic bubbling liquid call as he displays to females, reaching a crescendo whilst bowing downwards from his perch, spreading his wings and raising his tail. They weave long tubular basket-like nests from plant fibres, which they suspend in clusters from tall trees. Colonies can contain up to one hundred and seventy nests, but more usually number about thirty.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Panamanian Montezuma oropendola.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Montserrat Oriole2015010920151210 (R4)
20190908 (R4)
20210303 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents Montserrat oriole from the Caribbean island of Montserrat. In 1995, after being dormant for over 300 years, a volcano on erupted. The eruption not only destroyed Montserrat's capital but much of the wildlife couldn't escape, and one bird, the Montserrat oriole was almost silenced forever. The male is a colourful bird with coal-black head, wings and tail and underparts the colour of egg-yolk. It is one of the most endangered birds in the world, a bird caught between a rock and a hard place. Its forest home had already been reduced by cultivation and introduced predators. It was reduced to living in fragmented pockets of forest, two thirds of which were destroyed in the 1995 and later eruptions. This threatened to wipe out an already endangered bird. So, conservationists from Jersey Zoo moved 8 orioles into captivity to avoid natural extinction and now a captive breeding programme is successfully underway, such as this oriole specially recorded for Tweet of the Day at Chester Zoo.

Liz Bonnin presents the Montserrat oriole from the Caribbean island of Montserrat.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Liz Bonnin presents Montserrat oriole from the Caribbean island of Montserrat. In 1995, after being dormant for over 300 years, a volcano erupted. The eruption not only destroyed Montserrat's capital but much of the wildlife couldn't escape, and one bird, the Montserrat oriole was almost silenced forever. The male is a colourful bird with coal-black head, wings and tail and underparts the colour of egg-yolk. It is one of the most endangered birds in the world, a bird caught between a rock and a hard place. Its forest home had already been reduced by cultivation and introduced predators. It was reduced to living in fragmented pockets of forest, two thirds of which were destroyed in the 1995 and later eruptions. This threatened to wipe out an already endangered bird. So, conservationists from Jersey Zoo moved 8 orioles into captivity to avoid natural extinction and now a captive breeding programme is successfully underway, such as this oriole specially recorded for Tweet of the Day at Chester Zoo.

Liz Bonnin presents the Montserrat oriole, from the Caribbean island of Montserrat.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Monty Don Swallows Return2018122320200419 (R4)"

For writer, gardener and TV presenter Monty Don, swallows are as central to his garden as any plant. Their return to the garden in April brings a soaring familiarity of song, which when they depart in September leaves the skies above silent and empty, and for Monty a feeling of loss and longing for their return after the long winter months.

Monty Don takes over the Tweet of the Day output this week with a selection of seasonally relevant episodes by Sir David Attenborough.

Producer Andrew Dawes

Writer, gardener and TV presenter Monty Don recalls the summer swallow in Tweet of the Day

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Producer Andrew Dawes

Monty Don's Fieldfare Season2018121620191124 (R4)"

For writer, gardener and TV presenter Monty Don, the changing seasons herald different sounds and atmospheres in the garden. In autumn as the leaves begin to fall, the arrival of flocks of fieldfares from the north of Europe are as much a part of the garden in winter as are summer migrants during the long days of June. A mixture of truculence and shyness, everything about fieldfares is harsh or jerky, but for Monty he likes them.

Monty Don takes over the Tweet of the Day output this week with a selection of episodes by Sir David Attenborough.

Producer Andrew Dawes

Writer, gardener and TV presenter Monty Don recalls the fieldfare arrival heralding winter

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Moorhen2014012320200508 (R4)Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the story of the Moorhen. Almost anywhere there's freshwater you might hear or see a moorhen. They're easy to identify from their red and yellow bill, red shield on the forehead and green-ish yellow legs with a red patch that looks like a garter.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Chris Packham presents the moorhen.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the story of the Moorhen. Almost anywhere there's freshwater you might hear or see a moorhen. They're easy to identify from their red and yellow bill, red shield on the forehead and green-ish yellow legs with a red patch that looks like a garter.

Morepork2014121220151029 (R4)
20181025 (R4)
20191003 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the morepork or Ru-Ru, New Zealand's only surviving native owl. Strange double notes in the forests of New Zealand were once thought to be cries from the Underworld. But these calls are most likely to be that of a morepork calling. Its familiar call earned it the alternative Maori name of "ruru". Largely nocturnal, it has brown, streaky feathers and large bright yellow eyes which are well adapted for almost silent night hunting forays for large insects, spiders, small birds and mammals. In Maori mythology, moreporks, or "ruru" are spiritual birds, and can represent the ancestral spirit of a family, taking the form of a woman known as "Hine-Ruru" or "owl woman" who acts as a guardian, protecting and advising the family members.

Liz Bonnin presents the morepork, or ruru, New Zealand's only surviving native owl.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Liz Bonnin presents the morepork or Ru-Ru, New Zealand's only surviving native owl. Strange double notes in the forests of New Zealand were once thought to be cries from the Underworld. But these calls are most likely to be that of a morepork calling. Its familiar call earned it the alternative Maori name of "ruru". Largely nocturnal, it has brown, streaky feathers and large bright yellow eyes which are well adapted for almost silent night hunting forays for large insects, spiders, small birds and mammals. In Maori mythology, moreporks, or "ruru" are spiritual birds, and can represent the ancestral spirit of a family, taking the form of a woman known as "Hine-Ruru" or "owl woman" who acts as a guardian, protecting and advising the family members.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the morepork or Ru-Ru, New Zealand's only surviving native owl. Strange double notes in the forests of New Zealand were once thought to be cries from the Underworld. But these calls are most likely to be that of a morepork calling. Its familiar call earned it the alternative Maori name of ""ruru"". Largely nocturnal, it has brown, streaky feathers and large bright yellow eyes which are well adapted for almost silent night hunting forays for large insects, spiders, small birds and mammals. In Maori mythology, moreporks, or ""ruru"" are spiritual birds, and can represent the ancestral spirit of a family, taking the form of a woman known as ""Hine-Ruru"" or ""owl woman"" who acts as a guardian, protecting and advising the family members.

"

"Liz Bonnin presents the morepork, or ruru, New Zealand's only surviving native owl.

Liz Bonnin presents the morepork or Ru-Ru, New Zealand's only surviving native owl. Strange double notes in the forests of New Zealand were once thought to be cries from the Underworld. But these calls are most likely to be that of a morepork calling. Its familiar call earned it the alternative Maori name of ""ruru"". Largely nocturnal, it has brown, streaky feathers and large bright yellow eyes which are well adapted for almost silent night hunting forays for large insects, spiders, small birds and mammals. In Maori mythology, moreporks, or ""ruru"" are spiritual birds, and can represent the ancestral spirit of a family, taking the form of a woman known as ""Hine-Ruru"" or ""owl woman"" who acts as a guardian, protecting and advising the family members."

"Liz Bonnin presents the morepork or Ru-Ru, New Zealand's only surviving native owl.

"

"

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the morepork or Ru-Ru, New Zealand's only surviving native owl. Strange double notes in the forests of New Zealand were once thought to be cries from the Underworld. But these calls are most likely to be that of a morepork calling. Its familiar call earned it the alternative Maori name of "ruru". Largely nocturnal, it has brown, streaky feathers and large bright yellow eyes which are well adapted for almost silent night hunting forays for large insects, spiders, small birds and mammals. In Maori mythology, moreporks, or "ruru" are spiritual birds, and can represent the ancestral spirit of a family, taking the form of a woman known as "Hine-Ruru" or "owl woman" who acts as a guardian, protecting and advising the family members.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mourning Dove2013103120150828 (R4)
20200929 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the mourning dove.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Mourning Dove. On a November evening at the end of the last Millennium, Maire MacPhail looked through the window of her home on the island of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides to see an odd pigeon sitting on the garden fence. It looked tired, as well it might have done, for it turned out to be only the second mourning dove to occur naturally in the British Isles.

The sound archive recording of the mourning dove featured in this programme was sourced from :

Andrew Spencer, XC109033. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/109033.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the mourning dove.

Andrew Spencer, XC109033. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/109033.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the mourning dove.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Mourning Dove. On a November evening at the end of the last Millennium, Maire MacPhail looked through the window of her home on the island of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides to see an odd pigeon sitting on the garden fence. It looked tired, as well it might have done, for it turned out to be only the second mourning dove to occur naturally in the British Isles.

The sound archive recording of the mourning dove featured in this programme was sourced from :
Andrew Spencer, XC109033. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/109033.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Mute Swan2013121220160225 (R4)
20180605 (R4)
20201105 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the Mute Swan. Mute Swans are deeply embedded in our culture. They are unique among British birds because the Crown retains the rights of ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water. Since the 15th century, an annual census of mute swans has been held annually on the River Thames.

Chris Packham presents the mute swan.

Chris Packham presents the Mute Swan. Mute Swans are deeply embedded in our culture. They are unique among British birds because the Crown retains the rights of ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water. Since the 15th century, an annual census of mute swans has been held annually on the River Thames.

Chris Packham presents the mute swan.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Chris Packham presents the mute swan.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the Mute Swan. Mute Swans are deeply embedded in our culture. They are unique among British birds because the Crown retains the rights of ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water. Since the 15th century, an annual census of mute swans has been held annually on the River Thames.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Chris Packham presents the Mute Swan. Mute Swans are deeply embedded in our culture. They are unique among British birds because the Crown retains the rights of ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water. Since the 15th century, an annual census of mute swans has been held annually on the River Thames.

Mya Rose Craig On The Black Browed Albatross20170517The story and sound of birds.

Young conservationist and Birdgirl Mya Rose Craig aged 14 recalls the excitement of seeing a black browed albatross in Cornwall at the age of seven, thousands of miles from where it should be seen in Antarctica.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"The story and sound of birds.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Mya Rose Craig On The Nuthatch2017062720200813 (R4)Maya Rose Craig recalls the nuthatch for Tweet of the Day.

Mya Rose Craig recalls for Tweet of the Day her first really striking encounter with a bird, the nuthatch, not long after she began at primary school in Bristol.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

"Maya Rose Craig recalls the nuthatch for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world. "

"""Maya Rose Craig recalls the nuthatch for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world. """

Mya Rose Craig recalls the nuthatch for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Mya Rose Craig On The White-tailed Eagle20170706Schoolgirl Mya Rose Craig on the white-tailed eagle for Tweet of the Day.

Bristol based Schoolgirl Mya Rose Craig recalls seeing a white tailed eagle in her holidays for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Schoolgirl Mya Rose Craig on the white-tailed eagle for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

"""Schoolgirl Mya Rose Craig on the white-tailed eagle for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Nadia Archer On The Peregrine2017073120170806 (R4)
20190408 (R4)
Nadia Archer of the RSPB recalls Manchester's peregrines for Tweet of the Day.

Nadia Archer of the RSPB recalls volunteering in Manchester on a peregrine watch at the Arndale Centre for Tweet of the Day, where the call of the wild could bring relaxation to a busy city centre.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"Nadia Archer of the RSPB recalls Manchester's peregrines for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Neil Anderson On The Golden Eagle2017061920170625 (R4)Wildlife cameraman Neil Anderson recounts a golden eagle encounter for Tweet of the Day.

Wildlife cameraman Neil Anderson describes hiking and abseiling on a cliff-side in the Scottish Highlands to track down a golden eagle nest for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"Wildlife cameraman Neil Anderson recounts a golden eagle encounter for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

Wildlife cameraman Neil Anderson recounts a golden eagle encounter for Tweet of the Day."

"""Wildlife cameraman Neil Anderson recounts a golden eagle encounter for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Tom Bonnett. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

New Zealand Bellbird2014110420151012 (R4)
20151018 (R4)
20190816 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the New Zealand bellbird. In 1770, during Captain James Cook's first voyage to New Zealand, an extraordinary dawn chorus caught the attention of his crew "like small bells exquisitely tuned": these were New Zealand bellbirds. New Zealand bellbirds are olive green birds with curved black bills and brush-like tongues which they use to probe flowers for nectar. Like other honeyeaters , they play an important role in pollinating flowers and also eat the fruits which result from those pollinations and so help to spread the seeds. The well camouflaged bellbird is more often heard before it is seen. They sing throughout the day, but at their best at dawn or dusk when pairs duet or several birds chorus together. Their song can vary remarkably, and it is possible hear different 'accents' in different parts of New Zealand, even across relatively short distances.

Chris Packham presents the New Zealand bellbird. In 1770, during Captain James Cook's first voyage to New Zealand, an extraordinary dawn chorus caught the attention of his crew "like small bells exquisitely tuned": these were New Zealand bellbirds. New Zealand bellbirds are olive green birds with curved black bills and brush-like tongues which they use to probe flowers for nectar. Like other honeyeaters , they play an important role in pollinating flowers and also eat the fruits which result from those pollinations and so help to spread the seeds. The well camouflaged bellbird is more often heard before it is seen. They sing throughout the day, but at their best at dawn or dusk when pairs duet or several birds chorus together. Their song can vary remarkably, and it is possible hear different 'accents' in different parts of New Zealand, even across relatively short distances.

Chris Packham presents the New Zealand bellbird.

Chris Packham presents the New Zealand bellbird.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the New Zealand bellbird. In 1770, during Captain James Cook's first voyage to New Zealand, an extraordinary dawn chorus caught the attention of his crew ""like small bells exquisitely tuned"": these were New Zealand bellbirds. New Zealand bellbirds are olive green birds with curved black bills and brush-like tongues which they use to probe flowers for nectar. Like other honeyeaters , they play an important role in pollinating flowers and also eat the fruits which result from those pollinations and so help to spread the seeds. The well camouflaged bellbird is more often heard before it is seen. They sing throughout the day, but at their best at dawn or dusk when pairs duet or several birds chorus together. Their song can vary remarkably, and it is possible hear different 'accents' in different parts of New Zealand, even across relatively short distances.

"

"Chris Packham presents the New Zealand bellbird.

Chris Packham presents the New Zealand bellbird. In 1770, during Captain James Cook's first voyage to New Zealand, an extraordinary dawn chorus caught the attention of his crew "like small bells exquisitely tuned": these were New Zealand bellbirds. New Zealand bellbirds are olive green birds with curved black bills and brush-like tongues which they use to probe flowers for nectar. Like other honeyeaters , they play an important role in pollinating flowers and also eat the fruits which result from those pollinations and so help to spread the seeds. The well camouflaged bellbird is more often heard before it is seen. They sing throughout the day, but at their best at dawn or dusk when pairs duet or several birds chorus together. Their song can vary remarkably, and it is possible hear different 'accents' in different parts of New Zealand, even across relatively short distances.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

New Zealand Robin2014122220151228 (R4)
20160103 (R4)
20181226 (R4)
20200907 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Sir David Attenborough begins Christmas week with the New Zealand robin. The toutouwai or New Zealand robin may share a name with the more familiar European robin, but it is a very different bird to the robin redbreast we know so well. Although about the same size with the same perky upright stance, the New Zealand robin, is appropriately enough nearly all-black, with a pale belly and a white splash just above the bill, but no trace of red. Three subspecies exist; one in north Island, one in South Island, and another in Stewart Island. And like their British counterparts, who they are not closely related to at all, can become quite tame and friendly to humans. The song is very varied and each male has a repertoire of around two dozen different notes.

Sir David Attenborough begins Christmas week with the New Zealand robin. The toutouwai or New Zealand robin may share a name with the more familiar European robin, but it is a very different bird to the robin redbreast we know so well. Although about the same size with the same perky upright stance, the New Zealand robin, is appropriately enough nearly all-black, with a pale belly and a white splash just above the bill, but no trace of red. Three subspecies exist; one in north Island, one in South Island, and another in Stewart Island. And like their British counterparts, who they are not closely related to at all, can become quite tame and friendly to humans. The song is very varied and each male has a repertoire of around two dozen different notes.

Sir David Attenborough begins Christmas week with the New Zealand robin. The toutouwai or New Zealand robin may share a name with the more familiar European robin, but it is a very different bird to the robin redbreast we know so well. Although about the same size with the same perky upright stance, the New Zealand robin, is appropriately enough nearly all-black, with a pale belly and a white splash just above the bill, but no trace of red. Three subspecies exist; one in north Island, one in South Island, and another in Stewart Island. And like their British counterparts, who they are not closely related to at all, can become quite tame and friendly to humans. The song is very varied and each male has a repertoire of around two dozen different notes.

Sir David Attenborough begins Christmas week with the New Zealand robin.

Sir David Attenborough begins Christmas week with the New Zealand robin.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Sir David Attenborough presents the New Zealand robin. The toutouwai or New Zealand robin may share a name with the more familiar European robin, but it is a very different bird to the robin redbreast we know so well. Although about the same size with the same perky upright stance, the New Zealand robin, is appropriately enough nearly all-black, with a pale belly and a white splash just above the bill, but no trace of red. Three subspecies exist; one in north Island, one in South Island, and another in Stewart Island. And like their British counterparts, who they are not closely related to at all, can become quite tame and friendly to humans. The song is very varied and each male has a repertoire of around two dozen different notes.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Nick Moran On The Heron2018031420200804 (R4)Nick Moran describes the excitement of recording the nocturnal flight calls of herons.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Nick Moran of the British Trust for Ornithology describes the surprise he got when he listened back to a recording he had made during the night of birds on the move.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian Logan.

"Nick Moran describes the excitement of recording the nocturnal flight calls of herons.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian Logan."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Nigel Bean On The Water Rail2017071420180926 (R4)
20200526 (R4)
Wildlife cameraman Nigel Bean on the water rail for Tweet of the Day.

Wildlife cameraman Nigel Bean relives the moment he discovered a water rail nest deep among a reedbed in west Wales, a nest that became the star of a BBC Springwatch series

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Tom Bonnett.

"Wildlife cameraman Nigel Bean on the water rail for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Tom Bonnett."

Producer Tom Bonnett. "

Producer Tom Bonnett.

Nightingale2013051320140519
20170503 (R4)
20190424 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the extraordinary duet between cellist Beatrice Harrison and a nightingale recorded live as an outside broadcast and the first broadcast of any wild animal not in captivity.

David Attenborough presents the nightingale.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Nightingale20170503David Attenborough presents the nightingale.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the extraordinary duet between cellist Beatrice Harrison and a nightingale recorded live as an outside broadcast and the first broadcast of any wild animal not in captivity.

Nightingale Part 12013051020160509 (R4)
20160515 (R4)
20161230 (R4)
20190423 (R4)
David Attenborough presents the nightingale. (Part 1 of 2)

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the nightingale. (Part 1 of 2) A bird whose song of rich crescendos of pure whistles and breathless phrases is hailed as one of the most complex and beautiful in the bird world and quite different to its plain brown appearance.

Nightingale, Part 120130510Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the nightingale. (Part 1 of 2) A bird whose song of rich crescendos of pure whistles and breathless phrases is hailed as one of the most complex and beautiful in the bird world and quite different to its plain brown appearance.

David Attenborough presents the song and story of the nightingale.

Nightingale, Part 22013051320130519Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. (Part 2 of 2) David Attenborough presents the extraordinary duet between cellist Beatrice Harrison and a nightingale recorded live as an outside broadcast and the first broadcast of any wild animal not in captivity.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the nightingale.

Nightingale: Part One2013051020140516
20160509 (R4)
20160515 (R4)
20161230 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the nightingale. (Part 1 of 2) A bird whose song of rich crescendos of pure whistles and breathless phrases is hailed as one of the most complex and beautiful in the bird world and quite different to its plain brown appearance.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the nightingale.

David Attenborough presents the song and story of the nightingale.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the nightingale. (Part 1 of 2) A bird whose song of rich crescendos of pure whistles and breathless phrases is hailed as one of the most complex and beautiful in the bird world and quite different to its plain brown appearance.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the nightingale. (Part 1 of 2) A bird whose song of rich crescendos of pure whistles and breathless phrases is hailed as one of the most complex and beautiful in the bird world and quite different to its plain brown appearance.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. David Attenborough presents the nightingale. (Part 1 of 2) A bird whose song of rich crescendos of pure whistles and breathless phrases is hailed as one of the most complex and beautiful in the bird world and quite different to its plain brown appearance.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the nightingale.

David Attenborough presents the sounds and story of the nightingale.

Nightjar2013052720160516 (R4)
20160522 (R4)
20180621 (R4)
Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the nightjar.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the nightjar.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Nightjar2013060320130609
20160516 (R4)
20160522 (R4)
20200607 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Nightjar. Take a walk on a heath on a warm summer evening and you may hear the strange churring sound of the nightjar.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the nightjar.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Nightjar. Take a walk on a heath on a warm summer evening and you may hear the strange churring sound of the nightjar.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the nightjar.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the nightjar.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Nightjar2013060320140526
20160516 (R4)
20160522 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Nightjar. Take a walk on a heath on a warm summer evening and you may hear the strange churring sound of the nightjar.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the nightjar.

North Island Kokako2014110620151014 (R4)
20200818 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the North Island kokako from New Zealand. Kokakos are bluish-grey, crow-sized birds with black masks. Those from the North Island sport bright blue fleshy lobes called wattles; one on each side of the bill. And they are famous in New Zealand for their beautiful haunting song which males and females sing, often in a long duet in the early morning.Known by some people as the squirrel of the woods because of their large tails and habit of running along branches, kakako used to be widespread, today fewer than 1000 pairs remain. The kakapos' slow and deliberate, almost thoughtful, flute-like song evokes the islands' forests and in the film, The Piano, it features as part of the chorus of woodland birds in some of the most atmospheric scenes.

Chris Packham presents the North Island kokako from New Zealand. Kokakos are bluish-grey, crow-sized birds with black masks. Those from the North Island sport bright blue fleshy lobes called wattles; one on each side of the bill. And they are famous in New Zealand for their beautiful haunting song which males and females sing, often in a long duet in the early morning.Known by some people as the squirrel of the woods because of their large tails and habit of running along branches, kakako used to be widespread, today fewer than 1000 pairs remain. The kakapos' slow and deliberate, almost thoughtful, flute-like song evokes the islands' forests and in the film, The Piano, it features as part of the chorus of woodland birds in some of the most atmospheric scenes.

Chris Packham presents the North Island kokako from New Zealand.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Northern Cardinal2015020920151225 (R4)
20190329 (R4)
20200105 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the northern cardinal, from New York's Central Park.

Michael Palin presents the northern cardinal from a New York's Central Park. Northern Cardinals are finch-like birds and make British robins look positively anaemic. They are common residents in the south and east of North America where they live in woods, parks and gardens. Your first sighting of these vermilion birds with their black masks and outrageous crests comes as a shock. They seem too tropically colourful to brave the dull North American winter.

Only the male Cardinals are bright red. Females are browner with flashes of red on their wings and red bills. Both sexes obtain their red colours from seeds and other foods which contain carotenoid pigments.

Their familiarity and eye-catching colours have endeared cardinals to North Americans. No fewer than seven states, including Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio have adopted cardinals as their state bird and it's also the mascot.

Michael Palin presents the northern cardinal, from New York's Central Park.

Their familiarity and eye-catching colours have endeared cardinals to North Americans. No fewer than seven states, including Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio have adopted cardinals as their state bird and it's also the mascot.

"Michael Palin presents the northern cardinal, from New York's Central Park.

"

Michael Palin presents the northern cardinal from a New York's Central Park. Northern Cardinals are finch-like birds and make British robins look positively anaemic. They are common residents in the south and east of North America where they live in woods, parks and gardens. Your first sighting of these vermilion birds with their black masks and outrageous crests comes as a shock. They seem too tropically colourful to brave the dull North American winter.

Only the male Cardinals are bright red. Females are browner with flashes of red on their wings and red bills. Both sexes obtain their red colours from seeds and other foods which contain carotenoid pigments.
Their familiarity and eye-catching colours have endeared cardinals to North Americans. No fewer than seven states, including Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio have adopted cardinals as their state bird and it's also the mascot of many famous sports clubs including the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Palin presents the northern cardinal from a New York's Central Park. Northern Cardinals are finch-like birds and make British robins look positively anaemic. They are common residents in the south and east of North America where they live in woods, parks and gardens. Your first sighting of these vermilion birds with their black masks and outrageous crests comes as a shock. They seem too tropically colourful to brave the dull North American winter.

Michael Palin presents the northern cardinal from a New York's Central Park. Northern Cardinals are finch-like birds and make British robins look positively anaemic. They are common residents in the south and east of North America where they live in woods, parks and gardens. Your first sighting of these vermilion birds with their black masks and outrageous crests comes as a shock. They seem too tropically colourful to brave the dull North American winter.

Northern Jacana2014121020141214 (R4)
20151027 (R4)
20181011 (R4)
20191002 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the northern jacana at home in Central American wetlands. A cross between a coot and a plover, northern Jacanas are found in swamps in Central America and Mexico. They're long legged birds with a black head and neck, and a chestnut body with yellow highlights. And, northern jacanas are polyandrous; the females have more than one partner. Males build platforms of floating vegetation and attract females by calling or posturing. If a female mates with a male, he may use his platform as a nest for her eggs. The female doesn't care for the eggs, but goes in search of up to three other mates. The result is that a single female may have several males raising different clutches of eggs for her and each clutch may contain the eggs of more than one male!

Liz Bonnin presents the northern jacana, at home in Central American wetlands.

Liz Bonnin presents the northern jacana at home in Central American wetlands. A cross between a coot and a plover, northern Jacanas are found in swamps in Central America and Mexico. They're long legged birds with a black head and neck, and a chestnut body with yellow highlights. And, northern jacanas are polyandrous; the females have more than one partner. Males build platforms of floating vegetation and attract females by calling or posturing. If a female mates with a male, he may use his platform as a nest for her eggs. The female doesn't care for the eggs, but goes in search of up to three other mates. The result is that a single female may have several males raising different clutches of eggs for her and each clutch may contain the eggs of more than one male!

Liz Bonnin presents the northern jacana at home in Central American wetlands. A cross between a coot and a plover, northern Jacanas are found in swamps in Central America and Mexico. They're long legged birds with a black head and neck, and a chestnut body with yellow highlights. And, northern jacanas are polyandrous; the females have more than one partner. Males build platforms of floating vegetation and attract females by calling or posturing. If a female mates with a male, he may use his platform as a nest for her eggs. The female doesn't care for the eggs, but goes in search of up to three other mates. The result is that a single female may have several males raising different clutches of eggs for her and each clutch may contain the eggs of more than one male!

Liz Bonnin presents the northern jacana, at home in Central American wetlands.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

"Liz Bonnin presents the northern jacana, at home in Central American wetlands.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Liz Bonnin presents the northern jacana at home in Central American wetlands. A cross between a coot and a plover, northern Jacanas are found in swamps in Central America and Mexico. They're long legged birds with a black head and neck, and a chestnut body with yellow highlights. And, northern jacanas are polyandrous; the females have more than one partner. Males build platforms of floating vegetation and attract females by calling or posturing. If a female mates with a male, he may use his platform as a nest for her eggs. The female doesn't care for the eggs, but goes in search of up to three other mates. The result is that a single female may have several males raising different clutches of eggs for her and each clutch may contain the eggs of more than one male!

"

Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Liz Bonnin presents the northern jacana at home in Central American wetlands. A cross between a coot and a plover, northern Jacanas are found in swamps in Central America and Mexico. They're long legged birds with a black head and neck, and a chestnut body with yellow highlights. And, northern jacanas are polyandrous; the females have more than one partner. Males build platforms of floating vegetation and attract females by calling or posturing. If a female mates with a male, he may use his platform as a nest for her eggs. The female doesn't care for the eggs, but goes in search of up to three other mates. The result is that a single female may have several males raising different clutches of eggs for her and each clutch may contain the eggs of more than one male!

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Northern Wheatear2013082020140805
20160330 (R4)
20170329 (R4)
20180524 (R4)
20200507 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the northern wheatear. With their black masks, white bellies, apricot chests and grey backs, male wheatears are colourful companions on a hill walk. The birds you see in autumn may have come from as far as Greenland or Arctic Canada. They pass through the British Isles and twice a year many of them travel over 11,000 kilometres between Africa and the Arctic. It's one of the longest regular journeys made by any perching bird.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the Northern wheatear.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the Northern wheatear.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michaela Strachan presents the northern wheatear. With their black masks, white bellies, apricot chests and grey backs, male wheatears are colourful companions on a hill walk. The birds you see in autumn may have come from as far as Greenland or Arctic Canada. They pass through the British Isles and twice a year many of them travel over 11,000 kilometres between Africa and the Arctic. It's one of the longest regular journeys made by any perching bird.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the northern wheatear. With their black masks, white bellies, apricot chests and grey backs, male wheatears are colourful companions on a hill walk. The birds you see in autumn may have come from as far as Greenland or Arctic Canada. They pass through the British Isles and twice a year many of them travel over 11,000 kilometres between Africa and the Arctic. It's one of the longest regular journeys made by any perching bird.

Michaela Strachan presents the northern wheatear. With their black masks, white bellies, apricot chests and grey backs, male wheatears are colourful companions on a hill walk. The birds you see in autumn may have come from as far as Greenland or Arctic Canada. They pass through the British Isles and twice a year many of them travel over 11,000 kilometres between Africa and the Arctic. It's one of the longest regular journeys made by any perching bird.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the Northern wheatear.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the Northern wheatear.

Michaela Strachan presents the northern wheatear. With their black masks, white bellies, apricot chests and grey backs, male wheatears are colourful companions on a hill walk. The birds you see in autumn may have come from as far as Greenland or Arctic Canada. They pass through the British Isles and twice a year many of them travel over 11,000 kilometres between Africa and the Arctic. It's one of the longest regular journeys made by any perching bird.

Michaela Strachan presents the northern wheatear. With their black masks, white bellies, apricot chests and grey backs, male wheatears are colourful companions on a hill walk. The birds you see in autumn may have come from as far as Greenland or Arctic Canada. They pass through the British Isles and twice a year many of them travel over 11,000 kilometres between Africa and the Arctic. It's one of the longest regular journeys made by any perching bird."

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the northern wheatear.

Michaela Strachan presents the northern wheatear. With their black masks, white bellies, apricot chests and grey backs, male wheatears are colourful companions on a hill walk. The birds you see in autumn may have come from as far as Greenland or Arctic Canada. They pass through the British Isles and twice a year many of them travel over 11,000 kilometres between Africa and the Arctic. It's one of the longest regular journeys made by any perching bird.

Nuthatch2014030720150313 (R4)
20160310 (R4)
20170208 (R4)
20170309 (R4)
20180626 (R4)
20200304 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the nuthatch. Nuthatches are the only UK birds that can climb down a tree as fast they can go up and you'll often see them descending a trunk or hanging beneath a branch. Nuthatches are unmistakable: blue-grey above, chestnut under the tail and with a black highwayman's mask.

Bill Oddie presents the nuthatch. Nuthatches are the only UK birds that can climb down a tree as fast they can go up and you'll often see them descending a trunk or hanging beneath a branch. Nuthatches are unmistakable: blue-grey above, chestnut under the tail and with a black highwayman's mask.

Bill Oddie presents the nuthatch. Nuthatches are the only UK birds that can climb down a tree as fast they can go up and you'll often see them descending a trunk or hanging beneath a branch. Nuthatches are unmistakable: blue-grey above, chestnut under the tail and with a black highwayman's mask.

Bill Oddie presents the nuthatch. Nuthatches are the only UK birds that can climb down a tree as fast they can go up and you'll often see them descending a trunk or hanging beneath a branch. Nuthatches are unmistakable: blue-grey above, chestnut under the tail and with a black highwayman's mask.

Bill Oddie presents the nuthatch. Nuthatches are the only UK birds that can climb down a tree as fast they can go up and you'll often see them descending a trunk or hanging beneath a branch. Nuthatches are unmistakable: blue-grey above, chestnut under the tail and with a black highwayman's mask.

Bill Oddie presents the nuthatch.

Bill Oddie presents the nuthatch.

Bill Oddie presents the nuthatch.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bill Oddie presents the nuthatch. Nuthatches are the only UK birds that can climb down a tree as fast they can go up and you'll often see them descending a trunk or hanging beneath a branch. Nuthatches are unmistakable: blue-grey above, chestnut under the tail and with a black highwayman's mask.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Bill Oddie presents the nuthatch.

"

Bill Oddie presents the nuthatch. Nuthatches are the only UK birds that can climb down a tree as fast they can go up and you'll often see them descending a trunk or hanging beneath a branch. Nuthatches are unmistakable: blue-grey above, chestnut under the tail and with a black highwayman's mask.

Oilbird2015012820150201 (R4)
20160119 (R4)
20190611 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the oilbird, from a Venezuelan cavern.

Michael Palin presents the oilbird, from a Venezuelan cavern. Demonic screeching's and the rush of unseen wings mixed with a volley of strange clicks are the sound backdrop to oilbirds.

Oilbirds are known in Spanish as guacharos.."the wailing ones". These bizarre-looking brown birds with huge mouths, long broad wings and long tails were seen in 1799 by the explorer Alexander von Humboldt in 1817 who described their sounds as "ear-splitting". They're similar to nightjars, their closest relatives, but unlike them, oilbirds feed on fruit; - they're the world's only nocturnal flying fruit-eating bird.

In their dark breeding caves, they navigate using echolocation like bats. Young oilbirds grow fat on a diet of fruit brought in by their parents and can weigh half as much as again as the adults. These plump chicks were once harvested by local people and settlers for oil which was used in cooking and, ironically for a bird which spends its life in darkness, for lighting lamps.

In their dark breeding caves, they navigate using echolocation like bats. Young oilbirds grow fat on a diet of fruit brought in by their parents and can weigh half as much as again as the adults. These plump chicks were once harvested by local people and settlers for oil which was used in cooking and, ironically for a bird which spends its life in darkness, for lighting lamps.

"Michael Palin presents the oilbird, from a Venezuelan cavern.

Oilbirds are known in Spanish as guacharos..""the wailing ones"". These bizarre-looking brown birds with huge mouths, long broad wings and long tails were seen in 1799 by the explorer Alexander von Humboldt in 1817 who described their sounds as ""ear-splitting"". They're similar to nightjars, their closest relatives, but unlike them, oilbirds feed on fruit; - they're the world's only nocturnal flying fruit-eating bird.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Oilbirds are known in Spanish as guacharos.."the wailing ones". These bizarre-looking brown birds with huge mouths, long broad wings and long tails were seen in 1799 by the explorer Alexander von Humboldt in 1817 who described their sounds as "ear-splitting". They're similar to nightjars, their closest relatives, but unlike them, oilbirds feed on fruit;.... they're the world's only nocturnal flying fruit-eating bird.

Oilbirds are known in Spanish as guacharos.."the wailing ones". These bizarre-looking brown birds with huge mouths, long broad wings and long tails were seen in 1799 by the explorer Alexander von Humboldt in 1817 who described their sounds as "ear-splitting". They're similar to nightjars, their closest relatives, but unlike them, oilbirds feed on fruit;....they're the world's only nocturnal flying fruit-eating bird.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Ortolan Bunting2013100420150710 (R4)
20160825 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the ortolan bunting.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Ortolan Bunting. Ortolan Buntings are smart relatives of our yellowhammer. They're migrants which winter in Africa and small numbers of birds heading south for the winter may turn up on our coasts in autumn. But until recently in parts of southern Europe, their arrival was welcomed by hunters with nets.

The sound archive recording of the ortolan bunting featured in this programme was sourced from:

Volker Arnold, XC139765. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/139765.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the ortolan bunting.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the ortolan bunting.

Volker Arnold, XC139765. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/139765.

Volker Arnold, XC139765. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/139765.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the ortolan bunting.

"

Volker Arnold, XC139765. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/139765."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Osprey2013070820130714
20160421 (R4)
20170406 (R4)
20180917 (R4)
20200723 (R4)
20200914 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Steve Backshall presents the osprey. Ospreys are fish-eaters and the sight of one of these majestic birds plunging feet first to catch its prey is a sight to cherish. The return of the ospreys is one of the great UK conservation stories. After extinction through egg-collecting and shooting in the 19th and early 20th centuries, birds returned in the 1950s and have responded well to protection.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the osprey.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the osprey."

Steve Backshall presents the osprey. Ospreys are fish-eaters and the sight of one of these majestic birds plunging feet first to catch its prey is a sight to cherish. The return of the ospreys is one of the great UK conservation stories. After extinction through egg-collecting and shooting in the 19th and early 20th centuries, birds returned in the 1950s and have responded well to protection.

Steve Backshall presents the osprey. Ospreys are fish-eaters and the sight of one of these majestic birds plunging feet first to catch its prey is a sight to cherish. The return of the ospreys is one of the great UK conservation stories. After extinction through egg-collecting and shooting in the 19th and early 20th centuries, birds returned in the 1950s and have responded well to protection.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the osprey.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the osprey.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Steve Backshall presents the osprey. Ospreys are fish-eaters and the sight of one of these majestic birds plunging feet first to catch its prey is a sight to cherish. The return of the ospreys is one of the great UK conservation stories. After extinction through egg-collecting and shooting in the 19th and early 20th centuries, birds returned in the 1950s and have responded well to protection.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Osprey2013070820140714
20160421 (R4)
20170406 (R4)
20180917 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Steve Backshall presents the osprey. Ospreys are fish-eaters and the sight of one of these majestic birds plunging feet first to catch its prey is a sight to cherish. The return of the ospreys is one of the great UK conservation stories. After extinction through egg-collecting and shooting in the 19th and early 20th centuries, birds returned in the 1950s and have responded well to protection.

Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the osprey.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Steve Backshall presents the story and sound of the osprey.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Steve Backshall presents the osprey. Ospreys are fish-eaters and the sight of one of these majestic birds plunging feet first to catch its prey is a sight to cherish. The return of the ospreys is one of the great UK conservation stories. After extinction through egg-collecting and shooting in the 19th and early 20th centuries, birds returned in the 1950s and have responded well to protection.

"

Ostrich2015021120150215 (R4)
20151222 (R4)
20200108 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the ostrich, an avian record-breaker, in the Kalahari Desert.

Michael Palin presents the avian record breaking ostrich in the Kalahari Desert. Ostriches are ornithological record-breakers. The black and white adult male ostrich is taller and heavier than any other living bird, reaching almost 3 metres in height and weighing a whopping 150 kilograms. Females are smaller but lay the largest eggs of any bird. The ostrich's eye measures 5cm in diameter and is the largest of any land vertebrate.

Ostriches live in the wide open landscapes of central, eastern and South-West Africa. As well as being tall and observant, Ostriches also minimise their chances of being predated on, by living in groups and sharing lookout duties, or staying close to sharp-eyed antelope and zebra herds. They can also use their powerful legs to try and outrun a predator, reaching speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour which makes them the fastest avian runner.

Michael Palin presents the ostrich, an avian record-breaker, in the Kalahari Desert.

Ostriches live in the wide open landscapes of central, eastern and South-West Africa. As well as being tall and observant, Ostriches also minimise their chances of being predated on, by living in groups and sharing lookout duties, or staying close to sharp-eyed antelope and zebra herds. They can also use their powerful legs to try and outrun a predator, reaching speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour which makes them the fastest avian runner.

Ostriches live in the wide open landscapes of central, eastern and South-West Africa. As well as being tall and observant, Ostriches also minimise their chances of being predated on, by living in groups and sharing lookout duties, or staying close to sharp-eyed antelope and zebra herds. They can also use their powerful legs to try and outrun a predator, reaching speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour which makes them the fastest avian runner.

"Michael Palin presents the ostrich, an avian record-breaker, in the Kalahari Desert.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michael Palin presents the avian record breaking ostrich in the Kalahari Desert. Ostriches are ornithological record-breakers. The black and white adult male ostrich is taller and heavier than any other living bird, reaching almost 3 metres in height and weighing a whopping 150 kilograms. Females are smaller but lay the largest eggs of any bird. The ostrich's eye measures 5cm in diameter and is the largest of any land vertebrate.

Michael Palin presents the avian record breaking ostrich in the Kalahari Desert. Ostriches are ornithological record-breakers. The black and white adult male ostrich is taller and heavier than any other living bird, reaching almost 3 metres in height and weighing a whopping 150 kilograms. Females are smaller but lay the largest eggs of any bird. The ostrich's eye measures 5cm in diameter and is the largest of any land vertebrate.

Oystercatcher2013080820140710
20160218 (R4)
20181003 (R4)
20190826 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Michaela Strachan presents the oystercatcher. These black and white waders used to be called sea-pies because of their pied plumage, which contrasts sharply with their pink legs and long red bill. Oystercatchers don't often eat oysters. Instead they use their powerful bill to break into mussels on rocks or probe for cockles in the mud of estuaries.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the oystercatcher.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"Michaela Strachan presents the oystercatcher.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Michaela Strachan presents the oystercatcher. These black and white waders used to be called sea-pies because of their pied plumage, which contrasts sharply with their pink legs and long red bill. Oystercatchers don't often eat oysters. Instead they use their powerful bill to break into mussels on rocks or probe for cockles in the mud of estuaries.

"

Michaela Strachan presents the oystercatcher. These black and white waders used to be called sea-pies because of their pied plumage, which contrasts sharply with their pink legs and long red bill. Oystercatchers don't often eat oysters. Instead they use their powerful bill to break into mussels on rocks or probe for cockles in the mud of estuaries.

Michaela Strachan presents the story and sound of the oystercatcher.

Michaela Strachan presents the oystercatcher. These black and white waders used to be called sea-pies because of their pied plumage, which contrasts sharply with their pink legs and long red bill. Oystercatchers don't often eat oysters. Instead they use their powerful bill to break into mussels on rocks or probe for cockles in the mud of estuaries."

"

Michaela Strachen presents the oystercatcher. These black and white waders used to be called sea-pies because of their pied plumage, which contrasts sharply with their pink legs and long red bill. Oystercatchers don't often eat oysters. Instead they use their powerful bill to break into mussels on rocks or probe for cockles in the mud of estuaries.

Parrot Crossbill2014022020150402 (R4)
20161207 (R4)
20200202 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

John Aitchison tells the story of the parrot crossbill. The Parrot Crossbill lives only in a few native pinewoods in Scotland. When they're at the top of pine trees a view of the Parrot Crossbill is tricky, so crossbill experts use the birds' calls to tell them apart from Common and Scottish Crossbills. Parrot crossbills have a deeper call than the others.

John Aitchison presents the parrot crossbill.

John Aitchison tells the story of the parrot crossbill. The Parrot Crossbill lives only in a few native pinewoods in Scotland. When they're at the top of pine trees a view of the Parrot Crossbill is tricky, so crossbill experts use the birds' calls to tell them apart from Common and Scottish Crossbills. Parrot crossbills have a deeper call than the others.

John Aitchison tells the story of the parrot crossbill. The Parrot Crossbill lives only in a few native pinewoods in Scotland. When they're at the top of pine trees a view of the Parrot Crossbill is tricky, so crossbill experts use the birds' calls to tell them apart from Common and Scottish Crossbills. Parrot crossbills have a deeper call than the others.

John Aitchison presents the parrot crossbill.

John Aitchison presents the parrot crossbill.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

John Aitchison tells the story of the parrot crossbill. The Parrot Crossbill lives only in a few native pinewoods in Scotland. When they're at the top of pine trees a view of the Parrot Crossbill is tricky, so crossbill experts use the birds' calls to tell them apart from Common and Scottish Crossbills. Parrot crossbills have a deeper call than the others.

Paul Brook On The Black Tern2017072720190722 (R4)Paul Brook recalls a long-awaited encounter with a black tern for Tweet of the Day.

Paul Brook recalls a long awaited for encounter with a black tern near Leeds for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Maggie Ayre
Photograph: Darran Jones.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Paul Brook recalls a long-awaited encounter with a black tern for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Paul Brook On The Garden Warbler2017071320190723 (R4)Paul Brook discusses heading a garden warbler for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Paul Brook discusses heading a garden warbler for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Paul Brook discusses watching a garden warbler for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Paul Brook On The Redwing2017072820210114 (R4)which ignited his love of birdwatching for Tweet of the Day.

Paul Brook recalls that at the age of eight the redwing ignited his love of birds and birdwatching for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Paul Brook on the redwing which ignited his love of birdwatching for Tweet of the Day.

"which ignited his love of birdwatching for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

"Paul Brook on the redwing which ignited his love of birdwatching for Tweet of the Day.

Paul Brook recalls that at the age of eight the redwing ignited his love of birds and birdwatching for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Paul Brook On The Water Rail2017060220200814 (R4)Paul Brook on the water rail.

Paul Brooks suffers from depression. He talks about the beneficial effects of bird watching on his mental health and how seeing a water rail one grey day lifted his mood.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Paul Brook on the water rail.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Maggie Ayre.

Paul Evans On The Barn Owl2017110120191103 (R4)Writer Paul Evans has an unnerving encounter with a barn owl in this Halloween tale.

In a house on the marsh which has been abandoned for forty years, Paul Evans disturbs a Barn owl and the ghosts of a tragic past as he recalls in this specially commissioned Halloween tale.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Joshua Myers.

"Writer Paul Evans has an unnerving encounter with a barn owl in this Halloween tale.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Joshua Myers."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Joshua Myers.

Paul Evans On The Carrion Crow2017103020171105 (R4)
20180723 (R4)
20191106 (R4)
On the eve of Halloween, writer Paul Evans encounters a crow in a cemetery.

On the eve of Halloween, the silence of a graveyard is broken by the raucous calls of an inky black Crow "Throwing her voice as if coughing up a bone" says Paul Evans in the first of four specially commissioned Halloween tales.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Derek Wood.

"On the eve of Halloween, writer Paul Evans encounters a crow in a cemetery.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Derek Wood."

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Derek Wood.

Paul Evans On The Merlin2017110220191104 (R4)Writer Paul Evans reflects on the Merlin in this Halloween tale.

Merlins are "ariel sprites" says writer Paul Evans, but they also kill skylarks in a rather gruesome manner as we hear in this specially commissioned dark Halloween tale.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photographer: David Gibbon.

"Writer Paul Evans reflects on the Merlin in this Halloween tale.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photographer: David Gibbon."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photographer: David Gibbon.

Paul Evans On The Raven2017110320180925 (R4)
20191105 (R4)
In his final tale for Halloween, writer Paul Evans encounters a pair of ravens.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

In his final tale for Halloween, writer Paul Evans encounters a pair of ravens and reflects on their dark associations and their playful and ominous voices.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photo: Michael Davey.

"

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photo: Michael Davey.

"In his final tale for Halloween, writer Paul Evans encounters a pair of ravens.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what oTop Brass

60 minutes

Tweet Of The Day

Paul Evans On The Raven

20171103

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photo: Michael Davey.

Penny Anderson On The Garden Warbler2018021620190321 (R4)Ecologist Penny Anderson discovers a garden warbler singing in her garden.

Ecologist Penny Anderson learns how to differentiate between the songs of Blackcap and Garden Warbler when to her delight she hears a Garden Warbler singing in the scrub patch in her garden.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: James Hanlon.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: James Hanlon.

"

Ecologist Penny Anderson discovers a garden warbler singing in her garden."

Ecologist Penny Anderson learns how to differentiate between the songs of Blackcap and Garden Warbler when to her delight she hears a Garden Warbler singing in the scrub patch in her garden.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Penny Anderson On The Heron2018021420190920 (R4)Penny Anderson watches herons in her garden as they steal frogs from her ponds.

Ecologist Penny Anderson wonders whether evolution is a work in her garden as the behaviour of the frogs in her ponds seems to be changing in response to the annual visits by the herons which enjoy a spot of fishing.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian OK.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian OK.

"

Penny Anderson watches herons in her garden as they steal frogs from her ponds."

Ecologist Penny Anderson wonders whether evolution is at work in her garden as the behaviour of the frogs in her ponds seems to be changing in response to the annual visits by the herons which enjoy a spot of fishing.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection on our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Penny Anderson On The Mandarin Duck2018021520181203 (R4)
20200212 (R4)
Ecologist Penny Anderson describes the flamboyant ducks that visit her garden.

Mandarin Ducks are flamboyant, brightly coloured ducks which originally hail from the Middle East. A feral population established here in the last century here and a pair regularly visit the garden of ecologist Penny Anderson where they waddle across the lawn, roost on her ponds and perch in her trees.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Derek Morgan.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Derek Morgan.

"

Mandarin Ducks are flamboyant, brightly coloured ducks which originally hail from the Middle East. A feral population established here in the last century here and a pair regularly visit the garden of ecologist Penny Anderson where they waddle across the lawn, roost on her ponds and perch in her trees.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Derek Morgan."

"

Ecologist Penny Anderson describes the flamboyant ducks that visit her garden."

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Penny Anderson On The Red Grouse2018021220180218 (R4)
20190619 (R4)
20201113 (R4)
Penny Anderson introduces the red grouse, a bird whose call always makes her laugh.

Ecologist Penny Anderson has always liked Red Grouse and they never fail to make her laugh as she reveals in this recollection about her encounters with this dumpy red bird.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Fox Pix.

"

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Fox Pix.

Penny Anderson introduces the red grouse, a bird whose call always makes her laugh."

Ecologist Penny Anderson has always liked Red Grouse and they never fail to make her laugh as she reveals in this recollection about her encounters with this dumpy red bird.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Penny Anderson On The Spotted Flycatcher2018021320181018 (R4)
20190919 (R4)
Penny Anderson had to stop work on her house when the spotted flycatchers moved in.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

When a pair of Spotted flycatchers decided to build a nest in a gap in the wall, ecologist Penny Anderson had to stop the pointing work being done to her house but she has no regrets as the birds have bred in her garden ever since.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian Redman.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian Redman.

"Penny Anderson had to stop work on her house when the spotted flycatchers moved in.

Producer: Sarah Blunt
Photograph: Ian Redman."

When a pair of Spotted flycatchers decided to build a nest in a gap in the wall, ecologist Penny Anderson had to stop the pointing work being done to her house but she has no regrets as the birds have bred in her garden ever since.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

When a pair of spotted flycatchers decided to build a nest in a gap in the wall, ecologist Penny Anderson had to stop the pointing work being done to her house but she has no regrets as the birds have bred in her garden ever since.
Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection on our relationship with the natural world.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Peregrine2014031120150324 (R4)
20190711 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Bill Oddie presents the peregrine. The peregrine is a truly awesome predator and a bird that we associate with wild places where, with wings flickering like knife-blades, it chases its prey in thrilling pursuits and breath-taking dives. Our city churches, cathedrals and other tall buildings are a perfect substitute for cliffs and quarries where they like to nest and with a plentiful supply of town pigeons they're thriving in these artificial eyries.

Bill Oddie presents the peregrine. The peregrine is a truly awesome predator and a bird that we associate with wild places where, with wings flickering like knife-blades, it chases its prey in thrilling pursuits and breath-taking dives. Our city churches, cathedrals and other tall buildings are a perfect substitute for cliffs and quarries where they like to nest and with a plentiful supply of town pigeons they're thriving in these artificial eyries.

Bill Oddie presents the peregrine.

Bill Oddie presents the peregrine.

Bill Oddie presents the peregrine. The peregrine is a truly awesome predator and a bird that we associate with wild places where, with wings flickering like knife-blades, it chases its prey in thrilling pursuits and breath-taking dives. Our city churches, cathedrals and other tall buildings are a perfect substitute for cliffs and quarries where they like to nest and with a plentiful supply of town pigeons they're thriving in these artificial eyries.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Bill Oddie presents the peregrine. The peregrine is a truly awesome predator and a bird that we associate with wild places where, with wings flickering like knife-blades, it chases its prey in thrilling pursuits and breath-taking dives. Our city churches, cathedrals and other tall buildings are a perfect substitute for cliffs and quarries where they like to nest and with a plentiful supply of town pigeons they’re thriving in these artificial eyries.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Bill Oddie presents the peregrine. The peregrine is a truly awesome predator and a bird that we associate with wild places where, with wings flickering like knife-blades, it chases its prey in thrilling pursuits and breath-taking dives. Our city churches, cathedrals and other tall buildings are a perfect substitute for cliffs and quarries where they like to nest and with a plentiful supply of town pigeons they’re thriving in these artificial eyries.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Peter Cranswick On The Common Scoter2017052620200122 (R4)Peter Cranswick of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre on the common scoter.

Peter Cranswick of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre on the amazing common scoter.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Miles Warde.

"Peter Cranswick of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre on the common scoter.

Producer Miles Warde. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Miles Warde.

Peter Cranswick On The Red-breasted Goose2017053020200124 (R4)Peter Cranswick of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre on the red-breasted goose.

Peter Cranswick of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre on the beautiful red breasted goose, and freezing wintry days counting them in fields.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Miles Warde.

"Peter Cranswick of the Slimbridge Wetland Centre on the red-breasted goose.

Producer Miles Warde. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Producer Miles Warde.

Peter Rock On The Lesser Black Backed Gull20170516The story and sound of birds.

In this programme, Bristol based bird scientist Peter Rock talks about his decades of research into urban lesser black backed gulls, including surprising finds in Morocco.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"The story and sound of birds.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Gull scientist Peter Rock on the lesser black backed gull for Tweet of the Day.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Peter Rock On The Lesser Black-backed Gull20170711Gull researcher Peter Rock on the Lesser Black Backed Gull for Tweet of the Day.

Gull researcher Peter Rock on the Lesser Black Backed Gull he ringed in Bristol turning up in the Bay of Biscay for Tweet of the Day.

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Maggie Ayre.

"Gull researcher Peter Rock on the Lesser Black Backed Gull for Tweet of the Day.

Producer Maggie Ayre. "

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Pied Butcherbird2014101320151009 (R4)
20161216 (R4)
20190730 (R4)
20210228 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the virtuoso songster the pied butcherbird of Australia. Australian parks, gardens resonate to the flute like calls of a medium sized black and white bird with stout blue-grey bills, and a black hood. They earned their name 'butcherbird' from their habit of storing prey by impaling it onto thorns or in a tree crevice before feeding on it with their hooked bill. They can sing for up to twenty minutes at a time, appearing to improvise as they perform a mellifluous, but unpredictable performance which they deliver as a solo or a duet with another butcherbird. Australian composer David Lumsdaine, described its call as.... "a virtuoso of composition and improvisation".

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the virtuoso songster the pied butcherbird of Australia. Australian parks, gardens resonate to the flute like calls of a medium sized black and white bird with stout blue-grey bills, and a black hood. They earned their name 'butcherbird' from their habit of storing prey by impaling it onto thorns or in a tree crevice before feeding on it with their hooked bill. They can sing for up to twenty minutes at a time, appearing to improvise as they perform a mellifluous, but unpredictable performance which they deliver as a solo or a duet with another butcherbird. Australian composer David Lumsdaine, described its call as.... ""a virtuoso of composition and improvisation"".

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the virtuoso songster the pied butcherbird of Australia. Australian parks, gardens resonate to the flute like calls of a medium sized black and white bird with stout blue-grey bills, and a black hood. They earned their name 'butcherbird' from their habit of storing prey by impaling it onto thorns or in a tree crevice before feeding on it with their hooked bill. They can sing for up to twenty minutes at a time, appearing to improvise as they perform a mellifluous, but unpredictable performance which they deliver as a solo or a duet with another butcherbird. Australian composer David Lumsdaine, described its call as....""a virtuoso of composition and improvisation"".

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the virtuoso songster the pied butcherbird of Australia. Australian parks, gardens resonate to the flute like calls of a medium sized black and white bird with stout blue-grey bills, and a black hood. They earned their name 'butcherbird' from their habit of storing prey by impaling it onto thorns or in a tree crevice before feeding on it with their hooked bill. They can sing for up to twenty minutes at a time, appearing to improvise as they perform a mellifluous, but unpredictable performance which they deliver as a solo or a duet with another butcherbird. Australian composer David Lumsdaine, described its call as.... "a virtuoso of composition and improvisation".

Pied Flycatcher2014050920150427 (R4)
20160523 (R4)
20160529 (R4)
20190327 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the story of the pied flycatcher. The pied flycatcher is the voice of western woods, as much a part of the scenery as lichen-covered branches, mossy boulders and tumbling streams. When they arrive here in spring from Africa the black and white males, which are slightly smaller than a house sparrow, take up territories in the woodland and sing their lilting arpeggios from the tree canopy.

David Attenborough presents the pied flycatcher.

David Attenborough presents the story of the pied flycatcher. The pied flycatcher is the voice of western woods, as much a part of the scenery as lichen-covered branches, mossy boulders and tumbling streams. When they arrive here in spring from Africa the black and white males, which are slightly smaller than a house sparrow, take up territories in the woodland and sing their lilting arpeggios from the tree canopy.

David Attenborough presents the story of the pied flycatcher. The pied flycatcher is the voice of western woods, as much a part of the scenery as lichen-covered branches, mossy boulders and tumbling streams. When they arrive here in spring from Africa the black and white males, which are slightly smaller than a house sparrow, take up territories in the woodland and sing their lilting arpeggios from the tree canopy.

David Attenborough presents the story of the pied flycatcher. The pied flycatcher is the voice of western woods, as much a part of the scenery as lichen-covered branches, mossy boulders and tumbling streams. When they arrive here in spring from Africa the black and white males, which are slightly smaller than a house sparrow, take up territories in the woodland and sing their lilting arpeggios from the tree canopy.

David Attenborough presents the pied flycatcher.

David Attenborough presents the pied flycatcher.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Attenborough presents the story of the pied flycatcher. The pied flycatcher is the voice of western woods, as much a part of the scenery as lichen-covered branches, mossy boulders and tumbling streams. When they arrive here in spring from Africa the black and white males, which are slightly smaller than a house sparrow, take up territories in the woodland and sing their lilting arpeggios from the tree canopy.

Pied Wagtail2013111820131124
20150817 (R4)
20160224 (R4)
20181127 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Pied Wagtail. In winter, pied wagtails can often be seen roosting in towns and cities in large flocks. By day, pied wagtails are often obvious in fields feeding on insects but they're equally at home on our streets gleaning prey from pavements and road surfaces.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the pied wagtail.

"Martin Hughes-Games presents the pied wagtail.

"

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

"

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Pied Wagtail. In winter, pied wagtails can often be seen roosting in towns and cities in large flocks. By day, pied wagtails are often obvious in fields feeding on insects but they're equally at home on our streets gleaning prey from pavements and road surfaces.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the Pied Wagtail. In winter, pied wagtails can often be seen roosting in towns and cities in large flocks. By day, pied wagtails are often obvious in fields feeding on insects but they're equally at home on our streets gleaning prey from pavements and road surfaces.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the pied wagtail.

Martin Hughes-Games presents the pied wagtail.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Pink-footed Goose2013100720131013
20150525 (R4)
20160921 (R4)
Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the pink-footed goose.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Pink-Footed Goose. To see and hear a skein of pink-footed geese as they fly from their roost on coastal mudflats to feed inland is a stirring experience. In winter the British Isles hosts well over half the global population of pinkfeet.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the pink-footed goose.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Pink-Footed Goose. To see and hear a skein of pink-footed geese as they fly from their roost on coastal mudflats to feed inland is a stirring experience. In winter the British Isles hosts well over half the global population of pinkfeet.

"Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the pink-footed goose.

"

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about the British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the pink-footed goose."

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the pink-footed goose.

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson presents the pink-footed goose.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Pink-Footed Goose. To see and hear a skein of pink-footed geese as they fly from their roost on coastal mudflats to feed inland is a stirring experience. In winter the British Isles hosts well over half the global population of pinkfeet.

Wildlife Sound Recordist, Chris Watson, presents the Pink-Footed Goose. To see and hear a skein of pink-footed geese as they fly from their roost on coastal mudflats to feed inland is a stirring experience. In winter the British Isles hosts well over half the global population of pinkfeet.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Plumbeous Antbird2014111320151111 (R4)
20200514 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the Plumbeous antbird in a Bolivian rainforest. When army ants go on the march in the Bolivian rainforest, they attract a huge retinue of followers; often heard but rarely seen. These include Antbirds. The Plumbeous Antbird is a lead-coloured bird; the males have a patch of blue skin around their eyes, whilst the females are bright russet below. Like other antbirds they are supreme skulkers, hiding under curtains of dense foliage and only betraying themselves by their calls and song, a particularly fluty call. But you'd think that with a name like antbirds, their diet is easily diagnosed, but surprisingly antbirds rarely eat ants. Instead, most species shadow the columns of army ants which often change nest-sites or raid other ant colonies. As the ants march across the forest floor, they flush insects and other invertebrates which are quickly snapped by the attendant antbirds.

Chris Packham presents the plumbeous antbird in a Bolivian rainforest.

Chris Packham presents the Plumbeous antbird in a Bolivian rainforest. When army ants go on the march in the Bolivian rainforest, they attract a huge retinue of followers; often heard but rarely seen. These include Antbirds. The Plumbeous Antbird is a lead-coloured bird; the males have a patch of blue skin around their eyes, whilst the females are bright russet below. Like other antbirds they are supreme skulkers, hiding under curtains of dense foliage and only betraying themselves by their calls and song, a particularly fluty call. But you'd think that with a name like antbirds, their diet is easily diagnosed, but surprisingly antbirds rarely eat ants. Instead, most species shadow the columns of army ants which often change nest-sites or raid other ant colonies. As the ants march across the forest floor, they flush insects and other invertebrates which are quickly snapped by the attendant antbirds.

Chris Packham presents the plumbeous antbird in a Bolivian rainforest.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Chris Packham presents the Plumbeous antbird in a Bolivian rainforest. When army ants go on the march in the Bolivian rainforest, they attract a huge retinue of followers; often heard but rarely seen. These include Antbirds. The Plumbeous Antbird is a lead-coloured bird; the males have a patch of blue skin around their eyes, whilst the females are bright russet below. Like other antbirds they are supreme skulkers, hiding under curtains of dense foliage and only betraying themselves by their calls and song, a particularly fluty call. But you'd think that with a name like antbirds, their diet is easily diagnosed, but surprisingly antbirds rarely eat ants. Instead, most species shadow the columns of army ants which often change nest-sites or raid other ant colonies. As the ants march across the forest floor, they flush insects and other invertebrates which are quickly snapped by the attendant antbirds.

Polly Weston On The Eagle Owl2017061320190522 (R4)Polly Weston describes an important encounter with an eagle owl.

Polly Weston describes an important encounter with an eagle owl in this Tweet of the Day

Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its daily 90 seconds of birdsong. But what of the listener to this avian chorus? In this new series of Tweet of the Day, we bring to the airwaves the conversational voices of those who listen to and are inspired by birds. Building on the previous series, a more informal approach to learning alongside a renewed emphasis on encounter with nature and reflection in our relationship with the natural world.

Producer Miles Warde.

"Polly Weston describes an important encounter with an eagle owl.

Producer Miles Warde. "

Polly Weston describes an important encounter with an eagle owl."

"""Polly Weston describes an important encounter with an eagle owl.

Producer Miles Warde. """

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Poorwill (american Nightjar)2015012720160118 (R4)
20160124 (R4)
20180710 (R4)
20190905 (R4)
Michael Palin presents the common poorwill from an Arizona desert.

Michael Palin presents the common poorwill from an Arizona desert. In the dead of night, loud calls pierce the stillness on a moonlit track, a small shape suddenly sprouts wings and flutters into the darkness... a Common Poorwill is hunting.

Poorwills are small nightjars that breed mainly in western North America, often in deserts and dry grassland. By day the poorwill sits in the open or among rocks relying on its mottled plumage for camouflage. By night, it emerges to hawk after insects snapping them up with its large frog-like mouth.

This technique works if it's warm enough for insects to be active, but in some places where poorwills live there are sudden cold snaps. Instead of migrating, the poorwill slows down its metabolism and goes into torpor for days or even weeks. This hibernation-like state is very rare among birds and allows the poorwill to get through lean periods and was first scientifically described in 1948, although the phenomenon had been recorded more than 140 years earlier by the great explorer Meriwether Lewis, during the Lewis and Clark Expedition to discover western side of America in 1804.

Michael Palin presents the common poorwill from an Arizona desert.

Michael Palin presents the common poorwill from an Arizona desert.

This technique works if it's warm enough for insects to be active, but in some places where poorwills live there are sudden cold snaps. Instead of migrating, the poorwill slows down its metabolism and goes into torpor for days or even weeks. This hibernation-like state is very rare among birds and allows the poorwill to get through lean periods and was first scientifically described in 1948, although the phenomenon had been recorded more than 140 years earlier by the great explorer Meriwether Lewis, during the Lewis and Clark Expedition to discover western side of America in 1804.

"Michael Palin presents the common poorwill from an Arizona desert.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Poorwills are small nightjars that breed mainly in western North America, often in deserts and dry grassland. By day the poorwill sits in the open or among rocks relying on its mottled plumage for camouflage. By night, it emerges to hawk after insects snapping them up with its large frog-like mouth.
This technique works if it's warm enough for insects to be active, but in some places where poorwills live there are sudden cold snaps. Instead of migrating, the poorwill slows down its metabolism and goes into torpor for days or even weeks. This hibernation-like state is very rare among birds and allows the poorwill to get through lean periods and was first scientifically described in 1948, although the phenomenon had been recorded more than 140 years earlier by the great explorer Meriwether Lewis, during the Lewis and Clark Expedition to discover western side of America in 1804.

"

Poorwills are small nightjars that breed mainly in western North America, often in deserts and dry grassland. By day the poorwill sits in the open or among rocks relying on its mottled plumage for camouflage. By night, it emerges to hawk after insects snapping them up with its large frog-like mouth.
This technique works if it's warm enough for insects to be active, but in some places where poorwills live there are sudden cold snaps. Instead of migrating, the poorwill slows down its metabolism and goes into torpor for days or even weeks. This hibernation-like state is very rare among birds and allows the poorwill to get through lean periods and was first scientifically described in 1948, although the phenomenon had been recorded more than 140 years earlier by the great explorer Meriwether Lewis, during the Lewis and Clark Expedition to discover western side of America in 1804.

Ptarmigan2013121720150224 (R4)
20160809 (R4)
20180411 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

David Attenborough presents the ptarmigan. Few birds are tough enough to brave winter on the highest of Scottish mountains but Ptarmigan are well adapted to extreme conditions. They're the only British bird that turns white in winter and Ptarmigan have feathers that cover their toes, feet and nostrils to minimise heat loss.

David Attenborough presents the ptarmigan. Few birds are tough enough to brave winter on the highest of Scottish mountains but Ptarmigan are well adapted to extreme conditions. They're the only British bird that turns white in winter and Ptarmigan have feathers that cover their toes, feet and nostrils to minimise heat loss.

David Attenborough presents the ptarmigan. Few birds are tough enough to brave winter on the highest of Scottish mountains but Ptarmigan are well adapted to extreme conditions. They're the only British bird that turns white in winter and Ptarmigan have feathers that cover their toes, feet and nostrils to minimise heat loss.

David Attenborough presents the ptarmigan. Few birds are tough enough to brave winter on the highest of Scottish mountains but Ptarmigan are well adapted to extreme conditions. They're the only British bird that turns white in winter and Ptarmigan have feathers that cover their toes, feet and nostrils to minimise heat loss.

David Attenborough presents the ptarmigan.

David Attenborough presents the ptarmigan.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

David Attenborough presents the ptarmigan. Few birds are tough enough to brave winter on the highest of Scottish mountains but Ptarmigan are well adapted to extreme conditions. They're the only British bird that turns white in winter and Ptarmigan have feathers that cover their toes, feet and nostrils to minimise heat loss.

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

"

"David Attenborough presents the ptarmigan.

"

David Attenborough presents the ptarmigan. Few birds are tough enough to brave winter on the highest of Scottish mountains but Ptarmigan are well adapted to extreme conditions. They're the only British bird that turns white in winter and Ptarmigan have feathers that cover their toes, feet and nostrils to minimise heat loss.

Puffin2013060520140521
20140521 (R4)
20140525 (R4)
20160425 (R4)
20160501 (R4)
20170424 (R4)
20170430 (R4)
20180427 (R4)
20191014 (R4)
20210106 (R4)

"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Puffin. Far better-known for its comical looks than its calls, the puffin is a bird that that is recognised by many and has earned the nickname ""sea-parrot"" or ""clown of the sea"".

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the puffin.

"

"

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Puffin. Far better-known for its comical looks than its calls, the puffin is a bird that that is recognised by many and has earned the nickname "sea-parrot" or "clown of the sea".

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Puffin. Far better-known for its comical looks than its calls, the puffin is a bird that that is recognised by many and has earned the nickname "sea-parrot" or "clown of the sea".

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the puffin.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the puffin.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the puffin.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Puffin. Far better-known for its comical looks than its calls, the puffin is a bird that that is recognised by many and has earned the nickname "sea-parrot" or "clown of the sea".

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the puffin.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Puffin. Far better-known for its comical looks than its calls, the puffin is a bird that that is recognised by many and has earned the nickname ""sea-parrot"" or ""clown of the sea""."

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Puffin. Far better-known for its comical looks than its calls, the puffin is a bird that that is recognised by many and has earned the nickname "sea-parrot" or "clown of the sea".

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Puffin. Far better-known for its comical looks than its calls, the puffin is a bird that that is recognised by many and has earned the nickname "sea-parrot" or "clown of the sea".

Puffin2013060520140525
20180427 (R4)
"Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Puffin. Far better-known for its comical looks than its calls, the puffin is a bird that that is recognised by many and has earned the nickname ""sea-parrot"" or ""clown of the sea"".

"

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the puffin.

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Puffin. Far better-known for its comical looks than its calls, the puffin is a bird that that is recognised by many and has earned the nickname "sea-parrot" or "clown of the sea".

"

Puffin20170424Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the puffin.

Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Puffin. Far better-known for its comical looks than its calls, the puffin is a bird that that is recognised by many and has earned the nickname "sea-parrot" or "clown of the sea".

"Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the puffin.

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the Puffin. Far better-known for its comical looks than its calls, the puffin is a bird that that is recognised by many and has earned the nickname "sea-parrot" or "clown of the sea". "

Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the story and sound of the puffin."

Purple Martin2014112020151125 (R4)
20190813 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

Chris Packham presents the purple martin from eastern North America. Every spring, across the land from Chicago to St Louis, you can hear couples squabbling over the best real estate. But these aren't human house-buyers, they're purple martins. Purple Martins are the largest North American swallow, glossy blue-black rather than purple and much chunkier than the well-known barn swallow. They spend the winter in insect-rich places in South America and return to their North American breeding colonies each spring. In the west, they nest in holes in trees or even in giant saguaro cacti, but in the east where they're much more common, they almost exclusively rely on people to provide them with nest-sites. Visit almost any city, town or homestead and you'll see multi-story nest-boxes, the home of a score of purple martin families. Around 1 million people are thought to erect housing each year. Their human landlords take a personal pride in their martin colonies, listening each spring for those first pebbly calls which are a sign that their protégés have made it back from the tropics, once again.

Chris Packham presents the purple martin from eastern North America. Every spring, across the land from Chicago to St Louis, you can hear couples squabbling over the best real estate. But these aren't human house-buyers, they're purple martins. Purple Martins are the largest North American swallow, glossy blue-black rather than purple and much chunkier than the well-known barn swallow. They spend the winter in insect-rich places in South America and return to their North American breeding colonies each spring. In the west, they nest in holes in trees or even in giant saguaro cacti, but in the east where they're much more common, they almost exclusively rely on people to provide them with nest-sites. Visit almost any city, town or homestead and you'll see multi-story nest-boxes, the home of a score of purple martin families. Around 1 million people are thought to erect housing each year. Their human landlords take a personal pride in their martin colonies, listening each spring for those first pebbly calls which are a sign that their protégés have made it back from the tropics, once again.

Chris Packham presents the purple martin from eastern North America.

"Tweet of the Day is the voice of birds and our relationship with them, from around the world.

"

Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year

Purple Sandpiper2013122020150227 (R4)
20160930 (R4)
20191020 (R4)
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinat