Bird facts
- Master mimicsThe superb lyrebird of Australia can imitate other birds, camera shutters, car alarms and even chainsaws.
- Living dinosaursBirds are the only surviving descendants of the theropod dinosaurs, the group that included T. rex.
- Hummingbird heartsA hummingbird's heart can beat over 1,200 times a minute during flight.
- Speed recordThe peregrine falcon has been clocked at more than 380 km/h in a hunting dive, making it the fastest animal on Earth.
- Hollow bonesMany birds have air-filled bones that keep them light without losing strength.
- Marathon flyersThe Arctic tern migrates from pole to pole each year, covering roughly 70,000 km.
- Clever corvidsCrows and ravens can use tools, solve multi-step puzzles and recognise individual human faces.
- Built-in compassMany migratory birds can sense Earth's magnetic field to help them navigate.