Red kites, great spotted woodpeckers and pink-footed geese are only a few of the birds doing brilliantly in the British Isles right now. Mark Cocker celebrates their success stories and looks at what might be learnt from them

Let’s take a closer look at these colourful, handsome birds

Check your answers against our explanations. Remember, there are no ‘trick’ birds or extreme rarities among these...

It’s not the best known of its family, but it is a truly remarkable bird, writes David Lindo …

Find out which early species to watch for, how to make your patch more butterfly-friendly and where to record your sightings for science

One of the rich joys of birding is that there are birds everywhere, including gardens and parks. Just get out and walk around, there’s no need to be quiet or furtive. Become familiar with your feather