The original spitfire

Threatened with extinction in the 1960s, the mighty peregrine–with its astonishing speed and super strength–has staged such a remarkable comeback that its now more successful than it was in the Middle Ages

The rise and rise of raptor species has been a major success of the past half century, but it may well have been the downfall of the common kestrel

Unhurried in flight and with a sideline in stolen goods, the handsome red kite is the gentleman thief of the raptor world

So wondrous to witness that we often simply imagine we have seen one, the golden eagle embodies the spirit of the Highlands, but is happily progressing south once again

From a heroic long-distance swimmer to a producer of spectacularly eerie sound effects, the seabirds seen swooping and diving over British waters have all manner of singular skills, says John Lewis-Stempel

A penchant for spring lamb saw white-tailed eagles ruthlessly exterminated, but the beguiling ‘flying barn door’ is back on our shores following a somewhat controversial reintroduction