Feathered frenzy

It's not just die-hard ornithologists that get excited by the sheer diversity of the avian world. Amateur birdwatchers and Attenborough aficionados are also more than partial to a little birdsong and dance—and we’re no exception. The myriad colours and creative courtship rituals of bird species are truly artful spectacles to behold.

Plush rainbow plumage radiates extravagance, while crafty camouflage provides cover from predators. But from hummingbirds to eagles, sparrows to owls, all birds have a few things in common: a coat of feathers, a set of wings, and a beautiful beak, elevating their status well above that of many an animal.

Free as a bird

We’ve all been there: thick forests race past us below as we soar towards toy towns. High above the clouds, the sun rosies our cheeks as the wind rustles through our hair. And then…we wake up. The ability to fly may be a recurring dream to us, but for birds, it’s just business as usual—aviation’s their vocation.

Sailing the skies, they can fly, coast, glide, and swoop without having to touch base often, truly giving them a birds-eye perspective on the world. This privilege of flight is almost unique in the natural world—much to the annoyance of our hungry feline friends. Been looking for a little freedom of late? Spread your wings with bird art prints.

From coal mine to couch

While falcons, ducks, or cranes are more likely to be spotted in the wild, certain species of birds feel right at home in living rooms as chirping companions. Once used in coal mines as an early warning against dangerous gases, canaries have long been housed in less sootier settings.

Budgies and cockatiels also make for fun bird buddies, but if you’re wary or scared of letting a little pair of wings into your nest, there’s always the easier option: bird posters that beam the same colourful hues into the room while creating none of the mess.