The Life of Birds backdrop
The Life of Birds poster
Documentary

All Episodes of The Life of Birds

BBC One

Browse all episodes of The Life of Birds

All Episodes of The Life of Birds

In the documentary series produced by the BBC, The Life of Birds, Sir David Attenborough unveils a new investigation into the behaviour of birds, perfectly...
Select Season:

Season 1

  • To Fly or Not to Fly?
    N/A/100 votes

    To Fly or Not to Fly?

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/21/1998

    The first episode looks at how birds first took to the skies in the wake of the insects. It begins in Mexico, where Attenborough observes bats being outmaneuvered by a red-tailed hawk.

    Director: Unknown

    Writer: Unknown

  • The Mastery of Flight
    N/A/100 votes

    The Mastery of Flight

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/28/1998

    The second programme deals with the mechanics of flight. Getting into the air is by far the most exhausting of a bird's activities, and Attenborough observes shearwaters in Japan that have taken to climbing trees to give them a good jumping-off point.

    Director: Unknown

    Writer: Unknown

  • The Insatiable Appetite
    N/A/100 votes

    The Insatiable Appetite

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/4/1998

    A look at the constant need to feed necessitated by the demands of flight in species from sap suckers and crows, to robins and geese.

    Director: Unknown

    Writer: Unknown

  • Meat-Eaters
    N/A/100 votes

    Meat-Eaters

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/11/1998

    This epsiode looks at those birds that have become strictlt meat eaters from eagles and hawks to owls and vultures.

    Director: Unknown

    Writer: Unknown

  • Fishing for a Living
    N/A/100 votes

    Fishing for a Living

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/18/1998

    A look at those birds that look to fishing as their main food source. From gulls and ducks to cormorants and cranes.

    Director: Unknown

    Writer: Unknown

  • Signals and Songs
    N/A/100 votes

    Signals and Songs

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/25/1998

    A look at the way birds communicate. The program shows us how calls of warning can unite a community of birds against a larger predator and how other calls may be used to attract mates.

    Director: Unknown

    Writer: Unknown

  • Finding Partners
    N/A/100 votes

    Finding Partners

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 12/2/1998

    A look at how birds attract and select mates. The survey ranges from common birds such as the sparrow to the more exotic frigate birds, and Jamaican hummingbirds. Other segments concentrate on the dancing associated with the courtship of grebes and the artistic collections of bower birds.

    Director: Unknown

    Writer: Unknown

  • The Demands of the Egg
    N/A/100 votes

    The Demands of the Egg

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 12/9/1998

    A look at eggs and what birds go through to produce and protect them. This epsiode ranges from the mating flights to fledging of their offspring. Species examined include frigate birds and toucans as well as weaver birds and cuckoos.

    Director: Unknown

    Writer: Unknown

  • The Problems of Parenthood
    N/A/100 votes

    The Problems of Parenthood

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/16/1998

    This episode looks at the problems birds face in raising their young. It ranges from parrots who are very active parents to cuckoos who are famous for foisting the job off on others.

    Director: Unknown

    Writer: Unknown

  • The Limits of Endurance
    N/A/100 votes

    The Limits of Endurance

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/23/1998

    A look at how birds deal with hostile environments and with people. The episode ranges from crows in Japan that use traffic to crack nuts to penguins who never see a person but make long treks through frigid wastes.

    Director: Unknown

    Writer: Unknown