Birds (20 images)

There are around 10,000 living species of birds inhabiting ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Existing birds range in size from the 2 inch (5cm) Bee Hummingbird to the 9 foot (2.75 m) Ostrich.

Many species are of economic importance, mostly as sources of food, guano (droppings) and pets. Birds figure prominently in all aspects of human culture from religion to poetry to popular music. About 120-130 species have become extinct as a result of human...
more »

There are around 10,000 living species of birds inhabiting ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Existing birds range in size from the 2 inch (5cm) Bee Hummingbird to the 9 foot (2.75 m) Ostrich.

Many species are of economic importance, mostly as sources of food, guano (droppings) and pets. Birds figure prominently in all aspects of human culture from religion to poetry to popular music. About 120-130 species have become extinct as a result of human activity since the 17th century, and hundreds more before then.

Currently about 1,200 species of birds are threatened with extinction by human activities, though efforts are underway to protect them.
« less