Cheetah

Fastest mammal on land, the cheetah can reach speeds of 60 or perhaps even 70 miles (97 or 113 kilometers) an hour over short distances. It usually chases its prey at only about half that speed, however. After a chase, a cheetah needs half an hour to catch its breath before it can eat.

Giraffes are very, very odd animals.

Mostly neck and leg, with a shout out to their unsettlingly long tongues, they seem to have been built from a grab bag of leftover body bits, yielding an animal somehow both elegant and comedic.

A recent study published in Science Advances identified a catalogue of giraffe-specific gene mutations required to support their bizarre form and said “the suite of adaptations associated with the extreme stature of the giraffe has long interested biologists and physiologists”.

The Common Blackbird is a regular and highly visible inhabitant of gardens. Males sing during early spring mornings. Their flight and alarm calls are easily detected. They feed either on open lawn or among leaf litter, eating mainly worms and other invertebrates in the soil, and soft fruit. Canberra gardens with dense shrubbery or hedges will generally accommodate at least one pair of breeding birds. They are secretive in their nesting habits, concealing their nests in thick shrubs, vines or trees. They also dart swiftly to and from their nest to try to conceal it from predators.

Birds are found in all habitat types from buildings to woodland, farmland and the coast. This self-study course is suitable for beginners with a general interest in birds as well as anyone working in conservation or ecological consultancy. The aim of the course is to give you tips and information to help you learn to identify British birds.

If you are conducting ecological surveys or undertaking conservation work you will always encounter birds and you will need to be able to identify them.

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