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Last broadcast on Fri, 20 Nov 2009, 01:55 on BBC One (see all broadcasts).
Synopsis
Birds owe their global success to feathers - something no other animal has. They allow birds to do extraordinary things.
For the first time, a slow-motion camera captures the unique flight of the marvellous spatuletail hummingbird as he flashes long, iridescent tail feathers in the gloomy undergrowth. Aerial photography takes us into the sky with an Ethiopian lammergeier dropping bones to smash them into edible-sized bits. Thousands of pink flamingoes promenade in one of nature's greatest spectacles. The sage grouse rubs his feathers against his chest in a comic display to make popping noises that attract females. The Vogelkop bowerbird makes up for his dull colour by building an intricate structure and decorating it with colourful beetles and snails.
Clips (7)
Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds' feet are so tiny that they cannot walk on the ground. To make up for this they are extremely accomplished and fast flyers.
Wildlife Finder: discover more about the speed of hummingbirds
Magnificent frigatebird
Magnificent frigatebirds have wingspans up to 215cm. These wide wingspans enable them to soar effortlessly over American and tropical coastlines.
Chinstrap penguin
Chinstrap penguins are extremely hardy birds that rely on their specialised feathers to survive in the Antarctic. They live in colonies of millions of birds.
Vogelkop bowerbird
Vogelkop bowerbirds are the 'interior designers' of the avian world. The males compete for mates by making their shelters look as beautiful as possible.
Forest treasures of West Papua
The Life team went to the remote forests of West Papua to film the courtship performance of the vogelkop bowerbird.
Programme maker Stephen Lyle had never seen these birds before, but when he met people who had spent their lives in the forest, he found that their first encounters were just as extraordinary.
Red-billed tropicbird
Red-billed tropicbirds spend most of their life over the open ocean. They only come to land on remote islands to look after their single chicks.
Wildlife Finder: watch red-billed tropicbirds' aerial contests with frigatebirds
Cape gannet
Cape gannets live in large colonies off the coasts of South Africa and Namibia. Since the depletion of fish stocks in this area, Cape gannet parents now need to protect their young from pelicans.
Chapters
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Birds
An introduction to the feathered and winged creature. Also, the male Peruvian Hummingbird must use its unique tail feathers to prove his worth to a potential mate.
1 00.00 -
Flying for Food
The adult Lammergeier swoops, the tropic and frigate birds do aerial battle, and red knots fly 10,000 miles, all in search of food.
2 04.42 -
Nesting
A safe area is needed so flamingos can keep their offspring safe, and chinstrap penguins go to vast lengths to feed their young. Also, pelicans feed on gannet chicks whilst their parents are away.
3 20.28 -
Impressing the Female
The Western grebes and Sage Grouse use dance to show their intent, whereas the Bowerbird uses architecture to find a mate. Also, the flamingos create a promenade which involves thousands.
4 34.00 -
Life on Location - Hide and Seek
A closer look at the Vogelkop Bowerbird, and the diffiulties of filming the female in West Papua.
5 48.11
Credits
- Narrator
- David Attenborough
- Producer
- Patrick Morris
- Executive Producer
- Michael Gunton
Broadcasts
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Mon 9 Nov 200921:00
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Mon 9 Nov 200921:00
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Mon 9 Nov 200922:35
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Tue 10 Nov 200920:00
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Sat 14 Nov 200916:35
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Fri 20 Nov 200901:55
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