Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. The woolly flying squirrel and South Island takahe are two ...

True to their nickname, terror birds (Phorusrhacidae) are known as one of the largest and also the most fearsome birds to ever live. These were flightless birds with ...

A species of huge, flightless bird that once inhabited New Zealand disappeared around 600 years ago, shortly after human settlers first arrived on the country’s two main islands. Now, a Texas-based ...

Freed from the threat of invasive predators, Galapagos birds are performing astonishing feats of return and innovation – 200 ...

Russell has a PhD in the history of medicine, violence, and colonialism. His research has explored topics including ethics, science governance, and medical involvement in violent contexts. Russell has ...

More than 99% of birds can fly. But that still leaves many species that evolved to be flightless, including penguins, ostriches, and kiwi birds. In a new study in the journal Evolution, researchers ...

The moa were a group of giant flightless birds that lived in New Zealand. They disappeared from Earth about 600 years ago, ...

Aside from being a delight to watch, flight in birds is regarded by many cultures as a symbol of freedom, and a source of inspiration for humans to build our own flying machines. This makes those ...

Our pet cats share close to 96% of their DNA with wild predators like tigers, meaning they have strong predatory urges that need to be fulfilled. Here’s what happened when one went ‘wild’ on an ...

Crested Moa. Pachyornis australis. From the series ExSnct Birds of New Zealand., 2005, Masterton, by Paul MarSnson. Te Papa (2006-0010-1-19). Researchers have found New Zealand’s endangered flightless ...