Tweet of the Day

BBC Radio 4

4.3 (22)
SCIENCE
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Discover birds through their songs and calls. Each Tweet of the Day begins with a call or song, followed by a story of fascinating ornithology inspired by the sound.

JAN 4

Tolga Aktas on the Jackdaw

Conservation biologist Tolga Aktas shares his fascination with watching jackdaws. He was struck by the contrast between its black plumage and piercing pale eyes, which they likely use as a communication tool. Jackdaws form large, noisy communal winter roosts with other species, and aren't afraid to mob predators behaviour which Tolga finds spectacular to see. Presented by Tolga Aktas and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio Production in Bristol.

1 min
12/28/2025

Polly Atkin on the Short-Eared Owl

The poet and non-fiction writer Polly Atkin observes the wintering of short-eared owls in Cumbria. They are the UK's most nomadic owl, with residents joined by migrants from Scandinavia, Iceland and Russia, seeking a gentler version of the season. Fellow owl-lovers have told Polly of the moment they arrive exhausted at the coast, and she has watched a pair nest in a building site near the sea, concerned how they would survive. Polly Atkin is the author of The Company of Owls (Elliott & Thompson). Presented by Polly Atkin and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio Production in Bristol. This programme features recordings from Xeno-Canto by Lars Edenius (XC731000 and XC731272 - Short-eared owl)

2 min
12/21/2025

Liz Berry on the Robin

For poet Liz Berry, December is the robin's month, when our hearts are warmed by its singing under frosty streetlights. She wonders if its midwinter song is one of the reasons why we feel close to robins, and imagine them as our companions in the thin places between living and dying. Liz tells the story of how the robin brought her hope during a difficult pregnancy, inspired by its fierceness and willingness to survive. Presented by Liz Berry and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol. This programme features a recording by Martin Billard from Xeno-Canto (XC871726 - European Robin)

2 min
12/14/2025

Horatio Clare on the Pheasant

The author and journalist Horatio Clare reflects on the cultural history of the human relationship with pheasants. Its Latin name Phasianus Colchicus links the pheasant to the ancient kingdom of Colchis on the shores of the Black Sea, made famous in Greek mythology as the land of the Golden Fleece. These large, colourful long-tailed birds are native to Asia, and likely journeyed to western Europe with the Romans, becoming a symbol of wealth and status. The Normans are credited with popularising the shooting of pheasants in the 11th century, an industry which today releases an estimated 30-45 million captive-bred pheasants into the British countryside every year. Presented by Horatio Clare and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol. This programme features audio from Xeno-Canto recorded by Simon Elliot, David M and Tanguy Loïs (XC155202, XC640749 and XC727854 - Common Pheasant).

2 min
12/07/2025

Paul Farley on the Starling

In the season where starlings gather to murmurate in our winter skies, poet Paul Farley is admiring this dazzling bird up close. Every spring a pair of starlings used to nest in a hollow wall in the house where Paul grew up, and he never got tired of studying its dark iridescent plumage. Laying in bed at night Paul would hear the starlings' impressive mimicry, and remembers the sound of a radio being tuned and even human voices, imagining that these intelligent birds have been curiously studying us. Presented by Paul Farley and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol. This programme features a recording by Oliver Swift from Xeno-Canto (XC710439 - Common Starling)

2 min
11/16/2025

Amy-Jane Beer on the Carrion Crow

When nature writer Amy-Jane Beer moved to her current home, it seemed like the perfect rural dream. However, there then came an insistent knocking sound every morning - a pair of carrion crows would tap the windows, affronted by their reflections. Amy describes watching and learning to love these birds, which she sees as her quirky, idiosyncratic neighbours. Presented by Amy-Jane Beer and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol. Featuring a recording by Martin Billard from Xeno-Canto (Carrion Crow - XC929595)

2 min
11/09/2025

Polly Atkin on the Tawny Owl

The home of poet and non-fiction writer Polly Atkin is surrounded by tawny owls. They are the most common owl in Britain, ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 breeding pairs, though we don't know exactly how many. Polly describes hearing the first melancholy call of a tawny owl in autumn, echoing around the lake at Grasmere. Kept awake by chronic illness, the owls' nighttime calls remind Polly that we are not alone, the sound means company, community and home. Polly Atkin is the author of The Company of Owls (Elliott & Thompson). Presented by Polly Atkin and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.

2 min
11/02/2025

Paul Farley on the Shelduck

Poet Paul Farley welcomes the return of the shelduck to our shores, back after their summer migration to the Wadden Sea. These vast mudflats off the coast of The Netherlands and Germany provide a refuge for shelducks as they go through their so-called 'catastrophic moult' where they simultaneously loose all their flight and tail feathers. Paul imagines this vast gathering of around 200,000 birds as sort of 'Shelduck Glastonbury' where they get completely flightless, and is always glad to see them home. Presented by Paul Farley and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol

2 min

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4.3

out of 5

22 Ratings

Birdsong with anecdotes

06/01/2017

lizmeister7

🎶🎶🎶 wonderful!
Currently missing the good stuff

06/30/2018

ArWsf

Only seems to be people talking about their archive picks, not the archive picks themselves ☹️

Discover birds through their songs and calls. Each Tweet of the Day begins with a call or song, followed by a story of fascinating ornithology inspired by the sound.