Six bird films that deserve their feathers – errr, their flowers

Components of a great film? Strong narrative arc, believable character development, immaculately crafted cinematography, goosebump-inducing score and… well, birds, obviously.

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to put your feet up and watch telly, don’t worry – we’re here to enable you. At the RSPB, we think nature and art go hand-in-hand. Both offer us a break from doomscrolling, help us to build a sense of connection, lower stress and fill us with a sense of awe. In celebration of H is for Hawk, a film adaptation of Helen McDonald’s award-winning memoir soon to hit UK cinema screens, we’re shining a spotlight on six of our favourite feathery films:  

Love a tearjerker? Forget the romcoms, this documentary will really tug at your heartstrings. Nikola Conev, a 60-year-old a farmer in North Macedonia, is forced to give up his livelihood and part from his family due to plummeting crop prices. But hope arrives in the shape of an injured White Stork.

The pair form an unbreakable bond and nurse each other back to health. In this real-life story of resilience, Nikola finds purpose in difficult times and uncovers the true meaning of life: birds (although we could’ve told you that without putting you through the emotional turmoil of this film). If you find an injured bird yourself, we recommend following our guidance and seeking professional help – but The Tale of Silyan is a beautiful watch, and there’s a bit of romance in it too; eat your heart out Richard Curtis.

Warning – we’re about to break out the ‘c’ word here, but we think it’s warranted. Mumble, the cute baby penguin, is unable to sing. In the Happy Feet universe, a penguin’s heartsong is the key to dating success, so things don’t look great for our poor protagonist. But Hollywood loves to see an underdog overcome adversity, and so, of course hot girl Gloria – the object of all of Antarctica’s desire – is head over heels for Mumble’s groovy tap-dance moves.

It can’t be smooth sailing for our two love birds though; this illicit romance is blamed for the penguins’ fishy food source diminishing. We reckon this 2006 feature was ahead of its time, dealing with issues like plastic pollution and overfishing.

Soren is a little owlet with big dreams. He wants to battle alongside legendary owls – the Guardians – banishing evil from his kingdom. Want to see the heartwarming story of a baby Barn Owl achieving all his ambitions without a hiccup? Watch something else.

Evil owls have other ideas, and soon Soren and his brother are kidnapped, and they must escape from the tight grasp of their talons. This epic animation has got some serious Lord of the Rings vibes going on, but of course, it’s infinitely better because all the characters are birds.
 

Set to the backdrop of World War II, young Mahito is learning to process grief in the wake of his mother’s death. As if that wasn’t troubling enough, he’s plagued by the presence of an unhinged heron, tempting him into a fantasy world where the villain – half human, half parakeet – is building an avian army. Surreal? Just a little.  

Despite not painting birds in the most positive light in this particular feature, we felt Studio Ghibli was worth an honourable mention. The importance of protecting the environment is a prominent message throughout their extensive back catalogue of whimsical, hand-drawn animations.

In 1916, the UK’s last White-tailed Eagle soared over Scotland’s skies all alone. His mate had likely been killed 10 years earlier. He didn’t know he was the last (obvs, he’s a bird) – so we imagine he spent every day hoping and waiting. She never came.

Conservationists, assemble! Return is the story of the people who brought this majestic eagle back from extinction in the UK. You’ll also meet the next generation of nature lovers who are ready to carry the torch, spreading environmental awareness through their own mediums. 

Is it a bird? Okay, no, it’s a Red Squirrel – but this series of Creature Comforts-style shorts about landscape restoration is a little bit of us (and it does feature a Great Spotted Woodpecker sidekick!). Twiggy, one of Cumbria’s remaining reds, is voiced by our very own Annabel Rushton, People and Partnership Manager from Wild Haweswater.

In Twiggy’s film, she introduces the vital part trees play in keeping our landscapes flood-free. It’s an Environment Agency-funded collaboration alongside the Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the Cumbria Innovation Flood Resilience project. Working together to save nature? We love to see it.

Life is all about balance, and if you plan to binge watch these six films, then honestly you really ought to get outside and touch grass. Don’t worry – we’ve got you there, too. Birds on film are great, but birds in real life are even better. You can capture your own cinema-worthy moments on out network of over 170 nature reserves around the UK.