Episode Information

Few things are more wondrous than the gift of flight, but some birds have chosen to give it up – the question is, why? Whether it’s to save energy, tap into new food resources or invest in other skills, they all have their reasons. But one thing’s for sure: it doesn’t make flightless birds any less weird and wonderful. There are 60 species of bird that have given up the gift of flight, but they are not all related. Each have taken their own evolutionary path. Across the world, non-fliers are a story of success, conquering diverse habitats from the great plains and deserts to rainforests, islands and even oceans. They include the biggest, fastest, deepest diving and most dangerous on the planet. Not bad for a group who decided to give up birds’ greatest evolutionary advantage. There’s a lot to be said for putting one foot in front of the other!