Birds & Insects
Invertebrates
Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including insects. They show a huge range of size, shape and colour.
The displays explain the features of different invertebrates and how they are grouped. You can see whole specimens, animals preserved in spirit, and beautiful glass models. The sponge display shows the incredible Venus' Flower Basket, a type of glass sponge.
The coelenterates include animals such as corals. The display shows in a range of shapes and vivid colours, and stunning glass models of sea anemones and other soft bodied creatures. Some of these models were made by the world renowned glass company Blaschka.
Beautiful specimens of sea urchins and starfish, represent the group Echinoderms. Wonderfully named creatures such as feather stars, sun stars, basket stars and brittle stars are all on show.
A motley crew of worms are preserved in spirit jars, some were parasites and are still attached to their host. There are also some more glass models showing the detailed structure of delicate soft-bodied animals.
The mollusc display comprises a stunning selection of shells of all shapes, sizes, colours and patterns. There are also examples of how shells have been used as jewellery and money. Some nautilus shells have been cut open to show the intricate internal structure of these animals. More glass models illustrate the soft parts of molluscs such as cuttlefish and octopuses. One of the largest shells on display here is the Fluted Giant Clam.
The rest of the invertebrate displays are dominated by invertebrates with jointed legs, called arthropods. The first cases focus on crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters. Some quite monstrous specimens are on show, such as the porcupine crab which is covered in spines, and parasitic crustaceans which are stored in spirit on their hosts.
Some strange spiders and scorpions can also be found on the gallery, including Orb-web Weavers which have horns on their backs. Horse-shoe crabs and sea spiders are also on show, with weird and wonderful shapes.
Birds
The bird display is housed in the splendour of a listed Victorian gallery. You are taken on a journey around the world seeing birds from Australia, the Americas, the Orient and Europe. Interesting themes such as colour, flight, breeding, feathers and extinction bring the birds to life.
The enormous Emperor Penguin has got to be a highlight. It gazes skywards as if looking for the stars to guide it back home to the south pole. Other enormous birds include the flightless Crested Curassow from South America and the Andean Condor. The Andean Condor is one of the largest flying birds with a wingspan of 11 foot. See if you can spot the tiny Cuban Tody, known as "the most adorable bird in the universe".
The mating displays of birds are always an impressive site. Make sure you catch the Black Grouse alongside a tremendous display of ruffs. Ordinarily ruffs are rather dull until it comes to mating season when the feathers on male's chest burst forth in an extraordinary puffed-up display.
In terms of glamour, nothing can beat the bird of paradise from New Guinea. The Red Bird of Paradise and the Six Wired Bird of Paradise are displayed at Manchester.
The section on extinction is a poignant reminder of human impact upon the earth. Dodo bones can be seen displayed alongside a Passenger Pigeon. There were once so many Passenger Pigeons that the flocks were a mile wide and 300 miles long. It became extinct due to over hunting and forest clearance.
Next to these birds there is a skeleton of the enormous flightless bird the Moa from New Zealand, which became extinct in the 16th century. You can see another flightless bird from New Zealand, the Kakapo that is still with us but only just; there are only 86 left.
The section on pre-historic birds is well worth a look. The sheer size of the cast of the skull of the giant bird Phorusrachos longissimus is amazing. This is displayed alongside the enormous egg of an elephant bird.
You can see how many birds you can identify in the British birds display. This includes all native British birds plus some more unusual species such as the Great Bustard, which last bred in England in 1832. However, pride of place must go to the White Tailed Eagle which, until recently last bred in Britain in 1916. Now, thanks to a re-introduction programme, breeds once again in Scotland.
There's much, much more to see in the Bird Gallery; look out for the gloriously named Marbled Frogmouth and the brightly coloured Eclectus Parrot (now popular pets). Don't miss the Albatross, Iridescent Splendid starling, the Satyr Tragopan, Hornbills, Toucans the extraordinary nest of the Weaver Bird and the bizarre sight of a small Meadow Pipit feeding a large Cuckoo chick.
And finally, as a challenge, see how many kiwis you count.
