Plan Your Visit to Edinburgh Zoo
We are open every day of the year, including Christmas Day, from 9am until:
| 6.00pm | April - Sept. |
| 5.00pm | Oct. & March |
| 4.30pm | Nov. - Feb. |
See Our Live Penguin Cam!
Check out Edinburgh Zoo's penguins with our LIVE Penguin Cam.
Birds
Birds are now believed to be descended from the dinosaurs, and if this is so, they represent the only 'living dinosaurs'!
In common with their ancestors and with modern day reptiles, birds lay a shelled egg, however birds have changed considerably in the 150 million years since they evolved from their dinosaur ancestors. Birds are unique amongst living animals in having feathers, and all living birds have feathers, even penguins. No one is really sure why feathers evolved, although they were probably an insulation layer much like fur on mammals to begin with, and certainly it allows birds to be warm-blooded in the same way as mammals are. However it is the lightness, strength and structure of feathers which have allowed this group of animals to evolve flight.
The ability to fly and the ability to control their body temperature has allowed birds to move across the globe and to adapt to a wide range of habitats unavailable to their cold-blooded ancestors. This adaptablility has led to them being a hugely successful vertebrate group, represented by nearly 10,000 species.
Andean cock-of-the-rock
bird normally found in the forests of the Andes. Bird Common Name: Andean cock-of-the-rock Family: Cotingidae Latin Name: Rupicola
Bali starling
in the wild. Bird Common Name: Bali Starling Family: Sturnidae Latin Name: Leucopsar rothschildi Diet: Insectivore Type: Bird Habitat:
Black stork
life! Adopt a black stork The black stork (Ciconia nigra) is a very large wading bird, standing nearly ...
Blue-crowned laughing thrush
are golden yellow. Bird Common Name: Blue-crowned laughing thrush Family: Turdidae Latin Name: Garrulax courtoisi Diet: Insectivore Type: Bird
Chestnut-backed thrush
Chestnut-backed thrush Chestnut-backed thrush Chestnut-backed thrush Tropical Rainforest Yes Asia A great way to support RZSS – buy it for
Chilean Flamingo
Chilean Flamingo Chilean Flamingo, flamingos, flamingo Chilean Flamingo Ocean & Wetland Yes South America A great way to support RZSS
Cochin-Chinese red junglefowl
in forests, mangroves, plantations and scrublands. Bird Common Name: Cochin-Chinese red jungle fowl
Darwin's Rhea
Darwin's Rhea Darwin's rhea, rheas, ratite, flightless, bird, birds, South America, grassland Darwin's rhea Grassland Yes South America A great
Double-Wattled Cassowary
Double-Wattled Cassowary double-wattled cassowary, bird, ratite, New Guinea, Australia Double-wattled cassowary Grassland,Tropical Rainforest,Woodland Yes Australasia A great way to support
East African crowned crane
East African crowned crane East African crowned crane, cranes, bird, Africa, crested crane East ... as the Crested Crane, is