The raven is famous for being the imposing, all-black bird that guards the Tower of London. Wild birds live in forests, and upland and coastal areas in the north and west of the UK.

The black-and-white barnacle goose flies here for the 'warmer' winter from Greenland and Svalbard. This epic journey was once a mystery to people, who thought it hatched from the goose…

The black garden ant is the familiar and abundant small ant that lives in gardens, but also turns up indoors searching for sugary food. In summer, winged adults, or 'flying ants', swarm…

The six-spot burnet moth is a day-flying moth that flies with a slow, fluttering pattern. Look for it alighting on knapweeds and thistles in grassy places. It is glossy black, with six red spots…

This common hoverfly can be recognised by the dark markings behind its head, which often resemble the Batman logo.

As the name suggests, this beautiful brown butterfly is most common in Scotland, though it can also be seen in northern England.

A very rare species, this moth is now limited to one site in the UK. Males can be a striking reddish buff in colour.