Psst – heard about this free childcare scheme? You just let someone else bring your kids up! Popular in the bird world, “brood parasitism” is a harsh term for a smart strategy that explains why cuckoos (and others) rarely look stressed, and this week we learn how they swing it. Also: what makes some birds turn grey (clue: it isn’t worry), why earlier is better for canary shows, why you should keep a toothbrush in the birdroom, and how Nelson got his eye back. Old & rare canary varieties and a Memory Lane article by a very special budgie man feature, too, along with all the latest fancy news.

Psst – heard about this free childcare scheme? You just let someone else bring your kids up! Popular in the bird world, “brood parasitism” is a harsh term for a smart strategy that explains why cuckoos (and others) rarely look stressed, and this week we learn how they swing it. Also: what makes some birds turn grey (clue: it isn’t worry), w....