Birds, in their infinite and colourful variety, have long been a source of artistic inspiration. They have been sketched, painted and carved as specimens of scientific interest or aesthetic delight. They have been included in compositions to transmit religious, poetic and even political meanings – sometimes the same species of bird has been used to symbolise several different things at once. Take a look at the paintings, drawings, prints and decorative objects below, made over a period of more than 500 years: from the eagle to the kiwi, the owl to the ostrich, each bird featuring in these artworks tells a different story.