Breaking the cardinal rule of broadcast television – “never work with animals or children” – Sir David Attenborough demonstrates a collection of diverse and complicated animal behaviours, showing the variety in the languages of animals.
You can watch his 1973 CHRISTMAS LECTURES for free on our website, without any advertising interruptions. Here are our favourite moments from each broadcast.
1. Tammy the lemur
In the first lecture, Sir David introduces us to the many ways animals communicate, from robins sending warning messages pointing out the direction of danger, to chameleons going ‘black with rage’.
In a very charming moment, we meet Tammy, a ring-tailed lemur from Bristol Zoo. While holding the animal in his arms, Attenborough tells us about how lemurs rub their long striped tails onto the scent glands on their arms, to engage in ‘stink fights’.
Watch Lecture 1 – “Beware!”
2. The dating life of the toucan
Across the animal kingdom, species have developed a myriad of ways to advertise for a mate. With each species developing its own set of messages, the language of courtship has given rise to some of the most beautiful and extraordinary sights and sounds in all of nature.
Unlike other birds which send their mating calls through complex songs, we learn that the toucan instead relies on the colours and patterns on its big bill, proclaiming exactly which type of toucan he is in order to attract the right mate.
Watch Lecture 2 – “Be mine”
3. Chicks love David Attenborough
Although many newborn animals enter the world well able to defend for themselves, others rely heavily on one or both of their parents for survival. This creates a need for communication between the generations, sometimes starting even before eggs have hatched.
In a demonstration that doesn’t quite go according to plan, Sir David shows us a group of day-old chicks, hoping they would follow the recorded sound of a mother hen on the opposite side of the room. Instead, the little birds decide to hang out with him. “They’re too happy, they don’t want to go to mother”, is his conclusion to their adorable defiance.
Watch Lecture 3 – “Parents and children”
4. One of the Lads
Animals not only have to communicate with their own species, but with animals of different kinds. This sort of communication is necessary when two different species of animals live closely together or come together for a special purpose.
Right at the beginning of Lecture five, we meet Lad, a champion border Collie, and his human, Mr Winterton. Together, they show us how they communicate effectively across species using combinations of only five words.
Watch Lecture 5 – “Foreign languages”
5. Talking birds
The information exchanged by animals through their languages can be surprisingly complex. For example, some animals can share detailed instructions concerning the exact position of food.
In this lecture, Sir David engages in a fun ‘conversation’ with two Indian hill myna birds. He whistles, and they whistle back, showing a little attitude.
Watch lecture 6 – “Animal language, human language”
Missing lectures
You may have noticed that this collection of lectures isn’t complete. One episode from this series is part of the missing CHRISTMAS LECTURES: footage that appears to be lost from the BBC archive, believed to have been taped over. We believe that somewhere in a dusty attic, these lectures may have survived as home-recorded videos.
Dive into the archives
Alongside Sir David Attenborough’s 1973 CHRISTMAS LECTURES, you’ll find dozens more in our online archive, going all the way back to 1960.
Lecturers include Carl Sagan, James Jackson, Hannah Fry and many more fantastic lecturers covering a breadth of fascinating topics.
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