A nature documentary is a documentary film about animals, plants, or other non-human living creatures, usually concentrating on film taken in their natural habitat. Nature documentaries are most frequently made for television, particularly for public broadcasting channels, but some are also made for the cinema.

Most nature documentaries focus on a particular species, ecosystem or scientific idea (such as evolution). Although most take a scientific and educational approach, some anthropomorphise their subjects or present animals purely for the viewer's pleasure.

Although almost all nature documentaries have a human presenter, the presenter's role varies widely, ranging from explanatory voiceovers to extensive interaction or even confrontation with animals.

Well-known nature documentary makers and presenters include David Attenborough, Richard Brock, Jacques Cousteau, Marlin Perkins and Jeff Corwin.

The Panda Awards for nature documentaries are given every two years.

Most documentaries are for television and are usually 45 or 50 minutes long. But there are also real cinematic films.

List of nature films: Animals are Beautiful People | The Living Desert

List of television programmes: The Life of Birds, 10 episodes The Life of Mammals 10 epidodes