These owls have specialized feathers that make their flight nearly silent

The only long-distance migratory dove in Europe

Timid by nature, often flying off at the slightest sign of danger

One of Europe’s oldest surviving deer species

One of the few mammals that swims using its back feet, not its front ones

Arguably among the most beautiful songbirds in the world — they enjoy singing after a rain shower

It is one of the most widespread and familiar amphibians in Europe

A bird that can change its color to match its surroundings!

Can hang upside down while feeding!

They might not look like much, but they have an incredible talent: singing!

Males are particularly eye-catching with their black and white plumage, looking like they’re wearing a little tuxedo

Can be quite friendly and will often come close to humans, especially if they’re offered food

You might mistake it for a big squirrel, but it’s smaller and has a more delicate appearance

The biggest bat you can find in Europe, with wings that can stretch out as wide as your arm!

A tiny bird, one of the smallest in fact!

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

Often called the “singer of the night,” it produces a complex and beautiful melody that has captivated people for centuries

With its triangular head, distinct from its neck, and vertical pupils, it’s easy to recognize

Often lives close to humans and is sometimes seen as a pest

A warty amphibian with golden eyes

Covered in small, bumpy warts that can even have sharp points

Can walk along the riverbed using its wings to stabilize itself against the current

One of the most hunted, widespread, ancient, and well-known game birds

The males, in particular, produce a rich and intricate song that contributes to their charm

They consistently display a restless demeanor and exhibit a distinctive, tail-trembling behavior

Holds cultural symbolism in some societies, representing good luck

Adaptable raptor known for its hovering hunting technique and striking appearance

Their migratory behavior is often linked to the availability of insects for food

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the world’s most widely distributed carnivore!

Possessed with special visual adaptations to catch fish

Fiercely territorial, marking their territory with scent to communicate with other otters

A tiny creature that dwells below the surface in a complex system of tunnels and burrows

Meet the world’s smallest mammal but a fierce predator

The second largest bear, right after the polar bear. Sadly, it well might top the list soon

Their population distribution is often associated with human settlements as they are comfortable in both agricultural and urban habitats

These elegant acrobats perform a perfectly timed and skilled somersault as they approach their chosen resting site

Their muzzle has wrinkled lips, which makes them look like a dog’s face, and is commonly called a bulldog bat

The smallest carnivorous predator in the world and so have limited fat stores and need to eat more than 50% of the body weight

A small, fierce predator known for its agility, hunting skills, and color-changing fur

The most cosmopolitan of owls with home ranges extending across the globe

Aptly named after the goddesses of wisdom and war, little owls have lived alongside human civilizations since 500 BC

Exhibit powerful flight, with distinctive slow wing beats and an extended neck, defining features during their aerial movements

The songbird that occasionally eats bats

The master aerial diver and swooper

The most widely dispersed wild bird

At the speed of over 321 km/h (200 mph), this bird outraces a Formula1 car

The most elegant of all godwit species

These enthusiastic travelers can be seen almost worldwide in different seasons

Dependable wings and a muscular build. Nope, we aren’t talking about the next Redbull ad campaign

A highly intelligent species that is the world’s only tool-using vulture with a long migratory range

This majestic brown raptor is most widely distributed eagle species

The yellow-eyed devil

Better call the ambulance before the Sparrowhawk comes to devour all those who are injured

They eat just about everything — rabbits, rodents, birds, carrion, earthworms, insects… even beetles get a look-in

A magnificent migratory bird with long, broad wings and a short tail that sings in the form of musical whistles

The only living creature that feeds on bone marrow from carcasses in high and inaccessible mountain areas

The ancestors of domestic cats are widespread in Europe, western Asia, and Africa

They have an elongated and elastic snout that can be used to dig out roots and bulbs

You might mistake them for snakes, but they are merely legless lizards