These owls have specialized feathers that make their flight nearly silent

Has the body of a duck, neck of a goose, and voice of a goose having a bad day

They flip the script — literally!

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 most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

In Iceland, its arrival is eagerly awaited as it signifies the end of the harsh winter

One of the fastest runners among hedgehogs

The treasured bird of Saladin, the first Sultan of Egypt

A big, harmless snake that likes to live near freshwater

The mosaic-shelled marvel of the Mediterranean

This bird taps its feet to imitate rain to make the prey reach the surface

One of the rarest and most critically endangered crane species in the world

Like miniature tanks, built for survival in some seriously harsh climates

Their keen vision enables them to scan vast landscapes, identifying small movements or potential prey items even from high altitudes

Their favorite snack? Large insects like locusts and dragonflies

Renowned for their spectacular aerial displays during courtship, including steep dives and intricate flight patterns

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

The flocks of this social and gregarious bird are fond of migration, flying over the horizon and creating a V-shaped formation

Its long, serrated beak, often called a “sawbill,” is perfectly adapted for catching slippery prey like fish

Loves trees! Only member of its family breeding in Europe

The masters of catching oysters, clams, and cockles

Brilliant mimics, they can copy bird calls and even human-made sounds like car alarms and ringing phones!

At the first sign of danger, it will quickly dive into the water and hide

Can hang upside down while feeding!

Can dive down to the bottom of a lake and rest there, safe from predators!

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

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

Underneath this colorful beak, there’s a hidden surprise – a built-in net for scooping up a delicious lunch!

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

Its imperial imagery and fierce demeanor have made it a symbol of power and nobility throughout history

A tiny bird, one of the smallest in fact!

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

The smallest of all the crane species and is known for its elegance and grace

Very active and noisy, with a loud, piercing call that sounds like “pee-wit”

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

Have been observed remembering the locations of their impaled prey and even using tools to help them catch food

Quite noisy creatures which is a common sight in wetland areas

Can live for several decades under the right conditions, but grow slowly and only reach maturity after several years

When threatened, they roll into a tight, spiky ball, tucking in their face, feet, and belly

Also known as the Lemon-yellow tree frog, the Middle East tree frog

Known for their graceful movements and the distinctive “S” shape of their neck

Considered as one of the ancestors of all modern domestic sheep

Their horns are curved backward, resembling a hook or a pair of lyre-shaped instruments

Very loyal partners! Once they find a mate, they usually stay together for life

One of the most common reptile of the European wetlands

Their stiff, upright tail feathers aid them in swimming and diving

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

Not only one of the largest deer species but also among the most majestic

During breeding, they transform with elegant white plumage, adorned by decorative plumes on the head, neck, and back

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

These birds are quite chatty, and their sounds are like a strong and determined rattling laugh

A pocket-sized charmer with a playful personality that will steal your heart

A small, burrowing snake that can’t see well but can smell its way to a tasty insect

With the agility of a nimble climber, it effortlessly slithers up trees and through tangled vegetation

Known for its docile and non-aggressive nature

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

They are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for up to 30 seconds underwater

Habitat destruction & overhunting led to extinction in the wild, now gradually being reintroduced

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

Disappearing graceful shadows, this tree-climber is on the way to extinction

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

The word ‘squirrel’ is derived from the Greek word ‘Skiouros’ meaning ‘shadow tail’ – not specific

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

This charismatic creature is not just a quilled beauty but also a skilled architect

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

Due to their adaptability and willingness to migrate to more favorable habitats, great cormorants are found worldwide

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

This bird looks like a modern mosaic art-piece

This cute and small bird is one of the most elite hunters below the water’s surface

One of the only birds that can drill a hole in the hardest of wood

The iconic and elegant bird with a curved pink bill is known for turning heads

This bird is unmistakable for its namesake, spoon-shaped bill

The fossil records suggest that this species has been on this planet for millions of years

These birds seem to have lost their way to the beauty pageant

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

Its neck is insanely long and super flexible, giving it a slinky, snake-like appearance when it hunts

The songbird that occasionally eats bats

The master aerial diver and swooper

The most widely dispersed wild bird

One of the best avian vocal mimics

Like those bulging red eyes weren’t scary enough, they eat their innocent chicks when hungry

Living around smelly brackish marshes is unthinkable, but these birds love their isolated habitat or don’t have a sense of smell

The most numerous wild bird species in the world

The national bird of Pakistan and Iraq is known to improve degraded ecosystems by aiding in the dispersal and germination of seeds