Known to “ride out” massive tropical storms by flying into the calm eye of the hurricane

Remains as one of the most resilient residents of the tropics

If you look closely at their dark hood, you’ll see two broken white crescents around the eye

Most gulls have sharp, pointed wings, but this one has strikingly rounded wingtips

Often called the “tern in a gull’s body”

Despite their elegant looks, they are fierce parents

Rugged enough to survive Arctic blizzards and mid-ocean gales that would ground much larger birds

Despite traveling across entire hemispheres, they often return to the exact same marsh or mudflat

Often called the “shorebird that forgot the shore”

Famous for nesting in the most inconvenient places possible

A bird that looks like a cross between a sleek chicken and a neon-painted waterfowl

Possesses a unique physical defense mechanism: the “laterally compressed” body

Doesn’t perch across a branch like most birds; it perches lengthwise along the limb

Notoriously high-strung and are often the first ducks to take flight at the slightest hint of danger

One of the most dedicated vegetarians in the waterfowl world

Do “whistles” over the “quacks”

Famous (and sometimes infamous) for their love of rice.

A clever, hardworking, city-ready survivor

These sharp-eyed birds have been known to swoop down and snatch up the tiny, newly hatched turtles

The very tip of the bill has special “pits” that can detect the vibrations of a moving fish in murky water

When it’s time to migrate, they don’t just fly; they go into orbit

One of the few shorebirds that can handle small fish and even lizards

People expect rails to be chunky marsh birds—this one is tiny, almost pocket-sized

Its famous call is often remembered as sounding like it is asking a question

Once believed that their frequent calling was a sure sign that a thunderstorm was on its way

Its sound is one of the most iconic sounds of the American summer

One of the most numerous seabirds in the North Atlantic, with huge colonies in the High Arctic

Can be black, can be grey but it’s the same bird

Once a sky-filling spectacle—today, most of what we have are museum skins and stories

These birds perform a massive, circular migration that covers nearly 32,000 km (20,000 miles) annually

One of the deepest-diving ducks

These gulls aren’t scavengers; they are specialized insect eaters.

Before their 3,000-mile flight, they become “hyperphagic,” eating until fat makes up nearly half of their body weight

Has the longest bill of any wading bird

Known to cross the vast Sahara Desert in a single go during their migration

A bird that scoffs at fresh water and grassy parks

Smell? Not so much—mostly rely on eyesight and the behavior of other vultures to find food

Crisp-feathered, fast-flying, and fearless in icy waters

The “cheetahs” of the deep ocean

Under certain angles, the feathers can look almost black

Superb gliders and can travel hundreds of kilometers in a day, riding winds with barely a wingbeat

A heavyweight champ — elegant, yes, but you don’t want to mess with that beak

Its eyes make up nearly half the size of its skull, giving it excellent night vision but little room for movement

Among the most athletic dolphins, known for their spectacular leaps and spins that can reach several meters high

Sometimes called the “scars in the water” thanks to their many white markings

One of the most admired warblers across the continent

Its flight is nearly soundless, thanks to specially fringed wing feathers that disrupt air turbulence

Defies the usual “creature of the night” stereotype by thriving in open landscapes and often hunting boldly in daylight

Their “lemon” color actually changes slightly depending on light and habitat

Though they possess venomous spines near the base of their tail, they rarely use them except in self-defense

A bird that carries the rhythms of the seasons on its wings

In winter, they’re plain grey and white, but in the Arctic summer, they turn into a glowing rusty red

Looks ordinary—but transforms into one of the most extravagant birds during breeding season

A bird that quietly keeps the environment clean

There is more to this species than its majestic coat of thick white feathers and piercing yellow eyes

Often called the “tiger of the sky” because of its fierce hunting skills and bold personality

They flip the script — literally!

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

Their shape and style are closer to forest thrushes—just way more comfortable around people

It’s the classic white-headed, grey-backed “seagull” of postcards and cartoons

Capable of living surprisingly long lives in some of the harshest, stormiest environments on Earth

Once you’ve heard them laugh, it’s hard to forget!

Believed to use Earth’s magnetic field to help them navigate vast ocean distances

These birds ride ocean breezes for miles without flapping much at all

Often described as the “compact” version of the plover family

People believed it had disappeared for centuries, but then it was found again

Even though it’s an ocean bird, it raises its chick in hidden burrows high on Hispaniola

The smallest of falcons in the entirety of America, but you would be mistaken to take this bird lightly

With its keen eyesight, or darting through the trees in pursuit of prey, it embodies the precision and power of nature’s predators

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

One of the most dazzling waterbirds of the Americas, often described as a “swamp jewel”

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

A common sight in coastal regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere

While they are famous for stealing fries, they have a very ancient, natural hunting technique called “foot-paddling”

Unlike many birds, their chicks can swim and dive just hours after hatching

The magnificent national bird of the United States, distinguished by a snowy white head, neck, and tail

Can hang upside down while feeding!

The state bird of seven U.S. states—more than any other bird

Can walk across soft, sinking mud and floating mats of vegetation without sinking

The smallest of the eight pelican species

Has evolved a forehead with uniquely stiff, hair-like feathers

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

Sometimes mistaken for the North American ring-necked duck — but the tuft gives them away immediately

Only males possess a unique, inflatable, balloon-like nose that they can inflate into a large red shape

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

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

Popular food fish, prized for its mild flavor and firm texture

This bird is a real chatterbox, constantly announcing its presence with its loud, three-part call – “kis-ka-dee!”

A champion swimmer and a social butterfly of the warm seas

They bob their heads up and down as they fly, which is actually how they earned the nickname “Noddy”

Known for their acrobatic leaps, twisting and turning gracefully as they jump completely out of the water

Famous for its habit of standing on one leg

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

Often seen sleeping on frozen lakes with their heads tucked under their wings

Known for their elaborate courtship dances, which involve leaping, bowing and trumpeting

Adaptable raptor known for its hovering hunting technique and striking appearance