A common sight in coastal regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere

Can withstand harsh winter conditions, often remaining at sea even when the water is frozen

Often mistaken for its venomous cousin, the cottonmouth

One of the smallest species of rattlesnakes in North America, hence the name “midget”

A big, furry animal that looks like a mix of a cow and a sheep, living in one of the coldest places on Earth

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

Can tolerate colder temperatures better than many other amphibian species

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

They’re kind of like big, furry rats but with a different shape

Got a long tail, a big head, and a curved bill with little grooves on it – that’s where its name comes from

Even though they might look scary, they’re actually harmless to people and often attempt to flee rather than fight

Don’t let their name fool you; they actually prefer to eat mussels and limpets rather than oysters!

Unlike other woodpeckers, this bird loves to catch bugs in the air, not just from trees

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!

One of the rarest birds in the world with feathers that change color depending on the season

It’s a bit like a chicken, but with longer, pointed tail feathers

One of the biggest owls in the world, but don’t let its size fool you – it’s actually quite light!

Love to eat sagebrush, which gives their feathers a unique smell that helps them stay safe from predators

Often seen engaging in antics that include hopping sideways and backwards, a behavior known as the “ferret dance”

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

Unlike rabbits, they don’t live in burrows, instead, they make shallow nests in the grass called forms

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

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

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

A small, green friend you might find hopping around in gardens, forests, or even your backyard

Unlike the smooth shells of most turtles, its carapace is ridged and gnarled, resembling a piece of ancient armor

Think of camels, but minus the hump!

They don’t build their own nests – they cleverly take over burrows abandoned by prairie dogs, ground squirrels, or even tortoises!

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

The smallest of the eight pelican species

Often seen riding the bow waves of boats or performing acrobatic leaps out of the water

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

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

Can detach their tails when threatened by predators

Known for their excellent memory, allowing them to relocate hundreds of food caches even months after hiding them

Introduced to many regions where it is now considered an invasive species

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

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

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

Holds cultural symbolism in some societies, representing good luck

Adaptable raptor known for its hovering hunting technique and striking appearance

Speed and power embodied, they rule the seas with their sleek bodies and jaw-dropping leaping prowess

Majestic giants of the sea, they peacefully glide through the ocean with mouths agape, filtering the waters for sustenance

Gentle giants of the sea, with mouths wide open to filter the ocean’s bounty

Majestic ocean predators, embodying power, speed, and precision in their pursuit of prey

Meet the smallest and rarest sea turtle in the world

The smallest of the giants: the largest European mammal during the last ice age, yet smaller than their earlier ancestors

Facing the consequences of global warming, they quickly lose their habitat and are pushed northward with the receding cold

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

Also called the red lynx, it is the most common wild cat in North America

Swift by name, swift by nature – this little fox is a real speedster!

A powerful hunter with adaptations like no other, navigating the snowy terrain of North America’s forests

Hunted almost to extinction, they were the first species to be reintroduced to nature

The iconic species of the North American mountains

Their horns come in handy during mating season and as a line of defense against wolves and bears

Living life on top of the world, but his kingdom is ever-narrowing

America’s smallest and most widely distributed bear, endemic to North America

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

To be or not to beaver? Beavers are armed with transparent eyelids that act as goggles to see underwater

Their neck vertebrae have a hinge mechanism that allows it to dart its long neck and pierce its prey quickly

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

Uses a hunting technique known as the Weasel War Dance that involves a series of frenetic turns, manic twists, and jumps to confuse the prey

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

An impressively acrobatic bird that can catch flying fish mid-jump

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

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

Impressive flights but clumsy walking on the ground are observed in these birds due to awkward legs

They dance along with their gorgeous red tails to attract partners in a faithful courtship

These ocean wanderers can be spotted from a distance showing awe-inspiring aerial tricks

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

The most widely dispersed wild bird

The scarlet ambush hunter

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

The tallest bird of North America- saved from the brink of extinction, with less than 20 left in the ’40s

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

They don’t need salt, bamboo sticks, or forks to deshell a snail – they have a well-adapted bill to do the job

The dramatic head plume sticks straight when alert or agitated (it’s not a wifi router, guys)

Most common of the Galliformes in the wild habituating subarctic Tundra can tolerate brutally cold winters

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

Heaviest member of the order Galliformes, agile and fast fliers with good eyesight during day and poor vision at night

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

The third largest grouse in North America is known for their shortest bird migration and resides permanently in an area they hatch

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

Largest of falcons: can grow up to 60cm (2 ft) in height

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

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

Elegant long-legged wader, common almost worldwide

Jack Sparrow of the bird kingdom

The penguins that can fly

One of the most abundant birds in the world, which can eat up to 90% of its body weight in a day

Last of these beautifully glossy, black and white birds were hunted in 1844 off the coast of Iceland

This incredible bird can hold up to 30 fish in its beak at once

Try as you might, you will never find a hairstyle better than this bird’s