Sitting still, it can look like a scruffy brown bird; in flight it flashes bright white wings and suddenly looks totally different

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

Has one of the longest nonstop flights ever recorded for any bird

Has the longest bill of any wading bird

Looks hedgehog-ish, but it’s not related

The “cheetahs” of the deep ocean

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

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

When frightened, it might play dead in one of the most convincing “acting jobs” in the animal kingdom

A parrot that breaks nearly every rule we expect from its colorful, chatty relatives

Has one of the most striking appearances of any African bat

A sleek, fast-flying raptor that has mastered the art of hunting bats in midair

No two civets look exactly alike—like a fingerprint in fur

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

Often mistaken for an earthworm

They love mud baths, wallowing not only to cool off but also to protect their skin from parasites

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

One of the lesser-known members of the dolphin family, despite its dramatic name

Their skin actually darkens, just like a sunburn!

Known for their vibrant colors, which can change rapidly in response to their environment, mood, or social interactions

A live emoji — can frown, yawn, and grimace!

They flip the script — literally!

The only long-distance migratory dove in Europe

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

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

African darters or ‘snakebirds’ are expert underwater fishermen equipped with stealth, diving skills, and a spear-like bill

Loves trees! Only member of its family breeding in Europe

A common sight in coastal regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere

Loud birds with a distinct three-note whistling sound

They’re gloriously messy when they eat: Juice drips, pulp falls, seeds drop—precisely what the forest needs to keep regenerating

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

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

Sometimes it looks like a shadow, not a bird

The biggest of all the hammerhead sharks, with a massive head that looks like a giant, flat hammer

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

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

Holds cultural symbolism in some societies, representing good luck

Graceful and stealthy, these reef dwellers navigate the coral maze with finesse, showcasing their iconic black-tipped fins

Opportunistic predators of the open ocean, their aggressive and persistent feeding behaviour strikes fear into the hearts of their prey

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

One of the largest and strongest sea turtles in the world

Its slender frame and narrow head bear a beak curved like a hawk’s, earning this marine marvel its name

The most ice-associated baleen whale, often found right at the frozen frontier where krill thrives

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

These birds spend weeks in the air and hunt, preen and even sleep while in flight

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

Goofy-looking yet evolutionarily refined for life above the waves

This species is found in all world oceans except the north Pacific Ocean

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

This bird holds a Guinness book of world records to its name

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

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

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

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

The most widely dispersed wild bird

The Cuckoo Roller is seen as a good omen – particularly by couples in love!

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

Native to Africa, it is the best-known bird of its family, broadly introduced as domesticated species

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

This bird has learned how to use a spear and made it an extension of itself

This bird holds the record of the longest distance flown by any bird in recorded history

The most elegant of all godwit species

Famous for chasing other seabirds until they drop or cough up their food

These enthusiastic travelers can be seen almost worldwide in different seasons

Once nearly wiped out, it now thrives in great numbers

The mysterious diver of the ocean is the largest and only sea turtle without a hard shell and scales

Largest hard-shelled sea turtle on earth