If it fluffs its bushy tail, it can look twice as big for a moment—an instant “I’m bigger than I look” bluff

Its sandy colors can make it nearly vanish against rocks, dry grass, and sand

It’s a runner before it’s a flyer

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

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

Almost went extinct… then boomed… then dipped again

Has the longest bill of any wading bird

On busy lakes, they often feed more at night, quietly cruising around to forage while everything else has calmed down

It’s technically a duck, but it’s big, upright, and long-legged enough that it often looks like a small goose

We can rotate our pinnae by 80 degrees!

Often stop to feed in freshly plowed fields, taking advantage of insects disturbed by farming machinery

Its boom has been compared to blowing across the top of a giant bottle — a sound low enough to feel in your chest on still mornings

More active on overcast or slightly rainy days, when amphibians are abundant and easier to catch

Frequently hunts from a low perch, dropping quietly on prey rather than making long chases

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

Increasingly seen breeding at inland fishponds, reservoirs, and reclaimed wetlands, not just coastal areas

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

Often called the “ghost snake” of the Middle East because of how elusive it is

Among the rarer snakes that regularly include other snakes in their diet

When startled, it spreads its neck and lifts its head just like a cobra, complete with a fierce hiss

It’s actually moustached, not bearded!

Often basking even when desert rocks are too hot to touch

Rarely drinks directly from water sources, relying entirely on plant moisture

One of the few cormorants adapted strictly to marine life, rarely venturing inland except during severe storms

Extremely heat-tolerant, able to remain active in temperatures that would kill many other reptiles

One of the few vipers in the Middle East that has “false horns”, made up of multiple small scales instead of a single large one

One of the few venomous snakes that regularly preys on other snakes, even those with potent venom

Its tail can make up over 70% of its total body length, one of the longest tail-to-body ratios among African lizards

Can bury itself in seconds to escape predators or extreme heat, using a “swimming” motion through the sand

Its scientific name, mutabilis, means “changeable,” a nod to its ability to shift coloration

Absolute sun lovers, spending hours basking on exposed rocks to maintain their body temperature

Even though it’s often called “blind,” it can sense light and vibrations

Possess excellent homing instincts—if displaced, they can navigate back to their home crevice even in the dark

The only mammal known to regrow skin, hair, and cartilage without scarring after injury

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

A tiny desert survivor, with a rodent-like tail

Has the largest wingspan of any pelican species, and among the very largest of any living bird

Spend most of the year out on the open ocean, far from land, only returning to cliffs to breed

Remarkably athletic jumpers, able to leap nearly 2 meters (6 feet) straight up when startled

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

Observed using sticks as tools to extract insects from crevices—something once thought to be exclusive to primates

Known for their intelligence—can use tools, solve problems, and even recognize human faces

Despite its small frame, this eagle can take prey almost as large as itself

Local birdwatchers sometimes call it the “silver ghost of the grasslands”

Its name comes from its habit of preying on free-ranging domestic hens in medieval Europe—though such encounters are rare today

One of the most charming doves you’re likely to encounter

Often mistaken for an earthworm

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

May look like villains, but in truth, they’re peaceful giants of the sea

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

Surprisingly dainty, weighing less than a can of soda

Their “fat” name is more about their body shape than their actual health in the wild

Has a “magical” ability to vanish with a leap

One of the most widespread and adaptable amphibians across sub-Saharan Africa

One of the smallest wild geese in the Northern Hemisphere, only a bit bigger than a mallard

Once found flying 11,300 meters (37,100 ft) high, sadly, this was more of an accident than a discovery

Turning waste into new life for the soil

Can squeeze through shockingly small gaps if their head fits

Newborns are fully developed and capable of running and jumping within a day after their birth

Their skin actually darkens, just like a sunburn!

Despite its short stature, it’s a strong and fast flier

A reptile that can mimic the hues of nature and capture its feast with a tongue that’s like a thunder

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

In ancient Egypt, they were associated with the god Thoth

They don’t live alone—colonies can have multiple burrows connected like a mini rodent village

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

The pharaoh’s bodyguard

One of the more subtly beautiful members of the hornbill family

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

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

Instead of a bony shell, it has a flat, leathery covering that helps it glide smoothly through the water

The mosaic-shelled marvel of the Mediterranean

Named after the long, curved shape of its horns — which resemble a scimitar sword

One of its favorite snacks? Beetles and other crunchy bugs!

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

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

Has large eyes that could cover a field of 360o to survey their surroundings before they take a nap

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

When running, they employ a playful and energetic bounding leap, which is aptly referred to as “pronking” or “stotting”

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

A fully aquatic frog that spends its entire life in water, rarely coming to the surface

A desert icon, stands tall, thriving in the sand – truly born to be wild in their extreme habitat

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!

A common sight in coastal regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere