Despite the name, it’s a beaked whale—not the famous bottlenose dolphin

Each whisker is packed with nerves, so they can “feel” food hidden in mud without seeing it

Travels with nature’s GPS: a magnetic compass and a nose that never forgets home

Researchers once mistook their eerie underwater noises for a submarine!

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

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

They flip the script — literally!

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

Famous for stealing chips, sandwiches, and even ice cream right out of people’s hands

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

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

Despite often being called an Artic Rabbit, it is a species of hare, not a rabbit

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

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

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

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

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!

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”

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

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

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

The males, in particular, produce a rich and intricate song that contributes to their charm

Holds cultural symbolism in some societies, representing good luck

Adaptable raptor known for its hovering hunting technique and striking appearance

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!

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

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

These petrels stylishly ride the ocean waves like they own the winds

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

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

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

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

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

Jack Sparrow of the bird kingdom

The penguins that can fly

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

This bird can give any cross-country runner a run for their money

The most elegant of all godwit species

This invasive species is the ancestor to most of the modern ducks

Extinct and reintroduced – What’s the story behind these so-called ‘flying barn doors’?

One of only six land-birds with a cosmopolitan distribution habituating all continents except Antarctica

Named after the black, curved marking on their backs that resembles a harp!

Slows the heartbeat from 80 bpm to 3-4 bpm before a deep dive; quickly accelerates after surfacing

Tusked marine mammals heralding climate emergency!

Their large ivory tusk which is a protruding canine tooth of the male makes them The ‘unicorns of the sea’

They hold the title of heaviest animals, weighing about 100,000 kg

Believed to be only seen by scientists for 50 hours in the last 50 years

Males drop their antlers before Christmas, but females keep their antlers until spring