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

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

One of the only tool-using shorebirds

Has the longest bill of any wading bird

It loves caves, lava tubes and rock cracks

For years it was lumped into “lesser sand plover”

The “cheetahs” of the deep ocean

Black feathers, white cap, sleek shape — it’s the tuxedo of the bird world

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

Its thin, translucent skin gives it a ghostly appearance under bright light

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

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

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

The third most widespread rat on Earth, after the brown rat and black rat

Goofy-looking yet evolutionarily refined for life above the waves

They flip the script — literally!

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

Their dark brown fur helps them blend perfectly with the forest, making them hard to spot in the wild

Grooming is serious business — they comb their fur with their claws and teeth, maintaining that sleek, glossy coat

Renowned for their spectacular aerial displays during courtship, including steep dives and intricate flight patterns

Can dive down to the bottom of a lake and rest there, safe from predators!

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

Really good at climbing trees and fences because their feet have special sticky pads that help them stick to almost anything!

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”

Aside from fruits, they are known to feed on nectar and pollen of various flowering plants

The “living tractors of the East”—vital in traditional agriculture, particularly in Asia

These frogs don’t “croak”—their call sounds more like a dog’s bark!

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

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

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

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

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

As it grows older, it undergoes a metamorphosis that is nothing short of extraordinary

With a robust body adorned in iridescent hues of emerald and turquoise, it is an underwater jewel that dazzles the eye

Possessed with special visual adaptations to catch fish

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

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

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

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

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

The smallest of all Galliformes lives on the ground, camouflaged from predators

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

Elegant long-legged wader, common almost worldwide

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

The most elegant of all godwit species

These hardy birds are capable of flying at dizzying heights, where even helicopters can’t fly

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

Have been recorded at altitudes over 16,000 feet during migration—almost as high as small airplanes!

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

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

When a big one meets a smaller one, it’s lunch!