Doesn’t care about rodents or birds — it’s all about the fish, frogs, and aquatic snacks

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

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

Got a long, floppy crest of black feathers sticking up from the back of its head like a windblown mohawk

Carrion? Nah, I prefer coconuts

Not your backyard nut hoarder

Despite being brightly colored, they’re hard to spot — they sit quietly in treetops, perfectly camouflaged among leaves

Has double-jointed ankles that let it bend its legs backward, forward, and sideways

They’re always close to the reeds, but just bold enough to be seen

One of Africa’s largest and most powerful birds of prey—a true apex predator of the skies

Males sport a big, bumpy black “knob” on top of their bill — like a bird-sized bike helmet

Camouflage game: legendary

They flip the script — literally!

The only long-distance migratory dove in Europe

Its call—a soft, sweet “chee-chee” or chattering trill—can often be heard before the bird itself is seen

Mildly venomous and completely harmless to humans

Can take on a cobra with nothing but speed and confidence

Its big casque works like a built-in speaker, boosting their calls to echo powerfully across dense forests

One of the more subtly beautiful members of the hornbill family

Africa’s largest and most powerful kingfisher

Natural alarm clocks in African cities — whether you want them or not!

Known for its distinctive black-and-white coloring and its loud, flute-like calls—which is how it gets its name

Despite the name, it rarely goes fishing!

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

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

Often called the “leopard of the sky”

So rare and hard to find, that’s why they’re called “ghosts of the forest”

Females hide their young and eat the feces after nursing them, so no trail of their scents remains to entice predators

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

Sometimes called the “dry country plover” because of its preference for inland habitats, unlike its more coastal relatives

Chicks are skilled swimmers and divers, able to paddle through the water just hours after hatching

They have complex stomachs that allow them to digest mature or toxic foliage that other monkeys cannot

Their favorite snack? Large insects like locusts and dragonflies

Inhabiting humid forests in West Africa; they are the smallest of the three elephant species

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

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

Its sheer size and presence make it a dominant predator wherever it is found

A common sight in coastal regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere

Loud birds with a distinct three-note whistling sound

One of the easiest birds of prey to identify from a distance

Amazing flyers — they can even drink water while they’re flying!

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

A bat with a face that looks like it belongs on a comic superhero!

Males are particularly eye-catching with their black and white plumage, looking like they’re wearing a little tuxedo

Mostly pale grey or white, but when the light hits just right, you’ll see a rosy-pink blush across their back and wings

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

Often called the “singer of the night,” it produces a complex and beautiful melody that has captivated people for centuries

A bird as big as a crow but with feathers that shimmer an unbelievable shade of blue

Covered in tough, overlapping scales made of keratin — the same material human fingernails are made from

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

Known to nest surprisingly close to crocodiles!

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

Covered in thick golden fur with a touch of green, which is how they get their common name

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

Often seen as a symbol of strength, freedom, and keen vision in many African communities

With its striking appearance and distinctive call, it is often referred to as the “voice of Africa”

Itd name means “tree snake” in Afrikaans and Dutch, a fitting description of its arboreal lifestyle

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

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

They consistently display a restless demeanor and exhibit a distinctive, tail-trembling behavior

Adaptable raptor known for its hovering hunting technique and striking appearance

They eat almost anything that comes their way – you name it, they’ll try to snack on it!

Can deliver a painful bite, tail lashes, and fierce scratches — definitely a reptile to respect!

Their highly acidic stomachs and powerful enzymes help break down and neutralize harmful bacteria and toxins present in the carcasses they feed on

They are known to scavenge at rubbish dumps and around slaughterhouses, helping to dispose of animal byproducts and reducing potential health risks

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

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

Fearless and formidable, these aggressive predators command respect in the waters they roam

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

Disappearing graceful shadows, this tree-climber is on the way to extinction

Often called ‘whispering’ bats because their echolocation used to access the area and prey location are low intensity and not strong

They hold their food tightly and closely to their bodies while feeding, preventing the food from being stolen by other bats

They don’t shoot quills—they let predators do the hard work by detaching them on contact!

1.6 ton (1.5 tonne) + 48 km/h (30 mph) = what do you think?

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

These owls are strictly nocturnal and generalist hunters, preying on moths, scorpions, birds, rodents, and everything in between

If you ever forget the tune of a song, don’t worry; this bird has your back

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

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

The master hunter and the bane of the bees

Professional marine forecasters to optimize breeding success and prey availability

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

The hammerheads of the bird kingdom

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

This large heron is a firm believer in the adage: “Patience is the key to success”

Only the males have the flashy feathers — females are olive and yellow, much more modestly dressed

Not rare, just hard to spot