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

They flip the script — literally!

The only long-distance migratory dove in Europe

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

One of the few hedgehog species that doesn’t hibernate regularly

One of the fastest runners among hedgehogs

The mosaic-shelled marvel of the Mediterranean

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

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

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

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

Master of conserving energy; it will rest in the shade to avoid wasting energy and overheating

Can hang upside down while feeding!

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!

They might not look like much, but they have an incredible talent: singing!

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

Can be quite friendly and will often come close to humans, especially if they’re offered food

Underneath this colorful beak, there’s a hidden surprise – a built-in net for scooping up a delicious lunch!

The biggest bat you can find in Europe, with wings that can stretch out as wide as your arm!

Its imperial imagery and fierce demeanor have made it a symbol of power and nobility throughout history

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

Very active and noisy, with a loud, piercing call that sounds like “pee-wit”

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

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

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

Known for their acrobatic leaps, twisting and turning gracefully as they jump completely out of the water

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

Known for their graceful movements and the distinctive “S” shape of their neck

Their stiff, upright tail feathers aid them in swimming and diving

Known for their extremely long legs, which lift their bodies off the hot desert sand, helping to keep them cool

Despite its fearsome appearance, it is a shy and reclusive creature that would rather hide than confront a threat

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

Holds cultural symbolism in some societies, representing good luck

Adaptable raptor known for its hovering hunting technique and striking appearance

Their migratory behavior is often linked to the availability of insects for food

Recognizable by their distinctive and familiar call, resembling the noise of small pebbles colliding, creating a “tak tak” sound

With lightning-fast speed and a keen sense of smell, this predator easily captures prey in the desert

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

Known for their impressive stamina and can travel long distances in search of food and water

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

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

One of the largest and strongest sea turtles in the world

Stands out with its striking ocelli, or eye-like markings, that adorn its sleek body

A gecko with bands and spots, and toes that fan like knots

Resilient creature that can thrive in human-dominated environments

Known for its docile and non-aggressive nature

In the hidden depths of the Middle East, they emerge as a captivating underground marvel

A genetic mix of 72% grey wolf & 28% Ethiopian wolf was classified as an African variant of the golden jackal until 2015!

Smallest fox in the world, measuring almost 25 cm (10 in), but has enormous ears that can grow up to 15 cm (6 in)

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the world’s most widely distributed carnivore!

Can be easily identified by its larger ears, making it stand out from red and pale foxes

Possessed with special visual adaptations to catch fish

Meet the world’s smallest mammal but a fierce predator

Racing to extinction: historically ranging throughout Africa to India, now distributed in small, fragmented populations

Their population distribution is often associated with human settlements as they are comfortable in both agricultural and urban habitats

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!

This ‘mini kangaroo’ leaps up to 3 m (9.8 ft) in a single jump, thanks to its incredibly large hind legs

These ‘sloppy animals’ tend to have a strong and unpleasant odor due to accumulated wastes in roosts

Highly mobile bats that tend to roost in hundreds to thousands of whatever shelters they can find

Their muzzle has wrinkled lips, which makes them look like a dog’s face, and is commonly called a bulldog bat

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

Arabian ostrich, 1 of 4 subspecies, was hunted to extinction in mid-20th century

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

Aptly named after the goddesses of wisdom and war, little owls have lived alongside human civilizations since 500 BC

This bird looks like a modern mosaic art-piece

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

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

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

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

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

The most widely dispersed wild bird

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

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

The stork with the widest geographic range

The folktale bird that brings the babies!

One of the very few birds with an upturned bill

Elegant long-legged wader, common almost worldwide

One of the bigger waders with a reptilian eye

The janitors of the bird world