These owls have specialized feathers that make their flight nearly silent

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

Timid by nature, often flying off at the slightest sign of danger

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

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

Their favorite snack? Large insects like locusts and dragonflies

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

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

Loves trees! Only member of its family breeding in Europe

It is one of the most widespread and familiar amphibians in Europe

Brilliant mimics, they can copy bird calls and even human-made sounds like car alarms and ringing phones!

Sometimes called the “squirrels of the weasel family” due to their impressive arboreal abilities

At the first sign of danger, it will quickly dive into the water and hide

A bird that can change its color to match its surroundings!

Can hang upside down while feeding!

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

Swift, enjoys harsh weather, adores the mountains, and is toxic to its predators

Unlike rabbits, they don’t live in burrows, instead, they make shallow nests in the grass called forms

A tiny bird, one of the smallest in fact!

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

Has the ability to survive in varying water salinity levels, which is unusual for freshwater amphibians

Can regrow lost limbs, tails, and even parts of their heart and eyes

What makes them really interesting is their skin – it’s covered in lots of little bumpy scales, like tiny pearls

Symbol of environmental health as they are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, particularly pollution levels

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

Can switch from winter white to summer grey – truly a nature’s savvy survivors!

Often lives close to humans and is sometimes seen as a pest

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

A warty amphibian with golden eyes

Can walk along the riverbed using its wings to stabilize itself against the current

One of the most hunted, widespread, ancient, and well-known game birds

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

The furry flat-tailed mammal that builds its own aquatic empire

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

Possessed with special visual adaptations to catch fish

Fiercely territorial, marking their territory with scent to communicate with other otters

They are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for up to 30 seconds underwater

A tiny creature that dwells below the surface in a complex system of tunnels and burrows

Habitat destruction & overhunting led to extinction in the wild, now gradually being reintroduced

The second largest bear, right after the polar bear. Sadly, it well might top the list soon

These elegant acrobats perform a perfectly timed and skilled somersault as they approach their chosen resting site

The smallest carnivorous predator in the world and so have limited fat stores and need to eat more than 50% of the body weight

A small, fierce predator known for its agility, hunting skills, and color-changing fur

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

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

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

Its neck is insanely long and super flexible, giving it a slinky, snake-like appearance when it hunts

The songbird that occasionally eats bats

The master aerial diver and swooper

The most widely dispersed wild bird

One of the best avian vocal mimics

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 bigger waders with a reptilian eye

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

The most elegant of all godwit species

These enthusiastic travelers can be seen almost worldwide in different seasons

Dependable wings and a muscular build. Nope, we aren’t talking about the next Redbull ad campaign

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

This majestic brown raptor is most widely distributed eagle species

The yellow-eyed devil

Better call the ambulance before the Sparrowhawk comes to devour all those who are injured

They eat just about everything — rabbits, rodents, birds, carrion, earthworms, insects… even beetles get a look-in

The only living creature that feeds on bone marrow from carcasses in high and inaccessible mountain areas

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

Also known as the “musk shrew” due to the strong scent they secrete to mark their territories

Once widespread throughout most of Europe, by now extinct in most of Western and Central Europe

They have an elongated and elastic snout that can be used to dig out roots and bulbs