A common sight in coastal regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere

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

Can hang upside down while feeding!

They’re kind of like big, furry rats but with a different shape

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

One of the biggest owls in the world, but don’t let its size fool you – it’s actually quite light!

You might mistake it for a big squirrel, but it’s smaller and has a more delicate appearance

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

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

A tiny bird, one of the smallest in fact!

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

In Iceland, its arrival is eagerly awaited as it signifies the end of the harsh winter

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

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

Known to be fiercely protective of their nesting sites and will aggressively defend their territory from intruders, including humans

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

Quite noisy creatures which is a common sight in wetland areas

Male undergo a striking transformation during a short breeding window, displaying a vibrant blue color

Instead of hopping like other toads, they have a funny little walk, almost like they’re running!

Can produce a peculiar garlic-like smell when threatened, which acts as another line of defense to deter predators

Known for its bright red belly, a bold warning to predators, combined with its distinctive “whoop” call

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

Can live for several decades under the right conditions, but grow slowly and only reach maturity after several years

Their webbed feet act like tiny paddles, propelling them through the water with surprising speed and agility

Imagine a mammal that blends the features of a mole with a rat, but with a surprisingly luxurious tail!

When threatened, they roll into a tight, spiky ball, tucking in their face, feet, and belly

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

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

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

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

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

One of the most common reptile of the European wetlands

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

They have the ability to regenerate lost limbs and other body parts, a superpower in the animal kingdom!

As one of the largest deer species, the red deer holds a prominent place in the cultural and natural history of many European, Asian, and North African regions. They are robust and large, with males (stags) significantly larger than females (hinds). One of the most distinctive features of the red deer is its antlers, which […]

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

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

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

These owls have specialized feathers that make their flight nearly silent

Their keen vision enables them to scan vast landscapes, identifying small movements or potential prey items even from high altitudes

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

A warty amphibian with golden eyes

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

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

The songbird that occasionally eats bats

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

The flocks of this social and gregarious bird are fond of migration, flying over the horizon and creating a V-shaped formation

The most numerous wild bird species in the world

Most common of the Galliformes in the wild habituating subarctic Tundra can tolerate brutally cold winters

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

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

Loves trees! Only member of its family breeding in Europe

The stork with the widest geographic range

The folktale bird that brings the babies!

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

The masters of catching oysters, clams, and cockles

One of the bigger waders with a reptilian eye

Jack Sparrow of the bird kingdom

The penguins that can fly

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

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

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

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

A magnificent migratory bird with long, broad wings and a short tail that sings in the form of musical whistles

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

‘Raccoon’ comes from ‘arakun’ meaning ‘he scratches with hands’ in Algonquin Indian

One of the only predators of hedgehogs, thanks to their thick skin and long claws to get past the vicious spines

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