One of the ocean’s “mystery birds”

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

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

Has the longest bill of any wading bird

Often stop to feed in freshly plowed fields, taking advantage of insects disturbed by farming machinery

Its boom has been compared to blowing across the top of a giant bottle — a sound low enough to feel in your chest on still mornings

The “cheetahs” of the deep ocean

A heavyweight champ — elegant, yes, but you don’t want to mess with that beak

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 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

A bird that carries the rhythms of the seasons on its wings

Local birdwatchers sometimes call it the “silver ghost of the grasslands”

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

Their skin actually darkens, just like a sunburn!

They flip the script — literally!

The only long-distance migratory dove in Europe

Sometimes seen snatching food in mid-air or stealing prey from other birds — a behavior known as kleptoparasitism

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

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

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

A delightful bird with a calm and peaceful nature

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

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

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

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

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

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!

With its splendid plumage, it has earned its place as a jewel of the skies

A lizard with vibrant hues – a living canvas of green, brown, and sometimes even blue

Speed and power embodied, they rule the seas with their sleek bodies and jaw-dropping leaping prowess

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

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

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

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

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

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

Goofy-looking yet evolutionarily refined for life above the waves

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

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

Professional marine forecasters to optimize breeding success and prey availability

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

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

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

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

Rather than hovering constantly, they often glide and make short flutters to conserve energy in open landscapes

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 has learned how to use a spear and made it an extension of itself

The most elegant of all godwit species

Famous for chasing other seabirds until they drop or cough up their food

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

Smaller than most iPads, meet the tiniest duck in the world

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

The yellow-eyed devil

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

Largest hard-shelled sea turtle on earth