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

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

Biggest “sandpiper” on the planet

One of the only tool-using shorebirds

Freeze is its favorite escape move

It loves caves, lava tubes and rock cracks

For years it was lumped into “lesser sand plover”

The “cheetahs” of the deep ocean

Black feathers, white cap, sleek shape — it’s the tuxedo of the bird world

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

The most widespread species of snakes on earth are found throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans and from Africa to Central America

Its thin, translucent skin gives it a ghostly appearance under bright light

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

Often mistaken for an earthworm

Famous for very long migrations between Arctic breeding grounds and coastal wintering areas

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

The third most widespread rat on Earth, after the brown rat and black rat

They flip the script — literally!

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

Spends up to 95% of its life at sea, only coming to land to breed

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

Their dark brown fur helps them blend perfectly with the forest, making them hard to spot in the wild

Known for their fast, direct flight, unlike the slow gliding of larger seabirds

Unlike most flying foxes that are mainly active at night, it is at least somewhat active during the day

Seeing one in the wild basically means you’re on a tiny Pacific tropical paradise

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

Native to Asia where they were first domesticated, the ancestors to all our chickens

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

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

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

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

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

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

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

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

Goofy-looking yet evolutionarily refined for life above the waves

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

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

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

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

Elegant long-legged wader, common almost worldwide

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

The most elegant of all godwit species

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

These hardy birds are capable of flying at dizzying heights, where even helicopters can’t fly

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

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

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

The mysterious diver of the ocean is the largest and only sea turtle without a hard shell and scales

Largest hard-shelled sea turtle on earth