Skim so close to the water that they look like they’re slicing the air right above the waves

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

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

Almost went extinct… then boomed… then dipped again

Increasingly seen breeding at inland fishponds, reservoirs, and reclaimed wetlands, not just coastal areas

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

One of the rarer bat species in parts of Western Europe

So specialized in moth hunting that they have been called the “ghosts of the forest”

In winter, they’re plain grey and white, but in the Arctic summer, they turn into a glowing rusty red

Looks ordinary—but transforms into one of the most extravagant birds during breeding season

One of Europe’s oldest surviving deer species

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

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

With its triangular head, distinct from its neck, and vertical pupils, it’s easy to recognize

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

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

A warty amphibian with golden eyes

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

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

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

Meet the world’s smallest mammal but a fierce predator

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The most numerous wild bird species in the world

One of the earliest waterbirds to begin nesting in the Arctic spring, sometimes before ice fully melts

The penguins that can fly

This incredible bird can hold up to 30 fish in its beak at once

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

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

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