A common sight in coastal regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere

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

Can hang upside down while feeding!

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

Amazing flyers — they can even drink water while they’re flying!

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!

Its big ears help it hear bugs scuttling around in the sand, even when it’s dark

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

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

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

The smallest of all the crane species and is known for its elegance and grace

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

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

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!

The direct ancestor of the domestic cat—no wonder why they look so alike!

One of the most common reptile of the European wetlands

Their stiff, upright tail feathers aid them in swimming and diving

The treasured bird of Saladin, the first Sultan of Egypt

The “living tractors of the East”—vital in traditional agriculture, particularly in Asia

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

Not just a pond fish but a cultural icon, especially in Japan where they are most famously cultivated

One of the rarest and most critically endangered crane species in the world

A symbol of immortality and peace in many Asian cultures

Revered in many cultures for their beauty, grace, and symbolism of love and fidelity

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

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

Recognizable by their distinctive and familiar call, resembling the noise of small pebbles colliding, creating a “tak tak” sound

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

Nature’s masterpiece, with a snout that steals the spotlight

Remembering the ice age giant: exploring the world of the woolly rhinoceros, a prehistoric colossus that braved the frozen frontiers of the past

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

A sly, sandy-furred survivor of Central Asian grasslands, threatened by human activity but fiercely protected by conservationists

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

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

The vanishing big cat of the cold, rugged Himalaya mountains is being executed by the humans

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

Widely distributed in Europe and Asia and tolerant to habitat modification

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

There is more to this species than its majestic coat of thick white feathers and piercing yellow eyes

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

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

The songbird that occasionally eats bats

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

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

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

The national bird of Pakistan and Iraq is known to improve degraded ecosystems by aiding in the dispersal and germination of seeds

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

The stork with the widest geographic range

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

One of the very few birds with an upturned bill

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

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

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

A highly intelligent species that is the world’s only tool-using vulture with a long migratory range

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

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

Largest soaring vulture in the sky with extremely broad wings that assists an important role in nature as “clean-up” team

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

Unlike most vultures with bald heads, it has a unique feature – a ruff of white feathers around its neck

Most social vultures with 12 distinct types of vocalization

The species that survived extinction in the wild!

One of the prehistoric horses, it is the true forefather of today’s horses

Two out of six subspecies were hunted to extinction: the European & Syrian wild ass

A sneaky animal as the males will steal hay collected by other pikas in their territories!

‘Grumpiest cat on earth’ is well camouflaged, widespread, and adapted to cold climate

Delayed implantation enables them to time the birth for favorable conditions, such as when foods are abundant

Once wolverine was once observed defeating a polar bear

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