Even in places where it lives, sightings can be rare because it stays hidden in dense, shady woods

When alarmed, it often points its bill straight up and stays still so it looks like just another reed stalk

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

Its soft coos can blend into the background, so you might be close and never notice it’s there

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

One of the most heavily farmed turtles in Asia

Often mistaken for an earthworm

Its lungs are long and extend almost the entire length of its body

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

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 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

With a shell that tells the story of life on Earth from hundreds of millions of years ago

Despite their name,most of their diet makes up of fruits and seeds

You might’ve already seen one in your backyard

They flip the script — literally!

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

It’s the classic white-headed, grey-backed “seagull” of postcards and cartoons

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

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

These birds have been recorded to fly at 3000 meters (9850 ft)

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

Really good at climbing trees and fences because their feet have special sticky pads that help them stick to almost anything!

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

Considered one of the closest living relatives to the extinct dodo bird

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”

Instead of sitting on eggs, it uses warm sand or soil to do the job—nature’s version of an oven

Palau’s dazzling gem – a national treasure draped in sunshine and elegance

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

Holds cultural symbolism in some societies, representing good luck

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

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

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

Famous for its extremely loud, raucous screeches that echo across forests, suburbs, and city parks alike

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

Often hunts in large groups, working together to herd fish into shallow water

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

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

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

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

Largest of all living reptiles and the animal most likely to eat a human