Doesn’t care about rodents or birds — it’s all about the fish, frogs, and aquatic snacks

Despite its short stature, it’s a strong and fast flier

Got a long, floppy crest of black feathers sticking up from the back of its head like a windblown mohawk

Carrion? Nah, I prefer coconuts

Not your backyard nut hoarder

And they live up to the name — these little antelopes are known for diving headfirst into thickets when spooked

Despite being brightly colored, they’re hard to spot — they sit quietly in treetops, perfectly camouflaged among leaves

Has double-jointed ankles that let it bend its legs backward, forward, and sideways

Its tongue can shoot out up to twice its body length in a fraction of a second

They’re always close to the reeds, but just bold enough to be seen

One of Africa’s largest and most powerful birds of prey—a true apex predator of the skies

Males sport a big, bumpy black “knob” on top of their bill — like a bird-sized bike helmet

Camouflage game: legendary

They flip the script — literally!

Natural-born climber, capable of leaping with incredible agility across steep cliffs and boulder-strewn slopes

Its call—a soft, sweet “chee-chee” or chattering trill—can often be heard before the bird itself is seen

Mildly venomous and completely harmless to humans

Can take on a cobra with nothing but speed and confidence

Not aggressive — but expressive!

The fun-sized falcon of the forest, but with all the attitude of a full-grown eagle

They are, without a doubt, some of the smartest and most entertaining birds out there!

Famous for its beautiful, patterned shell that resembles the spotted coat of a leopard

Its big casque works like a built-in speaker, boosting their calls to echo powerfully across dense forests

One of the more subtly beautiful members of the hornbill family

Have sharp eyesight and are known to mob snakes they spot near their nests

A tiny bird with a voice, and style, far bigger than its size

Africa’s largest and most powerful kingfisher

Natural alarm clocks in African cities — whether you want them or not!

Despite the name, it rarely goes fishing!

One of Africa’s most majestic and powerful antelopes, known for its robust build and horse-like stature

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

The treasured bird of Saladin, the first Sultan of Egypt

Often considered as the smartest of all parrots

Often called the “leopard of the sky”

One of the few birds that feeds partly on blood—not in a harmful way

Females hide their young and eat the feces after nursing them, so no trail of their scents remains to entice predators

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

Sometimes called the “dry country plover” because of its preference for inland habitats, unlike its more coastal relatives

Surprisingly photogenic, especially when the sun catches their reddish crown just right

Their wide, gaping mouths might look a little odd, but they’re perfect for scooping up moths and beetles mid-flight

Chicks are skilled swimmers and divers, able to paddle through the water just hours after hatching

Their favorite snack? Large insects like locusts and dragonflies

African darters or ‘snakebirds’ are expert underwater fishermen equipped with stealth, diving skills, and a spear-like bill

Most endangered giraffe species is witnessing silent extinction

Loves trees! Only member of its family breeding in Europe

Its sheer size and presence make it a dominant predator wherever it is found

Kills by constriction, ambushing and coiling around its prey, and tightening its coils every time the victim breathes out

A common sight in coastal regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere

Unlike the black mamba, the deadliest snake in Africa, it is less aggressive and more likely to retreat when threatened

Has the incredible ability to swallow eggs that are much larger than its own head

Loud birds with a distinct three-note whistling sound

One of the easiest birds of prey to identify from a distance

Spend most of their time lurking in the thick reeds and grasses, only venturing out when they absolutely have to

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

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

Mostly pale grey or white, but when the light hits just right, you’ll see a rosy-pink blush across their back and wings

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

Have been observed remembering the locations of their impaled prey and even using tools to help them catch food

A bird as big as a crow but with feathers that shimmer an unbelievable shade of blue

Covered in tough, overlapping scales made of keratin — the same material human fingernails are made from

Once found flying 11,300 meters (37,100 ft) high, sadly, this was more of an accident than a discovery

Known to nest surprisingly close to crocodiles!

It holds significant cultural and spiritual importance in African cultures, often associated with wisdom, longevity, and good fortune

Often seen as a symbol of strength, freedom, and keen vision in many African communities

With its striking appearance and distinctive call, it is often referred to as the “voice of Africa”

Itd name means “tree snake” in Afrikaans and Dutch, a fitting description of its arboreal lifestyle

Notoriously grumpy, always putting on a dramatic hissy fit when approached

Their horizontal pupils give them a permanently surprised expression

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

They were commonly depicted in art from ancient Egypt

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

Holds cultural symbolism in some societies, representing good luck

Adaptable raptor known for its hovering hunting technique and striking appearance

Their migratory behavior is often linked to the availability of insects for food

An unrushed flyboy from Africa

Can deliver a painful bite, tail lashes, and fierce scratches — definitely a reptile to respect!

Their highly acidic stomachs and powerful enzymes help break down and neutralize harmful bacteria and toxins present in the carcasses they feed on

They are known to scavenge at rubbish dumps and around slaughterhouses, helping to dispose of animal byproducts and reducing potential health risks

Racing to extinction: historically ranging throughout Africa to India, now distributed in small, fragmented populations

Size matters! The largest of the three elephant species and the largest extant terrestrial creature on our planet

With 3 out of 8 subspecies have been declared extinct, illegal poaching puts these hooked upper lip rhinos in danger

85% successful kills! Yet irreversibly waning, it is among the most endangered canids in Africa

Much larger than any other ape, it is the rarest of two gorillas species

Disappearing graceful shadows, this tree-climber is on the way to extinction

Often called ‘whispering’ bats because their echolocation used to access the area and prey location are low intensity and not strong

They hold their food tightly and closely to their bodies while feeding, preventing the food from being stolen by other bats

They don’t shoot quills—they let predators do the hard work by detaching them on contact!

1.6 ton (1.5 tonne) + 48 km/h (30 mph) = what do you think?

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

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 master hunter and the bane of the bees

This bird holds a Guinness book of world records to its name

The hammerheads of the bird kingdom

One of the most bizarre creatures you can ever lay your eyes upon