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Lesser black-backed gull
A common sight in coastal regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere
Black guillemot
Can withstand harsh winter conditions, often remaining at sea even when the water is frozen
Water deer
Unlike most deer, it lacks antlers
European pond turtle
At the first sign of danger, it will quickly dive into the water and hide
Rock ptarmigan
A bird that can change its color to match its surroundings!
European goldfinch
Can hang upside down while feeding!
Red-rumped swallow
Amazing flyers — they can even drink water while they’re flying!
Common pochard
Can dive down to the bottom of a lake and rest there, safe from predators!
Eurasian skylark
They might not look like much, but they have an incredible talent: singing!
European pied flycatcher
Males are particularly eye-catching with their black and white plumage, looking like they’re wearing a little tuxedo
European Robin
Can be quite friendly and will often come close to humans, especially if they’re offered food
Hooded seal
Only males possess a unique, inflatable, balloon-like nose that they can inflate into a large red shape
African clawed frog
It’s a frog, but it doesn’t look like the typical frogs we think of!
European hare
Unlike rabbits, they don’t live in burrows, instead, they make shallow nests in the grass called forms
Goldcrest
A tiny bird, one of the smallest in fact!
Whooper swan
Very loyal partners! Once they find a mate, they usually stay together for life
Redwing
In Iceland, its arrival is eagerly awaited as it signifies the end of the harsh winter
Barn swallow
Most common and widely distributed swallow globally
Northern lapwing
Very active and noisy, with a loud, piercing call that sounds like “pee-wit”
Common nightingale
Often called the “singer of the night,” it produces a complex and beautiful melody that has captivated people for centuries
Lesser grey shrike
Have been observed remembering the locations of their impaled prey and even using tools to help them catch food
Marsh frog
Quite noisy creatures which is a common sight in wetland areas
Natterjack toad
Instead of hopping like other toads, they have a funny little walk, almost like they’re running!
Yellow-bellied toad
Has the ability to survive in varying water salinity levels, which is unusual for freshwater amphibians
European fire-bellied toad
Known for its bright red belly, a bold warning to predators, combined with its distinctive “whoop” call
Northern crested newt
Can regrow lost limbs, tails, and even parts of their heart and eyes
Smooth snake
Can live for several decades under the right conditions, but grow slowly and only reach maturity after several years
Common wall lizard
What makes them really interesting is their skin – it’s covered in lots of little bumpy scales, like tiny pearls
Yellowfin tuna
Popular food fish, prized for its mild flavor and firm texture
Llama
Think of camels, but minus the hump!
Common bottlenose dolphin
Known for their acrobatic leaps, twisting and turning gracefully as they jump completely out of the water
Common dolphin
Often seen riding the bow waves of boats or performing acrobatic leaps out of the water
Mute swan
Known for their graceful movements and the distinctive “S” shape of their neck
Common blackbird
Arguably among the most beautiful songbirds in the world — they enjoy singing after a rain shower
Mountain hare
Can switch from winter white to summer grey – truly a nature’s savvy survivors!
European pine marten
Sometimes called the “squirrels of the weasel family” due to their impressive arboreal abilities
European rabbit
They spread faster than any other colonizing mammal in the world
Wood mouse
Often lives close to humans and is sometimes seen as a pest
Water buffalo
The “living tractors of the East”—vital in traditional agriculture, particularly in Asia
White-throated dipper
Can walk along the riverbed using its wings to stabilize itself against the current
Common frog
It is one of the most widespread and familiar amphibians in Europe
Smooth newt
They have the ability to regenerate lost limbs and other body parts, a superpower in the animal kingdom!
American bullfrog
Introduced to many regions where it is now considered an invasive species
Sandhill crane
Known for their elaborate courtship dances, which involve leaping, bowing and trumpeting
Golden pheasant
One of the most colorful and striking birds in the avian world
Mandarin duck
Revered in many cultures for their beauty, grace, and symbolism of love and fidelity
Little egret
During breeding, they transform with elegant white plumage, adorned by decorative plumes on the head, neck, and back
Egyptian goose
They were commonly depicted in art from ancient Egypt
Eurasian blackcap
The males, in particular, produce a rich and intricate song that contributes to their charm
Common redstart
They consistently display a restless demeanor and exhibit a distinctive, tail-trembling behavior
Gray heron
Exhibit powerful flight, with distinctive slow wing beats and an extended neck, defining features during their aerial movements
White wagtail
Holds cultural symbolism in some societies, representing good luck
Eurasian kestrel
Adaptable raptor known for its hovering hunting technique and striking appearance
Common chiffchaff
Their migratory behavior is often linked to the availability of insects for food
European stonechat
Recognizable by their distinctive and familiar call, resembling the noise of small pebbles colliding, creating a “tak tak” sound
Shortfin mako shark
Speed and power embodied, they rule the seas with their sleek bodies and jaw-dropping leaping prowess
Basking shark
Majestic giants of the sea, they peacefully glide through the ocean with mouths agape, filtering the waters for sustenance
Kemps ridley sea turtle
Meet the smallest and rarest sea turtle in the world
Eurasian beaver
The furry flat-tailed mammal that builds its own aquatic empire
Red fox
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the world’s most widely distributed carnivore!
Common kingfisher
Possessed with special visual adaptations to catch fish
Eurasian otter
Fiercely territorial, marking their territory with scent to communicate with other otters
European water vole
They are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for up to 30 seconds underwater
European mole
A tiny creature that dwells below the surface in a complex system of tunnels and burrows
Common toad
A warty amphibian with golden eyes
European bison
Habitat destruction & overhunting led to extinction in the wild, now gradually being reintroduced
Brown bear
The second largest bear, right after the polar bear. Sadly, it well might top the list soon
Greater horseshoe bat
These elegant acrobats perform a perfectly timed and skilled somersault as they approach their chosen resting site
Least weasel
The smallest carnivorous predator in the world and so have limited fat stores and need to eat more than 50% of the body weight
Stoat
A small, fierce predator known for its agility, hunting skills, and color-changing fur
Great cormorant
Due to their adaptability and willingness to migrate to more favorable habitats, great cormorants are found worldwide
Barn owl
The most cosmopolitan of owls with home ranges extending across the globe
Snowy owl
There is more to this species than its majestic coat of thick white feathers and piercing yellow eyes
Little owl
Aptly named after the goddesses of wisdom and war, little owls have lived alongside human civilizations since 500 BC
Rose-ringed parakeet
If you ever forget the tune of a song, don’t worry; this bird has your back
Wilsons storm petrel
This species is found in all world oceans except the north Pacific Ocean
Leachs storm petrel
These petrels stylishly ride the ocean waves like they own the winds
Manx shearwater
Impressive flights but clumsy walking on the ground are observed in these birds due to awkward legs
Little grebe
This cute and small bird is one of the most elite hunters below the water’s surface
Red-billed tropicbird
Professional marine forecasters to optimize breeding success and prey availability
Eurasian spoonbill
This bird is unmistakable for its namesake, spoon-shaped bill
Glossy ibis
These birds seem to have lost their way to the beauty pageant
Great tit
The songbird that occasionally eats bats
House sparrow
The most widely dispersed wild bird
Marsh warbler
One of the best avian vocal mimics
Eurasian coot
Like those bulging red eyes weren’t scary enough, they eat their innocent chicks when hungry
Common moorhen
Living around smelly brackish marshes is unthinkable, but these birds love their isolated habitat or don’t have a sense of smell
Common crane
The flocks of this social and gregarious bird are fond of migration, flying over the horizon and creating a V-shaped formation
Arctic loon
The most numerous wild bird species in the world
Willow ptarmigan
Most common of the Galliformes in the wild habituating subarctic Tundra can tolerate brutally cold winters
Common pheasant
One of the most hunted, widespread, ancient, and well-known game birds
American kestrel
The smallest of falcons in the entirety of America, but you would be mistaken to take this bird lightly
Gyrfalcon
Largest of falcons: can grow up to 60cm (2 ft) in height
Peregrine falcon
At the speed of over 321 km/h (200 mph), this bird outraces a Formula1 car
European roller
Loves trees! Only member of its family breeding in Europe
Black stork
The stork with the widest geographic range
White stork
The folktale bird that brings the babies!
Common ringed plover
This bird taps its feet to imitate rain to make the prey reach the surface
Eurasian oystercatcher
The masters of catching oysters, clams, and cockles
Pied avocet
One of the very few birds with an upturned bill
Black-winged stilt
Elegant long-legged wader, common almost worldwide
Eurasian stone-curlew
One of the bigger waders with a reptilian eye
Great skua
Jack Sparrow of the bird kingdom
Common murre
The penguins that can fly
Great auk
Last of these beautifully glossy, black and white birds were hunted in 1844 off the coast of Iceland
Atlantic puffin
This incredible bird can hold up to 30 fish in its beak at once
Arctic tern
This bird can give any cross-country runner a run for their money
Common tern
This bird holds the record of the longest distance flown by any bird in recorded history
Black-tailed godwit
The most elegant of all godwit species
Eurasian Hoopoe
Dependable wings and a muscular build. Nope, we aren’t talking about the next Redbull ad campaign
Mallard
This invasive species is the ancestor to most of the modern ducks
Egyptian vulture
A highly intelligent species that is the world’s only tool-using vulture with a long migratory range
White-tailed eagle
Extinct and reintroduced – What’s the story behind these so-called ‘flying barn doors’?
Golden eagle
This majestic brown raptor is most widely distributed eagle species
Western marsh harrier
The yellow-eyed devil
Eurasian sparrowhawk
Better call the ambulance before the Sparrowhawk comes to devour all those who are injured
Osprey
One of only six land-birds with a cosmopolitan distribution habituating all continents except Antarctica
Harp seal
Named after the black, curved marking on their backs that resembles a harp!
Harbor seal
Slows the heartbeat from 80 bpm to 3-4 bpm before a deep dive; quickly accelerates after surfacing
Walrus
Tusked marine mammals heralding climate emergency!
Narwhal
Their large ivory tusk which is a protruding canine tooth of the male makes them The ‘unicorns of the sea’
Beluga
Known as the “canaries of the sea,” due to their wide range of sounds
Gray whale
Once called ‘devil fish’ by whalers due to their fighting behavior when hunted
Bowhead whale
They hold the title of heaviest animals, weighing about 100,000 kg
North Atlantic right whale
Believed to be only seen by scientists for 50 hours in the last 50 years
European wildcat
The ancestors of domestic cats are widespread in Europe, western Asia, and Africa
Lesser white-toothed shrew
Also known as the “musk shrew” due to the strong scent they secrete to mark their territories
European hedgehog
The gardener’s best friend, as they will eat up insect pests crawling in the vegetable beds
European badger
One of the only predators of hedgehogs, thanks to their thick skin and long claws to get past the vicious spines
Wolf
The howl of each wolf is different
Leatherback sea turtle
The mysterious diver of the ocean is the largest and only sea turtle without a hard shell and scales
Slow worm
You might mistake them for snakes, but they are merely legless lizards
Viviparous lizard
One of the few reptiles that can not only lay eggs but also give birth to live young
European adder
A venomous snake native to Britain and found all across Europe