One second they’re there — blink — and it’s just tail dust

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

Often called the “tiger of the sky” because of its fierce hunting skills and bold personality

Have an awkwardly stiff gait, kind of like they’re walking in slow motion with exaggerated leg lifts

You might’ve already seen one in your backyard

They flip the script — literally!

If they feel cornered, they’ll stomp their feet, rattle their quills, and even release a funky smell as a warning

They have a serious “fat race”

Has such a tiny rattle that it often sounds more like a faint buzz than a warning shake

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

Crabs make up over 90% of their diet

This rare salamander is a true conservation standout

Best known for its distinctive call that sounds surprisingly like a dog’s bark

A small group of nest predators that contains venomous lizards

Famous snake-fighter — with strategy

While still venomous and dangerous if provoked, they are considered less aggressive than some of their rattlesnake cousins

In Iceland, its arrival is eagerly awaited as it signifies the end of the harsh winter

Although they’re fairly widespread, they are rarely seen

These creatures often ingest stones, aiding food digestion and buoyancy regulation in the water

Largest of the 32 currently recognized rattlesnake species native to the US

They are called cottonmouth for their fluffy white mouth insides that they show out when threatened

Look a bit like a cross between a beaver and a rat

One of the smallest species of rattlesnakes in North America, hence the name “midget”

Some subspecies are so rare they survive only in undeveloped spots like parks, airfields, or military bases

Surprisingly feisty — using their strong teeth to defend their burrows from intruders

Once you’ve heard them laugh, it’s hard to forget!

You see, its skin can be all sorts of colors, like pink, brown, gray, or even yellow!

Believed to use Earth’s magnetic field to help them navigate vast ocean distances

It’s Hawaiian name means “the dog that runs in the rough seas”

One of North America’s most formidable snakes, known for its long fangs and potent venom

Even from day one, they’re already scrambling up slopes alongside their mothers!

Equipped with extraordinary toe pads, it fearlessly defies gravity as it effortlessly scales the steep cliffs and rocky terrains

One of the tiniest and most fascinating turtles in North America

Freezes up and pretends to be a lifeless log, hoping to fool its enemy into thinking the coast is clear

Incredibly site-faithful, often sticking to the same small territory for years — sometimes just a few square meters!

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

The tallest bird of North America- saved from the brink of extinction, with less than 20 left in the ’40s

Trick question, is a black-tailed jackrabbit a rabbit or a hare? The answer is a hare!

With its smooth, glistening skin, it’s like a walking jewel glimmering in the moonlight

Their favorite snack? Large insects like locusts and dragonflies

The smallest of falcons in the entirety of America, but you would be mistaken to take this bird lightly

With its keen eyesight, or darting through the trees in pursuit of prey, it embodies the precision and power of nature’s predators

Renowned for their spectacular aerial displays during courtship, including steep dives and intricate flight patterns

Arguably among the most beautiful songbirds in the world — they enjoy singing after a rain shower

Native to Asia where they were first domesticated, the ancestors to all our chickens

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

Its long, serrated beak, often called a “sawbill,” is perfectly adapted for catching slippery prey like fish

It possesses the remarkable ability to enter a state of dormancy when confronted with danger or arid environments

The most intelligent of all sea lion species; trained for use by the United States Navy

Brilliant mimics, they can copy bird calls and even human-made sounds like car alarms and ringing phones!

A touch can be deadly, as their skin harbors enough tetrodotoxin to potentially kill an adult human

Got their name from their ability to quickly slide off logs or rocks into the water when they feel threatened

Easily recognized by their distinctive hourglass-shaped bands, which are often brown or reddish-brown

Often get mistaken for venomous copperheads due to their similar patterns, but fear not, they are harmless!

Named after their habit of hanging around barns, where cows were often kept

A powerful constrictor that can grow longer than a school bus!

Females can postpone embryo development up to 200 days, and the pregnancy only lasts about 28 days

A common sight in coastal regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere

Can withstand harsh winter conditions, often remaining at sea even when the water is frozen

Known for its distinctive curly tail, which it can shed to distract predators

Also known as “barking deer” because of their loud, barking alarm calls

Their distinctive “horns,” specialized teeth, and spiral-shaped eggs set them apart from other sharks

Its appearance is what really sets it apart—it looks like something straight out of a science fiction movie

One of the largest freshwater turtles in the United States

One of the largest beaks of any eagle, perfect for tearing apart tough fish and other prey

Often seen sunning themselves on fences, walls, and tree trunks

The magnificent national bird of the United States, distinguished by a snowy white head, neck, and tail

Often mistaken for its venomous cousin, the cottonmouth

A big, furry animal that looks like a mix of a cow and a sheep, living in one of the coldest places on Earth

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

A tiny bird with colors so bright, it looks like it was painted by an artist

Small, chubby bird with big, round eyes that make it look extra cute

They’re kind of like underwater couch potatoes; they just hang out on the bottom of the stream and wait for food to swim by

Can hang upside down while feeding!

The state bird of seven U.S. states—more than any other bird

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

The smallest of the eight pelican species

Often seen as a symbol of both curiosity and cleverness

Got a long tail, a big head, and a curved bill with little grooves on it – that’s where its name comes from

It’s got big, pointy horns sticking out, making it look like a tiny dragon. Don’t worry though, it’s completely harmless!

It puffs up its body by taking in lots of air to make itself look bigger and scarier to scare away enemies

Even though they might look scary, they’re actually harmless to people and often attempt to flee rather than fight

Don’t let their name fool you; they actually prefer to eat mussels and limpets rather than oysters!

Unlike other woodpeckers, this bird loves to catch bugs in the air, not just from trees

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!

One of the rarest birds in the world with feathers that change color depending on the season

It’s a bit like a chicken, but with longer, pointed tail feathers

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

Love to eat sagebrush, which gives their feathers a unique smell that helps them stay safe from predators

Often seen engaging in antics that include hopping sideways and backwards, a behavior known as the “ferret dance”

Only males possess a unique, inflatable, balloon-like nose that they can inflate into a large red shape

It’s a frog, but it doesn’t look like the typical frogs we think of!

Unlike rabbits, they don’t live in burrows, instead, they make shallow nests in the grass called forms

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