Known to “ride out” massive tropical storms by flying into the calm eye of the hurricane

Remains as one of the most resilient residents of the tropics

Has one of the longest nonstop flights ever recorded for any bird

Biggest “sandpiper” on the planet

Before their 3,000-mile flight, they become “hyperphagic,” eating until fat makes up nearly half of their body weight

One of the few bats known as possible “spider experts”

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

When you touch it (not that you should!), it feels like coarse sandpaper

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

Nocturnal crab-cracker, master of camouflage, and solitary guardian of the beach

Often mistaken for an earthworm

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

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

They flip the script — literally!

Sometimes seen snatching food in mid-air or stealing prey from other birds — a behavior known as kleptoparasitism

Can produce a rich oil that’s perfect for feeding chicks on long trips (high energy, easy to carry)

Known for their fast, direct flight, unlike the slow gliding of larger seabirds

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

Its face really does look like a small dog or fox with big dark eyes and pointy ears

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

Popular food fish, prized for its mild flavor and firm texture

Often called “Fairy Terns” or “Angel Terns” Because of their pure white plumage and graceful flight

A champion swimmer and a social butterfly of the warm seas

A poor flyer, spending most of its time on the forest floor

They bob their heads up and down as they fly, which is actually how they earned the nickname “Noddy”

Known for their acrobatic leaps, twisting and turning gracefully as they jump completely out of the water

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

Gentle giants of the sea, with mouths wide open to filter the ocean’s bounty

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

The most ice-associated baleen whale, often found right at the frozen frontier where krill thrives

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

The most cosmopolitan of owls with home ranges extending across the globe

Goofy-looking yet evolutionarily refined for life above the waves

This species is found in all world oceans except the north Pacific Ocean

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

The most widely dispersed wild bird

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

The yellow eye-ring cuckoo of Australia

This bird is incredibly light, weighing only about as much as a cup of yogurt

These birds come in two distinct looks—a “light morph” and a “dark morph”

In the winter, they lose those iconic “spoon” tail feathers, making them much harder to identify

This bird holds the record of the longest distance flown by any bird in recorded history

The most elegant of all godwit species

This invasive species is the ancestor to most of the modern ducks

One of the UK’s rarest breeding seabird

Largest hard-shelled sea turtle on earth

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