Around the world, countless bird species are fighting for survival, facing challenges ranging from habitat loss and climate change to illegal hunting and competition with invasive species. The following list highlights 42 of the rarest birds that, despite their critically low populations, can still be found in the wild – if you’re lucky enough to […]
Some of the most distinctive blue birds with orange chests include the eastern and western bluebirds, lazuli bunting, blue-throated macaw, as well as many species of kingfishers and blue flycatchers. But this striking color combination appears across a wide range of bird families around the world.
The pink-headed duck and crested shelduck are currently the world’s rarest ducks, if they survive at all – having gone decades without confirmed sightings. Among extant species, the Madagascar pochard and Brazilian merganser are exceptionally rare and endangered, but can still be found in the wild, with fewer than 50 and 250 mature individuals remaining, […]
The common ostrich is the world’s largest flightless bird, standing up to 2.8 meters (9.2 feet) tall and weighing close to 160 kilograms (353 pounds). Its powerful legs, long neck, and impressive size make it an unmistakable figure across the African savannas. Close relatives such as the Somali ostrich, emu, and the southern and northern […]
The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a large waterbird native to much of Europe and parts of western Asia, and has also been introduced to North America, southern Africa, and New Zealand. Despite its name, the mute swan is not truly silent but is less vocal than other swan species. It is among the heaviest […]
The Great Nicobar serpent eagle is the world’s smallest eagle, with adults weighing as little as 450 grams (1 pound) and averaging just 90 centimeters (35.4 inches) in wingspan. Close behind is the pygmy eagle of New Guinea, the smallest member of the Aquilinae subfamily, with some males weighing under 500 grams (1.1 pounds).
The southern cassowary is widely regarded as the world’s most dangerous bird due to its sheer aggression and deadly physical traits, but in terms of actual human fatalities, the common ostrich may be deadlier, with multiple deaths reported each year in parts of Africa.
The Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle holds the record for the largest wingspan among eagles, reaching an impressive 2.84 meters (9.3 feet). The harpy eagle is the heaviest, with wild females weighing up to 10 kilograms (22 pounds), while the Steller’s sea eagle consistently rivals both in sheer mass and wingspan, making it one of the most […]
The Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is a passerine bird in the family Paridae, widespread across temperate and subarctic Europe and parts of western Asia. Easily recognized by its vibrant blue and yellow plumage, it is a familiar presence in woodlands, parks, and gardens. Adaptable and resilient, the blue tit thrives in both natural and […]
The turquoise-throated puffleg is currently the world’s rarest hummingbird, with possibly fewer than 50 individuals remaining – if it still survives at all. Close behind are the Santa Marta sabrewing and the blue-throated hillstar, each critically endangered, with only about 50 to 100 mature birds confirmed in the wild.
The Negros fruit dove, Sulu bleeding-heart, and Mindoro bleeding-heart are among the rarest doves and pigeons in the world, with only a handful of individuals possibly surviving in the wild – if at all. Recent decades have seen no confirmed sightings of some of these species, and while hope remains, their rediscovery would require both […]