The most dangerous bird in the world. The most powerful bird in the world. the most dangerous birds for humans

Birds are a symbol of peace and goodness. We can name several dangerous animals, insects and even reptiles at a meeting, but it is hardly easy to remember the birds that are deadly to humans. And they are.

Cassowary

In appearance, this bird is completely harmless, but it is original and "smart". In fact, the cassowary is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most dangerous bird on the planet. Sensing a threat (or simply seeing a person on the territory of their possessions), this flightless inhabitant of the rainforests of New Guinea and northeast Australia immediately attacks.

The legs of the cassowary are very strong, and the claws like daggers can inflict fatal injuries.

The character of the "bird" is rather nasty, the cassowary falls into a rage for no apparent reason.

This fact was even highlighted among the American and Australian military during World War II, with the emphasis on the fact that it is better to avoid meeting the colorful feathered monster. By the way, cassowaries are rarely kept in menageries - because of the unpredictable disposition, it is from this creature that zoo workers were most often injured.

South American harpy

It is the strongest eagle in the world, weighing up to 9 kg. The claws of a huge bird are larger and more powerful than those of a tiger and a bear, and it will not be difficult for it to pierce a human skull.

The harpy usually does not attack a person first; content for dinner with monkeys, sloths, boas and smaller birds.

The only exception is the attack on the nest of this Mexican eagle. The harpy will selflessly protect the only chick (and these pairs of birds are raised only by one chick). At the moment, the number of South American harpies is steadily declining, the reason for this was the destruction of forests and the peculiarities of the reproduction of winged predators.

Blackbird flycatcher

To be deadly to humans, this bird did not have to be distinguished by its large size and physical strength. The blackbird flycatcher, also known as bicolor pitohu, is the most poisonous bird on the planet. In addition to Pitochus, three-venomous birds are also distinguished, two of them belong to the same genus (P. kihocephalus and P. ferrugineus) that the Pitochus is two-colored, and the third was the blue-headed ifrit Kovaldi.

All three "analogs" are significantly inferior in the degree of toxicity to the thrush flycatcher. In 1989, ornithologist Jack Dumbacher studied birds in New Guinea. Releasing cute birds from the web, the scientist scratched his finger. Not paying attention to the scratch, Jack instinctively put his finger in his mouth and immediately felt the numbness of his tongue, mouth and lips.

Subsequently, it was possible to find out that the poison enters the body of the bird together with the beetles of the Choresine pulchra species, and then gradually accumulates in the feathers and skin.

As a result of its meals, the flycatcher becomes dangerous to other mammals, although the bird itself has adapted to the poison. It's funny that the local aborigines have long known about this quality of the pito, the "greatest discovery" of the ornithologist amused them.

Canada goose

Canada geese (not to be confused with Canada Goose jackets) is a very beautiful water bird of the duck family. The huge duck has an aggressive disposition and fiercely defends its territory.

When meeting with a person, Canadian hussars often inflicted lacerations, serious fractures and cranial injuries on people.

Federal wildlife scientist Neil Doe has conducted field studies and published results showing the destruction of the coastline and the destruction of many animals and birds by geese. In addition, the geese collided with planes many times. In 1995, in the state of Elmendorf, Alaska, a US Air Force plane crashed into a flock of geese on takeoff and crashed. 24 crew members were killed. In 2009, the pilot of Flight 1549 managed to make an emergency landing after meeting with Canadian hussars, and the passengers escaped with minor injuries.

Crows

Feathered urban dwellers have neither poison nor extreme physical abilities, but they have a surprisingly developed intellect. An organized flock of crows is capable of acting like a real gang, according to a pre-planned scheme.

It is not uncommon for crows to drive together their prey - small animals and pigeons - under the wheels of a transport, and then drag the unfortunates to the side of the road and feast.

Ravens can attack humans as well. Reports of their attacks on people now and then appear in the press. Especially in the spring.

Most often, children and old people become victims of flocks, and, surrounding the unfortunate from all sides, crows are able to inflict significant injuries with solid beaks, diverting attention to each other.

London runners in Elten Sound Park were forced to change their running route due to an attack by crows. It is noteworthy that the aggressive birds attacked mostly blond people. The reasons for the dislike of blondes have not been clarified.

The consequences of the intelligence of the crows were reflected in mass incidents - in one month alone in 1978, nine trains derailed in China. The reason was the rubble that the crows put on the rails.

Ecology

Birds are often associated with a sense of calmness and are the first thing you hear on a sunny day, when you wake up in the morning, or when you go for a walk in the park. But they can also be very violent, leaving behind death and destruction.

Despite the fact that they are capable of a wide variety of types of cruelty, this is a kind of confirmation that we live in a world in which the tendency of "Darwinian" sport, when the fittest survives, is clearly visible.

Here are ten bird species you should avoid.

10. Seagull

You might think the worst gulls can do is steal your lunch or shit on your head, but these beach dwellers also have a dark side beneath their feathers. And you will see it if you stumble upon their nest. When a seagull senses a threat to its chicks, with the force of its blow it can pierce a person's skull and begin to peck at the brain.

9. Velociraptor

Yes, they existed in ancient times, in the same period as the dinosaurs. But it's worth clarifying that contrary to popular belief highlighted in Jurassic Park, Velociraptors were actually clawed feathered birds, not scaly lizards. These were the most cruel birds of all time, even today the most evil representatives of birds are not able to outshine them. They were incredibly smart, hunted in packs (according to one theory), and also had hairpin-sharp claws, with which they could very easily cut the throat of their prey. And the victims, as a rule, were dinosaurs, not field mice and fish.

8. Falcon

This bird of prey pounces on small rodents and fish, tearing their flesh with incredibly sharp claws. Due to their unique beak shape, they can sever prey in the spinal cord region. These are hunting machines equipped with features that help them in their self-sufficiency. While they can be trained to hunt for humans, they still have tremendous potential, so they can cause serious harm, especially at a young age.

7. Blue-headed Ifrit

Despite the fact that this bird only eats insects, it is armed with a self-defense mechanism that helps it defend itself against the most serious predator. Eating on a certain type of beetle that produces a special chemical that turns into poison in the bird's body, it is actually dangerous. If you take it with your bare hands, then the limbs immediately go numb, and toxins penetrate the skin. Who would have thought that such a beautiful little bird could cause such serious harm to health?

6. Shrike flycatcher

This bird, like the previous one, is armed with a lethal toxin common among poisonous frogs. It lives in tropical and subtropical forests of Indonesia, Australia and Papua New Guinea. The bird has an olive color, thanks to which it camouflages well on trees, while producing a special musical sound, similar to a siren.

5. Pitohu

It was the first of three toxic birds first discovered, whose skin and feathers carried deadly poison. Papua New Guineans call it a "trash bird" because it is inedible. Nearly. Craftsmen can free a bird from poison by removing its skin and feathers, and roasting it on coals. But still, you should not take the risk and feast on something else.

4. Eagle

The danger of this bird lies in its potential harm. It has a special beak structure, incredibly sharp claws and even more incredibly keen eyesight, making it one of the most serious predators in the wild. It can fly and hold a two-kilogram victim's carcass in its beak. He is extremely insatiable, as he is able to eat about a kilogram of fish in four minutes. These birds are a symbol of power, they are taken so seriously that their image is present on the arms of countless countries.

3. Vulture

These birds look disgusting and sinister. They can be found hanging and circling over corpses, as they are largely scavengers, bringing dead flesh that has begun to decay to members of their pack. Their stomachs are extremely acidic, protecting them from bacteria, viruses, and anthrax, which kill most other animals. Plus, their urine is a powerful antibacterial agent that kills any unsanitary dirt.

2. Ostrich

These birds are the largest in the world, their height can reach 2.8 meters, and their weight is 158 kg. They are very unpredictable. They can run for 10 kilometers at a speed of 50 km / h, and his legs are so strong that they can kill a hyena with one blow. Moreover, they have very sharp claws. If they did not have the "bashful" habit of burying their heads in the sand, then one could swear that they are nothing more than an elongated monster.

1. Cassowary

This bird is considered the most dangerous bird in the world, with a criminal record worthy of outright death penalty. This bird lives in New Guinea, its 12-centimeter dagger-sharp claw is located on top of another claw that can kill a person. Their legs have incredible strength, and they run at speeds up to 50 km / h. During World War II, American and Australian troops in New Guinea were warned to stay away from them.

We associate birds with something calm and beautiful: light, independent of the perturbations of earthly life, they have always caused a kind of slight envy in humans. However, do not rush to relax - Mother Nature still has something to surprise us with. Among the huge variety of bird species, there are some that we do not advise anyone to meet.

Goshawk

The goshawk is a very beautiful bird and, like all the other members of the family, selfless. You shouldn't even think about getting close to the nest of this proud man: the hawk will fearlessly rush to attack the “guest”, regardless of its size.

Ostrich

Making an ostrich angry is not the smartest decision. These birds zealously guard their territory and attack every intruder. The speed of an ostrich can reach eighty kilometers per hour, so it will not be possible to escape. To top it all off, the ostrich has sharp claws on its paws, with one blow of which it can tear through the stomach of anyone.

Bicolor pitohuis

These strange little birds live in the forests of New Guinea. It is deadly to hunt them: the skin, feathers and internal organs of Pitohui dichrous contain a huge amount of batrachotoxin - a poison that is a hundred times stronger than strychnine. Scientists still cannot understand the reasons for such a trick of nature, because this bird is far from a hunter.

Griffon vulture

The common diet of vultures is carrion, and this is common knowledge. However, a study published in 2011 in the journal Nature showed that there may be exceptions to the rule. Griffon vultures, living in northern Spain, began to hunt livestock, moving from the category of scavengers to predators. An injured person may well be the victim of such a bird: last year, a young woman fell off a cliff and broke her leg - and the vultures managed to reach her before the rescuers.

Blue jay

Blue jays seem to be quite harmless creatures. They feed on insects and nuts - but do not mind stealing eggs from other birds. Approaching the nest of a blue jay means deliberately risking your eyes. This small bird protects territory with the courage of an African lion: bird watchers have known cases of jays attacking hawks, raccoons, cats, squirrels and snakes.

Cassowary

Apart from the ostrich, the cassowary remains the only bird that has killed humans. The middle finger of the cassowary is equipped with a long, sharp claw that can easily release the guts of the victim. Of course, you must be very unlucky to meet a cassowary in its habitat - however, in theory it is quite possible.

Red cardinal

And one more little bird that can become a source of big trouble. Cardinal males are extremely aggressive, especially during the mating season. They are ready to defend their territory to the last drop of their blood - especially from their fellows. Red cardinals often smash to death on the glass of houses, mistaking the reflection in them for a rival.

Birds are some of the most fascinating and beloved creatures on earth. They provide an unparalleled experience of interacting with nature for millions of people around the world. For the most part, birds are considered the least dangerous animals on Earth. Nevertheless, some species of birds, as a result of evolution, have developed sharp beaks, strong legs, territorial instincts, or, in other words, the ability to be "war birds" and have unsurpassed cruelty.

10. Red-tailed Hawk
Capable of wounding a person

The red-tailed buzzard is one of the largest hawks in North America and also one of the most recognizable. It can often be seen on farmland, highway sides, parks, on its native prairies, and on the outskirts of its habitats covered in small forest stands.

The weight of the red-tailed hawk varies from 1.3 to 1.8 kilograms, and the wingspan is approximately one and a half meters. Their nests are usually found in the tops of trees growing in open areas, and buzzards fiercely protect them. When nesting in an area frequented by humans, the hawk may perceive humans as a threat and try to drive them out of its territory.

Attacks are mainly in the fact that the buzzard quickly dives down and tries to grab you with its massive claws. In Connecticut in 2010, during the nesting season of the buzzard, several people were attacked by a territorial specimen. Several victims received blows to the head and upper body wounds, and physical activity had to be moved from the open air to the school gym.

9. Snowy Owl
Capable of injuring a person


The White Owl is a large white bird immortalized in the Harry Potter film series. She is the northernmost bird of prey on the planet. Snowy owls breed on the tundra near the Arctic Circle and are able to withstand temperatures down to -50 ° C. Owls are about 45 centimeters tall and have a wingspan of over 1.20 meters. Their weight can exceed 2.7 kilograms. Walking along the Arctic tundra, one should carefully look at the steps and in no case approach the hills of non-melting snow located on areas of land with vegetation.

You can get close enough to the nesting site of the snowy owl without the bird reacting in any way. But as soon as the snowy owl notices the threat, the "pile of snow" comes to life and rushes to the attack in order to drive away the violator of its possessions. If the threat is a human, owls can aim for the face and head with their razor-sharp claws. An attacking owl can cause serious injury, especially to the eyes. When attacking, you should bend down, bury your face and quickly leave.

8. Bearded Man (Lammergier)
Capable of wounding and even killing a person


"Lammergier" is translated from German as "vulture hunting lambs." It was previously believed that most species of raptor vultures fed on lambs - however, lambs are rarely chosen by these birds as prey, unless they are sick or die.

What makes these birds especially dangerous is their love of solid food, which requires them to throw food down from the air to obtain it. The bearded men have developed a taste for the soft bone marrow found within the bones that remain after other vultures have gnawed on the carcass. To gain access to the brain, the bird lifts bones into the air and throws them on rocks to shatter them.

This poses a certain threat to anyone in the vicinity. Bearded men consider turtles a complete replacement for bones, and deal with them in the same way. It is believed that the Greek playwright Aeschylus was struck and killed by a turtle that fell from the sky - probably thrown by a bearded man.

7. Barred Owl
Capable of injuring a person


The Barred Owl is a fluffy, medium-sized bird of prey native to the marshes of the southern United States. The wingspan reaches 1.20 meters, and the weight ranges from 900 grams to over 1.3 kilograms. The Barred Owl preys on small animals and has recently expanded its range north and west as far as British Columbia.

Tourists wandering in the Pacific Northwest can pay for their walks in forests colonized by the Great Owl. The victims do not hear the owl approaching, as specially adapted feathers drown out its soaring flight. Birds aim at the head with their razor-sharp claws - they scratch, peck and grab anything they can reach. Because of this, a person can get bloody head wounds. Since 2001, attacks in British Columbia parks are no longer uncommon, and four Texas residents were bloody injured in a series of owl attacks in 2007. Helmets are ideal for defense.

6. Black-billed loon (Great Northern Loon)



The five types of loons - commonly known as loons - are some of the most primitive bird species on Earth, dating back to the earliest stages of bird evolution. Loons nest near lakes in temperate forests, taiga and arctic tundra landscapes in Northern Eurasia and North America. During the winter, loons fly south to spend the winter in sheltered bays throughout the Northern Hemisphere. These 3.6 - 5.4 kg birds have razor-sharp, elongated beaks, which they use to pierce fish when hunting.

Pollution of the lake led to a decrease in the population of loons, as a result, ornithologists had to fix identification rings on the legs of the birds so that they could track their movements. In one accident, the loon mistook the birdwatcher who was ringing it for a predator. Defending itself, the bird pierced with its sharp dagger-like beak the researcher's chest as well as his heart, killing him on the spot.

5. Mute Swan



The mute swan is one of the largest water birds in the world, not to mention one of the most aggressive and territorial. The native habitat of these birds is Eurasia, but they have also spread to many other parts of the world, most notably in North America. Unlike other species of swans, mute swans nest in park ponds and public lakes, as well as in other places frequented by people. They fiercely defend their nest from potential predators.

If a person approaches a nest on the shore of a lake, a 12 kg bird will hiss and rush at him. The swan beats his opponent with strong wings, the span of which is more than 2 meters, he also pecks and pushes the intruder away until the threat is eliminated. Swans can cause serious injury, including broken bones, bruising and eye injuries. In one tragic case, a caretaker overseeing a property drowned after being pushed out of a kayak by mute swans. The saddest thing is that the company he worked for brought these swans to the lake.

4. Herring Gull (European Herring Gull)
Capable of inflicting serious injury and even killing a person


Colony-nesting gulls, especially large species such as the European Herring Gull, can be very aggressive towards those they perceive as intruders. Rising pollution levels and reliable food sources in cities have encouraged gulls to nest in these new habitats, leading to increased conflicts with humans. Birds aggressively steal food from humans, which can lead to injuries from massive and razor-sharp beaks. There was a case when a boy was left with wounds on his face after a seagull stole his sausage.

Birds can weigh over 1.3 kilograms and their wingspan can reach approximately 1.80 meters. Territorial instincts persist throughout the nesting season. In 2001, a woman in the UK was hit by a seagull attack with deep head wounds and her dog was killed. In 2002, an elderly man died of a heart attack after he was attacked by a crowd of seagulls.

3. Whistler Crow, or Black-backed Song Crow (Australian Magpie)
Capable of inflicting serious injury and even killing a person


The Whistler Crow is a southern relative of the ravens and ravens and is also closely related to the shrike family. The feeding habits of this species are relatively safe, since whistler crows feed mainly on terrestrial invertebrates. But the territorial behavior of this giant songbird - with a wingspan of about 1 meter, makes it one of the most dangerous bird species on the planet.

During their six-week nesting season, birds fearlessly rush down in pairs to attack intruders when they are most vulnerable. For people, this means that their head and face are at gunpoint. As a result of the attacks, people suffered eye injuries, serious injuries, and head injuries. Fatalities occurred when unwitting trespassers of whistler crows, such as cyclists or pedestrians, panicked as birds attacked and beat them on the head with claws and massive, sharp beaks.

2. African Ostrich
Capable of inflicting serious injury and even killing a person


The African ostrich is the largest bird on earth and is the only ostrich species since the tragic disappearance of the Arabian ostrich. On average, an ostrich weighs about 109 kilograms and can reach over 2 meters in height.

The bird's long eyelashes and wide beak may seem funny - but there is nothing funny about the territorial ostrich. Frightened ostriches usually run away at a speed of about 69 kilometers per hour, or they spread themselves above the ground, but when their territory or young animals are threatened, they can attack people.

Ostriches have massive leg bones and pointed, hoof-like nails that are several centimeters long. An ostrich can gut a person or beat him to death in seconds. In one region of South Africa, there are up to three attacks per year. In recent years, many people have died as a result of ostrich attacks. All incidents occurred due to the fact that people invaded the nesting places of birds.

1. Helmet-bearing cassowary (Southern Cassowarry)
Capable of inflicting serious injury and even killing a person


The helmeted cassowary is a member of the ostrich family. It lives in the rainforests of Northwest Australia and New Guinea. Cassowaries have black plumage with blue patches of skin, and they also have an unusual bone plate on their head, which gives them the appearance of lizards. These exclusively territorial birds weigh over 60 kilograms and are over 180 centimeters tall.

Armed with razor-sharp spurs and one of the most powerful blows in the entire animal kingdom, cassowaries attack without the slightest hesitation. People who foolishly wandered into the territory of the cassowary were torn apart, gutted or killed on the spot due to the powerful and cutting attack of the cassowary.

As a rule, cassowaries peacefully walk between the trees in the forest and collect plant food and arthropods from the forest floor - but, as is the case with all of the above birds, do not be fooled by their harmless appearance.

Presidents Medvedev and Putin consider the most powerful and invincible bird of the eagle - the Siamese twin, Lord Obama and the One who comes for Him - the bald eagle, the real Colonel Gaddafi - the hawk of the Quraish tribe. The warlike world fights under the sign of birds of prey, they do not fight for anything, having a bird of paradise on their coat of arms, and in the malarial Sao Tome and Principe two nightingales hold the shield of a corrupt system, one of which "mows" like a falcon, like a sparrow - like a sick eagle ...

Birds, in the eyes of man, are the most noble creatures of the animal world, therefore they are minted on coins and painted on heraldic babies. A low man is afraid of birds and does the right thing. A harmless sparrow is capable of driving a tired hard worker crazy by chirping on the window at 5 in the morning, a garbage pigeon easily shits on the heads of patriarchs and oligarchs, and is capable of destroying someone's farming business in a couple of hours.

We bring to your attention an illustrated guide to the most evil and dangerous birds on the planet. To know who to fear instead of a pigeon and a starling.

1. Berkut

Oh, it's not for nothing that the Ukrainian OMON is called by the name of this bird. And the Ukrainian poet Ivan Franko was not in vain that he was once angry and wrote: “For that, I, the golden eagle, hate that you have an evil heart in your chest”.

The golden eagle is the national bird of five countries of the world, while ornithologists of other countries, if you ask them confidentially, will tell you that the golden eagle, by its nature and character, is still a scumbag.

The eagle is not only a strong and proud bird, but also cruel, like an SS pervert. If you are a turtle and are caught in its paws, the golden eagle will not eat your turtle brain on the spot. He will lift you up into the air and bang you somewhere on stones to make a wet place out of the victim. Which the bird will bite and lick with pleasure. It is not for nothing that tamed golden eagles are used in Mongolia to hunt wolves and foxes. Where the hunter misses, the beaked predator will kill a dozen or two animals for pleasure. In fact, the golden eagle is a shark with wings. And it is necessary to treat him with the appropriate trepidation and "reverence".

2. Pelican

A distinctive feature of a pelican is the largest beak in the world. The bird needs it to implement a semi-passive way of feeding. The pelican lowers its beak into muddy water and then drains everything except edible items. It's like taking a big ball of dirt to look for and find a potato in it. But this pelican is not a bastard.

The meanness of the pelican is that he does not kill the victim - he silently swallows it alive. These birds eat anything that can become a source of animal protein. Including pigeons, ducks and penguins in Africa. All living things that fall into the pelican's beak are doomed to flounder helplessly in the hydrochloric acid of gastric juice without any hope of saving resistance.

The nature of this bird describes how the city park pelican devoured a pigeon. The pelican was not hungry, it was well fed by the park staff. He grabbed the pigeon just like that, for pleasure. From a human point of view, a pelican is a war criminal.

3. Shrike

A small lump of flesh, the songbird shrike is a real psychopath among feathered killers. No one makes fun of their victims as sophisticatedly as this touching bird.

The tiny shrike has a tenacious beak, fierce disposition and good appetite. He can eat only a small insect on the fly, and he acts smartly with his favorite mice and rats. A normal abnormal shrike always has a few trees with thorns in mind. God created these trees specifically so that shrikes could prick rodents on sharp thorns and then, without haste, eat them.

There are also romantic moments in the life of shrikes. Taking care of the female, the male invites the lady to dinner. They fly to a tree, on which the gentleman pre-pricked various edible animals with a monstrous kebab. Here is someone who learned how to make kebabs.

The main thing that man knows about vultures is that these birds eat dead decaying animals. Vultures, as a rule, do not kill anyone, they wait for someone to do it for them - the victim will die by itself or will be half-eaten by some lion. Thus, these birds justify their existence by a huge role in the ecosystem.

Most species of vultures are calm, patient scavengers, but the black American subspecies of the brown vulture has a significant defect in the breed - a weak sense of smell.

Therefore, the black bar “falls on the tail” of other types of bar. A dozen black vultures can adhere to one condor and fly after him until he finds some dead cat. Then, suppressing in numbers, they take away his trophy from an honest earner. In addition, black vultures decide to attack something that moves, but helplessly - for example, a calf or a pig on a farm. One pecks the cub, and the whole flock feasts on until the owner takes a nap.

5. Parrot Kea

The New Zealand kea parrot is named after its cry "kea-ea". It is an omnivorous, voracious, noisy and sassy creature. Kea are incredibly curious and use their beak to explore everything unfamiliar, attacking cars, picnics and backpacks with things. Basically, of course, they gut trash cans.

Passion for everything new, unfamiliar, pushes the kea parrots to crime. There is a known case when kea stole a passport from a tourist who came to New Zealand to gaze at the beauty of nature. He stole and did not return, without heeding the curses thrown in pursuit.

But the worst thing about the behavior of these feathered clowns is that they bite sheep, thereby eating them bit by bit. They behave like Ukrainians from the joke: "What I don't eat, I'll bite."

As you understand, in the place of the unfortunate lamb there may be a drunken person in the snipe. For example, a tourist.

So much for the coats of arms of states. Choose your taste, match politics and economics!