From the brutal spurs of graceful waterfowl
to the bone-dropping tactics of vultures, today we look at the Most Dangerous Birds
On Earth. #10 Giant Petrel
Often referred to as Stinkers or Gluttons, the scavenging bird species near Antarctica
have a nasty track record. Opportunistic to a fault, the Giant Petrel
[pet-trul] is known for not only feeding on the carcasses of deceased penguins and seals,
but also laying an aggressive, boisterous claim to their food. Assuming a hostile stance with wings outstretched
and eyes focused on any competitors, the Petrel scares away any that approach. Feeding on both land and sea, this carrion
hunter also consumes fish, krill, and squid. This has caused them to become a pest among
fishing vessels as the Petrel [pet-trul] will follow these boats and pick at any meat remnants
they can find. But just because they don’t often feed on
live prey doesn’t mean they can’t threaten them. The giant Petrel has been seen assaulting
emperor penguins, small seals, and even albatross, either blatantly attacking them or drowning
them. #9 Mute Swan
Renowned for its majestic beauty throughout its native region of Eurasia, the Mute Swan
isn’t just another elegant waterfowl. Not one for small talk, this bird is often
identified by its unique beak pattern and strange techniques of communication. Adults will use a mix of grunts, whistles
and snorts to communicate with their young or threatening predators. As a swimming bird, they can typically swim
away from any danger, but when push comes to shove, the mute swan shoves hard. Equipped with a large snapping bill and bony
spurs hidden in their wings, they thrash their foes with brutal intensity. This is only compounded by their inherent
territorial nature. One incident in 2012 demonstrated just how
brutal they can be when a kayaker came under attack at a Chicago condominium’s pond. He was actually looking after the local mute
swan population when a bothered swan knocked him out of his boat and proceeded to flail
against him until he drowned. #8 Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture)
Known for its nasty diet and behavior, the Lammergeier , meaning “Lamb Vulture” in
German, has a gruesome reputation among some. This fully feather-headed scavenger has been
rumored to carry off small livestock and even children! But the Lammergeier isn’t quite as bloodthirsty
as its name suggests. Also known as the Bearded Vulture, this bird
feeds on a diet of the remnants they find, with bones making up about 80% of their average
meals. To get this food, the vulture will take the
bones of a deceased animal and drop them onto their favorite breaking points, typically
large boulders, called ossuarie. This breaks the bones into small enough pieces
for them to swallow and digest with their extremely acidic stomach. Now this may sound like that would make them
less of a threat to living humans, right? Well, tell that to the ancient Greek playwright
who legend says perished when a large bird dropped a tortoise on his bald head, mistaking
it for a rock. Some hypothesize this to have been the Lammergeier. #7 Ostrich
The largest and heaviest living bird, the African Ostrich is as powerful as it is big. Capable of sprinting speeds up to 43 miles
per hour, the ostrich can typically outrun most of its would-be predators. At an average weight of 140 to 320 pounds
and heights ranging from six to nine feet tall, they can often fight off enemies. Sporting large, lizard-like feet, the ostrich
can deliver walloping kicks using their extremely large claws to dispose of any attackers that
might get too close. Encounters with these giants of Africa can
prove to be fatal with up to three attacks resulting in serious injury or worse occurring
in South Africa annually. #6 Harpy Eagle
Sporting a wind-swept cowlick, the majestic Harpy Eagle is native to the jungles and rainforests
of South America. This gray and white bird may look a little
funny with its tufts of feathers protruding from the back of its head like a beaked Alfalfa,
but don’t let its goofy hairdo fool you. This is one mean bird of prey. With an average weight of 13 to 20 pounds,
a length of up to 3 and a half feet, and a wingspan larger than most grown men, female
harpy eagles dwarf their male counterparts. Great hunters have great tools, though, and
this bird is no different with the largest talons of any living eagle. These large raptors have been known to carry
away prey as large as small livestock, clutching things like chickens, lambs, goats, and even
small pigs! Harpy eagles have even been documented carrying
up to their own body weight in prey, even going so far as to snatch a live sloth or
howler monkey from the canopies they roam. In 2010, a harpy eagle was recorded attacking
a research crew that was attempting to install cameras in the nest of a female eagle. Dressed in kevlar padding with a full body
protection suit and helmet, cameraman James Aldred survived the vicious attack of an almost
20 pound raptor as the mother eagle swooped in to protect her nest. The brutal assault tore through Aldred’s
armor, knocked out the communication equipment on his helmet, and left him nearly unconscious. This team of filmmakers learned the hard way
not to mess with the harpy eagle. #5 The Great Northern Loon
The provincial bird of Ontario, Canada and state bird of Minnesota, the Great Northern
Loon is a feisty swimmer with a stiletto-esque beak. This bird is at home on the water and dives
for its prey, chasing down fish with its powerful webbed feet. Normally calm if left to their own devices,
immature loons have many predators and adults will become highly violent if threatened. It’s sharp beak becomes an instrument of
execution as it charges towards and targets the abdomen and neck of the oncoming predators. This proved especially dangerous for ornithologists
working to conserve the species by placing bands on their legs to track migratory patterns. In one instance, an ornithologist was mistaken
for a predator by a skeptical loon and immediately met his demise as his heart was pierced through
his ribcage by the bird’s beak. So if the avian scientists trying to protect
the Great Northern Loon can’t even approach it without fear, it’s probably best for
you to steer clear of them as well. #4 Buzzard
Often thought synonymous with the vulture, the Common Buzzard is a woodland bird of prey
with a more hawkish appearance. It normally feeds on small mammals, preferably
field voles, and will eat some carrion, preferring to hunt over open land than the forests they
reside in. Over time, it’s shown to adapt to a variety
of dietary changes, including rabbits, snakes, lizards and pheasants. They’ve even been seen roaming recently
upturned soil on farms, seeking out insects and worms to prey upon as well. This extreme adaptiveness is made all the
more frightening by a sudden stint of attacks on humans, with the most recent incidents
occurring just last year. More than a dozen attacks on runners in the
town of Derby, England put the town in a bit of an uproar as heads were being scarred from
the razor sharp claws of the buzzard onslaught. One victim described it as “like being hit
with a baseball bat.” Experts say the buzzard is at least 6 years
old, meaning another three to four years of avian terror. In the meantime, officials in Derby have advised
all runners to avoid that area for the time being. #3 Australian Magpie
In the human world, love has a reputation for driving people crazy. So it’s no surprise that some animals have
a tendency to act the same way. Such is the case for the Australian Magpie. Widespread throughout the majority of Australia,
New Guinea and New Zealand, the magpie is typically on good terms with people. Its complex songs, iconic feather pattern,
and cultural appearances all make it a staple of Australian life, and as such many citizens
will feed wild magpie. But from late August to mid October every
year, the breeding season makes these birds go bananas. Typically less than nine percent of magpies
will swoop and attack nearby humans during these months, beginning with ominous warnings
before escalating to full blown battery. These aggressive birds, usually male, will
target the eyes, face and chest of unsuspecting victims, and have been documented swooping
head first into cyclists. Regardless of where they target, though, the
magpie prefers to attack from the person’s blind spot, catching them off guard. The attacks have become so incessant during
this season that some people have taken to wearing helmets with eyes painted on the back
or sunglasses on the back of their head as a deterrent. Yet rather than putting on a clever disguise,
it might just be easier to give these love birds a little privacy for a month. #2 Herring Gull
Like many animals, the European Herring Gull can be extremely territorial and hostile towards
would-be invaders. But as waste levels increase and urban areas
across Europe provide a more reliable food source, they just don’t squabble with other
gulls. They’ve begun harassing humans. Weighing up to three pounds with a wingspan
of around five feet, these moderately sized birds are like sky-bound muggers as they pounce
on people for any food they can find. Various incidents have been reported across
the United Kingdom of herring gull attacks. In one report, a small boy received a series
of cuts to his face as a herring gull swooped in to steal his sausage. Another report from 2001 includes a woman
who suffered deep head wounds and a dog who lost its life in a gull attack. There has even been a fatality due to gull
attack as in 2002 when an elderly man passed after suffering a heart attack while swarmed
by herring gulls. #1 Cassowary
Like something straight out of Jurassic World, the Southern Cassowary looks more like a dinosaur
than it does a bird. Standing nearly six feet tall on average,
and weighing in at more than 130 pounds, this land-bound beast has a bright blue tinge to
its head skin, a red neck appendage, and a large, solid crest protruding from its skull. It’s long legs lead down to a large, three-toed
foot with claws up to five inches in length. Usually peaceful in their scavenging for food
from the forest floor, the fierce Cassowary has shown hyper territorial tendencies, going
so far as to disembowel human invaders with its eviscerating talons and powerful kick
strength. Luckily it’s native to the rainforests of
Northwestern Australia and New Guinea, so unless you’re Lara Croft or Indiana Jones,
there’s a slim chance you’ll get cornered by this prehistoric looking bird.
