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Although the era of dinosaurs may have long passed, these majestic and terrifying creatures still exist today in the form of various types of birds. Although the typical cardinal or bluebird poses no threat to anyone, many birds still live up to the legacy of their ancestors. Whether they reach nine feet in height or less than nine inches, these are the seven deadliest birds on Earth.
# 7: Australian Magpie: Australia’s Seasonal Threat
In August 2021, in Brisbane, Australia, a child was tragically killed in a magpie attack, but this so-called “raid season” is common in this and many other urban areas in Australia. This is an inconvenience that many have simply begun to accept as part of their daily routine. The erratic flight patterns of these birds – which can target random people, pets, and even magpie predators – cause thousands of injuries each year, and roughly one in five people living in the area during raid season will exhibit violent behavior. from these deadliest birds on Earth.
But if it is even a little consoling, this behavior is not personal or even necessarily antagonistic. The “hover season” lasts from July to November and coincides with the breeding season. This aggressive attacking behavior is used by males of this species and is intended to protect their nests during egg-laying and then during chick rearing. Brisbane and other cities face the daunting task of figuring out how to protect these birds and reduce the danger they pose to humans.
# 6: Eagle Harpy: Flying Killing Machine
In the rainforests of South America, few predators are as dangerous or effective as the harpy eagle. As the largest eagle in America, it has an impressive six and a half feet wingspan, and as a result, they are not afraid to hunt for prey the size of sloths and monkeys. But size is not the only advantage of these predators, as almost everything about them seems to have been evolved in order to turn them into ideal predators.
The harpy eagle’s claws can reach six inches – even longer than the average cassowary claw – and their hooked design allows them to grab onto heavy prey as they fly to their nests. Like most eagles, this species has particularly good eyesight, but they also have small feathers on their faces that help channel noise to their ears and give them a better sense of directional hearing. Harpy eagles pose no threat to humans, but humans certainly pose a threat to them. Not aggressive or shy, they tend to be indifferent to people, but this makes them easy prey for hunters.
# 5: Lammergeier: deliverance from death from above
Lammergeier translates as “vulture lamb,” referring to the fact that this huge vulture was accused of flying away with livestock and children in the sharp grip of their claws. And while their terrible data may be difficult to verify, we know that Lammergeier is a scavenger. This means that all of their prey is already dead, but these unusual birds are not interested in typical flesh, instead of building a diet of bones. Small bones and bone fragments can be swallowed whole, while larger bones will be carried far into the air before dropping them, allowing the stones below to expose the bone marrow, which offers most of their nutrients.
Hey, be in front of someone or something standing in the rain of bones. And while raw bones cause at least a little stomach upset in most animals, Lammergeier’s powerful stomach acids can easily break down bone and extract valuable nutrients from the bone marrow. Although there have been stories throughout history of these birds killing people, there have been no confirmed deaths caused by this huge bird.
# 4: Ostrich: World Heavyweight Champion of the Bird.
Ostriches have strong evidence to back up their argument that they are the deadliest birds on the planet – with at least five confirmed human deaths. Physiologically similar to cassowaries, these birds call Africa their home, and their strong legs and six-inch claws can kill a lion, gut a person, or even pierce the frame of a car. Fortunately, while these birds can be deadly, they rarely attack unless they feel threatened. Unfortunately, males tend to become very aggressive during the mating season, and misunderstandings have led to conflicts between humans and these birds in the past.
But even if they are not going to harm you, these dangerous birds are large enough to terrify. It is the largest bird in the world and the largest species weigh over 300 pounds. Males can even grow to be over nine feet tall. Almost half of that height is occupied by their awkward necks. While these birds may look awkward, they have the speed to maintain that strength. They can reach a top speed of over 40 miles per hour.
# 3: Pitokhuis: the only poisonous bird in the world
The New Guinea Pitokhuy is the only toxic bird in the world, and given that it is one of the deadliest birds on Earth, we should probably all be grateful for that. This is because a toxin that their bodies produce – batrachotoxin – is used by the deadly poison dart frog in South America. Even more frightening, this toxin is delivered in the same way – with a simple touch. The locals know how to recognize roosters alone and know how to avoid them at all costs. This quality was first discovered by the scientific community when researchers inadvertently got poison on their lips and felt them numb, although the impact could certainly be fatal.
At least the most deadly members of this species are eager to report this fact. Among the various species of pitohui, the most dangerous has bright red and black plumage. But it is believed that these birds do not produce the toxin themselves. Instead, it gets into their bodies thanks to beetles, which make up a significant part of their diet. Over the generations, these birds have developed a persistent resistance to this toxin.
# 2: Crowned Eagle: The Only Known Bird Eater
Bird deaths are rare, and even the most dangerous birds rarely cause injury unless provoked first – but this deadliest bird on Earth, known as the African Crowned Eagle, may be the exception that proves the rule. Their claws are viciously designed to dig into prey like meat hooks and swing back into the sky without ever stopping, and this sacrifice includes monkey-sized victims and even potentially children. The remains of a bird, found in 1924, were accompanied by the skull of a primitive human child, and it bore claw marks consistent with the bird’s feeding pattern.
Even today, there are rumors of this brave and ruthless predator hunting human children in search of food. And as these hawks become commonplace in South African cities, these rumors are likely to only grow. But if people are prey, they are not ordinary prey. They are much more dangerous to small mammals such as mongooses and rats, although they can also quickly deal with antelopes, whose skulls they can skillfully crush with their powerful claws.
# 1: Southern cassowary: the most dangerous bird in the world
While there are quite a few birds worth a little fear, there is little evidence that the southern cassowary deserves the title of the most dangerous bird on Earth. Although the deadliest bird on Earth is concentrated exclusively in Australia and its population puts it on the endangered species list, it has carried out hundreds of attacks on humans and at least one has died associated with the southern cassowary. Most of these attacks were the result of humans trying to feed or otherwise interact with these large birds.
All you have to do is look at this bird to understand why it is so dangerous. At 200 pounds and six feet tall, it is one of the largest birds in the world. But its most dangerous characteristics are three claws growing on each foot, the longest of which is knife-shaped and reaches five inches. While these claws allow the cassowary to effectively escape predators, they can also gut a person with a simple blow. Despite being such a dangerous bird, anthropological evidence suggests that they were domesticated by humans 18,000 years ago. This is thousands of years before the chicken.
Next: 10 Birds That Sing: The Most Beautiful Bird Songs In The World
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