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- The erratic flight patterns of Australian magpies, which can target people, pets, and even magpie predators at will, cause thousands of injuries each year, and about one in five people living in magpie territory during swooping season experience These aggressive behaviors are some of the deadliest birds on earth.
- Known as the flying killing machine, the harpy is the largest eagle in the Americas, with an impressive wingspan of up to six and a half feet, so they aren’t afraid to hunt down prey as large as sloths and monkeys.
- Ostriches have a strong data point to support their thesis as the deadliest bird on earth. Often considered the heavyweight champion of the bird world.
While the age of the dinosaurs may be long gone, these majestic and fearsome creatures still exist today in the form of various birds. While the typical cardinal or bluebird poses no threat to anyone, many birds are still living up to the legacy of their ancestors. Whether they’re nine feet tall or just under nine inches, they’re among the seven deadliest bird species on Earth.
#7: The Australian Magpie: A Seasonal Threat in Australia
In August 2021, a child in Brisbane, Australia, was tragically killed in a swooping attack by a magpie – but this so-called “swoop season” is common in the city and many other urban areas across Australia. Many people are just beginning to accept it as part of their daily lives, and it’s a nuisance.
The erratic flight patterns of these birds—which can randomly attack people, pets, and even magpie predators—result in thousands of injuries each year and are experienced by about one in five people living in magpie territory during swooping season. Aggression comes from some of the deadliest birds on the planet.
But if it’s just a small comfort, the behavior isn’t personal, or even necessarily hostile. “Swoop season” occurs between July and November, which coincides with the breeding season. This aggressive swooping behavior is employed by the males of the species to protect their nests during egg laying and rearing of chicks.
Brisbane and other cities are taking on the challenging task of figuring out how to ensure these birds are protected while reducing the danger they pose to humans.
#6: Harpy Eagle: A Flying Killing Machine
In the rainforests of South America, few predators are as fearsome or effective as the horned eagle. As the largest eagle in the Americas, it has an impressive wingspan of up to 6 1/2 feet, so they aren’t afraid to hunt down prey as large as sloths and monkeys. But size isn’t the only advantage these birds of prey have, as virtually everything about them seems to have evolved to turn them into perfect predators.
The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) is considered the most powerful eagle in the world. Its thick tarsus (legs), strong toes, and sharp claws make this species a fearsome predator.
The harpy’s talons can reach lengths of up to 6 inches — even longer than the average cassowary — and their hooked design allows them to grab and hold heavy prey as they fly back to their nests. Like most eagles, this species has exceptional eyesight – but they also have small face feathers that help channel noise into their ears and provide them with enhanced directional hearing.
Harpies do not pose a threat to humans, but humans certainly pose a threat to them. They are neither aggressive nor shy and tend to be aloof towards humans – but this makes them easy targets for hunters.
#5: Lammergeier: Death from the Sky
Lammergeier translates to “Lamb Vulture,” referring to the gigantic vulture charged with grabbing livestock and children with its talons and flying away. While their dire credentials may be difficult to verify, we do know that lammergeiers were scavengers. That means all of their prey is dead – but these unusual birds have no interest in typical meat, instead feasting on bones.
Small bones and bone fragments can be swallowed whole – while larger bones are carried far into the air before falling, exposing the rock below to the marrow that provides most of the nutrients.
Wow, whether it’s to anyone or anything standing under the rain of bones. While raw bones would give most animals at least a little indigestion, the lammergeier’s powerful stomach acids can easily break down the bones and extract valuable nutrients from the marrow. While there are historical stories of these birds murdering humans, there have been no confirmed cases of this giant bird causing a death.
#4: The Ostrich: The Heavyweight Champion of the Bird World
Ostriches have a strong data point to support their thesis as the deadliest bird on earth – at least 5 confirmed deaths. Physiologically similar to cassowaries, the birds call Africa home, and their strong legs and six-inch claws can kill lions, disembowel them, and even puncture 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 mating season, and poor communication has led to conflict between humans and these birds in the past.
But even if they don’t mean to hurt you, these dangerous birds are big enough to be scary. They are the largest birds in the world, with the largest members of the species weighing over 300 pounds. Males can even reach heights of over nine feet. In fact, half of this height is used for their awkward-looking necks.
While these birds may appear clumsy, they are fast enough to support this power. They can reach top speeds of over 40 miles per hour.
#3: Pitohui: The world’s only poisonous bird
The pitohui of New Guinea is the only venomous bird in the world, and considering it’s one of the deadliest birds on Earth, we should all be thankful for that. That’s because they produce the same toxin — frog toxin — that is used by South America’s deadly poison dart frogs. Even scarier, the toxin spreads the same way — through simple touch. Locals know how to spot a pitohui just by looking at them, and they know to avoid them at all costs.
It’s a quality first discovered by the scientific community when researchers inadvertently put venom on their lips and felt them go numb — though exposure to the lips would certainly be fatal.
At least, the deadliest species are eager to communicate that fact. Among the different pitohui species, the most dangerous are those with bright red and black plumage. But the birds are not believed to produce the toxin themselves. Instead, it made its way into their bodies as the beetle formed a significant part of their diet.
Over generations, the birds have developed a strong resistance to the toxin.
#2: The Crested Eagle: The Only Known Avian Man-Eater
Bird deaths are rare, and even the most dangerous birds rarely cause harm unless they are provoked first – but the deadliest bird on earth, known as the African crested eagle, may be the exception proving the rule . Their claws are designed with a vicious design that can sink into their prey like a meat hook, and then return to the sky without hesitation. The prey includes victims as large as monkeys, and may even be children.
The bird’s remains, discovered in 1924, were accompanied by the skull of a hominid child with claw markings consistent with the bird’s feeding style.
Even today, stories of this bold and ruthless predator hunting down human children for food persist. With these hawks becoming the norm across South African cities, it is likely that these rumors will only grow. But if humans are prey, then they are no ordinary prey.
They are much more lethal to small mammals such as mongooses and mice, though they can also kill antelope quickly, crushing their skulls with their powerful claws.
#1: The Southern Cassowary: The World’s Most Dangerous Bird
While there are quite a few birds that deserve to be a little scared, few would argue that the southern cassowary deserves its spot as the most dangerous bird on Earth. The deadliest bird on earth is concentrated only in Australia, and its population numbers put it on the endangered species list, yet it has made hundreds of attacks on humans, with at least one fatality linked to the southern cassowary.
Most of these attacks are the result of humans attempting to feed or otherwise interact with these large birds.
All you have to do is look at the bird and see why it is so dangerous. Weighing 200 pounds and standing a full six feet tall, it is one of the largest living birds. But its most dangerous feature are the three claws that grow from each foot – the longest of which extends like a knife to five inches.
While these claws allow cassowaries to effectively flee from predators, they can also scratch a person’s internal organs with a simple slash. Although they are such dangerous birds, anthropological evidence suggests they were domesticated by humans 18,000 years ago. That predates chickens by thousands of years.
Deadliest Birds on Earth Summary
rank | bird |
---|---|
1 | australian magpie |
2 | harpy eagle |
3 | Ramerguell |
4 | ostrich |
5 | Pitohui |
6 | crowned eagle |
7 | southern cassowary |
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.