Birds can be pretty creepy creatures. They’re often associated with peace, love, and happiness. But there are a few birds out there that are downright spooky.
Whether it’s their appearance, behavior, or habitat, these 12 birds are the creepiest of the bunch.
Check them out! (Photos included)
12 Scary Birds In The World
1.Marabou stork
The Marabou stork is a large bird that sometimes flies but you will more often see him walking. It’s name comes from its black feathers, which it can use as shadow to blend into the darkness during daylight hours or lurking in wait for prey at night-time when visibility becomes limited due their size (upwards of 2 meters).
It is mostly gray and white, with a bare pinkish head and neck, a dangling pendant, crimson inflated throat pouch, and a straight, hefty beak. Marabous consume carrion, often in cooperation with vultures.
2. The Philippine Eagle
The Philippine Eagle is one of the largest and most powerful birds in the world. It’s also one of the rarest, with an estimated population of only 400-670 individuals.
This eagle is dark brown with white and grayish-brown plumage. It has a massive hooked beak that can reach up to 8 inches long, and powerful talons that can grow up to 4 inches. This scary bird preys on snakes, lizards, monkeys, and even young deer.
3. California condor
The California condor is a large vulture that inhabits parts of the western United States. It is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, with a wingspan of up to 10 feet.
The California condor is mostly black, with white patches on its underwings. It has a bald head and long neck, and a bare, wrinkled face. These scary birds are scavengers, and often feed on the carcasses of animals killed by other predators.
4. Vampire finch
The vampire finch is a small bird that lives on the Galapagos Islands. It gets its name from its blood-sucking habits.
The vampire finch is black with a red breast. It has a short beak that it uses to puncture the skin of reptiles and birds, and then suck their blood. The Finch also preys on small insects.
5. White-faced scops owl
The white-faced scops owl is a small owl that lives in Africa, Asia, and parts of the Middle East. It gets its name from its distinct white face.
The white-faced scops owl is brown with white streaks on its back. It has a white face with black eyes. These owls eat small mammals, reptiles, and insects.
6. Southern giant petrel
The southern giant petrel is a large seabird that lives in the southern hemisphere. It is one of the largest flying birds, with a wingspan of up to 10 feet.
The howdahs on the eagles’ backs allow riders to view the action better. These scary looking birds have an affinity for decaying flesh, ripping it apart until their beaks and faces are covered in blood. To put it another way, they’re like the final moments of a horror flick.
7. Greylag goose
The greylag goose is a large bird that lives in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. It is the largest member of the goose family, with a wingspan of up to 7 feet.
The greylag goose is gray with a white belly. It has a long neck and black legs. These birds eat plants and small animals. Geese are frightening birds that are territorial and aggressive, having been used as guard animals in the past.
8. Great potoo
The Great Potoo is a nocturnal insectivore that captures insects by sallying from exposed arboreal perches. The Potoo is a prehistoric lineage that was once more widespread than it is now. The genus Nyctibius contains seven species, with the Great Potoo being the largest.
They are really scarry looking especially at night, their big eyes glowing in the dark. I once saw one up close when I was hiking and it startled me because I thought it was a monster!
9. Vulturine guineafowl
The eastern tropical African morph of the Yellow-naped Amazon, with its red eyes, tough beak, and short brown head feathers that resemble a bad toupee, is not a pleasant encounter.
This aggressive parrot is one of the largest in the world, weighing in at almost 4 pounds. The vulturine guineafowl is a large bird that lives in Africa. It is similar in appearance to a chicken, but has black and white plumage. It also has a bare, wrinkled head, and a long neck. These birds are omnivores, and eat both plants and animals.
10. King vulture
The king vulture is a large bird that lives in Central and South America. It is the largest member of the vulture family, with a wingspan of up to 10 feet.
The king vulture is mostly white, with black wings and tail. It has a bald head and neck, and a yellow face. These birds are scavengers, and often feed on the carcasses of animals killed by other predators.
11. Cassowary
The southern cassowary is a large bird that lives in Australia and New Guinea. It should come as no surprise that the cassowary is considered the world’s most dangerous bird. This is due to its long, sharp claws. The cassowary also has a reputation for being aggressive, and has been known to attack humans.
The southern cassowary is black with a blue head and neck. It has a long, sharp beak, and red eyes. These birds are Omnivores, and eat both plants and animals.
12.Greater adjutant
The greater adjutant is a large bird that lives in parts of Asia and India. It is the largest member of the stork family, with a wingspan of up to 11 feet.
The greater adjutant is mostly gray, with white underparts. It has a long neck and black legs. These scary birds are scavengers, and often feed on the carcasses of animals killed by other predators.
In Conclusion
So there you have it, the 12 scariest birds in the world. Some of them are scary looking or a tad bit ugly, others are just plain dangerous.
Either way, they’re all interesting creatures that are definitely worth learning more about. Thanks for reading.
