Dangerous Birds

vultureAh, birds. Most are incredibly beautiful, and soar through the air in a way that’s nothing short of poetic. As wonderful and important as birds are to the animal kingdom, they’re still wild animals. As such, it’s a really great idea not to approach them. Sure, there’s pet parakeets and parrots, professional falconers, and those who employ pigeons as carriers, however most birds are not to be trifled with.

Birds come in a range of sizes and colors, with some pretty darn vicious if threatened. Let’s check out a few to avoid whenever possible:

Seagull

The generic name for all kinds of gulls, seagulls may look cute, but make no mistake, they’re nasty if they want to be. They’ll very easily attack your head if they feel threatened, resulting in rather horrific beak wounds.

Vulture

One of the less attractive bird species, vultures are carrion birds, meaning they feed on dead animals. An excellent natural source of roadkill cleanup, vultures rarely attack anything that’s alive, be it human or animal. However, their sharp talons and hook-shaped beaks combined with their notable size means you should stay away.

Ostrich

The largest bird on Earth, you’re in big trouble if you annoy an ostrich. Unpredictable and capable of inflicting serious injury, ostriches have strong legs that can easily kick living things to death. Their claws can snap spines and even kill people. Eeesh.

Cassowary

Huge, flightless birds with black feathers and blue heads featuring sizable crests, cassowarys are considered the most dangerous bird on Earth. Found on the eastern coast of Australia, the cassowary is about six feet tall and weighs some 130 pounds. Its strong legs feature dagger-like claws,  and if provoked, the bird rips the flesh off its victim. It has been accused of killing people, but only when threatened.

Other birds that make the ‘dangerous’ list include hawks, eagles, owls, and swans. Yes, swans. They’ll mess you up something fierce if attacked!

Have you ever been attacked by a dangerous bird? Share your tale in the comments section!