Can a falcon attack a person? Birds that can attack humans. the most dangerous birds for humans

Birds are a symbol of peace and goodness. We can name several dangerous animals, insects and even reptiles, but we are unlikely to easily remember birds that are deadly to humans. And they are...

Cassowary

In appearance, this bird is completely harmless, but it is original and “elegant”. In fact, the cassowary is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most dangerous bird on the planet. Sensing a threat (or simply seeing a person on its territory), this flightless inhabitant of the tropical forests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia immediately attacks.

The cassowary's legs are very strong, and its claws, like daggers, are capable of causing fatal injuries. The "bird" has a rather nasty character; the cassowary flies into a rage for no apparent reason.

This fact was even highlighted among the American and Australian military during World War II, emphasizing the fact that it was better to avoid meeting the colorful feathered monster. By the way, cassowaries are rarely kept in menageries - due to their unpredictable temperament, zoo workers were most often injured from this creature.

South American harpy

This is the strongest eagle in the world, whose body weight reaches 9 kg. The claws of a huge bird are larger and more powerful than those of a tiger and a bear, and it will not be difficult for it to pierce a human skull.

The harpy usually does not attack a person first; contents itself with monkeys, sloths, boa constrictors and smaller birds for lunch.

The only exception is an attack on the nest of this Mexican eagle. The harpy will selflessly protect the only chick (and these pairs of birds raise only one chick).

At the moment, the number of South American harpies is steadily declining, the reason for this is the destruction of forests and the reproductive characteristics of winged predators.

Blackbird Flycatcher

To be deadly to humans, this bird did not have to be distinguished by its large size and physical strength. The blackbird flycatcher, also known as the bicolored pitohu, is the most poisonous bird on the planet. In addition to the pitohu, there are also three-venomous birds, two of which belong to the same genus (P. kihocephalus and P. ferrugineus) as the bicolor pitohu, and the third was the blue-headed ifrita covaldi.

All three “analogs” are significantly inferior in the degree of toxicity to the blackbird flycatcher. In 1989, ornithologist Jack Dumbacher studied birds in New Guinea. While releasing cute birds from the web, the scientist scratched his finger. Not paying attention to the scratch, Jack instinctively put his finger in his mouth and immediately felt his tongue, mouth and lips go numb.

Subsequently, it was found out that the poison enters the bird’s body along with beetles of the species Choresine pulchra, and then gradually accumulates in the feathers and skin.

As a result of its meals, the flycatcher becomes dangerous to other mammals, although the bird itself has adapted to the poison. It’s funny that the local aborigines have long known about this quality of pitohu; the ornithologist’s “greatest discovery” amused them greatly.

Canada goose

The Canada geese (not to be confused with Canada Goose jackets) is a very beautiful waterfowl of the Anatidae family. The huge duck has an aggressive disposition and desperately defends its territory.

When encountering humans, Canadian hussars often inflicted lacerations, serious fractures and cranial injuries on people.

Federal wildlife scientist Neil Dow conducted field research and published results showing the destruction of the coastline and the destruction of many animals and birds by the geese. In addition, geese have collided with airplanes many times.

In 1995, in Elmendorf, Alaska, a US Air Force plane crashed into a flock of geese on takeoff and crashed. 24 crew members were killed. In 2009, the pilot of Flight 1549 managed to make an emergency landing after encountering Canadian hussars, and the passengers escaped with minor injuries.

Crows

Feathered city dwellers have neither poison nor extreme physical abilities, but they have a surprisingly developed intelligence. An organized flock of crows is capable of acting like a real gang, according to a pre-planned plan.

There are often cases when crows work together to drive their prey - small animals and pigeons - under the wheels of vehicles, and then drag the unfortunates to the side of the road and feast.

Crows can also attack humans. Reports of their attacks on people appear in the press every now and then. Especially in the spring.

Most often, children and old people become victims of flocks, and, surrounding the unfortunate person from all sides, crows are able to inflict significant injuries with their hard beaks, diverting attention to each other.

London runners in Elten Sound Park were forced to change their running route due to an attack by crows. It is noteworthy that the aggressive birds attacked mainly blond people. The reasons for the hostility towards blondes have never been clarified.

The consequences of the intelligence of crows were also reflected in mass incidents - in just one month of 1978, nine trains derailed in China. The cause was the rubble that the crows placed on the rails.

Birds are considered to be some of the most fascinating and beautiful creatures on earth, providing millions of people around the world with invaluable experiences with wildlife. Most birds are harmless animals to humans. However, some bird species have adapted to their environment, developing sharp claws, strong paws, territorial instincts, and the ability to fly with unrivaled ferocity.

№10
Red-tailed buzzard
Possible damage: injury

Photo. Red-tailed buzzard in flight

The Red-tailed Buzzard is one of the large hawks found in North America and is one of the most common. It is one of the most commonly encountered buzzards and can be found in farmland, near highways, parks, native prairies, and lightly wooded habitats.

The red-tailed buzzard weighs between 3 and 4.4 kg and has a wingspan of about 1.5 meters. They place their nests in trees near open areas and defend them very fiercely. If the nest is built in an area frequented by humans, the hawk may identify humans as a threat and will want to drive them away from the area where it lives.

Attacks usually appear as quick swoops with massive claws outstretched. In Connecticut, in 2010, during a buzzard nesting season, a number of people were attacked for territorial reasons. Several people were injured and hit on the head. At this time, school athletics activities were moved indoors.

№9
White Owl
Possible damage: injury

Photo. White owl takes a closer look

The snowy owl (snowy owl) is a large white bird immortalized in the film Harry Potter and the northernmost bird of prey living on the planet. Snowy owls live in the tundra near the Arctic Circle and are also able to withstand temperatures down to -50. The bird's height is about 45 cm, its wingspan is more than 1.2 meters. Their weight can exceed 2 kg. When walking in the Arctic tundra, near areas with grass and unmelted snow, you need to look around carefully.

Owls can get close to the nesting site without any signs of alarm. But once the threat is real, that patch of “snow” may be remembered for a lifetime, as the snowy owl will rush to scare off the intruder. If that threat is a human, the owl may lunge at your face and head with its razor-sharp talons outstretched. Serious injuries, especially to the eyes, are the most likely outcome of an owl attack. In such cases, it is necessary to bend down, protect your face and quickly back away.

№8
bearded man

Photo. Bearded vulture or vulture

The bearded man (Lammergier) is translated from German as “lammer”. The most predatory species of vulture were thought to feed on lambs, but they are unlikely to be able to handle a lamb unless it is sick or dead.

It is the bird's penchant for hard food items that need to be cracked that makes it potentially dangerous. The bearded man has adapted to get to the soft marrow inside the bones, because it is only the bones that remain after other scavengers have stripped the corpse. To get to the brain, the bird takes a bone with it and throws it in the air so that it falls on the stones and breaks.

Video. Bearded vulture bird

This poses a certain threat to people in close proximity to them. The bearded man views the skull as a substitute for stones, and treats it the same way. The ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus is said to have been killed by a turtle that fell from the sky, presumably thrown by a bearded man.

№7
Spotted Owl
Possible damage: injury

Photo. Spotted Owl on a bitch

The spotted owl is a furry, medium-sized bird of prey native to the swamp forests of southern North America. The wingspan reaches up to 1.2 meters, and the weight can reach 1 kg. This bird preys on small animals and has recently expanded its range north and west into British Columbia.

Climbers in the Pacific Northwest pay to hike through forests inhabited by barred owls. When an owl flies, its victims cannot hear it because its special feathers muffle the owl's soaring flight. The birds target the head with their sharp talons, scratching, pecking and squeezing. Such an attack can result in bloody head injuries. Attacks in the parks have been reported since 2001; four Texas residents were left bloodied in a series of owl strikes in 2007. Helmets can be a useful means of protecting you from owl attacks.

№6
White-billed loon
Possible damage: death or serious injury

Photo. White-billed loon on the lake

There are only five known species of loons, widely known since ancient times. Loons nest near lakes in tundra, arctic forest, and arctic tundra in North America and northern Eurasia. Loons fly south for the winter, a shortcut to spending the winter in sheltered bays throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Loons weigh 4-6 kilograms and have sharp teeth in their beaks that they use to bite into fish.

Pollution of the lakes has caused the loon population to decline, prompting scientists to follow them to track their movements. There is a known case when an ornithologist confused a loon with a predator and banded it. The fallen bird began to defend itself, its beak resembles a dagger, with which it pierced the chest and heart of the researcher, who died on the spot.

№5
mute swan
Possible damage: injury or death

Photo. Mute swan on the lake

The mute swan is one of the largest waterfowl in the world, and it is also worth noting that it is one of the most aggressively territorial birds. The birds mainly live in Eurasia, but they have also been bred in many other parts of the world. The mute swan, unlike other swan species, nests in park ponds, public lakes, and other places that may be frequented by people. These birds defend their nests extremely aggressively from any possible predators.

If a person approaches the shore of a lake where there is a nest, the 9-kilogram bird will hiss and get angry. The swan strikes its opponent with its muscular wings, which reach more than 2 meters in span, pecking and pushing until the threat is gone. An attack by a mute swan can result in serious injuries, including broken bones, bruises and eye injuries. In one tragic incident, a caretaker drowned after being pushed out of his kayak by swans.

№4
Herring gull

Photo. Herring gull in flight

Primarily nesting gulls, especially large species such as the European herring gull, can behave very aggressively towards perceived intruders. Increased trash and available food in urban areas have encouraged gulls to nest in these new habitats, increasing conflict with humans. These birds aggressively steal food from humans, resulting in potential injury from their massive beaks. One boy suffered cuts to his face after a seagull stole his sausage.

The bird can weigh more than 1 kg, the wingspan is 1.2 meters. During the nesting season, they retain their territorial instincts. In 2001, a woman in the UK suffered deep lacerations to her head after being attacked by a seagull, and her dog was found dead. And in 2002, a retired man died of a heart attack after being attacked by a flock of seagulls.

№3
Whistling Crow
Possible damage: serious injury or death

Photo. Whistling crow on the lawn

The Whistling Crow is a southern relative of the crow and is closely related to the magpie. The feeding habits of this species are relatively safe, since the crow is mainly oriented toward terrestrial invertebrates. However, the territorial behavior of this huge songbird, whose wingspan is almost 1 meter, makes it one of the most dangerous birds on the planet to humans.

During their six-week nesting period, the birds fearlessly swoop down in pairs to attack intruders where they are most vulnerable. In humans, this is the area of ​​the head and face, and eye injuries, serious superficial wounds, and traumatic brain injuries have been reported. Fatalities have occurred when attackers, such as pedestrians or cyclists, panic after being hit on the head with its talons and massive, pointed beak.

№2
African ostrich
Possible damage: serious injury or death

Photo. African ostrich with her babies

The African ostrich is the largest bird on earth, and is the only remaining species of ostrich after the tragic extinction of the Syrian ostrich. Ostriches weigh on average 70 kg, and their height can reach almost 2.5 meters.

The birds' long eyelashes and wide beaks may seem funny, but the territorial ostrich is better feared. Irritated ostriches can accelerate up to 70 km/h, but when their territory is threatened, they can attack people.

Ostriches have massive leg bones similar to hooves, their claws protrude several centimeters. A person can be gutted or beaten to death in a matter of seconds. In South Africa alone, up to three attacks are recorded annually. Following the invasion of the ostrich's breeding habitat, the number of human deaths has only increased over the past few years.

№1
Helmeted cassowary
Possible damage: serious injury or death

Photo. Beautiful helmeted cassowary

The helmeted cassowary is a tropical forest dweller from the ratite family, native to North Western Australia and New Guinea. Cassowaries have black plumage and blue spots on the skin, and on their head they have a so-called helmet, which makes it resemble a lizard. These birds weigh more than 60 kg, are about 1.5 meters tall, and fiercely defend their territory.

Armed with extremely sharp spurs and possessing one of the strongest punches of any animal, cassowaries will not hesitate to challenge a perceived threat. There have been cases when, as a result of a cassowary attack, a human corpse was found torn, gutted, or instantly killed by a blow to the head in their habitat.

Typically, cassowaries peacefully collect plant material and arthropods from the forest floor, but like all of the above birds, do not be fooled.

We associate birds with something calm and beautiful: light, independent of the disturbances of earthly life, they have always aroused in humans something like a little envy. However, do not rush to relax - Mother Nature still has something to surprise us with. Among the huge variety of bird species, there are some that we do not advise anyone to encounter.

goshawk

Ostrich

Griffon Vulture

blue jay

Cassowary

Red cardinal

When we think of birds, we always think of small, friendly creatures that symbolize peace and freedom for us. But this doesn't always happen. Some of the birds can be very dangerous and encountering them can even lead to death. Here is a list of the 10 most dangerous birds:

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Red-tailed buzzard

Hawks are on the list of the smartest birds. The red-tailed buzzard or red hawk very fiercely and bravely defends its nest from enemies, and sees people as a source of danger, especially if its nest is located in a place that is very close to people. During the flight, the buzzard tracks its prey and quickly and quickly catches it in flight. Red-tailed buzzards have massive claws, and such a grip can cause fatal injuries.

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Falcon

Falcons have very sharp talons and beaks, and they also consider humans dangerous. Falcons are birds that divide territories among themselves, so these birds do not hesitate to attack. If you come close to its nest, you are in great danger. They have a hook-shaped beak, which helps them tear off pieces of meat and also bite through the spinal cord of the victim. Therefore, these birds can be especially dangerous for people.

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The polar owl is a kind of record holder; it is the northernmost of all birds of prey on Earth. These beautiful and dangerous birds live in the tundra and in the Arctic Circle. Owls have easily adapted to life at temperatures down to -50 C. The polar owl attacks its target with a specific strategy. If its target is a person, then the owl's talons are primarily aimed at the victim's head and face. The attacks are so violent that very often people suffer serious eye injuries.

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This bird has a second name – lambswort. Representatives of the genus of vultures tear apart the victim's carcass, so that only the brains remain uneaten. The bearded man feeds mainly on brains. He carries the bones through the air, and then drops them on sharp stones so that he can get to the best part. It is very dangerous for a person to be very close to this bird of prey.

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The barred owl is found in the swampy forests of the southern United States and weighs only 1-1.3 kg, so it usually attacks smaller prey. Their targets may not hear barred owls flying towards them due to their special feathers. The birds suddenly dive down and attack the victim's head with their sharp, as if sharpened, claws. They desperately peck their prey, tear with their claws and squeeze. Their attack can leave serious head injuries. Climbers often become victims of owls.

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mute swan

Swans seem to be very peaceful creatures, but in reality they are a bird that strictly guards its territory. It lives in Eurasia, but can also be seen in other parts of the world, including North America. Mute swan can often be found in places that are frequented by people. For example, city lakes or park ponds. When the bird feels threatened, it may attack people. Thanks to their muscular wings, such an attack can cause eye damage or even broken bones.

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Loon

The Arctic loon usually lives near lakes in wooded areas, in boreal forests and in the arctic areas of North America and northern Eurasia. Loons weigh between 3.5 and 4.5 kg. They have very sharp sharpened beaks to tear apart caught fish. This dangerous bird killed an ornithologist, mistaking him for a predator, so it is also dangerous for humans.

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Herring gulls are dangerous birds in themselves and can pose a serious danger to people. Very often they nest within the city. Seagulls attack people when they try to steal food. This often results in injury from their extremely sharp beaks.

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At the end of our list is the African ostrich, the largest bird on Earth and the only surviving species of ostrich after the extinction of the Arabian ostrich. For us, the appearance of ostriches with their small head and long neck is quite comical, but

it's deceptive. Standing, his height exceeds 2 meters. An ostrich weighs about 108 kg. These birds can run at speeds of up to 70 km/h. They can attack people if they feel their young are in danger or if people get close to their habitat. It only takes them a couple of seconds to kill a person.

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The last bird on the list is called the most dangerous to humans of all known birds. These birds live in the tropical forests of New Guinea and North Western Australia. Southern cassowaries have unusual blue skin and ostrich-like black feathers. Cassowaries weigh more than 60 kg and reach a height of 1.8 m. They fiercely and desperately protect their territories from outside invasion. They have sharp spurs and have the strongest striking force of any bird. In 2004, the famous Guinness Book of Records declared cassowaries the most dangerous bird in the world.

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Conclusion

This was an article TOP 10 most dangerous birds in the world. Thank you for your attention!