Top 10 Most Dangerous Birds

WatchMojo

And you thought Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" was scary. For this list, we’ll be looking at the birds we most wouldn’t want to run “a-fowl” of.

Transcript

00:00 "Well a bird, bird, bird, well a bird is a word, well a bird, bird, a bird is a word."

00:04 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 dangerous birds.

00:10 "A springtime stalker swoops, and Mac Sherwood's scooter ride really gets going."

00:18 For this list, we're looking at the birds we most wouldn't want to run afoul of.

00:23 Have you ever encountered these birds? Let us know in the comments.

00:27 10. Emu Emus are some of the most interesting-looking

00:32 birds around, with their uniquely-shaped, massive bodies.

00:35 But you have to be careful around them, or they'll soon get on the defensive.

00:45 As the second-largest bird, the common emu is strong and fast.

00:52 They can run as much as 30 miles an hour, and have massive feet with toe claws perfect for

00:58 kicking predators away. While it's very unlikely for a human to die by an emu's claws, these birds,

01:04 mainly found in Australia, can definitely cause some pain. As you'll learn with many birds on

01:10 this list, the best way to admire an emu is from a distance.

01:13 9. Red-shouldered hawk Many animals are protective of their nests,

01:19 but red-shouldered hawks take it to an extreme level. These North American birds think nothing

01:24 of attacking humans who they believe are a threat to their nest.

01:27 Their population has grown in recent years, which includes more of them nesting in residential

01:42 suburban areas. Reports of red-shouldered hawk attacks in Fairfield, Connecticut,

01:46 make it sound like a milder version of the town from the birds.

01:49 If you're in Fairfield and don't want to deal with a sudden hawk dive-bomb attack,

01:58 be careful where you're walking. Or consider staying inside if you have to.

02:02 8. Australian magpie What is it with Australia and frightening animals?

02:12 The Australian magpie certainly doesn't look like much at first glance,

02:22 but if they don't like you, they will let you know.

02:25 During the nesting season, they're incredibly protective of their homes.

02:32 Any perceived threats can be met with some pecks and subsequent injuries.

02:36 Attacks are typically from male magpies. However, they'll likely leave you alone

02:41 if you're good to them. Many people in Australia feed magpies, and it appears the

02:46 birds are less likely to attack those whom they trust. Is this some kind of bird mafia?

02:50 7. Snowy owl Who wants to get on a snowy owl's bad side?

03:02 Certainly not us. These arctic owls are diurnal, meaning they're out both day and night.

03:08 They're also very territorial, with immense amounts of courage and some incredibly sharp talons.

03:14 A snowy owl will go after wolves who try to swipe their eggs, to say nothing of humans.

03:22 Their nests are in the ground, so they need to be especially careful about keeping mammals away.

03:28 If you ever find yourself in the arctic tundra, make sure you do two things - wear a heavy jacket

03:34 and watch out for snowy owls. 6. European herring gull

03:42 European herring gulls pose a threat to people not only through attacks,

03:46 but also through causing diseases. Lithuanian researchers found that herring gulls in the

03:51 country held an E. coli gene that's resistant to drugs. The hypothesis is that a diet of garbage

03:57 led to the gulls getting E. coli, and it can easily spread to humans. Water can become

04:02 contaminated with fecal matter from these birds, spreading diseases further.

04:06 If you think dumping trash on the beach isn't a problem that can come back around to us,

04:17 think again. They're also prone to attack humans they believe are a threat,

04:21 and will even do so in groups. 5. Harris's hawk

04:29 When you think of a hawk, you probably imagine a large bird with a massive wingspan.

04:34 But the Harris's hawk is quite small, measuring only about two feet long. Don't let their small

04:40 stature fool you, however, because Harris's hawk, native to the southwestern United States and

04:45 portions of South America, can be incredibly vicious when it comes to attacks. They find

04:57 strength in numbers, hunting, and attacking in packs. Pressure from Harris's hawk talons is four

05:12 times greater than what any human can apply. However, it is possible to develop a positive

05:18 relationship with these birds. They're often used for falconry and are said to be quite sociable.

05:26 4. Barred owl

05:28 There are many types of dangerous birds in North America, but the barred owl is said to be the

05:37 only one deemed responsible for someone's death. A South Carolina woman was reportedly attacked by

05:42 a barred owl, receiving severe injuries. During the attack, she fell down some stairs and was

05:48 knocked unconscious, dying before she could receive medical attention. This might be an

05:53 isolated incident, but it shows just how aggressive birds can be, and how important receiving prompt

05:59 medical attention is. There have also been reports of barred owls sending people flying

06:03 out of trees to protect their nests. Maybe they should invest in some keep-out signs?

06:15 3. Ostrich

06:18 The common ostrich is the largest bird on Earth, and it can be very dangerous if you don't act

06:23 right around them. They're a bit like emus, except they're bigger, run faster, and kick harder. An

06:34 ostrich can run up to 45 miles an hour, and its kicks are intense enough to take down a lion.

06:40 If you encounter any ostriches in their native Africa or another habitat, don't panic. Just

06:45 make sure you don't do anything that could come across as threatening. Although the number of

06:50 deaths from ostrich attacks is quite low, you certainly don't want to take any chances around

06:54 them. Oh, and did you know that none other than Johnny Cash survived an ostrich attack?

06:59 2. Southern Cassowary

07:06 You should be wary around the Southern Cassowary.

07:12 These flightless birds aren't as big as ostriches, but they can be just as fierce.

07:17 Although they're stunning to look at, with their mix of black, blue, red, and brown coloring,

07:22 admiring their beauty too closely can come at a price. Not only are cassowaries capable of

07:28 powerful kicks with sharp claws, they can also jump seven feet in the air and are adept swimmers.

07:34 While deaths from their attacks aren't certain, they are still possible.

07:39 His urgent call to 911 came after he was attacked by his pet cassowary.

07:44 In a fight between cassowary and man, he didn't stand a chance.

07:47 Maybe just look at photos or videos of these birds instead.

07:50 Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.

07:55 1. Mute Swan

07:56 These birds are seen as graceful, but they can be incredibly dangerous.

08:01 2. Red-tailed Hawk

08:02 This hawk breed also goes after humans.

08:05 3. Harpy Eagle

08:06 This giant eagle, found across Brazil, is plenty fierce.

08:10 4. Llamar Geier

08:11 These bearded vultures can hurt humans through dropping hard items like bones.

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08:31 1. Pidihui

08:35 If you're not in New Guinea, you won't come across any pidihuis.

08:39 That's good news because these birds are extremely dangerous.

08:43 Pidihuis are actually poisonous, the deadliest variety being the hooded pidihui.

08:47 On its body is a toxin shared by poison dart frogs. In fact,

08:57 Papua New Guineans refer to them as "rubbish birds" due to their toxicity.

09:01 In higher doses, it can lead to paralysis, cardiac arrests, and death.

09:06 While they don't send out venom like a snake would,

09:09 eating or even touching a pidihui can prove fatal.

09:11 You can certainly see how much of an evolutionary advantage this is.

09:21 The lesson is, be careful if you're ever going bird watching in New Guinea.

09:26 Did you enjoy this video? Check out these other clips from WatchMojo.

09:29 And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.

09:34 [Music]

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