Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
Flying high in the air with complete freedom, birds have the best viewing position of all predators. Between the ostrich, the eagle, or the unexpected gull, discover seven species of birds among the most dangerous and formidable in the world.
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The 7 Statistics About the Most Dangerous Birds in The World
- The world’s most dangerous bird, the cassowary, is believed to have been bred by humans 18,000 years ago.
- An ostrich’s powerful, long legs can cover 10 to 16 feet in a single stride.
- More than 100 emu attacks took place worldwide in 2009 alone.
- The crowned eagle’s wingspan exceeds 6 feet and makes it one of Africa’s most dangerous predators.
- The number of attacks by city gulls has doubled over the past 20 years.
- The clutching force of the great horned owl talon can be as strong as 500 PSI.
- A parrot bite can exert anywhere between 300 and 400 PSI.
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1. The world’s most dangerous bird, the cassowary, is believed to have been bred by humans 18,000 years ago.
(The Washington Post)
The cassowary is often described as the most dangerous bird in the world. This bird, which is related to emus and ostriches, is particularly aggressive in captivity. In 2019, he fatally injured a man in Florida, and in 1926, a 16-year-old teenager had his throat slit by the animal’s claws in Australia. Nothing to do, therefore, with our peaceful poultry raised in the backyard. However, it is this bird that would have been the first to be raised by humans 18,000 years ago, long before the domestication of the chicken, which dates back around 8,000 years.
2. An ostrich’s powerful, long legs can cover 10 to 16 feet in a single stride.
(National Geographic)
Have you seen the size of an ostrich’s thighs? A particularly large (he is the most imposing in the animal kingdom) and fast bird, which also knows how to defend itself by using its powerful and muscular thighs. In other words, if a predator gets too close and this giant bird is not in the mood, it can do serious damage. And if the ostrich can kill the king of beasts, needless to say, a human would have no chance of surviving such an attack.
3. More than 100 emu attacks took place worldwide in 2009 alone.
(Britannica)
The emu is the second-largest known bird after the ostrich, with which it shares the peculiarity of not being able to fly. Standing over six feet tall, the emu has two large, powerful, featherless legs ending in three toes with sharp claws. Emus attacks resulting in human injury in Australia in zoos around the world are not uncommon, with more than 100 cases occurring in 2009 alone.
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4. The crowned eagle’s wingspan exceeds six feet and makes it one of Africa’s most dangerous predators.
(IUCN)
The crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) is the absolute king of the sky in Southern Africa. No animal, monkey or antelope, can escape him. The crowned eagle indeed has a surprising strength: it can nail an adult chimpanzee to the ground without a problem. Yet this bird weighs no more than 12 pounds. One wonders how this bird of prey manages to kill its victims with such ease. In fact, it knows the exact spot where it should plant its talons: on the chest and on the head. It aims very well and never misses its shot. It can kill prey weighing over 50 pounds. Its only problem is carrying its bulky meal. Unable to lift it, it cuts it up on the spot and hides the pieces to devour them later.
5. The number of attacks by city gulls has doubled over the past 20 years.
(BBC)
While the number of seaside gulls has declined sharply over the past 20 years, the number of urban gulls has doubled. And the number of gull attacks on humans and pets is alarming in the UK. With its sharp beak, it can hurt a lot and also knows how to organize itself to attack in groups.
6. The clutching force of the great horned owl talon can be as strong as 500 psi.
(Britannica)
If there is a bird that has a sense of territory, it is the great horned owl. As soon as it establishes its nesting area, those who venture into its surroundings do so at their own risk. Indeed, the Great horned owl is renowned for attacking anything that moves, regardless of the size of the prey. It even attacks humans, as evidenced by many people who have reported attacks from these birds over the past decade. And with good reason: the clamping force of their talons can reach 500 pounds per square inch (PSI), which is similar to the bite of a large guard dog and therefore powerful enough to permanently disfigure, blind, or kill.
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7. A parrot bite can exert anywhere between 300 and 400 PSI.
(PetMD)
Although there is no documented data on attacks by domestic parrots on their humans, the fact remains that these large birds can be potentially dangerous for their owners. Indeed, some parrots such as Amazons and particularly sexually mature males can become extremely aggressive, whether towards their humans or towards their congeners. They can attack quickly and inflict painful bites.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dangerous Birds
Why is the cassowary the most dangerous bird in the world?
The paws of cassowaries are their deadly weapons. Indeed, they have long, sharp claws and can be up to five inches long. To defend itself, it is therefore with the help of its powerful paws that this large bird will try to injure or even kill its opponent by throwing its paws forward. The claws of the cassowary, like those of ostriches, can disembowel a human, so extreme care should be taken if you come into direct contact with this bird.
Are there any birds that prey on humans?
African crowned eagles have been reported to sometimes view human children as potential prey. Indeed, some evidence supports the claim that this huge eagle could prey on tiny humans, with testimony to an attack (in which the victim, a seven-year-old boy, survived and the eagle was killed by the mother) and the discovery of part of a human child’s skull in a nest. This makes the African crowned eagle the only bird known to date that would intentionally attack humans, although other birds such as cassowaries have killed humans in self-defense.
Why do birds attack humans?
Bird attacks on humans are increasingly common, according to wildlife experts, as people continue to encroach on birds’ nesting territory. Indeed, most incidents occur when birds try to raise their young. Breeding birds are very defensive of their chicks, much like a mother bear would, and will attack even animals much larger than themselves. Nevertheless, the possibilities of suffering a serious bird attack in the middle of the city are rather rare. It is during nature hikes that you should be wary of these possible attacks.
Related Read: 10 Most Dangerous Birds in the World (with Pictures)
Conclusion
Birds are not always nice sparrows that come and sing at our window. Sometimes certain species of birds are so strong and fierce that it can be perilous and sometimes fatal to approach them. We hope that the statistics and facts presented in this article have enabled you to learn more about seven of the most dangerous birds in the world!
- You may also be interested in: 7 Most Dangerous Birds in Australia: Statistics to Know
Featured Image Credit: DukeAsh, Pixabay