Don’t think birds can look scary? Think again – these creepy birds look like they're out of a horror film

Think birds aren’t scary? Think again. While they may not have the fear-inducing qualities of sucking blood or parasitic feeding habits, they can still make us feel uneasy.

Similar to ‘the Jaws effect’, anyone who’s watched Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds will know that these winged animals are capable of producing their own type of nightmare fuel in certain circumstances – especially in large numbers. But rest assured, you won’t find any gulls on this list.

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Scariest-looking birds

Shoebill

It’s hard to ignore the enormous, razor-sharp beak of a shoebill, which enables the bird to quickly snatch up prey (such as African lungfish and catfish) and crack their skulls. But it’s their pre-kill hunting behaviour which can appear truly unnerving: they can stand motionless in the water for hours. Their sharp vision means they are able to spot the slightest movement and strike.

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Andean condor

Not only is the Andean condor the heaviest bird of prey in the world (weighing up to 15kg), but it is also the raptor with the longest wingspan (of around 3.2m) – which is enough to make anyone feel intimidated. But it’s their fleshy, wrinkled heads that really catch the eye. This is likely to be an adaptation that allows them to scavenge prey without wrecking their plumage.

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Southern cassowary

The word ‘cassowary’ comes from the two Papuan words of ‘kasu’ (horned) and ‘wari’ (head) – and this ‘horned head’ is one of the southern cassowary’s standout features. The horn is actually a casque; a hollow structure made of keratin. While scientists don’t fully agree on its function, it has been suggested that it helps regulate body temperature and is used to attract a mate.

While they are elusive, the southern cassowary’s sharp claws and 50kph running speed means you wouldn’t want to encounter one up-close.

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Potoo

There are seven species of potoo, so-called because of the wailing ‘po-TOO’ cry made by some species. Their wide mouths and huge eyes may look startling, but they enable this nocturnal bird to thrive at night: quickly spotting and catching prey such as moths. By day, they are camouflaged against the branches where they perch.

The great potoo is the largest potoo species and its eyes have dark brown irises (rather than the yellow of other species), which makes their eyes look almost black. It's no wonder we named them not only one of the weirdest birds, but one of the weirdest animals on Earth.

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Harpy eagle

Harpy eagles are named after harpies – the half-human, half-bird monsters of Greek mythology. They have a very distinctive look, with feathers on top of their heads that fan out when the bird feels threatened. Its talons are larger than a grizzly bears, which enables it to crush bones and instantly kill its prey. Larger female harpy eagles can easily take down sloths and monkeys, which live in the rainforest canopy and understory.

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Black vulture

Although relatively small for a vulture, a group of black vultures is still an imposing sight – and this is used to their advantage in driving away rival solitary turkey vultures from a carcass. If that wasn’t enough, they are also known to regurgitate food when approached or disturbed, and defecate on their own legs to cool themselves down. Black vultures also lack a vocal organ, so instead of a loud cry, they remain largely silent – apart from grunts or hisses.

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Northern bald ibis

Now found in the Middle East and northern Africa, the northern bald ibis went extinct in Europe between 300-400 years ago. Thanks to reintroduction programmes, their numbers have increased – although they are still classified as Endangered on the IUCN’s Red List.

Their unfeathered faces give them a vulture-like appearance, with the feathers framing their head raising when they are excited. As is typical of ibises, the northern bald ibis has a long, downward-curved beak which it uses for probing mud and water for prey.

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