Happy spooky season! One of the great things about Halloween is that we can face our fears in a fun way. In honor of the scariest day of the year, people put on their best consumes, stuff their mouths with sweets and best of all, gather together to share scary stories! In celebration of Halloween, we’ve compiled a list of the top seven scariest bird species, from species that have a bad reputation for years to those that are barely creepy to look at. Let’s find out which bird is the spookiest and which bird can best exemplify the Halloween spirit.
Top 7 Scariest Birds That Will Give You Chills
Here, we’ve listed the top 7 scariest birds that you might be interested in.
Ravens
World-renowned in Edgar Allen Poe’s classically creepy poem, The Raven, ravens have long been viewed as the symbol of evil. Much European folklore depicts them as unhappy ghosts. Germans believe that ravens carry the souls of the dead, the incarnation of cursed souls or sometimes Satan himself. And how creepy is that they even feed on the corpses of the dead! But beyond all that, ravens are highly intelligent! They’re excellent hunters. Often hunting in groups, ravens have been known to capture and kill prey twice their size. Ravens can imitate the voices of wolves or foxes and lure them to carcasses that they cannot break open. When the wolf has finished eating, they’ll get the leftovers.
Crows
Large, black birds found in a variety of habitats worldwide, crows get extra spooky points in other areas while crows are not as gothic as their next-of-kin. The crows are often associated with death, danger, and even evil. Although there is no definitive explanation for why we call them murderers, it’s likely due to their habit of scavenging around graveyards and other places associated with death. They will eat just about anything they can find, including dead bodies on the battlefield or corpses hanging from the gallows. The birds prefer soft tissue such as eyes or the meat inside an open wound. One superstition holds that if a crow lands on a roof, death or misfortune will befall the home’s inhabitants.
Barn Owls
Barn owls are probably not on the top of your list, but for centuries, the innocent, farmer-friendly creatures have been scaring people out of their minds with their spooky screams and hissing. Let’s face it! Barn owls have pretty scary looking, let alone their bloodcurdling scream which might be enough to make you think twice while taking a night stroll. While they’re harmless to humans, their skull-like faces and aren’t doing them any good. And since they are nocturnal, it gives them a spooky boost over the daytime birds. But they are indeed the most mysterious and graceful hunters you’ve ever seen! They have unique feathers that make it almost impossible to hear them coming, even for a little rodent. Once they catch their food, they swallow their prey whole. And for farmers, they’re a truly good helper to keep the rodent population under control.
Shoebill Birds
The shoebill is undoubtedly one of the scariest-looking birds on the planet. As its name suggests, its peculiar bill looks like a heavy leather boot, which gives it a more dinosaur-like appearance. Shoebills typically feed on large fish such as eels, lungfish, and catfish. But they won’t hesitate to hunt for lizards, snakes and baby crocodiles, either. With a deadly beak and a strong jaw, they can crush a baby crocodile in one bite. As one of the most aggressive and cruelest predators on the planet, after taking the prey’s body in its beak, the shoebill opens its beak just enough for the victim to poke its head out, and then clamp down the beak again to decapitate the prey. And they are not afraid to take on creatures twice their size. They can even fight alligators if needed. They’re born to be a fighter, hunting only to survive.
Cassowaries
Cassowaries might be the deadliest living bird on Earth, and they are one of the closest living relatives to dinosaurs. From the same families of ostriches, they can reach heights of up to five and a half feet and weigh up to 135 pounds. Despite their spook looks, they have a blood-stained history of attacking people, dogs, and sometimes even horses. Of 221 cassowary attacks, 150 were against humans. The majority were due to people trying to get up close to the cassowaries, wanting to feed them, causing them to feel threatened. Attacking cassowaries charge and kick, sometimes jumping on top of the victim. They may also peck, barge, head-butt, or use the three-inch-long talons to disembowel you.
Dracula Parrots
Dracula parrots are considered one of the most gothic birds on the planet, with their black and red body that resembles a cape. And it also has the body of a parrot and the head of an eagle. It’s a massive bird, and its size from the beak to the tail can stretch up to half a meter and weighs close to one kilogram. Its big head, bare face and long and hooked beak make it look so much like a vulture. These birds do not have feathers around their eyes and beaks because they feed on bloody carcasses. There are a few reasons why this bird is called Dracula parrot. And one of the reasons is that it has a downright terrifying call. Its call has been described as a harsh and rasping growl when the bird is in flight.
Griffon Vultures
As Europe’s second largest bird, the Griffon vulture has impressive size up to a 3m wingspan and a shockingly long and slender neck with a hooked beak. They can be distinguished by their creamy-white ruff and uniformly gray head and neck. They usually hunt in groups and circle around the dead body. Once the food is sighted, they’ll swoop down and begin feasting. And when these groups tear through carcasses, their visceral calls add another level of terror. A drawn-out hissing is made by dominant birds during feeding, and when another bird comes too close, they will start a wooden-sounding chattering to the drive outsider away. Griffin vultures are carnivores and scavengers, and they feed on the soft tissues of the carcasses, and sometimes they’ll go after injured or debilitated cattle or sheep.
Did we miss any scary birds? If we did, you’re welcome to DM us on Facebook to share your experience. And if you want to see any birds in person, we highly recommend you install a bird box camera into your nest box or in your backyard to watch wild birds and other wildlife up close.
