Statistics: pick the best european bird

Peregrine falcons can exceed 300 km/h when diving, making them the fastest animals on Earth

Mallards are one of the most widespread duck species and are the ancestor of most domestic ducks

Blue tits can learn to open milk bottles, a behavior famously observed in Britain

Robins are highly territorial and may attack their own reflection, mistaking it for a rival

Mute swans can weigh over 10 kg, making them among Europe's heaviest flying birds

Woodpeckers have shock-absorbing skulls and special structures that protect their brains from impacts

Goldfinches often hang upside down to reach seeds that other birds cannot easily access

Great tits have been recorded using tools, including pine needles, to extract food

Lapwings perform spectacular tumbling displays during courtship, flying almost like acrobats

White storks migrate between Europe and Africa, sometimes traveling over 10,000 km each year

House sparrows have lived alongside humans for thousands of years and occur on every continent except Antarctica

Herring gulls can drink both fresh and salt water thanks to special salt glands.

Magpies are among the few non-mammals known to recognize themselves in mirrors

Wood pigeons can drink without lifting their heads—they suck water directly through their bills

Male chaffinches have a distinctive song, and different regions can have recognizable song dialects

Crows can remember human faces and may recognize people who have treated them badly

House martins build nests from hundreds of mud pellets, often under the eaves of buildings

Pheasants originated in Asia but were introduced to Europe thousands of years ago

Cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds' nests, leaving the host parents to raise their chicks

Male blackbirds are black with orange bills, while females are mostly brown

This dove spread rapidly across Europe during the 20th century from its original range in Asia

Herons can swallow surprisingly large prey, including fish, frogs and even small mammals

Swifts can spend months in the air, eating, sleeping and even mating while flying

Barn swallows can travel thousands of kilometers between Europe and Africa during migration

Greenfinches use their thick bills to crack open tough seeds that smaller birds struggle with

Kestrels can hover almost motionless while hunting, a behavior called “wind hovering.

Despite being tiny, wrens have surprisingly loud songs that can be heard from far away

Starlings can mimic other birds, animals and even human-made sounds

Nuthatches can climb down tree trunks headfirst, unlike most other tree-climbing birds

Cranes can migrate thousands of kilometers and are famous for their loud, trumpet-like calls

Linnets were once popular cage birds because of their pleasant, musical song

Jays can imitate the calls of hawks and other birds, sometimes confusing nearby animals