Can a bird kill you? Well, that depends on the bird, and yes! Some of these birds can very easily kill you. It's rare to hear of birds sending people to the hospital because most bird attacks are non-fatal. However, some birds can be aggressive, especially during nesting season or when guarding their young, so you need to be careful. When it comes to the most dangerous and deadly birds on this list, you'll be surprised because most of them are beautiful and seemingly harmless, but given the chance, they can very easily send someone to the hospital...
Roosters
This is a surprising addition even to us, but given the number of recent fatalities, this pet bird ranks first in bird-related killings. However, the blame lies more with people who misuse cockerels than with the birds themselves. In February 2021, a man in India was killed by his own cockerel while training it to fight for him in an illegal cockfight. Ironically, he was actually trying to cheat in the fight by tying a knife to the bird's leg so it would knock out its opponent faster. The bird attempted to escape and impaled its owner in the groin, forcing police to arrest the bird because everyone else fled after the poor creature lost consciousness from blood loss. A similar incident occurred a year earlier, when a cockerel with a knife tied to its leg slit a man's neck while being transported to another cockfight. This makes cockerels the most bloodthirsty bird in the world, but you can't blame them because you should never arm a bird with a knife.
Australian magpie
Australian magpies don't seem dangerous at all. In fact, you rarely hear of attacks by these small birds until the so-called nesting season begins. In August 2021, merciless magpie attacks killed a child. The birds also attack people who get too close to nesting trees during nesting season, and while these attacks are rarely fatal, the injuries can be significant. This is why some call the Australian magpie the most dangerous bird in the world.
Southern cassowary
These birds are often called the world's last dinosaurs because they are actually descendants of these extinct reptiles. Their aggressiveness, however, is quite different. The last recorded death from a cassowary occurred in 1926, when one severed the jugular vein of a 16-year-old boy. The birds can grow up to five feet tall, with long, powerful legs equipped with three claws. These claws can easily tear flesh, and a cassowary's kick can break a human leg. When attacking, cassowaries will not stop striking their opponent until they are out of reach, defend themselves more aggressively, or lose their cool. Another problem is that the birds flee from humans at any time, so taking off may not help much.
Emu
Like cassowaries, emus are flightless and are native to New Guinea and Australia. These birds can reach heights of up to 6 feet and run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, giving them an advantage over any human. They are naturally docile unless they feel threatened or when protecting their chicks. They have sharp beaks and claws, like cassowaries, and can easily break your LED light or poke out your eyes. They generally leave you alone when you're out of reach, and there are no reports of deaths, but some victims have ended up in hospitals.
Ostrich
An enraged ostrich has only one rule: poke until the threat runs for its life or is dead. This always happens when you get too close to these beautiful birds, which can grow up to 9 feet tall. When you can't poke them, the ostrich will kick you hard with both feet, which have strong talons that can crush your skull. Ostriches rarely attack people unless provoked, but when they do, the person will likely end up in the hospital, and the injuries can be life-threatening.
Lammergeier
Imagine simply climbing the stairs on your way to a courtroom, and then a turtle falls from the sky onto your bald head and crushes your skull! According to legend, this is how this vulture, also known as the bearded vulture, killed the Athenian playwrights and the poet Aeschylus. Now, don't be afraid of your bald head, because there aren't many bearded vultures around, and those that do exist prefer carrion and small animals to human heads and babies. These birds are also not aggressive, so they won't come for you.
Red-tailed hawk
The red-tailed hawk is one of the most majestic hawks in the world. You'll occasionally see people posing for photos with them, but they're also very territorial. They sent 12 people to the hospital in Florida in 2019 when they attacked an entire parking lot and pecked their heads until everyone bled to death. They've also been known to scratch with their talons, causing serious cuts to people who get too close to their nests.
Pitohui
Imagine tagging a bird only to feel a tingling sensation in your mouth, followed by dizziness right before passing out! That's exactly what happened to a group of scientists in New Guinea while studying the pitohui. It's the only toxic bird in the world, and it can release the same toxin when touched as the poison dart frog. It's believed the bird accumulates the toxin by eating beetles, which over the years they've become their primary diet. Therefore, it's wise to exercise caution when handling any species of this brilliant bird.
African crowned eagle
This is the only known bird on Earth that actively preys on human children. When the eagle was first studied in the 1920s, the remains of a child's skull with claw marks were found near its nest. The eagle has the longest talons of any bird and typically hunts small animals, including monkeys and baboons in the savannah. However, when animals are scarce, the birds have been known to invade human settlements and attack infants, though humans are not their preferred food.
Mute swan
The beautiful and innocent-looking snow-white mute swan is also one of the most dangerous birds in the world, especially when it comes to their chicks. They rarely attack unless they sense their offspring are in danger, in which case they will attack with everything they have, including their powerful beak and enormous wings. A man drowned in Florida back in 2012 when a mute swan knocked him off his kayak, and this is largely why you should never underestimate them.
Have you seen or been attacked by any of these birds? Why not tell us about it in the comments below!