
Meet 4 ‘Killer' Birds That Have Been Known To Attack People — Explained By A Biologist
Do you know what the world's most deadly animal is? I'll give you a hint. It has wings and is capable of flight – but it's not a bird. The answer? A mosquito.
Mosquitoes are a true scourge, responsible for up to one million human deaths per year.
Mosquitoes aren't deadly from their bites alone – though, to be fair, a swarm of mosquitos is not something to overlook as they can kill cattle, horses and other large mammals in rare cases.
Rather, what makes them so dangerous are the diseases they carry – malaria, dengue, yellow fever and others.
Birds, on the other hand, can also be dangerous to humans due to the contagions they carry – the most common being avian flu, or H5N1. Nevertheless, the danger posed by bird flu is orders of magnitude less than that of malaria. To give some context, confirmed human deaths from bird flu over the past two decades is less than 500. I repeat: mosquitoes kill up to a million people per year.
The odds of human death or injury by bird attack is even more remote. But it does happen. When it does, it's often inflicted by one of the following four bird species – two of which we have documented evidence of human fatalities.
Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius).
getty
Often dubbed 'the world's most dangerous bird,' the cassowary (Casuarius spp.) lives in the rainforests of northern Australia and New Guinea. These flightless birds are striking in appearance – bright blue skin, a helmet-like casque on their heads, and dagger-like claws on each foot. While they are usually shy and elusive, cassowaries can become highly aggressive if they feel threatened, especially during breeding season or when defending chicks.
Their most fearsome weapon is a sharp, curved claw on each foot, which can grow up to 5 inches long. With a single kick, they can slash open skin and sever arteries.
One of the first documented fatal cassowary attacks occurred in Australia in 1926, when a 16-year-old boy reportedly tried to club and kill the bird. The cassowary kicked him in the neck, severing his jugular vein. He died shortly afterward from his injuries.
More recently, a 75-year-old man was killed by a cassowary at an exotic animal breeding farm in Florida, where the bird was being kept in captivity. The man suffered more than a dozen lacerations from the bird's sharp claws and died shortly after paramedics arrived on the scene.
Many other attacks have been reported in Australia, though most are non-fatal.
Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen).
getty
Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) are notorious for their aggressive swooping behavior during breeding season, particularly from August to October. Found throughout Australia, these medium-sized birds are highly territorial and will defend their nests with surprising boldness against much larger intruders, including humans. Cyclists, joggers, and walkers are common targets, especially if they inadvertently stray too close to a nesting site.
Attacks usually involve fast, low swoops from behind, often accompanied by loud squawking. While many incidents result in no more than a scare, some have caused eye injuries, concussions, or cycling accidents. There have been reports of people crashing their bicycles while trying to avoid swooping magpies, leading to broken bones or worse.
In rare cases, efforts to avoid these swooping birds have ended in tragedy. In 2019, a 76-year-old man from Sydney died from head injuries sustained in a bicycle accident while trying to evade a swooping magpie.
Experts suggest that not all magpies are aggressive. Only about 10% of male magpies engage in this behavior, and they often remember individual humans they perceive as threats. Wearing sunglasses on the back of your head, using zip-ties on helmets, or avoiding known nesting areas during breeding season are all common countermeasures.
(Sidebar: While the birds discussed here attack humans only in self-defense or to defend territory, meet two birds of prey that may have viewed humans as a source of food: one is recently extinct and the other lives on in this region of the Americas.)
Ostrich (Struthio camelus).
getty
The ostrich (Struthio camelus), the world's largest bird, may not be able to fly but its long legs and stature make it a serious threat if provoked. Native to Africa, ostriches can stand over 9 feet tall and weigh upwards of 300 pounds.
Their long legs are incredibly powerful, capable of delivering a deadly kick with sharp, clawed toes. These kicks are strong enough to kill large predators like lions, and can easily injure or kill a human.
Ostriches are generally peaceful grazers, but during breeding season or when cornered, they can become extremely defensive. Males, in particular, are known to be aggressive when guarding a mate or nest. Attacks on humans typically occur in captivity or farming situations, where humans may unknowingly enter their territory.
Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae).
getty
The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is Australia's second-largest bird after the cassowary and, while less aggressive, it can still pose a threat under certain conditions. Emus are curious, fast-moving, flightless birds that can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour and stand over 6 feet tall. Unlike cassowaries, they lack a killing claw, but their powerful legs can inflict serious damage with a kick or shove.
Emus are not naturally aggressive toward humans, but like any large wild animal, they can become defensive if startled, provoked, or protecting their territory. Incidents involving emus typically occur in captivity or areas where humans have fed them and altered their natural behavior. In some tourist regions, emus have been known to chase people for food or become overly familiar – leading to head-butts, pecking or the occasional knockdown.
During Australia's infamous 'Emu War' in 1932, soldiers struggled to control large flocks of emus that were damaging crops – highlighting both the bird's resilience and wariness. While the emu's reputation is more comedic than fearsome, it's important not to underestimate these towering birds. Giving them space and not feeding wild animals are all key to peaceful coexistence.
Are you an animal lover who owns a pet, perhaps even a (friendly) pet bird? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your animal.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
$100 million Powerball winner reveals how her life has changed: 'If only we knew'
Australians taking part in Thursday's incredible $100 million Powerball prize stand a chance to share the title of Australia's third-biggest lottery winner ever. Just six people know what it's like to win the $100 million prize across the country, but that all could change come this Thursday at 7.30pm AEST. At 5.47pm on the day of the last $100 million draw, back in November 2024, ticket sales peaked, with 6,415 entries sold in just one minute. The Lott expects a similar frenzy to take place in just a little over 48 hours, as anticipation builds for the draw. In February last year, a Queensland woman took home half of the record-breaking $200 million Powerball draw. Reflecting on her win more than a year on, the lucky winner has revealed she's since embraced a sea change, relocating from the suburb of Hawthorne in Brisbane to a serene coastal home. "I often speak with my partner about the version of us from last year to now, and if only we knew what was to come," she said. "On a day-to-day basis, not a huge amount has changed. I still get up for the 6am gym session, and the dog still needs to be walked and fed. The longer-term vision we have for our life is slowly coming together." The Lott's Anna Hobdell said the woman is a part of an exclusive group of six Aussies who know what it's like to win a Powerball prize of $100 million or more. While it's easy to get swept up in the excitement, if you're thinking about taking a swing, the chances of you actually pocketing the big Oz Lotto jackpot are incredibly slim. According to The Lott themselves, the chances of winning division one in Oz Lotto, based on one standard game, are a vanishingly small 1 in 62,891,499. The chances of scoring a Powerball jackpot are 1 in 134,490,400. Powerball $100m draw: You're more likely to be crushed by a meteorite than win Young Aussie set for $100 million Oz Lotto jackpot moment What really happens when you score the Division One jackpot We often hear in the news that meteorites fly by earth, sometimes coming a little too close for comfort. If a decent-sized one were to make an impact, however, it could have catastrophic consequences. As it turns out, the odds of you dying from a local meteorite, asteroid or comet impact are one in 1.6 million, according to National Geographic — MUCH more likely than a Powerball win. Tickets for Powerball draw 1517 on Thursday can be purchased at any licensed lottery outlet, online from or via The Lott mobile app. If gambling is a problem for you go to Gambling Help Online or call 1800 858 858. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Simple solution could save tree Aussie council claims is 'serious risk to public'
An Australian council has slapped a notice on a towering gum tree, informing residents of its intention to cut it down. Like other local governments around the country, Sydney's Inner West Council intends to plant replacement trees when the yellow bloodwood is gone, but a leading planning expert warns this seemingly sensible solution often contains one key flaw. "Sadly, it takes decades for trees to grow big enough to provide habitat," Professor Sarah Bekessy said. Bekessy is a professor of sustainability and urban planning at RMIT and a lead councillor at the Biodiversity Council, and she's been working with colleagues to find "clever ways" of maintaining old trees in urban environments. The problem of managing large trees in suburban areas is confounding councils around Australia, and often the simplest solution is to get a quote from an arborist and chop it down. But as Waverley and Randwick councils in Sydney's east recently discovered, chopping down beloved street trees often infuriates the residents they're charged with servicing. The tree the Inner West Council wants to cut down is located in Leichhardt on a street dominated by mid-story natives, making the large eucalypt an anomaly. Photos indicate it is surrounded by a footpath and road with no shrubs or grasses underneath, meaning locals are likely to walk underneath it. Social media has been running hot with debate about the Leichhardt tree. One said the eucalypt was simply "existing" and the plan to cut it down was "nonsense". Other residents agreed with council, with one declaring it looked "way too big for the street and pavement". "If a qualified arborist said it's unsafe and then council ignored this advice, then there'd be some explaining to do," another added. The notice on the tree indicates the decision was made because it's damaging infrastructure and dropping limbs. When Yahoo News asked for more information, council responded with a short statement explaining it was a danger to the public. "This tree is being removed due to safety concerns. Between 2019 and 2024, the tree has dropped three limbs and poses a serious risk to the public," it said. "To balance the need to uphold safety and increasing the canopy, the Inner West continues to plant more than 1,000 trees each year." While Bekessy doesn't want to dismiss the danger the tree could pose, she notes in many situations there are simple, low-cost solutions to keeping the public and vehicles out of harm's way. "No one wants to be bumped on the head by a branch, but one of the things that we've been doing with councils is planting out underneath trees," she said. "A prickly mid-story of plants happens to be absolutely fabulous habitat for birds and insects. But it also makes it very unlikely that someone's going to want to sit there or park a car there." 🐨 Calls to release documents behind helicopter shooting of koalas 🛳️ Travellers almost kill 'world's oldest animals' during luxury cruise ship tour 📸 Photos reveal details of 'secret' koala colony discovered in impenetrable forest A similar solution was suggested after US-tech company Honeywell said it needed to cut down a 400-year-old tree because of the danger it posed to people walking to the building recently constructed next door. It ultimately found a way to save the tree. Whether Inner West Council explored this option remains a mystery, as it did not respond directly to questions from Yahoo about this matter. And it's possible local authorities have no choice but to remove the tree. It's also unclear whether it has investigated what sorts of wildlife will lose their habitat when it is felled, or what species of replacement trees will take its place. Speaking generally about mature trees, Bekessy said they "punch above their weight" when it comes to providing health and wellbeing benefits to residents. "It's time we started seeing green infrastructure as legitimate infrastructure. Sometimes it needs to be managed so it's not damaging other infrastructure, but we can't trade them off each other. We need to work out better designs to enable both to exist," she said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Call from Officeworks sparks three-day mission after worrying find in store
A call from concerned staff at an Officeworks store has triggered a three-day rescue mission after a surprise visitor was spotted chucking laps around the store's roof. Employees were stunned to discover one morning last week that a boobook owl had also decided to clock in at the Maroochydore venue, in Queensland. Hoping the bird would realise his error and head home, they placed a bowl of water on the ground in a bid to keep him comfortable. But as the owl continued to flap his wings metres above their heads, staff realised they needed proper help. Enter Keith Porteous, otherwise known online as The Wildlife Rescuer. After arriving at the Officeworks, the Sunshine Coast local told Yahoo News he tried to catch the owl as it slept during the day but it was 'too clever for that'. The following day he tried to lure the boobook down with mealworms and mice, but it wouldn't budge. 'He wasn't coming down at all. I think because the store had the lights on 24 hours, and the bird being nocturnal, it was totally spun out by that,' Porteous said. 'The factor that concerned me most is, like all big stores, they lay baits for rodents, so there was a high possibility it might pick up one of those in the store. So I was quite keen to get it out as quickly as possible.' Finally, after eluding Porteous for three days, the owl, which had likely chased his dinner into the warehouse, was captured with the help of 'an extremely fine net that is virtually invisible to the bird'. 'It's such an unnatural place, with very, very high ceilings and very, very low doors, and the doors are glass as well, so the birds can't understand that. So they get their way in there, and they just can't navigate their way out,' the rescuer told Yahoo. Video footage shows Porteous repeatedly trying to catch the owl as it flaps across the rows of shelves, before gently retrieving it with the large net. After cutting off the netting in the store's locker room, he found the bird was healthy and released it in the carpark. While one of the great perks of living in Australia is being able to observe its distinct wildlife, such incidents appear to be occurring more frequently. Last year Bunnings shoppers shared concerns for the welfare of a barn owl flying around a shop in Melbourne's west. Earlier this year, two Coles stores were visited by curious magpies, one of which frequented a Canberra supermarket for a month. Usually, Porteous responds to two to three call-outs for birds stuck in stores a year. In the past six months he has completed 10 to 12 rescues. 'Over the last few years I have done quite a lot, but it's stepped up a heap this year compared to others,' he told Yahoo. Grim photos prompt warning over common backyard act Warning over 'well-meaning' Aussie craze causing more harm than good Coles store outsmarted after magpie moves in for a month: 'More clever' However Porteous said he wasn't sure if the increase was due to it occurring more often, or if locals were simply more familiar with his work and know he can handle such situations. Other wildlife rescuers have also noted a jump in the number of birds getting caught in shops, with Nigel Williamson previously telling Yahoo it seems to be 'happening more and more often'. 'I've been getting birds out of supermarkets for 40 years now, but it does seem to me that I'm doing more and more of them as time goes on," he said in March. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.