According to research led by the American Museum of Natural History in 2017, there are approximately 18,000 bird species on Earth—nearly double the amount previously thought. One of the study’s authors said that this number has concerning implications for conservation practices.

Many bird species have already gone extinct due to predation or human activity. Despite significant conservation efforts during recent years, a lot of species are on the verge of extinction today—including some of the birds on this list. So let us appreciate these bizarre avians while we still can.

10 Inca Tern

Named after its habitat, which used to be ruled by the ancient Inca Empire, this bird can only be found near the Humboldt Current. Inca terns have adapted to hunting for anchovies and other small fish by plunge-diving into the cold current waters. They sometimes also scavenge for remains left by dolphins and sea lions.

From a distance, this avian may seem like any other ordinary bird species. But up close, it is impossible to miss the Inca tern’s most unusual feature—a dashing white mustache. Both male and female birds grow the mustaches. This highly social species nests in colonies of several thousand birds, typically laying eggs in cliff hollows or fissures.^[1]

Although the Inca tern is not considered to be under threat of extinction, the reduction of anchovy stocks due to overfishing could have a serious impact on their population size. Cats and rats on some of the islands can also prevent nesting. In 2009, the Peruvian government created the Guano Islands and Capes National Reserve, which protects Inca tern and sea lion colonies on 28 guano islands and cliffs.

9 Amazonian Royal Flycatcher

Even though all royal flycatchers are fairly similar, some experts divide them into four subspecies based on geographical location. The Amazonian royal flycatcher is widespread in northern and central South America east of the Andes. They primarily inhabit humid and deciduous lowland forests.

Royal flycatchers can be recognized by a unique ornate crest which ranges among various shades of red and orange. The crest is usually reclined, giving the flycatcher a hammerhead appearance. When raised, the crest has a distinctive fan shape.

Besides location, Amazonian royal flycatchers are distinguished by their cinnamon-colored rump and tail. These avians are also smaller and darker than other flycatchers. Males have exclusively red crests, and females have orange ones. As their name suggests, royal flycatchers primarily feed on insects.

Although this species is described as uncommon, Amazonian royal flycatchers are not under any significant threat. That could be partly attributed to their habit of nesting on branches above water, which helps with the safety of young birds.^[2]

8 Southern Giant Petrel

The southern giant petrel is a large bird with pointed wings and a huge bill. It has two distinct color forms—white and dark. Only around 5 percent of southern giant petrels have the white color variation, but the dark birds’ colors tend to whiten with age.

A hunched back during flight is another common characteristic. This circumpolar species is distributed from the subantarctic islands south to the Antarctic continent.

Due to their diet containing a lot of elephant seal and sea lion carcasses, the southern giant petrel is known as the vulture of the sea. Other delicacies include fish, squid, penguins, and albatrosses.

These savage birds are frequently seen with blood-covered heads while feasting on animal remains. There are also some reports of southern giant petrels bashing other seabirds against the surf or holding them underwater to drown them.

On top of that, southern giant petrels are known to vomit their putrid stomach oils when faced by threats or nuisances, such as fishing boats. Annoyed sailors, who sometimes have their fish stolen, have nicknamed the birds “stinkpots.”^[3]

Researchers from the University of Barcelona have discovered that some Antarctic bird species could be threatened by human diseases. Birds including kelp gulls, penguins, and southern giant petrels can pick up bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. After testing fecal samples of more than 600 seabirds from several different locations, three findings suggesting reverse zoonosis were found.

7 Kakapo

New Zealand was the perfect place for isolated animal species to evolve separated from the rest of the world. As a result, the country is now known for many unique animals. And the kakapo is one of the most bizarre species among them. It is the world’s heaviest parrot, the only flightless parrot, and one of the longest-living birds on Earth.

Kakapos do not reach sexual maturity until 9–10 years old and are believed to live past age 90. However, the oldest-recorded specimen died around age 80. Despite their long life spans, the kakapo population has been critically endangered for more than a century because they only breed every 2–5 years, live on the ground, and freeze when in danger.

The parrot used to be abundant until the first human settlers arrived and hunted them for feathers and meat. Land clearance and other predators—such as domestic cats, dogs, and stoats—almost drove kakapos to extinction. The first conservation efforts began in 1894, but they were unsuccessful until the kakapo breeding program established in 1995.

There were only 51 kakapos left when the program began, but their population has increased significantly since then. According to the New Zealand Department of Conservation, there are 148 kakapos alive right now.^[4]

6 Guianan Cock-Of-The-Rock

The Guianan cock-of-the-rock is native to Colombia, Venezuela, southern Guyana, and northern Brazil. Both males and females can be instantly recognized by their constantly erect crest, which covers their broad-based bill. Male birds have an incredibly bright orange color. Meanwhile, females are brown, sport smaller crests, and have a black, yellow-tipped beak.

Named after their dependence on huge boulders and rocky caves for breeding, Guianan cocks-of-the-rock spend a lot of time on courtship. Up to 50 males participate in communal leks, which consist of combat and dancing displays. Females prefer males that display dominance by controlling the center of the lek.^[5]

Communications between Guianan cocks-of-the-rock contain a large variety of sounds. They can snap their beaks to create a popping sound. At leks, males utter loud, crowing, chicken-like noises. While foraging, the Guianan cock-of-the-rock is known to give out loud sounds which have been likened to a rubber duck being strangled.

Their favorite meals are fruits and berries. But if none are available, the birds will settle for insects, small reptiles, or frogs.

5 Sri Lankan Frogmouth

The Sri Lankan frogmouth can only be found in the dense tropical forests of India and Sri Lanka. It is no secret how the frogmouth got its name, with a head as wide as its body and a large, gaping mouth. Males are gray and heavily spotted with white, while females sport a rusty red color and sparse white freckling. They are also equipped with a broad, hooked, flattened bill.

These nocturnal birds spend most of the day resting on branches and prey on insects at night. The Sri Lankan frogmouth is not considered to be a vulnerable species, but the recent trend of replacing shade-grown coffee plantations with more profitable tea plantations has demolished some of the bird’s native forests. Other threats to their habitat are caused by cultivation, forestry operations, fires, and grazing.

In the 19th century, the frogmouth was found only in Sri Lanka. The bird has been spotted farther and farther north in recent years, which has been attributed to climate change. Another animal species, the brown palm civet, has been observed moving farther north as well. Scientists are concerned that these habitat shifts could be global warming growth indicators.^[6]

4 Magnificent Frigatebird

The magnificent frigatebird uses its deeply forked tail to effortlessly steer through tropical breezes. It prefers to fly along the coast of the southern US, Mexico, and the Caribbean when winds are at their strongest, keeping the birds aloft. This allows them to remain in the air for up to two months without a single landing.

Since magnificent frigatebirds do not have waterproof feathers, they avoid landing in water. Wet frigatebirds are unable to fly. Instead, they feed by harassing other birds for food and snatching it in midair. It takes a lot of practice to become a sky pirate, so young frigatebirds chase each other with sticks. When one bird drops the stick, another one catches it.

The most distinguishable magnificent frigatebird feature is a large, bright-red throat pouch which males inflate to attract females. It is also the only seabird with a significant difference in appearance between genders. Females are usually larger than males and have a white throat instead of the red pouch.^[7]

3 Long-Wattled Umbrellabird

Elvis Presley would be jealous of the hairlike feather crest that hangs over the bill of long-wattled umbrellabirds. These fancy avians are also equipped with a long, inflatable wattle that dangles from the middle of their chest. The wattle is covered in short, scaly feathers and can resemble a pine cone when inflated.

Males use these ornaments to attract females during mating season. Male long-wattled umbrellabirds are also twice the size of females, which have much smaller or absent wattles. Compared to most birds, they are clumsy fliers and prefer to hop between tree branches.

The long-wattled umbrellabird is endemic to western Colombia and Ecuador. Since the bird spends most of its time in humid forests, the habitat loss caused by logging, road building, and gold mining has significantly affected its population size. Some locals also capture these animals and sell them, keep them as pets, or eat them.

Long-wattled umbrellabirds play a crucial role in eating the fruits of rain forest trees and dispersing their seeds. Research has shown symbiotic survival of rare birds and rain forests. Harming birds hurts the forest, and vice versa. Sadly, both the long-wattled umbrellabird and the forests it lives in are slowly disappearing.^[8]

2 Helmeted Hornbill

Helmeted hornbills are large, noisy birds confined to the pristine forest habitats of Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Myanmar. The structure on a hornbill’s beak is called a casque, which is French for “helmet.” Unlike other hornbill species, the casque of helmeted hornbills is solid and heavy, accounting for more than 10 percent of the animal’s weight.

The helmeted hornbill can be recognized by its bizarre facial features and long central tail feathers. The wrinkled skin on its throat, known as a gular pouch, is used to carry items of food back to the nest. The pouch is red for male birds and turquoise for females. These fruit-loving avians are very picky. Only the finest lowland tropical rain forests with plenty of fruiting trees provide a suitable habitat.

During incubation, the female helmeted hornbill is sealed in her nest with mud. The male then supplies her with food by regurgitating fruit from his throat pouch through a small opening to the nest.

Due to high demand from China for carvings made from the bird’s casque, the helmeted hornbill has become critically endangered. The species has a very slow reproductive rate, and small amounts of poaching can disproportionally reduce their numbers. More than 30 wildlife conservation organizations are doing everything in their power to keep this species alive.^[9]

1 Hoatzin

Hoatzins are widespread and fairly common throughout central South America. They often sit in the open but retreat to denser cover if threatened. The bird can typically be found in trees and shrubs along rivers and lakes. Although the hoatzin may appear fearsome, it is not skilled at flying and its movements can be described as awkward.

Visually, the bird is distinguished by a loose crest, bright blue facial skin, and red eyes. However, the bird’s most unusual feature is its multichambered stomach. Hoatzins are sometimes referred to as flying cows because they feed on young leaves and buds, which are digested with the aid of bacteria and microbes. It is the only bird in the world that can survive by eating nothing but leaves.

As if having a bovine digestive system was not enough, hoatzins are also born with claws on their wings. Young hoatzins can swim and often jump into the water when faced with danger. Then they use the claws to climb back into trees. Wing claws used to be a common feature in ancient birds, but this species has managed to maintain them over generations. The claws are lost when the hoatzin matures.^[10]

Ask any kid in almost any country, and they’ll tell you who Big Bird is. But how well do we really know our feathered friend? On the surface, he’s a lovable character from Sesame Street who stands 249 centimeters tall (8’2″)^[1] and sports orange feet the size of snowshoes. But there are many sides to this famous fowl. In fact, hidden behind all those feathers is a bird brain full of remarkable notions like how to say the alphabet as one big word or how to bid farewell to a special friend.

After 50 years of appearing on the most popular children’s show ever, you’d think we’d know Big Bird inside out, but he still has a few surprises up his sleeve. For instance, Big Bird hobnobs with Darth Vader and the Queen of England. He wields major political clout and once took out a presidential candidate without even lifting a feather. On top of that, he has survived multiple attempts on his life! Not to count our chicks before they’re hatched, but we think you’ll like these fun facts about the flightiest member of the Sesame Street gang.

10 He’s Not Real (Shhh, Don’t Tell the Kiddies)

Yes, it’s true, there’s a person inside that yellow suit. The man who brought Big Bird to life is Caroll Spinney, a puppeteer who met Jim Henson in 1962.

Although Spinney’s childhood years were rocky (a loving mother was overruled by an abusive father), he was still able to convey the wonder and delight of childhood through Big Bird. In an odd-couple pairing, Spinney also voiced Oscar the Grouch.

Maneuvering the bird costume is no easy task. The puppeteer stands upright and raises his right arm to elevate big bird’s head. He moves the mouth with his hand while controlling the eyes with his little finger. The right arm is hooked to the left by a string, and when the left is moved, the right moves in tandem. Big bird’s suit weighs 4.5 kilograms (10 lb), his head is 1.8 kilograms (4 lb), and according to writer Louise Gikow, the heat inside the suit can be “unbearable.”^[2]

As the puppeteer is completely enclosed in the costume and cannot see, he must wear a TV monitor strapped to his chest. Spinney called this his electronic bra. He also taped his script to the monitor, which means he was reading, watching the monitor, and operating all parts of the costume while trying to walk and not trip over carpets, TV cables, and so on. If all of this sounds like a lot to do at one time, you’re right.

In October 2018, Caroll Spinney, age 84, retired from Sesame Street. He turned the character of Big Bird over to his understudy, Matt Vogel.

9 The Fam

It only makes sense that Big Bird should be part of a big family.^[3] He was raised by his Granny Bird, but there’s an occasional reference to a Mommy and Daddy, along with a sister named Esmeralda. Big Bird flew Granny’s coop when he was still a chick, and the next time anyone saw him was on Sesame Street. Apparently, he prefers the seamy side of the ‘hood, since he built his nest next to the trash of Oscar the Grouch.

Some of Big Bird’s relatives include Uncle Slim, a cowbird from Wyoming, and a grandfather who reportedly is an emu. Big Bird has approximately 15 different cousins who are mentioned in various story lines. There’s an identical twin cousin named Herman, Cousin Bubba from the North Pole, and a surfer cousin, Floyd, who lives in Los Angeles. There’s also a baker cousin, a policeman, and a fireman, to name a few.

Big Bird’s human family includes Gordon, Luis, Maria, Bob, and Mr. Hooper. As for Muppet neighbors, over 1,000 have come and gone since the show first aired in 1969. While no one ever says why Big Bird left home in the first place, it’s clear to his millions of fans—who wouldn’t want to live on Sesame Street?

8 The Stunts

Since Big Bird is a stand-alone character able to interact with his environment, the producers of Sesame Street have involved him in all kinds of antics.^[4] Big Bird can roller-skate, ice-skate, dance, sing, write poetry, draw, ride horseback, and even ride a unicycle.

Given the complexity of walking in the suit, one wonders how it’s possible for Big Bird to roller-skate or ride a unicycle. These are skills some people can’t master at all, much less while wearing a giant costume with enormous feet (and don’t forget that the puppeteer is holding his hand up over his head while basically blindfolded).

The Sesame Street staff is actually rather close-mouthed about how it’s all done, and Spinney is modest about his acrobatic skills. When asked about the unicycle stunt, he said, “As for the unicycle, I don’t know how to ride one. It’s the suit, it’s all the suit.” If the test of a great performer is one who can make the impossible look easy, then Spinney fits the bill.

7 Accosted And Stabbed!

Stabbed? Or so it seemed. Sesame Street was doing a live show for a large audience of children. Producers had begun to experiment with the new technology of wireless microphones, and Big Bird had one in his suit. Staffers were unaware they had to clear a channel, and to everyone’s surprise, the mic picked up the voice of a trucker on his CB radio making evening plans with his girlfriend. Before it got too R-rated, the feed was killed, and someone stuck a regular mike through Big Bird’s costume. Problem solved? Not really. To the children’s horror, it looked like Big Bird had been stabbed in the heart.^[5]

Spinney recalled another upsetting incident in the 1970s where Big Bird was attacked. Slated to perform a live show for 6,000 people at Georgia Tech University, Spinney left the suit in an empty storeroom while he went for lunch. Later, as he lounged in the grass outside, Spinney noticed several ROTC members walking away with large yellow feathers tucked in their hats. Alarmed, he raced back to the storeroom and discovered that Big Bird had been accosted. Not only were there several bald spots in the suit, but one eye had been wrenched out in an unsuccessful attempt to take it as a souvenir.

Spinney was heartbroken, feeling like he’d left his child in harm’s way. He vowed to be more careful in the future.

6 Space Age Brush With Death

It was the 1980s, and the US space program was in full swing. Hoping to interest the general public (and distract from the huge cost of the shuttle program) NASA proposed a new marketing idea where an ordinary citizen would be launched into space. Then someone thought of inviting Big Bird!

When the civilian astronaut program was announced, NASA received 11,000 applicants, including Walter Cronkite and Tom Brokaw, but the happy idea of the goofy yellow bird floating in zero gravity would not go away. While Caroll Spinney never applied for the job, he was contacted by NASA and asked to orbit the Earth as Big Bird.^[6]

After some hesitation, Spinney finally agreed, but as it turned out, Big Bird was just too big to fit in the confined space, and the plan was scrapped. Schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe was ultimately chosen to be on Space Shuttle Challenger.

Fast-forward to January 28, 1986. It seemed the entire US, including millions of schoolchildren, were glued to their TV sets. Spinney and his wife were among the audience and held hands as Challenger lifted into the air. The excitement turned to horror as Challenger exploded, killing all seven people inside.

As a PR plan, this was the worst possible outcome, or was it? Having a beloved teacher involved in this tragedy was bad enough, but what if it had been Big Bird?

5 Globe-Trotter And Spy

Big Bird is the ultimate jet-setter and has traveled the world doing concerts, live shows, and book tours. He’s been to Australia, Japan, all over Europe, and even spent three weeks on location in China while filming his special, Big Bird in China.

According to Caroll Spinney, during the filming, their translators were convinced that the Sesame Street crew were spies and submitted reports on everything they did.

Another of Big Bird’s favorite gigs is making guest appearances with various orchestras. Most memorable was Big Bird’s evening with the Boston Pops, where maestro Arthur Fiedler stepped aside and let the big yellow bird conduct.^[7]

4 Big Bird’s A-List

A celebrity in his own right, Big Bird has hobnobbed with A-listers from all walks of life. He has visited the White House multiple times and appeared with at least six president’s wives, most famously waltzing with Michelle Obama in the produce section of a supermarket. He has appeared on countless TV shows, including The Ed Sullivan Show, Hollywood Squares, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Extreme Makeover, and Saturday Night Live.

Other celebrities who’ve swooned over this fine-feathered fowl, include the Queen of England, Darth Vader, NSYNC, Lin-Manual Miranda of Hamilton fame, the Dixie Chicks, and the Rockettes.^[8] Big Bird takes it all in stride and is just as happy to hang out with the kids who come to play on Sesame Street.

3 Don’t Mess With The Bird

For a fluffy yellow bird who’s eternally six years old, Big Bird has a lot of political clout. It was 2012, and then-governor Mitt Romney was running for president of the United States. He was doing quite well until he ran afoul of Big Bird.

During a debate with Barack Obama, Romney detailed his plan to reduce government spending. One idea was to cut funding to PBS, on which Sesame Street airs.

Romney said to moderator Jim Lehrer, who also worked for PBS: “I’m sorry, Jim. I’m going to stop the subsidy to PBS. [ . . . ] I like PBS. I love Big Bird. I actually like you, too. But I’m not going to keep on spending money on things we have to borrow money from China to pay for.”^[9]

While cutting spending is always a great platform, the reference to Big Bird was a mistake. People who grew up on a steady diet of Sesame Street felt an immediate stab of anguish. Social media blew up with memes and snarky comments about the coldhearted politician who wanted to kill Big Bird. The focus of the debate shifted from a serious and somewhat wonky discussion of political issues to a media frenzy featuring pictures of a forlorn Big Bird holding a “Will Work for Food” sign.

Of course, comedians and late-night hosts had a field day, and while Romney tried to be a good sport, the damage was done. In the end, Romney lost the election to Barack Obama. Was it Big Bird’s fault? We’ll never know, but it’s a good guess that Romney would like a do-over day.

2 On Dying

Mr. Hooper was one of Big Bird’s favorite people. While somewhat curmudgeonly, the storekeeper loved his fluffy yellow friend and was always good for a birdseed milkshake.

When Will Lee, the actor who played Mr. Hooper, died of a heart attack in December 1982, the shocked staff of Sesame Street were not sure how to handle it.^[10] Did Mr. Hooper move away or have a sudden change of appearance? The final decision was to make this a teaching moment and address the fact that death is part of life.

The “Farewell Mr. Hooper” episode was one of the most heartfelt of the Sesame Street shows, winning universal praise as well as daytime TV awards. According to Spinney, “It was one of the best things we ever did.”

In May 1990, Jim Henson died unexpectedly from pneumonia. His memorial service in New York City featured Big Bird singing Henson’s signature song, “Bein’ Green.” In a touching tribute to his beloved boss, Spinney managed to get through the song, but there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Life magazine later described the moment as epic and almost unbearably moving.

1 Species Of Origin

What kind of bird is he, anyway? That’s hard to say, as even Big Bird seems confused. Despite the efforts of expert researchers, his exact species remains a mystery, and answers to the question have been contradictory.

During a 1976 appearance on Hollywood Squares, host Peter Marshall asked Big Bird what kind of bird he was. “I’m a Lark,” Big Bird replied. In 1981, while appearing on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Big Bird said he was a “golden condor.” During 1987’s A Muppet Family Christmas special, Ma Bear refers to him as a huge canary, while the Swedish Chef declares Big Bird is a type of turkey, named “Gobbla Gobbla Humungo.” According to the 1998 book Sesame Street Unpaved, Big Bird’s scientific name is Biggius canarius (presumably again implying him to be a form of canary).

Big Bird has also been called a homing pigeon and a Rockin’ Robin after his performance of the eponymous song. He has additionally been pegged as a cassowary, an ibis, and a crane by various people.^[11] Finally, the fact that Big Bird can’t fly is attributed to his Grandpa, who is an emu. Said Big Bird, “Emus can’t fly, but they can run. Every fall, he ran south for the winter.”

In the end, specifics don’t matter. Big Bird makes people happy. He loves everyone, and everyone (well, maybe not Oscar the Grouch) loves him. The Bird has been around for almost 50 years and has no plans to retire. As you read this, Big Bird and his writers are no doubt hatching new and even more exciting adventures to captivate the next generation of kids.

Geanie is a writer by trade and a wanderer by nature, and she loves to combine the two activities whenever possible. You can follow her adventures at Library Lady Travels.

When Netflix released their feature film Bird Box in 2018, many viewers were left questioning what the “monster” was that drove everyone to suicide. One of the online theories is that the monster represented “mass hysterical contagion,” nowadays known as mass psychogenic illness (MPI), where a single individual suffers a psychogenic illness that spreads to a much larger group.

SEE ALSO: 10 Indications That Western Society Is Collapsing

Generally, women and girls will succumb to MPI more than men, as they are more likely to be triggered by another affected individual. Unlike the film suggests, nobody has reportedly died from the symptoms, which include hyperventilation, dizziness, panic, faintness, abdominal pain, sickness, headache, weakness, and itching.

These following real-life cases of mass hysterical contagion all ended nearly as quickly as they started. However, the sufferers will not easily forget just how frightening and disturbing such an outbreak can be.

10 The Twitching Teenagers

In October 2011, cheerleading captain Thera Sanchez woke up from a nap to find herself violently twitching and jerking. Two weeks later, a senior from the same school named Lydia Parker began humming and swinging her arms around involuntarily. Eventually, the numbers swelled from two to 20 people (mostly teenage girls) affected at Le Roy Junior/Senior High School, near Buffalo, New York.

Parents were becoming increasingly concerned that the tics were caused by the school’s water supply or that the playing fields were contaminated. However, the country’s leading environmentalists agreed there was nothing that would cause these symptoms.

According to Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, who treated 15 patients at the Dent Neurologic Institute, the symptoms were worsened by social media and press attention. Mechtler explained, “One thing we’ve learned is how social media and mainstream media can worsen the symptoms. The mass hysteria was really fueled by the national media, social media—all this promoted the worsening of symptoms by putting these people at the national forefront.”^[1] By the end of the school term, many of the teenage girls who were affected had returned back to normal.

9 June Bug

In June 1962, 62 workers at a dressmaking textile mill in South Carolina began to show symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and “a breaking out over the body.” The workers believed that the outbreak was caused by bug bites after receiving a fabric shipment.

However, investigation by the US Public Health Service, concluded that there was no reliable evidence that the contagion had been caused by an insect. Instead, it was explained that working conditions in the 1960s were so poor that the stress spread both physically and mentally between coworkers. The “June Bug” itself also could have been manifested by the initial untrained medical staff, who were not familiar with such symptoms.

The June Bug outbreak can also be explained as a social contagion, which is where groups of people who have strong social ties are affected in the same way. The majority of the coworkers were women who were the main providers for their families, which meant spending many long hours together.^[2]

8 Tarantism

In Italy from the 15th to the 17th century, tarantism was a form of hysteria that was associated with a bite from a tarantula. The term is derived from the town of Taranto, Italy. Those who were convinced they had suffered a tarantula bite would experience heightened excitability and restlessness. They would break out into a form of frenzied dancing which would allow them to be “cured.”

In 1693, a doctor in Naples suffered two tarantula bites in order to disprove that they would result in any of the typical tarantism symptoms. In front of six witnesses, he experienced no physical changes.

Tarantism gave rise to the tarantella, in which couples dance quickly and flirtatiously with each other. Composers Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, and Carl Maria von Weber have all written tarantella music.^[3]

7 Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic

In 1962, the country of Tanzania (then known as Tanganyika) suffered a laughter epidemic that began with an outbreak at a girl’s school before spreading to the surrounding communities. More than 1,000 people were affected by chronic laughter that lasted several months. Symptoms also included hysterical crying, aimless running, and violent outbursts which could last anywhere between a few hours to more than two weeks. Fourteen schools were closed due to the epidemic.

It is believed that in this particular case, one schoolgirl fell ill with anxiety-induced laughter, which then set off other girls, and a chain reaction occurred throughout the region. Researcher Christian Hempelmann noted, “We build up some magical psychic pressure, and laughter lets us release it. Statistically in this case, this did not release anything. These people were suffering, expressing their suffering through that. Nothing got better because they laughed.”^[4]

6 False Anthrax Alarms

On October 5, 2001, a letter that tested positive for anthrax killed the Sun newspaper’s picture editor Bob Stevens, and the world went berserk. The anthrax antibiotic, Cipro, was one of the fastest-selling drugs on the market, and in Dallas, an airplane was forced to make an emergency landing when potato chips that were crunched into the carpet were mistook for anthrax. In England, Canterbury Cathedral and the London Stock Exchange were evacuated due to false alarms. During the month of the anthrax fatality, there were four letters sent in the US mail that tested positive for anthrax but more than 3,000 cases of both false alarms and hoaxes.

Also during October, newspapers reported huge rises in sales as people were in desperate need of more information, and the media was blamed for overhyping the anthrax threats. Steve Caprus, executive producer of NBC Nightly News, stated that all journalists must “deal with facts—not hyping or being overly dramatic.”^[5] Over the months that followed, five people died from inhaling anthrax, and 17 others were infected after exposure.

5 St. John’s Dance

In 1374, there was an outbreak of uncontrollable dancing in the streets of Aachen, Germany, which still baffles experts even to this day. The writhing of the bodies, sometimes referred to as “St. John’s Dance,” would drive sufferers to exhaustion.

In his 1888 book The Black Death and The Dancing Mania, Justus Friedrich Karl Hecker describes:

They formed circles hand in hand, and appearing to have lost all control over their senses, continued dancing, regardless of the bystanders, for hours together, in wild delirium, until at length they fell to the ground in a state of exhaustion. They then complained of extreme oppression, and groaned as if in the agonies of death, until they were swathed in cloths bound tightly round their waists, upon which they again recovered, and remained free from complaint until the next attack.^[6]

4 Elsa Perea Flores School

Elsa Perea Flores School in Tarapoto, Peru, fell victim to an outbreak of hysteria affecting nearly 100 children at the school. During the summer of 2016, the children, mostly aged between 11 and 14, claimed they saw terrifying visions of a man in black trying to kill them and also experienced seizures. They experienced fainting attacks, muscular convulsions, delirium, and repeated screaming.

One pupil described her experience, saying, “It’s disturbing for me to think about it. It’s as if someone kept on chasing me from behind. It was a tall man all dressed in black and with a big beard and it felt like he was trying to strangle me.”^[7] Another added, “Several children from different classrooms fainted at the same time. I got nauseous and started vomiting. I heard voices. A man in black chased me and wanted to touch me.” Locals put the hysteria down to demonic possession and claimed that the children must have been playing with an Ouija board before the attacks.

3 Blackburn Fainting Frenzy

During the summer of 1965, more than 300 people in Blackburn, England, began to suddenly faint with no prior symptoms. Princess Margaret was scheduled to visit the newly restored Blackburn Cathedral, and the crowds gathered in their thousands to await her arrival. Then, one by one, people began to collapse on the ground. The ambulance staff who attended the scene said the fainting was due to being stood around in the hot sun.

The following day, 98 pupils at St. Hilda’s Girls’ School also began to suddenly faint without explanation. They were rushed to the hospital, and mattresses were laid out in the hallways to cope with the sudden rise in patients. One ambulance driver recalled, “As fast as we took them away, new cases from classrooms in other parts of the school were being brought in.”^[8]

A year later, a report in the British Medical Journal by a pediatrician and a London psychologist confirmed that this was a case a mass hysteria or, as noted, an “epidemic of over-breathing.”

2 Resignation Syndrome

A mystery illness observed in Sweden has been dubbed “resignation syndrome.” Children of asylum-seekers would withdraw completely, unable to open their eyes, speak, or even walk. Eventually, they did recover, but the illness baffled medical experts for more than two decades. Dr. Elisabeth Hultcrantz, a volunteer with Doctors of the World, revealed, “When I explain to the parents what has happened, I tell them the world has been so terrible that [their child] has gone into herself and disconnected the conscious part of her brain.”

Resignation syndrome was first reported in the 1990s. From 2003 to 2005, more than 400 cases were noted. Karl Sallin, a pediatrician at the Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, said, “To our knowledge, no cases have been established outside of Sweden.” More recently, in 2016, Sweden’s National Board of Health stated that numbers had decreased; there were 169 cases that year.^[9]

1 Coca-Cola Scare

In June 1999, Coca-Cola withdrew 30 million cans and bottles from the shelves in Belgium after more than 100 people claimed the product made them ill. It was reported throughout the country that many people, including children, became suddenly sick with “stomach cramps, nausea, headaches and palpitations” after drinking bottled Coca-Cola. After the Belgian government was swamped with complaints from citizens concerned about airborne toxins, an investigation took place. However, four members of Belgium’s Health Council suggested that the epidemic was a case of mass hysteria.

In a public letter, the health council stated, “It is probably significant that a company with such high visibility and symbolic image was involved in this episode. Besides the important role of the media, the scale of the outbreak may have been amplified by the radical measures taken by the health authorities, as well as deficient communication by the Coca-Cola company.”^[10] Coca-Cola quickly recovered from the epidemic, and sales were back on the rise within weeks of the event.

Cheish Merryweather is a true crime fan and an oddities fanatic. Can either be found at house parties telling everyone Charles Manson was only 5’2″ or at home reading true crime magazines.
Twitter: @thecheish

Birds do more than fly and tweet. Their family life includes love triangles and dropping the kids off at a creche. Their stories also show how one island loved a duck and what happens when the world’s deadliest bird is kept as a pet.

These feathered creatures stun onlookers with daring survival situations. Meanwhile, scientists have fiery disagreements about trees stuck in nets and the killing of a bird sought for decades.

10 Super Colliders

Decades of research showed that city lights cause more birds to hit windows. The worst affected are migratory species. Several thrush, warbler, and sparrow species now smash so often into buildings that scientists call them “super colliders.”

In 2019, a new study examined 70,000 “crash” specimens from Cleveland and Chicago (both located in a migratory bird lane). Most were songbirds that used nocturnal flight calls. The latter helps birds to navigate as a flock.

The study could not solve the mass deaths with certainty. However, it found a good clue in previous research: Birds called to each other three times less often in rural areas than they did in cities. It appeared that city lights disoriented the birds, prompting them to call more often to reconnect with the flock. This vicious circle lures other individuals toward the lights.^[1]

9 The Netting Fight

The United Kingdom lost over 40 million birds in the last 50 years. Conservation bodies know that nesting sites are important. In fact, it is illegal to remove an active nest.

During 2019’s spring—and bird breeding season—a fight erupted between bird lovers and housing developers. The latter avoid breaking the “active nest” law by putting up nets over trees and hedgerows earmarked for removal. This not only blocked nesting sites but there were also reports of birds getting stuck in the nets and ultimately dying.

Despite thousands of signatures pushing to make hedgerow netting illegal, the practice remains lawful. Developers have planted new trees, nine million in 2018 alone. But even conservationists who sympathize with the pressures that builders face say that developers can at least check their nets regularly for trapped birds. Apparently, this is not the case.^[2]

8 Cassowary Attacks

The world’s most dangerous bird is the cassowary. At first glance, it seems a bit harmless, just a large flightless bird with a bright neck. But this Australia and New Guinea native is so dangerous that experienced zookeepers avoid being alone with it. Cassowaries have been recorded kicking tourists off cliffs or cornering them up trees.

In 2019, a man in Florida was killed by his pet cassowary. The severe injuries that cost the 75-year-old his life were probably due to the bird’s middle toe. Each foot has three digits with formidable nails, but the middle one is practically a dagger. A kick can cause horrific damage.

The choice of pet had bird experts shaking their heads. Indeed, Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Commission views cassowaries as “Class II Wildlife,” which involves danger to people and a lot of permits.^[3]

7 The Loneliest Duck

In 2018, the editor of a newspaper visited Niue island. The latter is 2,400 kilometers (1,500 mi) from New Zealand and has a population of 1,600. To his surprise, he found a duck—something not native to the island. An article gave “Trevor” a brief spell of fame as Niue’s only duck. Some dubbed him “the world’s loneliest duck.”

The mallard appeared after a storm, which likely separated Trevor from his flock. However he arrived, the bird chose to stay. He became a local mascot and even a landmark. “Turn right after the duck” became legitimate advice to travelers.^[4]

His home was a roadside puddle often topped up by the local fire department. The islanders also took turns feeding the wayward bird. Trevor was not that lonely. He made friends with chickens and other birds. Sadly, in January 2019, the mallard was attacked and killed by a dog.

6 The Kingfisher Controversy

The mustached kingfisher is a feathery holy grail. The entire history of this rare bird is hinged on three dead female specimens. In 2015, Christopher Filardi from the American Museum of Natural History found a male. Discovered in the Solomon Islands, the gorgeous creature had a vibrant blue back and orange mask.

After photographing the history-making kingfisher, Filardi killed it. This caused a furor. Other biologists did not care for Filardi’s claims that he had assessed the local population’s numbers before killing the kingfisher. Many scientists feel that conservation research need not be so bloody, especially concerning a species with poorly documented behaviors.

The debate is not new.

For over a century, experts have been starkly divided over whether the fatal collection of specimens is necessary. The kingfisher incident received more coverage than most “scientific killings” due to its status as the first male seen by science. But the great auk, for example, was driven to extinction when researchers desired the rare penguin-like birds and paid hunters handsomely to harvest them.^[5]

5 Mama Merganser

Minnesota presented a feathery mystery in 2018. A photographer snapped a duck at Lake Bemidji, and remarkably, she had 76 ducklings. The mother was dubbed Mama Merganser. (The large family belonged to the species Mergus merganser.)

In the past, extreme limits saw up to 30 ducklings snake after a single female. A mother duck, however, can only incubate around 20. Mama Merganser would have failed spectacularly had she tried to sit on 76 eggs.

Nesting ducks often collect more eggs than they naturally produce. Mothers walk between nests and deposit eggs everywhere. For this reason, a female often incubates her own eggs and a few adopted ones. It is more likely that Mama ran a so-called creche. This happens when younger females abandon their newborn ducklings with a more experienced mother.

Even so, the size of the Minnesota creche is outstanding. Nobody really knows which ducklings are Mama Merganser’s own, how many females laid eggs in her nest, or how many were given to her as newborns.^[6]

4 Eagle Love Triangle

In recent years, researchers documented only the fourth time when three adult eagles decided to nest together. It started around 2016 when a male-female pair raised chicks in the Upper Mississippi River Refuge.

The male, Valor I, was a deadbeat dad and mate. The female, Hope, had to incubate, hunt, and raise the chicks—duties that eagle parents normally share. This was perhaps the reason why she did not object when a second male, Valor II, courted her. After the new guy moved in, Valor I stepped up and all three adults shared the duties.^[7]

In 2017, Hope was lost when two other males attacked the nest. Valor I and II continued to raise the chicks by themselves. After the kids grew up and left, the dads stayed together and even courted a new female together. Called Starr, she became their mate that fall, and the trio hatched three eaglets. They have been together ever since.

3 The Whirlpool Video

In March 2019, an online video caused anguish among bird lovers. The footage showed a bird drifting toward a massive whirlpool before being sucked in. The nature of the vortex suggested that the creature came to a bad end. The 61-meter-deep (200 ft) funnel was actually a drain. It ran 18 stories down to a creek below the reservoir serving Lake Berryessa in California.

When the lake swells too much, water is drained down the tunnel (which happened that day). The man who shot the footage was the lake’s water resources manager, Rick Fowler. He was merely taking a video of the vortex when the bird unexpectedly floated into view.

The frightening speed that pulled it down the drain combined with the force of the water caused many online commentators to declare the duck dead. However, Fowler said the bird survived—for the very reason that it was not a duck. It was a cormorant, a waterfowl known for waterproof feathers and the ability to dive deeply into the ocean.^[8]

Fowler said that the cormorant came out the other end a bit dazed but then flew up to a safe spot near the creek.

2 Instant Evolution

Daphne Major is an island in the Galapagos. During a visit, researchers noticed a large cactus finch. While known around the Galapagos, the species was not native to Daphne Major.

The male—the first cactus finch to jump to Daphne—was bigger and had a different song than local species. The newcomer’s tryst with two females, both called medium ground finches, produced hybrid offspring.

Unlike most hybrids, the chicks had no fertility problems. However, they were isolated by the local finches because their mating song—unlike their father’s—was not recognized. The hybrids could only mate with each other. Their inbred status grew when only two survived the 2002–03 drought. The brother-sister pair had 26 chicks, of which nine survived.^[9]

By 2012, there were eight breeding pairs, and in 2017, they were officially declared a new species. The original male’s legacy was priceless. It allowed scientists to watch an entire species evolve in just two generations. In evolutionary terms, that was lightning quick.

1 The Half-Sider Cardinal

In 2019, Shirley Caldwell from Pennsylvania photographed a cardinal. Although males are red, the females have tan bodies. This one was split down the middle: The right side was red, and the left was tan. The bird was half male, half female.

Experts call such animals bilateral gynandromorphs (aka “half-siders”). These two-toned wonders also show up in butterfly and crustacean species. This cardinal probably split due to a chromosomal mix-up early in its development.

It is believed that half-siders are formed when an egg cell contains two nuclei instead of one. Each develops as a different gender and results in a perfectly halved chick.

The cardinal probably cannot sing, which is something only the males can do. However, it might raise a family as a female. As its left side is female, fertile eggs could happen. This is because only the left ovary in birds actually works. Indeed, the photographer noticed that a male cardinal courted the half-sider as if it were fully female.^[10]

Larry Bird, along with “Magic” Johnson and Michael Jordan, is one of the most recognized names in the history of basketball. The “Hick from French Lick” was known not only for his impressive basketball skills but his hard work ethic and grueling style of play. Though he played throughout the 1980s and into the early-1990s, his exploits and victories in the world of basketball are still spoken of and praised by fans of the sport. Here are some facts about the man they called “Larry Legend.”

10He Grew Up In Poverty

Larry Bird was born in West Baden, a small town next to French Lick, Indiana (itself a small farming town with a population of 2,000). He was the fourth of six children born to Joe and Georgia Bird. His father mainly worked construction between long stints of unemployment, and his mother worked in a diner to make ends meet. The family’s small house was situated beside railroad tracks and only had a coal furnace for warmth—one that would often break down, leaving the family in harsh conditions during some winter nights.

His father was also an alcoholic who sometimes spent his earnings at the local bar instead of bringing them home to his family (although this did not happen often). Due to financial difficulties, Larry would often be sent to live with his grandmother, but whether in West Baden or French Lick, he received no relief from the desperate conditions which surrounded him. Larry always said his desire to escape from a life of poverty was one of the biggest motivators behind his success. Perhaps this was why—all through his childhood—Larry would take 200 practice shots every morning before going to school.

9His Father Shot Himself

When Larry Bird was just 18 years old, his father shot himself right after making a phone call to Larry’s mother. The couple were divorced at that point, with Joe’s alcoholism being the main reason for their separation. Support payments were due and work was nonexistent, which led Joe to the decision that the family would be better served through insurance money. Just before he was to be picked up by the police for failing to make his payments, Joe called his wife and told her she didn’t need to worry anymore about the situation. He then hung up and fired one shot into his head, killing himself instantly.

Growing up, Larry was best friends with his father. The two spent almost all their time together, so Joe’s death affected Larry deeply. Being a very private person, Larry never publicly showed it. Although he felt betrayed by his father’s act, Larry did manage to learn more than one lesson from him that he would carry for the rest of his life: His father did work, and he was a hard worker. Joe once spent a weekend nursing what looked like a broken foot. Larry recalled helping his father get into his boot, despite his foot being almost completely black and swollen. After an immense struggle, Larry managed to help his dad get ready, and off Joe limped to another construction job, despite the pain. Many fans marveled at Larry’s ability to play basketball through all types of injuries, though few knew where he got his work ethic from.

8He Dropped Out Of College And Worked As A Garbageman

Recruited by Bobby Knight of the legendary Indiana Hoosiers into Indiana University straight from high school, Larry Bird would last only a few weeks before he left—due to not only the strangeness of his new environment but a severe lack of funds. Larry returned home to French Lick, where he also dropped out of junior college. He took a job with the city as a garbageman out of necessity. In the meantime, he also found himself newly married and with a child.

Larry said of the job, “I loved that job. It was outdoors, you were around your friends. Picking up brush, cleaning it up. I felt like I was really accomplishing something. How many times are you riding around your town and you say to yourself, ‘Why don’t they fix that? Why don’t they clean the streets up?’ And here I had the chance to do that. I had the chance to make my community look better.”

Things probably would have stayed this way—and the world would have never heard of Larry Bird—if it were not for Bill Hodges, who fought hard to get Larry to come to the smaller Indiana State University and play ball there. In his senior year, Larry would lead his college team to a 33-0 record and a chance to face his future rival, Magic Johnson, for the 1979 NCAA championship. It was this game that would mark the beginning of one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports history.

7His Rivalry With Magic Johnson Was Made Into A Documentary And A Broadway Play

Long after the two had retired from the NBA, their legends remained fresh in the minds of older and younger fans alike. This led HBO Sports to make the 2010 documentary Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals. Later on, the documentary was turned into a Broadway play. It was this rivalry that would mark the turning point for the NBA as an organization and would become probably the single biggest sports story of the 1980s. Also, it would lead to a very close friendship between the two rival basketball stars, one that started out as anything but.

Larry lost to Magic in the 1979 NCAA championship. It would take him five long years to best his rival in the 1984 NBA championship. Until that time, the two actually hated each other. It was only shortly after that, when the two filmed a television commercial together, that a friendship would develop between them—though a very unusual one. To this day, they remain very close but never have the day-to-day contact that most friends have. Instead, knowing their lives will be forever linked, the two only meet at times required by their careers. The relationship has been described as kind of a “private club” between the two, one that both of them must “pay their dues” to from time to time. It seems this friendship and the way it plays out is just fine for both men and will continue until their final days.

6Basketball Accomplishments

The amount of accomplishments Larry Bird had in the basketball world is simply mind-blowing. They include being a three-time NBA champion, three-time MVP, two-time Finals MVP, 12-time All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, NBA Rookie of the Year, three-time Three-Point Shootout Champion, and a two-time member of the “50–40–90” club (having a season scoring average of at least 50 percent in field goals, 40 percent in three-point shots, and 90 percent in free throws). Add to that his accomplishments as a coach for the Indiana Pacers and later as an executive (he has won awards for both), and one can see that no one knows basketball quite like Larry. Furthermore, his college career was outstanding as well. Here, he averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, and led his team to an 81–13 record during his three years of play.

Despite all his achievements, Larry was known as a very unselfish player (just like his rival, Magic), which is probably why he is known not only as one of the game’s best scorers but as one of its best passers as well. An example of his unselfish style of play can be found in his 1985 game against the Utah Jazz, in which he came within one steal from recording an ultra-rare quadruple-double but instead chose to leave the game for the bench early, saying he “already did enough damage.” Up until that year, only one other player, David Robinson, had ever officially recorded a quadruple-double in NBA history, and yet Larry let his other teammates have the limelight. As if all this was not enough, even the Twitter mascot is named after Larry.

5Comparison To Michael Jordan

“Air” Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time—and rightly so. However, few people realize just how close to eclipsing that greatness Larry came in his career. A comparison between the two players reveals this truth. One can see that Larry matches or beats Jordan in almost every statistical category except points and steals per game. When asked, more than one player has stated that Larry was harder to guard than Jordan (see the video above).

Many have said that it wasn’t athleticism that made Larry great but his mind: He played the game like a thinker. He was known not only for his uncanny ability to read his opponents’ plays before they were even completed but for finding a way to get himself open in even the most crowded of plays. People he played with and against have said he was a “basketball genius” with an inflexible will to win. Time and time again, he proved this on the court. And—just for the record—how was Larry’s performance against Michael Jordan and the Bulls? Larry won 17 games while Michael won 11—a stat that pays testament to Larry’s true greatness.

4Trash Talking

Another legendary trait of Larry Bird was his extreme confidence, one that he was not afraid to show off on the court. He would often predict his game scores in advance, as well as tell the other team he would be getting the ball during clutch moments. He was simply never afraid once he stepped on the court, no matter the circumstances of the game. Oddly enough, he has said that he always got nervous before each game and that he hated the feeling.

Other players of his era note not only his trash talking but also his ability to fight if needed. Larry got into more than one scrape during his career. Perhaps most notable is the one he got into with Dr. J during a game in which they were both fined $7,500. Even though the fight was broken up, Larry returned for seconds, not being quite finished with his opponent.

3He Played His Last Years In The NBA Through Utter Pain

In 1985, Larry Bird decided to build the driveway of his mother’s home himself. He spent all day shoveling gravel and ended up hurting his back and causing his spine to get misaligned. Later on in his career, this injury, as well as multiple surgeries he had to remove spurs from the bones in his heels, would make every game he played a struggle. From 1987–88 onward, he would have to have his spine realigned before many of the games, just to be able to participate.

The injury was so severe that he often had to lie down for hours at a time, either between games or sometimes even during and after them. His toughness was legendary, however, as even during one playoff game against the Pacers, in which he suffered a concussion, he returned to the floor to lead his team to victory. His performance was so amazing that even the opposing Pacers team congratulated his effort after the game had ended.

2He Never Forgot His Roots

Larry Bird had homes in West Baden and French Lick, Indiana, which have now been turned into fancy hotels that any adoring fan can stay in. In 2007, Larry sold his home in French Lick just for this very purpose. Anyone with a reservation can now practice on the very court where Larry’s friendship with Magic Johnson began.

In addition to that, there’s a Larry-themed restaurant in French Lick. Although Larry does not own or make any money from the restaurant, he has publicly endorsed it and donated many items of memorabilia for decoration. The town, of course, has also celebrated its biggest star and even renamed a street to “Larry Bird Boulevard.” Even today, Larry often visits his hometown for entire summers and walks down its streets and avenues as just a normal and humble Indiana hometown hero.

1He Used To Be Kind Of A Pig

For an athlete with such impressive skills and a rigorous training routine, at times Larry would simply let himself go. Early in his career, he would not only chew tobacco (much to the disgust of his teammates) but also drink heavily on more than one “victory night.” One time, he even managed to drink the giant Charles Barkley under the table, a feat few could match. Worse than that was the time when, due to an injury, he was unable to play. Within a few weeks, Larry ate 38 liters (10 gal) of ice cream and seven wedding cakes, because “you knew they was gonna be good. I mean, who would [eff] up a weddin’ cake?”

Larry also had a spiteful side, although in a good-natured sort of way. During the filming of Space Jam, he would often steal food and beverages from Jordan’s cooler, just to spite the fact that Jordan had his own special cooler that no one was allowed to touch. He didn’t only take snacks for himself, he would also toss them around the set daily, just because he could.

+He Has A Daughter He Has Rarely Spoken To

During the period in his life when he dropped out of college and returned home to work, Larry was briefly married to a girl he had known for years. Her name was Janet, and they had a daughter named Corrie. Larry, being a private person, has never spent much time with his daughter or her mother and views the relationship as a mistake. It is not the fear of fatherhood that drives him away from Corrie, as Larry has two adopted children. Larry has never really spoken of his distance from his true child.

The only real statement he has made in print is in his autobiography, in which Larry states “I can’t honestly say I’ve had that much to do with her life because of my differences with Janet. I think about Corrie all the time, but what can I really do now? I can’t go back and relive the first five or six years of her life. Corrie is a fine and beautiful young lady. Her mother has done a great job bringing her up in the best way possible. Corrie is also very athletic. She’s good at everything she does and I’m really proud of her. To tell you the truth, I’ve never really known how to handle the situation, but I love her and anytime Corrie needs anything, I will be there for her.”

Like all larger-than-life figures, Larry Bird has a human side. He’s had a life with the kinds of ups and downs we all do. No one is perfect, but “Larry Legend” sure came close, at least on the basketball court.