10 Dinosaur-Like Birds You Won’t Believe Are Real

By Rajni Pandey | August 13, 2024

Cassowary

With its helmet-like casque, powerful legs, and fierce claws, the cassowary looks like a raptor straight from a dinosaur movie.

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Shoebill Stork

This massive bird has a prehistoric appearance with its large, shoe-shaped beak and reptilian gaze, resembling a creature from another time.

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Ostrich

The world's largest bird, with its long neck, powerful legs, and swift running speed, could easily be mistaken for a small theropod dinosaur.

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Emu

Australia’s emu, with its long legs and powerful stride, shares many physical traits with its dinosaur ancestors, giving it a distinctly prehistoric vibe.

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Secretary Bird

This tall bird of prey with its long legs and sharp talons looks like a modern-day velociraptor, especially when it’s hunting on the ground.

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Great Horned Owl

With its intense gaze and silent flight, the great horned owl's facial features and hunting prowess are reminiscent of a predatory dinosaur.

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Vulturine Guineafowl

Sporting a featherless head and vivid blue body, this bird’s odd appearance harks back to a time when dinosaurs ruled the earth.

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Hoatzin

This ancient-looking bird has claws on its wings when young and a striking, reptilian appearance, earning it the nickname “stinkbird.”

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Turkey Vulture

With its bald, red head and imposing wingspan, the turkey vulture’s scavenging habits and appearance remind one of a smaller pterosaur.

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Pelican

The pelican’s massive beak and expansive wings give it a prehistoric look, especially when it’s soaring over the water like an ancient pterodactyl.

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