When it comes to birds, there are two schools of thought. Some will say that these majestic flying creatures, with their melodious song and brightly colored plumage, represent lightness and joy.

Others, however, are more of the opinion that birds are demons, sent from hell to peck out our eyes.

Without wanting to influence your opinion on these astonishing animals in the slightest, here are 15 of the most terrifying birds on the planet.

Marabou stork

This gigantic bird, which can weigh up to nine kilograms (20 pounds) and have a wingspan of up to three metres (10 feet), is more likely to haunt your nightmares than to deliver cute babies.

Muscovy duck

How could you possibly resist this stunner of a duck that seems to have just plunged its head into a deep fat fryer? Speaking of fryers, its domesticated cousin, the Barbary duck, goes excellently with a honey sauce. Do with that information what you will.

Cassowary

Considered to be the world’s most dangerous bird, this enormous species that lives mainly in Australia at least has the decency to don its old horn hat before leaving the house — it’s important to look good when you’re on the attack.

California condor

With its bald head and imposing stature, you have to admit that the California condor would cut a deliciously mournful figure perched on your gravestone under the light of a full moon.

Sri Lanka frogmouth

What with its crusty-looking feathers and its head that looks like it’s been distorted by a Snapchat filter from hell, it’s hard to put our finger on what we like most about this magnificent bird that lives in Sri Lanka and southern India. Some people just have all the luck…

Capuchinbird

If there’s one thing this superb creature from the Amazon can teach us, it’s that you should never try to put out a campfire by throwing water onto it.

Red-tailed hawk

This powerful bird of prey that soars all over North America, from the countryside to Central Park, strikes fear into the hearts of rodents, snakes, small animals and the occasional jogger, if their heads look too much like a small furry animal. Earmuff fans be warned!

Wild turkey

Wild by name, wild by nature—when not munching insects in the countryside, these birds have been known to enter houses uninvited (even breaking a window in one case!) and leave them trashed. And we mustn’t forget to mention one of their other favourite pastimes—terrorizing the elderly.

Shoebill

Just like its name indicates, this spectacular bird has a huge, shoe-like beak that takes up approximately 99% of its face. Extremely practical when it comes to catching big fish, but less so when it comes to picking photos for your Tinder profile.

Ostrich

Although those beautiful big eyelashes make this bird look like a friendly Disney character, don’t be fooled: the ostrich is a ferocious bird that can run at great speed and has no qualms about attacking humans with its sharp beak and claws.

Thankfully, Wikihow has prepared this practical guide to surviving an ostrich attack. When it comes to bird watching, forewarned is forearmed.

Snowy owl

It’s not its appearance that makes the snowy owl a truly terrifying bird. It has a place on this list because of its talent as a hunter and its exceptional hearing, which allows it to hear the faintest rustle of a disorientated field mouse (even through a thick layer of snow) and to swoop down on it with uncanny precision. Let’s just thank our lucky stars that it’s not the size of an elephant!

Emu

Think ostrich dipped in engine oil. This enormous bird thrills safari park visitors the world over, providing the unforgettable spectacle of a hungry pterodactyl-like creature taking huge pecks out of the passenger seat before running off with the little one’s backpack. Memories to last a lifetime.

Common loon

With its mottled black plumage and devil red eyes, the common loon lives throughout the northern U.S. and Canada. If you see one on your windowsill, one cold November night, you’ll know you never should have signed that contract with your blood.

Common potoo

More amusing than truly terrifying, the common potoo looks a lot like a pug that has just caught sight of a squirrel. Its flabbergasting countenance, big yellow eyes and pointed beak give it a certain charm, we think. Or maybe not.

Turkey vulture

This jolly bird of prey, found throughout the Americas, is a scavenger, meaning that it eats rotting carcasses. That must explain why it has such a… healthy glow.