“Have they not looked at the birds held in the midst of the sky? Nothing holds them up but the power of Allah. Truly, in this are signs for those who believe.” This verse highlights the awe-inspiring nature of birds flying and their dependence on divine power for their ability to soar. (Quran 16:79)

By Abdullahi Yusuf

In the far reaches of forest canopies, across desert plains, and deep beneath the sea spray, birds of unimaginable beauty take flight, each one a living miracle, shaped not by chance, but by divine design. Their feathers aren’t just colours, they are signatures. Their calls aren’t just sounds they echo the rhythm of a world crafted with purpose. From the snake-stomping stride of the secretary bird to the sky-soaring silence of the albatross, every beat of their wings tells a story written by Allah. This is not just wildlife, it is revelation in motion. The Quran describes birds flying as a marvel of creation, highlighting their dependence on Allah for their ability to soar in the air. The Quran also emphasizes that all creatures, including birds, are communities like humanity, highlighting their shared existence and dependence on Allah.

Secretary bird

a.k.a. sagittarius serpentarius which means archer of snakes where they hunt, kill, and eat them by stomping on their heads with force hard enough to crack a tortoise shell and swallow them whole

Razorbill

uses its sharp, hatchet-shaped bill to catch fish underwater, sometimes diving to 330 feet and their call sounds like a mini chainsaw or a low growl

Demoiselle crane

they are found in northern eurasia/siberia and they fly at heights up to 26,000ft (planes fly at 30,000-42,000ft) both males and females have the bob, but the males have the longer bob than their counterpart and they mate for life

Black-browed albatross

opportunistic feeders, snatching food from other birds but the most impressive thing about them is their flying abilities as they can stay in the air for weeks even sleeping while flying by locking their wings in place since they don’t need to flap

Victoria crowned pigeon

known to be intelligent, quite easy to tame, and are docile by nature, the reason that they’re a frequent attraction at zoos. they’re often left to roam the grounds freely and tend to be happiest when foraging for food on the ground and wandering around

Laughing gull

their name is derived from its raucous kee-agh call, which sounds like a high-pitched laugh and they are opportunistic omnivores and scavengers where they eat almost anything

Double-crested cormorant

they spend quite a bit of time in and around water, however, their feathers aren’t waterproof like ducks, so they need to take time to dry off after. these solid, heavy-boned birds are experts at diving to catch small fish

Ruff

the extravagant plumage of male ruffs comes in an almost endless variety of colors and pattern combinations, where they occasionally fight on communal display grounds and vie for the attention of smaller, brown-and-white females

Jacobin pigeon

a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding that originated in Asia. it’s hard to tell male and female apart by color and appearance, as they look nearly identical, where only a trained eye can distinguish their gender

Eagle

with a rather blurry nictitating membrane or “third eyelid” that can be drawn across the eye for protection and to moisten and lubricate the surface of the eye. it is either translucent or semi-transparent so the animal maintains sight while it covers the eye

Yellow warbler

they are evenly proportioned songbirds with medium-length tails and rounded heads with their face unmarked, accentuating the large black eye. they forage restlessly, with quick hops along small branches and twigs to glean caterpillars and other insects

The Philippine eagle

A.k.a. monkey-eating eagle, is a critically endangered species of eagle of the family accipitridae which is endemic to forests in the Philippines. They’re considered the largest of the extant eagles in the world in terms of length and wing surface.

“Have they not seen the birds above them, spreading and folding their wings? None holds them up except the Most Compassionate. Indeed, He is All-Seeing of everything.” (Quran 67:19) This verse further emphasizes that it is Allah who sustains birds in flight.