When birds attack

The Arctic tern is fiercely defensive of its nest and young. It will attack humans and large predators, usually striking the top or back of the head. Although it is too small to cause serious injury, it is still capable of drawing blood Photograph: Andrew Parkinson/Corbis

A southern skua, closely related to the great skua. The great skua is also known by its Shetland name, the bonxie. Generations of birders have run the gauntlet of attacks from breeding bonxies Photograph: Joe McDonald/Corbis

If you want to take your life into your hands, pay a visit to the Australian bush and approach a southern cassowary. This two-metre tall, 60 kg bush-dweller has a sharp claw on its leg, which it uses to disembowel its prey Photograph: Paul van Gaalen/Corbis

Visitors to Cornish beaches often have to comfort sobbing children whose ice cream cone, pasty or fish and chips has been snatched by a marauding herring gull Photograph: Stuart Clarke/Rex Features