Which is the most
beautiful bird in the world? Who could possibly can answer this question? Nobody, because, majority of birds in this world are beautiful. However, some
species definitely have striking features which could outrank the rest. Here
the list of 10 most beautiful birds in the world.
10.Hyacinth Macaw
With an impressive
length of 100 cm, hyacinth macaw is the largest of all flying species of
parrots in the world. They inhabit in semi-open areas and savanna grasslands of
Northern Brazil. Their population have been declined in past few years. Today,
less than 5000 Hyacinth Macaws left in the world. Habitat loss and hunting are
main threats to hyacinth macaw.
Besides the large size,
Hyacinth Macaw is famous for their striking cobalt blue plumage with bright
yellow rings around the eyes. Due to this stunning coloration, Hyacinth Macaw
also called as ‘blue macaw’. They also have a beautiful long tail and strong
and curved black bill.
With proper training,
Hyacinth Macaws could be an excellent pet. To make them comfortable, You should
also give them a lot of space. They are very playful and not so good at imitating
words like some other members of Macaw family.
You should be aware of
powerful bill of Hyacinth Macaws. It can’t be guaranteed that they won’t bite
you even with proper caring and training. The Hyacinth Macaws also can be
extremely loud when they are in a group.
9.Wood Duck
Wood duck is probably
the most stunningly colorful waterfowl in the world. The male bird has a
metallic, purplish-green head and crest. Their belly is white and chest is
dark-red. Along the neck, they have attractive, narrow white stripes. Their
wings are patterned blue and black.
Female wood ducks are
not so colorful as males. They have grey-brown head, white belly and white
speckled breast. Male bird uses their colorful plumage to attract female bird
during breeding season.
wood ducks inhabit in
marshes, wooded swamps and streams across North America. With unique coloration
and shape, the wood ducks are also one of most easily recognizable birds in the
North America. Unlike other water fowls, wood ducks nest in tree holes and form
flocks.
8.Bohemian Waxwing
Bohemian waxwing is a
medium-sized songbird with distinctive crested head and black masks. They are
brownish-grey overall and wings have white and yellow edging. Thus, Bohemian
Waxwing is among the most beautiful passerine birds in the world.
Bohemian
waxwings inhabit in boreal forest across North America and Eurasia, mostly
in Canada and Alaska. In winter, they migrate in large flocks to the Northwest
parts of the United States. They nest on tree branches. Both male and female
Bohemian Waxwings are known for their high pitched calls. They mainly feed on
insects and berries.
7.Blue
Jay
Blue jays are one of
the most intelligent and beautiful birds in the world. They found across
forests of Eastern and Central North America. The blue jays have stunning blue,
white and black plumage. The most distinguishing feature of this songbird is
its noisy ‘jay jay’ like calls. They can also imitate the call of other species
of birds.
Besides the striking
appearance, blue jays are famous for their intelligence. They may steal
nestlings and eggs of other birds. Blue jays also mimic the voice of hawks to
deceive other birds. It is said to blue jays in captivity also could mimic
human speech and the voice of other pets.
Blue jays are social
birds that found in small flocks. But in winter, during migration to the South,
they form large flocks of hundreds of blue jays. Their migration behavior still
remains a mystery among scientists. Not all blue jays migrate during winter,
some birds remain in their natural territory. Also, no blue jays migrate every
year.
6 Atlantic
Puffin
Atlantic puffin is a
small, well-adapted seabird that found across the coast of Northern United
States and Eastern Canada. Atlantic puffins are also known as ‘sea parrot’ due
to their huge, multi-colored bill and penguin-like coloration. Atlantic puffins
spend most of their lives on sea. Their water-resistant feathers keep their
body warm while swimming. They flap their wings to swim on the surface and
underwater.
Atlantic puffins have
excellent diving capability. They can reach up to 60 m on diving. They
typically hunt sand eels, capelins and hakes. Atlantic puffins are also
excellent fliers. They can reach a speed of 55 miles an hour by flapping wings
up to 400 times per minute.
They breed in each
summer and spring on the islands of North Atlantic Ocean. They build nest using
feathers and grasses in the burrows on the cliffs. The female lays only one egg
and it takes 45 days to hatch it. After hatching, adult puffins leaves the nest
for finding food for the chicks. They bring back small fishes for their chicks.
Atlantic puffins can load between 10-30 fishes in their huge beaks.
5. Keel-billed Toucan
Keel-billed toucan is
among the birds with most amazing bills in the world. They have huge,
multi-colored beak that will reach up to 20 cm in length. Due to their colorful
bill, keel-billed toucan is also known as rainbow-billed toucan. Their
beak is a mixture of green, red and yellow colors.
In spite of heavy
appearance, beak of the keel-billed
toucan is hollow and light. It is made up of one type of proteins
called keratin. They use this large, colorful beak to attract female during the
breeding season and also as a defensive weapon.
This beautiful
bird inhabit in the forest across Central and South America. They have a
length of 20 cm and weigh up to 4 kg. Their plumage is mostly black with a
yellow throat and chest. Keel-billed toucans are poor flyers due to their
heavy wings. They can only move between the tree branches by hopping.
Keel-billed toucans are
very social birds. They form small flocks that contain up to thirty birds. They
live in either natural or woodpecker made holes in trees. Their diet mainly
consists of insects, lizards, and eggs.
4. Peacock
Peacock is actually the
name of male bird of peafowl family. There are three types of peafowls in the
world – Indian, Congo and green peafowl. The Indian peafowls are the most
common type of peafowls found around the world. Peacocks (male birds) are renowned
for their colorful display of iridescent tail feathers.
Peacocks can grow up to
5 feet in length, which make it one of the largest flying birds in the world.
In fact, the long tail of a peacock makes 60% of its total length. The colorful
tail feather display of peacocks is probably the most beautiful courtship
display among bird family.
On courtship display,
peacock spread out its enormous tail feathers to display the colorful patterns
and eye spots. Some peacocks have a lengthy tail and more eyespots than others.
The female peafowl or peahen also chooses a peacock with lengthy tail and more
eye spots. Depending on the angle of reflection of light, color of the tail
feathers of peacock looks different.
3.Flamingo
Flamingo is
probably the most recognizable wading bird in
the world. The stunning red-purple colored plumage itself make flamingo so
special among birds. There are 6 different species of Flamingos in the world.
They found on every continent except Antarctica.
An adult flamingo
measure 4-5 feet in length and up to 3.6 kg in weight. Their neck is long
and lean and has a distinctive downward, bend beak. The legs of flamingos are
also very long, measure between 30 and 50 inches. The long leg and specially adapted
beak let them to catch small fishes, larvae and planktons from the mud.
Flamingos live in large
colonies that include thousands of members. Their striking red-purple color is
due to the food they eat. Their diet mainly consists of brine shrimp, plankton,
and blue-green algae. Flamingo also spends hours on oil up their plumage from
the special glands using their plumage. It helps them to keep their plumage
always in good condition.
2.Scarlet Macaw
Scarlet macaw is
one of the most beautiful and largest member of macaw family. They inhabit in
humid evergreen forests across Central and South America. They are famous for
their colorful plumage. They have bright red plumage with a blue back. Their
upper wings are yellow and edged with green color.
The strong, curved beak
is another noticeable feature of a scarlet macaw. Its upper part is white and
the tip is black. An adult scarlet macaw has a length between 80-90 cm and
weighs up to 1.5 kg. They are excellent fliers and can reach up to a speed of
35 mph. Scarlet macaws also live for a long time. They have a lifespan of 40-50
years. It is said to be the scarlet macaws in captivity can live up to 75
years.
The magnificent, scarlet
macaw is also among the most intelligent birds in the world. In
captivity, they can easily learn words, sounds and tricks. It is said to
be a well trained scarlet macaw could even distinguish the colors and shapes.
Scarlet macaws are also
very loud parrots. They make different types of voices such as screeches and
squawks. Their diet mainly consists of nuts, seeds, fruits and insects. With
the strong, curved beak, scarlet macaws can easily break any nuts.
1.Golden Pheasant
Golden pheasants are
famous for their brilliant colored plumage. They have a beautiful golden-yellow
crest tipped with red. Their underpart is bright red and face. Sides and throat
are rusty tan. The wattle of golden pheasant is yellow and its upper back is
green. They also have dark, red shoulder feathers and a long pale brown tail.
The male golden
pheasants are more colorful than males. They have distinctive scarlet breast
and flanks. Their central tail feathers also have striking black spots. Unlike
male pheasants, females have a duller mottled brown plumage.
Golden pheasants live
in the dense forests and woodlands across Western and Central China. Male
golden pheasants are longer than females. An adult male normally has a length
up to 42 inches. Interestingly, the tail account for two-third of its total
body length. Golden pheasants are poor fliers and spend most of their time on
the ground. They mainly feed on berries, seeds and insects.
Afterthoughts
There are about 10000
species of birds in the world. Each species is unique in many ways. They
different in the beauty of plumage, size, call, migrating behavior, courtship
displays, and feeding. So, when talking about the most beautiful birds in the
world, different people have different opinions. Because beauty is the mind of
the beholder. So, please feel free to share your opinions on this topic in the
comment section below.