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Animals vary in size, shape and appearance. While some have dull, plain-looking feathers, scales, or skin, others have brightly colored features. Usually, females appear less colorful than males. This adaptation usually helps to protect the females from predators. Such an adjustment is especially important given that women tend to take on the primary parenting responsibilities. Meanwhile, males tend to appear more colorful. Usually their colorful appearance helps males to attract females and also for females to distinguish them from other species. Of all the species in the animal kingdom, few animals have more brightly colored patterns than birds. By parrots until peacocks, there are many birds that possess colorful feathers. That said, can you name some well-known birds with the most colorful feathers?
For those of you who can’t, allow us to fill in the gaps. In this article, we will introduce you to an assortment of birds with colorful plumage. We’ll also discuss where to find these beautiful birds, what they eat, and some of their unique behaviors. Hopefully you can see one of the colorful creatures in the wild or at your local zoo. Without further ado, here are 10 birds with the most colorful feathers.
#10: Nicobar pigeon
The Nicobar pigeon is the first entry on our list of birds with the most colorful feathers. A member of the pigeon and pigeon family Columbidae, the Nicobar pigeon is the closest living species to the extinct genus dodo bird. It is native to the Nicobar Islands, from which it gets its name. In addition, you will find it in the Andaman Islands, India, and the Malaysian archipelago. Their diet consists mainly of seeds, fruits and plant buds, as well as some grains. Nicobar pigeons roam in flocks and exhibit the strange habit of flying in single-row rows. On average, Nicobar pigeons are about 16 inches tall. They have a gray head, gray-green neck hairs, a white tail and a metallic blue-green body. Because of the hunt for their feathers and meat, the IUCN lists the Nicobar pigeon as a near threatened species.
#9: Painted Bunting
This next bird with a red breast is also one of the birds with the most colorful feathers. A member of the cardinal family, Cardinalidae, the painting bunting is native to North America. It’s so beautiful, it’s also called nonpariel, or “without equal” in French. Painter Buntings breed in the south United States and northern Mexico. In winter they then migrate south to tropical forests in Central America, Florida, and the Caribbean. Their diet consists mainly of seeds and insects as snails, spiders, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. On average, they are 4.7 to 5.5 inches long with a wingspan between 8.3 and 9.1 inches. Unlike the females, male painted buntings have bright plumage. In addition to their red chest, they also have a blue head, green shoulders, and multicolored wings. Due to habitat loss, the IUCN lists them as a species of Least Concern.
#8: Scarlet Macaw
When many people think of birds with the most colorful feathers, they think of the scarlet macaw. Scarlet macaw roams the rainforests, savannas and moist forests of Central America and South America. Their diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds, nuts and nectar, but also insects, snails and insects. The scarlet macaw is one of the largest parrots in the world. At their largest, they measure up to 32 inches in length and weigh about 2.2 pounds. They get their name from the striking red feathers on their head, chest and back, and under their wings and tail. In addition, they also have yellow, green and blue feathers over their shoulders and wings. Despite habitat loss and their popularity in the pet trade, the IUCN lists the scarlet macaw as a species of Least Concern.
#7: Wilson’s Bird of Paradise
all birds of paradise deserve to be considered one of the birds with the most colorful feathers. That said, Wilson’s bird of paradise stands out even among such a colorful ensemble. Wilson’s birds of paradise are native to Indonesia and live only in the forests of the islands off the coast of West Papua. Normally quite small, most specimens are only about 6.3 inches long. They mainly eat fruits, insects and arthropods, as well as some invertebrates. While courting a woman, men clear some of the forest floor and perform an elaborate dance. In addition to their dance, their striking plumage makes them hard to miss. From their blue featherless heads to their yellow shoulders and red backs, they have a variety of colorful feathers. Due to its restricted range and loss of habitat, the IUCN lists Wilson’s bird-of-paradise as a near-threatened species.
#6: Gouldian Finch
A
lso known as the rainbow finch, the Gouldian Finch has incredible plumage, even in birds with the most colorful plumage. The Gouldian Finch is named after the wife of British ornithologist John Gould, Elizabeth, and is originally from Australia. Like most finches, their diet consists almost exclusively of seeds from various plants. They are generally 4.9 to 5.5 inches long. There are several color varieties, the main difference being the color of the face. Depending on the specimen, the face may appear black, red, or yellow. Meanwhile, the rest of the head is blue and they also have a purple chest, yellow belly and green wings. Unfortunately, diseases and predation have greatly reduced their numbers in recent years. As a result, the IUCN lists the Gouldian finch as a near threatened species.
#5: Gorgeous Quetzal
Because of their bright plumage, some birds with the most colorful feathers feature prominently in ancient and modern traditions. A prime example of this is the resplendent quetzal, a central figure in Aztec and Mayan mythology and the current national bird of Guatemala. Splendid quetzals stretch in cloud forests between southern Mexico and the west Panama. While they mainly eat fruit, beautiful quetzals also eat wasps and ants, but also small frogs and lizards. They are the largest member of the quetzal family, Trogoniformes, and are between 14 and 16 inches long. Their iridescent plumage appears green on their bodies and heads, but can also look gold, blue, or purple in a certain light, while their bellies are a reddish-purple color. Since they are poor fliers, their variable plumage helps them avoid predators. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss, the IUCN classifies the brilliant quetzal as a near-threatened species.
#4: Rainbow Lory
If you thought the scarlet macaw was colorful, wait until you see this next parrot to make our list of birds with the most colorful feathers. The rainbow lorikeet is native to Australia, although introduced populations also live in it New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Tasmania. They are mainly found in rainforests, woodlands and coastal areas. Their diet consists mainly of fruit, nectar and pollen, which they drink with their long tongues. A medium lorikeet, most specimens measure between 9.8 and 11.8 inches in length. Males and females appear identical and have multiple colors, hence the name rainbow lorikeet. They have a bright blue head, green-yellow collar, green upper back, wings and tail, orange chest, blue belly and green thighs. Finally, in flight, you can see their underwings, which appear red and yellow. Despite its limited range, the IUCN lists it as a species of Least Concern.
#3: Mandarin Duck
This next bird is one of the world’s most striking waterfowl and birds with the most colorful feathers. The mandarin duck is a kind of perches a D found all over East Asia. Although it was more widespread, its range is now limited to eastern Russia, Korea, China, and Japan. During the breeding season, they prefer to live in dense forests and scrub near rivers and lakes. That said, they will occasionally live in swamps and near coastal areas. Like other perching ducks, they sit in trees at night. Their diet consists mainly of seeds, grasses and grains, as well as insects, frogs, mollusks, small fish, and snakes. The males have brightly colored plumage including a red face, purple breast, red sides, orange back and white belly. In addition, males have a bright crest, which changes from green to reddish-purple. Despite population declines, the IUCN still lists them as a species of Least Concern.
#2: Lilac Breasted Roller
Few animals have more interesting plumage than this next member of our birds with the most colorful plumage list. A member of the roller family, Coraciidae, the lilac-breasted roller is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. You can find it in wooded areas and savannas, as it usually avoids areas without vegetation. Lilac-breasted rollers prey on insects, spiders, scorpionssnails and small snakes and lizards. Sometimes it even preys on smaller birds. On average, they are 14.1 to 14.9 inches long with a wingspan between 19.6 and 22.8 inches. Males and females have similar plumage, including a lilac-purple breast, from which they get their name. In addition, they have an olive or green-blue crown and upper wings, and green-blue belly, rump and wing margins. Thanks to its wide range, the IUCN lists the lilac-breasted roller as a type of least concern.
#1: Ordinary peacock
No list of birds with the most colorful feathers would be complete wi
thout this last bird. The Indian peafowl, or common peafowl, is the most widely recognized of the three peafowl species. Although native to India and Sri Lanka, you can now find the common peacock all over the world. In the wild, they prefer to live in open forests or cultivated areas with easy access to food. Their diet consists mainly of berries and grains, but they also eat small snakes, lizards and rodents. They represent one of the best examples of sexual dimorphism, where the males differ significantly from the females. Males have brightly colored bodies and crests that appear a rich, iridescent blue with green tinges. That said, their most notable feature is their large fan of hidden tail feathers that include yellow, blue and green eye spots. The IUCN lists the common peafowl as a species of Least Concern.
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