Exotic birds and their beautiful colors: we all love them! But how much do we know about these marvelous winged creatures? We decided to compile a list of 10 of the our world’s most wonderful species and give you a glimpse over some interesting facts about them.
This large South American parrot is very famous among our world’s bird pet owners, not only for its striking colors, but also because of its fantastic ability to talk and the close bonding they tend to form with humans, although in the wild they can become very aggressive. Another interesting fact is that they generally mate for life. They primarily eat nuts, seeds and fruits.
This is a species of Australian parrot living in the rainforests, the coastal bush and the woodland areas. Its plumage nuances vary from deep blue to bright orange, yellow and deep green. The young specimens have a black beak, which then changes to a bright sunset shade. They’re also monogamous. They usually travel in pairs, but occasionally fly in a flock as well.
Native of the mountains of western China, this another our world’s beautiful bird can also be found across the United Kingdom. Its tail accounts for two thirds of its total length of 90-105 centimeters. Rusty tan chins, golden yellow crests and a black spotted tail are some of the characteristics of their plumage. Although they can fly, they prefer running. They can lay up to 12 eggs at a time.
A well-known South American bird, famous for its bright colored plumage, featuring a striking red on the chest and an emerald green on the rest of its body. It used to be an important figure in Mesoamerican myths and nowadays it represents the Guatemala’s national bird, being also the name of the local currency. They also feature a very interesting helmet-like crest.
A large bird native to South Asia, first described by Linnaeus in 1758. They’re best known for their elongated upper-tail covert feathers, displaying brightly colored eyespots. They’re the national bird of India, but the ancient Greeks also used to celebrate them. Some mutations, like the white variant, are preserved by selective breeding.
We are talking about a predominantly golden-yellow medium-sized parrot, originating from South America. It is considered an endangered species, because of the loss of its habitat and the trapping activities going on for pet trading purpose. They’re sexually monomorphic. They’re very social and typically live in groups of 30 or more individuals.
The national bird of Belize, also known as sulfur-breasted or rainbow-billed toucan. A black mantle covers most of their bodies, while their necks are typically light yellow and their bills show a vast palette of bright nuances. They also feature red feathers on the top of their tails and blue feet. The male and the female share the care for their eggs. They are sensitive to hemochromatosis.
A medium-sized perching duck from the Eastern Asia, closely related to the North American wood duck. With a red bill, a white crescent above the eyes and whiskers, the males are certainly striking. There are various mutations of the species, including the white Mandarin duck, which is very popular in captivity. In Chinese culture, they are regarded as a symbol of conjugal affection and loyalty.
Legend has it that these beautiful creatures are visitors from Paradise that never touch the earth until they die. They feature an iridescent green face, yellow iris, blue bills and a maroon-brown plumage over most of their bodies. They mainly eat fruits, seeds and small insects. Males measure up to 43 centimeters in length.
It’s the only puffin native to the Atlantic Ocean. They mainly feed on fish, which they catch by diving underwater. Their scientific name comes from Latin and they earned it because of the resemblance between their plumage and the monastic robes. They feature a rainbow-colored beak, which is the reason they are often called “clowns of the sea”.
1. Gold & Blue Macaw (Ara ararauna)
This large South American parrot is very famous among our world’s bird pet owners, not only for its striking colors, but also because of its fantastic ability to talk and the close bonding they tend to form with humans, although in the wild they can become very aggressive. Another interesting fact is that they generally mate for life. They primarily eat nuts, seeds and fruits.
2. Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)
This is a species of Australian parrot living in the rainforests, the coastal bush and the woodland areas. Its plumage nuances vary from deep blue to bright orange, yellow and deep green. The young specimens have a black beak, which then changes to a bright sunset shade. They’re also monogamous. They usually travel in pairs, but occasionally fly in a flock as well.
3. Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
Native of the mountains of western China, this another our world’s beautiful bird can also be found across the United Kingdom. Its tail accounts for two thirds of its total length of 90-105 centimeters. Rusty tan chins, golden yellow crests and a black spotted tail are some of the characteristics of their plumage. Although they can fly, they prefer running. They can lay up to 12 eggs at a time.
4. Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)
A well-known South American bird, famous for its bright colored plumage, featuring a striking red on the chest and an emerald green on the rest of its body. It used to be an important figure in Mesoamerican myths and nowadays it represents the Guatemala’s national bird, being also the name of the local currency. They also feature a very interesting helmet-like crest.
5. Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
A large bird native to South Asia, first described by Linnaeus in 1758. They’re best known for their elongated upper-tail covert feathers, displaying brightly colored eyespots. They’re the national bird of India, but the ancient Greeks also used to celebrate them. Some mutations, like the white variant, are preserved by selective breeding.
6. Sun Conure (Aratinga solstitialis)
We are talking about a predominantly golden-yellow medium-sized parrot, originating from South America. It is considered an endangered species, because of the loss of its habitat and the trapping activities going on for pet trading purpose. They’re sexually monomorphic. They’re very social and typically live in groups of 30 or more individuals.
7. Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)
The national bird of Belize, also known as sulfur-breasted or rainbow-billed toucan. A black mantle covers most of their bodies, while their necks are typically light yellow and their bills show a vast palette of bright nuances. They also feature red feathers on the top of their tails and blue feet. The male and the female share the care for their eggs. They are sensitive to hemochromatosis.
8. Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
A medium-sized perching duck from the Eastern Asia, closely related to the North American wood duck. With a red bill, a white crescent above the eyes and whiskers, the males are certainly striking. There are various mutations of the species, including the white Mandarin duck, which is very popular in captivity. In Chinese culture, they are regarded as a symbol of conjugal affection and loyalty.
9. Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea apoda)
Legend has it that these beautiful creatures are visitors from Paradise that never touch the earth until they die. They feature an iridescent green face, yellow iris, blue bills and a maroon-brown plumage over most of their bodies. They mainly eat fruits, seeds and small insects. Males measure up to 43 centimeters in length.
10. The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
It’s the only puffin native to the Atlantic Ocean. They mainly feed on fish, which they catch by diving underwater. Their scientific name comes from Latin and they earned it because of the resemblance between their plumage and the monastic robes. They feature a rainbow-colored beak, which is the reason they are often called “clowns of the sea”.