The Atlantic puffin is an unusual mix of features that adds up to one of the most striking seabirds. The coloring of their plumage is reminiscent of the ever-endearing penguin, yet their distinctive bills have earned them the nickname of the “sea parrot”.
Atlantic puffins possess water-repellant feathers and are excellent swimmers on the surface and beneath. They flap their wings to propel themselves underwater or on the surface. They’re superb divers who reach depths of 160 feet. Unlike the penguin, though, they’re excellent flyers, and can achieve speeds over 50 miles per hour.
Bird watchers looking for these beautiful birds can find them over the coast of eastern Canada and northern USA.
Atlantic puffins breed in nests they build along the coast during summer and spring. The breeding occurs on the isles of the Atlantic Ocean where the female lays only a single egg that hatches within one and a half months.
Thereafter, they nourish the chicks with small fish that they catch and transfer in their massive beaks. Amazingly, they can manage up to 30 fish in one go; hakes, sand eels, and capelines are the staple food for Atlantic puffins.
7. Peacock
The peacock is famous the world over for its outrageously tantalizing spread of tail feathers. It has long gained admiration among royalty and aristocracy, finding export to every corner of the world as well as its place as the national bird of India.
What makes the peacock particularly stunning is its famous plume train made up of one hundred and fifty splendidly colored feathers. Then there’s an array of cute “peacock eye spots” that are exhibited when these feathers are on a glorious display.
Peacocks are known for some of the most glamorous mating displays in the entire animal kingdom. The males court the females (peahens) in a romantic dance as he shakes his stunning feathers in a majestic show accompanied by a rustling noise. When the mating cycle ends, the male leaves having lost his ornamental feathers. But they grow back in a matter of months
The tail length and number of eyespots vary from one peacock to another. Peahens prefer a mate flaunting a longer tail and more eyespots on the tail. The tail radiates a colorful display that changes depending on the angle at which it’s illuminated.
Peafowls come in three main species: the Indian, Congo, and green fowl. The Indian species is the most common peacock globally.
8. Flamingo
Do you know there are more fake flamingoes in the world than real ones? Humans love them because they’re some of the most beautiful birds in the world. Arguably, they also have the bragging rights for being the most recognizable birds in the world.
Their breathtaking pink plumage makes them strikingly gorgeous. Flamingos are wading birds and come in six different species that are difficult to distinguish. These tropical birds are found on all the continents, except for Antarctica.
They inhabit South and Central America, the Middle East, India, the Rift Valley Lakes of Africa, Australia, and more places. The flamingo is the national bird of the Bahamas.
Flamingos are water birds that thrive around lakes and lagoons where they catch fish, brine shrimp, planktons, blue-green algae, and larvae in the mud. Flamingoes are born white or grey but eventually turn pink or red from the pigments in the algae that they feed on. Their plumage color depends on the diet with a brighter plumage reflecting a better diet.
Interestingly, flamingoes are monogamous mating with one partner. They live in large flocks, and a large colony of flamingos is referred to as a flamboyance. A flamingo can measure up to 50 inches in length and weigh up to 7.7 lbs.
9. Golden Pheasant
If a beauty pageant for birds was organized, the golden pheasant would be a top contender, and would likely win. The brilliant red and golden-yellow plumage that it’s famed for makes it one of the most beautiful birds in the world by most standards.
As is common with the other pheasants, the males are more flamboyant than females with stronger eye-catching plumage colors. The males have distinct crimson flanks and breasts while females adorn a subdued brown plumage. For golden pheasants, the tail makes up about two-thirds of the bird’s length.
The golden pheasant drapes a golden wattle and a green upper back that make up this jewel of the Asian wilderness. Being poor fliers, they’re mostly found on the forest floors, occasionally indulging in brief flying stints. They feed mainly on shrubs, berries, and small insects.
Golden pheasants inhabit the woodlands and mountainous forests in western and central China, where they are regarded as symbols of great honor. They can also be found in parts of New Zealand, North and South America, Australia, and western Europe.
Zoologists have discovered that the plumage of golden pheasants can bleach if it is unshielded from direct sunlight over extended periods of time. Therefore, they retain their vivid colors by staying underneath the shady canopies of the forest.
10. Scarlet Macaw
Found in the tropical rainforests of South and Central America, the scarlet macaw is one of the most beautiful birds you’ll ever set your eyes on.
They’re recognizable by their distinct red plumage and a complementary cobalt blue back. These iconic birds wear attractive yellow feathers tipped with green on their upper wings. The lower wing is a magical fusion of blue and yellow feathers.
Scarlet macaws use their super strong curved beaks to crack through tough nuts like we chew crackers. The top part of the back is a light tan with a black tip and base, adding to their overall distinctive beauty.
Scarlet macaws live long and enjoy life spans of between 40 and 50 years in the wild. In captivity, they live even longer and can manage a staggering 75 years. At maturity, they can weigh up to 2.2 lbs.
Birdwatchers interested in seeing these magnificent miracles of nature should visit the forests of southern Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, Trinidad, and eastern Brazil.
Scarlet macaws are considered among the smartest birds and can learn sounds, words, and can be responsive to human emotions. They can even distinguish patterns, shapes, and colors when well trained. A classic example of beauty with brains.
If you intend to keep one as a pet, be warned; they’re noisy.
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