What an interesting world the world of animals is! You could study it all your life and still be surprised every day! Studies show that there are about 10,500 types of birds and 21,000 subspecies of birds in the world. Some of them even look like real aliens, and their colors, shapes, and actions can surprise you.
These are some beautiful (and a little strange-looking) birds that Bright Side put together to amaze you!
1. The King Vulture
As a vulture, the King Vulture looks for food. These birds are big, so they glide through the air instead of running after food like dead animals. Because it eats plants, this bird is very good for our world. The King Vulture plays a role in the ecosystem and helps stop the spread of disease by eating dead animals.
They can live anywhere from Mexico to Argentina in the south. According to tradition, they got their name from the Maya, who saw them as a “king” who brought messages between people and the gods.
2. Rock Cock-of-the-Rock
The cock-of-the-rock is from South America. In tropical and subtropical rocky places, you can find them. The beautiful fan-shaped crests that male birds use to draw females make them look great.
When it’s time to mate, the males start to show off their bright feathers and make different calls. After that, the female is on her own. She builds a nest in a rocky area and takes care of the eggs by herself.
3. Superb bird-of-paradise
It’s only about 10 inches long, so this bird is very small. It soaks up 99.95% of the sun’s light when it is faced straight on. They are called a “new” species because they act not at all like other birds. There is a difference between the wooing dance and the sounds. When compared to the males, even the females’ looks and shapes are different. It’s a very interesting bird that can hypnotize you with its strange looks and dance.
4. The Golden Pheasant
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They are from central China, but you can also find them in Britain, southwestern Scotland, Spain, and France. This bird is very bright, and its tail is very long. It’s cool that a female pheasant can lay 9 to 11 eggs that hatch in 3 weeks.
Seeing a Golden Pheasant is a sign of luck, wealth, and good fortune. Also, these birds are very good at detecting strange threats and risks. Many zoos have this one-of-a-kind and lovely bird.
6. A hornbill
Hornbills can eat anything, from bugs and food to small animals. They throw food to the back of their throat with a head jerk because their tongue is too small for them to swallow.
Two things make hornbills unique. First, their neck muscles are very strong because they have to hold up big bills all the time. Their necks are bigger than most birds’ because of this. Also, these birds have eyelashes and no one else does.
6. Christmas bird frigatebird
This bird species is only found on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, which is how it got its name. They grab food from other birds, which is why people call them pirates. In the wild, Christmas frigatebirds live in pairs, and the males show off their red throat sac to attract a mate.
7. The potoo bird
They live in Central and South America and are sometimes called “poor-me-ones.” Potoo birds are active at night and are linked to frogmouths and nightjars.
The mouth of a potoo bird does not have bristles. They don’t fly during the day; instead, they sit on tree stumps straight to blend in. Beetles, moths, grasshoppers, and ants are some of the things that Potoo eat.
8. Swinhoe’s pheasant
There aren’t many of these pheasants left because their environment is getting worse. Swane’s pheasant males can get as tall as 31 in. Their blue-purple chest, white neck, red wattles, and white tail and crest make them stand out.
9. Andean Condor
It is thought to be the biggest flying bird in the world because its wings are over 3 m (10 ft) long. They can be up to 1.2 m tall and weigh up to 15 kg. The biggest Raptor in the world is this beautiful animal. The Andean Condor is very heavy, so even though it has wings, it is not the best bird at flying. It is interesting that these birds only lay one egg every two years, and that it takes 54 to 58 days for the egg to hatch.
10. Mandarin Duck
Many people think the Mandarin Duck is the most beautiful duck in the world. It lives in China and Japan. They do what most ducks do and find a partner for the season. In the fall, they make new pairs. Mandarin women don’t quack. Instead, when they see or feel danger, they make clucking sounds.
Have you ever really seen one of these birds? What did they make you think as you read the piece? Feel free to tell us what you think in the area below!
