Birds have been the winged companions of mankind on this beautiful planet since time immemorial. Man has always marveled at their exquisite beauty and ability to fly. The exotic colours and a plethora of varied patterns on their plumage are always a visual treat. It is as if God’s artistry is on majestic display when a bird flaunts its beauty, much to our admiration and amazement. Let us explore a few species of birds which are known for their unique beauty and are much sought after…

#10-Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Highly prized by collectors the world over for its small size and brilliant plumage, a ruby throated hummingbird has a distinctive ruby-like pattern on its throat. The male has a fiery, red throat and an iridescent, green back. The female lacks the male’s vivid colouring. In addition to its beauty, a ruby throated hummingbird has acrobatic flying abilities. It can fly at incredible bursts of speed(80-100 kmph), fly backwards, dart, hover or change direction instantly. Its wings beat up to 75 times a second! Can you believe that?

It is a migratory species that breeds in central and eastern U.S.A. and southern Canada. It migrates to spend the winter in warmer environs like Mexico or Central America.

Fancy buying one of these? You must!

#9-Eurasian Kingfisher

The Eurasian Kingfisher’s turquoise and amber plumage make it unique in appearance. Its brilliant upper feathers change from cobalt-blue to emerald-green depending on the angle and type of light, due to reflection. These birds are small, swift and fiercely protective of their territory. They have a distinctive loud, shrill call which sounds like ‘chee’!.

This bird is found in western Europe, northern Africa, East and Southeast Asia or even in the far east like the islands of New Guinea. It has some migratory characteristics as it flies down south from the northern latitudes during winter.

The Eurasian Kingfisher is surely the ‘Bird of Good Times’, isn’t it?

#8-Snowy Owl

Ever fancied owning Harry Potter’s pet owl Hedwig? We bet, many of you just adore this cute white specimen! Yes, this is the snowy owl with its spotless white plumage. Its large, round blue and yellow eyes are a distinctive feature too.

Now, don’t be deceived by its cute looks. It is a skilled, aggressive and powerful hunter which swoops down on its prey silently without giving it a second chance. Found  near the Arctic circle in extremely cold climes, the snowy owl migrates down south during the harsh winter season.

Now, Be sure to visit the Eeyelops Owl Emporium in ‘Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone’, soon!

#7-Atlantic Puffin

The Atlantic Puffin surely is more in the mould of ‘cute’ than beautiful. But, its colourfully striped beak, bright orange, webbed feet and clown like eyes present a comical appearance, adored throughout the world.

This tiny bird is a great swimmer and spends most part of the year out in the high seas and comes ashore only to breed. It is superbly adapted to swimming underwater with its waterproofed feathers. It can even drink salt water.

A visual treat for bird watchers!

#6-American Goldfinch

The collective noun for a flock of goldfinches is ‘Charm’. And that is precisely what they do, with their stunning combination of vivid colours! Primarily red and yellow feathered, goldfinches distinguish themselves from their surroundings due to their unique appearance. In fact, the yellow wing bars flash golden in the sun while the finch is in flight- Hence, the name- Goldfinch. Complementing their appearance, they seem to dance or hop through the air while in flight, presenting a perfect sight.

Their unique courtship displays include singing, swaying and flashing their enviable colours. And the female too joins in. Next time, you too join them!

#5-Eclectus Parrot

The plumage of an eclectus parrot represents an eclectic mix of colours, literally. Such a diverse range of brilliant colours gives them their unique appearance. The female sports brilliant reds and blues, while her male counterpart is predominantly green. In fact, it is hard to believe that they represent different sexes of the same species!

Pairs often express their mutual affection for each other by preening their unique feathers. An eclectus parrot has a distinctive cackling sound which is quite loud. They are mostly found in New Guinea, Solomon Islands and other nearby isles.

They blend perfectly with their natural habitats. Plan a visit in your holidays. Solomon Islands ahoy!

#4-Greater Bird of Paradise

Colourful name, Colourful appearance, they have it all! These birds are vibrantly coloured and adorned with fluffy, scarlet plumes. A golden yellow head and deep green throat form part of the male bird’s exotic livery. The males are especially known for their showy plumage and their extraordinary courtship displays. They even have an established area of perches, called lek for this!

They are mostly found in southern and eastern Papua New Guinea and the surrounding areas. Guinea is indeed a ‘Paradise’ for beautiful birds, it seems!

#3-Rainbow Lorikeet

A Rainbow Lorikeet is as vibrant and colourful as its name suggests. A veritable rainbow of colours! These birds exhibit a wide array of bright colours on their plumage like red, blue, orange and green. In fact, in adults, the beak is orange coloured.

It is found in Australia, eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. These birds travel together and hunt in pairs. These photogenic birds also pose for photographs, in pairs!

#2-Lovebirds

Now, no sane person would give Lovebirds a miss on this list of Beautiful birds. Beauty and love, it seems, come naturally to these tiny and adorable birds. They have a generally green plumage with bright coloured markings that differ according to species. The different species include the Red-Faced, Grey-headed, black-winged, black-collared, peach-faced, masked, black cheeked, etc- Now thats what we call a riot of colours!

Lovebirds are native to the African continent as well as the islands of Madagascar, Zanzibar and Seychelles. They form an extremely close, life-long bond with their mate and are great mimics. Paired lovebirds show each other plenty of affection, cuddling up together and scratching each other’s heads. Love birds, after all!

#1-Common Peafowl

And here comes his majesty, the National Bird Of India. Predominantly found in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the common peafowl is a bird with a natural tendency to show-off. The male’s plumage is designed to attract a mate and it displays this prized possession during its courtship dance. The more eyespots on a peacock’s tail, the more attractive he is to potential mates. When it decides to flaunt its feathers, a group of peahens is instantly attracted and the job is done!

No wonder, this majestic bird is royalty personified!