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Most bird watchers and scientists say that there are roughly 9,000 to 10,000 species of birds. One of the main ways to identify them is physical appearance and once you start looking closer, it becomes obvious that birds come in many shapes and colors. And some are absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. From those with incredible eyelashes to the ones that look like tiny cotton balls, continue scrolling and check out some of the most beautiful birds from around the world.
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#1
The Secretary
MagicalUnicorn 5 years ago
damn, it's always animals and guys who have most majestic eyelashes :)
Hello Dolly 5 years ago
Omg seriously my sons eyelashes are so long! I don’t get it. I have simi long lashes His dad has short lash but my sons look like he’s wearing mascara.
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WesMon Gerber 5 years ago
'She' may look like an Eyelash model ...but she is a deadly hunter of snakes....stomps them to dearh with powerfull (long) legs....donť let prettyness fool you ! 😮
Tricia Fish 5 years ago
Beautiful long, black eye lashes go really well with orange and white coloring of this Secretary!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!
*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby 5 years ago
Ohhhhh, I'm so happy they're here, I love secretary birds <3
Understanding the differences between bird plumages is vital to everyone who want to identify them. The term refers to a bird's feathers, including the color and pattern those feathers produce.
Birds have developed intricate plumages due to various aspects, including protection from predators, via camouflage, and sending sexual signals to potential mates. Birds usually lose and replace their feathers at least once a year through molt and regrowth.
"Each feather on a bird's body is a finely tuned structure that serves an important role in the bird's activities," Mya Thompson, the co-director for Engagement in Science and Nature for the Cornell Lab, wrote. "Feathers allow birds to fly, but they also help them show off, blend in, stay warm, and keep dry."
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#2
Blue Crowned Pigeon
"Some feathers evolved as specialized airfoil for efficient flight. Others have been shaped into extreme ornamental forms that create impressive displays but may even hinder mobility. Often we can readily tell how a feather functions, but sometimes the role of a feather is mysterious and we need a scientific study to fill in the picture," Thompson explained.
A good example of one of these mysteries are feather tufts on the heads of Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) which are often mistaken for ears. These modified contour feathers are completely separate from the ear and do not help owls hear, yet scientists can't explain the function of these tufts. Some think the horns are for display, others suggest that owls use them for more complete camouflage while roosting in daylight, but no one knows for sure.
#3
Long Tailed Tit
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago (edited)
A snowball come to life. Is this how they spend their summers?
#4
Malaysian Large Frogmouth And Her Baby
#5
Mountain Bluebird
#6
Secretary Bird
MeK1602 5 years ago
Ok, now it make sense: lush eyelashes, long legs ... fancy walk. Secretary, alright!
Janice Roland 3 years ago
This made me laugh SO hard. I thank you. i did a small spit take even. i've made my living as a secretary (retired). i love the expression on her/his face!!! and those legs, spit take!
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Moo Moo Futch 5 years ago
I just said that too LMAO!! It's the first thing that popped in to my head.
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#7
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
varwenea 5 years ago
Beautiful. Looks like a creature from "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them".
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
"Saving Victoria Crowned Pigeons: One of the World's Most Important Birds" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1rEeaV9mR4
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Ginny Weasley 5 years ago
I’ve seen these in Florida, they’re even more beautiful in real life
#8
Grandala
#9
Beautiful Strawberry Finch
Bukky Olaneye 5 years ago
It reminds of a childhood poem,all things bright and beautiful,all creatures great and small,all things wise and wonderful,the lord God made them all.
mermaidgirl960 5 years ago
Uh- I- Um- It's- *Saves pictures* I LITERALLY have nothing to say but this :>
#10
The Nicobar Pigeon
Capermom 5 years ago
He definitely looks like he rules the roost...or the hood.
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#11
The Harpy Eagle
Virgil Blue 5 years ago
First time I saw one I thought it was a man in a suit.
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Chrissy Neibarger 5 years ago
I always feel like I'm looking at a human in a costume when I see a harpy
*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby 5 years ago
I love harpies, but at first I thought it was some man in a mothman-bird kind of abomination costume because of the angle, lmao
Mohammad Ammar 5 years ago
If I saw this while causally strolling through the forest , I would be terrified!
#12
Pigeon With A Curly Perm
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago (edited)
"*But darling, I swear to you that a full body perm is not that much more expensive than the one I usaually do. Don't I look pretty, coo?"
Ania Barrett 5 years ago
All those pigeons are rocking it! Never knew there were so many types of this seemingly common bird.
#13
Dracula Parrot
Capermom 5 years ago
Damn...he looks like he survived a bush fire and came out stronger and meaner...
Giovanni 5 years ago
polly wants cracker polly wants cracker polly wants THE FLESH OF THE LIVING
#14
South Philippine Dwarf Kingfisher
Jill Peters 5 years ago
My what fluecent colours —-could not replicate those colours from my paint box.
Le Box of Shame 5 years ago
i imagine that this is the bird version of Puck from Midsummer Night's Dream
mermaidgirl960 5 years ago
Bigger beak than him little guy! Did someone use the shrink ray on his body?
#15
Tilhi
Jonna Saari 🇫🇮 5 years ago
Tilhi in Finnish 🇫🇮💙 In English it's the Bohemian waxwing (according to Wikipedia at least). Such a beautiful bird with a lovely voice!
Nina del Piccolo 5 years ago
I was going to say! That's a Bohemian Waxwing. I've never heard of a Tilhi. :)
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Debbie Brink 5 years ago
Definitely a Bohemian waxwing! We get a flock in the neighborhood every year. Beautiful birds.
#16
Bearded Reedling
#17
Quetzal
logical fallacy 5 years ago
This bird has been my favourite ever since I was little. Saw it in a NatGeo coffeetable book on exotic birds when I was about four. I named her Green (because I'm very original) and went to say hello to the illustration every day for years. Still stand by it though, the tiny beak makes it really cute.
#18
Sword-Billed Hummingbird
Nicolas Schirvel 5 years ago
Hello. My name is Hummingo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
#19
Golden Pheasant
#20
Mandarink Duck
Perfumista Perfumista 5 years ago
We had one in Central Park for a while, most beautiful thing I've ever seen in person
sharron lynn parsons 5 years ago
If you saw one, it may have lost the mate !!!
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Geraldine Orman 5 years ago
A mating pair of these visit my garden every year. I am so privileged.
María Hermida 5 years ago
Really? That's wonderful! Where do you live? I'll move there.
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Kristina Thomas 5 years ago
Agreed. I've seen them in oerson and it was literally jaw dropping gorgeous. I was amazed.
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WesMon Gerber 5 years ago
God was given a new paint set, tried out ALL the colours on this fellow.....we glad !
#21
Inca Tern
#22
Guineafowl
Iskandar 5 years ago
This bird looks like it would fit right in as a feisty character in the 80s soap opera Dynasty. Anyone old enough to agree? lol
CARMEN FLORES 5 years ago
LOL..You said it..It would give Alexis a run for her money!
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Samantha Lomb 5 years ago
Neighbors had them. They are THE STUPIDEST animal on the planet and have an earsplitting call. watched one fly into a dirty (so it wasn't transparent) barn window till it shattered the glass with its head. They also played chicken in the road with cars. Horrible horrible animals
glowworm2 5 years ago
Sadly, I can easily believe that. There was this bit in Disney's (the original animated one) The Lion King where during the opening number "The Circle of Life" a bunch of Guinea fowl are running by to Pride Rock. Afterwards, an elephant shows up, and just at that very moment--one more Guinea fowl shows up running--just barely out of stomping range! That part always made me laugh.
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#23
The Black-Throated Bushtit
Lola 5 years ago
It definitely seems like someone who would call you out on your b******t.
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Cathy Shore-Grahnert 5 years ago
Once you look at him as a grinning man with a white beard, you can't unsee it. The beak is only a nose.
mermaidgirl960 5 years ago
Why do I feel like he's going to come and kill me in my sleep? They should've named it jack o' lantern bird!
#24
Crested Duck
Roadkill The Brave 5 years ago
We the ducks in this pond, in order to form a more perfect Flock...
#25
Taiwan Blue Magpie
Christina Gude 5 years ago
Go to google and ask to see more images...they don't disappoint....such a majestic bird....
SoozeeQ 5 years ago
Thanks for the suggestion, Christina. These were great!
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Jamie Peters 5 years ago
I'm guessing that's a mating dance, think I'd run a mile if I saw that coming at me 😆
SoozeeQ 5 years ago
Yeah, not sure if he's trying to impress some girl, or scare the c**p out of a rival! Ha!
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#26
Pygmy Wren Babbler
SoozeeQ 5 years ago
My first thought was, that he looks like he's been painted on a rock, as he's so smooth - but wood works too!
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#27
Rufous-Crested Coquette
mermaidgirl960 5 years ago
Wow, this one has more beautiful tail feathers than most other rufous-crested croquettes, it looks like a beautiful sunflower!
#28
Plate-Billed Mountain Toucan
Denise Mclean 5 years ago
Wow ! Even Toucan's come in all Shapes, Colors and Sizes in lots of different Countries !
#29
Cock-Of-The-Rock
Dynein 5 years ago
They do, if you include other primates... it's not like all these birds are the same species.
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Lorraine R 5 years ago
*sigh* Oh, for the days when my pristine mind didn't turn innocent archaicisms into dirty modern slang.
#30
Lady Amherst's Pheasant
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
This famous Picasso was painted as he progressed from his blue period to experimenting with cubism.
#31
Rosefinch
Grumble O'Pug 5 years ago
I know a man who studies these. This is his career besides teaching. Wonderful
#32
Plumbeous Water Redstart
#33
Rainbow Bearded Thornbill
#35
Gorgeted Sunangel
Annabell H. 5 years ago
It looks like something I made in 2nd grade, so many sequins! Lmao
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#37
Japanese White-Eye
Faith Nicole 5 years ago
Definitely looks like an angry bird but he's still so adorable and fluffy
#39
Festive Coquette
#40
Little Egret
Faith Nicole 5 years ago
Love those feathers.. and these guys are super cute as little baby birds
#41
Crimson-Mantled Woodpecker
#42
Taiwan Blue Magpiesony Alpha
#43
Sony Alpha
#44
Grass-Green Tanager
#46
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Samantha Lomb 5 years ago
Thats not a ruby throated humming bird. they are green with red throats as the name implies and live n the eastern US
#47
South Philippine Dwarf Kingfishe
#48
Masked Trogon
bob foormanek 5 years ago
All this beauty makes me sad, because we kill them all, one by one...
Babz A 5 years ago
Gorgeous, but missing one of my favorites - the roseate spoonbill! roseate-sp...854818.jpg 
#49
Inca Tern
#50
Platalea Minor
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What do you think ?
Paulina 5 years ago
I'm surprised this list doesn't include Eurasian Hoopoe - it's really worth it! See for yourself: dudek.jpg 
Elaine Dodge 5 years ago
One of my favourites. We get them in our garden occasionally.
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Babz A 5 years ago
Gorgeous, but they left off one of my favorites - the roseate spoonbill. And the flamingo! roseate-sp...3ce0fc.jpg 
logical fallacy 5 years ago
Half of these birds look like the average versions of their genus that took a vibrant paintball to the beak.
Diane Kopylow 5 years ago
Wow. Well done! These photos are not easy to get... thank you for sharing a part of our world we seldom get to see!
Jill 5 years ago
Every time I hear the bird name "tit", I want to make an inappropriate joke. I'm still a five year old in some ways.
Inga Viviane 5 years ago
And what i could say about the red rock c**k .....;)
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Paulina 5 years ago
I'm surprised this list doesn't include Eurasian Hoopoe - it's really worth it! See for yourself: dudek.jpg
Elaine Dodge 5 years ago
One of my favourites. We get them in our garden occasionally.
Load More Replies... Babz A 5 years ago
Gorgeous, but they left off one of my favorites - the roseate spoonbill. And the flamingo! roseate-sp...3ce0fc.jpg
logical fallacy 5 years ago
Half of these birds look like the average versions of their genus that took a vibrant paintball to the beak.
Diane Kopylow 5 years ago
Wow. Well done! These photos are not easy to get... thank you for sharing a part of our world we seldom get to see!
Jill 5 years ago
Every time I hear the bird name "tit", I want to make an inappropriate joke. I'm still a five year old in some ways.
Inga Viviane 5 years ago
And what i could say about the red rock c**k .....;)
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