There are many beautiful birds on our planet, but some are just more blessed than others when it comes to looks.
These specials birds come in some of the most amazing sizes and colors and they are just a marvel to look at. We’ve rounded up what we consider are some of the most beautiful birds in the world.
KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN The keel-billed toucan is among the birds with the most amazing bills in the world.
They have huge, multi-colored beaks that will reach up to 20 cm in length. Due to their colorful bill, the keel-billed toucan is also known as the rainbow-billed toucan.
Their beak is a mixture of green, red and yellow colors. Despite its heavy appearance, the beak of the Keel-Billed Toucan is hollow and light.
It is made up of one type of protein called keratin. They use this large, colorful beak to attract females during the breeding season and also as a defensive weapon.
This beautiful bird inhabits forests across Central and South America. They have a length of 20 cm and weigh up to 4 kg.
Their plumage is mostly black with a yellow throat and chest. Keel-billed toucans are poor flyers due to their heavy wings.
They can only move between the tree branches by hopping. Keel-billed toucans are very social birds. They form small flocks that contain up to thirty birds.
They live in either natural or woodpecker-made holes in trees. Their diet mainly consists of insects, lizards, and eggs. I have to say that their beaks are quite special to look at.
MARVELOUS SPATULETAIL The Marvellous spatuletail is endemic to Peru and one of the most beautiful and spectacular Peruvian hummingbirds.
The male exhibits a long tail with only four feathers, including two long racket-shaped outer rectrices. These peculiar ornaments cross each other and can move independently.
There is a large violet-blue disc or “spatula” at the end of each feather. The tail is used in courtship displays while the male hovers in front of the female.
The Marvellous spatuletail is a rare bird, threatened by deforestation for marijuana and coffee plantations. The male is hunted for its heart that is believed to have aphrodisiac properties. The species is currently listed as Endangered.
The Marvelous Spatuletail male has iridescent green-bronze to bronze-brown upperparts. The flight feathers are blackish. The underparts are white with a conspicuous black vertical line from breast to lower belly.
The throat shows a turquoise patch or gorget. Body sides and flanks are green bronze. The tail is the chief ornament of the male’s plumage and includes only four feathers. The outer rectrices are long and reduced to shafts.
They are curved and cross each other. In the end, there are two purplish-black rackets or “spatulas”.
These elongated tail feathers can grow 3-4 times the body’s length. The two remaining feathers are blue, shorter, narrow, and straight. On the head, the crest is deep blue but may vary to purplish-blue according to the light.
The hindneck is brownish. There is a small white postocular spot.
The slightly decurved bill is black. The eyes are dark brown. Legs and feet are black. This is a special-looking bird.
