While a lot of people can name common birds, it takes a diehard birdwatcher to identify some of the rarer species. Even then, they haven’t encountered all of the feathery creatures in existence. As this list of 50 unique birds proves, there are some birds that none of us, or at least a few of us, will ever have the pleasure of seeing. For starters, this bird the Grandala has the most beautiful blue feathers. Check out the rest and their beautiful and unique colors.
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1. Strawberry Finch
When it comes to Finches, most of us think of a tiny bird with black feathers. But this one is stunningly beautiful with adorable white specks. Some people choose a Strawberry Finch as a pet since they do quite well in cages.
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Reddit/KhanZadi
2. Dwarf Kingfisher
Wow, the colors of this bird are so beautiful, they almost seem unreal. This bird, which resides across Southeast Asian and the Indian subcontinent in lowland forests, might be small but it makes a huge impression.
3. Andean Cock of the Rock
Depending on the bird, the color is either fluorescent orange or bright red. Also referred to as the Tunki, it doesn’t matter. Either way, this bird is gorgeous. But because they live in South American cloud forests, the average person will never see one.
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Wikimedia
4. Painted Bunting
This bird has feathers of every color of the rainbow. They’re part of the Cardinal family and found in North America. It’s amazing how each feather is unique yet symmetric to the other side.
5. Bearded Reedling
If it was possible to cuddle with a bird, this one would make an excellent choice. Not only is it the only species in the Panuridae family but it’s also called the Bearded Tit. With the soft colors and puffy body, this bird is beyond adorable.
6. Red Bishop
It looks as though this bird has a matching hat and scarf on…how cute is that? There’s also a Yellow Bishop and as the name implies, it has a yellow hood. This bird belongs to both the Widowbird and Bishop species, commonly found in the grasslands and wetlands of Africa.
View this post on Instagram#redbishop #yellowbishop . . @colonel.paul
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7. Hooded Pitta
We bet not many people can say they’ve seen a bird with turquoise feathers. But that’s exactly what you see on the Hooded Pitta. Found throughout Southeast Asia, it has several different habitats, including cultivated areas, plantations, and various types of forests.
View this post on Instagram#hoodedpitta . . @ananth.ramasamy
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8. Great Prairie Chicken
Now, that’s one cool looking bird. Also known as a Boomer or Pinnated Grouse, this large bird has a unique appearance. Sadly, due to the loss of habitat and an abundance of hunting, it’s become incredibly rare.
View this post on Instagram#greaterprairiechicken . . @steve_oehlenschlager
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9. Blue Paradise Flycatcher
The combination of the gorgeous blue feathers and soft tuft on this bird’s head makes it stand out. This species comes from the Philippines where it lives primarily in lowlands although it also resides in forests. But with fewer places to breed, its numbers are declining.
10. Green Bee Eater
Spotting a green bird isn’t all that difficult. But seeing one like this is. Along with the stunning feathers, it has a black stripe on its throat, a black mask, and red eyes. And you probably guessed it…this particular bird loves dining on bees.
View this post on Instagram#greenbeeeater . . @nayyeri_nature
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11. Yellow Oriole
The vibrancy of this Oriole’s yellow feathers against the black markings is breathtaking. Sometimes, people confuse it with the Green Oriole, which come from two different families. It would be exciting to see one of these in the wild.
12. Yellow-Throated Toucan
For anyone who’s ever seen a Toucan, they know just how gorgeous these birds are. But this Yellow-Throated species is even more mesmerizing to look at. Mother Nature went above and beyond on this bird.
View this post on Instagram#yellowthroatedtoucan . . @jeffreypkarnes_birds
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13. Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Unless someone told you, there’s a good chance you’d never guess this was a Pigeon. With a crown like that, it belongs in some kind of massive palace in New Guinea, it’s native land. This is a large, ground-dwelling bird.
View this post on Instagram#victoriacrownedpigeon . . Photo Frank cornelissen
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14. Black and Red Broadbill
Found in Asia, specifically Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Laos, and Malaysia, people often think this bird looks more like a painting and a live animal. With red and black feathers and green eyes, the beauty of this bird is undeniable.
15. Yellow-Browed Warbler
That face is cuteness overload. Although it typically lives in tropical regions of South and Southeast Asia, this is a highly migratory bird. So, it’s not uncommon to find it in Europe as well. This feathered creature is just adorable.
16. Magpie
Unless you’ve seen a Magpie up close, you probably didn’t realize how unique this bird is. Often, they’re black and white but as this bird shows, they also have blue and white feathers. Of all bird species, the Magpie is ranked as one of the most intelligent animals in the world.
17. Blue Tit
What a sweet bird. The soft yellow and blue feathers enhance its tiny eyes and beak. This bird is part of the Tit family, better known as Paridae. Fortunately, they’re not that hard to spot, especially around a garden since that’s one of their favorite places to hang out.
View this post on Instagram#bluetit . . @timflachphotography
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18. Purple-Rumped Sunbird
Residing in the Indian Subcontinent, this small sunbird feeds mostly on nectar. But it does like an occasional snack of insects. Although this isn’t a Hummingbird, it has the ability to hover for short periods to get nectar from flowers.
View this post on Instagram#purplerumpedsunbird . . @pradeep.wildlens
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19. Common Green Magpie
This bird might have the word “common” in its name but it’s far from being that. At first glance, it almost looks as though it’s wearing a burgundy-colored corset. That alone with the varying shades of green and yellow and the bright red beak make this species extra beautiful.
View this post on Instagram#commongreenmagpie . . @nomad_eyes
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20. Empress Brilliant
The feathers on this bird look iridescent. Surprisingly, it’s a member of the Hummingbird family and lives in both tropical and subtropical regions of Ecuador and Columbia. Thankfully, this species is still in abundance.
View this post on Instagram#empressbrilliant . . @miguelangelpg_22
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21. Goldcrest
While the body of this small bird might not be anything to write home about, that small yellow crest on its head is. According to English folklore, this is called the “king of the birds.” Super sweet.
22. Hoopoe
Seen throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia, the Hoopoe is not only known for its colorful feathers but also its unique crown. As indicated by this photo, this particular bird loves bugs.
23. Guianan Cock of the Rock
Along with bright orange feathers, this bird has a cock that strongly resembles a mohawk. This species lives in South America’s tropical rain forests. Its favorite habitat consists of rocky outcrops.
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Wikipedia
24. Canje Pheasant
As a tropical bird, it lives in Amazonian mangroves, swamps, and riparian forests. While beautiful, this bird has distinct markings. Another unique piece of information…the chicks have claws on two of their wing digits.
25. Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Initially, it looks as though this bird has blood on its chest. But that’s simply part of its coloring. The bird in this photo is a male. In comparison, the female is typically brown and tan. Both are larger birds that enjoy eating seeds.
View this post on Instagram#beautifulbirds . . @mikullashbee
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26. Pied Kingfisher
What makes this particular Kingfisher so unique is that it’s the only one in its family that’s black and white. This is also the largest of all hovering birds. The best place to spot one of these is along the river or over a dam as it hunts for small fish.
27. Fiery-Throated Hummingbird
One look at this bird and it’s easy to see where it got its name. This species is medium-sized, measuring on average 4.3 inches long. It lives in the montane forests of Costa Rica, preferring scrub located at clearings and around the edges of woodlands.
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Wikipedia
28. Splendid Fairy Wren
With different tones of blue feathers, this is a remarkable bird from Australia. The male birds are blue while the females are gray or brown. Like other Wrens, this species displays odd behavioral characteristics. As an example, the males pluck purple or pink flower petals to display to females during the courting period.
Source:
Wikipedia
29. Verditer Flycatcher
Depending on the bird, some have blue feathers while others have aqua-colored feathers. Regardless. They all stand out for their beauty. But what makes this species unique is that it gets its name from the distinctive copper-sulphate blue color with a patch of black located just above the base of the bill and between the eyes.
View this post on Instagram#verditerflycatcher . . @kehar67
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30. White Bellied Treeple
While there are some amazing birds in the world, this species is one of the most spectacular. And what’s even more incredible is they’re a member of the Crow family. They reside in the forests of Southern India.
View this post on Instagram#whitebelliedtreepie . . @ankur_moitra
A pOkay, so this bird is only gray but it has what looks more like fur than features. Also known as an Owa, Jumper, and Lousy Jack, it hails from Australia. There, it prefers woodlands and loves both seeds and insects.ost shared by birds.nature (@birds.nature) on
31. Apostle Bird
Okay, so this bird is only gray but it has what looks more like fur than features. Also known as an Owa, Jumper, and Lousy Jack, it hails from Australia. There, it prefers woodlands and loves both seeds and insects.
32. Bar-Throated Minla
When looking at this bird, you can’t help but laugh. To some people, it reminds them of the Joker from Batman. Here’s the kicker…this bird is part of the laughingrush and babbler family. The species lives in the montane forest that runs from India to Malaysia.
View this post on Instagram#barthroatedminla . . @jainymariak
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33. Chestnut Colored Woodpecker
While a lot of people consider the Woodpecker an annoying and destructive bird, they also have a natural beauty about them. That’s especially true for this species. While it has all the physical characteristics of a standard Woodpecker, its rich-colored feathers make it a standout.
View this post on Instagram#chestnutcoloredwoodpecker . . @jeffreypkarnes_birds
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34. Collared Lory
With the bright red breast of this bird splattered with feathers of green, blue, and even purple, it’s exceptionally beautiful. This particular species lives on the island of Fiji. Interestingly, it’s the only bird living in the rain forest there that’s been able to adapt to the urban environment.
35. Paradise Flycatcher
Check out the tail on this bird. Typically, they live in Asia and Africa. While most stay year-round, some migrate. The males are easy to spot since they’re the ones with the exceptionally long tail streamers.
36. Redwing Blackbird
It’s common to see Blackbirds. But Redwing Blackbirds are much harder to find even though they’re in abundance throughout both Central and North America. The hint of red in contrast to the black is gorgeous.
37. Vulturine Guineafowl
Of all Guineafowl species, this is the largest. It lives primarily in the forests of Central Africa. After reaching maturity, these birds have a blue face void of feathers. That, along with having long necks, they’re often confused with vultures.
Source:
Wikipedia
38. Magnificent Frigatebird
This is a bird you wouldn’t ever forget. As a member of the Blackbird family, it has a huge beak. The males, as shown in this photo, also have enormous red gular pouches. But they do strange things like trying to get other birds to regurgitate food so they can eat it.
Source:
Wikipedia
39. Scarlet Ibis
With bright red feathers combined with a red beak and legs, it’s easy to spot this bird. But that means heading to either the Caribbean islands or the tropics of South America. As far as the national birds of Tobago and Trinidad, the Scarlet Ibis is one of only two.
Source:
Wikipedia
40. Sarus Crane
While the Crane is another common bird, the Sarus species is unique thanks to the red feathers on its head and neck. This bird might not migrate but it’s still found in different places, including Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
41. Temminck’s Tragopan
This bird has what looks like a brightly colored bib or plate of armor that sweeps back into two blue “antennas.” Like most birds, the male is more colorful than the female. Males have a bare blue face, pink legs, and a black bill that compliments the stocky body covered with gorgeous plumage.
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Pinterest
42. Red Golden Pheasant
At first, this bird doesn’t even appear real…but it is. The gold “helmet” has a unique sheen that coupled with the gold eyes, bright red body, and flowing tail is simply beautiful. For added appeal, it has feathers of turquoise, black, and white.
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Twisted Sifter
43. Shoebill
This list of unique birds wouldn’t be complete without the Shoebill. This bird looks more like a prehistoric creature than it does a modern-day feathered animal. This stork-like species is quite large with a massive bill shaped like a shoe…thus, the name.
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Pinterest
44. Common Coot
Although the white streak down this bird’s face makes it somewhat unique, it’s the feet that put it in a league of its own. But these funny looking feet make this bird an excellent swimmer. It lives throughout New Zealand, Europe, Australia, and Asia, as well as certain areas of North Africa.
Source:
Wikimedia Commons
45. Swinhoe’s Blue Pheasant
The red mask on this bird strongly resembles felt used to make crafts. That along with the gorgeous blue and white feathers and you can’t help but admire this bird. The only downside is that it lives in Taiwan. So, not everyone will have to chance to see one in person.
Source:
Wikipedia
46. Ruby Topaz Hummingbird
While a lot of people have seen Hummingbirds, not that many have had the pleasure of encountering this species. It almost looks as though it’s covered with scales rather than feathers. As for its habitat, it lives in the tropical regions of South America.
47. Pink Robin
Although a common species, the coloring of the Pink Robin is unique. Usually, male birds of this kind have bright red chests. But to see one of the pink species, you’d have to travel to the Southeast part of Australia where forest temperatures are cool.
Source:
Wikipedia
48. Violet-Tailed Sylph
If the first words out of your mouth were, “What the heck,” you’re not alone. This is a type of Hummingbird that lives in Ecuador and Colombia. Usually, they prefer the west slope of the Andes. Just so you know, the Sylph is known as a “mythological air spirit.”
49. Scaly-Breasted Munia
Just as the name implies, the breast of this bird appears to have scales rather than feathers. The checkered effect sets off the bronze color on the rest of the body. A native bird to tropical Asia, it’s also called the Nutmeg Mannikin and Spice Finch.
50. Indian Roller
The aqua-colored feathers against the tan ones make this bird extra sweet. Today, this bird lives primarily in the Indian subcontinent and West Asia. But what it’s known for the most is its incredible aerobatic skills.
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Wikipedia
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