Planet Earth is blessed with a unique technicolor palette of birdlife that comes in all shapes and sizes. From tiny fluff balls to majestic birds, they swan around with every shade of the rainbow emblazoned on their feathers. Mother Nature is fantastic and did some of her best work when it comes to birds.
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
Scientific name: Chalcostigma herrani Habitat: High-altitude grasslands of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru IUCN status: Least Concern
This short-billed hummingbird with white tail tips can fool anyone due to its not-so-striking looks at first glance. However, when seen in good light, the humble-looking male’s black throat patch takes no time to burst into beautiful iridescence of bright colors.
Rainbow-bearded Thornbills often undergo hibernation, called torpor, on cold nights to save their body energy. According to American Bird Conservancy, while hibernating, their body temperature, breathing, and heart rate is slowed down drastically.
Resplendent Quetzal
Scientific name: Pharomachrus mocinno Habitat: From southern Mexico to western Panama IUCN Red List category: Near Threatened
This crowned beauty is the national bird of Guatemala and appears on the nation’s flag and coat of arms. Such is the admiration for this amazingly colorful bird that the Guatemalans even named their currency the quetzal. Its name is derived from the ancient Aztec language and means upstanding plumed feather bird. And as you can see, that pretty much sums up this beautiful species.
The Long Tailed Tit
Scientific name: Aegithalos caudatus japonicus Habitat: Hokkaido, Japan IUCN Red List category: Least Concern
This little ball of fluff is a subspecies of long-tailed tit that is only found on Hokkaido, the second-largest island of the Japanese archipelago. They are called “Shima enaga” by the Japanese, who love these little beautiful birds to bits. Typically, these long-tailed tits grow up to around 14 centimeters (approx. 5.5 inches), but the cutest part is that this length is just half that of their tail!
Secretary Bird
Scientific name: Sagittarius serpentarius Habitat: Savannas and grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa IUCN Red List category: Vulnerable
Are you wondering where you may have seen this bird before? It was in the 1971 Disney classic Bedknobs and Broomsticks. In the movie, the Secretary Bird is a much-loved character in the role of right-hand man to King Leonidas.
