Top 7 Most Colorful Birds in the World

Bright colors are not usually considered a good evolutionary trait. They can make prey stand out and prevent predators from efficiently stalking their prey. Yet various bird species continue to flaunt beautiful, colorful feathers. There are a variety of reasons for their bright plumage. These can include mating, camouflage, and distracting predators. Regardless of the reason, the seven birds shown below have some of the most incredible feathers ever seen in nature. Check out our top picks for the most colorful birds in the world.

#7: Mandarin Duck

The Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) is a stunning bird with hues of blue, gold, purple, green, and white. Yet, you have to visit the ducks at the right time to see these vibrant colors. Males grow these colorful feathers only during mating season to assert their dominance and attract a female. They molt after the breeding season, reverting to brown and gray plumage similar to the females.

Males show off their colorful plumage with a complicated mating dance. Normally silent, these birds will make use of a whistling call during this mating ritual. However, once they’ve found a partner, Mandarin ducks mate for life. These ducks can be found throughout Japan, China, Korea, and parts of Russia.

#6: Peacock

While many birds display amazing combinations of colors, few possess iridescent feathers like those of the peacock (Pavo cristatus). Consisting largely of shades of green, brown, yellow, and blue, the feathers alone are beautiful. However, these birds have an ace up their sleeve — photonic crystals. These crystals can manipulate the light so you see different shades depending on the angle from which you’re viewing the bird. These traits developed purely for sexual selection rather than as a means of survival. The male’s massive tail plays a significant role in their elaborate mating rituals.

These birds are native to India and Sri Lanka, where they prefer open forested areas close to water. While “peacock” is often applied to both male and female members of the species, females are more properly called peahens. The brightly colored tails are only found on the males. Peahens have plumage of more muted shades of green and brown. This, too, serves a purpose in providing camouflage during the month-long period when they incubate their eggs.

#5: Lesser Flamingo

Lesser flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) are the living embodiment of the phrase “You are what you eat.” Flamingo chicks are born with a plumage of white or gray. However, within the first two years, they begin to develop their distinctive bright pink feathers as a result of their diet — algae and crustaceans. The same pigments that cause shrimp to turn pink when you cook them are responsible for the flamingo’s coloring. Depending on the bird’s habitat and the availability of food, the brightness of their plumage may vary.

To some extent, this pink coloration is a privilege afforded to adult flamingos for living in an environment with few predators. While it makes them stick out like a sore thumb, few predators are willing to wade into the same waters as the flamingo. Lesser flamingos are mostly found in Africa and do much of their fishing in Tanzania’s Lake Natron — a body of water known for its harsh pH levels. Flamingos living there have developed a thicker skin and specialized legs to survive in this habitat.

#4: Keel-Billed Toucan

The keel-billed toucan’s (Ramphastos sulfuratus) black body contrasts with its yellow chest and the green feathers around its eyes. However, it’s the toucan’s beak that makes it stand out. These enormous bills come in a variety of vibrant color combinations. Both males and females possess these colorful designs. Therefore, it is thought their beaks are less for mating purposes and more for camouflage in their colorful rainforest environments.

While the origin behind the toucan’s unique coloring might be debated, the prominence of their bills serves a critical purpose in the South American rainforests. These large, razor-edged bills can be used to cut through fruit, trim leaves from trees, and incapacitate prey like small birds, lizards, and rodents. Researchers have also developed a newer theory about the toucan’s bill — that it helps dissipate heat from the bird’s body, keeping them cool in their tropical habitats.

#3: Rainbow Lorikeet

The rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) is primarily found in the coastal regions of northern and eastern Australia and parts of New Zealand. Both males and females have blue heads and bellies, yellowish-orange breasts, and green wings, tails, and backs. They are strong fliers and have been said to travel over 30 miles in search of food.

Rainbow lorikeets are very vocal and are frequently seen in flocks. They primarily feed on fruit, nectar, pollen, and seeds and often roost in tree cavities. Rainbow lorikeets are also quick to reproduce, breeding as many as three clutches of eggs every season. These birds are often kept as pets because of their beautiful coloring.

#2: Spangled Cotinga

The magenta throat and turquoise and black body of the spangled cotinga (Cotinga cayana) are less ostentatious than that of some other bird species, but they are no less beautiful. It is believed that these birds have historically been hunted in their native habitat because of their gorgeous colors. Females display more muted colors of brown-ish grey that provide more protection against predators.

These birds are widespread throughout the Amazon rainforest. However, they can be somewhat difficult to spot because they prefer living high in the canopy. Spangled cotingas are mostly silent, which means that birdwatchers can’t even identify these birds by listening for them.

#1: Scarlet Macaw

One might think a scarlet macaw’s (Ara macao) vivid coloring would make it hard to hide from predators. However, their bright plumage and the fact that they tend to gather in flocks actually serve as a defensive tool. Scientists refer to this strategy as “disruptive coloration.” The eyes of predators are designed to face straight forward so that they can focus on a single object, but when a group of macaws flees together, their bright combination of colors makes it incredibly difficult for a predator to fixate on a single object.

Scarlet macaws can be found high in the rainforest canopies of southern Mexico, Central America, and South America. The scarlet macaw isn’t the most advanced imitator of human speech, but it’s capable of learning a vocabulary of roughly five to ten words. While the scarlet macaw is listed as Least Concern globally, some regional populations are considered threatened or endangered due to habitat destruction and the pet trade.