Abyssinian ground hornbill
Abyssinian ground hornbills live in Africa and have a bizarre appearance. The plumage of ground hornbills is black, and the skin is bluish. In males, in certain places, it is also red. The birds’ beak is very large, flattened on the sides, and ends in a blunt tip. A distinctive feature is the fleshy growth on the upper part of the beak, which resembles a horn.
Spectacled eider
The spectacled eider — is a rare species of the duck family. This bird nests on the coasts of Siberia and Alaska, and on St. Lawrence Island. In body and plumage, eiders resemble ordinary ducks; the difference lies in how their heads look. The males have a light-colored plumage, while the females are brown, but both look highly unusual because of their fur-like beaks. The species is characterized by feathering on the forehead that seems to cover the beak from above like a visor.
Sage grouse
The sage grouse — is a bird of unique beauty that lives in North America. Among the bird’s distinctive features are its throat sacs, located in the collar area. When filled with air, they look from the outside like rounded balloons. However, only the males have these unusual sacs on the chest. With their help, they attract the females’ attention. And the sound the males make is similar to the one produced when a large stone falls into water.
Victoria crowned pigeon
The Victoria crowned pigeon inhabits New Guinea and the islands closest to it. The bird’s appearance is delightful: the shade of its plumage is bluish, while its breast is a brownish-chestnut color. However, the main feature of this pigeon is its magnificent “headdress.” On the bird’s head sits a crest made up of a semi-transparent fan of spread feathers, which in turn are tipped at their ends with small triangular blue tassels.
Long-wattled umbrellabird
This unusual feathered creature lives in the mountainous regions of Colombia and Ecuador. The females of the long-wattled umbrellabird are almost indistinguishable in appearance from ordinary crows. It is the males that are famous for their unusual looks. Black feathers hang over the bird’s beak, forming something like a fringe. Another feature — is a 35-centimeter-long throat wattle covered with short black feathers. When a male wants to attract a female, he inflates the wattle and makes a sound resembling a growl.
Harpy eagle
This bird, with its appearance, resembles a mythical, fairy-tale creature. The bird lives in an area stretching from Mexico to northern Argentina. The bird itself is quite massive. When the harpy is in a determined mood, it spreads the feathers around its head and also raises two tufts of feathers that mimic horns. It is not hard to guess that the bird was named after the creatures of ancient Greek mythology – half-women, half-birds. These monsters frightened people with their swift, rushing flight, as well as — with their appearance.
Shoebill
This unusual animal lives mainly in African countries. To some, the bird resembles a dinosaur come to life — so bizarre is its appearance. The first thing that catches the eye — is the shoebill’s enormous head, whose width is almost equal to the width of the entire rest of its body. The beak is also very wide and resembles a scoop in shape. The size and shape of the beak are well suited for hunting. The shoebill catches its food without any trouble: fish, frogs, baby crocodiles, and other reptiles. The prey it catches the bird swallows whole, without chewing.
