Have you ever wondered whether there are feathered animals rather than birds? If so, the answer is no!
Birds are the only existing animals with feathers. These may include parrots, peacocks, toucans, mandarin ducks, flamingos, rainbow lorikeets, and others. Typically, feathers serve as protective gear to birds by guarding them against injuries and bad weather, but they also play an essential role in attracting mates.
Birds and dinosaurs are unique because they come with feathers with different variations and colors. Typically, vaned feathers cover the birds’ exterior bodies, and down feathers appear below vaned feathers. There are two types of feathers, and they are made from the protein beta-keratin.
Read: Incredible Animals With Long Necks
This article will discuss 13 animals with feathers to eliminate your anxiousness. Dig in!
Contents
List of 13 Stunning Animals With Feathers
Here are our top 13 picks of stunning animals with feathers you will easily come across:
1. Peacocks (Pavo cristsatus)
Peacocks are the most stunning creatures in the animal kingdom. These creatures come in green, blue, and white feather variations. Peahens have brown shades, which are less appealing than their male counterparts.
Blue peacocks originate from India, while green peacocks originate from Southeast Asia. These animals have about 6-inch-long feathers. Green peacocks weigh about 8.8 – 11 pounds, while blue peacocks can weigh 8.8 – 13 pounds.
These birds’ high weight may seem heavy, but they can successfully fly.
Other animals with feathers have a mixture of vibrant colors, but peacocks have unique feathers. In addition to being fluorescent, their feathers also appear as if they were garnished with eye-shaped ornaments. This makes them attractive to our eyes as they seem to their female counterparts when mating.
Peacocks begin shedding their old feathers and developing new ones at the onset of January. This enables them to be attractive to females during mating. Also, peacocks are noted for their amazing nature of performing a fashion show during mating, and the most thrilling peacock mates with their favorite peahen.
2. Macaws (Psittacidae)
Macaws are also animals with feathers and belong to the parrot species. However, they can be differentiated from other parrots due to their long tails. Nonetheless, macaws are attractive animals with feathers.
Macaws are available in various species, but the most common varieties include red, blue, and yellow macaws. Typically, macaws are named based on their colors.
The weight and size of macaws vary depending on their species: scarlet macaws weigh about 2.2 pounds and are 37 inches, hyacinth macaws are 39 inches and weigh about 3.3 pounds, and yellow and blue macaws are 35 inches and weigh 3 pounds.
Macaws are smart parrots and are well-known for mimicking human speech. They originate from the tropical regions of south and north America.
Generally, macaws are omnivores and feed on various nuts, seeds, and insects and leave buds. Unfortunately, these birds are widely preyed on by monkeys, raptors, and other larger birds.
3. Parrots (Psittaciformes)
Parrots are eye-catching birds loved by humans for their attractive-colored feathers. These birds come in yellow, green, and blue feather colors. Typically, these birds are well-known for their intelligence in speaking clearly like a human after proper training.
Parrots exist in over 402 brightly colored species and have amazing feathers. They generally thrive in a tropical climate and can grow to lengths between 3 to 4 inches and a weight of 2.25 to 55 ounces.
These feathered animals are widely domesticated as pets for their harmless, fun, and unpredictable nature. However, they can occasionally be loud and initiate monologue conversations with anyone.
4. Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccans)
Rainbow lorikeets are beautiful herbivore birds with attractive-colored feathers. They mainly have red-colored breasts, some partial orange-yellow colors below their breast, and lush green bodies. Adults can grow up to 12 inches long and weigh about 4 ounces.
This bird’s mixture of colors enables them to easily blend with the environment and stay secure from potential predators. They are naturally preyed on by falcons, hawks, and pythons.
Also, their brightly-colored bodies enable them to stand out, be unique from their mates and have a monogamous lifestyle.
Rainbow lorikeets are frugivore creatures, and they enjoy eating nectar and pollen. They originate from Australia and reside in urban and forest areas.
5. Victoria Crowned Pigeons (Guora Victoria)
Victoria crowned pigeons redeem the pigeon family name ruined by the typical pigeons we easily notice in the parks. These pigeons lack vibrant colors, but the unique feathers on their crowns’ heads differentiate them from the crowd. Typically, they are differentiated from other pigeons for their lace-like crests.
These pigeons originate from New Guinea but have been adapted to islands close to New Guinea. Generally, they are quite enormous pigeons, grow to one foot tall, and weigh about 5.5 pounds.
6. Mute Swans (Cygnus olor)
Large-sized but simple, mute swans are unique birds with the finest feathers. They generally weigh 88 pounds and are the world’s second-largest and 5th heaviest swans. However, adult mute swans have about 4 feet long wings and are very powerful, which makes them fly easily.
These birds have uniform, dense white-colored feathers which insulate their bodies during cold weather.
As the name suggests, mute swans can stay silent for a long time. Parents protect their young ones against potential threats and will make a loud hissing sound that you can’t imagine came from a large-sized bird.
7. Toucans (Ramphastidae)
Toucans are brightly colored birds with the most attractive feathers compared to other birds. They can be identified by the sole at their feet and the crown on their head.
Generally, toucans are available in 42 species and mainly originate from South America. Adult toucans grow up to 7 inches tall and weigh about 24 ounces. They are considered unique due to their extraordinary long bills.
These colored feathers animals are widely found in South America in countries such as Columbia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Also, they are omnivores and feed on fruits, small birds, and their eggs when possible.
8. Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno)
These are among the various quetzals and are known for their unique feathers. This quetzal species comes with a green body and red breasts.
Resplendent quetzals grow up to 16 inches tall, excluding their tail, and weigh about 7 ounces. In addition to their uniform green and red colors, their 3.2 feet and tail make them unique.
These birds live in mountainous forests and high altitudes in southern Mexico and the Western Panama coast. They naturally prey on insects such as wasps, while they are preyed on by owls, toucans, and other hawks.
9. Gouldian Finches (Erythrura gouldie)
Gouldian finches can be differentiated from other birds due to their attractive rainbow-colored feathers. These birds are about 0.5 feet tall and weigh up to 0.4 ounces in adulthood. Fortunately, they can be suitable pet birds due to their less noisy and fussy nature.
Unfortunately, these birds are not suitable pets for an inexperienced bird owners. They are very sensitive to illnesses and can easily get stressed out when exposed to excess cold.
In the wild, these birds survive on insects and grass seeds only. However, they can feed on vegetables, fresh fruits, and various seeds.
10. Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata)
Mandarin ducks are birds with attractive feathers that almost resemble typical birds. Their feathers come in black, green, cream, and deep orange colors. Also, their beaks have an attractive orange shade and small white rim.
Male Mandarin ducks are more attractive and heavier than their female counterparts. They weigh between 15 to 31 ounces and are, on average, 8 inches long.
These ducks spend much time cruising around water bodies.
They have horrible meat, but eagles, snakes, and minks find it a delicacy.
11. Flamingos (Phoenicopterus)
These pink-colored birds are identified by their attractive pink color originating from their food. Generally, flamingos feed on brine shrimps and algae containing organic-colored pigments.
Flamingo feathers act as skin protectors and help this bird to fly. Also, they have about 12 to 16 feathers on their tail, which help them fly and land easily.
Flamingos are long-necked animals in the Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean.
12. Nicobar Pigeon (Calaenas nicobarica)
This bird belongs to the group of pigeons and the dove family. This bird originates from the Nicobar Islands and can easily be found in India, the Andaman Islands, and the Malay Archipelago. It mainly feeds on fruits, seeds, plant buds, and grains.
Nicobar pigeons are well-known to fly in flocks and have an unusual habit of flying in a single lane. On average, these birds grow to about 16 inches long. They have a white tail., gray head, gray-green neck feathers, and a metallic green-blue body. This bird is endangered due to its beautiful feathers and tasty meat.
13. Common Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
The common peafowl is among the various peacock species. Although this bird is primarily found in Sri Lanka and India, you may also find it across various parts of the world. These birds prefer living in woodlands and cultivated areas in the wild.
They mainly feed on grains and berries, but they also feed on lizards, small snakes, and rodents. Males have brightly-colored bodies and rich blue-green crests.
Bottom Line
Birds are the only animals with feathers. However, each type and bird species has a unique size, color, and appearance on its body. Thankfully, we have discussed 13 animals with feathers and their unique features. You can now enjoy identifying and keeping some of these birds as your pet!
