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27 of the Most Colorful Birds in the World

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The 27 Most Colorful Birds in the World

1. Nicobar Pigeon

nicobar pigeon
Image Credit: Piqsels
Scientific Name Caloenas nicobarica
Coloring Features Shades of green
Where They Live Southeast Asia

The Nicobar Pigeon is considered to be the closest living relative to the now extinct Dodo Bird. They have beautiful long feathers around their necks that are different shades of green, yellow, and blue. Their bodies are typically dark green or greyish, and their legs have a reddish tone.


2. Wilson’s Bird of Paradise

https://www.instagram.com/p/CN-D660BkdA/

Scientific Name Diphyllodes respublica
Coloring Features Bright mantles, crimson wings
Where They Live Indonesia

These are small birds but they have big colors! The males have bald, blue heads, yellow mantles, wings of crimson, and bluish feet. Their underbellies are typically various shades of green. They sometimes have shades of red around the belly and tail. The females are not as vibrant. They have dull brown and reddish colorings.


3. Golden Pheasant

golden pheasant
Image Credit: Pixabay
Scientific Name Chrysolophus pictus
Coloring Features Gold, orange, red feathers
Where They Live China

Male Golden Pheasants are brightly colored with red undersides, yellow heads and backs, and golden-colored legs. The females typically only have gold and brown tones. These birds spend most of their time on the ground or in trees rather than flying. Their long tails help them navigate through rough terrains.


4. Red-Necked Tanager

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVnYiVyr7Rn/

Scientific Name Tangara cyanocephala
Coloring Features Red necks, green bellies
Where They Live The Neotropics

As their name suggests, these birds have bright red necks that help them stand out from the crowd. Their bright green underbellies give way to dark grey or blue legs. Their heads are dark blue, and their wings are usually black, orange, and green. They have short tail feathers that match their undersides.


5. Flamingo

flamingo
Image Credit: Pixabay
Scientific Name Phoenicopterus ruber
Coloring Features Bright pink feathering
Where They Live Worldwide

Although Flamingos are born with soft, white feathers, their feathers gradually get replaced with vibrant, bright pink feathers that are larger in size. Many flamingos do maintain some white feathering that gives them a slightly marbled look. These omnivorous birds stand on long legs that are reminiscent of stilts.


6. Spangled Cotinga

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzK-FHEADDR/

Scientific Name Cotinga cayana
Coloring Features Baby blue body feathers
Where They Live The Amazon

These medium-sized birds have stout, compact bodies and brilliant baby blue feathers on the belly, back, and head. The bottoms of their necks are deep purple and their wings a darker blue with hints of the baby blue mixed in. They have large, round, alert eyes and short pointy beaks.


7. Rainbow Lorikeet

rainbow-lorikeets
Image Credit: Pixabay
Scientific Name Trichoglossus moluccanus
Coloring Features Blue, orange, red, green, yellow feathering
Where They Live Australia

These lively birds live in the rainforests and coastal areas of Australia. They are easy to spot due to the multiple bright colors on their feathers. Their heads are dark blue and their wings and bodies bright green. Some red, orange, and yellow feathering is almost always present.


8. Mandarin Duck

mandarin duck
Image Credit: Pixabay
Scientific Name Aix galericulate
Coloring Features Multicolored plumage
Where They Live Asia

These gorgeous ducks are so colorful and impressive that zoos and individuals keep them in captivity all over the world. Sadly, their numbers are dwindling in the wild. The Mandarin Duck has a wide variety of colors throughout its plumage, including green, blue, orange, red, brown, yellow, and even purple.


9. Resplendent Quetzal

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVzALQmAqlr/

Scientific Name Pharomachrus mocinno
Coloring Features Bright green bodies, red undersides
Where They Live Mexico, Panama

Resplendent Quetzals only grow to be about 16 inches long when they are fully grown. However, their vibrantly colored plumage makes them stand out among the trees and bushes. They have bright green bodies ad even brighter red chests and bellies. When in the sunlight, their green feathers may look like they are brushed with hues of yellow cobalt and aqua colors.


10. Keel-Billed Toucan

keel-billed-toucan
Image Credit: Pixabay
Scientific Name Ramphastos sulfuratus
Coloring Features Brightly colored bills
Where They Live Mexico, Columbia, Venezuela
 

The body of a Keel-Billed Toucan is usually black, but the neck and the bill are interesting. This bird’s neck is typically light yellow. Their bill is usually bright green, red, and orange in color. The tip of the tail has small red feathers, and the feet are medium to dark blue.


11. Scarlet Macaw

scarlet macaw
Image By: Pixabay
Scientific Name Ara macao
Coloring Features Scarlet, blue, yellow bodies
Where They Live South America, Central America

These colorful birds are commonly found in zoos and sanctuaries worldwide. In the wild, they can be found living in South and Central America. The Scarlet Macaw typically has a scarlet red head and yellow and blue feathers throughout its body. The tail feathers are almost always light blue. 


12. Western Crowned Pigeon

western crowned pigeon
Image Credit: Piqsels
Scientific Name Goura cristata
Coloring Features Vibrant blue plumage
Where They Live Iran, Indonesia, New Guinea

The crests on these birds are what make them look unique. They look like they are wearing feathery headdresses. Their bodies are greyish blue with black and dark blue markings. Although their feathers are not bright or vibrant, they are unique and gorgeous.


13. Painted Bunting

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCjmfMaJ306/

Scientific Name Passerina ciris
Coloring Features Colorful male bodies, green female bodies
Where They Live United States

These birds resemble the common finch but have different feather and plumage colors. Male Painted Buntings have blue heads, green and red wing feathers, and bright red undersides. The tips of their feathers are usually dark grey or brown. Females have full green bodies with yellow markings on the belly.


14. Lady Gouldian Finch

lady gouldian finch
Image Credit: Piqsels
Scientific Name Chloebia gouldiae
Coloring Features Vibrant multicolored bodies
Where They Live Australia
 

These birds are extremely vibrant when it comes to color. Their heads are bright red and lime green. Their chests are a vibrant purple color. Their bellies are bright yellow. Their wings are green. Their backends happen to be baby blue. They look like they are covered in some sort of patchwork art that would be shown in a fine museum.


15. Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal
Image Credit: TheBirdBird, Pixabay
Scientific Name Gardinalis cardinalis
Coloring Features Bright red bodies
Where They Live United States, Canada
 

These little birds have super-long tails and short, thick bills. The males are bright red with black markings around their eyes and a little black feathering marbled into the red on their wings. The females better blend into the wild with dull green or brown feathers and little red markings throughout the body. They do have bright bills like the males do, though.


16. Common Kingfisher

common kingfisher
Image Credit: Piqsels
Scientific Name Alcedo altthis
Coloring Features Bright blue or emerald-green heads and backs, golden undersides
Where They Live Africa, Asia, Europe

The Common Kingfisher has an impressively long bill, a short stubby body, and a short, stout tail. Males have bright blue heads and wings with golden bellies. Females also have golden bellies, but they typically have emerald-green heads and backs. Both males and females have white markings along the neck and small white dots on their heads and wings.


17. Indian Peafowl

indian peafowl
Image Credit: Piqsels
Scientific Name Pavo cristatus
Coloring Features Brightly colored tail feathers
Where They Live Indian subcontinent

Commonly known as a Peacock, the Indian Peafowl is beautifully colored from head to toe. Their bodies have a gorgeous blue hue and their huge tail feathers have hues of green, aqua, blue, red, yellow, and black. Some have interesting black circle markings that people sometimes compare to eyes.


18. Red-Bearded Bee-Eater

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAeW7LiA1to/

Scientific Name Nyctyomis amicus
Coloring Features Green bodies, red faces
Where They Live Worldwide

These little birds love to spend their time in trees. They are expert branch perchers and singers. They have bold bodies full of green feathers, bright red faces, and extremely long black bills. Their foreheads usually have bright pink markings. Their green tail feathers are long and bushy, giving them a fuller and bigger look.


19. Curl-Crested Aracari

Curl crested aracari on the tree
Image Credit: Wollertz, Shutterstock
Scientific Name Pteroglossus beauharnaisili
Coloring Features Green, red, orange, grey feathering
Where They Live The Amazon

The huge bills on these birds make them look disproportionate. However, their stocky, colorful bodies set them apart from the crowd. They have bright green markings around their eyes, white specks of color on their heads, dark green wings, red bellies, and back markings, and yellow chest markings.


20. Paradise Tanager

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVdpEMqJ4ka/

Scientific Name Tangara chilensis
Coloring Features Bright blue, red, green, and black bodies
Where They Live South America

This is a startlingly gorgeous bird with unique coloring patterns that won’t be found on other birds. Their base is black, but they have light blue chests and bellies, bright lime-green faces, and huge patches of red on their backs.


21. Splendid Fairywren

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJfuU1mlpzm/

Scientific Name Malurus splendens
Coloring Features Dark blue bodies
Where They Live Australia

This is a small blue bird with a long tail. What makes it stand out are the different hues of blue displayed on the head, back, chest, and wings. Ranging from powder blue to midnight blue, every one of these birds has a unique pattern that cannot be found on other types of birds in the wild.


22. Lilac-Breasted Roller

lilac breasted roller
Image Credit: Piqsels
Scientific Name Coracias caudatus
Coloring Features Rusty red necks, aqua green wings
Where They Live Africa

As their name suggests, Lilac-Breasted Rollers have lilac-red chests that brighten up their whole bodies. Their heads have white markings and their short bills are black. Their wings have aqua blue markings, and the areas right above their tails are usually black.


23. American Purple Gallinule

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKeZHpJgWoW/

Scientific Name Porphyrio martinicus
Coloring Features Dark blue heads and chests, green back feathers and wings
Where They Live United States, Caribbean
 

This is a medium-sized bird that can grow up to 24 inches in length when fully grown. The American Purple Gallinule’s beak is bright red at the base, and a prominent white mark is seen on their foreheads. Their heads and chests are royal blue, while their backs and wings are a mixture of green, orange, and yellow.


24. Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUAlEtRpjs7/

Scientific Name Rupicola peruvianus
Coloring Features Bright red tops, dark bottoms
Where They Live The Andes

These birds are striking in color and design. Their eyes look like they are far back in their heads because of their big lumpy bills. Their heads, necks, and chests are covered in bright red feathers. The bottom half of their bodies are covered in black feathers. They have amazing grey feathers on their back leading down to their tail feathers.


25. Crimson Rosella

crimson rosella bird
Image Credit: Pixabay
Scientific Name Platycercus elegans
Coloring Features Red, blue, and brown feathering
Where They Live Australia
 

These birds are decorated with red heads and chests, light blue wing and tail feathers, dark blue markings, and black tail ends. Their white bills seem to have been designed in contrast to the rest of their bodies. These birds seem to sing gleefully while living in nature, but they are quite quiet when they are living in captivity.


26. Red-Billed Blue Magpie

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5dmO43ATHG/

Scientific Name Urocissa erythroryncha
Coloring Features Black heads, colorful bodies
Where They Live Worldwide

While not bright in color, these birds display striking grey feathers on their backs and wings. Their extra-long tail feathers are light grey with white tips. Their heads are black, and their bills are bright orange, as are their legs and feet. Some white markings are typically displayed on their back feathers.


27. Blue Jay

bluejay-pixabay
Image Credit: Scottslm, Pixabay
Scientific Name Corvidae cristata
Coloring Features White and blue bodies
Where They Live Canada, United States

This bird’s pronounced crest is its most unique feature. The crest is usually smokey blue, as is the back. These birds have white markings around their eyes, white faces, and white bellies. Their tails are typically aqua blue and black. Their legs are blue too.

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Conclusion 

There is a multitude of beautiful birds in existence and many that are no longer with us. Every year, a new bird seems to be featured for its gorgeous markings or stout figure. The truth is that all birds are beautiful. Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it is never a done deal when creating a list of beautiful birds in the world. The list can always be tweaked and changed as new varieties are discovered!

See also: 


Featured Image Credit: SAJE, Shutterstock

About the Author Rachael Gerkensmeyer

Since 2000, Rachael has been a freelance writer, and has had an opportunity to research and write about many different topics while working to master the art of fusing high-quality content with effective content marketing strategies. She is an artist at heart and loves to read, paint, and make jewelry in her spare time. Rachael is obsessed with helping animals in need both in her community and anywhere in the world where she feels she can make a difference. She lives off the grid in Hawaii with her husband, her garden, and her rescue animals including 5 dogs, a cat, a goat, and dozens of chickens, so it's no surprise that animals happen to be her favorite topic to write about!