19 Weirdest and Most Unique Birds on Earth

Birds can be found just about everywhere, in tropical forests, the open oceans, thousands of feet in the sky, and even underground. Then there are those that stand out due to their odd appearances, looking more like a child’s drawing than an actual bird. While some characteristics are purely aesthetical, others have a wide range of applications, including courtship, defense, and mimicry.

Superb Lyrebird

Sporting dazzling, detailed tail feathers that shape into a lyre, the Superb Lyrebird is incredible any way you look at it. Having evolved to mimic almost any sound it encounters in its environment, including chainsaws, car alarms, pneumatic drills, and more. And while parrots are the most famous bird for mimicry, the Lyrebird is simply a few steps ahead.

Peacock

The peacock is a prime example of evolution when it focuses on aesthetics. Their large, iridescently-colored tail feathers can fan out into a mesmerizing display. This is a strategic adaptation that helps them attract a viable mate. Fanning their plumage alters their silhouette into a beautiful spectacle, but also emits a low-frequency sound appealing to potential partners.

Oilbird

Resembling a creature straight out of a Gothic novel, the oilbird is one of the only nocturnal flying birds, flying in total darkness using echolocation, much like bats. It emits multiple clicks that bounce off obstacles, then interprets the returning echoes to build a mental map of its surroundings.

Great Argus

The Great Argus may look ordinary at first, but when males find a female they like, they’re nothing but ordinary. Male birds extend specially shaped feathers to change their outline into a new, more appealing shape. In a glorious display of theatrics, the male bird transforms from a plain brown bird into a talented performance artist, flaunting large, ornamental eyespots on its wings to attract females. 

Bearded Barbet

This West-African bird is very colorful, boasting a red face, yellow-green plumage, and a strikingly blue crop of feathers on its head. The Bearded Barbet is a large bird, at about nine inches long. Its most defining feature (hence the name) is a ‘beard’ of bristles that surround its thick bill. Adapted to life in the trees, this bird uses its massive bill to crack open and eat fruits.

Helmeted Hornbill

The Helmeted Hornbill is a sight to behold with its impressive, sizeable casque, or ‘helmet.’ This large, solid keratin protuberance, making up to 10% of the bird’s 6.8 lbs weight, is a unique adaptation among hornbills. The Helmeted Hornbill also has a patch of bare, wrinkled skin on its throat, which changes color from yellow to red when the bird is excited. Sadly, the ‘helmet’ is often carved into highly-valued artifacts, pushing this distinct bird to extinction.

Puffin

Known as ‘Sea Parrots’ or ‘Clowns of the Sea’, the Atlantic Puffins are comical to look at, with their brightly colored beaks and pigeon-toed waddle. The beak of the Puffin is bioluminescent, meaning it glows in the dark (especially under UV light).  It’s triggered by a pigment in their beaks called porphyrins. The glow intensifies during the breeding season, making their beak an attractive trait in potential mates. 

Kakapo

The Kakapo is found only in the secluded depths of New Zealand. They are heavy birds that can weigh up to 9 pounds and are nocturnal by nature. Their unique green-yellow plumage provides perfect camouflage in the dark forest undergrowth. The Kakapo has a lifespan of around 90 years and is the only parrot known to “lek-breed”, a courtship ritual where males perform elaborate displays at communal sites to attract females.

Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-Paradise

The Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-Paradise literally transforms itself to win over a mate. The males use their iridescent blue breasts, black feathers, and yellow-tinged capes, to put on an impressive courtship display. They fan out their feathers to create a sort of semi-circular field around their bodies, reducing their silhouette to a pair of floating eyes and a glowing smile. 

Hoatzin

The Hoatzin, also known as the stinkbird, has unique dietary habits and a prehistoric look. This leathery-winged creature lives in the swamps of South America, munching away on leaves. Packed with a highly specialized digestive system, similar to that of cows, it ferments plant matter in a large, sac-like crop. It releases methane the same way cows do which is essentially where its nickname comes from. 

Long-Wattled Umbrellabird

This distinctive bird, with a wattle that would put any grandfather clock’s pendulum to shame, is native to the moist rainforests of Colombia and Ecuador. The male Umbrellabird has a cascading, feathered appendage that can reach up to 14 inches long and dangles beneath its body. When it’s time for romance, this appendage extends and the bird waves it back and forth during the bird’s mating dance.

Shoebill Stork

This prehistoric, almost dinosaur-looking bird, lives in the swamps of East Africa and is famous for its large, shoe-shaped beak. When hunting for prey, the Shoebill Stork remains frozen like a statue, focusing all its energy to snatch up its dinner. Also, if you happen to be near one, don’t be surprised if you hear it make a ‘bill-clattering’ sound. It’s just the Shoebill’s way of saying hello.

Flamingo

These wonderful birds can easily be recognized by their splendid pink plumes and iconic one-leg stands. The Flamingo also has an upside-down shaped beak which is specially adapted for filter-feeding. When in search of food like algae and tiny shellfish, flamingos perform an interesting routine – they dunk their heads underwater and stir the bottom with their feet. The color of their feathers comes from the beta-carotene in their food.

Snowy Owl

Remember Harry Potter’s Hedwig? She was a Snowy Owl. A unique trait of these birds is their ability to thrive in extremely cold temperatures. To retain body warmth, they’ve adapted an extra-thick coat of feathers which also double as a perfect snow camouflage. Speaking of adaptations, their rounded, disc-shaped face helps channel sound to their ears, making them remarkable hunters. 

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

With a bright orange-red plumage, the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock’s large, fan-shaped crest seems to cover its entire head. It gets more bizarre as males of this species perform a courtship ritual known as lekking that involves an elaborate dance routine and flagrant show of their polychromatic feathers. To help them reside comfortably in humid forest habitats, they’ve evolved waterproof feathers.

Victoria Crowned Pigeon

This bird is named after the British monarch Queen Victoria and known as the world’s largest pigeon. Unlike your everyday city pigeon, this bird has a regal crown of lace-like blue-gray feathers. Friendly by nature and possessing an elegant demeanor, these birds inhabit the lowland forests in northern New Guinea. They’ve gained much popularity in aviculture thanks to their striking appearance but are, sadly, listed as near threatened in the wild due to hunting and habitat loss.

African Hoopoe

The African Hoopoe is a truly unusual bird, having an elegant crest that can be raised or lowered as desired. Their long, thin beak is optimal for foraging insects in the ground. Predominantly cinnamon in color, these birds have distinctive black and white wings that create a stunning visual during flight. Aside from their peculiar appearances, African Hoopoes make ‘hoop-hoop-hoop’ sounds.

Grey Crowned Crane

This eye-catching African bird literally wears a crown of stiff golden feathers. Their dark slate-grey body dramatically contrasts with their white wings adorned with striking flashes of gold. The crane’s long legs and neck enable it to move with elegance. However, it’s not just about looks for the Grey Crowned Crane — their complex dance moves during courtship reveal an intriguing, behavior-filled side to their personality.

Royal Flycatcher

This bird is best known for its flamboyant and large crest, resembling a crown. The crest, prominently featuring vivid red or yellow hues, is usually only displayed during mating rituals or while defending against potential threats. Royal Flycatchers also exhibit incredible acrobatics in the air while hunting for flying insects. So, if you find yourself in Central or South America, keep an eye skyward for a glimpse of this feathered royalty.