On this page you will find the weirdest birds in the world. Most of them stand out for their appearance, some of them are among the most beautiful in the world. But there are others that have surprising behaviors or abilities.
List of weird birds
Mandarin duck
The mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) is a species known for its vivid and varied colors, which is why it is considered one of the most beautiful birds in the world.
The females have dull colors, but the males show a set of colors and shapes so different that it looks like a sculpture instead of a real animal. This duck is omnivorous and feeds mainly on seeds and plants.
The Mandarin duck is native to China, Japan, Korea and Siberia, but can now also be found in Europe and the United States. This amazing bird usually lives in dense forests and near shallow lakes, ponds or lagoons. Despite being a very striking animal, it is not considered a vulnerable species. However, in some places where it is native, this duck is threatened by habitat destruction.
Ghost bird
The ghost bird (Nyctibius griseus), also called nictibio urutaú, nictibio, potoo, common urutaú, kakuy or witch bird among others. It is a bird that attracts attention because of its large yellow eyes and its ability to camouflage itself.
This curious bird is so striking that it is reminiscent of a cartoon. The color of its plumage blends in perfectly with its surroundings. This weird bird feeds mainly on insects.
The ghost bird inhabits the open forests and savannas of Central and South America. Due to its peculiar song and appearance, legends have been woven around this bird that relate it to bad fortune, and this has made it the prey of some hunters. Despite this, it is not in danger of extinction.
Philippine Eagle
The Philippine eagle or monkey eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is a unique species, and also one of the largest and most beautiful birds in the world.
This majestic bird is one of the largest eagles in the world, and is characterized by a lion-like mane. It is one of the largest predators in its environment and hunts mainly mammals such as monkeys, lemurs, flying squirrels, bats and rats, but it also feeds on snakes, lizards and other birds.
The Philippine eagle inhabits the dense mountain forests of the Philippine Islands. It is one of the weirdest birds in the world and is critically endangered, mainly due to habitat loss from indiscriminate logging and poaching.
Hoatzin
The hoatzin or hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) is a unique species of its genus, it resembles a pheasant and its most striking feature is that it has a “punk” crest.
This peculiar “rock” bird has difficulty flying and is flightless. It is also herbivorous and feeds mainly on leaves, so it is completely harmless.
It is one of the weirdest birds in existence and lives in areas with dense vegetation and near water sources in South America. It is a species that has a high population volume, so it is not considered threatened. Its greatest danger is the loss of habitat due to deforestation.
Umbrellabird
The umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger) also known as the long-tailed umbrellabird, Pacific umbrellabird or bullbird is a bird noted for having a long, feathered caruncle and a bushy crest.
This elegant bird with a hat and tie has an all-black plumage. Although it is an omnivorous animal, it feeds almost exclusively on the fruits of palm trees.
This striking bird inhabits the lowland and piedmont rainforests of Colombia and Ecuador. It is an endangered species and is in a vulnerable situation, its greatest danger is the loss of habitat caused by the agricultural and timber industries.
Secretary bird
The secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is the only terrestrial bird of prey, its legs are like those of a crane and it stands out for the feathers on its head and the way it hunts.
Its characteristic feather crest and colors make it one of the most beautiful birds in the world. It is also one of the largest birds of prey. It can fly long distances but prefers to walk with its strong legs, it looks like a hybrid between an eagle and an ostrich. This majestic bird hunts hares, snakes or mice from the ground, it is a carnivorous animal.
These weird birds roam the savannas, steppes and grasslands of the vast region of sub-Saharan Africa. It is a protected and highly valued species in its region, but is currently considered a vulnerable species. Its main threat is habitat loss due to expanding human populations.
Tragopan
The Temminck’s tragopan (Tragopan temminckii) is a species of pheasant that stands out for its bright and beautifully colored plumage.
This species of pheasant is noted for having a beautiful and striking coloring, but as with the mandarin duck, this only applies to the males. These weird birds are omnivorous and feed on the shoots and seeds of plants and some insects.
Temminck’s tragopan inhabits evergreen and mixed forests in the mountains of India, China, Burma, Nepal and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Thailand and Laos. It is an easy bird to find in its geographic range so it is considered a species of least concern.
Royal Condor
The royal condor (Sarcoramphus papa), also called the jungle condor, is a bird characterized by the impressive coloring on its head.
The colors on its head are so varied that it looks as if it were wearing a helmet. Among all these colors, the red and yellow of the neck and caruncle stand out. This condor feeds on the carrion of all kinds of dead animals, from cattle to fish.
It is one of the weirdest birds in existence and inhabits lowland tropical forests, savannas and grasslands in Latin America, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. The population of this bird is very abundant, so it is considered a species of least concern.
Superb bird of paradise
The superb bird of paradise (Lophorina superba) performs one of the most amazing courtship rituals of all animals.
This bird belongs to the family of birds of paradise, which are characterized by their amazing courtship rituals, and the superb one is one of the most amazing. When it is going to court a female it “transforms” completely, leaving a figure in the shape of a “smiling face”. It is an omnivorous bird that eats insects and fruits
These weird birds inhabit the rainforests of the island of New Guinea. Although its population is limited to one island, it is very common in its habitat, so it is considered a species of least concern.
Pied-crested Curassow
The stone-crested curassow (Pauxi unicornis) also known as the helmeted curassow, is a bird characterized by the bony helmet that rises above its forehead.
The striking ornamentation on its head and the black color of its plumage give it a certain elegance. These birds are omnivorous, but feed mainly on fruits found on the ground.
This peculiar bird inhabits the cloud forests of the mountains of Colombia and Venezuela. Unfortunately, there are hunters who look for them to get their characteristic helmet, because of this it is a species that is in danger of extinction.
‘I’iwi
The ‘i’iwi (Drepanis coccinea) is a bird that attracts attention for its intense red color and curved beak.
It is a honeybird, similar to a hummingbird. Its characteristic beak is used to extract nectar from the flowers it feeds on.
The ‘i’iwi inhabits the mesic and humid forests of the Hawaiian archipelago. These weird birds are in a vulnerable situation, mainly due to avian malaria.
Greater sage-grouse
The greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a bird that has an imposing appearance and performs an amazing courtship ritual.
Like other birds, the sage grouse shows great sexual dimorphism: females are smaller and gray, while males are larger, brownish-gray, with a large white ruff and two sacs on the chest that swell during courtship rituals. This curious bird is omnivorous, but feeds mainly on sagebrush.
The sagebrush grouse inhabits the sagebrush prairies and sagebrush hills of the northwestern United States and western Canada. It is now considered a near-threatened species, and the governments of Canada and some U.S. states have passed laws to protect it.
Golden Pheasant
The golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) is a bird that is considered the most beautiful pheasant in the world because of its extraordinary coloring.
The females of this species have dull colors, but the males have an impressive colorful plumage. They have a golden crest, a long black mottled tail and a multi-colored body (the most prominent of which is red). This weird bird is omnivorous and feeds mainly on seeds.
It is a native species of central China. But like the mandarin duck, it has been introduced in other parts of the world, mainly in Great Britain.
The golden pheasant inhabits coniferous forests in central China. The population of this species is very large so it is classified as Least Concern.