Birds with Wild Hairdos

Cockatoos are known for their expressive crests, which they raise or lower depending on their mood. The crests can be white, yellow, or pink.  These charismatic birds are native to the Australian continent, the islands of the Indo-Australian archipelago, and parts of New Guinea. There are 21 different species of cockatoo, varying in size from the diminutive Galah to the imposing Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.  Most cockatoo species are highly social birds, forming strong pair bonds that often last a lifetime. Cockatoos are primarily herbivores, with a diet consisting of seeds, nuts, fruits, roots, and occasionally insects and larvae.

Crested ducks have odd crested heads topped with puffs of feathers, looking like they might have come from a beauty salon. These birds prefer the calm waters of ponds and lakes. They enjoy dining on small insects and plants.

Crested pigeons have tall, thin plumes of feathers atop their heads. These birds are native to Australia. With their hairstyles, they are quite fashionable and have a charming personality. These birds are gray with tinges of brown and green and have feathered but slender, black spikes on top of their heads. They live in lightly wooded grasslands in both rural and urban areas. Crested pigeons are highly social birds and often gather in flocks of varying sizes. They are herbivores, feeding on various types of seeds as well as leaves and insects.

Gray crowned cranes are amazing birds with interesting spiky hair-like crests and golden plumes. They live in Eastern and Southern Africa in both wetlands and grasslands. Their “crown” isn’t soft like other bird feathers. It’s made up of stiff and wire-like feathers that stand upright. Crowned cranes have an unusual sleeping habit, and they often rest on one leg while standing. Their calls can travel for miles over open savannas and wetlands. This helps them communicate across long distances. These birds are omnivores, eating plant matter, including fresh parts of grasses, seed heads of sedges, and insects such as grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets, and worms, lizards, frogs, and crabs.

Great curassows have curled crowns of feathers. They live in Central and South American tropical forests. The birds are known for their bold black and white colors. Great curassows are omnivorous, with a diet consisting primarily of fallen fruits, seeds, and small invertebrates. They are primarily terrestrial, spending much of their time foraging on the forest floor. They move with a slow, deliberate gait, scratching the ground for food.

Hoatzins appear to have “bad hair day” looks They live in the swamps and river areas of South America. These birds are calm and slow-moving, making loud huffing noises, and are usually found in groups or pairs. These weird blue-faced, red-eyed birds smell so bad predators won't eat them. They primarily feed on leaves.

Hoopoes are known for their bright orange crests, which fan out like crowns when the birds are excited or alarmed. They are found in Africa, Europe, and Asia. These birds are solitary foragers looking for food on the ground. The diet of the hoopoe is mostly composed of insects, although small reptiles, frogs, and plant matter such as seeds and berries are sometimes taken as well.  These birds have a presence in Near Eastern culture, folklore, mythology, and religion. Hoopoes were used in the iconography as a symbolic code to indicate the child as the heir and successor of his father in Ancient Egypt.

Northern cardinals are known for their striking red feathers and sharp, pointed crests. They are fairly large, long-tailed songbirds with short, very thick bills and prominent crests. Northern Cardinals tend to sit low in shrubs and trees or forage on or near the ground, often in pairs.  These birds primarily consume seeds, fruits, and insects.

Philippine eagles are majestic birds with dark brown feathers and distinct crests on their heads. They inhabit the forests of the Philippines in mountainous regions. These eagles prey on monkeys and other small mammals.

Polish chickens make me think of rock stars with their amazing puff of feathers covering their heads. These birds have a mixture of brown, white, and black feathers. Roosters have bizarre red V-shaped combs along with white earlobes and red wattles. Interestingly, these chickens have gray legs with four toes on each foot. Polish chickens are known to be some of the calmest and gentlest birds.

Silver pheasants are known for their breathtaking appearance, featuring elegant white and black plumage and distinctive hair-like tufts on their heads.  Silver pheasants are gregarious ground-dwelling birds that are usually seen in small flocks. They are herbivores, feeding on seeds and fruits, and may also take invertebrates according to the season.

Victoria crowned pigeons were named after Queen Victoria. These birds have regal crowns of blue feathers. They are the largest pigeons of their kind and native to New Guinea. They stand out with their beautiful lacy crest, deep red eyes, and soft cooing sounds.  These birds dine on fruits, seeds, and small invertebrates.  Victoria crowned pigeons are distributed in the lowland and swamp forests of northern New Guinea and surrounding islands.