Flashy birds draw our eyes south for winter

I just returned from a visit to Minnesota, where I watched with a bit of envy the brilliant male Northern Cardinals visiting feeders. In Alaska we have numerous birds that could be described as impressive, cute, regal, fascinating or friendly. But in general, colorful is an adjective that does not leap to mind. One must travel south to see the flashiest of our avian friends. In a season of cold and dark, the temptation to do just that is sometimes overwhelming.

Quite possibly the champions of color in the bird world are the 39 species of Birds-of-Paradise, found in Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea and surrounding islands. Not only are these some of the most flamboyant of the birds, they have fascinating mating behaviors. For the most part, the males are much more colorful than the females and perform elaborate dances to attract a mate. Some have special feathers that grow longer or in unusual configurations to demonstrate their fitness. They may flap wings together to create a slapping sound, dance up and down a branch rhythmically, or hang upside down as part of these mating rituals.

Also found in the same area of the world are the 20 species of Bowerbirds. Although many of these birds are not known for their spectacular colors, to attract a mate the males build elaborate structures called bowers. Each is decorated with colorful flowers, leaves, feathers and even human-made objects such as plastic and paper. The bird selects a color scheme he hopes will be appealing to the females in the area. A bower can be several feet tall, with carefully arranged sticks, feathers and stones. If an item is moved or lost, the diligent Bowerbird will replace it.

Perhaps the best known of the bright and flashy birds are the more than 300 species of parrots, which include Macaws, Cockatoos, Lories and True Parrots. In the wild, parrots are found throughout the tropics and Southern Hemisphere roughly anywhere south of the Tropic of Cancer, excluding Antarctica. The large variety of parrots can be found in habitats from mountains to desert to rain forest, garbed in coats ranging from bright green to scarlet red, blue and gold, and even black. Their large flocks and raucous manners make them relatively easy to see and fun to watch. The Carolina Parakeet was once a wild resident of temperate North America before being hunted to extinction about 100 years ago. There are several species of parrot in southern North America and Europe introduced from escaped pets and now breeding in the wild.

Hummingbirds are found only in the Western Hemisphere, and the greatest variety of the more than 300 species is found in the tropics of Central and South America. Although tiny in stature, they are feisty and active. Hummingbirds are one of the only birds to hover in flight, and the only ones that can fly backwards. In addition, they have iridescent feathers that change apparent color in the sunlight. The gorget, or throat feathers, of the males have a special structure that acts like a prism, diffracting light to create a spectrum of shifting colors, switching from drab to vivid greens, violets and reds as the bird moves about.

Africa is home to a multitude of brilliant birds. The most vivid are passerines (perching birds) and include Bee-eaters, Rollers and Sunbirds; names as colorful as the birds themselves. Each family hosts several species spread throughout the continent, with a range of colors across the entire spectrum, often many on the same bird. These birds also live in a large variety of habitats across the continent. While not as colorful, Africa is also home to the Ostrich — a bird of superlatives. It is the largest of any living bird, lays the largest egg and holds the land speed record for birds.

Closer to home, search the wetlands of Florida and Texas for flashy birds. Look for long-legged Roseate Spoonbills with their pink feathers and namesake spoon-shaped bills. The familiar American Flamingo is a similarly designed bird, but with a heavy hooked bill for straining shrimp from brine pools. While spoonbills are native to North America, the flamingos are generally escapees from zoos or parks, or have been otherwise introduced and now breed in the wild. The most colorful species in the North American bird guide tend to reside in more tropical locales. Buntings, orioles and warblers all have members with coats of brilliant reds, oranges and blues.

My own personal must-see bird is the Painted Bunting. It has been said that the red, blue and green pattern on this little songbird looks as if a child had been given the outline of a bird, a box of crayons and free reign to design. They are usually found only in the far south central parts of the country and only in summer, thus will be difficult to see in my snow-bird travels.

Enjoy your visit with the world’s brightest and most spectacular birds, whether in person or through a book or video.

Nancy Wade is member of the Mat-Su Birders and Alaska WildBird Rehabilitation Center. Send birding questions for her column on birding to alaskaflamingo@yahoo.com.