Amethyst Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster). The males of this African species are the purplest birds in the world. That impossible-looking violet coloration is not pigment, but structural coloration: microscopic feather nanostructures bending and reflecting light into an intensely metallic purple sheen.
An unusually orange snowy owl spotted in Michigan has left scientists puzzled over its rare coloring.
Wildlife photographer Julie Maggert captured the bird, nicknamed “Rusty” by locals. While snowy owls are normally known for their white feathers, experts believe the owl’s unusual reddish-orange color may have been caused by dye, de-icing fluid, or a rare genetic mutation.