The Strangest Birds on the Planet
Greater Sage-Grouse
Latin name: Centrocercus urophasianus
Unique weird feature: Large, inflatable breast sacs
Can you imagine gathering every spring at a lek to pick your mate from among dozens of males who spend hours showing off by thrusting their bulging, yellow air sacs in and out while making gurgling, popping sounds?
This strange mating feature is what puts this fellow on the weirdest bird list.
Hoatzin - The Strangest Birds on the Planet
- Often found in groups in the swamps and mangroves of the Amazon basin, this strange pheasant-like bird is recognized not only by his brown mohawk crest feathers, blue face, and red eyes but his unpleasant odor as well.
- The hoatzin feeds only on plant vegetation that ferments in its foregut which is what creates the bird’s stinky smell.
The Strangest Birds on the Planet
Tufted Puffin
The Tufted Puffin is a surface-diving seabird acclimated to the colder waters of the north Pacific. It's the largest of all the Puffin species and breeds between northwestern Alaska down through central California.
Ranking the most unique birds on earth
Kakapo parrot
- Kakapo is the only parrot in the world that cannot fly with bright green feathers and a face that resembles an owl. This is a nocturnal bird, so it is not surprising that many people call Kakapo "night parrot".
- Besides, Kakapo is the only parrot species in the world that only mates with partners of its own choosing. When choosing a "lover", the male birds will fight with each other and the female bird will choose the male bird she likes best as her "husband".
Ranking the most unique birds on earth
Philippine Eagle
- The Philippine Eagle makes a special impression with the title "the world's largest bird of prey" with a height of about 1m and a weight of 7kg. These eagles are also expert hunters as no prey can escape their steel-sharp claws.
- With such a large length and size, the Philippine eagle is "more than capable" of capturing monkeys or any other animal living within its hunting range.
Frigate bird
Surely Easter Island (Indian Ocean) is quite familiar to everyone, but few people have heard of the Frigate bird. The survival of the Frigate bird was once threatened by the crazy yellow ants on the island. But now, their density and number have gradually stabilized.
With extremely fast and accurate wind speed, Frigate species are known as excellent hunters. Once the target is set, no fish can escape their clutches.
However, the special thing about this species is its ability to "steal" prey right from the claws of other birds of prey and seagulls while they are flying. Perhaps that is why they also have another nickname: "sea pirates".
Ranking the most unique birds on earth
KAGU BIRD
- The island nation of New Caledonia (1,200km north of Australia) is the main habitat of the Kagu bird. Kagu was identified as the only remaining member of the genus Rhynochetos and family Rhynochetidae.
- A pair of Kagu birds can live faithfully together for life. For most of the year, males and females forage for food on their own. But when the breeding season comes, they return to incubate eggs together.
- The strange thing about the Kagu bird is its "tiny nose" that no other bird has. With a small structure and a shell surrounding their nostrils, they can search for prey in bushes, while also preventing sand and dust from flying into their noses.