We all know them, The curiosities of the animal world are surprising! Well, nature always seems to have new data to reveal to us. In it we find countless animal curiosities, but there is a small group that stands out from the rest: birds. It is for this reason that at we have decided to tell you a little more about the curiosities of birds.. Animals that at first glance seem common and ordinary, but in their genetic composition and corporeal structure they keep some of the most surprising curious data that birds have been able to give us. Join us! You’ll love it.
15 Curiosities about birds that you will like to know
1. Origin
Although it sounds very basic, it is interesting to start with these curiosities about birds by asking ourselves where exactly they come from. It was from the bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs of the Jurassic period, which survived the mass extinction, that we arrived at the birds we know today.. After strong radiation, these creatures developed, the 18,000 species that inhabit our planet today. According to paleontologists, The birds are at least 15,000 years oldand the first of them found in Lascaux in France.
2. Can parrots talk?
Much has been said about the ability of parrots to speak, wondering if they can really do it, and the answer is that of course yes, there are parrots that have the ability to imitate the human voice, as well as other species of birds and not necessarily for being domestic. Also in the wild they can replicate your voice.
What are the parrots that talk? Amazon parrots, African gray parrots, cockatoos and parakeets. Yes indeed, You should know that another of the curious facts about birds is that parrots are not the only ones with this abilityThe Himalayan mynah, for example, is the bird considered the best at imitating human voices.
3. Migratory birds and their orientation
Have you ever wondered how migratory birds orient themselves? It may not seem like anything out of this world, but the interesting thing is that they have a specialized GPS in their brains, with which they are able to perceive the influence of the Earth’s magnetic fields. This is one of the curiosities of birds that we should admire!
4. The function of feathers
There are plenty of curious animals, but none like birds. Strange beings that have beaks, legs, and instead of fur, feathers that do little or nothing when it comes to flying… So, what is the function of feathers? Actually the answer comes from many places; Yeah, The feathers are used to fly, but in addition to that they protect the birds’ bodies from the cold, they act as protection against weather conditions, they are used to build nests and, as if that were not enough, they are also used to court.. Now you can see why bird feathers are part of their curiosities.
5. The color of flamingos
This is one of our favorite fun facts about birds. If you have also wondered why flamingos are that impressive pink, You will be interested to know what is due to their diet, specifically the crustaceans on which they feed.. We tell you in more detail about the color of flamingos here.
6. The strange need of the ostrich
The image is not so strange anymore. Maybe one day by chance you come across an ostrich that has its head under the ground, and although it may seem curious, believe us, there is a scientific reason why it does so.
Normally, it has been said that this action is part of the ostrich’s cowardice; but the truth is that this action is intended to find food. That’s the whole dilemma! This monumental bird usually digs in the ground looking for worms or beetles when it comes to eating, which is why it sometimes even buries its entire head to reach even deeper with its beak.
7. The most beautiful birds in the world
Almost like any other classification, defining which are the most beautiful birds in the world becomes extremely difficult; especially because it seems that any classification is subjective. However, according to some studies carried out, many people classify this variety of birds as the most beautiful in the world: the hyacinth macaw, the European waxwing, the blue jay or blue magpie, the iris-billed toucan or green-billed toucan, the Peacock, the Flamingo and finally, the macaw macaw. Are there any you would like to add?
8. The beak of the pelicans
Of the many curiosities that we can find about birds, it seems that the tools that nature gave them are amazing, a great example of them is the pelican. You will see, The pelican’s pouch beak shape helps them hold up to 2.5 gallons of water at a timethen the beak shrinks to squeeze out the water before the pelican swallows its food.
9. The largest bird in the world
As you probably already know, the largest bird in the world is the ostrich. They can measure 2 meters and 10 centimeters in height. Brutal! By the way, did you know that they roar?
10. The magic of a bird’s knee
Of all the curious facts that birds may have, one of the best is their knee. Yes, just as you read it, although it appears that a bird’s knee bends backwards, it is actually its ankle that bends. As? Easy, below your ankle is an extended foot bone, which is the one that leads to your toes. The bird’s real knee is generally covered by its feathers..
11. Turkey feces
It is impossible to leave aside the curiosities of turkeys when talking about birds. Did you know that an interesting fact refers to the identification of its sex and feces? Well, now you know: a male turkey produces its droppings in a spiral shape, while a female turkey produces its droppings in a J-shape.
12. What is the difference between owl and owl?
This question could not be missing from our list of bird curiosities, because we know that you have also asked it… What you should always look for to differentiate an owl from an owl are the feathers that the former have simulating ears. . Additionally, owls’ eyes are generally yellow and they tend to have larger heads and rounder faces than barn owls. As for owls, they don’t have those «ears» made of feathers. Their little heads are smaller than those of owls and the shape of their face is flatter and more pointed.
13. The loyalty of the penguins
Many things have been said about the curiosities of penguins, but the issue of their fidelity almost always stands out. And of course it is valid, because it has been scientifically proven that throughout their lives they will always choose a single partner. These curious animals recognize each other from their squawk and it is this that gives them the guideline to choose the partner of their life.
14. What do hummingbirds eat?
To close our list of curiosities about birds, there is nothing better than doing it with one of the smallest birds of all. And the curiosities of hummingbirds seem to never end because these small animals are the only ones capable of flying backwards and the endemic hummingbird of Cuba is the smallest of all birds. Even so, we need to mention what they eat: nectar from flowers and apparently have a voracious appetite, as they visit more than 1000 flowers a day to consume their favorite food.either.
15. Birds without wings
Not all birds have wings. An example is the kiwi (Apteryx australis), flightless species from Oceania. Its tail and wings disappeared externally.
What did you think of these curiosities about birds? Now you know how to tell an owl from a barn owl and you could also feed a hummingbird if you were caring for one! If you know other curious facts about birds, don’t hesitate to share it with us!