7 of the Most Beautiful Birds on the Planet

The European bee eater is a slender bird that breeds in southern and central Europe, northern and southern Africa, and western Asia; it heads to tropical Africa for the winter. While its hues are perhaps more muted than some other colorful birds, it’s equally stunning, with a pretty yellow chin and a standout black necklace. The European bee eater does indeed eat bees, wasps and hornets, as well as other insects.

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Native to North America, the painted bunting is a songbird that can often be seen at backyard bird feeders in the Southeast and south-central United States. In an attempt to woo the ladies, male painted buntings sport coats of vivid blue, green, yellow, and red feathers and should definitely be on all birdwatchers’ must-see list.

Australians are proud to claim the rainbow lorikeet as one of their own. This long-lived member of the parrot family displays plumage in brilliant red, blue, green, yellow and orange. Often kept as pets, rainbow lorikeets are sociable and chatty. They enjoy snacking on fruit, pollen and nectar.

If you prefer birds with a simpler yet truly vibrant plumage, consider the violet-backed starling, the males of which dazzle with their purple and white feathers. The gals are a bit drab in brown, but they do feature an intriguing raindrop pattern on their white bellies. Common in sub-Saharan Africa, the bird is fond of fruits, seeds and arthropods.

The Moluccan eclectus is an interesting species in that both the males and females are colorful, but they wear very different palettes. The gents sport mostly bright green plumage, with a hint of red and blue, while the ladies are mostly red with a touch of blue. Native to New Guinea, these parrots are known for their big heads and short tails.

The scarlet macaw is a parrot that makes its home in the tropical forests of Central and South America; it is the national bird of Honduras. The large beauty sports red, yellow, white and blue feathers and its red tail makes up more than half of its 32-inch body length. It’s known for being something of a loudmouth, squawking with abandon as it calls out to other members of its group.