The animal kingdom is fascinating. Thousands and thousands of birds coexist in it. Each with unique qualities that they have acquired by adapting to the environment. In some cases, these adaptations take some of these species to a point of rarity that almost seems like something out of a science fiction movie.
The list of fascinating animals in that sense is so extensive that I could write for weeks. So little by little, we will talk about some of these animals. Today, 9 fascinating and strange birds that you should not miss.
Kakapo
It is a species of parrot endemic to New Zealand that cannot fly. In fact, it is the only parrot that cannot do it. Due to the absence of predators in their habitat from which to flee, these birds evolved until they lost this ability and acquired a considerable size (they measure up to 64 cm). They have nocturnal habits and a serious problem with mating. The introduction of invasive species by man (such as rats and cats that attack eggs and young) added to the intervals of 2 to 4 years between laying and laying of eggs make this animal one of the species in serious danger of extinction in our planet (only 126 living specimens).
Philippine Eagle
It is the largest eagle in the world, endemic to the Philippines, and in serious danger of extinction. These animals feed mainly on flying monkeys and lemurs in a curious way: they do not hunt alone and while one member acts as a decoy, the others attack groups of monkeys by surprise. They have long feathers on their heads that expand like a crest, which gives them a curious and unique appearance. It is the only bird of prey with blue eyes in the world, with which it can see 8 times the distance that a person can see.
Frigatebird
They are the only seabirds that exhibit sexual dimorphism. The males are much more colorful than the females and have a large red bag on their neck that they inflate during the mating season to attract females. They measure one meter long. Despite being seabirds, they rarely fall into the water. They do not have the ability to take flight from the sea so they use their claws to catch fish hovering on the surface.
Kiwi
The kiwi is an endemic bird of New Zealand that cannot fly (they are running birds). The main characteristic of these animals is that they occupy the ecological niche that elsewhere belongs to mammals. In addition, they share similar characteristics with these in adaptation to the environment and evolution, such as hair-like feathers or nostrils at the end of the beak. Another amazing quality is that they lay extremely large eggs for their size. These birds are threatened and their main causes are stoats, dogs, and other invasive species introduced by man.
Ceylon Frogmouth
It is an expert bird in camouflage. Its color and ability to remain completely still make it one more trunk of the environment. They have a head as wide as the body and a huge mouth. They are nocturnal birds that go unnoticed during the day. They produce a series of very curious and characteristic sounds of the species that in the case of the female end with a kind of hiccup. They live in South India and Sri Lanka.
Helmeted Hornbill
These birds are extremely curious about their appearance. They have a bump on their solid beaks made of an ivory-like material. Other species of hornbills have these hollow “helmets” and are smaller in size. The helmeted hornbill is the largest species of all. In addition, they have a bare neck of feathers of intense red color in males and turquoise in females.
Shoebill
It is one of the tallest birds on the planet (more than 1.5 m tall) and prehistoric in appearance. It lives in African swamps and is in serious danger of extinction. Its endearing appearance is reminiscent of a puppet of the late Jim Henson, but behind it hides an extremely aggressive bird with other animals, including its brothers. The females usually lay two eggs, and from the two hatched chicks, as they grow, trifurcations emerge where the loser is abandoned by the mother to fate and her subsequent death.
Potoo
They are nocturnal animals with plumage that during the day gives them the appearance of a tree trunk. They have a very small bill but their mouth is extremely wide, which helps them catch moths and other insects at night. They do not build nests, but lay their eggs on branches or broken trunks, although the main rarity of these animals is the appearance that their yellow eyes give them. When these are open, the animal acquires a comical and terrifying aspect that cannot fail to attract attention.
Cassowary
It is the second largest bird on the planet after the ostrich and the most dangerous of all. It has powerful claws with which it attacks when it feels threatened. Its appearance is extremely curious and primitive. It has very bright and strange colors on its head and neck that change according to its mood, a helmet on its head, feathers as the hair on its body, tiny wings that it does not use, and large legs. They are very fast and are the birds that emit sounds of lower frequency (sometimes not perceptible to the human ear). They have no tongue, they are solitary and it is the closest living animal to the extinct dinosaurs.
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