Viewing the most beautiful birds

I recently wrote about some of the very ugly birds that inhabit this planet, including the marabou stork. It seems only fair that I also review some of the most beautiful birds in the world.

In descending order, here is one list I recently came across: Peacock, Bird of Paradise, Golden Pheasant, Kingfisher, Macaw, Flamingo, Keel-billed Toucan, Snowy Owl, Pained Bunting and Blue Jay.

(By the way, a group of peacocks is called an ostentation.)

I have seen all these birds except for the golden pheasant and the bird of paradise. They are all quite beautiful, but I can think of a few others I would add, especially the resplendent quetzal.

This well-named bird is indeed resplendent, with its yard-long tail and brilliant blue, green and red colors. I saw my first one in Guatemala, where it is the national bird – they even call their currency the quetzal.

I would also include the Andean cock-ofthe-rock, a red-orange beauty with a quirky little crest looking like a Roman helmet. And I would cast a vote for the carmine bee-eater, a lavender-hued species I spotted in Africa.

Closer to home, the male northern cardinal is a classic beauty, often overlooked since it is a common backyard bird. But with it brilliant red color, perky crest and striking orange beak, the cardinal is one lovely bird.

How about you? What birds would you add to the list of most-beautiful? After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And when it comes to birds, there is plenty of beauty to behold.