Birds with red feet come in many different species. The red coloration is caused by carotenoid pigments obtained from their diet of fruits, seeds, and insects. While several taxonomic groups contain red-footed species, some of the most common examples include gulls, wading birds, blackbirds, and finches.
Gulls
Many gull species have bright red feet. This includes:
- Ring-billed Gull
- California Gull
- Herring Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Black-headed Gull
- Franklin’s Gull
Gulls are shorebirds in the family Laridae. They are highly aerial and typically found in coastal habitats or around lakes and rivers. Gulls have webbed feet with three front toes and one back toe. The red coloration on their feet and legs comes from carotenoids obtained through their diet of aquatic animals like fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and insects. The pigments help strengthen their bones and act as antioxidants.
Ring-billed Gull
The ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) is a common gull species found across most of North America. Their name comes from the distinctive black ring around their yellow bill. Adults have gray backs, white underparts, yellow eyes, and bright orange-red feet. They breed near inland lakes and rivers and frequent landfills and urban areas during winter.
California Gull
The California gull (Larus californicus) inhabits west coast areas from British Columbia to Mexico. They have pale gray wings, a white head and underparts, yellow-green legs, and black-and-red spotted bills. Their legs and feet become brilliant red during the breeding season. They nest in colonies at lakes and rivers and are the state bird of Utah.
Herring Gull
The herring gull (Larus argentatus) is a large, common gull with a circumpolar distribution across the Northern Hemisphere. Adults have light gray backs, black wingtips with white spots, and yellow eyes with red rings. Their legs range from pink to brick-red. Herring gulls breed on coastal cliffs and scavenge in urban areas and landfills.
Wading Birds
Wading birds in the order Ciconiiformes that have red feet include:
- American Flamingo
- Roseate Spoonbill
- Scarlet Ibis
- White Ibis
- Glossy Ibis
- Australian White Ibis
- Sacred Ibis
- Wood Stork
These long-legged wading birds frequent marshes, beaches, and other wetlands. Their red legs and feet come from a high concentration of carotenoid pigments in their diet of shrimp, small fish, and other aquatic creatures. The red color may help camouflage their legs while wading through reddish wetland environments.
American Flamingo
American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) are the brightest red of all flamingo species. They inhabit tropical and subtropical wetlands in the Americas and Caribbean islands. Their long thin legs, neck, bill, and feet display vibrant red colors from carotenoid pigments obtained by filter feeding on algae, diatoms, and brine shrimp.
Roseate Spoonbill
The roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) is a large, pink wading bird found along the Gulf Coast of the US and scattered areas in Central and South America. Their bill is flattened and spoon-shaped. Adults have bright red legs and pink to reddish plumage. They sweep their bill back and forth in shallow water to catch fish, crustaceans, and insects.
Scarlet Ibis
The scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) inhabits tropical South America and the Caribbean. Adults are vividly red overall, except for black wingtips. Even their bill, legs, and feet are bright red. Their diet of shrimp and other small invertebrates delivers the carotenoid pigments that give them their brilliant coloration.
Blackbirds
Some blackbird species with red feet and legs include:
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Tricolored Blackbird
- Red-and-Yellow Barbets
- Yellow-crowned Euphonias
Blackbirds belong to the family Icteridae in the order Passeriformes. Many obtain red pigments from eating insects and small fruits. Males often use the red coloration on their feet, legs, and epaulets in displays to attract females.
Red-winged Blackbird
The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is one of the most abundant and familiar blackbirds across North America. Males are all black with bright red shoulder patches (epaulets) edged with yellow. Females are streaked brown and lack the red coloration. Both sexes have red eyes and reddish feet. These birds often breed in marshes and wet meadows.
Tricolored Blackbird
The tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) is nearly endemic to California. Males have black bodies, bright red shoulders edged with white, a blue gloss on their feathers, and red eyes. Their bill and feet are also reddish. They nest colonially in freshwater marshes where they forage on insects and grains.
Finches
Finch species in the avian family Fringillidae with red legs and feet include:
- Common Redpoll
- Red Crossbill
- Cassin’s Finch
- House Finch
- Purple Finch
- Scarlet Finch
Finches have small notched bills suited for cracking seeds and nuts. Many species develop red coloration from eating carotenoid-rich berries, buds, and seeds. Brighter colors may help males compete for females or defend feeding territories.
Common Redpoll
The common redpoll (Acanthis flammea) is a small songbird with red on its head, breast, and rump. Its lower belly is white and its back streaked brown. Breeding males have rosy pink patches on their breast and red streaks on their back. Their feet also turn dark pinkish-red. These active foragers live across northern regions of Eurasia and North America.
Red Crossbill
The red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) can be found across North America and Eurasia. Their unique crossed bill allows them to efficiently pry open conifer cones to access the seeds within. Males are reddish overall with darker wings and tail. Females are yellowish-green with darker wings and tail. Both sexes have dull pinkish legs and feet.
Cassin’s Finch
Cassin’s finch (Haemorhous cassinii) is a reddish bird with a forked tail that lives in western North America. Adult males have bright red heads, breasts, rumps, and feet. Their wings and back are darker brown-streaked. Females are more subtly colored. These birds prefer to live in forests near open areas with plenty of seeds and insect food sources.
Other Birds With Red Feet
Beyond the major groups described above, other birds with red feet include:
- Northern Cardinal
- Summer Tanager
- Vermilion Flycatcher
- Painted Bunting
- Blue Grosbeak
- Western Tanager
- Hepatic Tanager
- Pygmy Nuthatch
- Cuban Bullfinch
These songbirds belong to various taxonomic families that inhabit diverse habitats across the Americas. Their red feet and legs come from eating pigment-rich foods including berries, seeds, insects, and flower nectar. The colors may help camouflage their legs while perched or serve as visual signals to attract mates.
Northern Cardinal
The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is one of the most recognized backyard birds found across eastern North America. Males are bright red overall with a pointed crest, black face mask, and thick red bill. Females are buff-brown with reddish wings, crest, and tail. Both sexes have prominent conical red bills and red legs and feet.
Summer Tanager
The summer tanager (Piranga rubra) breeds across the southeastern US and as far north as New Jersey. True to their name, males are bright crimson-red overall with darker wings and tail. Females are olive above and yellowish below with olive-brown wings. Both sexes have pale pinkish-red bills and legs.
Vermilion Flycatcher
The vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) is found in warm climates from the southwestern US to Argentina. Adult males are stunningly colored with bright red crowns, underparts, and long tail feathers. Their backs are brown. Females are pale gray-brown overall. Both sexes have reddish-orange bills and feet.
Conclusion
In summary, diverse bird species can develop red coloration on their legs and feet from eating pigment-rich foods like berries, insects, fish, and crustaceans. Red feet are most common in seabirds like gulls, wading birds like ibises, blackbirds like grackles, and finches. Beyond metabolic pigments, the red colors often serve important functions related to breeding displays, camouflage, territorial defense, or attracting mates. So next time you see a bird with red legs or feet, look closely to identify which fascinating species it could be.
