Birds are one of the most diverse and fascinating groups of animals on our planet. With over 10,000 species living across all continents, birds come in a stunning array of shapes, sizes, colors and behaviors. Some birds are plain and drab while others sport the most vibrant, eye-catching plumage imaginable. When it comes to exotic birds that really stand out from the crowd, what places around the world have the highest concentrations and diversity?
What makes a bird exotic?
The term “exotic bird” is subjective, but generally refers to species that are highly colorful, display unique features like crests or long tail feathers, or are simply unusual compared to common backyard birds. For example, bright tropical species like macaws, toucans, birds-of-paradise and hornbills would all be considered exotic. So would unusual birds like the bare-headed ibis with its bald, wrinkly head, or the large ground-dwelling cassowaries of Australia and New Guinea. Even fairly ordinary birds like pigeons and chickens take on an exotic flair when selectively bred for distinctive plumage colors and patterns.
When looking for the most exotic birds globally, there are a few major hotspots that stand out:
The Tropics
Not surprisingly, the tropics around the world harbor many of the most vibrantly colored and oddly shaped exotic bird species. The tropical ecosystems of rainforests, wetlands and islands provide abundant food sources and places for nesting and roosting, allowing more specialized species to thrive. From South America and the Amazon, to central Africa, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia and many Pacific islands, tropical regions are filled with unique exotic birds found nowhere else such as macaws, hornbills, birds-of-paradise, sunbirds, manakins, and thousands more.
Islands
Remote islands are another exotic bird hotspot, especially the tropical islands of Indonesia, the Philippines, Madagascar and many small islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Isolated islands are ideal for evolution of rare and specialized bird species. With few predators and competitors, island birds often lose their ability to fly and develop fanciful decorations like the huge plumes of the Nicobar pigeon and the Seychelles’ black parrot.
Mountains
High elevation mountain forests also provide isolation and specialized habitats that give rise to unique bird life. The Andes and western South America have many exotic hummingbirds, tanagers, quetzals, toucanets and mountain-toucans only found in these misty mountain heights.
Grasslands
While not initially thought of as an exotic bird location, grassland habitats hold some of the world’s most bizarre birds. The seriemas of South America look prehistoric. The secretary bird of Africa has quill-like feathers protruding from its head. The ostrich and emu tower over the plains. And bright tropical species like bee-eaters sometimes gather in grasslands in huge colorful flocks.
Wetlands
Coastal swamps, marshes and bogs provide habitats for some truly outrageous exotic birds. The huge shoebill storks of the Nile valley sport massive clog-like bills. The neon-colored roseate spoonbill looks like it was painted by an artist. And bizarre prehistoric-looking screamers skulk through South American wetlands emitting eerie cries.
The Top 10 Most Exotic Bird Places
Based on the concentration of the world’s most rare, colorful, bizarre and unique exotic bird species, here are the top 10 destinations to see the most exotic birds:
Amazon Rainforest (South America)
The mighty Amazon basin covers 2.7 million square miles, encompassing 60% of the world’s largest rainforest. This lush jungle is home to an estimated 4,000 bird species including some of the world’s most exotic like macaws, toucans, trogons, manakins, cotingas and over 1,500 species of parrots. Many Amazonian birds exhibit bright plumage and bizarre shapes and adornments used to attract mates.
Eastern Himalayas (Asia)
The eastern Himalayas stretch 2,400 miles across Bhutan, northeastern India, Nepal, and southern Tibet. Misty mountain forests are home to pheasants like the exotic Himalayan monal and blood pheasant, vivid parrotbills, colorful laughingthrushes, striking nuthatches, mountain barbets with red and yellow feathers, and the odd-looking slender-billed scimitar babbler.
Central Africa
The Congo River basin which sprawls across the Democratic Republic of the Congo is covered in rainforest and swamps that provide sanctuary for over 1,100 bird species. Standouts include gray, red-tailed and black parrots, turacos and plantain-eaters with wildly colorful feathers, bee-eaters that gather in rainbow-hued flocks, and regal birds-of-prey like crowned eagles and Congo serpent-eagles.
Southern India and Sri Lanka
The Western Ghats mountains and associated rainforests along India’s southwest coast shelter 500 bird species, while nearby Sri Lanka has nearly 500 species of its own. Exotic resident birds include the huge Malabar pied hornbill, Indian peafowl with its long spotted neck feathers, and fairy bluebirds with shiny turquoise plumage. Many migrants from the Himalayas also pass through including beautiful kingfishers.
Madagascar
The tropical island of Madagascar off Africa’s southeast coast is filled with exotic endemic birds found nowhere else. Over 100 species are unique to Madagascar including sickle-billed vangas, asities, ground-rollers with iridescent feathers, bizarre cuckoo-rollers, the huge elephant bird (now extinct), and the outrageous long-tailed ground roller with streamer-like feathers.
Southwest Australia
Southwestern Australia’s diverse habitats ranging from Mediterranean forests to desert scrub are filled with endemic exotic birds. Spinebills dart among flowers, red-capped parrots forage the woodlands, splendid fairywrens flit through the understory, mallee ringnecks sport green and yellow markings, and the huge emu patrols open areas.
New Guinea
This large tropical island north of Australia is home to over 700 bird species, with over 300 found nowhere else. Birds-of-paradise in a rainbow of colors perform bizarre mating displays. Bowerbirds construct elaborate stick structures to attract females. Other New Guinea specialties include crowned pigeons, lories and lorikeets, the huge flightless cassowary, and giant cuckoos.
Philippines
Over 185 Philippine birds occur only in this island archipelago. Fantastically shaped hornbills abound, including the enormous Philippine eagle which preys on monkeys and other birds. The colorful Luzon bleeding-heart pigeon lives only in the most remote mountain forests. Blue-naped parrots, ternate hanging parrots, and wrinkled hornbills round out the exotic line-up.
Atlantic Forest (Brazil)
This tropical and subtropical moist forest once extended along Brazil’s Atlantic coast and far inland. Though much has been cleared, remaining fragments still support exotic birds found nowhere else like the red-billed curassow, seven-colored tanager, saffron toucanet, pin-tailed manakin with long corkscrew tail feathers, and the red-necked tanager sporting a brilliant red body and black mask.
Conclusion
The world’s most exotic birds live predominantly in tropical forests, islands, mountains and wetlands, where isolation, abundant food, and lack of predators allowed them to diversify into amazing shapes, colors, and behaviors. Though exotic, these birds are often rare and threatened in the wild. Preserving their habitat is key to protecting these avian wonders for future generations. From violet-tailed sylphs in Ecuador, to twelve-wired birds-of-paradise in Indonesia, to kagus in New Caledonia, the world’s most exotic birds never cease to astonish with their variety and beauty.
