10 Birds With The Craziest “Hair”

The appearance of animals is determined by a number of factors, including biological, environmental and social pressures. Usually, animals with a dull or muted appearance evolved that way to evade detection. Meanwhile, other animals with a more eye-catching or flamboyant appearance evolved their facial features to attract a mate or identify with each other. Amid birds, there are a number of species with unique adaptations. For example, an Peacock brightly colored tail helps the post to attract a mate. Similarly, you can easily find birds with unique-looking crowns, combs or chanterelles. These birds with the craziest hair grow to rival anything you see in a fashion magazine. That said, can you name any of these wild-haired birds?

If not, don’t worry, that’s where we come in. Today we will explore some of the birds that rock some amazing hairstyles. We’ll also discuss where these birds live, what they eat, and some of their most interesting features. So the next time you see one of these birds, take a moment to appreciate their beautiful hair. Here are 10 birds with the craziest hair.

#10: Golden Pheasant

The golden pheasant is the first entry in our list of birds with the craziest hair, and it’s easy to see why. Also known as the rainbow or Chinese pheasant, this bird with a mohawk rocks a color haircut. Although native to the west China, you can find these golden crested emissaries everywhere North America, South America, Australia, and parts of Europe. They usually prefer dense forest habitats, although you will most likely encounter them in a zoo. They average 35 to 51 centimeters in length and have an extremely long tail. Golden pheasants have a black-and-orange striped cape that they can fan out into elegant displays. Their scientific name comes from their golden-yellow mohawk, as Chrysolophus pictus translates to “painted with a golden crest” in Greek and Latin respectively. Although they search for grain, invertebrates and leaves on the ground, they nest in trees.

#9: Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

Also known as the tunki by the Quechua people of the Andes, the Andean rooster of the rock is the next entry on our craziest hair list birds. It occurs in the cloud forests of the Andes of South America and is the national bird of Peru. In general, these large songbirds are 13 inches long and can weigh up to 0.66 pounds. Males have a black belly and tail, black and gray wings, and a bright orange chest, head and shoulders. The most distinguishing feature, however, is their orange disc-shaped crest that protrudes from their foreheads. Their diet consists mainly of fruit, although they also eat insects and small reptiles, frogs, and mice. During the mating season, males engage in elaborate dances and blow out their feathers to attract females. After mating, the females build a nest under a rocky overhang and incubate the eggs themselves.

#8: Miss Crane

The Moiselle faucet may be the smallest in the world crane, but it is also one of the birds with the craziest hair. Demoiselle faucets vary throughout Central Asia as well as parts of Northern Africa. Their breeding range extends from Turkey in the west to China in the east, and they migrate south to Egypt or the Indonesian subcontinent during winter. You can find them in a variety of environments, including deserts and grasslands, although they usually stay close to water. Typically, they measure 33.5 to 39.5 inches in length with a wingspan of 61 to 71 inches. Queen Marie Antoinette named the cranes young lady because of their feminine appearance. They have white wings and a white neck, with a black front neck ending in a busy plume. As for their hair, there are two long strips of white feathers growing on either side of their heads. Cranes feature prominently in Indian cultural texts, with beautiful women often compared to these girlish birds.

#7: Polish Chicken

The Polish or Polish chicken is a domesticated chicken race. Despite the name, the breed’s origins remain unclear. Although named after Poland, the breed was standardized in the The Netherlands during the 16th century. Before that, scientists estimated that the ancestors of the breed originally came from Mongolia. Today, these birds with the craziest hair can be found all over the world wherever chickens are raised. Like other chickens, they live on a diet of grains, seeds, insects and invertebrates. Polish chickens have white earlobes and a red wattle and comb. Their plumage appears mottled black and white both on their bodies and on their tails. The most distinguishing feature, however, is their large, dome-shaped crest. Today, most people breed Polish chickens as show birds. That said, many enthusiasts also consider them miraculous egg layers.

#6: Eurasian Hops

When it comes to birds with the craziest hair, few have a bigger claim than the Eurasian hop. You can find these birds with mohawks in open grasslands throughout Europe, Asia and the North Africa. While most populations migrate in winter, some remain in their breeding habitat year round. Eurasian hoopoes forage on clear ground, but build their nests in the openings of trees, cliffs or buildings. Their diet consists mainly of insects, but they will also eat small amphibians and reptiles if any. They emit a distinctive whooping call, which is partly where they get their name. Most specimens are 9.8 to 12.6 inches long with a wingspan of 17 to 19 inches. As for their plumage, they have black and white striped wings and fawn breasts and faces. In addition, they have large mohawks with black edges that they extend during courtship rituals or during battles.

#5: Mandarin Duck

Few birds with the craziest hair know how to experiment with colors as well as the mandarin duck. Along with the closely related wood duck, the mandarin duck is the only other member of the genus aix. These colorful waterfowl range throughout East Asia, including: Russia, Korea, China, and Japan. Mandarin ducks are known for their shy nature and usually live in dense forests near lakes and rivers or swamps. While sitting in trees at night, they feed on the ground, where they mainly eat seeds, grains and plants. However, they also eat insects, frogs, molluscs and small fish and snakes. Although the females appear rather muted, the males have brightly colored plumage. They have a red bill, face and whiskers, a purple chest, reddish sides, orange backs and white bellies. Both males and females grow crests, with the male’s crest transitioning from green to reddish-purple, while the female’s looks greyish.

#4: Hoatzin

Also known as the reptile bird, skunk bird, or skunk bird, the hoatzin is the only extant member of the Opisthocomidae family. In Greek, this family name translates to ‘long hair behind’, which refers to their unique hairstyle. These wacky-haired birds inhabit the tropical swamps and mangroves of South America. As folivores, hoatzins eat only leaves, fruits and flowers and rely on bacterial fermentation to break down their food. This process makes them smell quite foul, hence their nickname, stink bird. Hoatzins look a lot like colorful pheasants and most are about 26 inches long. They have a small head on a long neck and do not grow feathers on their blue faces. Their eyes are dark red and they have a brown tail, white chest, dark brown back and ruddy underwings. Finally, they grow a spiky, reddish clump of hairs on the top of their heads.

#3: Tufted Duck

The tufted duck is a domesticated one a D race and another of the craziest haired birds in the Anatidae family. Originally from Southeast Asia, the tufted duck became a standard breed in Europe in the 17th century. Their diet includes a variety of plants, grasses, and seeds, as well as insects and invertebrates. On average, they measure between 6 and 7 pounds. Most tufted ducks have white or off-white plumage, but any color variation is possible. They have a long neck and a full body, and most have a yellow or broken yellow flat bill. Unlike other birds on this list, the tufted duck’s crazy hair is caused by a genetic mutation and is not natural. The genetic mutation causes a skull deformity, which causes a large, dome-shaped cap on the top of the duck’s skull.

#2: Himalaya Monal

Also known as the Impeyan monal, the Himalayan monal is a species of pheasant in the Phasianidae family. The term monal originates from India while it is also known as the danphe or danfe in Nepal. Himalayan monals are native to the forests and grasslands surrounding the Himalayan mountains. You can find them mainly in the highlands of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and India. Their diet consists mainly of plants, which they dig up with their feet, but also insects and invertebrates. Typically, Himalayan mons measure about 28 inches in length and weigh up to 5.25 pounds. The males have brightly colored, metallic plumage. Their coloration ranges from blue on the wings and back, light green on the shoulders, red on the neck and green on the head. As for their crazy hair, male Himalayan mons have a crest of thin, metallic green feathers atop their heads.

#1: Victoria crowned pigeon

When most people think of birds with mohawks, they don’t think of pigeons, but that would be a grave mistake. Example, the Victoria-crowned pigeon, a member of the pigeon and pigeon family Columbidae. Named after Queen Victoria of England, these striking birds live only in the swampy forests of New Guinea. They are known for their herd
behavior and forage in containers for food including fruits, seeds, worms and insects. Typically, they measure 29 to 30 inches in length and can weigh up to 7.7 pounds. The plumage on their backs is a rich blue-gray color while their breasts appear maroon. Meanwhile, they have a beautiful blue-feathered crest that resembles the feathers on a peacock’s tail. Continued habitat loss and hunting have led the IUCN to list the Victoria-crowned pigeon as a near-threatened species.