Most of us today are well aware of the conservation of birds and their extinction due to deforestation and harsh urbanization. The list compiled here includes the 10 rarest and most beautiful birds in the world.
10. Giant Ibis
The Giant Ibis is a very rare bird in the world and can only be spotted in areas of Cambodia. It is also a very beautiful bird. The bird is about 102 cm long. The bird falls under the category of endangered species on the IUCN Red List. Moreover, it is found in Southeast Asia but is rarely found throughout the continent. Its population is estimated to be only about 200 birds.
9. Kakapo
Also known as the "owl parrot", the Kakapo is a nocturnal bird and one of the longest-living birds in the world, reaching 60 to 100 years. It is endemic to New Zealand. Kakapos are the only flightless parrots and the heaviest in the world. These bird species have been heavily exploited for hunting and other resources. There are only about 211 of their species left on Earth and they are critically endangered.
8. Palila
Palila birds can also be classified as one of the most beautiful birds in the world. The bird has a
beautiful yellow head with a white belly. The bird can be seen roaming at an altitude of 3,000 to 4,500 feet in the Hawaiian Islands. Palila birds are considered as one of the critically endangered species and their numbers are decreasing day by day. Moreover, as part of the conservation measure, these bird species are protected by restricting public access to their areas. There is also a breeding program that has been started at the Bird Conservation Center on the island of Hawaii.
7. Honduran Emerald
The Honduran Emerald Hummingbird is the only hummingbird on this list. This bird is only found in Honduras and is considered very rare to spot. The Emerald is a magnificent bird species that likes to settle at an altitude of between 250 and 500 meters. The Honduran Emerald Hummingbird population has been rapidly declining due to deforestation, increased cattle grazing, and urbanization, and several initiatives have been put in place to expand the protection of the Emerald Hummingbird species.
6. Junin Grebe
Also known as the Junin flightless grebe. It lives in Lake Junin in west-central Peru. Can you imagine that there are less than 250 of these birds? There have been many initiatives to conserve the birds, especially in Lake Junin since 1974.
5. Superb lyrebird
The Charming Lyrebird is a beautiful bird and one of the rarest birds on earth. The bird is endemic to Australia, south of Tasmania, and is known for its long tail. These birds are great mimics and can sing quite well too. They prefer to live in wet forests and rainforests. This beautiful bird is listed as a threatened species on the Red List. It is very sad to note that their main threat to extinction is due to their loud calls. This alerts predators and makes them easy prey.
4. Frigatebird
Also known as the Christmas Frigatebird, this bird is one of the rarest birds on Earth. The Christmas Island Frigatebird is listed as an endangered species. The bird's population has declined dramatically due to extreme weather conditions, hunting and mining.
3. Asian Crested Ibis
This bird is one of the rarest in the world. Also known as the Japanese Crested Ibis, it has a redhead, a long, down-curved beak, a long neck, and long legs. It is widely distributed in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Russia, but appears to be at least near extinction in most areas. It was a surprise when it was spotted in Japan in 2008. There are several conservation programs for the Asian Crested Ibis on a large scale.
2. Superb Bird-of-Paradise
The enchanting Bird of Paradise is one of those special birds that is becoming impossible to see anywhere around us. The male birds can resemble fairy birds as they tend to dance with the blue markings on their bodies. Researchers have identified the intention behind the fairy scenes as a motive to seduce females. Additionally, their numbers have declined significantly and there are only a few birds left in the wild. The birds can be spotted in the rainforests of New Guinea.
1. Orange-tied parrot
The Orange-bellied Parrot is one of the rarest birds on Earth. It is a small grassland bird, about 20 cm long. Can you imagine that only 14 of them were recorded in early February 2017? This bird is critically endangered and is also listed on the IUCN Red List. In addition, the bird tries to communicate with a monotone call. Breeding occurs mainly in southwestern Tasmania. Moreover, these birds tend to migrate during the winter and spend their time on the coast of southeastern Australia. They are known to be very difficult to see, and if you want to see them, the best place would be King Island, off the shores of Swan Bay, Lake Victoria, and Mud Islands.
These are some rare bird species that are now in danger of extinction. Do you know other rare birds? Share your opinion with us.