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Showing posts with label amazing animals videos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amazing animals videos. Show all posts

Sunday, April 5, 2015

10 Striking Purple-colored Birds

Below is a list of purple-colored birds, where the color purple/violet is the more prominent color of its plumage. It is interesting to note that most of the purple/violet colored birds seen are male species of that bird type, whereas the females of the same species may be of any other color.

Violet-Backed Starling

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The Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster), also known as the plum-colored starling or amethyst starling, belongs to the family of birds classified as Sturnidae. The species is the smallest of the Southern African starlings found widely in the woodlands and savannah forest edges of mainland sub-Saharan Africa.

The sexes are sexually dimorphic; males are brilliantly colored while females appear comparatively drab. The male is brilliantly colored with a deep iridescent violet along the length of is back, wings, face and throat. It has a bright white breast and the rest of the The eyes are brown and the bill and legs are black. The female sports brown head and back; and white underparts streaked with dark brown.

Adult measures 17.8 cm (7.0 in) in length and weighs 33-56 g (1.2-2.0 oz.)

Purple Grenadier

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The Purple Grenadier (Uraeginthus ianthinogaster) is common and widespread throughout east Africa. The species is found in subtropical and tropical (lowland) and dry shrubland. Adult averages 13.3 cm (5.25 in)in length and weighs 15 - 16 g (or approx. 1/2 oz.)

These striking purple-colored birds are sexually dimorphic (the male and female look different). Both sexes have a red beak and black tail. The male has a cinnamon (upperparts) with purplish-blue feathers around the eyes; and vibrant blues (face and underparts) feathers. The female is mostly cinnamon brown; breast and belly are spotted or barred white. She also has some purple on her tail feathers.

Purple Martin

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The Purple Martin (Progne subis) is the largest North American swallow. The species' breeding range is throughout temperate North America. Purple Martins are very large, broad-chested swallows. They have a black bill, legs and feet; stout, forked bills, and long, tapered wings. Adults average 20 cm (7.9 in) long from bill to tail.

Adult males are iridescent, dark blue-purple overall with brown-black wings and tail. Adult females are gray on the head and chest with some steel blue sheen, and a whitish lower belly.

Purple Gallinule

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The Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) is a brightly colored marsh bird found in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. It is also found in Central and South America and the West Indies. The species prefers swamps, lagoons, ponds and freshwater marshes, with floating vegetation.

Adults average 26–37 cm (10–15 in) in length, with a wingspan spanning 50–61 cm (20–24 in) and weighing 141–305 g (5.0–10.8 oz.)

The adult Purple Gallinule sports a stunning purple-blue plumage with a glossy green back. It has a dark purple head, neck, and underside. Red eyes and bill with a yellow tip, white undertail coverts, and long yellow legs.

Varied Bunting

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The Varied Bunting (Passerina versicolor) is a stocky, medium-sized songbird common and widespread in the southern parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the United States and throughout most of Mexico. These brilliantly colored birds inhabit thorn forests, streamline thickets, and scrubby woodlands.

Breeding males have purple-red body with a red nape; blue crown and rump. Wings and tail are purple-blue. Females have grayish-brown plumage overall with buff underparts.

Adults average It is 11–14 cm (4.3–5.5 in) in length with a wingspan of 21 cm (8.3 in), and weighs 11–13 grams (0.39–0.46 oz).

Purple Honeycreeper

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The Purple Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus), also called the Yellow-legged Honeycreeper, is a small bird of northern South America. This is a forest canopy species, but also occurs in cocoa and citrus plantations. The sexes are sexually dimorphic; Male and female are very different in color.

The adult male has purplish-blue plumage overall with black wings, chin throat and belly. Blue tail shows two black central feathers. It has brown eyes, and bright yellow legs. Adult female has lime green upperparts, and green-streaked yellowish-buff underparts.

Purple Honeycreeper measures 11.5 cm (4.5 in) in length long, weighs 12 g (0.42 oz).

Violet-crowned Woodnymph

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The Violet-crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica), also known as the purple-crowned woodnymph, is a medium-sized Central and South American hummingbird. The species inhabits wet lowlands and foothills up to 2500 meters (~8,200 feet). It is a small hummingbird averaging 10.2 cm (approx.4 inches)long and weighs 4.5 grams (0.16 oz).

The adult male has a violet crown, upper back, shoulders and belly. It has green throat, breast, and lower back. The female is bright green above and duller green below, with a grey throat and breast.

Purplish-mantled Tanager

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The Purplish-mantled Tanager (Iridosornis porphyrocephalus) is found in Colombia and Ecuador. Its natural habitats are humid mossy rainforests, second-growth woodland, and heavily degraded forest borders.

The species average 14 cm (5.5 in) long and weigh 20-23 g (0.7-0.8 oz). It feeds on berries and insects.

Purple Starling

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The Purple Starling (Lamprotornis purpureus), also known as the purple glossy starling, is a common passerine bird common and widespread in tropical Africa. The species is typically found in scrublands, open woodlands, savannas, and cultivated areas.

Adults have a metallic purple head, crown and body. Lores are black and glossy green wings. They large yellow eyes, black beak and short tail.

Purple Starling measures around 22-27 cm (8.7-10.6 in) long, including the short tail and weighs around 91–140 g (3.7-4.9 oz).

Splendid Sunbird

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The Splendid Sunbird (Cinnyris coccinigaster) is a small passerine bird found in west and central tropical Africa. This species is a common breeder in wet savannah and woodland.

Splendid sunbirds measure 15 cm (5.9 in) in length. The species is characterized by its medium-long thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues.

The adult male has glossy purple head and a crimson breast patch. It has dark green back, black wings and tail. The female is greenish-brown above and yellowish below.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

10 Striking Green-colored Birds

These green-colored birds may not be as colorful and beautiful than green-colored parrots, lorries and parakeets. Still, these green beauties have caught the attention of many bird lovers around the globe. Check them out!

Green Kingfisher

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The Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) is a small kingfisher that can be found from south Texas and southeastern Arizona in the United States through Central and South America. The species are found near water like rivers, flooded forests, and wooded streams. A typical kingfisher with a short tail and long bill, this green beauty measures around 19 cm (7.5 in) long and weighs 27 g (0.95 oz).

As the name suggests, these birds have a dark green head, back, and wings with white markings on the wings and tail. White chin, collar, throat, and belly laced with black patches. Black bill is long and straight. Legs and feet are gray.

Hawaii Amakihi

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The Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi is a small Honeycreeper measuring about 10 centimeters (3.9 in) in length. It is the most common of the native green birds in Hawaii. It is found on the Big Island, Maui, and Molokaʻi in Hawaii.

A small bird with a powerful voice, it has bright yellow-green plumage with short down-curved black bills. The eyes are brown with black pupils. The wings and tail are olive-gray and the legs and feet are gray. Females have a smaller bill than males.

Green (Guinea) Turaco

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The Green (Guinea) Turaco (Tauraco persa) is a medium-sized passerine bird native to tropical West Africa. This species prefers forests and savannas with abundant tall trees. It measures around 47.5-50 cm (19-20 in) long from beak to tip of tail and weighs less than 0.45 kg (less than 1 lbs.)

A truly striking bird, the Green Turaco has largely brilliant green and blue plumage. The underparts are dull black. The tail and wings are dark purplish. It has a thick red bill and bold white and black patches around the eyes. Males and females look alike.

Violet-green Swallow

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The Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)is a small swallow that is found only in the American West. The species is found in open woodlands.

Adult males are dark velvet green on top and white underneath extending onto the cheek, to behind and above the eye. The head is usually more brownish than the back. It has an iridescent purple rump with white patches on the side. The wings are black and a slightly forked tail.

Turquoise-browed Motmot

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The Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) is a medium-sized Motmot commonly distributed throughout Central America. Its preferred habitats include forest edge, gallery forest and scrubland. This species measures about 34 cm (13 in) long and weighs about 65 g (2.3 Oz). Males are slightly larger than females.

Besides the Motmot's typical black mask around the eyes, it has mostly green-blue plumage with a Rufous back and belly. The head and breast are olive green. It has black and turquoise streaks on its face and throat with short black bib.

Arctic Warbler

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The Arctic warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) is a common leaf warbler that has established a foothold in North America. It is found in birch or mixed birch forest near water throughout its breeding range across Eurasia and into western and central Alaska.

A typical leaf warbler in appearance, it is medium-sized with stout bill. The back is greyish-green, off-white throat and belly, and olive-brown sides. Dark eye-lines with pale yellow eyebrows. legs and feet are yellow in color.

Green Jay

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The Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)is a medium-sized songbird found in both North and South America. This tropical jay measures 29 cm (11.4 in)in length and weighs around 66-100 grams (2.3–3.9 oz).

Adults have blue face, rich green back, yellow underparts, and distinct black bib. Head and nape are black with yellowish-white feathers on top. This green beauty has black bill, legs and feet. Tail is long, blue-green, and yellow-edged.

Northern Lapwing

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The Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)is a unique plover that is widespread in temperate Eurasia. In winter, it migrates mainly by day, often in large flocks. This large, elegant bird measures around 28–33 cm (11–13 in) long with a wingspan of between 67–87 cm (26–34 in) and weighs about 128–330 g (4.5–11.6 oz).

It is mainly black and white with green-tinged purple and copper back. The face, throat and breast are black. Belly and sides are white. Wings are dark with white tips; legs are pink. The male has a long crest and a black crown.Males and females appear similar but females have shorter crests.

Crested Quetzal

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The Crested Quetzal (Pharomachrus antisianus) is a medium-sized South American bird found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It prefers humid forests and mature second-growth forests. On average, this species measures between 33–34 cm.

Adult males have a bright, metallic emerald-green plumage, glossy green head with short forehead crest, black-green back and breast; orange-yellow bill, violet wings and white under-tail feathers. During mating breeding season, males grow an extremely long tail that ranges in color from green, blue and violet.

Females resemble the males, except their heads are a plain brown without the bushy crests; some green feathers on the chest and only their lower bellies are red.

Elegant Trogon

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The Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans) is a near passerine bird found in Mexico, Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and the lower Rio Grande of south Texas. Its preferred habitats include semi-arid open woodlands and forests. This species is 28–30 centimeters (11–12 in) long and weighs 65–67 grams (2.3–2.4 oz).

The adult male has an iridescent green head, upper breast and back, and red-orange lower breast and belly. It has black face and throat, and gray wings. The bill and eye ring are yellow to orange. A long, coppery green square tail tipped in black. The adult female is similar to male, but browner overall.

Green peafowl

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The Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus) is a large bird famous for the glorious train carried by the male. The green peafowl is less well known, but perhaps even more spectacular than its close relative the Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus). The male measures 1.8–3 m (5.9–9.8 ft) long including the "train" and weighs up to 5 kg (11 pounds). The female averages 3.6 feet (~1.1 meter) in length and weighs up to 1kg (2.4 pounds).

The male green peafowl is metallic green overall with shades of blue. It has long, green and tightly bundled head-crest. The wings are dark green and blue with pale brown flight feathers.

Females are not brown, as in the Indian peafowl, but are a less vivid shade of green, and lack the train.