10 of the Most Beautiful Birds in the World

9. Golden Pheasant
Golden Pheasant Most Beautiful Bird in the World
If a beauty pageant for birds was organized, the golden pheasant would be a top contender, and would likely win. The brilliant red and golden-yellow plumage that it’s famed for makes it one of the most beautiful birds in the world by most standards.

As is common with the other pheasants, the males are more flamboyant than females with stronger eye-catching plumage colors. The males have distinct crimson flanks and breasts while females adorn a subdued brown plumage. For golden pheasants, the tail makes up about two-thirds of the bird’s length.

The golden pheasant drapes a golden wattle and a green upper back that make up this jewel of the Asian wilderness. Being poor fliers, they’re mostly found on the forest floors, occasionally indulging in brief flying stints. They feed mainly on shrubs, berries, and small insects.

Golden pheasants inhabit the woodlands and mountainous forests in western and central China, where they are regarded as symbols of great honor. They can also be found in parts of New Zealand, North and South America, Australia, and western Europe.

Zoologists have discovered that the plumage of golden pheasants can bleach if it is unshielded from direct sunlight over extended periods of time. Therefore, they retain their vivid colors by staying underneath the shady canopies of the forest.
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