One bird that has made it to the list of some of the most beautiful birds is definitely the Rainbow-bearded Thornbill. This bird is characterized by its stunning plumage since birth. Just the name it tells you that this creature is covered in rainbow colors all over its beard. The rest of its head is dark green with a long rufous crest on top and a white dot behind each eye. Yet again the best part is its throat with celadon-green turquoise, yellow, red, and pink colors. The tail is another feature that we can’t exclude. It starts with a dark purple color, coming out with white tips at the corners.
The rainbow-bearded thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. They prefer living in subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. They are mostly located in Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. It is usually found at an altitude of 2,450-3,100 m in shrubby páramo, where it usually stays high up in the canopy. Their average size varies from 10.5 – 11 cm or 4 – 4.25 inches in length – including its long tail.
There isn’t a big difference between males and females when it comes to their appearance. However, female rainbow-bearded thornbill birds are a bit duller. Their belly and tail are covered with yellowish-ochre colors. They also lack the gorgeous beard of the male, like young birds.
During the breeding season, female rainbow-bearded thornbill birds build nests in a bush, shrub, or tree on their own. This cup-shaped nest is made from woven plant fibers, green moss, soft plant fibers, animal hair, and feathers. Similar species: the Rufous-capped thornbill – smaller than the rainbow-bearded thornbill with buff-colored underparts.
Contrary to other birds, hummingbirds are solitary in all aspects of life, except breeding. Mating is the only thing that hummingbirds do together. They neither live nor migrate in flocks. The females protect and feed the chicks all by themselves. The chicks are able to leave the nest about 7-10 days after they’re born.
Rainbow-bearded thornbills feast on nectar taken from a variety of flowers, trees, herbs, and epiphytes. They go after flowers with higher sugar content and are quite protective of their food source. They use their long, extendible, straw-like tongues to retrieve the nectar while hovering with their tails cocked upward as they are licking at the nectar up to 13 times per second. Sometimes they may be seen hanging on the flower while feeding. Check out this video that explains more about this bird’s habitat.
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