Meet Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, A Strikingly Beautiful Bird With Glittering Iridescent Feathers On Its Face

Many birds were favored glittering iridescent plumage since birth. This charismatic coat certainly makes a name for these creatures and enables them to be conspicuous whenever they appear. If you get an opportunity to see these birds in nature, make sure that you grasp it.

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The rainbow-bearded thornbill is among these outstanding birds. As its name may suggest, this bird wears a rainbow of color on its face. Its head is dark green with a long, rufous crest on top and a white dot behind each eye. Take a closer look at its throat, it’s celadon-green turquoise, yellow, red, and pink.

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The long tail of these tiny birds is also eye-catching. It is a dark purple with prominent white tips at the corners.

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Let’s discover the stunning beauty of this bird below.

 

Female rainbow-bearded thornbill birds look quite similar to males even though they are a bit duller. Their belly and tail are covered with yellowish-ochre color. They also lack the gorgeous beard of the male, like young birds.

Image Credits: Michael Woodruff / CC BY-SA 2.0

The rainbow-bearded thornbill is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. They distribute in Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru.

These hummingbirds prefer living in subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, elfin forest, open country with bushy patches and small woodlands, and gulleys with thickets of ferns and bromeliads.

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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.

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The females then lay 3 eggs in their nests, incubate them and feed the hatching for 7-10 days, until fully fledged.

Regarding the diets, these striking hummingbirds dine mainly on nectar from small flowers, low bushes, and shrubs. But they also hunt insects for food sometimes.

Author: admin